This edition plus The Link archives are available on the web lehrmanschool.org/LL Copyright ©2009 Lehrman Community Day School

TheLehrmanLinkA weekly publication of

lehrman community day schoolcontaining time-sensitive information for members of the school community

Vol 11 • Issue 3 Friday, Septmber 11, 2009 • 22 Elul 5769 • y"xa, kukt c"f Candle lighting: 7:12pm

3rdGradeParents!Update!

Please note the change to our TorahStudySessions:

Wed., Sept. 16, 23 & Mon., Oct. 12 from 7:00-8:00 pm

Remember…Attendance brings rewards!Attend all three sessions, and upon completion

you, too, will receive a personal chumash at Haggigat ha-Torah with your child!

RSVP to Renee Steinmanrsteinman@lehrmanschool.org • 305.866.2771 x10

Dear LCDS Family,This morning, a collective solemnity descended as

our Middle School students led us in remembering those who were murdered and the other heroes of September 11. This ceremony was followed by other students’ blowing the shofar, as we do each morning to prepare for the advent of Rosh ha-Shanah. This combination well keeps within the spirit of this season. The Torah describes a day of “memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns (Lev. 23:24),” hence the alternative name of the New Year as Yom ha-Zikkaron (“Day of Remembrance”) and the prominence in the holiday liturgy of the section of Biblical verses called the Zikhronot (Remembrance Verses), whose recitation is concluded with the blowing of the shofar.

The act of remembering is a declaration of human dignity, an affirmation that each of us is created in the Divine Image. The Torah describes how God “remembers” Noah [Genesis 8:1] and Abraham [19:28] and Rachel [30:22] (rufzhu), each time in the sense of bestowing personal grace. We cover mirrors in a house of mourning because the death of one of His creatures compromises the image of the Creator, which would otherwise be potentially captured by the human visage in the mirror. See Rabbi Maurice Lamm, The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning (rev.ed. 2000) at 99-100. As suggested by the Israeli poet laureate (and Nobel Prize winner) S. Y. Agnon, we recite in the Mourner’s Kaddish, vcr vna ase,hu ksd,h, yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei rabbaw, may Your Name be magnified, because Your Name has been diminished by the death of this one person.

Each one of us has a unique role in this world— and God will always remember each of us and what we did and how we did it. When we imitate God and remember, as we did this morning, we commune directly with the subject of our memory. The focus of our ceremony was not on the geopolitical consequences of 9/11, but rather on a mosaic of individual stories. In so doing, we ratify our daily teachings in this school that one person standing alone can make a difference.

Our innate human capacity—and responsibility—to repair the world and advance social good derives from this focus on the power of the individual. Maimonides (1135-1204) offers the demanding metaphor that one’s next action can affect the whole world: “A person must constantly view the entire world as if it is half meritorious and half guilty. If the individual performs one sin, he tips the balance for the entire world toward the side of guilt and brings destruction to the world. If he performs one mitzvah, he tips the balance to the side of merit and brings salvation.” (Hilchot Teshuva 3:4).

May the reflections of this day and sound of the shofar resonate, through each of us recommitting to accepting individual responsibility for our shared covenant of fate.

Shabbat Shalom and k’tivah v’chatimah tovah, a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours.

Seth Linfield, Head of School

PaPa•razzi patrolImages of Life@LCDS

Feel the creatures…Kindergarteners were up close and personal with a variety of sea creatures, including a horseshoe crab, a starfish, and a sea urchin; nursery students did the monkey, and the elephant, and the snake in Ms. Seredni’s yoga class; third graders took to the hallways for a lesson by fellow students, then studied the life of birds in Ms. Enea’s science class; fourth graders learned about plate tectonics by floating pieces of wood (to represent the earth’s plates) on top of homemade “magma”; middle schoolers post photos and biographical data on the MS “Facewall,” part of a “getting to know each other” project (MS photo: Zachary Shultz, grade 8).

“PassporttoLearning”Mark your calendar for Wednesday evening, September 30 (see times below) for this years “Passport to Learning.” We are proud of our faculty and the academic programs we offer at LCDS and want to share with you what your child experiences each day. We know you will enjoy your journey as you travel from class to class, experiencing the sights and sounds of the ‘Land of Lehrman.’ Come prepared for a learning adventure!(ECD: 6:00-7:00 p.m.• K-Grade 7: 6:00-7:30 p.m.)

50Years,50QuestionsEach week we will publish one of the 50 questions from the PA’s LCDS History Cards. Know the answer? e-mail us answer@lcdspublications.org or find the answer online at lehrmanschool.org/50

3. In what school year did LCDS gets its super EarlyChildhoodplayground?

Answer to last week’s question: Q How many years has Ms. Renee worked in the LCDS Office. A: 37 years!

Spreading Our WingsWe are pleased to launch this year’s annual campaign, SpreadingOurWings, the cornerstone of our community’s efforts to support our school and students. You will again have the option to designate your gift towards several different funds. This will allow our school to continue to spread our wings in multiple sectors—and thank you in advance for joining together in this cause.

