CTA Weekly Communicator | Dec. 22, 2017 | 4 Tevet 5778 |
4:53 pm Candle lighting for Shabbat
CTA Weekly Communicator
Weekly Newsletter with Important News & Updates from Columbus Torah Academy
Shabbat Shalom D'var Torah
By Yona Kimche, Upper School Judaic Studies Teacher
Our Parsha contains one of the most emotionally-charged moments in the Torah; After 22 long years of believing his favorite son to be dead, Yaakov is informed that Yosef is actually alive and well. If we imagine to ourselves what such a reunion would look like, I am sure we would all picture the two running towards each other with outstretched arms, and then falling into a long embrace with tear-filled eyes.

Indeed, the passuk describes Yaakov’s actions to be just so - “Yosef harnessed his chariot, and went up to meet his father in Goshen. He appeared before him, fell on his neck, and he wept on his neck excessively.” (Bereishit:46:29)  

However, Yaakov himself behaves quite differently. The medrash tells us that as Yosef was hugging Yaakov, Yaakov was reciting the Shema. Of all times to say the Shema, was this the appropriate time?! At the moment that he was finally reunited with his son?

The Maharal explains that when Yaakov saw Yosef after a long and painful separation, he experienced an outpouring of love and joy. These emotions can be channeled in different ways. Yaakov felt that instead of focusing purely on the joy of seeing his son, he should channel this love towards G-d, and so he immediately recited Shema. 

In our daily lives we experience many different emotions. This episode teaches us that we can, and perhaps must, harness these very emotions and direct them upwards, adding color and depth to our relationship with G-d.

Shabbat Shalom
Preview of the Week: January 1-5, 2018
New Year's Day - NO SCHOOL

Sports:  

Activities:
NO SCHOOL

Sports:

Activities:
Lunch: Pizza - Volunteer: I. Khozin

Sports:

Activities:
Lunch: Breaded Chicken - Volunteer: L. Markush

Sports: MSG HOME vs Sonshine Christian Academy, 6 pm
VB AWAY @ Northside Christian, 6 pm
2nd Grade Night at the Games, 6-7:30 pm, Sponsored by the Hoffman Family

Activities: Lower School Student Council Meeting, 4-5 pm
Lunch: Tuna

Sports:

Activities: Lower School Dress Down Day
Jan. 8-19: 7th Grade Shakespeare Festival
Jan. 15: MLK Day - NO SCHOOL
Jan. 18: 7th Grade Shakespeare Performance, JCC, 7:30 pm
Jan. 23: Kindergarten Preview Day, 9:30 am
Jan. 30: Parent Cafe with Nicole Miller, 7:30 pm, Home of Jeff and Meagan Buren
Proposed calendar for 2018-2019 is now available by clicking here. This calendar includes start and end dates for next school year as well as vacation dates. It is called a proposed calendar in case there are minor tweaks.
Important Message from Nurse Chris: As you head out to winter break, remember, the flu is here! Please start with a good example at home: If you are sick – STAY HOME! Drink water. Wash your hands. Cover coughs or sneezes. Rest. Click here for a great PDF to print to remind you of tips to tell if you have a cold or the flu.

Any questions to Chris Morford, BSN, RN, School Nurse
She is at CTA: Monday & Tuesday Phone: (614) 864-0299 ext.211 or cmorford@torahacademy.org
The next Parent Cafe with Nicole Miller will be on Tuesday, January 30, at 7:30 pm at the home of Jeff and Meagan Buren.

Have you ever wondered what the Common Core State Standards mean to your child? How can you best understand them and support your child? 

At this Parent Cafe, Mrs. Miller will discuss the fundamental instructional shifts that took place in English Language Arts and Math's Ohio Learning Standards also called Common Core State Standards. She will also share a few strategies that you can use at home to support these shifts. 

Address furnished by emailing RSVP to info@torahacademy.org
Tennis lessons at CTA will start January 17 and run through May for students in grades K-6. Lessons will be after school led by tennis pro Marc Wurtzman. For more information click here or to register directly, click here. Any questions to arahav@torahacademy.org
DON"T LOSE IT. LABEL IT. PLEASE label your child's clothing!!! With everyone wearing uniforms, we have a large number of navy, blue and white shirts and gray, black and navy sweatshirts that have no known owners. If you need labels, go to Name Bubbles using this link: https://fundraising.namebubbles.com/f/96566 . CTA earn 20% of every order.
Click on link or icon below to see more.
Order magazines for your office or home. 40% profit goes to benefit the 8th grade trip to Washington DC. Click on this flyer or this link and use the school code: 2522449. Any questions, ask an 8th grader or Norma.
Start saving those Box Tops. Lots of promotions! Click here for more information: Box Tops Back to School Promotions - Earn Prizes
Click icon above for detailed information and ways to fulfill your Give & Get .
Be sure to join PTO. Click here for more information and here are some ways you can volunteer!
PTO Directory: The CTA PTO Directory has been sent home with the youngest child of ALL PAID PTO members. Don’t miss out on this important booklet. Become a member of PTO for just $25 ! Please send your check, made out to CTA PTO, to the school office or pay directly through Paypal at pto@torahacademy.org.  We’ll send the Directory right away!  
Join the Winter/Spring League of Mamanet. For more information, click here or download PDF of flyer. Registration begins January 17.
Technology Awareness Event featuring a screening of the movie SCREENAGERS on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the JCC. For children in grades 6 and older and their parents. Click here for detailed information or to register for this FREE event.
Save the Date for the JCC Gala on Saturday night, February 24, 2018. Full flyer here.
Consider sponsoring  a Day of Learning in memory or honor of a loved one or to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, b'nai mitzvah or other life cycle event. A Day of Learning is a $180 donation and dedications are listed in both the CTA Weekly Communicator and the monthly CTA Dateline.

CTA's Day of Learning for Thursday, December 21/the 3 of Tevet was sponsored by Rabbi Michael Emerson and Dr. Adina Bitton in memory of Rabbi Emerson's grandfather Michael Emerson, Meir Kalman Ben Shneor Zalman. May his neshama have an aliya.

To choose your Day of Learning, contact Shari at  sherszage@torahacademy.org
Give to CTA
CTA accepts donations to our Annual Fund or Scholarship Fund throughout the year. We also accept Tribute Donations in memory of or in honor of loved ones. Donations can be made through the school office at 614-864-0299 or online by clicking  here.

Donations are listed in our monthly CTA Dateline. Check  here to see our most recent issue.
Columbus Torah Academy | (V) 614-864-0299 | (F)614-864-2119 | info@torahacademy.org | www.torahacademy.org