Ma Koreh?
What’s Happening?
May Newsletter
|
|
May 4, 2023 / 13 Iyar 5783
This month's issue features:
- D'var Kesher from Rabbi Morris Allen
- Upcoming Events at CJDS!
- Highlights this Month
- Photo Highlights
- Kesher Corner
- Community Milestones
- Community Events
|
|
A Message from Rabbi Allen |
|
Greetings!
Here is the link to our 25th Anniversary Celebration!! I am grateful to the visionary founders and to the generations of students, families and faculty that have worked hard to nurture, sustain and grow that vision. The excitement and energy that was evident at the Gala was the result of a community that understands the importance and value of both a substantive and egalitarian Jewish Day School for Columbus.
For generations of Jews over the thousands of years of our story, the period between Pesach and Shavuot was understood as a 7-week period commemorating the Exodus from Egypt leading to the moment we stood at Sinai to experience the revelation and the giving of Torah. This period, known as Sefirat Ha-Omer, is marked by a daily counting and culminates 50 days after Pesach with the start of Shavuot. Throughout Jewish history, this period was a time of semi-mourning, only tempered by the celebration of Lag B'Omer--the 33rd day of the Omer. Indeed next week, our students will celebrate Lag B'Omer with our own day of outdoor learning and festivities. In this regard, the imprinting of the classic Jewish calendar that has defined our yearly cycle over the generations becomes a natural part of our students' lives. And yet, for the Jewish child growing up in the 21st Century, their experience is richer, more nuanced and unique as a result of the last 80 some years of Jewish life and experience.
During this period of the traditional counting of the days from Pesach to Shavuot, we now encounter the meaning of living at this moment in the ever present unfolding narrative of the Jewish people. For overlaid onto the traditional counting of the days are the days that commemorate more recent loss and rebirth. The tragic destruction of European Jewry during WW2 is commemorated with a special day known as Yom Ha'Shoa. For our older students, gathering together in remembering the 6 million lives lost was a powerful moment that our 5th graders led with dignity and conviction. Memorial candles were lit throughout the school and students honored the memories of lives lost and struggled with the implications of disregard for Jews in particular and baseless hatred towards the "other" in general.
A week later, the entire school gathered together to observe Yom Hazikaron--Israel's Memorial Day. In a moving service, we stood as one in remembering the lives lost in order for the Jewish people to return to nationhood with the founding of the modern state of Israel. And just as it happens in Israel itself, our students experienced an almost seamless transition from mourning and remembering to celebrating and joyous festivity into Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.
To have been witness to these events was to be reminded of what it means to be educating young 21st Century Jewish children in a Jewish Day School environment. Only in such an environment can all of the challenges and opportunities of growing up in this moment of Jewish life be affirmed, understood and integrated into one's very being. Only in a Day School setting does the natural development of an internalized connection between Jewish loss and renewal take place. There is no bifurcation in their learning from their experience of the world. Rather our students naturally internalize the meaning of belonging to a people whose story stretches over time and place and whose voice is now starting to be heard. This is the blessing of CJDS. And I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to work inside this community ensuring that our students develop a full and complete understanding of the blessings of living a full Jewish life--its joys and its unending opportunities for mending a broken world.
While the movement from Pesach to Shavuot is overlaid with both traditional and modern meanings, for a school community, it is also marked by rites of passage. Mazel tov to our 5th graders and their families on their graduation from CJDS. They are well prepared for the next part of their educational journeys and we look forward to their continued connection to CJDS style of learning as part of Mamshikhim.
We are saying goodbye to five valuable members of our team-- Annelyn Baron, Joanie Calem, Alex Damico, Rachel Feldman and Kerry Selfinger. Each has made this school a very special place for our students and we will miss their unique talents and important contributions. Each of these people have given their all and made important contributions to strengthen our school. THANK YOU! I also want to say that while I understand her desire for stepping back a little, that maintaining Jenny Glick as a Senior Advisor for the school is a blessing for us all! While I will particularly miss her daily presence, I am grateful that her advice and counsel will still be evident in so many ways. Our community is blessed and lucky to have her presence.
As for me, I am excited about the summer itself--as we prepare for the 26th year of CJDS. I am confident that I will hand off the responsibilities to a new Head of School this coming year and that the future of CJDS is bright as we anticipate our future. May we celebrate the giving of Torah at Shavuot with a sense of gratitude for the gift of learning that takes place at CJDS.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Morris Allen
Transitional Head of School
|
|
Upcoming Events at CJDS
Open to the Community!
|
|
May
-
Friday, May 5 - 1:25-2:20pm - (Doors at 1:15pm) All School Kabbalat Shabbat honoring the Retirement of CJDS founding teacher Annelyn Baron
-
Friday, May 12 - 1:35-2:20pm - All School Kabbalat Shabbat - Middle School Themed
-
Friday, May 19 - 1:35-2:20pm - All School Kabbalat Shabbat - Kindergarten Led
-
Thursday, May 25 - 10:30am - Butterfly Release
-
Thursday, May 25 - 11:15am-12pm - Shavuot Kabbalat Hag
June
-
Thursday, June 1 - 5:30pm - 5th Grade Graduation
-
Friday, June 2 - 10:45am -12:00pm - Kadima Assembly
We hope you will join us for one of our upcoming Kabbalat Shabbats!
|
|
We are so grateful for everything that Annelyn has done at CJDS over the past 25 years, and we want to recognize her incredible work!
