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KOL ECHAD | Weekly Newsletter
September 26, 2024
23 Elul 5784
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This Year, How Will We Be Judged?
By Dr. Steven Lorch, Head of School
The yamim nora’im, the High Holidays, are a time of celebration and tradition, of family and feasting - and also of reflection and apprehension.This year, with the first anniversary of the October 7 massacre falling between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the words of the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, one of the pillars of the High Holidays liturgy, resonate more loudly and insistently than usual.
כַּמָּה יַעַבְרוּן, וְכַמָּה יִבָּרֵאוּן, מִי יִחְיֶה, וּמִי יָמוּת, מִי בְקִצּוֹ, וּמִי לֹא בְּקִצּוֹ
How many shall pass away and how many shall be born?
Who shall live and who shall die?
Who in good time, and who by an untimely death?
Our everyday hopes and concerns are mingled this year with thoughts and fears we never imagined we would have:
- Will we and our loved ones be blessed with good health?
- Will our family and friends who have health challenges be healed?
- Will our family and friends in Israel be safe?
- Will our community, or our family, be spared from gun violence in America?
- Will our businesses prosper and our incomes increase?
- Will our children take full advantage of the learning opportunities they have?
- When our children go to college, will they reach their potential, or will they be marginalized because they are Jews?
- Will we set the best example for our children?
- Will our children make good choices and do the right thing?
- Will there be clarity about right and wrong in the world, where murder, kidnapping, bullying, and lying are always immoral?
- Will we and our children be happy and fulfilled? Will our family be blessed with experiences that bring us closer together?
- Will our friends whom we have always helped in the past stand up for us when we are in need?
By sending your children to Kadima and being active partners with the school, you are already doing a lot to address the unprecedented challenges we face this Rosh Hashanah. Is it the total answer? Of course not. But you’ve done your part, and now you can ask God, with a full heart and a clear conscience, to complete the job, to protect your family and our community in a way that we can’t and only God can.
We pray for a speedy return to a simpler time, when Rosh Hashanah was fraught with ordinary fears and not existential ones.
תִּכְלֶה שָׁנָה וְקִלְלוֹתֶיהָ, תָּחֵל שָׁנָה וּבִרְכוֹתֶיהָ
May the new year and its blessings overshadow the last year and its curses.
לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה נִכָּתֵב וְנֵחָתֵם לְאַלְתַּר לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם
May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good year immediately,
for a good life and peace!
Shabbat shalom, v’shanah tovah um’tukah,
Dr. Steven Lorch
Head of School
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Important Dates
Friday, September 27
Monday, September 30
- Field trip: Jewish Home for the Aging - 4th and 5th grade
Monday, September 30 - Wednesday, October 2
Wednesday, October 2
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Erev Rosh Hashanah - 12:00 pm dismissal
Thursday, October 3 - Friday, October 4
- Rosh Hashanah - school closed
Monday, October 7
- October 7 community memorial ceremony - 7:00 pm, Kadima yard
Tuesday, October 8
Wednesday, October 9
- PTO meeting, 8:15 am, in the library
Friday, October 11
- Erev Yom Kippur - 12:00 pm dismissal
Wednesday, October 16
- Erev Sukkot - 12:00 pm dismissal
Thursday, October 17 - Friday, October 18
Tuesday, October 22
Wednesday, October 23
- Hoshana Rabbah - 12:00 pm dismissal
Thursday, October 24
- Sh'mini Atzeret - school closed
Friday, October 25
- Simchat Torah - school closed
Monday, October 28
Wednesday, October 30
*For the complete 2024-25 school calendar, please click HERE.
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Rosh Hashanah and Kabbalat Shabbat (Kindergarten to 8th grades)
Friday, September 27, 10:50-11:35 am, Kadima yard
Parents, please join the Kadima community tomorrow morning, Friday, September 27, at 10:50 am, for a special Rosh Hashanah Kabbalat Shabbat service with our Kindergarten through 8th grade students.
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Lulav and Etrog Sets
We are now accepting orders for lulav and etrog sets. If you would like to purchase a set, please click here or on the flyer below. Each hand-picked set includes an etrog, a lulav assembled with its holder and rings, hadasim, and aravot.
The deadline to order is TOMORROW, Friday, September 27. Late orders will not be accepted. Order pick up will be at the main office after Rosh Hashanah.
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High Holidays Food Drive
Monday, September 30-Wednesday, October 2
Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, SOVA pantry, depends on our generous donations to meet the ongoing hunger crisis in our community. Donations directly benefit the thousands of people who visit the pantries - people of all backgrounds and identities. Please be as generous as you can; the need is great.
