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February 6, 2015 ה, תשע''שבט י''ז
Candle Lighting 5:54 p.m. יתרו פרשת
Friday, 2/13
Deadline for Six Flags Reading Logs
Monday, 2/16
NO SCHOOL - Presidents’ Day
Wednesday, 2/18
6B/6G Science Fair, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
In the TDSA Gym
Thurs. – Sun. 2/19-2/22
Mishnayos Trip
Fri. – Motzei Shabbos 2/27-2/28
MSG Shabbaton Below: TDSA JV basketball team reached division
finals, completing a great season!
A Message from our Head of School Our teachers amaze me on a regular basis. The talent, dedication and
investment among them are boundless. Imagine my surprise this past Thursday evening,
as I was leaving the building, late into the night at 11:30 p.m., hearing the voices of
several of our rebbes and morahs. Yes, at 11:30 p.m. in the TDSA gym! They were setting
up tables and displaying their students’ hard work for the amazing, student-created and
centered Shemita Expo to be held the next day. Their camaraderie and joyfulness in
working to enhance our students’ education are simply astounding. A special shout-out
goes to Mrs. Alterman for being the “brains” behind this project.
More examples of our teachers’ dedication and our students’ talents were
observed over the course of the week. Several of our classes learned the intricate
brachas recited before and after a variety of foods, while other students competed in a
Math Counts contest. One of our classes created delicious and beautiful marzipan treats
to give to their friends and family, while another raised funds for Israeli farmers by
selling cupcakes and nosherei. Many of our classes planted acorns as they learned that
farmers in Israel during the shemita year truly depend on Hashem to take care of them.
It was a special week amid many special weeks!
In this week’s parsha, Moshe is told by his father-in-law, Yisro, that it is time to
delegate some of his workload to others. Moshe listens, and forms a hierarchy of judges
to help him, leaving him more time to teach the Torah to the Jewish people. While I’m
not Moshe, as I watch our teachers mentor and guide, teach and inspire our students,
I’m grateful that I am able to delegate to our teachers the various roles they have
acquired in addition to teaching, from coaching sports teams, to mentoring students, to
heading up special activities and projects and more. Thank you to all of the teachers
who inspire me, make me proud, and teach our children with a true love of learning and
sharing knowledge. You all know who you are.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Joshua Einzig
Divrei Torah by Eighth Graders for Parshas Yisro By Mendel Lipskier
In this week’s parsha, we learn about the giving of the Torah. In many places our rabbis tell us that the avos kept the Torah,
so what’s the explanation of giving the Torah now? This question can be answered by a short parable. Two countries,
Rome and Syria, had travel bans on each other. After many years, the travel ban was lifted and people were able to
travel from one country to the next. This story teaches us about the giving of the Torah. Before the giving of the
Torah, the avos were able to do mitzvos, but they could not bring heaven down to earth, so to speak. The ending of
the travel ban symbolizes the giving of the Torah. By us doing mitzvos, we transform what we are using into a Godly
spark, thus increasing the connection between heaven and earth. For example, making tefilin is taking the hide of an
animal and transforming it into something through which we can emulate God.
By Moriah Shmuel
is used in singular form here when ויחן and Yisroel camped there”. Rashi asks why the word“ ”ויחן שם ישראל“
previously it was used in plural form. Rashi answers that this is to show us that Bnei Yisroel camped as one with one
goal, to listen to Hashem. Only when Bnei Yisroel was united, could they receive the Torah. This teaches us that for us
to accomplish something, we have to be united.
Continued on pg. 2
This week’s Spotlight is sponsored by Sam Kaminetzky in honor of Rabbi Horowitz for being such an amazing rebbe
and for creating such a great and inspiring way to provide nachas to my parents at the first grade boys’ siddur play. Each week’s Spotlight may be sponsored with a donation of $18 to TDSA PTA.
Please email Mrs. Levin at dlevin@torahday.org by Wednesday to arrange sponsorship.
By Ariella Wolf
In this week’s parsha, בני ישראל receive the Torah at Har Sinai. The pasuk says, and they stood“ ”ויתיצבו בתחתית ההר"
underneath the mountain.” Chazal in Gemara Shabbos explain that Hashem picked up the mountain and held it over the heads
of שראלי and told them, “If you accept the Torah all will be well, but if you don’t you will be buried here.” Why בני
does a nation who has just said, “נעשה ונשמע” need a mountain held over their heads to force them to accept the
Torah? To answer this question we must visit the Purim story. Towards the end of קימו “ ,the pasuk says אסתר גילתמ
The Jews fulfilled and accepted the Torah”. The Gemara in“ ” וקבלו היהודים explains that the Jews willingly מגילה
fulfilled what they had accepted at Har Sinai, meaning, the Jews of Shushan wholeheartedly accepted the Torah after
experiencing the miracle of Purim and being saved from Haman.
