KOL ECHAD | Weekly Newsletter 

November 30, 2023

Building Community

By Adva Tzvi and Shani Gabay-Sror, PTO Co-Presidents

Since the terrorist attack on October 7, Jews around the world have been going through difficult times. The current situation reminds us how important it is to band together and belong to a strong and united community. This is the role that the PTO plays for Kadima families.

The PTO is responsible for preserving and nurturing the unique traditions of Jewish community within our school. PTO parent volunteers work closely with the administration and teaching staff to enhance the educational experience for our students and to build a sense of community among our families. We believe in parental involvement (מעורבות), not interference (התערבות), and in full cooperation among the triad of school staff, parents, and students, because we are all here for them: for our children.

As an organization, we support the non-academic activities of the school. We organize social events, fun activities, and community fundraising projects that create opportunities for us to get to know each other and support our common goal of accessible Jewish education and culture. Volunteering in the PTO is a wonderful way to support activities that build a strong sense of community among our families and create wonderful memories together. There are many ways to volunteer. Although some of the events and services sponsored by the PTO generate income, our main goal is to create a strong community and support the students and teaching staff.

We try to create the best possible experience for our children, value and show appreciation to their teachers, and provide year-round support for various activities and events, including a monthly brunch and year-end lunch for all faculty and staff.

Social action and contribution to the community are part of our daily routine, and we invite you all to join us, contribute, influence, and help your children and the school thrive. A strong school has a strong PTO community behind it. Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.

We have a winter family event next Tuesday, December 5, at Bowlero Woodland Hills. Please come with your whole family, spend the afternoon together with Kadima community members, and enjoy Chanukah snacks and other surprises. In addition, please volunteer to help your children at the book fair taking place from December 4 to 7 during school hours.

We look forward to meeting old friends and getting to know new friends all through next week.

Shabbat shalom,

Adva Tzvi and Shani Gabay-Sror,

PTO Co-Presidents

Important Dates

Monday, December 4 - Thursday, December 7

• Book fair, in the auditorium

Tuesday, December 5

• Book fair: Pastries with Parents - 7:30 am, in the auditorium
• Winter family event - 4:00-5:30 pm, at Bowlero

Thursday, December 7

• PTO Meeting - 8:15 am, in the library
• First night of Chanukah

Monday, December 11

• Field trip to the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (4th grade)

Tuesday, December 12

• Field trip to the Jewish Home for the Aging (3rd-5th grades)
• Chanukah program (K-5th grades) - 5:30-7:30 pm
• Middle School Chanukah party (6th-8th grades) - 5:30-7:30 pm

Thursday, December 14

• ECEC Chanukah program and generations day - 2:00 pm

Monday, December 18 - Tuesday, January 2, 2024



• Winter break - school closed

*For the full school year calendar, please click HERE.

A Warm Welcome to Our New Staff!

Mazal Tov

Please join us in congratulating Eliyah Yifrah-Menachem and his family on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah. Mazal tov!

Thank You, Kadima PTO!

Thank you to the Tenenblatt-Blau, Ashkenazi, Avitan, Messian, and Vaknin families, as well as our Chef, Suzie Matos, for sponsoring a delicious brunch for the faculty and staff in honor of Rosh Chodesh Kislev. We really appreciate it!

Recycled Chanukiah Contest

Due Thursday, December 7

Our annual chanukiah contest is now in full swing. Students, in 1st to 8th grade, working alone or in pairs, can design and build a chanukiah made entirely out of recycled materials (don't forget the shamash). All entries must be submitted no later than Thursday, December 7, to their teacher or the main office. Winners will be announced at the Chanukah celebration on Tuesday, December 12. Good luck!

Winter Family Event

Tuesday, December 5, 4:00-5:30 pm

Join the Kadima community on Tuesday, December 5, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm for a fun winter family event at Bowlero, located at 23130 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills.

Enjoy the afternoon with your Kadima friends and family with bowling and arcade games. The cost per child is $30 and includes bowling games, bowling shoe rental, arcade game card, and a Chanukah treat. 

Click here or on the flyer to purchase tickets.

Book Fair Is Back!

Monday-Thursday, December 4-7

Our annual book fair will be held in the auditorium from Monday, December 4, to Thursday, December 7. All classes will have an opportunity to visit the book fair during school hours and create their wish lists. Your children's teachers will also have wish lists on hand in their classrooms if you would like to help enrich the class reading selections.

Volunteers are needed! If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here.

To preview the book fair catalog, see links below:

• Book Fair Catalog for Elementary School
• Book Fair Catalog for Middle School

The book fair will be accepting cash, credit card, and check payments. You will also have the option to setup an eWallet, a digital payment account allowing you to fund your child’s purchases in advance. This is a great way to send kids to the book fair without the worry of them possibly losing their money.

To set up an eWallet for your child, please follow the steps below: 

• Visit our school’s book fair homepage

• Click on “eWallet”, “Get started”, and then “Create eWallet”

• Create a new account with your email address

• You will be able to load money onto your account, which your child can use as payment at the book fair

Pastries with Parents

Tuesday, December 5

Parents, please join us on Tuesday, December 5, in the auditorium, for our annual book fair:

• 7:30-8:30 am Elementary and Middle School
• 8:30-9:30 am ECEC

Enjoy pastries and coffee as you browse a wide selection of books for your children and gifts for Chanukah. Be sure to bring a copy of your child's wishlist.

