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January 12, 2018 - 25 Tevet, 5778
Parshat Vaera
Shabbat Mevarchim
Candle Lighting by 4:57 pm
Shabbat Ends - 6:06 pm
REMINDER:
Winter Break begins Monday January 15
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We'd love to hear from you! Email us with your suggestions,
Quiz answers, and more!
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At the onset of Parshat Vaera, Hashem commands Moshe to return to Bnei Yisroel and reiterate to them his promise of an eventual redemption. As opposed to last week's parsha, when the people enthusiastically reacted to Moshe's promise of freedom, their spirits had since been shattered by Pharoh's harsh decrees and refusal to capitulate to Moshe's demand. Instead, the verse tells us that, "they did not listen to Moshe, due to shortness of spirit and hard labor" (6:9).
The Midrash Ha-gadol comments on this verse: "From here we learn that a person is not held accountable for words spoken out of his distress." The Midrash Ha-gadol notices Torah's sympathetic tone in describing the people's rejection of Moshe and therefore they are not held to task for refusing to accept his prophecy. In the Midrash's view their response was understandable in light of the brutal suffering they endured at the hands of the Egyptians.
Unfortunately, people might say offensive or even hurtful things during times of stress, anxiety, pain or frustration. Of course, we must try to minimize hurting someone in this way in any way possible. However, the Midrash teaches that we must also react sensitively when people around us speak improperly in times of distress or despair. If G-d does not hold people liable for inappropriate words spoken in times of distress, then neither should we. It is important to be forgiving and sympathetic to the hardships the people around us experience that might cause them to speak inappropriately.
This lesson can be relevant in all of our interpersonal interactions. Everyone in life has stress and anxiety that they carry with them at all times. Sometimes we know about what others are going through, but most of the time we do not. However, it is incumbent upon us to judge everyone favorably and understand that people often do not mean what they say, and instead are really speaking from a point of frustration. We should try to not take offence in these situations, and instead we should listen for what is really causing pain to our friends. By doing so we can grow in all of our relationships and truly put ourselves in a position to help others through the difficult times in their lives.
In education, this is a concept that we deal with every day. Sometimes a student might say something that on the surface is disrespectful or even defiant. While this behavior cannot be condoned, we must ask ourselves, "why is the student acting this way? and what is causing them stress?" Through viewing the student in this manner, we are able to better help them through their issues, and hopefully, over time, effect change in their outlook and mindset.
Shabbat Shalom! Enjoy Vacation!
Rabbi Weinberg, Principal
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Strong Girls - A Sonnet
Katriel Camp
Girls are taught to be perfect
Just like princesses
With pink and purple bonnets
They are told: "Wear satin slippers."
But girls are fierce and fiery
They have a strong heart
Just look at Ginny Weasley
We can all be smart
Behind every woman
besides for her mind
You can find someone who's only human
You can see and find
They climb, they fight, they crawl,
You can push them down but they'll never fall.
Villanelle: I Don't Know
by Anonymous
I don't know what to do
It's hard to think on the spot
I have no idea, do you?
I think I am through
This would have been easier if I was a robot
I don't know what to do
Maybe I should write something about the color blue
Or maybe something that's hot
I have no idea, do you?
I have no clue
My brain is starting to rot
I don't know what to do?
Maybe it would be easier in Hebrew
Maybe I should swot
I have no idea, do you?
I can write something about glue
Or maybe something about a teapot
I don't know what to do
I have no idea, do you?
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh awards grants to students who reside in the Greater Pittsburgh area (Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland Counties).
WHAT IS THE CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN REFERRAL SERVICE?
The Central Scholarship and Loan Referral Service (CSLRS) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh coordinates the efforts of a group of organizations, agencies, and scholarship endowment funds which provide need-based scholarships to local undergraduate and graduate Jewish students.
CSLRS is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and is administered by Jewish Family and Children's Service.
WHO QUALIFIES?
Any Jewish high school senior, college or graduate student with demonstrated financial need is eligible to apply. All applicants must be bona fide residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Butler or Westmoreland counties for at least two years. Individuals are known by number, not name, to ensure confidentiality.
When a student applies for aid, the CSLRS committee matches the student with the funding source or sources for which they qualify. Some funding sources require high academic achievement;
all require students to demonstrate financial need.
HOW DO I APPLY?
For school year 2018-2019 Central Scholarship will again be using an on-line application process.
The on-line applications will be available in late November at
http://www.centralscholarship.org
. First-time applicants must be interviewed by CSLRS staff.
Application deadline is February 12, 2018. Regrettably, applications received after that date will not be considered.
For further information, contact Jewish Family & Children's Service,
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When you
#StartWithaSmile
, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Bookmark the link and support us every time you shop.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/25-1067130
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At Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, we educate young men and women with unlimited capacity who compete in a superior manner in all challenges undertaken. Our students are Torah observant models of exemplary character, who love G-d, the Jewish people, and the land of Israel. To say that our students possess a love of learning, confidence and the ability to think critically, merely highlights the value of a Hillel education. What we ultimately achieve each day, and have been achieving for 70 years, is the gift of instilling each student with the foundation for a life spent actively serving and leading the Jewish community and society.
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Micki Myers, Editor | Hillel Happenings | 412 521-8131 |
h[email protected] |www.
hillelpgh.org
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