Erev Shabbos Parashas Chayei Sarah October 29, 2010 Licht Bentchen: 5:52 P.M. Volume XVII, Issue 7

Dear Parents, The ESTER has always been an apolitical publication, and it remains so. Nevertheless, we open today with an appeal for everyone to vote on Tuesday. The importance of voting transcends party affiliation. We are not pushing any candidate or any party – whether it is the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Tea Party, Coffee Party, Animal House Party, Pat Paulson, Al Smith, etc. We obviously have a responsibility as citizens of the U.S.A. to participate in the selection of the entire House, part of the Senate, and a bunch of Governorships. Additionally, as Jews, supporters of Eretz Yisrael, and “consumers” of private Chinuch, we must make our collective voices heard.

Calendarial Anticipations

Sunday, October 31 – 5th/6th Shiurim. Monday, November 1 –

4B/4G to Flag Ponds. They’ll leave at 9:30 and RETURN AT 4:30, BE’H.

2B to Patuxent Wildlife Center. Tae Kwon Do.

Tuesday, November 2 – 2G to Patuxent Wildlife Center. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, November 2, 3, and 4 – Full post-3:30 schedule; including Yoga on Wednesday. Wednesday, November 3 – Nut House Pizza. Todah to our in-staff helpers this week. Monday, November 8 – NOAM (Night Out at Max’s) for Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Monday, November 23 – First Graders’ Chag Hasiddur at 9:15.

Wednesday, November 24 – End of First Marking Period. Wednesday, December 1 – First night of Chanukah. Friday, December 3 and Sunday, December 5 – Chanukah Break. Wednesday, December 8 – P.M. Chanukah Carnival. We DO have plenty of shoeboxes, but we can use a plethora of (empty) large appliance boxes for our booths. Now is the time to purchase a refrigerator, freezer, oven, etc. Thursday, December 9 – 12:00 Dismissal – P.M. Professional Day. Sunday, December 12 – Federation’s Super Sunday is once again in December. Please reserve time that day to go to the JCC and make phone calls. Sunday, December 26 – 16th Annual TSGW Banquet at Beth Sholom in Potomac.

The Rest of the Story I promised last week that I would relate the denouement (this word is used in honor of a dear philology-obsessed friend) of the “Wite-Out on Pants” saga. The “herbal remedy” for my Googled problem consisted of using WD-40 to get out the Wite Out, applying shampoo to get rid of the WD-40, and then sprinkling water to remove the shampoo (and bringing an ox to drink the water-see Haggadah). Moral Lesson: Don’t drop the Wite Out brush on your clothes.

Today’s Attachments Chosen Words. SOVEYA Newsletter. Classroom Close-ups by Ms. Kerry Griffin. Ooroo LaTefillah.

We wish a Refuah Shelaimah to Mrs. Karp’s husband, who is recovering from knee surgery.

$$””22"" TToorraahh SScchhooooll ooff GGrreeaatteerr WWaasshhiinnggttoonn

EE..SS..TT..EE..RR.. EErreevv SShhaabbbbooss ““TToorraahh”” EEvveennttss RReeppoorrtt

We extend Condolences to: Peninah Hoffman, upon the passing of her

maternal grandmother, Z’L. Chanoch Kanovsky, upon the passing of his

maternal grandmother,Z’L. Rabbi Eli Backman, upon the passing of his

maternal grandmother Z’L. May they be comforted among the mourners of Tziyon and Yerushalayim. We wish a heartfelt Mazel Tov to: ☺ Yoni Ferneau, his parents, Rachelle and

Mark; his siblings Nessia, Ari, and Ellia; and his entire family, upon his becoming a Bar Mitzvah.

☺ Pinchas and Aviva Werner, Avrami, Tuvia, and Meir Simcha, and their entire family, upon the birth of a girl.

☺ Rabbi Shmuel and Yocheved Lichtenstein, Rivka Tehilla, Esther Malka, Shoshana, and Yosef, and their entire family, upon the birth of a boy.

May they continue to be blessed with Simachos. We REALLY appreciate:

Cory Myers, for donating his outstanding professional expertise by taking pictures today for our Chanukah gifts to grandparents.

