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,

The new school year has gotten off to an amazing start! I truly marvel at the middot and natural positivity with which our students, our amazing staff, and even the campus itself permeates. The aspirations of a new beginning are tangible. We all have hopes and dreams, looking forward to all of the many ways in which we will grow over the course of the next nine and a half months.

However, real growth, deep, internalized, lasting growth, does not happen through the acquisition of knowledge alone. In fact, in this week's parsha, Parshat Eikev, Hashem calls us a "stiff-necked nation". The Sforno says that to be "stiff-necked" means that someone could logically prove to the person that they are wrong and they still wouldn't change. Why does this cognitive dissonance happen? Why do people so often live in ways that are different than what they know to be true?!

Rav Yisrael Salanter summed up the answer to this question in one sentence: "The greatest distance in the world is between a person's mind and their heart." Someone can believe in one thing intellectually, but unless they find a way to internalize it, to know it with every fiber of their being, it won't affect their actions. We see from here that Hashem knew all along that it is not enough to know what's right and wrong.

It's not enough to believe in something. We then have to work to internalize those facts. And so that too is a large component of what we seek to accomplish here at school. We look for experiences, opportunities, and venues which will bring what we learn to life and inspire our students to want to not just know what they learn, but live it for the rest of their lives. It is then that the facts we learn will affect our actions and we can begin perfecting ourselves and living lives that are steeped in truly noble ideals. It is then we can achieve greatness. May we all truly internalize our learning and thereby achieve the greatness for which we strive.

Shabbat Shalom

Weekend Birthdays: 8/24 Ari Emsallem, Harry Schechter,

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

Upcoming Dates to Remember

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

September 10: TWI parent webinar: Parenting Anxious Kids, 8 pm (flyer)

September 11: Lower School Meet the Teacher, 7-8:30 pm

*All events at CTA unless noted

Details at www.torahacademy.org/calendar

Most Up to Date Sports Schedules and Practices at www.torahacademy.org/sportscalendar

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

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

Programs must have a minimum number of participants. The programs above for the coming week are TENTATIVE pending enough students. We delayed the Friday ones waitinf or sign ups. Please sign up by SUNDAY or Chess and Friday programs will be cancelled:(

PTO DIRECTORY TO BE PUBLISHED: PTO Directories will be published by September 1. To get a Directory, you need to have a PTO Family or Lifetime Membership. The Directory is the GREATEST! It contains faculty lists and emails, class lists, family contact information, Shabbat candle times, babysitter lists and so much more. The best resource to plan a birthday party or bar/bat mitzvah. Go to www.torahacademy.org/pto to join PTO.

Free & Reduced Hot Lunch: Deadline to complete forms is coming up. Click here for eligibility information, forms, and more information.

Meet the Teacher - Save the Dates: Students have begun the school year! Let's strengthen the partnership between home and school for student success! Meet the Teacher Nights are planned for Upper School and Lower School. Save the dates below as a chance to learn about expectations and goals for the year. We can't wait to see you!

Upper School: Wednesday, August 28 at 7 pm

Lower School: Wednesday, September 11 at 7 pm

Any questions to info@torahacademy.org

Uniform Deadline: Upcoming on Friday, September 6. Items will be picked up to go to the embroiderer. They can take 14-21 days to come back. Items should be dropped off at the Front Desk with payment of $7 per item. All details, payment links and information can be found at www.torahacademy.org/uniforms.

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.