7:41 How important is the virtue of simcha, to be joyful? Included in this week’s parsha is the prediction of a series of misfortunes which we hope will never befall the Jewish nation. The tochacha, rebuke includes the following statement: Because you did not serve Hashem, your G-d, amid gladness and goodness of heart… you will serve your enemies whom Hashem will send against you (28,47). What a strong admonishment! The Alter of Kelm and others ponder the fact that one might conceivably observe a specific mitzvah in its entirety, yet lacking joy or zeal; he is admonished with sharp rebuke. The Alter quotes the Vilna Gaon who comments that hachefetz veharatzon hu hamiskayem, loosely explained: A mitzvah is considered observed and achieved strictly with enthusiasm and fervor. Thus, joy and enthusiasm emerge as the criterias by which spiritual accomplishments are measured. They also represent the key to many of life’s cherished blessings and treasures. The Almighty grants us myriad blessings in life; blessing which we often recognize only in hindsight. In expressing the blessings which Jews merit, the Torah states: U’bau alecha kol habrachos haeleh v’hisigucha. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you listen to the voice of Hashem, your G-d, (28,2). We tend to flee from elements which are inherently good because, at the time, we don’t realize its benefit. Therefore, the Torah tells us v’hisigucha, the blessings will catch up with you even as you attempt to escape them. Dovid HaMelech wrote: Ach tov v’chesed yirdefuni kol yemei chayai, only goodness and kindness should pursue me all the days of my life (Psalms). Even as I can not appreciate the goodness – and as I run from it – may it pursue me. Indeed, nothing can deter Divine blessings. Children, especially, can’t always understand nor appreciate that which is beneficial to them. While younger children are generally enthusiastic about their world, and about school in particular, older children require an added dose of parental encouragement. Parents must lend an ear to their children’s grievances and simultaneously realize that those very complaints might well represent blessings which, at the time, their child is unable to discern or appreciate. The greatest investment that parents could provide for their children is encouragement and support – both directly to their children and to the school through their children. An enthusiastic parent who consistently endorses the positive aspects of life in every form and under every circumstance has planted the seeds of nurture for a life of satisfaction in a world which we can not predict. Those seeds represent a winning ticket for both parents and children in this complex world. Have a wonderful Shabbos! SEPTEMBER 4 Labor Day Boys Divisions Only Grades 1-4 School Starts 9:00 AM Grades 5-6 Minyan 7:45 AM Jr. High Boys 7:50 AM Grades 1-6 Dismissal 12:00 PM Jr. High Boys Dismissal 12:30 PM • • • • • • SEPTEMBER 5 Meet The Teachers Grades 1-6 Boys and Boys Junior High • • • • • • SEPTEMBER 6 Yavne Meet The Teachers Grades 7-8 at 7:00 PM Grades 9-12 at 8:15 PM בס’’ד פרשת כי תבוא | ט”ו אלול תשפ''ג | 2023, 1 September Only at Plaza Leasing: Sales and Rentals simplified! All of your vehicle needs in one place! Call 216-707-9000 or email [email protected]
| | September 1 All Staff Meeting Our staff and faculty were hard at work preparing for another awesome school year. As they do every year, the staff gathered this week to hear words of inspiration from our Menahel, Rabbi Simcha Dessler. Rabbi Dessler welcomed everyone back and expressed gratitude for the significant increase in our student population, due in part, to our excellent team of educators. After outlining new school policy, Rabbi Dessler introduced a head of security at Jewish Federation of Cleveland, former Cleveland Heights Police Chief, Jeff Robertson and former South Euclid Police Chief, Matt Campadana who explained all that JFC does to keep our school, and the community at large, safe. Mrs. Marlyn Jaffe, Executive Director of the Jewish Education Center lauded our staff and spoke of the community resources for staff and students which are provided by the JEC. The meeting was followed by divisional staff meetings and a deluxe lunch buffet and we thank our Food Services Dovi team - Mr. Dovi Greenberger and Mr. Yisroel Freilich - assisted by Mrs. Shana Gold-berg and Mrs. Shirah Stern for the delicious lunch! Thank you to Dovi and Yosef Elbaz and Avi Howitt for helping deliver the delicious su-shi for the staff meeting this week. Boys, we are so proud of you! Welcome to our New HAC Families Mr. & Mrs. Alex Abramov Mr. & Mrs. Shraga Arnstein Rabbi & Mrs. Yaakov Ausband Mr. & Mrs. Tzvi Bander Mr. & Mrs. Meyer Banilov Mr. & Mrs. Netaneli Behboudnia Mr. & Mrs. Ben Dynan Rabbi & Mrs. Elyokum Emanuel Mr. & Mrs. Gershon Feit Mr. & Mrs. Yehuda Fleishman Rabbi & Mrs. Moshe Florans Rabbi & Mrs. Motti Ganeles Rabbi & Mrs. Moshe Dovid Ganz Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Garfinkel Mr. & Mrs. Yaakov Genkin Mr. & Mrs. Eliyahu Goldstone Rabbi & Mrs. Elozor Hamburger Mr. & Mrs. Yochanan Michael Katz Mr. & Mrs. Yossi Keller Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Kleinbart Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Aryeh Leff Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Malcmacher Dr. & Mrs. Shmuel Margolin Rabbi & Mrs. Avraham Chanoch Mashitz Mr. & Mrs. Yehuda Neuman Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Pister Rabbi & Mrs. Menachem Rabenstein Rabbi & Mrs. Daniel Rabinowitz Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Schloss Mr. & Mrs. Yosef Schwartz Mr. & Mrs. Shammai Sherman Rabbi & Mrs. Benjamin Simon Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Mordechai Sitorsky Mr. & Mrs. Jonah Stavsky Mr. & Mrs. Dovid Yovits Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Zak We welcome our new families to our Hebrew Academy Family! Chai Lifeline If anyone has outstanding money from the Camp S.T.E.P. Chai Lifeline summer fundraiser, please submit the money to Rabbi Matitia or the Yeshiva Ketana office. Thank you!
