V`ahavta 5-13-16

V'ahavta... ‫ואהבת‬
“Stellar Education for Every Jewish Child”
May 13, 2016
5 Iyar, 5776
· Jamestown/
Williamsburg Trip
1
· Bingo
2
· 2016-17 Slated
Officers & Board
3
· Art at RTA
5
· 50th Anniversary
Chesed Award Gala
Information
9
· Parsha
12
Jamestown and Williamsburg Trip
On May 10, the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades toured Jamestown and
Williamsburg, Virginia. Thirty-seven students and 9 parents/teachers
spent the day learning about the history of Virginia and the United States.
A huge thank you to our parent chaperones: Sander Altman, Rivka Bart,
Elliott Bender, Dot Heffron, Channa Mayer, Debra Pegalis, Sarah
Rakofsky, and Naama Toker.
Candle Lighting
Friday, May 13
7:53 p.m.
Saturday, May 14
Shabbat ends
8:57 p.m.
(more photos on page 4. . .)
SAVE THE DATE - RTA ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. at RTA
Sunday, May 15 Tuesday, May 17
8th Grade Class Trip
Please see page 3 for the proposed slate of the
2016-17 Board of Directors and Officers.
The weekly newsletter of the Rudlin Torah Academy - Richmond Hebrew Day School
V’ahavta
Page 2
Thank you to Mrs. Amy Beth Lehman for catering our Yom Ha’atzmaut school luncheon
and the plaque re-dedication event.
Thank you to Mr. Sander Altman for the speedy removal of a tree limb.
BINGO
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!
To our dedicated volunteers for their gracious time commitment in working bingo to help
our school during the month of April!
Bingo is our single biggest fundraiser, and your assistance enables us to ensure that RTA
has the resources to give our children an outstanding and enriched education.
Ellen Renee Adams
Drew Alexander
Sander Altman
Sarah Chandler
Zhanna Dolganski
Roben Farzad
Melanie Feldstein
Josh & Elly Goldberg
Avi Gunzburg
Shevy Holi
Chuck Lessin
Darryl Lowery
Michele Goldenberg-Reinke
John Minor
Robin Odom
Eugene Olihnenco
Sorah Plotnick
Sarah Rakofsky
David Winston
Rebecca Winston
If you know you will have a free day, and want to do an RTA mitzvah while having a good time
working and bonding with other parents – please email Robin Odom ([email protected]) to
volunteer, or just sign up on the Sign-up Genius for any week with open slots.
Also remember that Bingo is the simplest way for parents to fulfill their “Give or Get” requirements.
And in bingo fundraising - every person really does make a difference!
V’ahavta
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Slated Officers and Board 2016—2017
President
Vice President, Administration
Vice President, Ways and Means
Vice President, Finance
Secretary
Treasurer
Immediate Past President
Past President
Dr. Bob Weisberger
Mrs. Meggie Hirsch
Mrs. Heather Dinkin
Mr. Josh Goldberg
Dr. Karen Wharton
Rabbi Elliot Plotnick
Mr. Brian Greene
Mrs. Rebecca Kalman-Winston
BOARD MEMBERS (One year remaining)
Mrs. Ellen Renee Adams
Dr. Tino Habib
Mr. Avery Lynn
Rabbi Mo Sherman
BOARD MEMBERS (To be elected to a two-year term)
Mr. Elliott Bender
Mrs. Helen Griffin
Mr. Mark Press
Mr. Keith Rakofsky
Mr. Eric Schoenfeld
BOARD MEMBERS (To be elected to a one year term)
Rabbi Michael Aronowitz
Article V, Section C of our Constitution and Bylaws states:
“Any Regular Member shall be entitled to make additional nominations provided that the
nomination is seconded by at least five (5) additional Regular Members and nomination and seconds
submitted in writing with at least six (6) different signatures, ten (10) days before the annual meeting
addressed to the president at the school’s current address.”
V’ahavta
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Jamestown and Williamsburg Trip
(. . .continued from front page)
V’ahavta
Page 5
Wire Nylon Stocking Sculpture
by the 7th and 8th Grade
The students began by bending a coat hanger into an interesting three
dimensional shape. They inserted it into a block of wood, then
stretched a nylon stocking over it. After applying 5 layers of watery glue
(they each had to dry in between), they began to paint their designs
with acrylics. They enjoyed the whole process and ended up with an amazing sculpture that
looks heavy and professionally made.
Jaymie Cohen
Miriam Olihnenco
Esther Miller
Chana Reinke
Jenna Stern
Nancy Alexander
Michael Zedd
Ari Lehman
Tzvi Plotnick
Berel Bart
Jacob Rakofsky
Yisrael Skaist
(continued on next page. . . )
V’ahavta
Page 6
Wire Nylon Stocking Sculpture
by the 7th and 8th Grade
(. . .continued from page 5)
William Minor
Shoshana Paley
Egyptian Figures
by the 2nd Grade
We studied how the ancient Egyptians portrayed figures in their art. One leg always
extends in front of the other. Figures are always drawn in profile but the eyes are
always drawn from the front view. We used oil pastels.