Miri Gottlieb, Sharona Katz, Julie Vogel, and Aviva Rosen, for coordinating all the details of the picture-taking.

Becky Langer, Galit Kushnier, Esti Schwechter, Anne Merzel, Masha Katz, Ayelet Skinner, Liba Rappaport, Shira Gottlieb, Veeta Kramer, and Gila Harris, for facilitating the whole process of getting kids back and forth during the picture-taking.

Ahuva and Yaakov Lipman, for hosting Monday night’s New Parent Reception.

Julie Vogel and Aviva Rosen, for arranging the New Parent Reception and setting up mentors for new families.

Rabbi Raphael Malka, for checking our Mezuzos and donating the three necessary replacements.

Leah Esther Snyder, for scanning materials for use in Kurzweil.

Mrs. Malka for getting the Six Flags Read to Succeed program off the ground. It takes a whole community to enable us to function smoothly. THANKS SO MUCH!

Thank you to all the parents and staff who brought in materials from last week’s art supply request. If you have not done so already, please send in a smock to be kept in your child's locker for art class.

A Small Sampling of In, Out, Under, Over, and All Around the School

In line with the Mitzvah of Hachnasas Orechim in last week’s Parasha, 1B/G hosted two guinea pigs. This was also peripherally related to their current theme of pets.

Kindergartners learned high level tic-tac-toe strategies in order to play the Aleph Bais game they each made.

In Social Studies, we’ve covered landforms, created landforms and water forms out of clay, explored ecosystems, “met” creatures of the Chesapeake Bay, made maps of our neighborhoods, and were introduced to the planet Earth.

2B drew pictures of the sequence of events involved with Noach sending the Yonah from the Ark.

3B/G began reading Rashi, applying their newly-gained knowledge of Rashi script.

There is lots of writing going on in all classes. We’ve done personal narratives, been involved with book reports, and been putting research results onto paper.

In Math, we’ve estimated, thought about mental math, thoroughly enjoyed the ever-popular work problems, organized order of operations, added up multi-digit numbers, had a ball with decimals, rounded up and down, compared congruent figures, underestimated and overestimated, etc.

Our Middah focus has been on Not Interrupting parents and teachers. It’s actually a good idea not to interrupt anyone.

Some vocabulary learned in Navi: Omnipotent Omniscient Omnipresent Anthropomorphic

6B created a timeline from post-Mattan Torah to Yom HaKippurim of that year. During this time, Moshe Rabbeinu spent three 40 day periods on the top of Har Sinai.

Torah thought: Ever wonder what would happen if we treated Torah as we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it as if we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...just where is my Torah today?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about Torah being disconnected because its calls never fail.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities'?

AND NO DROPPED CALLS!

Good Shabbos!

Sincerely,

Rabbi Yitzchak Charner Headmaster

HOW TO HELP OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT REALLY TRYING!

Collect Big G Box Tops for Education On General Mills, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Kleenex, Ziploc, Avery, and many other products. Register for: Giant’s A+ BonusBucks Program at www.giantfood.com/aplus Safeway’s escrip program at www.escrip.com Save Snider’s Receipts Buy Scrip – Ben Yehuda, Giant, Han Ah Reum, Kosher Mart, Magruder’s, Shalom, Shaul’s, Shopper’s Food Warehouse, Siena’s; Snider’s, and Super Fresh.

Office Depot’s “5% Back to School” Program – our school id is #70119233.

Save your empty ink and toner cartridges – most are worth $2.00!

Lands’ End Uniforms – landsend.com/school - our school id is #9001-0324-3.

s"xc

vk̈h ¦p §T©k UrUg______________________

Volume IV, Issue 3                     October 29, 2010Berachah #1 of Bircas HaMazone

The basic form and concept of the first Berachah of Bircas HaMazone (which ends with thewords: 'kfv ,t izv  Who nourishes all) was composed by Moshe Rabbeinu in gratitude for the Mannawhich sustained us in the Midbar (Maseches Berachos 48b).  The final, complete form (of  this and allBerachos as we say them today) was instituted by Ezra and the Men of the Great Assembly at thebeginning of the Second Temple (Maseches Berachos 33a).

