Tetzaveh
R' Moshe Feinstein points out that in this week's parsha, Tetzaveh, the Outer Alter is described as most holy, whereas later in Shemot the holier Inner Alter is simply described as "holy." From this R' Feinstein reasons that a Torah scholar--who is considered holy inside a beit midrash--must be extra particular about his behavior outside of the beit midrash, as he will be perceived by others as particularly holy and therefore worthy of extra scrutiny and emulation.
I remember being told this, on a smaller level, by a childhood friend of mine in Charleston, South Carolina. Because she was the daughter of the Rabbi of our shul, she had to be sure she didn't even enter a non-kosher restaurant to order a water or a Coke, because people might see her and infer that she was condoning the eating of non-kosher food. Certainly when I wore a kippah for the first time as a teacher at a non-sectarian school, I was keenly aware that my behavior would be observed and commented upon as "the way Jews (or observant Jews) behaved," for better and for worse.
As teachers and students at a Jewish day school, all of us at Yeshiva Atlanta are eligible for this kind of examination by those outside of the confines of the school. While inside the school we share the same mission of learning and are engaged in important, holy study, people outside of the school will see us and observe "ah, that is how someone from Yeshiva Atlanta behaves." This is both opportunity to make a kiddush Hashem, and also an extra challenge to make sure that people do not observe us outside of YA behaving in a way that can even be interpreted negatively.
This Sunday and Monday, all women and girls are invited to observe the Yeshiva Atlanta production of Ima Mia, as the YA girls seize the opportunity to publicly display the best of what YA has to offer. Doors open at 6:30 pm for dinner, and the show begins at 7:15. To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships, please email Chagiga2012@gmail.com. Also get a sneak peek behind the scenes at Chagiga here.
Please take a moment to appreciate the efforts of our students to advocate for an important cause by watching this brief video about YA’s Cause Fair.
Please join us Monday from noon until 1:00 at Yeshiva Atlanta for a lunch and learn in our board room.
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.
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
I remember being told this, on a smaller level, by a childhood friend of mine in Charleston, South Carolina. Because she was the daughter of the Rabbi of our shul, she had to be sure she didn't even enter a non-kosher restaurant to order a water or a Coke, because people might see her and infer that she was condoning the eating of non-kosher food. Certainly when I wore a kippah for the first time as a teacher at a non-sectarian school, I was keenly aware that my behavior would be observed and commented upon as "the way Jews (or observant Jews) behaved," for better and for worse.
As teachers and students at a Jewish day school, all of us at Yeshiva Atlanta are eligible for this kind of examination by those outside of the confines of the school. While inside the school we share the same mission of learning and are engaged in important, holy study, people outside of the school will see us and observe "ah, that is how someone from Yeshiva Atlanta behaves." This is both opportunity to make a kiddush Hashem, and also an extra challenge to make sure that people do not observe us outside of YA behaving in a way that can even be interpreted negatively.
This Sunday and Monday, all women and girls are invited to observe the Yeshiva Atlanta production of Ima Mia, as the YA girls seize the opportunity to publicly display the best of what YA has to offer. Doors open at 6:30 pm for dinner, and the show begins at 7:15. To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships, please email Chagiga2012@gmail.com. Also get a sneak peek behind the scenes at Chagiga here.
Please take a moment to appreciate the efforts of our students to advocate for an important cause by watching this brief video about YA’s Cause Fair.
Please join us Monday from noon until 1:00 at Yeshiva Atlanta for a lunch and learn in our board room.
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.
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