Rav Shimon Schwab explains how and the story of Purim connect. The nation that arrived at Har Sinai had just תורה מתן
witnessed the greatest miracles ever seen. They had seen the ten מכות, .and now they were standing at Har Sinai ,מן the , ים סוף קריעת
After Har Sinai they would continue to see great miracles. Their daily existence was full of the presence of the and seeing שכינת ה׳
the ה׳ יד clearly on a daily basis. Based on these experiences, they were ready to accept the Torah. But, when times would get tough
and the was hidden and miracles were not happening in front of them, they may not have been ready for the Torah. Hashem יד ה׳
had to pick up a mountain above their heads, not to threaten them that they must accept the Torah, but rather to show that the
miracles and the .that they had witnessed until that point in time would continue with the acceptance of the Torah ה׳ יד
Hundreds of years later, after the destruction of ישראל בני , אשוןבית ר were sent to Bavel, into a dark time where there were
no daily miracles that they had been accustomed to in the and the בית המקדש נס was not as obvious. When they experienced the ה׳ יד
was not present in שכינת ה' the hidden miracle of being saved from Haman, they saw that even in the darkest times, when the , נסתר
their daily lives, they were still able to see the ה' יד in a different way through the miracles that He did to save them.
Once “ -saw this, they were ready to accept the Torah unconditionally ישראל בני they fulfilled what they -” היהודים קימו וקבלו
previously accepted.
K-8th
grade boys and girls – Shemita Expo Learning and Doing! For days now, TDSA has been in full swing preparation counting down to Tu B’Shevat. Around the
building were signs proclaiming ‘Who Knows Seven?’ with the answer ‘שמיטה is every 7th year’. In celebration of the birthday of the
trees in our beloved ארץ ישראל, we took the opportunity to focus on the special agricultural experience that is שמיטה. Each class
studied a self-contained unit exploring a different aspect of שמיטה. Students then expressed what they learned through posters,
interactive games and worksheets, and multimedia presentations. On Tu B’Shevat, it was all set up in the gym for everyone to see,
learn from, and be amazed.
Visitors were treated to videos of students demonstrating the laws of מיטה� with money, a Play-Doh diorama explaining
where and under what circumstances you can buy produce during מיטה�, and posters explaining all of the מצוות and laws of שמיטה.
As a fun twist, there was a section where you could see world events from שמיטה years gone by and even our very own ‘walkorama’.
Of course, there was an exhibit dedicated specifically to trees! There were several displays focusing on the farmers who observe
we can learn from them. However, the exhibit went one step further, encouraging מדות with such self-sacrifice and all of the שמיטה
students to act upon their new knowledge. There was a table dedicated to raising funds and awareness for שמיטה observant farmers
and also introducing the Klee project. The fourth grade girls, in conjunction with the organization Achi-American Communities
Helping Israel, made "The Klee Commitment," which encourages Americans to purchase Israeli made products and to proudly
display them in beautifully hand-made baskets. Seventh grade girls, under the leadership of Mrs. Hiller, raised more than $400 by
making cupcakes and candy pops and assembling them into adorable candy flower gardens to sell for Keren Hashvi'is, a tzedakah
organization that supports Israeli farmers through the שמיטה year.
Perhaps the best part of the whole experience was the excitement of students as they passed through the hallways. They
were so proud of their knowledge and fired up about the projects they were creating. This was very much a student-created exhibit
and it was thrilling to see their initiative and enthusiasm. It is a testimony to the inspiration and guidance of each and every one of
our morahs and rebbeim who led their students in this undertaking. While, of course, we know this is what you do all day, every day,
it was really wonderful to see the fruit! Thank you to Mrs. Chashy Alterman for coordinating the expo, Mrs. Michal Donowitz for
helping to set up until late at night, and to Mr. Gary Fink and Ms. Theresa Burns for technical support.
Class ActsClass ActsClass ActsClass Acts פעילויות בכתות
TDSA’s Tech Fair Triumphs We can see the headline now…”IN 2030 TOP TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES HIRE 13 TDSA ALUMS!”
Not that we can look into the future, but this year’s Tech Fair can serve as a great indicator of
what’s to come! On Sunday, January 25th
, thirteen TDSA students were proud representatives of the school
at the North Atlanta Jewish Students regional Technology Fair hosted at the Weber School. Below is a who’s
who of TDSA technology stars. Congratulations to all of them.
• Eli and Zeli Litvin built a robot named Robe out of cardboard boxes as well as creating a website about
him, posting animated videos describing his life history and various functions. They won 1st
place in
Web 2.0 Internet Applications (grades 3 & 4).
• Ephrahim Freundlich and Noah Kalnitz won 1st
place for game design in their category. They used the
software program Scratch, which teaches coding/programing to create a math game.
