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Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter
September 30, 2016 - Elul 27, 5776
Parshat Nitzavim - Candle Lighting: 6:40 - Havdallah: 7:46
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A story is told of a young man who got into a fight with his father that became so heated that the son packed a bag and left home. The son moved to a different town and began to make a life for himself there on his own. As time went on, the son realized how much he missed his father and how desperately he wanted to return home. He bought a train ticket to return but then became nervous that he would not be welcomed once he arrived. He decided to send his father a letter in advance of his homecoming. The letter read, "Dear Father, I am sorry for what I have done. I miss you and want to come home but I understand that after the pain that I have caused, you may not want me back again. I know that before the train pulls into the station it passes behind the fence that closes in our backyard. There is a tree in our backyard whose branches reach above the fence. If I am welcome at home, please hang a white flag on one of those branches. If you don't want me back, please leave it bare and I will know not to disembark from the train when it pulls into the station."
The day came for the trip back home and the young man boarded the train with so much doubt and anxiety. What if there was no white flag? What if he was never again welcome in his father's home? A passenger next to him noticed his stress and inquired after the source. The young man told his neighbour about his fight and his fear of not being accepted upon his return. As the train came closer to the man's home, he became so panic stricken that he put his head down and shut his eyes. "I can't look'" he said. "I know that there won't be a flag. There is no way my father has forgiven me." The passenger alongside the man promised to look for the flag in his stead. Suddenly, the anxious young man heard his neighbouring passenger take in a sharp breath. "I knew it he said. It's bad news, right?" "You better see for yourself," said the other passenger. The boy looked up. He had been right. The tree did not have one white flag on it. The tree was actually covered in hundreds of white flags hung from every possible branch. The message from the father was clear. "I not only want you home, I simply cannot wait to have you back."
"Rosh Hashana is almost here" is a phrase that strikes fear in even the most steadfast of hearts. Rosh Hashana is a day of judgement on which our entire year is decided. Reflecting back on our own personal and collective year always gives us pause to consider what the next one may have in store. Although fear is the emotion most readily associated with the upcoming Yom Tov, it does not appear to be the emotion Hashem had in mind for us for this time of year. We are currently in the month of Elul, a month whose name is made of four Hebrew letters: Aleph, Lamed, Vav, Lamed. Chazal teach us that these letters are an acronym for "Ani L'Dodi V'dodi Li." I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me. The relationship we are supposed to be working on now is loving G-d and recognizing how much He loves us. Additionally, we say Chapter 27 of Tehillim every day at the end of Shacharit. If you examine the words of this chapter, it is entirely the opposite of fear inducing; G-d is my light and my salvation so who is there to fear? In other words, Hashem cares for us always so all of our anxieties should be quelled. But it is not enough for Hashem to just love us, we have to be partners in this relationship as well. Dovid Hamelech in this beautiful perek of tehilim tells us that fear is not the appropriate emotion to feel as long as the one request we maintain throughout our lives is "shavti b'beit Hashem" to continually desire to sit in G-d's house. And that is why, as Rashi tells us, the chapter ends with a repetition. "Put your hope in G-d. Strengthen your heart and put your hope in G-d."
We will all find ourselves distanced from Hashem at various points throughout our lives but we need to put our hope in G-d, we need to ask our father to let us return. This may require strengthening of our hearts and our resolve because we may fear that Hashem no longer wants us back, but keep on putting that hope in Hashem and then on Rosh Hashana you will find that Hashem has covered his tree with hundreds of white flags happily anticipating your return.
This year, let's not let fear stand between us and Teshuva. Let love guide our return to our Heavenly Father.
K'tiva V'Chatima Tova and a Shana Tova
Mrs. Yael Gelernter
Assistant Principal, Ulpanat Orot
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Mother / Daughter Hatarat Nedarim
Ulpana students participated in a meaningful Hatarat Nedarim slichot davening. Joined by the Yeshiva University Beit Midrash, they focused on important, relevant themes heading into Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
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YOC Grade 9 Kensington Retirement Home Visit
Rabbi Kleinberg's grade 9 Gemara class traveled to Kensington Retirement Home for a learning program. Boys learned with the residents in advance of Rosh Hashana. Following that, Elkanah played piano while the students sang for the residents. The trip was a wonderful chesed opportunity, allowing our students to make valuable generational connections. Thank you to Rabbi Kleinberg and Elkanah for organizing the program.
Click here for more pictures
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YOC 11/12 Stratford trip
YOC grade 11 and 12 students traveled to Stratford, Ontario to view
All My Sons
. The boys enjoyed seeing a play they studied brought to life on stage. They were impressed with the staging, as well as the acting. Having a chance to walk around the quaint town was another enjoyable aspect of the day. Thank you to Rabbi Sonenberg, Rav Yair, Mrs. Ripsman, Mr. Lazar, Dr. Nadler and Mrs. Chocron for chaperoning the trip!
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YOC Lost and Found
Please note that the lost and found will be emptied at the end of every month. Students who are missing binders, textbooks and / or clothing should ensure to check as soon as possible. Please be in touch with Mrs. Cohen in the office if you have any questions.
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YOC Rebbe Mishmar
- Oct 6
Next Thursday, October 6 is our first Rebbe mishmar of the year! This mishmar is the perfect opportunity for our students to learn and connect outside of the classroom. Students will be dismissed from the locations they are attending at 7pm.
Rabbi Mazer's class will be in his apartment, upstairs in YOC.
Rabbi Kleinberg's class will travel by school bus to 625 Glencairn.
Rav Yair's class will be in his apartment, upstars in YOC.
Rabbi Sonenberg's class will walk to 86 Almore Ave.
Rabbi Perlmutter's class will travel by school bus to 6 Meadowbrook Rd.
Rabbi Pituchey Chotam's class will be in his apartment, upstairs in YOC.
Rabbi Goldberg's class will be in the small Beit Midrash in YOC.
Rabbi Spitz's class will arrange their own lifts to 29 York Hill Blvd.
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- Sunday, October 2 - Tuesday, October 4: Rosh Hashana, no school
- Wednesday, October 5: Tzom Gedaliah, 2pm dismissal
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Thursday, October 6:
UO McMaster visit at lunch for interested grade 12 students; YOC Rebbe Mishmar
- Friday, October 7: YOC McMaster visit at lunch for interested grade 12 students
- Sunday, October 9 - Monday, October 10: Thanksgiving weekend; YOC grade 12 sukkah building
- Tuesday, October 11: Erev Yom Kippur, no school
- Wednesday, October 12: Yom Kippur, no school
- Thursday, October 13: school resumes (YOC grade 12 sukkah building after period 2); YOC no mishmar
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Girls' Basketball
Upcoming practices for the Ulpana Basketball team are:
- Sunday, October 9 from 6-8pm
- Thursday, October 20 from 3:30-5:30pm
- Thursday, October 27 from 5:30-7pm.
All practices take place at Yeshivat Or Chaim.
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Members of our yearbook committee attended a seminar presented by Jostens, filled with creative and inspiring ideas. |
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Mrs. Cohen and several grade 11 and 12 students assisted with a donated delivery to Sunnybrook hospital as part of a chesed opportunity.
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Ulpana students made Rosh Hashana packages for their teachers as part of their #UORespects gratitude week. |
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Births:
A boy to Sabrina (Grodzinski '04) and Gabriel Weill
A girl to Mrs. Sara Munk, Assistant Principal at Ulpana, and Mr. Netanel Munk
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Community Events & Announcements
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The Jerusalem Science Contest
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Support Bnei Akiva Schools with your Amazon Purchases
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