DVAR TORAH BY RACHEL ANISFELD

The children of Israel, on the eve of their departure from Egypt in last week’s parsha, paint their doorposts and lintels with the blood of the paschal lamb. The Sefat Emet suggests that the image of the doorway is significant. They are on the cusp of a new life. God has created a doorway into the Torah for them. It turns out the door does not simply open into a place of residence, but leads instead to a long twisting pathway, a road to be travelled. The path created by the parting of the two walls of the Red Sea symbolizes this road, and God’s choice of the “long way around” the

desert mentioned in the first verse of this week’s parsha makes it clear that the road will be a long one. This sense of journey is an important counter-point to the exhilaration of the exodus of last week’s parsha. Even after 10 plagues, the job is not done. One’s enemies, and in the classic Hasidic interpretation, one’s spiritual challenges, will continually follow one around. Steps forward are made. The Israelites see the Egyptians lying dead on the banks of the sea, believe in God, and, overcome by clarity and gratitude, sing the great Song of the Sea. But what next? Even this great moment – during which the midrash says that a maid-servant saw God with greater clarity than the greatest of prophets – does not last. Changes, spiritual changes, must happen slowly and gradually. Immediately after the parting of the Red Sea, the people complain of thirst. Thirst is their next challenge. Facing the Red Sea, there was too much water; what they needed then was dry land. Now they are on the other side of the Sea, facing the next spiritual challenge, a problem of the other extreme, a lack of water. Later in the parsha, they will confront problems of hunger , a return of thirst, and another enemy attack, Amalek. The problems and challenges of the long road through the desert continue throughout most of the rest of the Torah. Such is life. Such is a Torah life. It is not without moments of exhilaration and clarity, moments of standing in one place and singing out one’s praise to God. But it is mostly a journey. Like the waters of the Sea, the image of life here is not stagnant, but continuously moving, moving and growing, always with an eye to the Promised Land, but never actually getting there. The ability to travel this journey is a privilege and a blessing. Slaves cannot travel, cannot move forward or upward, always chained to their place in society. The exodus was a door not to the land itself – with all its implications of set-tling down-- but to a road, an opening and an opportunity to travel this challenging yet rewarding journey.

CALENDAR Candle Lighting times for January 2011

Friday, Jan. 14th - Light 4:27pm Saturday, Jan.15th - End 5:32pm Friday, Jan. 21st - Light 4:36pm Saturday, Jan. 22nd - End 5:40pm Friday, Jan. 28th - Light 4:45pm Saturday, Jan. 29th - End 5:48pm

SHABBATON January 14, 2011 9 Shevat 5771

Issue Number 16 Volume Number III

Monday, January 17 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Day Tuesday, January 18

Wednesday, January 19 Thursday, January 20 TuB’Shevat Friday, January 21 1:40—School Wide

Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy Of The Capital District Receives

Substantial Support From

Administrators Corner Rabbi Rami Strosberg

A Word from our President 

In his speech memorializing the victims of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona last weekend, President Obama delivered some messages for us to consider. These messages are rele‐vant to us as Americans, as Jews, and as students, parents and faculty of Bet Shraga. In fact, Obama’s response to this tragedy was exactly the way the leader of a Jewish com‐munity reflects and responds to tragedy.  

He shared some beautiful words about the victims and their families, their many acts of heroism, and his personal hope that we fulfill their dreams and live up to their expectations.  

And then the President asked some questions for us to ponder. He said:  

“What, beyond prayers is required of us going forward?” 

“How can we honor the fallen and be true to their memory?” 

He begged us to make sure that when we discuss ways to improve ourselves that we speak with each other in a way that heals and not in a way that wounds. He even quoted from Sefer Iyov (Job) about how terrible things hap‐pen for reasons beyond human understanding. He demanded that we not use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other.  

Instead, he insisted the following: 

“Let’s use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, listen to each other more carefully, sharpen our in‐stincts for empathy, remind ourselves of all the ways our hopes and dreams are bound together. After all, that’s what most of us do when we lose someone in our family.” 

Mr. Obama suggested we ask ourselves if we’ve told a spouse how desperately we love them, if we’ve shown enough kindness, generosity, compassion to the people in our lives, if we’re doing right by our children or our community, and whether our priorities are in order. 

