JANUARY 25, 2013 14 SHEVAT 5773

PARSHAT BESHALACH

B”H

CANDLE LIGHTING

1/25

5:19

HAVDALA

1/26

6:22

SHACHARIT AT

AKIVA SUNDAYS

9:00

SHACHARIT AT

AKIVA WEEKDAYS

8:00

MINCHA AT AKIVA

M, T, TH.

REG. FRI

2:40

2:00

Dvar Torah, Parshat Beshalach By Rabbi Tzvi Klugerman

This past week, many people were elevated to greatness and some were reminded of the ephemeral nature of their fame. Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennet were propelled to the top of the Israeli political scene while Prime Minister Netanyahu had to reexamine his strategies for leading the State of Israel. President Obama took a moment as he climbed the stairs to the Capitol after the inauguration to turn around and reflect “I’m not going to see this again.”

In this week’s parsha, Beshalach, we are reminded that fame, strength, and glory are finite. Despite having the backing of his people, who, after surviving the plagues, still followed him, Pharaoh once again had to learn that he was powerless against the Almighty, and that only God’s fame is infinite.

The Israelites looked behind them and saw the Egyptians bearing down upon them. The medieval exegete, Rashi, calls attention to an anomaly in the text. Instead of using the word for Egyptians, the Torah uses the word for Egypt, signifying the nation. Despite all that the people had suffered because of Pharaoh’s recalci-trance in releasing the Israelites, the Egyptian nation was united it is pursuit of the former slaves. Some midrashim relate the pursuit to the desire of the Egyptians to regain their glory that they felt had been dimin-ished. They were so intent on regaining their importance that they were not able to fathom the miraculous na-ture of the splitting of the sea and pursued the Israelites to their own destruction. They were blinded by their desire to regain the fame and power they once had.

Leaders need to understand that one part of leadership is the support of the nation. A leader without followers

is a sad caricature. However, the other part of leadership is the responsibility to lead their group through adver-

sity without the promise of regaining the glorious past. The focus should not be on what was, but rather what

the future could be.

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ECC Learning the Twelve Tribes

Mazel Tov to

Lisa and David Parshan and

Family on the

Bar Mitzvah of

their son, Eli!

Celebration Anointing King David—7th Grade Navi Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Dovid Melech Yisrael (finally) It’s been a long journey, but Dovid Ben Yishai (Lexi Glickman) has finally been anointed King over all of Israel. In a heartfelt display of unity, the best and brightest of all the tribes gathered on Friday in Hebron to anoint and acknowledge Dovid ben Yishai’s kingship over all of Israel. Spotted at the celebration were VIP’s in Dovid’s life including: the generals’ Yoav (Yara Hyman) and Avner (Estee Brown); the prophet Samuel (Alexis Potoff); the late former kings Shaul (Audrey Rogers) and Ish Boshet and the beloved members of their family, Yonatan (Rachel Peysakhova), Michal (Eden Gilan) and the young Mefi-boshet (Orly Jerusalem). Also spotted in the crowd were Dovid’s cousin Asael (Rebecca Potoff) as well some more infamous guests including, the Amaleki (Becky Benezra) and the Baalat Ov (Ayelet Pollock). Notably, Rechav (Sammy Schwartz) was missed at the celebration. Remarkably, guests seemed to let bygones be bygones as they mingled and listened to the gentle chords of the harpsichord and lyre. The city was beautifully decorated by the members of Dovid’s tribe (6th period Navi class). The remaining tribes (5th period Navi class) brought donkeys laden with figs, raisins, wine and other deli-cious treats to the celebration. The highlight of the festivities was a surprise video presenta-tion chronicling Dovid’s journey to kingship, which marked the direc-torial debut of Becky Benezra. Participants are expecting greatness from Dovid. We are eagerly anticipating his first acts as King. Signed, Yishai (Mrs. Nadel) proud father of the King

