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.