February Newsletter | The Ma Koreh

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February Newsletter

February 3, 2023 / 12 Shevat 5783

This month's issue features:

D'var Kesher from Rabbi Morris Allen
Shiva Location Change - Jeremy Cohen, (z"l)
We are Turning 25
Accepting Applications for 2023-2024
Highlights this Month
Photo Highlights
Community Milestones
CJDS Events Open to the Community
Community Events

A Message from Rabbi Allen

Nahamu Nahamu Ami--Comfort, Comfort My People"--

It seems strange to be saying these words at the start of February. This phrase is usually recited in the last part of the summer--seven weeks prior to Rosh Hashana and the beginning of a New Year. But the prophetic words first placed in the mouth Isaiah also filtered throughout the halls of CJDS these past several weeks. On January 16th, my mother died at the age of 101. My mom was blessed with the length of days and with an extended family that honored her values and beliefs.

The CJDS community rallied and supported me with a blanket of comfort and care. Last week, our All-School Kabbalat Shabbat was dedicated to the memory of my mother and modeled how we provide comfort for any person who finds themself in a period of mourning. It was a powerful and moving presentation for us all. It was the perfect way for our children to encounter the laws and traditions of comforting a mourner from a Jewish perspective and to seemingly be able to tuck those lessons away to call upon at a much later date in their lives.

Sadly, but more importantly somewhat presciently, this all-school Kabbalat Shabbat became a lesson that our community would need to draw upon all too soon. This past Tuesday we were informed of the death of a 2nd grader's parent--Jeremy Cohen (z"l). For our faculty and staff, receiving this news at a staff meeting presented us with an opportunity to immediately begin to address how we would provide comfort for each other, our students and their families and model the best of who we are as a people in times of sorrow. Suffice it to say that our faculty and staff have been a beacon of support for the family, the child and for our school community. Unlike the length of days granted to my mother, Jeremy (z"l) died all too young and with so much more to give to this world and to his beloved family. That he was denied this opportunity is a tragedy that none of us will ever fully comprehend.

Receiving this news late on Tuesday meant that children came to school on Wednesday unaware of this tragedy. For the 2nd grade this was a complicating factor as their Hag Ha'Siddur celebration was to take place on Thursday. In consultation with their families, we decided to inform these students at school on Wednesday immediately prior to dismissal. We asked that a parent or grandparent of each child be present at school for the last 20 minutes we were to be together so that we could share this information. The opportunity for these children to process this news in the presence of a loving parent or grandparent was profoundly moving. I watched these touching interactions with a sense that I finally understood what Heschel must have meant when he spoke about seeing the world through the lens of awe and wonder. These all-too young and precious children, together with a parent or grandparent, shared intimate moments of grief with one another and in the presence of each other as part of a community. All too soon in their lives, they were forced to confront one of life's most difficult tasks--attempting to understand the fragility of life itself and the cloud of our mortality that is always present but, Thank God, most often able to be ignored.

It was a moment, once again, when I realized why this day school is a treasure to sustain. Only in this type of school setting can we see how the sacred and the mundane, the joys and the sorrows are seamlessly woven into the soul of our children. It is ultimately what we mean when we say that CJDS is the story of your child's creation. A child who will respond to life's sorrows and to life's joys from the depth of a soul framed by the love and lessons of our tradition. That is what makes this school so special and its presence so important.

We have been finding comfort this week through our CJDS community. We witnessed beautiful acts of kindness and watched meaningful contributions pour into the CJDS scholarship fund. Should you wish to honor the memory of Jeremy Cohen (z"l), consider a donation to our school enabling another young Jewish child the opportunity to be touched by a caring community and the wisdom of a tradition that is so lovingly, and carefully, presented to our students. May Jeremy's memory only be for blessing.

Shabbat Shalom, hug your child, call a friend, be reminded of the enduring bond of our people from generation to generation.

Rabbi Morris Allen

Transitional Head of School

Shiva Location Change

We wanted to share the updated location for Sunday's Shiva in memory of Jeremy Cohen (z"l). The family has requested that people visit between 4-6 PM on Sunday, February 5th at the home of the Goldsand Family: 22 South Parkview Avenue. The service will begin at 5 PM that day.

22 South Parkview Avenue

Bexley, OH 43209

4-6pm, service at 5pm

SAVE THE DATE!

Save the date for our 25th Anniversary Celebration on April 23, 2023!

Tickets will be available to the general public in March!

We Are Accepting Applications

for 2023-2024

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 at hello@cjds.org. Additional information is available under the APPLY tab of the CJDS website (link to https://www.cjds.org/experience3)

FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: We are now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. are welcomed in early October for enrollment in the following academic year. Applications completed by February 1, 2023, are eligible for first-round decisions - which are announced by March 1, 2023. Enrollment contracts and deposits are due back approximately 14 days later.

FOR CURRENT STUDENTS: Contracts for the 2023-2024 school year will be shared with current families in early March.