Yehoshua Gunzburg
Alexander Klestzick
Nathaniel Rakofsky
Maya Yadin
(continued on next page. . . )
V’ahavta
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Egyptian Figures
by the 2nd Grade
(. . .continued from page 6)
Beckett Pegalis
Miri David
Ezra Holi
Jasmine Starnes
Theo Hirsch
Eliyahu Aronowitz
Akiva Chandler
Doni Plotnick
Avi Gruber
(continued on next page. . . )
V’ahavta
Page 8
Vincent Van Gogh
by the Kindergarten
The kindergarten looked at many paintings by Van
Gogh. They noticed the thick paint that he used.
They painted sunflowers in a vase using paint mixed
with sand. This made their art seem like Van Gogh’s.
Jacob Farzad
Judah Hecht
Chava Gruber
Yisroel Mayer
Kayla Galpern
Phoebe Shoenfeld
Aaron Poliakoff
Yehoshua Aronowitz
Elana Asher
Ronin Lowery
Iris Krumbein
Simon Klestzick
Nathan Krumbein
V’ahavta
Page 9
The 50th Anniversary Chesed Award
Gala Committee wishes to thank the
following individuals and businesses
for advertising in the event program.
Amy Abramovitz
Meir & Esther Binshtok
Barry, Patricia & Max Comess
Rabbi & Mrs. Edward Davis
Deane & Dan Dubansky
Karin Fine
Ben & Sharyl Freedlander
David & Debra Gardner
Rick & Linda Gary
Edith Glock
Commander Dana & Helen Griffin
Avi & Dina Gunzburg
Inge Horowitz
Helen Horwitz
Dr. Ike & Judith Koziol
Hedy Lapkin
Dr. Jeff & Bobbi Levin
Wendy Lusk
Judy Levine-Maizels
Abby Moore
Andrew & Debra Pegalis
Dr. Walter & Barbara Rabhan
Michael & Judith Rosen
Scott & Yael Sheldon
Nathan & Nannette Shor
Mark & Susan Sisisky
Ed & Rose Spanier
Stacie Stufflebeam & family
PARENTS:
The 50th Anniversary Chesed Award Gala is Tuesday, June 7th at 6:00 pm
at the Weinstein JCC. RTA Parents have prepaid for tickets in their 2015-2016
enrollment contracts but must RSVP to confirm attendance. Invitations should
have arrived this week. Please consider placing an ad in the event program. If
you have any questions please contact Mrs. Lin Hardy at [email protected]
or 804-353-1110.
Page 10
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Parsha Points
Each week we feature an article on the weekly Torah portion.
Kedoshim (Leviticus 19-20)
Retirement
For many years, America had lost its most capable and knowledgeable people to ...
retirement. In universities as well as business, there were mandatory retirement rules
demanding that a person leave his profession when he reached age 65. Fortunately,
in recent years, there has been a rethinking of this policy.
From the vantage point of Jewish tradition, which prizes wisdom, these rules make
little sense. The older a person is, the more likely he or she is to have acquired life
experience and wisdom. Thus, rather than being denied an opportunity to share their
knowledge, Judaism teaches that elders should lead our people.
In the Torah, many of the greatest leaders of the Jewish People gain their positions at
an advanced age. Abraham first responds to God's call that he go to Canaan when
he is 75 years old. Later on, when the Israelites leave Egypt, they are led by Moses
and Aaron - ages 80 and 83 respectively.
The Talmud states: "If the youth tell you to build, and the elders tell you to destroy,
you should destroy and not build, because the destruction (recommended by) the elders is in itself constructive."
Rechavam, King Solomon's son, is described in the Book of Melachim (Kings) as
abandoning the advice given to him by his older advisors for the counsel of his
younger advisors. The result? He loses most of his kingdom and the Jewish nation
becomes irrevocably divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Kingdom of Judah.
Had he followed the advice of the elders, this tragedy could have been prevented.
Respect for elders is spelled out in this week’s parsha - Kedoshim. The word
"kedoshim" means "holiness," and much of the Parsha discusses laws which are designed to help the Jewish People become a holy nation. Among these laws is an injunction to "stand up before an old person and give respect to the elders" (Leviticus
19:32). This injunction was taken quite literally by the sources and Jewish law mandates that one stand up out of respect when an elder passes by. The Shulchan
Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, says that a person acquires the status of "elder" at
age 70. Non-Jewish elders are also to be honored and respected. The observance of
this Mitzvah is still followed today by Jews throughout the world.
(continued on next page. . .)
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V’ahavta
Parsha Points
(. . .continued from page 12)
Included within the laws of respecting an elder is not to sit in his seat, not to answer
in his stead, and not to contradict his words. Interestingly, these laws are similar to
those that are to be observed by a child toward his or her parents. In both instances
there is, among other things, the recognition of greater wisdom on the part of the senior partner in the relationship.
However, it should be noted that Jewish tradition does not relegate the province of
wisdom solely to those who have reached the age of 70. The same respect and
recognition is given to those who achieve great scholarship and wisdom even at
much younger ages. For instance, Jewish law also requires that one stand when a
young Torah scholar passes by.
In essence, the Torah is telling us to be respectful of two different ways of acquiring
wisdom: Those who accumulate it through life experience, and those who achieve it
through learning Torah. (And of course, a special reverence would be due an elderly
Torah scholar!)
A reverence for education, and for our elders – two themes all too often overlooked in
the modern world – but which are basic to our timeless Torah traditions.
Adapted with permission from the award winning website, www.aish.com.