Ki Tisa
In this week's parsha, Ki Tisa, the Jews are each asked to give a half shekel. Why a half shekel? Since the shekel was known to be worth 20 gerah, why weren't the Jews asked for 10 gerah? This certainly seems simpler. The math teacher in me would like to think the Torah wanted to introduce us to and make us proficient in fractions, but that hardly seems likely. Many commentators suggest, instead, that the message for us is that no Jew is complete alone. We need other Jews to make an impact and reach our full growth. We see this most frequently in terms of a minyan; in this group setting, we know we are (thankfully) judged less strictly because each of us individually is less scrutinized. It is certainly a comfort for me personally to know I am surrounded by others davening with kavaneh.
In a school context too, we are all inter-dependent. Students depend on teachers, teachers depend on students, teachers depend on other teachers, students depend on other students, parents depend on teachers, and students and teachers depend on parents. Reaching outside the confines of the school, the school depends on the community, and the community depends on the school. I was gratified this week to receive a call for support from one of the local shuls asking for volunteers for their Purim carnival; within an hour multiple students had offered their services! It is equally moving when local shuls offer joint programming with us, or when parents come into the school to volunteer on a regular basis. It is wonderful and humbling to know that while we can and should absolutely call on others during times of need, we always need each other to thrive.
Parents of middle school and high school children, please join us for a discussion of the book Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age by Dan Kindlon. We will meet Monday night March 12 in the YA media center from 7:30 - 8:30. Please come for a parenting discussion, regardless of whether you have read the book. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time discussing the most important thing we do--parent!
Please consider a gift to the ALEF fund, which helps children in our community receive a Jewish education when they otherwise could not afford it. You can designate up to $2500 of your taxes to go toward the ALEF fund, and you will receive the $2500 back when you file your tax returns. By clicking here you can get an early start on this effort. Thanks so much for considering supporting Yeshiva Atlanta by designating us as recipients of your tax dollars via ALEF.
The Yeshiva Atlanta team will participate in the Hunger Walk this Sunday, March 11, beginning at 2:00 at Turner Field. To make a donation online, visit the YA team page and click on “Support YA Lions” on the top right. For information about the Hunger Walk, you can visit http://www.hungerwalkrun.org/.
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
In a school context too, we are all inter-dependent. Students depend on teachers, teachers depend on students, teachers depend on other teachers, students depend on other students, parents depend on teachers, and students and teachers depend on parents. Reaching outside the confines of the school, the school depends on the community, and the community depends on the school. I was gratified this week to receive a call for support from one of the local shuls asking for volunteers for their Purim carnival; within an hour multiple students had offered their services! It is equally moving when local shuls offer joint programming with us, or when parents come into the school to volunteer on a regular basis. It is wonderful and humbling to know that while we can and should absolutely call on others during times of need, we always need each other to thrive.
Parents of middle school and high school children, please join us for a discussion of the book Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age by Dan Kindlon. We will meet Monday night March 12 in the YA media center from 7:30 - 8:30. Please come for a parenting discussion, regardless of whether you have read the book. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time discussing the most important thing we do--parent!
Please consider a gift to the ALEF fund, which helps children in our community receive a Jewish education when they otherwise could not afford it. You can designate up to $2500 of your taxes to go toward the ALEF fund, and you will receive the $2500 back when you file your tax returns. By clicking here you can get an early start on this effort. Thanks so much for considering supporting Yeshiva Atlanta by designating us as recipients of your tax dollars via ALEF.
The Yeshiva Atlanta team will participate in the Hunger Walk this Sunday, March 11, beginning at 2:00 at Turner Field. To make a donation online, visit the YA team page and click on “Support YA Lions” on the top right. For information about the Hunger Walk, you can visit http://www.hungerwalkrun.org/.
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