Alumni Spotlight-

Michelle Faber, Class of 2001 I graduated Akiva in 2001. I am blessed to have an amazing family. My father, Mark, is a nephrologist at Henry Ford Hospital. He inspired me to become a doctor. He is professional, compassion-ate, and a great role model for any doctor. My mother, Karyn, is a retired teacher. She is my best friend. Whenever anything happens, she is the first person I want to share it with. She is giving and fun. I hope to be as good of a mother as her one day. I also have three brothers: Josh, Gabe, and Nati. Josh is a new lawyer, Gabe is cur-rently studying in Israel, and Nati is currently in 9th grade here at Akiva. Life is never boring with these boys around! I am currently finishing up my pediatrics residency training in Staten Island, NY. I will be finished in June and plan on coming back to the Detroit area to practice. I have to share two favorite Akiva memories, both about great teachers. The first is from 6th grade, the year I started Akiva: Mrs. Oppenheim was our teacher. She would always have puzzles out in the back on the classroom for us to work on before class or after we had finished our work. Never before (or after, for that matter) have I wanted to be early for school. Doing those puzzles was not only fun, but was actually an exercise in teamwork. The whole class worked together to do those seemingly improssible puzzles. It really brought us together as a group. What an amazing feeling it was every time we finished one! My second memory is from my senior year of high school. The senior girls had a class with Mrs. Levine. It was origi-nally supposed to be a Navi class; however, it turned into a " life class.” We would talk to Mrs. Levine about whatever prob-lems we were having, whether it be with our parents, friends, siblings, or within ourselves. She would not only give us good and sound advice. She would tie it into Halacha, published teshuvot and other Jewish sources. She would even prepare topics for us to talk about. To this day, I still remember her advice and use it to help make me a better person. I have a million other great memories I could share; ones about Rabbi Cohen, Mrs. Sklar, Mrs. Kessler and every other teacher I've had at Akiva. These two are just two examples that show what great teachers Akiva has had over the years.

14 SHEVAT 5773 JANUARY 25, 2013

14 SHEVAT 5773 JANUARY 25, 2013

BARTON’S PASSOVER SALE IS HERE!!

SALE BEGINS: January 11

SALE ENDS: February 10

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO AKIVA P.T.O.

TO PLACE AN ORDER ON-LINE, GO TO

WWW.MISSCHOCOLATE.COM

Click “Online Store,” Click “Student Sign-up”

Use school code 703006, fill out registration form

Note student ID and password

Click “Online Store,” click “Passover”

Make sure the student ID is entered before checkout

To invite family and friends to participate:

Click “Fundraising Login,” sign in as student with your student ID and

password

FOR MORE INFORMATION, E-MAIL: SHOSHANAKATZ@YAHOO.COM

Earn money for Akiva!

Akiva has earned approximately $250 in box tops this year!

Shop and submit unexpired box tops in bags of 50

to the school!

For more info contact

Susie Schulman

248-626-0458

Attention Akiva Parents!!!

Akiva is running a Chinese auction fundraiser for the high school students to support the Student Council. If anyone would be able to donate anything to con-tribute to this fundraiser it would be much appreci-ated. Please respond no later than February 15th, the

earlier the better!

If you have any questions or donations

please contact:

Shira Movsas –

shiramovsas@yahoo.com or 248-943-0235

Early Childhood Corner by Lisa Parshan, Director Early Childhood What an exciting week in our Purple Hallway!! We began Monday morning with our annual Preschool Open house. Families that toured our building began with a lovely breakfast, followed by a tour to see all of our classrooms "in action." For any families that could not attend on Monday, our preschool is always "open!” Thank you to Leora Leib and Yael Kowalski, tour guides extraordinaire! On Tuesday this week, we celebrated Tu B'shevat!! We had a "round robin" of activities throughout all of our classrooms....Morah Sarah's room was "delicious dirt" where the children smashed Oreos, stirred pudding and piled it into an ice cream cone, topped with gummy worms! Morah Pia's room focused on "Trees around the world.” Children could decorate a Michigan tree, complete with snow, or decorate a tree in Israel, with almond blossoms blooming. Entering Morah Helene's room was like entering the JNF forest. Children had soil and planted parsley for Pesach. Finally, a tour of Israel would not be complete without a visit to the Shuk! In our Kindergarten classes we made edible palm trees, using bananas for the trunk, kiwi for the leaves, and mandarin oranges! On Friday, the Kindergarten class left Mitzrayim. With nothing but the clothes on their back, the Kindergar-ten, led by Nachshon ben Aminadav, crossed the Yam Suf! Thank you to the parent-volunteers for helping with this annual project! Sunday, the ninth of Shevat, marked the first yahrzeit of Beth Isaacs, a former teacher here at Akiva Hebrew Day School. For Beth's 40th birthday party, we had an "Amen" party. To mark her first yahrzeit, throughout the week, dried fruit, nuts and crackers were given out to small groups of students in first through fourth grades, where each student made their own Bracha on the food, and the listeners said "amen,” until everyone had made their own Bracha. May Beth's neshama have an aliyah. We say "tzetchem l'shalom" to Neta Lebotsky and her family on their return to Israel. We enjoyed having you at our school! Shabbat Shalom. We can't wait until next week!