Join us TOMORROW for this VERY special
Kabbalat Shabbat honoring
Friday, May 5th | 1:25pm | CJDS
Doors Open at 1:15pm
|
|
KINDERGARTEN SHADOW DAY EXPERIENCE:
Are you curious about what kindergarten readiness looks like? Do you want to give your child a chance to experience a morning in the life of a kindergartener? Our CJDS kindergarten readiness shadow day visit is the perfect opportunity for your child to explore and prepare for their upcoming transition to kindergarten.
During our shadow day visit, your child will have the chance to join a real kindergarten classroom for the start of a day, shadowing a current kindergarten student and participating in all the fun activities and lessons that take place. They will get to see what a typical morning looks like, meet new friends, and get a feel for what it's like to be a part of a classroom community.
Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity for your child to gain confidence and get a head start on their kindergarten journey.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
8:30-11:30am
Contact us today to schedule your CJDS kindergarten readiness and shadow day visit!
|
|
TOURS & EVENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS: Personal tours of the CJDS campus are offered daily. Families interested in learning more about CJDS may reach out to the CJDS admissions office. Additional information is available under the APPLY tab of the CJDS website.
FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: We are accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. First-round decisions were announced in March, but we are still accepting enrollment contracts. CJDS follows a rolling admissions process with visits and screenings arranged individually. Tuition assistance information may be found here.
|
|
On April 23, we celebrated 25 years of Jewish Education at CJDS! |
|
Auction Items NOW Available for Purchase:
-
Broadway Bound -1 Year Tuition - For New Students Only. This is a premiere New Albany Dance Studio on Bevelhymer Road (Valued at $650)
-
Luxury Accommodation at Vida Resorts, for an 8 day, 7 night stay including ground transportation from the airport to the resort. Please Note: Winner pays Maintenance Fee for the Week - those fees could start around $1,500 for the week and go up depending on resort and room size. Vacation Rental - Mexico (Valued at $2000)
|
|
Students have been working hard the past few weeks preparing their state book, designing a slideshow filled with facts about their state, and decorating a bag to hold their artwork and a few special artifacts relating to their state.
Students spent time researching their state’s famous landmarks, climate, fun facts, and the Jewish communities in the area.
|
|
Fourth Grade Israeli Inventors Fair! |
|
Yom HaZikaron Ceremony & Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration! |
|
Fourth graders led a memorable Yom HaZikaron Ceremony, Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers. Thank you to guest Speaker Elad Masasa.
After the Ceremony, students enjoyed a festive lunch (including a yummy Israeli flag cookie) for Yom HaAtzmaut and sang birthday songs for Israel’s birthday!
In the afternoon, we celebrated 75 Years of Israel’s Achievements with special guests at CJDS - including Gal Gadot, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, Netta Barzilai, Deni Avdija, and Linoy Ashram!
|
|
Kindergarteners taking care of their “sit spot” area! |
|
Last buddies visit for 2nd & 5th grade. They passed around plates and wrote compliments about each other, and the 5th graders put on a skit for the 2nd graders about the Torah portion. |
|
Fourth graders had a great time checking out books in the newly organized library.
Thanks Jodi for all of your hard work caring for our library!
|
|
For additional photos and videos,
|
|
Mazel Tov
-
Mazel Tov to Annelyn Baron on her retirement from CJDS!
-
Mazel Tov to Greg Adams (Former Board Member) and Leah Weintraub (Former CJDS COVID Task Force Member) on the birth of a healthy baby girl to their daughter Dorit! Parents: Brandon Mittman and Dorit Adams Grandparents: Leah Weintraub and Greg Adams, Felice and David Mittman. Mazel Tov to all!
-
Mazel Tov to Stacy Nockowitz, CJDS Alum Parent, on receiving the National Jewish Book Award for their debut novel, "The Prince of Steel Pier."
-
Mazel Tov to Leilah and Marc Abelman making Aliyah (CJDS alum).
|
|
Mi Sh'Berach
-
We wish a full and speedy recovery to Caleb Moses, class of 2020
|
|
Zichronam Livracha (May Their Memory Be a Blessing)
|
|
If you would like to add a name to be included in our Butterfly Release,
*If we have shared the name previously in the Ma Koreh of a family member who has passed this year, they will automatically be acknowledged during the Butterfly Release.
|
|
CJDS is a proud partner of: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
