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DVAR TORAH

In Parshat Yitro we read about G-d's revelation to the Jewish people at  Har Sinai during which they heard the declaration of the Ten Commandments. This moment represents one of the most significant events in Jewish history, and the closest the Jewish people ever felt to Hashem's presence in this world. However, immediately after ma'amad Har Sinai we are introduced to a set of laws that seem out of place in the context of our Parasha.
     
One might have expected that immediately after the Aseret HaDibrot we would be told of the Mishpatim, or detailed laws, of the Torah. While these laws are given in next week's Parasha, the last few pessukim in this week's Parasha almost sneak in a different set of laws that seem alien to Parshat Yitro. In the final verses of Parashat Yitro, a series of laws is recorded that involve the proper mode of sacrificial worship: "Make for Me an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being.... And if you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stones, for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them" (20:21-22).The Torah here requires constructing an altar to G-d for purposes of sacrificial worship, and it demands that this altar be built from earth. In addition, the Torah commands that should Bnei Yisroel build an altar from stones, those stones must be whole, rather than cut stones. This set of laws seems out of place. Why does the Torah place these laws here, right after one of the most seminal moments in Jewish history?
 
One of my Rabbeim, Rabbi Reuven Taragin of Yeshivat HaKotel, had a profound insight into the reason for the placement of these laws right after the Aseret HaDibrot. He explained that at ma'amad Har Sinai the Jewish people felt a closeness to Hashem that would never be repeated. They literally heard the voice of G-d, and felt His presence in their midst. At this moment Hashem felt the need to almost dull and subdue their emotional reaction to His revelation. He immediately tells them not to build an alter of gold, but rather of dirt or simple stone. In this commandment, G-d is giving us a message of vital importance. Even in our ultimate "religious high" we should not worship G-d with gold and silver, but rather dirt and stone. We must not direct our attention to the glitz and beauty of ephemeral possessions, but rather the humility and simplicity of a dirt alter.  
 
The world has never been more materialistic than it is today. We, as a society, are more prosperous and wealthy than any point in Jewish history. While we are lucky to live in such times, we have to be careful not to let our prosperity distort our values. If G-d wishes us to be humble and unpretentious in our service of Him, how much more so in our everyday lives? 

 
Rabbi Weinberg, Principal
                            
      
 

NEWS & VIEWS

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Hillel Academy's new first grade teacher, Ms. Morgan Friedman, comes to us from Cleveland, Ohio, where she also taught at a Jewish day school. When asked about the differences she sees between Cleveland and the Steel City, she jokes: "I think the most obvious [difference] is the fact that the Cleveland Browns went 0-16 this football season and the Steelers went 13-3! Not only that, but Pittsburgh is very urban. Rather than living in neighborhoods, such as Squirrel Hill, many people [in Cleveland] live in the suburbs. Cleveland also gets a lot more snow from the lake. Pittsburgh gets the perfect amount."

Ms. Friedman finds Pittsburgh, however, much more convenient than the popular Cleveland neighborhood, Beachwood, where she previously lived. "Nobody in Beachwood walks to school or to their friend's houses," she comments - "it would be way too far!"
If you walk into the first grade classroom, you are sure to hear Ms. Friedman getting her class's attention using her favorite phrase, "Macaroni and cheese, everybody freeze!" Ms. Friedman currently teaches first grade general studies, and she loves to use the Smart Board, thanks to Ms. Langer. Ms. Friedman's favorite thing about teaching is seeing the students' creativity, as well as their social and academic growth throughout the school year.

Aside from teaching, Ms. Friedman enjoys reading, drawing, playing Candy Crush, and has found a newfound love for hockey. In middle and high school, she played basketball but because her high school was small, she decided to play softball and be a cheerleader, staying very busy. Currently, she loves supporting her Cleveland sports teams, including the Browns, but the Cavaliers remain her favorite.

Ms. Friedman is amazed by how many parents work at the school and says she absolutely loves it. "My mother worked at my school as well," she notes. When it comes to her family, Ms. Friedman provides a really cool fact about their names. "Everyone in my family has a name beginning with the letter M," she says. "My mother is Marci and she also teaches first grade general studies at a Jewish Day School. My father's name is Michael and he runs several car dealerships in Northeast Ohio. My sister, Mara, is 20 years old and studies journalism and communication at Arizona State University. She's also a photographer! I have a little brother too. Matthew is 16 years old and just left for Alexander Muss High School in Israel. He runs track and participates in Friendship Circle and NCSY. They're the best!"

Ms. Friedman's pets both have names that start with "M," too, and they sound pretty cute. "I have a dog named Macy. She's part cavalier spaniel and part bichon, like a stuffed animal! I also have a hedgehog named Maccabi. He's very photogenic, though he's not the friendliest."

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ANNOUNCEMENTS


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Did you know the Bnot Sheirut have their own Facebook page? It's filled with lots of pictures and videos! Check it out at:  www.facebook.com/PittsburghBanot

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FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh awards grants to students who reside in the Greater Pittsburgh area (Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland Counties).

WHAT IS THE CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN REFERRAL SERVICE?

The Central Scholarship and Loan Referral Service (CSLRS) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh coordinates the efforts of a group of organizations, agencies, and scholarship endowment funds which provide need-based scholarships to local undergraduate and graduate Jewish students.
CSLRS is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and is administered by Jewish Family and Children's Service.

WHO QUALIFIES?

Any Jewish high school senior, college or graduate student with demonstrated financial need is eligible to apply. All applicants must be bona fide residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Butler or Westmoreland counties for at least two years. Individuals are known by number, not name, to ensure confidentiality.

When a student applies for aid, the CSLRS committee matches the student with the funding source or sources for which they qualify. Some funding sources require high academic achievement; all require students to demonstrate financial need.

HOW DO I APPLY?

For school year 2018-2019 Central Scholarship will again be using an on-line application process.
The on-line applications will be available in late November at http://www.centralscholarship.org . First-time applicants must be interviewed by CSLRS staff.

Application deadline is February 12, 2018. Regrettably, applications received after that date will not be considered.

For further information, contact Jewish Family & Children's Service, 
412-422-5627 or alowenberger@jfcspgh.org


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When you  #StartWithaSmile , Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Bookmark the link and support us every time you shop.  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/25-1067130   



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At Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, we educate young men and women with unlimited capacity who compete in a superior manner in all challenges undertaken. Our students are Torah observant models of exemplary character, who love G-d, the Jewish people, and the land of Israel. To say that our students possess a love of learning, confidence and the ability to think critically, merely highlights the value of a Hillel education. What we ultimately achieve each day, and have been achieving for 70 years, is the gift of instilling each student with the foundation for a life spent actively serving and leading the Jewish community and society.


Micki Myers, Editor | Hillel Happenings | 412 521-8131 | hillelhappenings@hillelpgh.org |www. hillelpgh.org