Columbus Torah Academy is a proud beneficiary agency of JewishColumbus.

This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

by Rabbi Yisroel Weiner, K-12 Judaic Studies Principal

Dear Friends,

Please let me take the opportunity to welcome you to the new school year! My name is Rabbi Yisroel Weiner, and I look forward to a great upcoming week greeting our teachers at in service on Monday, meeting parents at our upcoming Meet & Greet at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, August 20, and seeing the students come to school on the first day on Thursday! I look forward to partner together for the benefit of our community’s children.

This week's parsha, Parshat Va’etchanan, contains, amongst other treasures, the first paragraph of the Shema. In it (6:6) we are commanded that "these words that I command you shall be on your hearts" (al levavecha); a phrase on which the Sfat Emet asks: Surely the more appropriate home for these words would be in our hearts, representing our having fully internalized them. How are we to understand this command to merely place them on our hearts? The Sfat Emet answers that certainly the best place for these crucial words is in our hearts, for the reason outlined above. But if ever we find ourselves in a situation in which words of Torah are not yet able to make it into our hearts and really become part of us, then the Torah implores us to at least allow them to remain floating and hovering above our hearts as opposed to being rejected completely. That way, when the time comes that we can find room for these words and concepts in our heart, they will simply seep in naturally, for they have always been there waiting to enter.

As we begin a new school year, we look forward with great anticipation to all of the many and varied learning opportunities which will come our way. In many cases, we may immediately identify with the concepts and skills we learn, and those will more easily become a part of us. However, we will all undoubtedly encounter ideas, concepts, or skills which seem to be beyond our grasp. Perhaps we won't yet have the prior knowledge necessary to fully understand, or perhaps we simply won't easily relate to what we learn. In those instances, the Torah's message to us all is this: That's okay! it is to be expected as part of the learning process. We can simply store those away, and when we are ready, they will enter our hearts in the fullest sense.

Shabbat Shalom

Weekend Birthdays: 8/17 Perri Kapenstein, 8/18 Aaron Epstein, Karan Tanenbaum

Most up to date calendar and changes on website at www.torahacademy.org/calendar

Upcoming Dates to Remember

August 19-21: Teacher In Service

August 19: Kindergarten Meet & Greet, 3:30-4:30 pm (flyer)

August 20: Meet & Greet (for parents), 7:30 pm, private home (flyer)

August 21: 7th Grade Orientation, 2 pm

August 21: Lower School Supply Drop Off, 3-4 pm (flyer)

August 22: First Day of School

August 25: Back to School Foam Party for Preschool - Grade 1, 1-2:30 pm, private home (flyer)

August 25: SAT at CTA

August 27: CTA Board Meeting, 7:30 pm

August 28: Upper School Meet the Teacher, 7-8:30 pm

August 29: 12th Grade College Night, 7 pm

September 2: No School, Labor Day

September 6: Uniform Logo Drop Off Deadline

*All events at CTA unless noted

Details at www.torahacademy.org/calendar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Back to School Forms: Reminder that all back to school forms should be completed by the first day of school. The complete list of forms with important links can be found at www.torahacademy.org/backtoschool

Medical Forms: All students need to have an Emergency Card and Over the Counter Medication form on file for the 24-25 school year in case of any school day needs through the Nurse's office. Additional medical forms are required for new students, updated records, and students with medication administrations, allergies, or other health care needs. All forms can be found at www.torahacademy.org/health-services or contact nurse@torahacademy.org

K-6 After School Programs: Check out all the offerings and sign up at www.torahacademy.org/afterschool

Run Club (Grades K-2) and 3D Printing (Grades 3-6) start the first FRIDAY, August 23. Chess starts the following next week! Sign up by end of day TODAY for the Friday (and all programs so we know we have enough! Programs must have a minimum number of participants.

First Day of School: Balloon arch, CTA backdrop, and picture taking will be set up on the first day of school. Doors open at 7:45 am for upper school students and 8:15 am for K-6. We will capture the moment before your children head into school. (coffee for parents if you are parking and dropping off) Plan to take pictures at home? Download this fun sign here.

Flyers and more are below and important links are above near the calendar. Many of the flyers can be clicked on for registration. Please keep up on the many ways that we want to engage you in your children's school. We appreciate you!!

STAY CONNECTED

All social media links can be found at www.torahacademy.org/socialmedia

COMMUNITY NEWS & HAPPENINGS

CTA includes flyers submitted by local Jewish organizations and reserves the right to edit or not include as it deems appropriate. Inclusion of any materials does not constitute partnership.