CTA Weekly Communicator | March 2, 2018 15 Adar 5778 |
6:07 pm Candle lighting for Shabbat
CTA Weekly Communicator
Weekly Newsletter with Important News & Updates from Columbus Torah Academy
Shabbat Shalom D'var Torah
By Rabbi Jon Savage, Upper School Judaic Studies Teacher
In this week's Torah portion the Mitzvah of Shabbos is discussed. The Torah states, "Between Me and the Children of Israel, Shabbos is a sign forever: (Ex. 31:17).

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski in his commentary on Chumash states: "The unparalleled importance of Shabbos is evident from the Talmudic statement that if one observes Shabbos properly, it is equivalent to observing the entire Torah ... (Jerusalem Talmud, Nedarim 3). What is it that gives Shabbos this unique status?"

He quotes the The Chafetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, who answers the question with a parable. A proprietor of a store had to close down because business was poor. However, because his name was displayed on the storefront, people assumed that he would reopen one day. Indeed, when economic conditions improved, the store was reopened. When the economy deteriorated again, the store was again closed. This cycle was repeated several times.

One time when he closed his store, the proprietor removed the sign bearing his name. People then knew that this time the store was closed for good. Had there been any hope that he would again reopen, he would not have removed the sign.

This, the Chafetz Chaim said, is the reason for the exclusive importance of Shabbos. By observing Shabbos, one asserts his belief that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. A created world has a purpose. Even if one might deviate from observance of the Torah, the knowledge that there is a Creator leads one to reflect that there is a purpose to existence and that the Creator revealed that purpose. This belief enables one to return to live according to the will and commandments of the Creator.

Shabbos is a sign. It is equivalent to the sign on the store. As long as the sign is intact there is hope that one will observe the rest of the Torah.
Shabbat Shalom
Preview of the Week: March 5-9, 2018
Lunch: Pizza Bagels

Sports:  

Activities:
Lunch: Rotini and Meat Sauce - Volunteer: L. Markush

Sports:

Activities:
Lunch: Pizza - Volunteer: I. Khozin

Sports:

Activities: Lower School Tennis, 4:15 pm
Lunch: Sloppy Joes - Volunteer: D. Kopp/S Epstein

Sports:

Activities:
Lunch: Tuna

Sports:

Activities: 1st Grade Iditarod, 9 am
March 11: Daylight Savings Time Begins; turn clocks ahead 1 hour
March 11: Baseball Team Fundraising Take Out Dinner, 4-7 pm, Beth Jacob Synagogue
March 14: PTO Yoga for Moms, 8:45 am, CTA
March 16: End of 3rd Quarter; Lower School Dress Down Day
March 18: Passover and Hebrew Story Time, 2 pm, Bexley Public Library
March 20 and 21: Upper School Drama Presents: The Hundred Dresses, 7:30 pm, CTA
March 28: Model Seders
March 29-April 8: Passover Vacation - NO SCHOOL
Registration for the Garden Club for students in grades 3-7 is now open. Weekly sessions begin after school on March 12. Click here to sign up.
Miss Chocolate Sales Continue and a NEW opportunity to earn more!

Earn a small prize for every 10 emails you send to family and friends. Turn in the form found at the front desk and you will earn a prize.

And remember, you can invite out of town friends and family to help support the CTA PTO by visiting www.misschocolate.com and clicking on "ONLINE STORE". Select Student/Seller-DASHBOARD and create a seller ID#.  AND, out of town friends can use this link to order directly from Miss Chocolate. Orders over $75 receive free shipping.



Give your student ID# and the school order code: 703241 and follow the online instructions to invite family and friends to shop at your very own personalized home page. You can increase the prize level you can earn!

*ANOTHER GREAT ADDITION THIS YEAR: Your customers can pay online with a credit card by going to www.misschocolate.com/pay. There will be a small processing fee added.  

*Feel free to contact Shana at hazans@rocketmail.com witjh any questions.
In case you missed it, Rabbi Zecharia Weitz, Upper School Judaic Studies Curriculum Coordinator had an article he wrote picked up by Yeshiva University's The Benjamin and Rose Berger Purim-To-Go 5778 publication. The magazine is now online at https://www.yutorah.org/togo/purim and you can download his article there.
Click on link or icon below to see more.
The CTA Baseball team is holding a Take Out Burger Night on Sunday, March 11 from 4-7 pm to help them get new uniforms. Here is a flyer. Drive through pick up and delivery options are available.
SPECIAL RATE FOR CTA PARENTS AND STUDENTS: CTA parents and students are invited to see Side Show on Thursday, March 8 or 15 for a discounted rate of $5.00. The show is appropriate for grades 5-12.

Email Norma Whitmyre at  nwhitmyre@torahacademy.org  or contact Nina Martin at Gallery Players at the JCC at  nmartin@ columbusjcc.org o r  614-559-6248  for tickets.
Hebrew and Passover Story Time at the Bexley Library on Sunday, March 18 at 2 pm. Join with Moreh Dror and Moreh Eran (from CJDS) for a celebration of the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover with stories, songs, and crafts. Program will be in both Hebrew and English and is appropriate for families with children ages 7 and younger. For more information, contact info@torahacademy.org
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
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.
The next lower school Parent Café with Nicole Miller will be on March 14 at 7:30 pm at the home of Lara and Gary Blumberg.

Due to the animated discussion at the February cafe, the topic will be a book talk based on the book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck.

Parents are encouraged to read the book and Mrs. Miller will present leading questions for a discussion about how a growth mindset prepares our students for future success. A growth mindset gives our children problem solving skills and the tools to understand that effort and time equal higher achievement. Dr. Dweck’s studies have shown that when students believe they can get smarter they understand that effort makes them stronger.

RSVP to info@torahacademy.org or to request the address if needed.
Purchase Shmurah matzoh for Passover and proceeds will support our school, Columbus Torah Academy. Orders can be made online and are guaranteed if received by March 11. A flyer can also be downloaded here.
Be sure to join PTO. Click here for more information and here are some ways you can volunteer!
The next PTO Yoga for Moms will be on Tuesday, March 13 at 8:45 am at CTA . Bexley Yoga is again partnering with PTO for this class. Cost is $5 per person. A flyer will be available next week.
Click icon above for detailed information and ways to fulfill your Give & Get .
Meet Sharon Tal, successful Israeli designer and entrepreneur on Thursday, March 8 at 7 pm at Creekside Event Center in Gahanna. Flyer here.
Mamanet Family Festival on Sunday, March 11 from 12-2 pm at the JCC.
Cole Essay Contest for High School Seniors. Deadline is April 20, 2018. Details can be found here.
Community speaker. Wendy Amsellem for High School aged girls on Sunday, March 11 at 3 pm. Flyer and more information can be found here.
Gallery Players presents "Side Show" at the JCC from March 3-18. Purchase tickets at jccgalleryplayers.org or 614-231-2731
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 Monday, February 26, the 11th of Adar, is sponsored by Shellie and Daniel Rubin in memory of Jean Rubin, Yehuda ben Yeheskel, the alta Zayde of Moshe and Dovy Hollander on his yarzheit which was observed on the 10th of Adar. May his neshama hava an aliya.

CTA's Day of Learning for Wednesday, February 28, the 13th of Adar is sponsored by Dr. Neil and Audrey Siegel in honor of their grandchildren Yehuda Leib, Sara and Hillel Weinreich and to wish a Happy Purim to the staff at CTA. The Siegels are grandparents to kindergartner Yehuda Leib.  

 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