The lessons for our students are clear. They are the same as the lessons for us. We are reminded that we should use our time, not for the pursuit of wealth, status, power or fame but rather to pursue kindness and menchlichkeit and what small part we can play in making the lives of other people better. The President didn’t use the word menchlichkeit but he meant to.   

At HACD, we have established a nurturing and respectful school community that honors uniqueness and diversity. We aim to inspire ethical growth and cultivate students who ask the questions the President has urged us to ask ourselves. We are committed to recognizing that we must do our part to make the world a better place. It’s amaz‐ing to hear the President endorse the moral standards that we hold ourselves to. Wouldn't the world be a better place if everywhere they did what we do here? Not that we're perfect all the time ‐ nobody is ‐ but we always work on being the best community we can be. 

The President concluded beautifully with, “We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but the way we treat others is entirely up to us.”   

From our little corner of the world…

Third Grade! Wow, this year seems to be flying by very quickly. The third graders have been work-ing very diligently and it shows! This class is filled with a very diverse group of stu-dents who are very hard working, creative, and compassionate. I know that each of the third graders will go on to make us all proud no matter which path they choose in life.

In Mathematics, our class is currently working with Money and Making Change. In Science, we are finishing up a large unit on Space. In a couple of weeks we will be taking our first field trip to the Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium. This field trip will be a great way to celebrate the completion of our unit on Space. This past week the class began their first research report on planets. This report will be the first of many. Next week, the class will begin doing group research reports on a country of their choice. These research reports will be very thorough. The third graders will share the information that they learned from their research with one another, then as the year comes to an end, the class will compile this research and create a book of interesting facts about several countries from around the world. In the third grade we are also working on improving our writing skills. Each week the class is given a worksheet to proofread for mistakes, correct all errors, and rewrite the passage. Then they are asked to do a creative writing assignment on a given topic. As the year continues to fly by, each of my students seems to be transforming from cu-rious children into wise, creative, young authors. I couldn't be more proud of their efforts and achievements. Our class seems to really enjoy the challenge of learning how to write in cursive. We have recently fin-ished practicing all of the lower case letters and have just begun learning how to write all of the upper case letters in cursive. The class will begin doing their homework assignments in cursive by March of this year. We spend a large amount of time on spelling in the third grade. Everyone seems to enjoy challenging themselves in this subject as well. All of their hard work has paid off, every child in my class has an A in Spelling. As a reward, I have decided to give an in-class spelling bee to my third graders this spring. The winner of our spelling bee will be given a gift certificate to scholastic book clubs. One of our largest writing projects of the year is currently under way. Our class is working on our "All about the Jewish Me" projects. Each student was asked to spend some time studying their own lives, speaking with their family members, and collecting personal pictures from home to bring in to school. I asked the class to brainstorm exactly what makes each of them unique and how they are Jewish. Some students chose to write about their hobbies, their families, and the traditions that they practice. Others chose to make this project more focused on individual events in their lives that they believe showcase what makes them Jewish. We will be finishing up this project at the end of this month and will be presenting our "All about the Jewish Me" projects to the school at an Oneg celebration on Feb-ruary 4, 2011. Our class would like to invite each of you to join us at this Oneg to learn more about each of the amaz-ing children that makes up our third grade class. As always, please feel free to contact me if you are able to join us in the classroom. Our class loves having parent volunteers join us whenever possible. I believe that having parents in the class simply enriches whatever curriculum is being taught at the time. For those parents that have joined us already this year, thank you for your time. Shabbat Shalom! Mrs. Harrell

HACD Lions Boys and Girls Basketball

Congratulations to the 5/6 Boys won 34-2 last Sunday vs Brunswick

Team Records to date!

3/4 Girls 1-2 3/4 Boys 0-4 5/6 Boys 2-0 7/8 Girls 1-1 7/8 Boys 2-2

____________________________________

Sundays January 16th Games Come and support our team!

