9 days and counting…

The Chinese Auction is almost here! Remember to bring all of your friends for an evening

of delicious food, friends and fun! ~

We are also on the web at www.torahschool.org/auction

for all of your out of town friends and family!

Remind your friends … ** The Tuition Stimulus Package is for

any Jewish school in the country!** ~~~~

We still need a few more volunteers to help out the day of the auction.

Please contact Elana 301-681-4023 or Jessica 301-592-0391

to get involved.

Erev Shabbos Parashas Bo January 30, 2009 Licht Bentching: 5:09 Volume XV, Issue 21 Dear Parents, It is highly unfortunate that our (almost) two week vacation was disrupted by having school on Monday. I guess we’ll have to plan things better in the future. Also, we are changing our snow emergency announcement procedure. Instead of calling the TSGW #, you should now call the White House and ask the Obama girls what we should do. They’ll be happy to get all the attention.

Philosophical Point to

Ponder A parent asked me on Wednesday to explain the following contradictory phenomenon: “On school days, I have to drag my children out of bed to get to school on time. However, on snow days, they’re up at 5:00 A.M. Why is that?” (Editor’s Note: We’d be interested in hearing any interesting interpretations from our readers.)

Auction News Our Chinese Auction is a mere nine days away, and we REALLY need everyone’s participation. Bring a bunch of your friends,

too. It’s an enjoyable evening, highlighted by NO SPEECHES, and it’s our second largest fundraiser. In these difficult economic times, the importance of this event takes on an even greater magnitude.

Please note that next Thursday’s afternoon Professional Day has been cancelled. Due to the extra two day hiatus of this week, Thursday will be a full regular day of school with all “perks” such as Mishmar and P.M. Day Care.

Skiing to Us Really Soon Sunday, February 1

5th/6th Shiurim. Monday, February 2

Chag HaChumash at 9:20 in room to the left of the Cafeteria.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, February 3, 4, and 5

Full post-3:30 schedule. Wednesday, February 4

Ben Yehuda Pizza. Thanks to all who gave their own kids lunch this Wednesday.

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EE..SS..TT..EE..RR.. EErreevv SShhaabbbbooss ““TToorraahh”” EEvveennttss RReeppoorrtt

Sunday, February 8

Chinese Auction at

7:00 P.M.

Monday. February 9

Tu B’Shevat Wednesday, February 11

Md. Science Center visits us with A.M. and P.M. programs to try to explain to us “What’s the Matter”.

Friday, February 13 End of Second Marking Period.

Sunday, February 15 Erev President’s Day – No Shiurim.

Monday. February 16 President’s Day – No School.

(Another Question to Ponder: Why don’t we have a Vice President’s Day to give off from classes?) Tuesday, February 17

A.M. 4B-6B and 4G-6G Berachos Bees P.M. 1st-3rd Berachos Bowl

(These are postponed from Tu B’Shevat because of our extended vacation.) Sunday, February 22

5B Siyum on Maseches Megillah. Details to follow.

Federation’s Super Sunday. Sunday, March 1

Girls’ Choir will sing at the Ring House at 10:30 A.M.

Sunday, March 8 Boys’ Choir will sing at the YGW Concert.

Attached Today: Classroom Close-ups by Rabbi

Samberg.

We express HaKaras HaTov to:

We thank Dina Hadar for helping Karen Franco certify that we are a lice-free facility.

The following for sponsoring Rosh Chodesh Shevat treats: • The Kramer Family in honor of

Veeta becoming a Bas Mitzvah. • The Walls Family in honor of

Goldie's birthday. Shani Leiman for handling all the details

for Rosh Chodesh Shevat treats. Rabbi Hoffman for learning with his

Talmidim on Tuesday at SEHC.

Continuing “Stuff” Parshathon donation collection deadline is

Monday, February 23. Please, please help your kids with this – Chai Lifeline is also suffering badly from the economic crisis.

We continue with the Middah of Emes. No new materials were introduced this week, but being honest is always a good thing.

Many kids have “made” the Chemdas trip and are working on finishing the book. Keep helping your kids pace themselves. Editor’s Note: I know that I’ve fallen behind with Mishnayos testing due to the blizzards, but I’ll catch up, BE’H.

We express condolences to:

Ron Mizrahi and family, upon the passing of his father.

Jessica Eizenstat and family, upon the passing of her maternal grandmother.

Devorah Stimler and family, upon the passing of her paternal grandfather. May Hashem comfort all of them

among the mourners of Tziyon and Yerushalayim.

We wish a Refuah Shelaimah to Aryeh Stiber’s thumb.

We wish a heartfelt Mazel Tov to: Rabbi Raphael and Mrs. Chani

Mendlowitz, upon the birth of a girl to their daughter and son-in-law, Brocha and Shmuel Dov Oratz.

Eric and Caroline Namrow, Jacob, Zev, Dalya, Chana, and their entire family, upon the birth of a boy.

Rabbi Eli and Mrs. Nechama Backman, Mendel, Yossel, Chaiky, Berel, Avramel, and their entire family, upon the birth of a girl. To show real family planning, the baby was born on the Thursday before vacation. This way, Mrs. Backman was able to have everyone at home to help speed up her recuperation.

Veeta Kramer, her parents, Miriam and Larry, Josh, Bracha, Meir, Jeremy, and her entire family upon her becoming a Bas Mitzvah.

