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September 4, 2020
ט״ו אלול תש״פ
Candle lighting for Hollywood 7:18pm
Parshat Nitzavim

 
 
Greetings from the Head of School
Dr. Rochelle Brand

This past week the sounds of chatter and laughter reverberated through the Sha'arei Bina hallways again.  It has been six months since the building closed due to the Covid pandemic.  School, however, continued and even during the summer months education was not over.  Nevertheless, the joy felt by the closeness of human contact was felt by everyone as we began the 20/21 school year.  We had to hold ourselves back from giving high fives or hugs, but we could see everyone smiling through their masks.  We are becoming adept at reading body language through the eyes.

In this week's Parsha, Ki Tavo, we read about the blessings and the curses that will befall us, Jews,  depending on whether or not we fulfill G-d's commandments, the mitzvot. Yet, it is not the transgressing, doing evil, that bring the calamities upon us, but it is rather, as it is written in Devraim 28:47  תַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־עָבַ֙דְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְט֣וּב לֵבָ֑ב מֵרֹ֖ב כֹּֽל׃
Because you would not serve the L-RD your G-d in joy and gladness over the abundance of everything,    
The curses come because we did not serve Hashem B'simcha, with joy.   There are a few different interpretations of "מֵרֹ֖ב כֹּֽל"-, is it due to the abundance or for the abundance?   Is it because you have so much in your life that has caused you not to be happy or is it simply that we did not recognize that all that we have in life comes directly from Hashem. Nevertheless, our downfall comes from lack of joy. 

What is happiness and how can we be commanded to be happy?  Is there a difference between Joy and Happiness? (Osher and Simcha). Happiness may be defined as the positive emotional feeling or sense of wellbeing that derives primarily from external favorable circumstances.    Joy, on the other hand,  is a deep, soul-level positive emotion  that is a result of beholding by faith the beauty and wonders of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. 

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains that  "joy lives not in thoughts of tomorrow, but in the grateful acceptance and celebration of today."  If we appreciate the moment allowing ourselves to contemplate goodness, recognize the positive things we have in life, smile and give thanks, that is an expression of joy. When we fulfill the commandments, celebrate the holidays, care about our communities, do chessed, not for any reward, but when we do things for their own sake then there is joy.
Rabbi Sacks posits that we can survive the failures and defeats if we never lose the capacity for joy. We can survive this terrible pandemic that has swept our nation, our neighborhood, our families, if we retain the capacity to feel Simcha.  On Sukkot, we leave the security and comfort of our houses and live in a temporary booth exposed to the elements. Yet we call it zeman simchatenu, our season of joy.
 
It is Moshe's insistence on inculcating within our national and personal psyche the capacity for joy that gives the Jewish people the strength to endure. "Without it, we become vulnerable to the multiple disasters set out in the curses in our parsha. Celebrating together binds us as a people: that and the gratitude and humility that come from seeing our achievements not as self-made but as the blessings of G-d."

If we indulge in only our own pursuit of happiness, although that is a freedom guaranteed by the Constitution, we may lose sight of what true joy is. Yes,  rich or poor it is good to have money...but it is not the money that brings happiness.  It is what one does with their accumulation of "wealth."  We must understand that "the abundance of everything" is a gift from G-d.  The pursuit of happiness can lead, ultimately, to self-regard and indifference to the sufferings of others.  Not so, joy.  Rabbi Sacks continues, "Joy connects us to others and to G-d. Joy is the ability to celebrate life as such, knowing that whatever tomorrow may bring, we are here today, under G-d's heaven, in the universe He made, to which He has invited us as His guests."

As we return to school, and prepare ourselves for the New Year, may our sense of joy sustain us through the vicissitudes of the current situation.  May we begin a year filled with Joy and Wealth, Peace and Health.  אושר ועושר שלום ובריאות 

Welcome back and Shabbat Shalom!