3/4 Girls v Bethlehem @ HACD—9:00 3/4 Boys v Ravena @ HACD 10:00 7/8 Girls v Ravena @ HACD—11:30

7/8 Boys v Holy Spirit @ HACD—12:45 5/6 Boys v Brunswick @ HACD – 2:00

COACH’S CORNER

Coach Ryan Miller

HACD’s Festival of Israeli Song and Dance

January 23, 2010 at 10:00am - 11:30am

Temple Israel

And after the Dance Festival…

Please join the eighth grade for bagels and goodies in the downstairs small social hall at Temple Israel. Proceeds will benefit the 8th Grade trip to Israel this spring. Please R.S.V.P. to Anna Rosen at annabrosen@yahoo.com

And while you are eating…

Learn about the Israel Experience—a savings account for your child’s trip to Is-rael. This great opportunity is made available to us by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY and is a fabulous way to save for the trip.

KOSHER NIGHT OUT!

Enjoy fine kosher dining that you don't’ have to cook or clean up from!

A Tu B’ Shevat Feast!

January 19, 2011

The Massry Residence at Daughters of Sarah

Fixed price $36.00 RSVP to 724-3400 between 9:00am—5:00pm

SAVE THE DATE!!!

HACD Science Fair!!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

This year’s HACD Book Fair will be held on February 9th and 10th. The HACD Book Fair offers a selection of Scholastic Books as well as a number of Judaic titles for both children and adults, and benefits our school library program. The students really look forward to this fun event! If you can come and help for a couple of hours (or more!), please contact Jane Shurin at jshurin@gmail.com or 783-5744. PLEASE! The Book Fair depends on adult volunteers to help set up before the fair and to help students select and purchase books during the fair. We need help on the following days and times: Tuesday, February 8, 2010 – Setting up the fair, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2010 – Purchase day, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2010 – Breaking down the fair, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hoping for a dizzying accomplishment Guilderland teen's talent at spinning could land him in Guinness book

By Times Union Staff Writer STEPHANIE LEE

GUILDERLAND -- Sam Segal doesn't just want to make history. He wants to spin it. Segal, a 17-year-old senior at Guilderland High School, is confi-dent he's destined for the Guinness World Records book after performing the longest one-finger spin of the Guinness World Records book -- 16 min-utes and 39.37 seconds. If Guinness declares the Slingerlands teen the win-ner, he will have trounced the current record of 6 minutes and 50.11 seconds. Segal's obsession began six years ago, when an uncle taught him to spin a basketball on his index finger. Before long, Segal took to pillows, towels, pizzas, laptops and his parents' wedding china.

"He'd be clearing the table, and I'd be like, 'Don't even think about it,' " said his mother, Laura Segal, 49. (Her son countered that he's never broken anything.) Two years ago, Sam Segal discovered the World Records record. He was intrigued. He practiced. On Dec. 7, Segal sat in the high school gym, surrounded by 100 classmates, two timers and a video camera, as required by Guinness. He picked up the 3-pound "Guinness World Records 2011" -- the lat-est version must be used -- and spun. After nearly 17 minutes, the book wobbled and fell. But Segal was satisfied. Not only had he beaten the record, he had raised $120 for his club, Best Buddies, which mentors special-needs students.

When he isn't running track or studying, the lanky, dark-haired teen can be found spinning a book while reading another or watching spinners on YouTube. He does not pay particular attention to the length of his fingernails, though he did trim them two days before he tried to set the record. He spins with his right hand only.

"I start out the first push, then I start getting it going, and once I get it consistent and almost flat, I try to get my fin-ger as straight as possible for as long as I can," he said, demonstrating on a recent Tuesday evening at home. His book, a rotating blur, bore a fingertip-sized dent in the center. His mother is a physical therapist who specializes in hand injuries. "I'm not worried," she said. Talia Segal, 13, the family's only leftie, has tried her hand at her brother's hobby. "Usually the spinning stops within seconds," she confessed. In his application essay to Brandeis University, where he hopes to study biology and launch a career as a doctor, Segal declared himself "master of the unnecessary." At age 10, he hula-hooped in his living room for an hour. Asked if he saw a correlation to his current pastime, he offered: "The circle of life?"

Not all "achievements" can be objectively or realistically judged as world records, which 50,000 people attempt to break or set annually. Don't try claiming, for example, the smallest handwriting or largest head. No elbow-licking, silent reading, music-listening or marathon-massaging. And no dreadlocks. "It is difficult, and in many cases im-possible," the Guinness website explains, "to measure the authenticity of the locks due to expert methods employed in the attachment of hair extensions (and) re-attachment of broken-off dreadlocks."

