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22 Kislev, 5783
December 16, 2022
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Fortunately, the story does not end here. Over the course of the next few weeks, we see a degree of growth in Reuven and exponential growth in both Yosef and Yehuda. The next perek brings us the halftime show of Yehuda and Tamar - it completely disrupts the flow of the Yosef story and is easy to “skip over.” However, it is a key step in Yehuda’s maturation and growth as a leader. At the end of the story, he ultimately takes responsibility and accepts Tamar as “tzadka mimeni” - she is more righteous than I. As the story progresses over the next few weeks, we also will see him stand up to Yaakov and convince him to let Binyamin be taken down to Mitzrayim to save them all. And at the end of the story, he stands up to Yosef, the second-in-command to Pharaoh, to save Binyamin, the one who had taken Yosef’s spot as Yaakov’s favorite once Yosef left it vacant. He steps up and convinces others to take action.
Reuven’s growth never reaches the same heights of leadership that Yosef and Yehuda reach. But he too tries to step in and convince his father to send Binyamin to Mitzrayim, before Yehuda is able to accomplish that feat.
Yosef has his own parallel story of growth. The immaturity that he shows at the beginning of this week’s parsha is replaced by a strong faith in God’s role in his life. Hashem’s name is often on his lips, he attributes any successes he has not to himself, but to Hashem. With God’s help, he is able to rise to a position of power and help guide those around him, ultimately providing sustenance for his family (along with all of Mitzrayim).
Throughout the stories of the next several weeks, Yosef and Yehuda both grow from immature young men to steadfast and trustworthy leaders. Their paths are different, but both include taking those steps of thinking about and caring for others, accepting responsibility, and recognition of Hashem’s role in the world. May we all learn from their examples and experience our own growth and ability to favorably influence those around us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Morah Esti Honig
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Calling All Kohelet Yeshiva High School and Stern Hebrew High School Alumni...
Click here to fill out the Kohelet Yeshiva/Stern Hebrew High School Alumni Association Google form and you could win AirPods Pro!
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We are excited about a school-wide (K-8), year-long initiative that we introduced to the students called Mitzvah Momentum!
Students in grades K-8 will be focusing on a particular mitzvah during each part of the year. In November and December, we are focusing on Chesed, January-February we will be focusing on Bikur Cholim, March-April will be Tzedakah, and May-June will be Hakarat HaTov.
There are various components to this program depending on the age of your child, outlined in the Mitzvah Momentum At Home Chart that appears above.
As part of this program, we are asking each Kohelet family to discuss a Chessed that you would like to get involved in as a family during December. Please click here to download the Mitzvah Momentum At Home Chart and then fill in your family's Chessed and attach a picture of your family performing the Chessed (if you'd like).
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News from Kohelet Yeshiva | | |
We enjoyed an amazing PTSO Chanukah event last Sunday! There was delicious food and so many wonderful activities, including a special bubble show, cookie decorating, and a sensory station seek and find. We also had a chance to make caring cards for Jewish Relief Agency. Thanks to everyone who joined us! A special thank you to our incredible PTSO team and all of the volunteers who made this event possible! | | |
What an incredible experience for our boys and girls basketball teams to play against Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy at the Wells Fargo Center last Sunday! Our girls team put up a tremendous effort on the court, while our boys walked away with a hard-earned victory! | | |
It was a wonderful week of learning at KYLS and KYMS, which included Lab School Music, Middle School Music, and Lab School Art (among many other things!). | | |
The Kohelet Girls Debate Team had its first-ever debate this week. Congratulations to our students on a job well done! | | |
This past Wednesday was KYHS Chesed Day. Students and teachers took part in a range of activities centered around chesed, including a Chanukah, Music and Karaoke party at Symphony Square senior living residence, helping to organize and categorize donated books at BookSmiles, preparing meals at the MANNA kitchen, organizing books for inmates at the Books through Bars warehouse, volunteering at the Cradles to Crayons warehouse, organizing donated clothes at the Our Closet warehouse, and performing yard work and maintenance of the Bala Cynwyd Trail. | | |
Updates from the Kohelet Beit Midrash | | |
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Thank you to this past week's Parnas HaYom Sponsors!
December 12th-16th
The Seligsohn & Finkle Families
In memory of their beloved Father and Saba
Dr. Jerry Sulman
Yosef Chaim ben Shmuel Eliyahu v'Esther, z"l
יוסף חיים בן שמואל אליהו ואסתר
on his 24th Yahrtzeit, 22 Kislev.
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Kohelet Yeshiva | www.koheletyeshiva.org | 223 North Highland Ave, Merion Station, PA 19066
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