Hanukkah

“Every individual is a tiny light but together we are a mighty light”

כל אחד הוא אור קטן וכולנו אור איתן

One of my favorite Hanukkah song is “Banu Choshech Legaresh” - We came to drive away the darkness- In its lyrics there is a line that says: “Kol echad hu ohr katan v’kulanu hor eitan”  -  Every individual is a tiny light but together we are a mighty light –

This is true, with a multi-wicked candle versus a regular candle; while a Shabbat candle is a relatively tiny light, a Havdalah candle could be considered a medura, a bonfire, a very mighty light.

Every individual is a tiny light but together we are a mighty light. We see that in the story of Hanukkah as well as in this week’s Torah portion “Miketz” that the ohr katan, the small tiny light can make just as much of a difference. Joseph single-handedly saved the world. The tiny group of Maccabees quelled the Hellenists and the Greek-Assyrians, and ensured the survival of other Jewish way of life.

Maybe we are not a Joseph or a Judah Maccabeus, but I feel that everyone can make a difference.  Everyone has the potential to do anything, and if not, has the option to mobilize.  One can rally others and reinforce that tiny but powerful light and add wicks to become a mighty flame.

Don’t feel that you are unable to make a difference in the world. You can be a mighty flame on your own.

Shabbat Shalom, and may your Menorah candles shine strong and bright on this Festival of Lights.

Chag Urim Sameach

Morah Miriam

Respect, Universal peace and Self-awareness

The Jewish attitude of tolerance, respect and appreciation for other religions and people from diverse backgrounds is based both on historical-sociological as well as theological-ideological reasons and is sourced in our Biblical tradition, "Be kind to the strangers amongst you, as you were strangers in the Land of Egypt."  

Ideologically, Judaism has never claimed monopoly on wisdom or piety, and has always embraced the pious amongst the non-Jewish and their non-Jewish beliefs as long as they follow the universal rules of moral conduct.  There was never an expectation to convert and/or embrace Judaism.  The highest attainment of human religious perfection, i.e. ‘Ruach HaKodesh’ (Divine Inspiration) is not denied any human being.  (Tana D’vei Eliyahu - 7th Century)

Judaism has never considered itself purely a ‘religion’ but basically a social entity, a 'People.'  As such, there is no room for feelings of competition or antagonism towards other religions.  As a people, Judaism strives to establish itself as a vital entity among other nations of the world. "A light amongst the nations."  Isaiah 42:6

There are three basic concepts in handling the interfaith issue:

1. Human respect
2. Universal Peace
3. Self-Awareness

Human Respect:  The rabbis taught (Pirke Avot 4:1) “Who is respected?  The one that respects others.”  Human respect and dignity is reciprocal.  Your chances to be respected and honored as an individual, as well as a group, depend on your behavior and attitude towards others.  One who has no respect for his fellow man, can hardly expect respect in return.

Universal Peace:  ‘Darche Shalom’ (ways of peace) is an important idea in rabbinic law.  “The ways of Torah are ways of pleasantness and they lead to peace.”  (Proverbs 3:17)  This is a biblical motto and a guide in developing human relationships.    

Self-Awareness: Genuine respect and friendliness towards others stem from self-appreciation and self-dignity.  This self-awareness stems from attitudinal and behavioral qualities rather than from any mythical, mystical or theological notions.  By developing a positive approach to one-self, to one’s own dignity and integrity, one fosters a positive attitude of respect and friendship towards all men and women.  A respect for one’s own heritage and faith should be built not on belittling others, but rather on enlarging the scope of understanding of, and openness towards, human beings in general and appreciation of their rich divergence.  

Rabbi Baruch Plotkin 

PRE MED CLUB

This afternoon, members of the Pre-Med club participated in their third medical experience as part of our partnership with the Charles E. Shcmidt School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. For this experience, students gained hands-on experience as they interacted with life-like mannequins under the supervision of trained medical professionals. Mr. Mark Goldstein and Dr. Randi Sperling facilitated this trip's activities and graciously offered to our students a wealth of information regarding the medical school application process as well as diversity within the medical community.

With regard to the simulation, our students were able to examine and conduct patient histories. Students learned to ask appropriate questions and refine possible diagnoses based on patient responses and physical assessment. These assessments included monitoring vitals such as respiratory and heart rates, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.

Equipped with these newly acquired skills, we hope to enhance student interest in medical professions as several of our Juniors and Seniors hold aspirations to one day practice medicine. We are excited to continue these experiences into second semester with even more fun, and educational programs.

Reginald DeLandsheer

AP PHYSICS

"AP Physics students were tasked with designing two experiments 1) to show that the period of a pendulum is independent of the attached mass and 2) that the period is independent of how far the mass is drawn back before set in motion. Here they are shown working on the lab. The students had to come up with their own experimental design, choose their own materials and record their procedure for showing these well know yet counter-intuitive laws of nature."

Lauren Jordan

Radical Amazement

Rabbi David Paskin

This week’s parsha, Vayeitzei, begins with Jacob on a journey, having left home abruptly after stealing his brother's birthright. In transit, he stops for the night, taking a stone for his pillow. At this moment of vulnerability, he has a powerful dream-vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder, and God promising him a great future and inheritance. When he awakes, Jacob realizes that this is not just any old resting place. He declares, "Surely ADONAI is in this place, and I, I did not know it!" (Genesis 28:16).