Food items most needed:
- peanut butter
- rice
- canned tuna/fish
- canned meats
- canned or dry soup
- whole grain cereal
All other non-perishable foods and personal hygiene items are also welcome!
Each student will be sent home with a bag on Friday, September 27, to be filled with donation items. Donation bins will be available at morning drop-off and the main office for you or your child to place your donated items in starting Monday, September 30, through Wednesday, October 2. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
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October 7 Massacre Community Memorial Ceremony
Monday, October 7, 7:00 pm, Kadima yard
Please join the Kadima community, our 8th grade students, and our local partners (see flyer below) for a special memorial ceremony commemorating a year since the October 7 massacre. The event will include special guests and dignitaries. The ceremony will be held on the Kadima campus at 7:00 pm on Monday, October 7. The event is free, but prior reservation for the event is required. To reserve your seat, please click here. Security will be strictly enforced and government-issued identification will be required to enter the campus. Limited parking available; please carpool if you can.
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Sukkot B'Yachad
Tuesday, October 22, 5:30 pm, on the Kadima yard
Sukkot B'Yachad is a cherished Kadima tradition, and this year it will take place on the evening of Tuesday, October 22, at 5:30 pm. The evening will include student performances, fun holiday activities for the entire family, arts & crafts, and a festive kosher catered dinner. Advance ticket reservation is required. Tickets are $45 per adult and $35 per child. Click here or on the flyer below to purchase tickets. Deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, October 14. No exceptions!
We can't wait to connect and celebrate Sukkot together (b'yachad)!
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ES & MS Arrival and Dismissal Reminder
Don't be tardy for the party! Elementary and middle school begins at 8:00 am! Students must be dropped off at the south gate no later than 7:55 am.
Late arrivals need to wait for the gates to re-open, park their car in one of the 20-minutes parking spots, and walk their children to the main office to sign in. Please do not arrive late or leave your car in front of the main office, even for a brief period. There is no parking in front of the main office.
Dismissal for elementary and middle school begins at 3:30 pm Monday-Thursday and 3:00 pm on Fridays. Gates will NOT open for non-ECEC parents until 3:20 pm Monday-Thursday and 2:50 pm on Fridays. Please plan accordingly.
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Fall 2024 Game Schedule:
1st Grade Co-Ed Soccer:
Tuesday October 8: Kadima vs.Ilan Ramon @ Kadima
Sunday, October 13: Kadima vs. Heschel @ Heschel
Sunday, October 27: Kadima vs. Heschel @ Kadima
October 30: Kadima vs. VBS @ Kadima
November 3: Kadima vs. Heschel @ Heschel
2nd Grade Co-Ed Soccer:
Sunday, October 13: Kadima vs. Heschel @ Heschel
Sunday, October 27: Kadima vs. Heschel @ Kadima
Wednesday, October 30: Kadima vs. VBS @ Kadima
Sunday, November 3: Kadima vs. Heschel @ Heschel
Girls’ 3rd-5th Grade Basketball
Sunday, October 6: Kadima vs. Heschel @Heschel
Wednesday, October 9: Kadima vs. Valley School @Kadima
Monday, October 14: Kadima vs. VBS @Kadima
Monday, October 21: Kadima vs. Country @Kadima
Wednesday, October 30: Kadima vs. Chime @Kadima
Wednesday, November 6: KAdima vs. Wesley @Wesley
Boys’ 3rd-5th Grade Flag Football
Tuesday, October 15: Kadima vs. Akiba @Shadow Ranch Park
Tuesday, October 22: Kadima vs. Chime @Chime
Tuesday, October 29: Kadima vs. Heschel @Heschel
Wednesday, October 30: Kadima vs. Chime @Shadow Ranch Park
Tuesday, November 5: Kadima vs. Wise @Shadow Ranch Park
Thursday, November 7: Kadima vs. Wise @Shadow Ranch Park
Boys’ 5th and 6th Grade Flag Football
Tuesday, October 1: Kadima vs. Heschel @Shadow Ranch Park
Tuesday, October 8: Kadima vs. VBS @Shadow Ranch Park
Wednesday, October 9: Kadima vs. Campbell Hall @Campbell Hall
Thursday, October 10: Kadima vs. Mirman @ Shadow Ranch Park
Tuesday, October 29: Kadima vs. Heschel @Heschel
Wednesday, November 6: Kadima vs. Heschel @Heschel
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Congratulations to our 1st grade co-ed soccer team for winning their first game against VBS,
Go Kodiaks!
