CTA Weekly Communicator | May 11, 2018 26 Iyar 5778 |
8:18 pm Candle lighting for Parashat Behar-Bechukotai
CTA Weekly Communicator
Weekly Newsletter with Important News & Updates from Columbus Torah Academy
Shabbat Shalom D'var Torah
By Jamie Bindell, Kindergarten Judaic Studies Teacher
Parshat Bechukotai begins by stating, “If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them”, blessings that will be bestowed on us. Rashi asks the following question, “Following My decrees and observing My commandments seem to be the same, so why is the idea repeated?” He answers that “following My decrees” is actually talking about “toiling in Torah”. 

Rabbi Abraham Twerski in his book, Twerski on Chumash, comments on this idea by saying that anyone can toil in Torah. We may all not be able to become a famous Rav with many students, but we are all able to study, and this is primarily what matters. The focus is not how successful one is at mastering everything, as some people are unable to grasp Torah quickly. They might feel their teachers are disappointed with them, which in turn may drive the student to give up on learning and his commitment to Judaism. Rabbi Twerski says, “If they could feel that their efforts in trying to understand the Talmud are appreciated, regardless of whether or not they succeed, and if they received recognition for the effort, they would be better motivated to study Torah.” We need to look at the effort being put forth, instead of simply the end goal of being learned. 

In Kindergarten, we recently learned about Rabbi Akiva and how he started learning Torah when he was 40. He had difficulty trying to learn. One day, he saw a rock that had water dripping on it for a long time, and noticed there was a depression in the rock from the water. Rabbi Akiva noted that if water can make a hole in a rock, he can learn Torah if he just keeps studying. With that determination, he was able to become the famous Talmudic sage.  

I love this idea. When we do not give up on something that is hard for us, even though giving up would be easier, we can accomplish so much. We talk a lot about a growth mindset at CTA. How can we learn more and keep growing as people and as educators? How can we take the student who struggles and encourage then to feel proud of themselves and to keep going? How will we know who we can become unless we keep trying and growing?

I believe the line about toiling is alluding to the effort. Most of us will not become a famous Rabbi like Rabbi Akiva, but we can have that same determination. Hashem wants our effort. Hashem doesn’t want us to ever give up, despite something being hard. He wants us to keep growing every moment. If you keep moving in the right direction long enough and encourage others to do so as well, you never know who you or they may become.  
 
Shabbat Shalom
Preview of the Week: May 14-18, 2018
Lunch: French Toast - Volunteer: R. Schwartz

Sports:  

Activities: Twirlers, 4-5 pm
Lower School Parent Cafe with Nicole Miller, 7:30 pm, Markush Home
Lunch: Tacos - Volunteer: M. Lessnick

Sports:

Activities:
Lunch: Lasagna - Volunteer: I. Khozin

Sports:

Activities: Lower School Tennis, 4:15 pm
Robotics Club, 4-5:15 pm
Garden Club, 4-5 pm
Lunch: Sloppy Joes - Volunteer: S. Stanich

Sports:

Activities:
Lunch: Tuna

Sports:

Activities:
May 13 : Mother's Day
May 21: Shavuot - NO SCHOOL
May 23-June 1: Scholastic Book Fair
May 25: LS Dress Down Day
May 28: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
May 30: Lower School Achievement Fair, 6-7:30 pm
June 1: Field Day for K-8
June 1: LS Dress Down Day
June 3: 12th Grade Graduation, 1 pm
June 4: 3rd Grade Plays, 3 pm
June 5: Class of 2022 Freshman Speech, 7 pm
June 6: Last Day of School, 12;00 pm dismissal
Kindergarten Celebration, 9:30 am
Upper School Awards Assembly, 7 pm
NEW FOR 2018-2019: ALL Columbus Torah Academy students who ride COLUMBUS City School buses will need to request transportation to CTA by completing an online Transportation Request. Requests are made using Infinite Campus Online Registration.

Register online at: https://www.ccsoh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=4818

  • The slides will walk you through the online registration process.
  • Each slide will prompt you for the information needed in order to proceed
to the next step.
  • Make sure you review each screen’s instructions before continuing.
  • Select Charter, Non-Public Transportation Request as the registration type.
  • Don’t forget to click “Submit” when you are finished.
  • CTA staff cannot register for you.

Click HERE to Register online

A Detailed PDF of what how to register HERE.

Columbus buses WILL pick up at 12:00 pm on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
Click on link or icon below to see more.
Mon, May 14, 7:30 pm
At the home of Dor and Lissie Markush

Let's wrap up the year by looking at the lower school has accomplished this year. It will be a year in review. There will be time to share your thoughts.  We will also talk about what you would like to see next year for Parent Cafés.

Email info@torahacademy.org for details or address
New link for Magazine sale. Help our 7th graders raise money for their trip to Washington DC in the Fall. Use this Link: Tiny.cc/TorahDC

Detailed flyer here.
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
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.
Start saving those Box Tops. Lots of promotions! Click here for more information: Box Tops Back to School Promotions - Earn Prizes
CTA’s Book Fair is May 24, 25, 29 and June 1
Visit us any day during school, and at Achievement Fair, Wednesday evening May 30!

For more information, visit CTA’s Book Fair homepage at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/cta.
Can’t come to the Fair, or to see even more great books, shop online at that website, too. Our Online Fair is available from May 13 – 31. 

We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school. 
Save Around App: Use this link to check out this new App that you can buy for your phone. Help CTA 8th graders raise money and save some money yourself! Click Here. More Details here.
Gratitude Grams: PTO is selling Gratitude Grams for teachers and staff. A sheet of gratitude grams is $1 for 4. You can show your appreciation for your favorite teacher or staff person. They can be purchased online at http://www.torahacademy.org/pto-gratitude-grams/ 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.
Click icon above for detailed information and ways to fulfill your Give & Get .
HELP CTA EARN KROGER REWARDS: https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow to make sure that your rewards card is linked to Columbus Torah Academy. We earn 3% of every sale in donations to support our students. Now is the time to confirm you are enrolled. More information here.
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.
Columbus Torah Academy is on INSTAGRAM! Follow us at:

Columbus Torah Academy

Buckeye Kosher BBQ Festival is on August 12, 2018 from 3-7 pm on the front lawn at Capital University. Volunteers are needed. Click here for more information.
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. 
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