Every morning we thank God for opening the eyes of the blind. We all know that this is not meant to be taken literally - God does not perform some magical medicine and restore eyesight to those who are physically blind. Instead, we might understand this blessing as a recognition that we all have blind spots. There are moments in our lives that seem to sneak past us. We just don’t even see them: A hungry person on the side of the road, the miracle of the sun rising each day, the blessed capacity that we have to think, feel, understand and question. These realities hide in our blind spots and each morning we remind ourselves that God can help us open our eyes to see the miracles and challenges that are around us every day.

Jacob’s declaration that even he, one of our most beloved forefathers, had these same blind spots is both stunning and comforting. Stunning because we imagine our ancestors as having a much closer and more intimate relationship with and awareness of God. Comforting because there is a happy ending to Jacob’s blindness - his eyes are opened and he realizes, just in the nick of time, that God had been there all along, he just hadn’t noticed.

The very next verse celebrates his realization when he exclaims, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven.” If Jacob can recognize his blindness, perhaps we can as well.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches us about “Radical Amazement.” He asks us how we can live in this world, look at this world, engage with this world and not be constantly and radically amazed! You are reading this, thinking, taking in information, maybe drinking a cup of coffee, using your hands to navigate this webpage. You are breathing, moving, feeling, hearing, seeing! It's all pretty amazing when you open your eyes.

It’s all too easy to live in the blind spots to miss out on the miracles that are happening in every moment, to miss out on God’s Presence in this place. It’s a shame to have to look back on our lives and say, “I, I did not know it.”

Praised are You, ADONAI our God, Ruler of the universe, Who opens our eyes.”

CLUBS AT ROSENBLATT HIGH SCHOOL

Rosenblatt High School has a wide variety of clubs for students to participate in.  There is something for everyone and if you can not find something you like, you can always start a club of your own.  Currently at RHS we offer Sports and Outdoors, Unicorn & Friends, Friends of Israel, Video Games, Project Jump, No Place for Hate, Key Club, Newspaper, Legacy Heritage, Statistical Analysis, I-team Fellowship, Teens of Pink Ribbon, Chess Club, Visual Marketing, Pre-Med, Dance, What’s In Your World, Israeli Music Club, Business Club, Moot-beit-din, Students of Melanoma, Law and Mock Trial, and Garden Club.  Clubs meet once every two weeks during school.

Silvana Delbo

The I-Team

The I-Team

DKJA Rosenblatt High School seeks to be a platform for a broad base of Jewish students, to deepen their connection, their understanding and commitment to Israel.  This is achieved by creating an engaged community of students that are gaining Jewish experiences and leadership opportunities while learning about and advocating for Israel in ways that interest the students.  We create a holistic synergy between the local and national stakeholders, including lay leaders and strategic pro-Israel partners and our student body.

This all takes place under the umbrella of the I-Team Fellowship a club of committed students dedicated to the Israel American relationship, in whatever form interests the students most.  Our goal is to prepare our students for college life.  Our challenge continues to be how to deepen their understanding of their relationship and connection to the people, culture, and history of the State of Israel.   We seek to build confidence to understanding the issues in a way that students feel they can articulate with poise to help them feel more adequately equipped as participants in the discussion.   

We are involved on an ongoing basis with a variety of organizations committed to a strong Jewish community and Israel.  Two weeks ago we had a cadre of student leaders go to the AIPAC High School Summit in Washington DC, this week we had a legal discussion with the National Director of Legal affairs with Stand with Us to discuss how to legally advocate for Israel and advocate against BDS groups.  This week we have the Bau Sisters telling the story of their Israeli parents who were saved by Shindler during World War Two and later clandestinely served as Mossad Agents under the guise of a media company.    

Students are looking for leadership opportunities and experiences that are attractive for entrance to college and that give them real experiences.    The I-Team Fellowship empowers students to: a) create Israel programs, b) train them to build their understanding of Israel, c) provide mentors to guide them as they develop leadership skills, and d) provide opportunities to public speaking and PR responsibilities ( marketing materials, op-ed, blogs).  These leaders will make Israel and their participation in the Israel Leadership Fellowship a priority.  They will also take responsibility for creating and staffing initiatives and programs and advocating for Israel. 

Rabbi Plotkin

Hebrew Students Poems

The Honors Hebrew Speakers class studied a poem called Tefillah (prayer) by the renowned Israeli poetess Leah Goldberg, and they wrote their own Tefillah based on the same structure.  

Eilat Brenner

Sefaria- the digital revolution in Jewish learning.

When I was growing up I often heard the term “The Jewish Book Case." What do you imagine when you read the words: “The Jewish Book case?"

I imagine shelves upon shelves of books with dark covers and shining engraved letters. I imagine books, old and new, that an educated Jew ought to read and own.Knowing how to use these books was an esteemed and special kind of mastery in previous generations. Knowledge was in books and books were interconnected using footnotes. If you wanted to find something in a book you had to use the index or  table of contents.

Then came the search engine and sefaria and that changed everything. Sefaria is described on its website as: A living library of Jewish texts. It invites the reader to explore 3000 years of Jewish texts in Hebrew and English.The digital version of texts is not merely an alternative way of presenting the words. The bigger revolution is the fact that the texts are digitally interconnected.You can click on a verse in Torah and see where it appears in Rabbinic literature. You can click the Rabbinic text and see where it is quoted in Halachik (legal) literature or Jewish philosophy, or Midrash and on and on. The possibilities are endless. Finding connections which use to take reading the footnotes, getting up, pulling another book off the shelf, flipping through the pages…. Now is available with a click...Teaching Jewish texts to students today comes with new opportunities and new challenges. How are we going to use the time to make new connections? How are we going to make new kinds of connections between the texts and between the texts and our students so they become meaningful and useful for them? I invite you all to visit sefaria. Put any word into a search and discover the world of Jewish text in the digital reality.