Elementary School Chanukah Program

Tuesday, December 12, 5:30-7:30 pm

Elementary school parents (K-5th grade), please join us for a special evening celebrating "the light within me" on Tuesday, December 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, in the auditorium. The program includes Chanukah candle lighting, student holiday performances, and delicious sufganiyot (donuts). Winners of the recycled Chanukiyah contest will be announced as well.

Middle School Chanukah Party

Tuesday, December 12, 5:30-7:30 pm

Kadima middle school students (6th-8th grade) are invited to a special 'Glow in the dark Chanukah party on Tuesday, December 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, in the middle school lounge.

ECEC Chanukah and Generations Day Celebration

Thursday, December 14, 2:00 pm

ECEC parents, grandparents, and special guests, please join us for a Chanukah celebration on Thursday, December 14, at 2:00 pm, on the ECEC yard.

In the Community

How to Talk to Your Kids About the War in Israel

Wednesday, December 6

JKidLA and Builders of Jewish Education invite parents to join a discussion on "How to Talk to your Kids About the War in Israel" with Sivan Zakai, Ph.D., author of "My Second Favorite Country: How American Jewish Children Think about Israel" and the Sara S. Lee Associate Professor of Jewish Education at HUC-JIR/Los Angeles.

Please click here to register. You will be sent a Zoom link the day before event. 

Please contact rachel@jkidla.org with any questions.

Kol Tikvah Temple Chanukah Community Celebration

Friday, December 8

Join the Kol Tikvah Community for latkes, donuts, and fun! Festivities begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, December 8, with a special Chanukah Shabbat service, featuring the Kol Tikvah house band, Kol Play! Bring your family chanukiah and candles for our community candle lighting. The celebration continues after services with a latke dinner, Chanukah crafts and activities, and donuts! RSVP is required for dinner. Please click here to RSVP.

Let's Light Our Personal and Community Light

Saturday, December 9, 7:00 pm

The Israeli-American Council (IAC) is honored to invite the community for an evening of resilience with guest speakers Miriam Peretz and Doron Leibstein on Saturday evening, December 9th at 7:00 pm.

Miriam is an Israeli educator and public speaker. After losing two sons during active service, Miriam went on to become a lecturer on Zionism and resilience. Doron is the brother of Ofir Leibstein, one of the victims who was murdered on October 7. Ofir was a man of vision and action, and served as the mayor of the Sha’ar Hanegev regional council. General admission is $10, and registration is required. This event is for 16 years and older. To register, please click here or on the flyer.

Top 10 Conversation Starters: Parashat Vayishlach

By Dr. Steven Lorch

By Dr. Steven Lorch

#10 - After staying away from Esav for 20 years to avoid his anger and revenge, Ya'akov returns to Canaan and sends messengers to tell Esav that they were sent "to please you (למצוא חן בעיניך)" (B'reshit 32, 6). Is there another reason he sent them that he doesn't want to tell Esav? What is it?

#9 -  When the messengers report back to Ya'akov that Esav is coming to meet him and is bringing 400 men with him, it says about Ya'akov "ויירא וייצר לו" - he is afraid and upset (32, 7-8). What is the difference between these two feelings? Why does he feel both emotions?

#8 - Ya'akov prays to God. Our t'filah (Sh'moneh Esreh) has three sections: שבח (praise), בקשה (request), and הודייה (thanks). See B'reshit 32, 10-13 for the text of Ya'akov's t'filah. Does it have the same three sections? Which pasuk is which? Which section has two p'sukim devoted to it?

#7 - Ya'akov reminds God that God made two promises to him: I will deal well with you, and I will give you many children (32, 13). Assuming that the two promises aren't identical, what does the first one mean? What will God do for Ya'akov?

#6 -After Ya'akov prays to God to save him, he sends a large gift to Esav (32, 14-16), and he also prepares for a fight (32, 8-9). Does this show that Ya'akov doesn't believe in the power of prayer? Why, or why not?

#5 - In the middle of the night, Ya'akov helps his family cross the river, and he is left alone. There, he sees "a man (איש)" and wrestles with him (32, 25). Who do you think the man is? God? An angel? Another type of supernatural being? Esav? Ya'akov himself?

#4 - "He saw that he couldn't defeat him" (32, 26) - Who saw? Who couldn't defeat whom?

#3 - As a result of the fight, Ya'akov injures his hip, and he is also given the name Yisrael (32, 29), which means that he fought and won (כי שרית...ותוכל). But the Torah says that they fought to a draw (32, 26). In what way did Ya'akov win?

#2 - Once Avraham and Sarah receive their new names, they're never called Avram or Sarai again. But Ya'akov is still sometimes called Ya'akov even after his name is changed to Yisrael. Why?

#1 - The Torah says a lot about Ya'akov's feelings, preparation, and struggle before he meets Esav, but it tells us nothing about Esav's thoughts and actions. What were Esav's thoughts and feelings before he received Ya'akov's gift? After? What did he do to prepare? Did he have a struggle too?