In this blessing, we praise Hashem for providing, in His limitless kindness and mercy,nourishment for all His creatures.  In fact, the following verse from Tehillim 136:25 is the “centerpiece”of this paragraph:

"usxj okugk hf rac kfk ojk i,b"“He gives nourishment to all flesh because His kindness is eternal.”

It is significant that the Talmud (Maseches Pesachim 118a) refers to the entire Chapter 136 of Psalms asthe “Great Song of Praise” precisely because of the inclusion of this verse.  In other words, Chazal sawthat the greatest kindness of G‐d is His daily providing of food to all living creatures.  It, therefore,certainly behooves us to carefully think about this and come to appreciate it as we recite Berachah #1.

Bentching is one of the few blessings which are mandated by the Torah. (Sefer HaChinuchcounts it as Mitzvah 430.) The Talmud (Maseches Berachos 48d) derives this from Devarim 8:10, aPasuk with which we are familiar, as it is quoted in the second Berachah of Bircas HaMazone:

 "udu ',frcu ,gcau ,kftu" “And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless, etc.”

Bircas HaMazone consists of four Berachos (said by all) followed by a series of Tefillos (said bymost people).  The Torah (ibid) requires us to say three blessings after eating a meal with bread (andthe like).  The fourth Berachah was added later ‐ after the destruction of the Second Temple. To beconsidered a Berachah, a prayer must either start, end, or start and end with a sentence beginningwith “Baruch Atta Hashem....”

The Torah view of eating is that we should do so in order to enable us to have healthy bodiesand minds to better serve our Creator.  A “table” where this is openly recognized is considered byChazal to be similar  to a Miz’bei’ach, an altar. (see Pirkei Avos 3:4.)  Therefore, Bircas HaMazone is avehicle through which we should come to this recognition and give sanctity to the mundane task ofeating.

A Project of the Torah School of Greater Washington

Classroom Close-ups October 29, 2010 Ms. Kerry Griffin

Volume VII, Issue 3

All children are born with an innate curiosity about the world around them. They love to explore and find out – to question and learn. We don’t really refer to children as geographers, but, in fact, that is what they are – young geographers. They do exactly what geographers do. They look at the world and ask questions about who does what, where, and why. They are curious about why the world looks as it does and how that affects their lives. That is the work of geographers. Like all geographers, our class is studying places - the land and water, the climate, the plants, animals and people who make a place what it is. They are learning that all places have special features that distinguish them from other places. Throughout the year, the first graders will be exposed to a wide variety of activities and information about our world. During our first geography lesson, I asked students, “Where in the world do you live?” As you can imagine, I had a variety of interesting responses. We then took an imaginary trip from their streets into outer space. On our return, I stopped our “rocket ship” occasionally and had them look out the “window”. They began to notice that, the closer we got to Earth, the more details they could see. From our ship “window”, we were able to see the Earth, our continent, country, state, city and street. As a follow-up activity, students constructed a six scoop paper ice cream cone. Each scoop represented one of the places we observed through our “window”. The students really enjoyed this hands-on activity and created some very original “flavors”. Continuing with our study of places, the first graders just began learning about the seven continents. They colored a map showing the continents and learned a song to help them remember all seven. It’s sung to the tune of London Bridge.

The Seven Continents I know my seven continents,

Continents, continents. I know my seven continents

And here they are: North and South America

Europe and Africa, Asia and Antarctica

Australia! In November, we will continue our “travels” and “visit” the continent of North America. Each month thereafter, we will visit another continent. Students will learn facts, view photographs and artifacts, and see examples of the animal life found in various regions of each continent. Since the geographer’s most basic tool is a map, the first graders will be learning basic map skills throughout the year. The activities that I have planned will give them practical experiences with maps, as well as introduce them to new ways to view the world around them. They will learn the basic components and concepts found on maps and even make their own maps. The word geography, which comes from the Greek words which mean “to write about the Earth”, should convey a sense of excitement and adventure of discovery. I love bringing this excitement into our classroom and watching the children’s eyes open to a world that is theirs to discover and explore!

1

Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC – Director p 1-888-8-SOVEYA (876-8392) * f 443-379-0665 * www.soveya.com * info@soveya.com Volume 4, Issue 5 6209 Western Run Drive, Baltimore, MD 21209

SWITCHH Newsletter (Soveya Wellness Initiative To Create Healthy Habits)

.