May they continue to be blessed with Simachos.

Food Drive The annual food drive/Chometz removal project for the Capital Area Food Bank has begun. You can bring your closed cans, boxes, jars to the drop-off box which is in our lobby. Good Shabbos! Sincerely,

Rabbi Yitzchak Charner Headmaster

January 30, 2009

Classroom Close-ups

By: Rabbi Yosef Samberg

Volume V, Issue 13

By nature, all human beings are learners. One just has to observe how a young child looks at the world and interacts with it. Everything is touched and handled in order to study and understand it. We all know that our children’s favorite question is “Why”, for they all want to know are answers to their unlimited questions about the vast world around them. Children’s frustrations arise when a “wall” is placed in front of them that prevents them from being successful in fulfilling their natural desire to learn. These frustrations are manifested when a child uses the most infamous of phrases: “I CAN’T!” As a Rebbe, I feel that my main job is to remove any obstacle that would frustrate a child in his wanting to learn and to learn independently.

My goal in 3rd grade is allow my students to gain the confidence that they can, on their own, read and translate Pesukim from the Chumash. In order to accomplish this, I had to first recognize what would be potential difficulties for them. I have found that length of Pesukim intimidates them , as does the lack of recognition of word meanings. In order to alleviate the first fear, I teach the children to break the Pesukim into smaller phrases by using the Trop (cantillations whose main purpose is to serve as punctuation) that are found on top or on bottom of the words. Once that is done, all that is needed is to be able to translate the words.

The key to translating a word is to zero in on its Shoresh (root). Hanging in the front of my room is a tree with leaves on it and hanging from the leaves on any given day can be 10 to 15 different Shoroshim. Many times, the first thing I will ask the boys to do when they enter our room from recess is to find, on the tree, the Shoroshim we will learn that day. Students are then asked to “pick” a Shoresh off the tree and put it on the board. After all the Shoroshim are placed on the board, we go over their translations, together with what they would mean when conjugated with various prefixes and suffixes. When we finally begin the task of translating the Pesukim, the students’ confidence is manifested by their raised hands, glowing eyes, and jockeying for position to be called on.

Another successful tool used in class is the age-old use of Chavrusos. Utilizing this in short time frames allows the students to work together to figure out a Posuk on their own the way it is done in a Yeshiva. I also give them “Chavrusa time” to review a Rashi that we learned in class, so they will be able to read it successfully for a “Royal Rashi Reader” stamp.

The combination of these devices, combined with the overall excitement that I try to generate in class, helps my students overcome the obstacles they may encounter when learning Chumash. When all is said and done, if the phrase, “I can’t” is replaced with “I can” or “I will try”, I feel that my overall goal has been achieved.

P.O. Box 707 Silver Spring, MD 20918t:(202) 331- 4481 f:(301) 681-1453 www.bikurcholimgw.org email: audrey@bikurcholimgw.com

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G.S.H.M.A.C.Giving Support and Help while

Motivating and Connecting

presents:

Rabbi EliEzER KREisERof Congrgreation Ezras Israel, Rockville

Instilling and Infusing Simchain our Homes

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8:00 PM. at the home of

Shalom and Peninah Hoffman10707 Huntwood Drive

Silver Spring, MD

Please RSVP 301-754-2272

Sponsored by Bikur Cholim of Greater Washington

2009 PROGRAMMING

WINTER

Rabbi Raphael Mendlowitz

Daas, Refuah, Tefilla, Parnossa, Geula, Yerushalayim

The Bakoshos (requests) of the Shemonah Esrai

Wednesday evenings starting January 28th

8:00PM

Southeast Hebrew Congregation

Mrs. Cortell's class $30

Rabbi Mendlowitz's class $36

Mrs. Yael Cortell

Parshas HaShavuos

Tuesday evenings starting February 3rd

8:00PM

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

TUITION:

TUESDAYS WEDNESDAYS

The Mesorah Women's Learning Institute is a non-profit institution

For more information please call Sorah Rivkah Goodman 301-681-6347 • www.mesorahwli@verizon.net

A Time to Reach OutGain the confidence to share the beauty and relevance of Judaism with our fellow Jews.

Opening remarks delivered by Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky, שליט"א

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R E C O R D E D V E R S I O N O F L I V E B R O A D C A S T

DATES: Motzei Shabbos, February 7th, 14th and 21st 8:00–10:00 PM. Come and enjoy a Melava Malka and learning.LOCATION: the home of Rabbi Shalom and Peninah Hoffman 10707 Huntwood Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901COST: $18 in advance / $25 at the door. Includes all three sessions and Melava Malkas.Men and women welcome. Financial arrangements available.RSVP to Project Inspire at: rmmyers@aish.com or call: 301-592-0090S P O N S O R S H I PS W E LCO M E

P R O J E C T I N S P I R E P R E S E N T S :

WORLDWIDE

KIRUV TRAINING SEMINAR

PROJECTINSPIRE.

SILVER SPRING

Project Inspire is a grassroots movement to unify the Jewish People by providing easy and inspiring ways to share the beauty and wisdom of our heritage with our fellow Jews.

P R ESE N T E R S I N C LU D E :

RABBI MORDECHAI BECHER RABBI ELIYAHU BERGSTEIN RABBI CHAIM SAMPSON