let your spirit(uality) soar

Miami Candle

Lighting

7:19 PM

Friday

September 3, 2021

א“ו אלול תשפ“כ

Through the

Classroom Door

Pages 4-6

LET YOUR SPIRIT(UALITY) SOAR

Dear Parents, Erev Shabbos Parashas Netzavim 5781

This week’s Parsha describes the special Bris, the oath, that Klal Yisrael made with Hashem on the last day of Moshe

Rabbeinu’s life. As explained by Rashi, the reason for this special Bris (Devarim 29:15-16) was to strengthen the connection

between the Jewish People and Hashem. What was the matter that prompted this? Rashi

describes how the Jews observed the Egyptians and other nations worshipping idols, and the

concern was perhaps one or more of them were negatively influenced by what they saw. To

counteract that, the force of an oath was necessary to ensure their fidelity to Hashem.

Rabbi Shlomo Yonasan Harris, Shlita, quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein zt’l. as brought in Sefer Kol Rom, who questions how great

could the influence have been? The Jewish People traveled out of Egypt and passed through other countries. They had no

interaction with the locals and their exposure was fleeting. Furthermore, the Torah describes how disgusting and loathsome

Avoda Zara was to the Jewish People. Nevertheless, the Torah is telling us that on a sub-conscious level, there was an

impact. The vast majority of people were not affected by it, but some individuals may have been susceptible.

If someone can be negatively influenced by a brief, passing exposure to something that on a conscious level he finds

disgusting, how much more pronounced will the bad influence be from something that seems very appealing and is

constantly present. We live in a society that continually tempts us with superficially beautiful and attractive things and

activities. This is clearly a set up for significant negative influence. When we throw modern technology into the mix, that

makes all these temptations so accessible, we are in very great danger of being pulled, stumbling and falling spiritually.

As we approach Rosh Hashana and look for areas in which to improve and make a

meaningful upgrade in our spiritual life, resolving to take our exposure to media down a

notch or two seems to be a great place to start. We all want to improve our davening

and learning, but may not realize that we ourselves are throwing obstacles in our path

by heavy involvement with our devices. Cutting down the amount of time, the number of sites and limiting the type of

entertainment we engage with, are all positive steps that will yield real benefits to our spiritual side.

The beauty of such an approach is the impact it will have on our children. I venture to guess that there are very few among

us who have not at some point regretted the amount and type of involvement they have had with their devices during the

past year. When our children see we are taking concrete steps to change a very real part of

our daily activities and are consciously working to increase the quantity of our learning and

quality of our davening, they will internalize a most important message: A person can make

mistakes and get carried away, but if ultimately, we are working on ourselves, trying to be

more in control and making better choices, then we are on the path that Hashem desires.

Then we are being positive role models of growing individuals. This will help our children in

life as much as anything else we can provide for them.

Best wishes for a Kesiva V’Chasima Tova, a year filled with blessings of good health, parnassah, nachas and spiritual

accomplishments,

…the Jews observed the Egyptians and other

nations worshipping idols…

“…we ourselves are throwing obstacles in our path by

heavy involvement with our devices.

When our children see we are taking concrete steps

to change … they will internalize a most

important message.

To Mr. and Mrs. Zalman Sommer on the birth

of a girl.

To Mr. Ilan Assulin and Mrs. Dara Lubin on

the Bar mitzva of their son, our alumnus,

Eliyahu.

( we apologize for last week’s error)

Friday September 3, 2021 א“ו אלול תשפ“כ

Wish List

Please send in any extra

yarmulkas you may have at home.

Calendar Notice

Please note calendar

correction:

Wednesday, September 22 is the

second day of Yom Tov and not Chol

Hamoed

The Week Ahead

Sunday - Regular Schedule

Monday, September 6 -Wednesday,

September 8

Rosh Hashana - No Classes

Thursday, September 9, Tzom Gedalia

Classes Begin Regular Time

Early Dismissal at 2:15

P.M. Carpool Arrangements

If you need to make any carpool or

bus changes, you must notify the

office no later than 1:30 (M-Th) and

12:30 (F). Please note: Parents are

not to be on campus other than in

their car on the carpool line.

Girl’s Office: 305-947-6000

Boy’s Office: 305-948-3338

Chaim Shmuel Ben Leah Yocheved

Rochel Leah Bas Miriam Frumit

Yehudis Leah Bas Tziporah Chava

Binyomin Simcha ben Adina Minya

Mina Yehudis bas Masuda Marsel

Yochanan Baruch ben Fruma Etta

Yechiel Nosson ben Sara

Reminder

Please label your children's water

bottle and sweaters before sending

them to school so we can be sure to

return lost items!

Carpool Numbers

If you still have not received a yellow

carpool number for your car, please

email [email protected]


Group Building Activity In 5G-1

First grade girls were busy learning about the

upcoming Yom tov and also enjoyed baking a

delicious Rosh Hashana Dessert!

The girls were asked to write down one goal they have

for this school year on a small arrow. Then they

worked together to shape everyone’s arrows into one

big heart. This taught them an important lesson about

teamwork and how we all have to help each other

reach our goals.

1G Gets Ready For Rosh Hashana

2G Gets Ready For Rosh Hashana With A Beautiful Art Project

1B Learning Hard And Getting Ready For Yom Tov


4B-4 First Mishna

This week was a big week for 4B-4 as they began their very first Mishna! Rabbi Noam Grossman came into our classroom and

spoke about how lucky we are to begin learning Mishnayos! We learned about amos and tefachim and how high the schach of a

kosher sukkah can be. In order to better understand what a tefach is, we used our "tefach rulers" to measure various

objects in the classroom.

The students in 1B-4 played Superhero Bingo to review letter and sound recognition! Below, 1B-1 is making apple pies for

Rosh Hashana!

1B Tekias Shofar


1B got to practice blowing shofar as they learned all about Rosh Hashana

4G Taking On A Mitzva to Prepare For Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana Fun Page!

C O N N E C TT 0 H A S H E M T H I S Y O M I M N O R A I M

T H R E E A P P R O A C H E S T O

P R E S E N T S A N E V E N I N G O F I N S P I R A T I O N

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 I 8:30 כ”ט אלולPM

G U E S T S P E A K E RRABBI BENZION KLATZKO

Senior Educator Olami N. America

Y E S H I V A T O R A S C H A I M T O R A S E M E S K L U R M A N C A M P U S

1 0 2 5 N E M I A M I G A R D E N S D R .

Y E S H I V A T O R A S C H A I M T O R A S E M E S · Y T C T E . O R G · 3 0 5 . 9 4 4 . 5 3 4 4

I N T R O D U C T O R Y R E M A R K S B YRABBI YAAKOV MOSKOWITZ

YTCTE Director of Adult Educat ion

let your spirit(uality) soar

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