Torah thought on health and nutrition:

(Based on Rabbi Avraham Chaim Carmell’s adaptation of a shmuess by Rav Naftoli Elzas, Rosh Yeshivas Marbeh Torah)

The Rabbis tell us that our first matriarch, had three names. Her father, Haran, originally named her Yiskah. Then she assumed the name Sarai, and later was elevated to Sarah. The Talmud explains that her original name, Yiskah, expressed three exemplary characteristics - her Divine inspiration and prophecy, her attractiveness, and her royal demeanor. The first and last explanations are quite fitting for the mother of Klal Yisroel. However, why is her appearance such a stellar attribute that can be equated with her prophecy and royalty? Granted, the Rabbis identify Sarah as one of the most beautiful women in the world. But does the Torah hold physical appeal to such a high degree that it should serve as one of the primary values for all subsequent generations of Jewish women to emulate? These names represented different stages in Sarah’s life. Haran saw the unique beauty of his little daughter which, at an early age, was nothing more than an innocent attribute. As she got older, however, it became one of her greatest challenges – to maintain her discretion and dignity in the face of constant attention and admiration. A lesser person could have easily used their physical attraction to manipulate others and cause them to stumble spiritually. Sarah, on the other hand, worked with great diligence to master self-control – presenting a presence of refinement, dignity, and modesty, the true definition of tznius. This exceptional maturity of character led to her second name – Sarai (which alternatively could be understood as “my rule – or ruler of myself”). The Vilna Gaon says that the effort women must make to maintain their tznius is equivalent to the exertion men must invest while toiling in Torah. Mastering these two seemingly disparate disciplines leads to the same result – immense spiritual achievement and connection with the Creator. Hence, the name change from Sarai to Sarah - signifying the extraordinary level of kedushah she attained in her “third” stage of life.

We can now see a stunning connection to another series of 3’s attributed to Sarah, and understand an additional nuance in why the Torah described her lifetime as 100 years, 20 years and seven years – instead of simply 127 years old. At age 20, she had the beauty of a seven-year-old, meaning that she treated her physical appearance with the simplicity of a young girl even while possessing the unequaled allure of a stunning adult. And at 100, she was as free of sin as a 20-year-old, meaning that she maintained her dignity, self-respect and modesty despite decades worth of opportunities to do otherwise. “Who is the strong one?” asks the Mishna in Pirkei Avos. “The one who conquers his yetzer hara (negative inclinations).” Sarah’s self-dominion is the lasting example Chazal offer us to learn from and model. Many of us have challenges which are difficult to overcome. Sometimes, the hurdles seem simply insurmountable. These tests often manifest in the realm of eating and living a healthy lifestyle, such as conquering our desire to overeat during meals, or snack on unhealthy nosh. It can also be fighting against our lethargy to get moderate, daily exercise – even if it’s just walking up a flight of stairs instead of taking the elevator. We can have the tendency to rationalize the consequences as nothing more than “just gaining a little more weight” or “feeling a little uncomfortable from eating too much” or “being out of shape and consistently fatigued.” But if we can see our struggle in the context of dignity and self-respect, perhaps we can muster the needed resolve to set proper boundaries, make appropriate choices – and take needed action. We can strive to replicate the paradigm of our matriarch, exercising self-control and adopting a comportment of nobility that acknowledges our appreciation of the body HaShem gave us. We can fulfill the teaching in Pirkei Avos, and develop our own spiritual greatness and kedushah – by simply saying no even when we feel like saying yes – and saying yes when we feel like saying no. Good שבת.

Copyright © 2010 by Soveya, Inc.

The SWITCHH newsletter is provided free of charge to schools across the country through the generous support of our underwriting partners including:

Mastering Self Control and Dignity Learning from the Greatness of Sarah Imeinu

2

News, information and practical advice:

Easy & Healthy RECIPE CORNER

QUICK TIP TO BETTER HEALTH!