Check out the Early Childhood Animoto Video! - http://animoto.com/play/UASBeQU8HOuw0FZ2hKjEnw

14 SHEVAT 5773 JANUARY 25, 2013

Fruits we eat on Tu B’Shevat! Watch our plants grow!

21100 W. 12 Mile Road Southfield, Michigan 48076

Rabbi Tzvi Klugerman Head of School Mrs. Teri Giannetti Principal Rabbi Jeff Ney Dean of Students Rabbi Aaron Leib Assistant Principal Mrs. Kathy Sklar Assistant Principal Mrs. Lisa Parshan Director, Early Childhood Ms. Roberta Martin Director, Student Services Mr. Sidney Katz Executive Director Mrs. Cheryl Jerusalem Editor

Akiva is Accredited by the Michigan

Non-Public School Accrediting Association

Phone: 248-386-1625 Fax: 248-386-1632

E-mail: www.akiva.org

14 SHEVAT 5773 JANUARY 25, 2013

Davening and Donuts in the Beit Midrash Davening at 9:00 am, Sunday, January 27

For sponsorship in

January and February in honor of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs

please contact Rabbi Katz katzm.akiva@gmail.com

Our Mission Akiva Hebrew Day School – Yeshivat Akiva is an N-12 Orthodox Zionist day school, committed to providing both a comprehensive Jewish as well as secular education in a vibrant atmosphere of Torah values and academic challenge. Akiva strives to provide opportunities for each individual to reach his or her maximum religious and intellectual potential, while at the same time aspiring to develop the highest standards of personal character. In addition, Akiva seeks to imbue its students with a love for Jewish heritage, the State of Israel and its people, together with an intense commit-ment to the Torah way of life. The Akiva graduate will be invested with the desire to contribute significantly to our society as an educated productive citizen and an erudite Torah scholar, and display a strong and real bond with the religious Zionist movement.

Akiva Community Announcements

Mazel tov to: Mr. & Mrs. Shaya Klein, Mr. & Mrs. Martin Brin– birth of son and grandson Mr. & Mrs. Dov Chodoff, Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Blumenfeld– birth of a son and grandson, Yishai Eyal Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Goodman, Mr. & Mrs. Marty Goodman– birth of a daughter and granddaughter, Maytal Emunah Mr. & Mrs. Tzvi Friedman– birth of a son Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Goldenberg, Mrs. Alice Berlin– birth of a grandson and great-grandson Mr. & Mrs. Ira Schlussel, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Schlussel– Bar Mitzvah of son and grandson, Gabe Mr. & Mrs. Zevulon Haddad– Bar Mitzvah of son, Noam Dr. Bryan Weinstein & Dr. Roya Soleymani, Dr. & Mrs. Sion Soleymani, Mr. & Mrs. Aron Weinstein– Bar Mitzvah of son and grandson, Jed Rabbi & Mrs. Michael Cohen– Bar Mitzvah of son, Yaakov Dr. & Mrs. Chanan Kroll, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Snow– marriage of daughter and granddaughter, Brachi

Condolences to: Mr. Jonathan Lowe & Mrs. Beth Denenberg—death of mother, Ida Milstein Lowe