Weekly Newsletter with Important News & Updates from Columbus Torah Academy
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Shabbat Shalom D'var Torah
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By Elana Katz, 5th and 6th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
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On March 5, one of the headlines of the Wall Street Journal read,
“Baseball Rules Are Complicated Enough, Now Add Passover. Keeping kosher during the holiday means hot dogs and beer are out of bounds for observant baseball fans; charoset not Cracker Jacks.”
It is fascinating to think about the effects that our dietary choices have on our physical and spiritual wellbeing. Since we cannot ignore the most basic human necessity for nourishment throughout the day, it is clear how deeply our daily lives are affected by our dietary requirements.
While the Torah does not write an explicit reason behind the laws of kashrus that are listed in Vayikra, Chapter 11, we are told that by keeping kosher, we will thus become holy.
“For I am the Lord Who has brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. Thus, you shall be holy, because I am holy.” (Vayikra 11:45)
On this verse, Rashi asks, “Everywhere else, the Torah says that Hashem has brought us
out of the land of Egypt, so why does the Torah now write that Hashem brought you
up from the land of Egypt?” What is the meaning of the unusual expression “bringing up?” Rashi quotes the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael and explains that in a spiritual sense, we literally raise ourselves up and become exalted through the observance of kashrus.
Even though there are many detailed laws and halachos regarding kashrus, it is a unique and consistent opportunity to exalt ourselves and keep ourselves connected to the Jewish community. Dietary needs impress upon us the importance of living within a community that can sustain this mitzvah and help us stay connected to our roots and heritage. The communal nature of our dietary observance is even expressed in the laws of the Pesach sacrifice, which we are encouraged to eat with many guests. There is indeed truth to the cliche that everything Jews do revolves around food - as it is a medium for bringing the Jews together to be elevated as a community. So while kashrus can simply be viewed as dietary guidelines, Parshat Shmini teaches that it is in fact one of the keys to ensuring our everlasting, elevated nation.
Shabbat Shalom
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Preview of the Week: April 16-20, 2018
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Lunch: French Toast
Sports:
Varsity Baseball vs. Shekinah, 5:15 at Berliner Field 32
Activities: Twirlers, 4-5 pm
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Lunch: Rotini & Meat Sauce - Volunteer: M. Lessnick
Sports:
Activities: CTA students at Community Yom Hazikaron, JCC, 6:45 pm
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Lunch: Lasagna - Volunteer: I. Khozin
Sports:
Activities: Lower School Tennis, 4:15 pm
Robotics Club, 4-5:15 pm
Garden Club, 4-5 pm
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Lunch: CTA Sponosored Lunch: K-3 - Hot Dogs; 4-12 - Felafel Volunteers: S. Stanich/S. Epstein
Sports:
Activities: Yom Ha'Atzmaut - ALL students wear white CTA uniform shirts and blue bottoms
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Lunch: Tuna
Sports:
Activities:
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
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April 20:
Art to Remember Order Deadline
April 22:
Better Together Culminating Program, 3 pm, Bexley Public Library
April 27: LS Dress Down Day
April 29-May 1: Columbus Baseball Invitational (CBI)
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Important School Information
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Please note upcoming CTA commemorations and celebrations for Yom HaZikaron and
Yom HaAtzmaut, 70th Independence Day for the State of Israel!
We would like to ask that all students (K-12) come to school in a white uniform shirt or white buttoned down shirt on Wednesday, April 18 (Yom HaZikaron) and on Thursday, April 19 (Yom HaAtzmaut).
We will mark these holidays by participating in three important ceremonies:
Tuesday, April 17,
Community Yom HaZikaron Commemoration at 7:00 PM at the JCC on College Avenue where our 9th and 10th grades students will present their “Remembering Together” project commemorating Fallen Israeli IDF soldiers. The entire community is invited.
Please join us.
Wednesday, April 18,
from 1:30-2:20 PM - CTA Upper School Yom HaZikaron Ceremony – 9th and 10th grade students will continue to share their “Remembering Together“ work.
Thursday, April 19, at 12:30
– we will begin the celebration of the 70th Independence Day of the State of Israel with a school Yom HaAtzmaut Ceremony. Following the ceremony, all grades will celebrate the holiday with special and fun activities relating to Israel for the remainder of the day, including a special Israeli BBQ lunch for students!
Please Join us at 3:45-4:00 in the shul for a special goodbye for the Bar Asher Family.
We look forward to commemorating and celebrating,
Shirly and the Entire CTA Staff
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Hebrew Language Books: Check out this special offer for Hebrew books from the Keshet and the Israel American Council. To sign up, go to
www.iackeshet.org
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Volunteer for Columbus Baseball Invitational: CBI will be held on April 29-May 1 and parent volunteers are always needed to help make the event a success. Earn Give & Get. A list of volunteer opportunities can be found here. Email to alisadk@hotmail.com to get signed up.
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Click on link or icon below to see more.
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Buy tons of items for camp (and every day, too) and support CTA. Columbus Torah Academy receives 10% of every purchase. Be sure to use this link:
www.packforcamp.com/cta For more information click
here.
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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.
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Gratitude Grams: PTO is now selling Gratitude Grams for teachers and staff. A sheet of gratitude grams are $1 for 4. You can show your appreciation for your favorite teacher or staff person. They can be purchased by emailing to pto@torahacademy.org or using the same email to send payment to Paypal. Orders will be delivered to your child to take home. All completed Gratitude Grams will be returned to the front desk for distribution by the Lower School Student Council. If you have any questions, contact Beth Binsky at beth@2828design.com.
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Click icon above for detailed information and ways to fulfill your
Give & Get
.
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J-Serve day of service for teens in grades 6-12 this
Sunday, April 15, at the JCC from 8:15 am-1:00 pm. Sign up
here.
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Yemen Blues and 12 Torches on
Thursday, April 19 at 6:30 pm in celebration of Israel's 70th Birthday. Buy tickets at
http://buff.ly/2JtuNBh
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Cole Essay Contest for High School Seniors. Deadline is April 20, 2018. Details can be found
here.
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Remember and honor Israel's soldiers on
Tuesday, April 17 at the JCC. CTA students are heavily involved in this programming and doors open at 6:30 to see their Remembering 2Gether displays.
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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.
To choose your Day of Learning, contact Shari at sherszage@torahacademy.org.
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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.
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Columbus Torah Academy | (V) 614-864-0299 | (F)614-864-2119 | info@torahacademy.org | www.torahacademy.org
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