Help keep those doctors away and start eating that apple every day. Apples are low in calories and fat and contain vitamins,

minerals and fiber. Apples also have a high water content. This teacher's favorite shiny red, green or yellow fruit also contains two types of fibers. Insoluble fiber helps give the sensation of

having a full stomach and aids digestion.

Flavonoids and boron, both found in apples, helps strengthen

bones and may protect elderly women from osteoporosis. Those antioxidants also ward off lung cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

The pectin in apples prevents colon cancer, reduces bad LDL cholesterol and helps manage diabetes. In a Brazilian study,

people who ate three or more servings of fiber-rich fruit like apples lost more weight than those who didn't eat fruit.

Almost 1/2 of Kids’ Daily Calories Come from Junk Food Researchers from the National Cancer Institute analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that nearly 40 percent of calories consumed by children ages 2 to 18 were empty calories, the unhealthiest kind of calories. Half of these calories came from just six foods: Soda, Sugary fruit drinks, Grain desserts, such as cake, cookies and donuts, Dairy desserts such as ice cream, Pizza, Whole milk, which is far fattier than skim. "Consumption of empty calories far exceeded the corresponding discretionary calorie allowance for all age groups," wrote the researchers, led by nutritionist Jill Reedy. "This number is staggering and depressing," said Kelly Brownell, professor of psychology, epidemiology and public health at Yale University. While the findings don't surprise many nutrition experts, they say the reasons kids consume so many empty calories are complex. The push for healthier foods over the past few years has helped a little, but they say there are still many obstacles to changing eating habits for the better -- including a lack of physical activity, parental and peer influences, and marketing by the food industry.

"Nutrition education needs to start in prenatal classes and move through the entire education

system," said Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in

St. Louis. "As I work with college students it amazes me, the number who don't know the nutritional value of many foods or even how

much of each food group they need."

"The school curriculum must include thorough teaching of the value of real food and what food

to avoid," said Dr. Jana Klauer, a New York-based physician and nutrition expert. "It is

crucial that nutrition be addressed thoroughly throughout the elementary school years; high

school is too late because the damage has been done by then." (See Soveya's SWITCHH program)

Experts also believe children's poor diets are a result of their home environment. "Eating is learned behavior. Kids eat what their parents

eat," said Dr. Charles Clark, professor of medicine at Indiana University School of

Medicine. If busy parents throw a frozen dinner in the microwave, he said, that's a bad meal that

sends a bad message.

Butternut Apple Soup

Ingredients: 1 onion, diced; 2 butternut squash, peeled & cut in chunks; 2 apples, diced; 2 C. vegetable broth (Imagine Soup); 2 C. water; 1/8 tsp. ground thyme; 1 tsp. salt; dash of black pepper; 1 C. unsweetened soy milk

Directions: Saute onion until golden. Add squash, apples, broth, water, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, covered, until squash is tender. Puree soup until smooth. Return to low heat and stir in soy milk.

SWITCHH is a coalition of Jewish Day Schools committed to effecting real and lasting changes toward our approach to eating and nutrition. The Wellness Initiative uses a Torah educational approach combined with practical tools and the latest news and information to inform and empower parents, teachers and students about the

obligation to properly care for our bodies by developing and enjoying healthy eating habits. SWITCHH is presented by Soveya, providing nutrition & wellness coaching, educational programs, teleconferences, seminars, and newsletters concerning health, nutrition, and obesity prevention.

Changing the Jewish World – One Pound at a Time

From SOVEYA’S Incredibly Easy & Healthy Cookbook (300 no sugar, no flour recipes)

Contact SOVEYA and order your copy today!

Rosh Chodesh Kislev is Coming...

Each Rosh Chodesh, the PTA provides treats to our students. The PTA is seeking sponsors for this coming month’s Rosh Chodesh treats. For a $25 sponsorship, your name and message (in recognition of, in honor of, in appreciation of, etc), will be distributed to each class and read aloud to the students. This is a great way to also show your children’s teachers your appreciation. Please return the form below (attention: Rosh Chodesh Sponsorship), with payment, to the office by November 3, 2010 Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please call the school at 301-962-8003, x 2300.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We would like to sponsor Rosh Chodesh treats for Rosh Chodesh Kislev Enclosed is our check for $25, payable to TSGW PTA. Message: _________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________