Thank You!We thank Michael and Jane for a new $50,000 scholarship fund to help fund students whose families desire a Jewish education but are in need of assistance. Furthermore, we would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Jane and Michael for their generous transformative gift for the Sabet Family Computer Lab. The computer lab has been used by hundreds of LCDS students since its inception and provided LCDS with a huge leap in technology. We often say here at LCDS that “we can’t thank people enough.” Join us in thanking Michael and Jane for their strong and unwavering commitment to Jewish education.

Andrea Schleider, Director, Constituent Relations, 305.866.2771 x23aschleider@lehrmanschool.org

MiddleSchoolMarks9/11

MS students prepared a commemoration for 9/11 which they performed at tefilah.

What’sforLunch?Monday,Sept14Lentil Soup • Meatball subs • French fries

Coleslaw • Melon • Water (M/W/F)

Tuesday,Sept15Corn chowder • Greek salad • Grilled cheese

sandwiches • Sun chips • Pudding • Milk (T/Th)

Wednesday,Sept16Mini egg rolls • Oriental salad • Sweet & sour

chicken with fried rice • Pineapple chunks

Thursday,Sept17Cream of broccoli soup • Greek salad • Pizza

Jello with whipped cream

Friday,Sept18•ouka ,caNOSCHOOLErev Rosh ha-Shanah.

What a great PA welcome back breakfast; thanks to all who attended! And also to our

chairs, Elizabeth Resnick and Laura Finvarb, for making our cafeteria so beautiful!LOTSOFPANEWS!The PA is thrilled to announce our Book Fair

this year is with Books&BooksBOOKS:YourPassport

totheWorld!Sept 30 8am-4pm and

6pm-9pm, same night as “Passport to Learning”;

Oct 1 8am-4pmVolunteers needed! Look out

for sign-up sheets in theschool lobby, or email info@lcdspa.org

Read to your child’s ECD class at Around the World Storytime (Toddler–Pre-K), sign-up

sheets in school lobby.Parents of elementary students can set up a reading time directly with their teacher.

25%ofallsalesbenefitLCDS!Event Co-chairs: Diane Breslow and Tracy Moret

GIRLSNIGHTOUT: Thursday,October22, graciously hosted by

Tracy Waserstein. Thank you! Come see what makes Lehrman moms so great! Email info@lcdspa.org if you’re interested in helping out.Look for your Rosh ha-Shanah chocolates order form in your Friday folders today!NextPAmeeting:Wednesday,October78:45amOfficer Michael Putz from the Miami Beach Police Dept., “Internet Safety and Creating a Cybersafe Home” ALSO: Our FIRST Book Club selection will be announced by our fabulous reviewer. Come join us!

reminders!Sun,Sept13:Books&Books PJ Library 12:30-1:30 pm • Holiday Story Time

Fri,Sept18:NOSCHOOLErev Rosh ha-Shanah

Sat/Sun,Sept19-20:Roshha-Shanah

Sun,Sept27:KolNidre/ErevYomKippur

Mon,Sept28:NOSCHOOLYom Kippur

Wed,Sept30:PA Book Fair 8am-4pm, 6-9pm; Passport to Learning 6:00 pm

Thu,Oct8:Dinner in the Sukkah.

CARPOOLTIP: We now have 2 Drop-Off locations—by the parking lot and by the PE court gates

(however, only between 7:45 and 8:15 am!). Also, for our children’s safety, use of cell phone in car pool line is not permitted. Thank you! Newat

Sign,Say&Play™, is a six-week program teaching signing especially developed for parents and babies. Each session covers an area of your child’s routine: Mealtime, Bedtime, Bathtime, etc. Fee: $150 (includes a Sign, Say & Play Kit enabling you to con-tinue the learning at home.) First session: Tues., Sept. 22, 10:00 am for six weeks through Oct. 27. For details, contact Allison Gechtman at agechtman@lehrmanschool.org*LCDS

*

FlagFootballPractice for JV, Girls Varsity, and Boys Varsity is every Thurs. from 3:45-5:30.FINALSCORES:JuniorVarsityLCDS14, Sinai 7

VarsityLCDS7, Sinai Academy 0 UPCOMINGGAMES:VarsityMon, Sep 14, 5:00 vs. Hebrew Academy JuniorVarsityMon, Sep 14, 4:0 vs. Hebrew Academy • Both games are at Crespi ParkFor a complete schedule, go tolehrmanschool.org/athletics*Exciting Sports Program@Lehrman

*

JanuaryToddlerClassClass begins Jan. 4, 2010 and ends June 10. Enrollment open to children 18 mos. and older. The half-day option ends at 1:00 pm; full-day until 3:30 pm Mon–Thu and 2:40 pm Fridays. Contact JodiBruce305.866.2771x25. Space is limited!