Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter -...
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8/29/2014 Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter - August 29, 2014
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Bnei Akiva Schools NewsletterAugust 29, 2014 * 3 Elul 5774
In this week's parsha, the Torah describes
the military exceptions given in the
formation of the first organized Jewish
army. Moshe is busy preparing the Jewish
people to enter the land of Israel and the
ensuing battles they will face, but Moshe
is also outlining for us how a Jewish army
should function and who should be fighting
and, more important for our purposes, who should not be fighting.
Four categories of individuals exempt from battle are listed:
1. One who has built a new house and not lived in it yet.
2. One who has built a new vineyard and not benefited from it
yet.
3. One who has become engaged to a girl, but hasn't married yet.
4. Finally, one who is simply fearful and faint of heart.
All four of these individuals are instructed to return home rather than
engage in the war that is about to begin.
The mishna in Sota 44a quotes a debate between Rabbi Akiva and
Rabbi Yossi Ha-Galili as to what the Torah means when the Torah
describes for us this individual who is "fearful and faint of heart."
Rabbi Akiva says:
הירא ורך הלבב - כמשמעו, שאינו יכול לעמוד בקשרי המלחמה ולראות חרב"
".שלופה
Rabbi Akiva explains what we would assume, that being faint of
heart and afraid is just that. One is too scared of the potential
injuries and harm that will come from battle.
But Rabbi Yossi Ha-Galili has a novel and unique interpretation. He
suggests that the fear is that perhaps he committed some aveirot
that will now come back to hurt him. This individual is indeed a G-d
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fearing man and he believes that H"KBH recognize the transgressions
for which he has committed and, therefore, he subsequently needs to
be punished for them.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgenstern of Kotzk - better known as the
Kotzker Rebbe (1787-1859) - the great 19th century Hasidic rabbi and
leader asks a phenomenal but somewhat obvious question.
Is there anyone who hasn't committed a transgression for which he
could or should be fearful of? Wouldn't we think that every single Jew,
unfortunately either knowingly or unknowingly, sinned in some way?
Based on what Rabbi Yossi HaGalili says, the Jews would have had no
fighters left in their army.
The truth is that even without Rabbi Yossi HaGalili one might wonder
if the Torah is allowing too many Jews off the hook. Are the army
deferment options that we enumerated earlier too many? We'll lose a
nice number who have built homes, planted vineyards or become
engaged without the next steps. Then (according to Rabbi Akiva)
there will be a certain percentage of drop-off who are simply afraid
of battle.
But Rav Yossi Hagalili's exception could literally knock out the entire
army.
The Kotzker Rebbe answers with the following important principle
that I believe carries a vital message about both positive psychology,
Elul and the beginning of a new school year:
If one looks closely at the words Rabbi Yossi HaGalili uses to describe
those who are afraid of battle and therefore exempt, he says:
...רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר: הירא ורך הלבב - זהו המתיירא מן העבירות שבידו
Rabbi Yossi HaGalili says he is "mityarei min haaveirot shebeyado"-
he is afraid of the transgressions that are in his hands.
The Kotzker says that it is clear that not everyone who was simply
afraid he had sinned returned from the battle. That would have left
the Jewish people without any soldiers.
Rather, a closer look at the text of Rav Yossi HaGalili reveals that
one is allowed to return only in the instance in which he is afraid
from the sins that are still in his hands. In other words, this person
has done Teshuva, has repented, but he hasn't been able to get rid of
these transgressions because he hasn't been able to allow himself to
move past them.
These aveirot were still very much "beyado" - in his hands. The
memories were still raw and the sin was such a paralyzing influence
that it prevented the soldier from moving on. This person had no
In this issue
Recent EventsOrientation
9/12 Welcome BBQs
Upcoming EventsIKO Charity Golf Tournament
Photo Day
UO Grade 9 Retreat
YOC Mishmar
YOC Grade 9 Shabbaton and
Green Acres
Meet and Greet/BAS 101
Sunday, August 31
YOC No School
Monday, September 1
Labour Day
Tuesday, Septebmer 2
School Begins
UO Family Program
YOC Elul Yom Iyun
See all events
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choice but to be sent home.
I believe this is a very powerful message as we simultaneously enter
Elul and embark on a new school year.
Elul is all about new beginnings. We are blessed with the ability to
start over each and every year. Elul is a time for introspection and
thought about our previous year and our previous behaviors and Elul
is about making commitments that next year will be different.
But it is very important that we focus on the past as a vehicle to
move forward and not to hold us back. Past decisions can have the
harmful effect of creating paralysis in which one is unable to act
based on regret from past decisions and actions. Elul is about
recognizing that we have the blessing to start over. This is
simultaneously a significant and overarching principle within the field
of positive psychology.
In many ways, a new school year presents us with similar
opportunities. Hopefully we are all returning to school having rested
and recharged our batteries with new pencils, clean paper and a
renewed energy and commitment that this year will be better than
last.
Last year was a wildly successful year for the Bnei Akiva Schools,
Ulpana and Or Chaim. However, we strongly believe in introspection
and development and we therefore spent the entire summer
planning, preparing and readying for a year of even greater impact
and growth.