Segal wouldn't be the first in the Capital Region to set a world record. In June 2009, at the Albany Country Club in Voorheesville, golfer Tom Bucci of Latham played the most golf holes in a week: 1,801. (He used a golf cart to get around.) A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor, Pulickel Ajayan, along with researchers from the Uni-versity of Hawaii, holds the record for creating the world's smallest nanotube brushes. They have bristles with an average diameter of 30 nanometers, making them more than 1,000 times smaller than commercial brushes.

Other objects in the longest-spin category include a frying pan on one finger (17 minutes and 47 seconds), two bas-ketballs on one finger (1 minute and 54 seconds) and a golf ball on a putter (2 minutes and 22 seconds). The cate-gory for spinning the records book itself opened in 2004. Some 60 attempts have been made since 2008, according to a Guinness spokeswoman. If Segal succeeds, he will dethrone the current record-holder: Aaron Sass, 31, an eighth-grade history teacher in Lodi, Calif., who remained undeterred at the news of a threat. "If he breaks it, and I challenge him to break it," Sass said, "I'm coming back at him."

Come meet the Directors of Eden Village Camp: The Jewish Farm, Wilderness & Arts Camp!

Eden Village is an innovative non-profit Jewish environmental sleepaway camp 50

miles north of NYC, focusing on organic farming & food, wilderness connec-tion, and creative arts - within a kind, earth-based Jewish community.

Come meet Eden Village founders/directors Yoni & Vivian Stadlin, participate in a

Havdallah celebration to close Shabbat, and get a taste of camp!

Saturday, January 15th, 6 - 7:30pm At the Braun home:

27 Colonial Ave Albany, NY 12203

RSVPs appreciated to Josephat peabenjay@nycap.rr.com.

More info:

Our 3rd-11th grade campers and apprentices develop leadership, community-living and outdoor skills, explore a vibrant food culture, and awaken their sense of purpose, joy, and positive Jewish identity.

The experience includes goat-milking, the most organic, local,

ethically-sourced (and certified Kosher) food of any camp, farming, cooking, herbalism, a zero-waste goal, exceptional staff role models

in a 3:1 camper:staff ratio, natural science, joyful Shabbat celebration and Jewish practice, pottery, swimming and more.

We celebrate and accommodate Jews from many backgrounds, from Mod-

ern Orthodox to those who otherwise might not have chosen a Jewish camp.

Sessions are 7 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 weeks and 6 days. For more info, please call Vivian at (877) 397-EDEN (3336), or visit

edenvillagecamp.org <http://edenvillagecamp.org> .

Campers Pioneering a Sustainable World!

SHOMRAY TORAH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN DONORS 2010-2011

Todah Rabah to our extended family for your support. We are well on our way to reaching our goal for the fall campaign!

Grandparents Rosalie and Raymond Alexander Elizabeth and Moshe Anisfeld Irene Ashery Margot and Arthur Bernhardt Malka and Eitan Evan Rita Goldstein Felice and David Gordis Herbert Horwitz Sedell and Bernard Kamenir Lore and Leopold Koppel Rainy and Stu Kovach Barbara and Howard Levine Francis Levy Esther and Morris Massry Regina Pozner Adrienne and William Rockwood Norma Rosen Harvey Sharfstein Norma and Kenneth Spungen Ruth and Herbert Swift Hermine and Arthur Torian Barbara and Harry Ungerman Arlene and Albert Weiskopf Cydney J. Yerushalmi Dora and Mikhail Zelman

Alumni Marcia and Yoel Anouchi Rachel and Jeremy Arcus-Goldberg Ellen and Jonathan Berkowitz Adam Candib Annette Kriegel Davidoff and Ravin Davidoff Jennifer and Jeffrey Finkelstein Sophie, Harry and Aaron Friedman Andrew Geisler Michelle Geisler Aviva and Seth Goldstein Amira and Rex Hemme Evelyn and David Hessing Samantha Pozner and Andrew Hickman Sharon Flom and Steve Huz Lea and David Kamen David B. Katz Jenny Kovach Maya Kovach Lisa and David Kriegel Aviva and Jay Leberman Judith Ledger Elena and Jay Lefkowitz Miriam Lefkowitz Beena and Steve Levy Laurie Massry Gilah and Eric Moses Elana Zimand and Simcha Pearl Hope and Matthew Rosenbaum Amarits S. Rosin and Seth Rosenblum Gina Fiss and Joshua Rubenfeld Lee Setzen Ruth and Joel Simon