• Kira Mermelstein and Leah Lipskier created a website showcasing their artistic photography. They won
2nd
place in their category for the 2nd
year in row!
• Tamar Stein and Ahava Heart created a 3D graphic using a software program called Sketchup. They won
3rd
place in their category, 3D Modeling (7, 8). Enthusiastically, Tamar Stein stated, “Being in the tech fair was fun! I especially
enjoyed learning how to use Sketchup”
• Shmuel Yablok created a website about sports history that earned him the 3rd
place
ribbon in web design. Category: Web 2.0 Internet Applications (5, 6)
• Shayna McGhee created a blog about her “love” for pies! Category: Web 2.0 Internet
Applications (5, 6).
• Avigayil Slifkin completed a digital photography project using her iPad. Category: Digital
Photography (5, 6)
• Nechama Bernstein and Yocheved Halpern completed a digital photography project
and showcased their work through an Animoto slide show. Category: Digital
Photography (5, 6).
TDSA’s first place winners’ projects will travel to Macon, Georgia to participate in the state
competition in March.
Additionally, we are very proud of our TDSA alumni, Moshe Bari and Aharon Tzvi Eidex, who won first place in Web 2.0
Internet Applications (9, 10) for their hand-coded website and graphics! Thank you to Mrs. Theresa Burns, who has mentored and
guided our entrants in the early morning before classes begin, during lunch breaks, and even after school! She certainly added the
sparkle to our already talented and gifted students.
First grade boys – Rabbi Horowitz’s Limudei Kodesh
First grade boys treated an audience of proud parents, grandparents and even a great-
grandparent to a real theatrical and musical extravaganza prior to receiving their very own
siddurim, with covers lovingly decorated. They sang about davening as a way of serving Hashem
with simcha at being with Hashem. In a short play, they reenacted the nations
that rejected the Torah rather than follow the mitzvos and Bnei Yisrael who said
"Na’aseh v'nishma, We will hear and we will do!" When Rabbi Horowitz asked the
parents "What do you daven for?", many answered with the words the boys next
sang, the tefillah mothers say at candle lighting about children who will love
Torah and grow in their learning. It was electrifying as fathers and grandparents joined in. Closing the performance
was a song composed by a former TDSA rebbe about our yearning to return to Eretz Yisrael. Congratulations to all of the boys and
their families. Thank you to Mr. Aaron and Mrs. Samantha Stein for setting up the refreshments, to Ms. Beverly Fermon for
welcoming the boys into her classroom every day for davening, and especially to Morah Rosita Lew for investing so much of her
creative abilities and love into rehearsal with the boys.
Third grade boys and girls – Mrs. Bolnick’s General Studies Project based learning and STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, math-based learning): What fun
we have had the past two weeks building marble runs! First, the students were required to design a plan with
their partner on paper, then once approved, they could build. The only materials the students were given to use
were a shoe box lid, craft sticks, and glue. Project-based learning allows for a more student-centered
environment, where the students take the lead, and the teacher serves as a guide. This week we all tested our
marble runs. Some students had created back and forth runs, others created mazes with tunnels, ramps, and
more. We then raced marbles against each other. The creativity, problem solving, planning, and teamwork that
went into these projects were phenomenal!
Fourth grade boys and girls– Rabbi Alterman’s and Mrs. Cohen’s Limudei Kodesh Every participant was a winner in the fourth graders’ bracha
bees. The amount of information gained and retained was amazing!
They knew which bracha to recite before taking a bite, as well as
which bracha to say afterwards. Did you know that if you plan to eat
A LOT of crackers, the bracha before eating them is no longer
mezonos, but hamotzei? And that the brachas are different if you eat
chocolate cake as a meal versus as dessert? The fourth graders know!
All of the girls were winners, but a special congratulations goes to runners up Jemima Schoen and
Tzipora Estreicher, and to winner, Kaylie Warga. For the boy’s class, a special yasher ko'ach goes to first-place winner Yisroel Gross,
as well as to second-place winner Eli Litvin, and third-place winner Yitzi Levitt.
Fifth grade girls – Mrs. R. Friedman’s Limudei Kodesh Mrs. Ruthy Friedman's fifth grade girls’ class created delicious and gorgeous marzipan Tu B’Shevat treats.
Using food coloring and creativity, the girls crafted fruits and vegetables and even a hot dog or two! Thank you to
Mrs. Shira Horowitz, parent helper.