| | September 1 Kindergarten Kindergarten began with sun-shiny smiles and happy sounds! Our kindergarteners are adjusting beautifully, and are a pleasure to see! We look forward to many sun-shine filled days of wonderful learning, growth and fun! Early Childhood Boruch Hashem, our year has begun with excitement and enthusiasm. Our kinderlach were greeted by inflatable dancing characters, smiling moros, and “Thank you Hashem” music. The children were thrilled to greet their new moros and friends, and it was delightful seeing so many smiling children and so few tears!! Yeshiva Ketana Once again the sound of learning Torah can be heard throughout the halls of the Yeshiva Ketana. We are so happy to welcome everyone back! Rebbeim, Moros and talmidim are all enjoying getting to know their new classes. May this year be filled with limud haTorah and middos tovos!
| | September 1 Yavne High School It was a pleasure welcoming Yavne Junior High for the start of our new year. We all felt an amazing, positive energy as our staff and students embarked on this year’s academic journey. It was a great start filled with inspiration, connection and a beautifully done G.O. breakout and breakfast. In sync with the G.O. theme of "שעה ובכל עת כל ,we anticipate a year of "Non stop" opportunities "24/7"! Junior High School With a pesicha address from Rabbi Dessler , a message from Rabbi Kahn, Rosh Hashana inspiration from Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld, and General Studies information from Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Stern, the Junior High is off to a wonderful start. The eighth grades had a team building trip, barbecue and kumsitz which we hope will generate a year of achdus in our division.
| | September 1 Condolences to • Mrs. Ruth Koblentz on the loss of her brother, ה”ע המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים. PTA Corner Welcome Back!!! We hope you enjoyed a restful and relaxing summer and are ready for an exciting and action-packed year ahead. We are so grateful to Mrs. Elana Tenenbaum for her Leadership as PTA president last year. She has B”H joined the staff at Taylor Road and in doing so decided to step down from her volunteer position on PTA. We wish her much hatzlacha in her new role! 2023-2024 PTA Leadership Mrs. Yocheved Neeland – President Mrs. Rivky Silver – Co-President, Oakwood Campus Mrs. Chany Klein – Co-President, Yavne Campus Mrs. Miriam Berman – Co-President, Taylor Road Campus Please help us welcome Mrs. Miriam Berman to the Leadership Team! We look forward to working with you, our dear parents, to enhance our school by supporting our staff, our students and our families. May it be a year of good communication, community building, growth and learning. PTA runs all of its programs through the hard work of volunteers. To hear about volunteer opportunities as they arise, please join our volunteer whatsapp chat by using the QR code below. Upcoming Events: Popsicles in the Park – B”H we have an abundance of new families with students entering KtanTan (the 2’s) and Kindergarten. Please join us to help welcome them this Sunday, September 3 at Walter Stinton Park (2301 Fenwick Road) 10 a.m. for families with 2 year olds and 11 a.m. for families with kindergarteners. Girls Elementary Our principals and staff are working around the clock to be sure that we have a great start of the school year. We will begin at Wiley, our temporary home, while the school finishes the first phase of renovations on Taylor Road. Parents have received and will continue to receive email communications as the exciting developments unfold. Looking forward to seeing and greeting our students very soon!
Mazel Tov! • Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Berkowitz on the bar mitzvah of Eli Mazel tov to Mr. & Mrs. Gershon Ireland. • Mr. & Mrs. Mordechai Brudno on the birth of a son • Mrs. Chaya Gitty Kohn on the birth of a granddaughter to Heshy & Malya Blumenfrucht • Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai Matitia on the engagement of Mirel to Yehuda Stern (Woodmere) Mazel tov to Mrs. Edith Matitia. • Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Steinman on the birth of a daughter Mazel tov to the Gross and Pister Families. | | September 1
605-468-8014 ext 101 a 3 minute nightly learning conference for alumni with Mrs. Ariella Vale Yavne High School is proud to introduce Reading: My Father My King by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin Monday - Thursday 10:15 sharp Starting Tuesday, Sept 5th *the book is in stock at Grand Judaica
Tuesday, September 5th at the Klein Campus Junior High (Grades 7,8): 6:45 Mincha in the Junior High Beis Medrash 7:00 Meet the Rebbe in your son’s classroom 7:20 Presentation by Rabbi Kahn followed by General Studies Meet the Teachers Yeshiva Ketana (Grades 1-6): 8:00 Introductory Remarks in the Freschl Auditorium: Rabbi Simcha Dessler Rabbi Asher Newman Dr. Yoel Schwartz 8:20 Meet the Rebbeim, Moros, and Teachers 9:00 Maariv