We are moving forward with new programs, new initiatives and a
true commitment to educational excellence and positive religious
growth. We remember and recognize the challenges that a most
difficult summer in Israel brought and we hope to use these
memories to inspire us towards greater Israel activism and more
devotion in our Tefilla and Talmud Torah.
We are excited to begin our 5775, 2014-2015 school year and we
hope and believe this will be a truly exceptional experience for all.
Shabbat Shalom to all,
Rabbi Seth Grauer
Rosh Yeshiva / Head of School
RECENT EVENTSOrientationBoth schools hosted orientation programs this past Thursday.
Engagements:
Carly Factor ('12)
and Lorne Pillemer
Aviva Goldstein ('08)
and Ben Wallick
Marnina Herrmann ('04)
and Yehonathan Elozory
Greg Kay ('09)
and Deena Rogozinsky
Nicole Rosenblum ('10)
and Noah Klein
Ayala Rubin ('09)
and Jeremy Chad
Ahuva Wisebroad ('98)
and Jonathan Marciano
Debra Vatenmacher ('12)
and Jacob Posluns ('12)
Weddings:
Tali Dolman (08')
and Moshe Rabinowitz
Dena Fried ('09)
and Chaim Pressman ('09)
Rena Green ('10)
and Ehud Prisman ('07)
Raffi Jesin ('04)
and Rachel Ginsberg
Sara Lipsey (07')
and Alon Hovav
Chanan Margolis ('07)
and Sarit Zukowsky
Dina Safran ('09)
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Students reunited with their
classmates, met some new
faculty, heard about exciting
updates to the building and
received new handbooks. Grade 9
students got to know their new
classmates and played a fun
icebreaker game.
It was a productive day that set students up for a successful year.
Thank you to administrations at both schools, Gemara Rebbes at YOC
and Mechanchot at UO for running and participating in the day.
As well, thank you to Zev Wasserman ('13) for speaking to YOC's
grade 9 students!
9/12 Welcome BBQsBoth schools held BBQs, organized
by the grade 12s, to welcome the
grade 9s. Students enjoyed
meeting each other and playing
some interactive games. Thank
you to the Cohen family for
hosting the Ulpana BBQ and the
Mayer family for hosting the YOC
BBQ. These events are a unique way for our grade 9s to become
acclimated into the schools and we look forward to a great start to
classes on Tuesday!
Click here to view pics from the YOC BBQ
Click here to view pics from the UO BBQ
UPCOMING EVENTSIKO Charity Golf
TournamentJoin Bnei Akiva Schools for our
10th annual IKO Charity Golf
Tournament, taking place
Tuesday, September 9, at the
Station Creek Golf Club. Proceeds from the tournament go to support
Bnei Akiva Schools and your participation is greatly appreciated. To
register, sponsor or for more information, please visit
www.ikocharitygolf.com/
Photo DayAll students will take grade pictures on Wednesday, Sept 3. Grades 9
- 11 will take individual photos. Proofs and order forms will be
distributed in the coming weeks. Photos taken will be used in the
yearbook. Come prepared with a smile!
UO Grade 9 Retreat
and Avi Silver ('04)
Talya Shumacher ('10)
and Jeremy Silver ('05)
Yael Spiegel ('10)
and Nachum Silverman (08')
David Tradburks ('09)
and Arielle Kestenbaum
Aliyah
Serena Alloul ('10)
Keshet Eklove ('13)
Alex Huberman ('11)
Births:
A boy to Miriam (Domb '98)
and Barak Chai ('95)
A girl to Rebecca (Turk '09)
and Shmuel Herzig ('08)
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The grade 9 girls will be heading
to Kinark, an outdoor education
centre, for an overnight trip,
leaving Sunday morning, Sept 7
and returning Monday evening,
Sept 8. Please take a look at the
attached information form and
the packing list. A permission
form will be forthcoming.
YOC MishmarThe mishmar committee met
earlier this week to begin
planning the first mishmar,
taking place Thursday, Sept 4.
They've come up with some
exciting, creative ideas to start
the year off in the right direction.
Any student who is unable to attend mishmar must sign out, with
parental permission, prior to 5:30pm on Thursday.
YOC Grade 9 Shabbaton
and Green AcresAt 1:30pm on Friday, Sept 5, our
grade 9s will be dismissed from
last period class to load the bus
and travel to Moshava Ennismore.
YOC's faculty, administration and
several student leaders have
worked together to create a
meaningful, exciting shabbaton to welcome the grade 9s to our
school. Please be sure to sign the attached forms and pay close
attention to our packing list. An additional permission form will be
sent out as well.
Our grade 9s will be going to Green Acres on Tuesday, Sept 7 for a
day of teambuilding and outdoor activities. Please be sure to sign
and return the waiver form that was included in the August e-mail
package.
Meet & Greet / BAS 101Parents - please join us at 7pm on Wednesday, Sept 10 for an
informal Meet and Greet evening. It will be a wonderful opportunity
to shmooze and meet with administration, as well as new and
returning faculty. Following the Meet and Greet, there will be a
program for grade 9 parents and parents new to the schools - BAS
101.
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Bnei Akiva Schools | 159 Almore Avenue | Toronto | Ontario | M3H 2H9 | Canada