Eighth grade girls – Mrs. Schwarzmer’s Limudei Kodesh
This week, we wrapped up our unit on the Beis Hamikdash by going out into our lower field and, with the help of our math
teacher Ms. Allen, we mapped out the dimensions of Beis Hamikdash in real space. We were able to measure out the Kodesh
Kedashim, Kodesh and Ulam, but the field was too small to measure out the Azara. Seeing it in real time
and space gave us a renewed appreciation for how big the Beis Hamikdash was. We then spent some time
creating our own מקדש מעט and wrote down what we are doing to make our bodies a place where Hashem
feels comfortable residing. The girls wrote things they are already doing that create a “home inside”
themselves and things they can do to grow in their awareness of themselves a miniature homes for the
Shechina to dwell. They wrote about taking care of their bodies with proper sleep, healthy food and
hygiene. They wrote about davening, learning Torah, dressing modesty. They wrote about speaking nicely to people, complimenting
and avoiding lashon hara. They wrote about remembering that they are princesses and applying Torah to their everyday life.
Our Asher Yatzar Challenge is going strong as the girls are raising their own awareness of the constant “hug” of their good
health and well-functioning bodies. The sign-up poster is jam-packed with names of students from the fifth through eighth grades,
and even some staff members, who have all pledged to either begin saying Asher Yatzar or to make it a point to stand still and focus
while they are saying this holy bracha. The stickers are piling up, showing how the girls have elevated mundane bodily functions into
an experience of appreciation and connection with Hashem. A big yasher koach goes to all those students and staff who have shared
their kavanos. Keep them coming!
JV Basketball Congratulations to the boys’ JV basketball team for an excellent season. Last Monday night, we participated in a season-
ending tournament. After defeating AJA in the semi-finals, we lost in the finals to Intown. The JV team ended the season with 6 wins
and 3 losses. Thank you, Coach Alterman and team parents! Go Thunder!
CLUB FUN CORNER Our second session of “club fun” has been off to a great start! It is nice to see familiar faces back and to welcome new faces
as well! We have added an extra group this session to accommodate older girls (grades 3-5) and have added many students to the
already existing groups as well (Kindergarten, girls grades 1-2 and boys grades 1-2). A special “thank- you” to Ashley Marx, our
incredible social worker, who has worked tirelessly on coordinating all the details of “club fun.”
It is so amazing to see the excitement and energy the students have for this “club” and the wonderful way in which the students
work together and “gel” from various different grades. What I have noticed the most from the students who are returning, is their
increased self-esteem, comfort in social situations, and overall happy disposition.
Some of our goals for this upcoming session include
• believing in ourselves and increased self-esteem
• self-control- both in school and at home
• team building- compromising, working together as a group.
• being respectful to our peers, teachers, and parents
• practicing patience and waiting our turn to speak
• listening to others and showing interest in what they have to say
• seeing things from a different perspective- being flexible with our thoughts
Looking forward to a wonderful and productive session together!
Shira Yablok, MS, CCC-SLP
Guest Speakers TDSA parent Mr. Fishel Paley collected over 200 acorns for the students at TDSA to plant on Tu B’Shevat! The children were
enthralled as he explained that an oak tree grows an average of three feet per year, and that on Tu
B’Shevat in Israel the roots of trees and plants are established. He explained to the kindergarten, first,
and second graders that if he lived in Israel right now during the shemita year, he would NOT be
working. He couldn't cut people’s yards, or plant new plants or even trim their bushes. He could NOT
make any money this year, but he would know that Hashem would take care of him and his family
through various organizations established to aid farmers and their families every seventh year. Pictured
are Mr. Paley and his daughter, Shevy, comparing her height to three feet.
תנחומינו With our Condolences
to Mr. Meyer Greenberg and family on the passing of his father, Avraham Leib ben Eliezer, Mr. Albert Greenberg.
May you be comforted among those who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem
Mazel tov מזל טוב: • Rabbi Yerachmiel and Mrs. Michal Donowitz and family on the engagement of their daughter, Zahava, to Tzvi Greenberg, son of
Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Yitzchak Greenberg of Queens, NY.
• Rabbi Moshe and Mrs. Leah Hiller and family on the engagement of their son, Yossi, to Gittel Stein of Far Rockaway, NY.
• Rabbi Zalman and Mrs. Miriam Lipskier and family on the bas mitzvah of their daughter, Leah.
Please let us know about your simchos; our TDSA family likes to share in your nachas with you! A great way to celebrate your simcha
is by sponsoring a TDSA Day of Learning for $180 to sponsor a full day or $90 for half a day (must be shared with another person).
You can also do a Group Day of Learning if you have a number of friends who want to sponsor with you. Please contact Ms.
Shawndrika Lewis in our Business Office, 404-982-0800 or email dlewis@torahday.org.
In the Community BENA Atlanta Scholars Kollel Women’s Division and Congregation Ariel will present one of the most influential women in
Israel today, Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi on Sunday, February 15th
at 8:00 p.m. for women only. Please register at atlantakollel.org;
tickets are $18 in advance, $25 at the door and $5 for students.
Photos of our Week Top row: Technology club is building 21
st century skills!
Middle row: 3 B&G working on their marble runs.
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