December 20, 2018 /12th of Tevet 5779 /  Parashat Vayechi /Candle lighting: 4:14 pm
Early Childhood/Lower School
Nursery 3 had an i ncredible treat for letter I week! Mr. Donni I sraeli, JKHA’s CFOO visited their classroom and read their letter ‘I’ book, “ I saac the I ce Cream Truck” about an ice cream truck who wishes he had a more important job. Thank you to Mr. I sraeli
First grade took a trip to “Noun Town” for their study of nouns! First, each student created a place to add to the town, including a school, doctor’s office,camp, zoo, houses and a park (just to name a few). Next, the students created people that live and work in “Noun Town.” Last, the students added things around the town, such as trees, fire hydrants, signs and cars. The first graders had a blast creating this fun and educational project!
Second graders were thrilled to bring all of the clothing that they collected through their clothing drive to Rabbi Kirsch in RKYHS. The clothes were distributed by the RKYHS Homeless Awareness Club to the people living on the streets in Newark. Kol HaKavod second grade!
Second and third graders participated in a mindfulness program called "creative calming" to teach mindfulness to kids. The program was led by Melyssa (Luxenberg) Mandelbaum (JKHA '09/RKYHS '13) and her colleague who are currently part of a psychology doctoral program studying clinical psychology. The program taught students skills for how to be present in the moment, and combat stress or anxious feelings including breathing exercises and tactics to "calm your mind" 
To mark Asara B'tevet, Early Childhood and Lower School classes participated in programming to promote friendship and kindness to one another. Lower School Judaic studies classes learned the history of Asara B'tevet, and read the "Bundle of Sticks" from Aesop's Fables that conveyed the message that in unity there's strength. Students then made "bricks" pledging to perform an act of kindness to promote ahavat chinam (loving kindness). Early Childhood classes and Lower School general studies classes also welcomed guest readers to read books about friendship and unity.
Middle School
If you ask students who graduate from JKHA about the highlights of their time in Middle School, the 7th grade shabbaton is undoubtedly on the top of their list. This past shabbat, the 7th grade boys were hosted by Rabbis Selengut, Sukenik, and Feit in their homes in Passaic while the girls were welcomed by Congregation AABJ&D and in the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Sharbat in West Orange. Both groups had a meaningful shabbat experience with delicious food, singing, Torah, and fun. Following shabbat the boys went bowling and the girls had a special presentation where they learned how to make delicious challah crowns. A great time was had by all. Thank you to all of the Rebbeim and Morot who came to spend shabbat with the students!
Through the Names Not Numbers © program, our eighth graders are creating a moving documentary featuring brave women and men who survived the atrocities of the Holocaust. The students recently met with their survivors to hear their recollections of World War II and the Holocaust and record their stories for posterity. The students now begin the process of editing down all of the footage for the final piece. Please view this video documenting their interview process with the survivors.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 29 for the screening of the Names Not Numbers© documentary at JKHA at 7pm.
Sixth graders enjoyed a trip to the Buehler Challenger and Space Center in Paramus, NJ. They had learned so much in preparation for their trip and were excited to put their knowledge to use. The students took part in the mission, ‘Rendezvous with Comet Halley.’ They participated in different teams and experienced the simulation of handling emergencies, building probes, collecting data from space, researching on plants and chemicals, communicating from space and navigating the spaceship.
The sixth grade students and parents came together to discuss two big issues facing sixth graders, bullying and internet safety/awareness. The students were engaged in a fun, team building exercise where they had to work together towards a common goal. The idea was to promote positivity and community building, all of which combat bullying.  The parents heard from Ms. Wasserman about how the school is targeting and addressing bullying from all angles. From the Kushner Kool initiative that promotes catching positive behaviors aligned with the current guidance theme, to small group sessions delving into bullying in a real and relatable way, students are learning about perspective taking and thinking before you speak or post. Next parents heard from Project SARAH about internet safety and awareness and how parents can be more aware of their children's use of technology and ensuring their safety. The concept of cyber-bullying was also discussed so that parents can help be a line of defense in preventing cyber-bullying.
JKHA Girls Hockey Team tryouts will take place on December 27th from 4:30 to 6 pm. Please bring a helmet, gloves, and a hockey stick.
High School
The genetic engineering students welcomed Safet Palamar to their classroom. Palamar is an analytical chemist and transformational scientist at Novartis. He spoke to Bio Medical Engineering, Honors Biology and Genetic Engineering classes about the pharmaceutical industry and the importance of characterizing compounds relating to the pharmaceutical industry. Palamar was instrumental in helping RKYHS secure the UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography) instrument which will allow us to analyze and identify small molecular complexes. 
So proud of our dance team for their performance at Rikudiah! RKYHS was thrilled to host so many day schools for the competition that raised money for tzedakah for the 9th year in a row!  Click here to read more about last Saturday night’s Rikudiah competition.
The RKYHS Drama Club lit up the stage with their production of Legally Blonde in the school's Epstein-Stein Auditorium. The cast was comprised of students from all grades at RKYHS, and they rehearsed for weeks to put on a stellar performance. Students also assumed the roles of stage managers and set designers allowing them all the opportunity to explore their interests in the varied aspects of the stage and performing arts.   
Thirty students from the RKYHS Homeless Awareness Club braved the cold last night to distribute food and clothing to the homeless in Newark. They were proud to bring all the clothing that was collected by the JKHA second grade. Earlier in the week, the club heard from Alex Polimani from Covenant House who spoke to the students about their upcoming solidarity sleepout.
The entire tenth grade attended Escher: The Exhibition and Experience, in Industry City, Brooklyn, for their annual art trip. The students have been studying MC Escher in Art Class and discussed his incorporation of tessellations in their geometry math classes as well, and it was exciting for them to be able to see his works up close. The trip combined students' knowledge in many disciplines. In addition to art and math, they saw Escher’s scientific fascination; which was way before his time. Prior to the trip the students created their own tessellations and learned more about the life of MC Escher. 
Students brought joy and laughter to the residents of the Lester Senior Housing yesterday as they sang songs, played card games, and spent time talking with them during one of their regular visits. 
Congratulations to the RKYHS chess team on their win over Frisch 9-5 continuing their undefeated season!
RKYHS hosted a poetry slam yesterday of close to 40 students. The featured topics were "the limits of language - how language is both a way to connect to people, but also something so personal which can lead to unexpected misunderstandings." The other poem was "How I imagine an ideal world." The participating RKYHS students were joined by students from Rambam, Ma’ayanot, Shalhevet, Frisch, TABC, and SAR.
Kushner Torah Videos (KTV)
Mrs. Danielle Rosenzveig uses this week's parsha to help us add new meaning to our Friday night brachot for our children.
Divrei Torah
At the end of Perek מח, Yaakov Avinu mentions that he got cities from the Emori with his sword and arrows (חרבי וקשתי). The Targum Unkeles as well as the Gemara say that sword and arrow are a reference to davening. The sword corresponds to formal established tefila which we daven with the tzibbur (community). The arrow corresponds to bakashos which are personal requests, added on to the standard text of prayer. 