Rochelle Brand, Ed.D
Head of School


In This Issue
תורת אמך/Torat Imecha 
Mrs. Wolf, Principal

It was both wonderful and challenging to welcome our students back to school this week.  The middle school grades returned incrementally, day by day, into the actual school building. They were delighted to see each other and they cooperated in adjusting to the "new normal". The high school joined virtually on Thursday, and I felt the joy of learning together with the girls again.  Special kudos to the members of our staff for their professionalism and dedication. So many of us have ventured out of our comfort zones in embracing varied technological techniques; we are certainly modeling the kind of creative learning that we foster at Sha'arei Bina.  

As we approach the Yamim Noraim, we realize that our universal and particular experiences with the coronavirus have offered us greater insight into the major Rosh Hashana theme:מלכיות, Hashem's sovereignty. In the Kedushat Hashem bracha of Musaf, we say: 

כמו שידענו ה' אלוקינו שהשלטון לפניך,עז בידך וגבורה בימינך, ושמך נורא על כל מה שבראת

...As we have known Hashem, our G-d, that the dominion is before you, might in Your hand and strength in your right hand, and Your name is awesome over all that You have created.  

We have all been humbled.  We recognize that, despite our advanced civilization with all its technology, we are utterly powerless.  This realization has shaken us all to the core.   However Yahadut is a profoundly optimistic ideology. It teaches us  to view every experience in life as an opportunity for growth and change.  We can embrace our newfound humility and use it to fortify our relationship with the Creator of the Universe. 

We conclude this bracha of the Amidah with "Hamelech Hakadosh" and quote a passuk that is supposed to illustrate this concept. 

ויגבה ה' צב-אות במשפט, והקל הקדוש נקדש בצדקה

And the Lord of Hosts will be elevated through justice and the sanctified G-d will be sanctified through righteousness.  

Yeshaayahu is teaching us that the confrontation with Hashem's justice can bring us to a greater realization of the greatness of Hashem.  That realization will allow us to affirm His Kingship.  May we all join together in doing so.  

Shabbat Shalom!
Shabbos Greetings - Parshas Ki Savo
Rabbi Wolnerman, Mashgiach Ruchani

Enjoy this welcome back greeting and short insight into the parsha - in less than 4 minutes!


Welcome Back

Every student who returned to school received an "prescription" for an amazing year!



Including a mask, hand sanitizer, a medicine bottle filled with candy and other goodies!


The 9th grade was all smiles on their first day of English! The girls were enthusiastic, polite, and they set the tone for an upbeat and productive academic year. I hope we can maintain this positive momentum as the year progresses!
Nachas Note
Mrs. Bodkins, Mechanechet

I just wanted to share some "nachas" (prideful joy) with all of you about past and present students.  I was speaking with Mrs. Ehrenreich yesterday about finalizing a private teacher for Evie.  She is a high functioning girl with autism. Tuesday evening, before Evie's first day of school, Avi Roth called Evie from Israel to wish her good luck in school this year.

In addition, all during the Corona quarantine since our school building closed down in March, the following has happened:

1) Either Avi or Dassy Roth called Evie every day to check in with her!
2) Debbie Nash called Evie every day to teach her a new word in Spanish.
3) Tamara Yeshurun spent 15 mins on zoom with Evie every day, davening mincha together and working on social skills.

These girls, on their own initiative, took this upon themselves!

We have such a great group of girls here and I just wanted to share that with all of you!
SBTAG COVID Updates Website

Over the summer we launched a new website in order to communicate all updates in an effective and timely manner.  You can find answers to frequently asked questions, the school's policies and guidelines, and helpful resources to help keep us all safe and healthy as we return to school.  

We recommend bookmarking this new website (https://sbtagcovidupdates.weebly.com/) for future reference.
Mazal Tovs

Mazal tov to Rabbi and Dr. Brand on the marriage of their son!
Mazal tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Noach Peled on the marriage of their daughter!
Mazal tov to Mrs. Bashiry on the birth of a grandson!
Refua Sheleima

Refuah Shelayma for Dr. Jakobo Elgozy, Yaakov Refael ben Alegeria
Condolences

Condolences to the Elkarif family on the passing of Mr. Elkarif's mother.
Calendar News

September 7 - Labor Day - No school
September 18 - Erev Rosh Hashana - No school
September 21 - Tzom Gedalia - 12pm dismissal

You can access the entire Sha'arei Bina Google Calendar here.