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Mazal Tov!
Please join us in congratulating Lavi Ohayon and his family on the occasion of his bar mitzvah. Mazal tov!
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2025-26 Admission Applications Now Open
Admission applications are now being accepted for the 2025-26 school year.
Remember, you do not need to reapply annually for admission. Returning students will be receiving their re-enrollment contracts in February.
For priority consideration, please submit admission applications for new Kadima siblings by January 31, 2025. Please visit your FACTS portal to apply, or click here.
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Rosh Chodesh Lunch Sponsorship
Celebrating a milestone or a simcha?
Want to treat your faculty and staff to lunch?
Here’s your chance!
Rosh Chodesh lunch is a service of the PTO to provide a beautiful lunch to the faculty and staff at the beginning of each Jewish month. You can participate by sponsoring part or all of this meal, and we will recognize your milestone or simcha with a poster of all the sponsors at that lunch. It is a highlight of the month for the teachers and a great way to support the Kadima community. We need a combined $500 each month to provide a beautiful meal. If you would like to participate, please contact: Shani Gabay Sror: (818) 961-4861 gabayshani@hotmail.com or Adva Tzvi: (310) 717-1109 advatsvi@hotmail.com
Please email or text or WhatsApp
- The month you would like to sponsor (October-May)
- The dollar amount you would like to donate
- Family name as it should be listed
- In Honor of/Celebration of/ Memory of
- Your contact info
The Finance Office will reach out for payment.
Thank you for your participation,
Shani and Adva
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Kadima Banner Campaign
Kadima invites local businesses to advertise their goods and services to the community, and also support Kadima, with a promotional banner displayed near the carpool drop-off/pick-up zones. This is a great opportunity to promote your business to our community. Click here to learn more.
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The Nova Music Festival Exhibition
The Nova exhibition is an in-depth remembrance of the brutal massacre at the Nova Music Festival on October 7. This groundbreaking installation is presented as a way to empower visitors to responsibly explore and bear witness to the tragic events of October 7 and its aftermath. The exhibition is ending soon! Please support and visit this exhibition before it closes on October 8. To reserve tickets, please click here.
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deToledo High School
All 8th grade families are invited to attend the deToledo High School open house on November 3 at 2:00 pm. For more information and to reserve your spot, please click here.
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Top 10 Conversation Starters: Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech
By Dr. Steven Lorch, Head of School
#10 - Before Moshe dies, he announces a new covenant with God (D'varim 29, 11). Wait - wasn't the covenant at Mount Sinai supposed to be eternal? Why is another one needed?
#9 - This covenant, or contract, is binding to all present and future generations (29, 13-14). How did those who weren't present (namely, us!) become obligated to a contract we didn't "sign"?
#8 - Moshe goes on to imply that it is inevitable that we will sin and be punished by going into exile, and also inevitable that we will do teshuvah and be forgiven by God (30, 1-2). Aren't people supposed to have free choice?
#7 - In describing teshuvah, the Torah uses two different prepositions: you will return עד (up to? near to?) God (30, 2), and you will return אל (to) God (30, 10). What's the difference between them? Why are both needed?
#6 - Moshe uses two metaphors to describe how easy the Torah is to understand and to observe: it is not in heaven, and it is not across the sea (30, 12-13). What's the difference between the metaphors? Why are both used?
#5 - The rabbis use the phrase "it is not in heaven" (30, 12) to make a different point: it's up to us humans to interpret the Torah, and even God can't settle a dispute between us about certain meanings. How is this possible, if God is all-powerful?
#4 - At the beginning of Parashat Vayelech (31, 1), Moshe begins the last part of his farewell address. The first two words are וילך משה, which could mean "Moshe went," or "Moshe continued." If the last two letters of the first word are reversed (ויכל), it would mean "Moshe finished." Which meaning makes the most sense in context?
#3 - The mitzvah of הקהל ("assembling") requires a public reading of sections of the Torah once every seven years, on Sukkot (31, 10-11). Why once every seven years and not, say, every year? Why on Sukkot and not, say, on Pesach?
#2 - The people are told to write את השירה הזאת, which the rabbis say is a mitzvah for each person to write his or her own personal sefer Torah (31, 19). What are some things we can do to keep this mitzvah?
#1 - The Torah is called שירה, "a poem" (31, 19). But nearly all of the Torah is written in prose. In what ways is the Torah similar to poetry?
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