R. Meir Simcha from Dvinsk, the Meshech Chochma, explains why the Torah refers to these prayers as sword and arrow. He explains that a sword is inherently dangerous. Even if the person wielding the sword is not so strong or quick the sword can still cause damage just due to its sharpness. The arrow on the other hand can only hurt if it is shot with force and aimed directly at the target. 

This is reflective of the two types of tefila referred to earlier. Tefila which happens in Shul with a minyan is like a sword. It is inherently powerful, even if the person davening doesn’t have proper kavana. On the other hand, a personal request is only as powerful as the kavana and sincerity with which it is prayed. 

This teaches us the importance of communal tefila. While it is very difficult to completely focus on our tefila and properly concentrate throughout, tefila with a minyan is like a sword. Even if we don’t swing it so powerfully its inherent power can make it effective.
A Look at Math in JKHA and RKYHS
Events and Programs
Lifecycles
Mazal Tov to Ayala East and to Donna and Rabbi Menashe East on the occasion of Ayala’s bat mitzvah.

Mazal Tov to Dr. Stella Ferker and Arthur Vays on the birth of a baby girl. Mazal Tov to big brother Max (third grade) and big sister Bianna (second grade).

Mazel Tov to Josh Weiner and to Leora and Warren Weiner on the occasion of Josh’s bar mitzvah.
Alumni
Parents of alumni who graduated in RKYHS classes of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 - make sure your children know about the upcoming alumni event for them on Monday, 12/24! The faculty and alumni association at RKYHS invite the alumni from those classes to come back to RKYHS while they’re home from college for winter break! They should join us at RKYHS on Monday, December 24 at 10:30 am and see their former teachers, schmooze with other alumni, participate in alumni specific programming, and eat! They should let alumni coordinator Erica Rosenfeld know if they can make it at erosenfeld@jkha.org.
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We regret to inform you of the passing of Shifra Epstein z"l, beloved mother of Sherry Epstein Stein and Henry Stein and beloved grandmother of Barry (JKHA '02/RKYHS '06) Stein (Michelle) and Alyssa (JKHA '04/RKYHS '08) Stein.
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Mazal tov to Noreen and Dr. Robert Deutsch (JKHA '91)on the birth of a baby boy.

Mazal tov to Rachel Miller (JKHA '04/RKYHS '08) on her marriage to Gabriel Cooper

Mazal tov to Tiffany and Mordechai Yankovich (JKHA '97/RKYHS '01) on the birth of a baby boy.

Mazel Tov to Amanda (Tammam, JKHA '04) & Menashe Benedict on the birth of a baby boy.

Mazal Tov to Rachel (Cohen JKHA '06) & David Chiger on the birth of a baby boy.

Mazal Tov to Jamie (JKHA '00) & Dena Small on the birth of a baby boy.

Mazal tov to Adina (Maik, JKHA '01/RKYHS '05) and Shlomo Bergmann on the birth of a baby girl.

Mazal tov to Daniel Zucker (JKHA '07) on his engagement, to Sharon Dudek. 

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Development
We Invite You to Dedicate Our 
Children's Torah Learning 
at JKHA/RKYHS
 
If you are interested in sponsoring a Day of Learning, contact Sarah Levinson: slevinson@jkha.org or (862) 437-8001 
If you are interested in dedicating a mezuzah, please contact Lauren Shapiro, Director of Development at  lshapiro@jkha.org  or 
(862) 437-8192