TUITION ASSISTANCE: Families applying for Tuition Assistance must complete their application by early February, 2023. Tuition assistance information may be found here: https://www.cjds.org/tuition-assistance

Highlights this Month

What Do I Take on Life's Journey?

CJDS third graders just completed a Family History project as part of their integrated studies. Students were tasked with interviewing a relative who had immigrated to better understand the circumstances of their family’s journey to America.

They continue to explore their essential question, “What do I take on life’s journey?” in preparation for their Humash Ceremony which celebrates the completion of their study of Parashat Lech Lecha, another story of a journey, this time of our patriarch and matriarch, Avraham and Sarah.

Judaic Studies Faculty Creating New Units & Text Study

Judith Shapero visited CJDS to continue working with our Judaic Studies Faculty on Standards and Benchmarks for the Judaic Studies curriculum.

In this visit our Judaic Studies faculty successfully birthed two excellent new units for Purim - including text study, identifying learning skills, Big Ideas, Essential Questions, and creating an engaging Performance Assessment and learning activities.

Judith is the Associate Director, educational consultant, and head of Educational Technology at Jewish Day School Standards & Benchmarks at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). CJDS is part of a multi-year project that helps our teachers write exceptional units of study per grade that follow standards and benchmarks.

CJDS hosts Special All School Kabbalat Shabbat

On Friday, CJDS hosted Special All School Kabbalat Shabbat: Coming Together as a Community.

This heartfelt Kabbalat Shabbat included a Limmud (Torah Study) in small groups, in memory of Rabbi Allen's mother, Annie Arbitman Allen (z"l). This is a traditional Jewish practice to do in memory of someone who has passed away.

Thank you to Rabbi Sharon Barr Skolnik and Rabbi Sam Klein for their participation in this Kabbalat Shabbat! We are always so grateful for your partnership.

Continuing Onward - Jewish Education after 5th Grade

This past Sunday was another successful Mamshikhim. Mamshikhim or "Continue Onward" is CJDS’ own after-school continuing Jewish education program. The program is offered to CJDS graduates and students with similar backgrounds who are now in Middle School. The students meet on Sunday mornings and continue with their Hebrew and Judaic Studies on an advanced level.

Interested in learning more information? Email Eran Rosenberg here.

Fourth & Fifth Graders Visit the Ohio Statehouse

CJDS 4th and 5th grade students had a fabulous time at the Ohio Statehouse this past month. CJDS Board Member Steve Edelstein gave an incredibly informative tour and the students got to meet Senator Michele Reynolds, who represents District 3, where CJDS is located.

Thank you also to Howie Beigelman, Executive Director of Ohio Jewish Communities, who welcomed our students, explained about lobbying work and arranged the visit with Senator Michele Reynolds.

Photo Highlights

Have you ever seen what is inside the Mezuzah case?

4th graders learned about mezuzah; they checked the klaf (scroll) inside the case and discussed the source of this mitzvah in the Torah.

During buddy time, 4th grade created games to teach younger students about recycling, composting, and water conservation. Since early Dec. 2022, 4th & 5th have recycled 22 wagons full of trash. This project will be highlighted during Arts and Science Night!

Enjoying recess in the snow!

Video Highlight

First grade reading their MLK Reader's Theater to their 4th grade buddies.

Video here

Community Milestones

Mazel Tov

Mazel Tov to CJDS alum Ariel Cohen (class of 2007) for her engagement with Jason Mark.

Mazel Tov to Madison Phelps and Bradley Turiel (both CJDS alums) on their recent engagement!

Make a Donation in Honor of a Community Member!

Mi Sh'Berach

We wish a full and speedy recovery to Caleb Moses, class of 2020

We extend our prayers to any family in our community who may be impacted by coronavirus.

Zecher Tzadik L'vracha (May His Memory Be a Blessing)

We extend our condolences to the Calem family on the passing of Hinde Shaman (z"l), sister-in-law of Music Teacher Joanie Calem. May Hinde's memory only be for a blessing.

On behalf of the entire CJDS community, we offer our sincere condolences to Rachel, Ma’ayan (CJDS Class of 2020), Matias (CJDS Class of 2022) and Benji (CJDS 2nd grade) Cohen on the death of a beloved husband and father, Jeremy Cohen (z"l).

We extend our condolences to Claire Rothchild (CJDS Founding Teacher), Dan Smith, and CJDS alum Aaron and Maya, on the passing of Gloria Beth Rothchild, their mother and grandmother.

We extend our condolences to the Allen Family on the passing of Annie Arbitman Allen (z"l), mother of Rabbi Morris Allen, CJDS Head of School.

CJDS Events Open to the Community

February

Tuesday, February 7 - 8:30-9:30am - Kindergarten Ohio Wildlife Research Presentation
Thursday, February 16 - 8:30-10am - 3rd Grade Humash Ceremony
Tuesday, February 28 - 10:30am-Noon: 5th Grade Jewish Heroes Living Museum