Shira Garber Strosberg and Nathaniel Strosberg Debbie and Rabbi Rami Strosberg Meital and Howard Teitelman Nehama and Lawrence Teitelman

Alumni Parents Galina and Yefim Baskin Sue Swartz and Jeffrey Bernstein Barbara and Karl Brodsky Stacy and David Cohen Deborah and Louis Flancbaum Deborah and Arthur Fleischner Sherry and Marvin Freedman Judy and Roy Fruiterman Beverly and Warren Geisler Elana and Ephraim Glinert Sally and Paul Goldberg Judy and Martin Goldman Sally and Matthew Greenblatt Debbie Brookfield and Seth Greenburg Nancy and Elliott Greene Millie and Daniel Grossberg Kim Hacker Brenda and Michael Hacker Marsha and Leon Halpert Abbey and Joseph Herd Linda and Dan Hershberg Deborah and Daniel Huber Sharon Flom and Steve Huz Charlotte and Stanley Isser Lisa and Joe Kay Rena and Shalom Kieval Gail Kendall and David A. Galletly Marta and Mark Koblenz Ruth and Sheldon Kriegel Kim Friedman Landau and Michael Landau Ida Leberman Beverly and Richard Magidson Phyllis and Lewis Morrison Hope Nathan Reeva and Bernard Nowitz Andrea and Neal Packer Lenora and Alan Pfeffer Renea and Larry Pollack Rona and Louis-Jack Pozner Anita and Ken Rabinoff-Goldman Ruth and Steven Rich Joan and Jack Rosenblum Peppy and Harris Sanders Joan and James Savitt Barbara and Michael Scher Sandor Schuman and Martha Healy Nancie and Kenneth Segel Roberta and Richard Seiden Barbara and Les Stein Lisa and Beno Sternlicht Joyce and Melvin Toub Barbara Wachs

Ruth and Barry Warren Valerie and Stanley Zalen

Current Parents Ellen and Richard Ancowitz Jessica and Pete Benson Karen and Martin Bienstock Nanette and Arthur Brenner Shelly L. Goldman Black and Johnny Black, Jr. Linda and Chris Carothers Elana Gordis and Mitchell Earleywine Amy Gingold-Horwitz Deb and Tsvi Gold Jill and Howard Goldberg Felicia Gosch Michele and Daniel Greenblatt Meridith Englander and Josh Heller Sherry and Charles Kearns Sheila and Paul Koppel Ilana and Rob Kovach Carolyn and Jim Levine Marci Galinkin and Stephen Levy Rachel Anisfeld and Timothy Lytton Jerald R. O’Brien Marian Alexander and Dan Ornstein Chana Ritter Tanya and Ben Schwartz Karen and Gavin Setzen Jane and Arkady Shurin Andrew Sidi Emunah and Ronald Sohn Sirafima Rits and Vladimir Vitkin Tammy and Joel Weingarten Chava and Adam Weisstuch Ellen and Steve Young Nini Wu and Ira Zackon

Community Helene S. Ainspan Evalyn and Joseph Basloe Roberta and Stephen Berk Joyce and Sanford Bookstein Susie and Howard Caplan Mitchell Eil Toby and Arnold Elman FACTS Management Corp. Evelyn and Laurence Farbstein Joanna and Craig Goldberg Deborah and Gary Goldstein Jane and Neil Golub Cindy and Neal Greenstein Jean and Martin Kaback Sandy and David Karlin Josephine and Stanley Kivort Michael Kupferschmid Megan, Emily and Mat Levine Carol Ann and Rodney Margolis Naomi Falk and Rogerio Marx Barbara and Peter Rosenfeld

Lois and Richard Rubin Beth and Mark Scher Lois and Bill Uscher

Names listed reflect those whose

payments have been received.

Community Event Calendar

To put a community wide event in our e-shabbaton, please email a text only

version to klinehan@hacdalbany.com by Wednesday.