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Dear Parents,
The Yomim Noraim have come and gone. Our
Succahs have been dismantled and put away, but I
hope the beautiful memories of these precious days of
Kedusha will linger for a long time to come.
There is, however, one uninvited guest that has
lingered and despite many, many efforts, it has not
left. COVID continues to wander from community to
community, person to person moving in with some,
avoiding others. It just doesn’t want to leave. Even if
one is fortunate to have bypassed this treacherous
illness, we are all still affected by it.
Until recently, I didn’t want to believe that we were
not going to remove this undesirable “guest” any time
soon. Certainly, we complied with all the Department
of Health requirements. In the deep recesses of my
heart, I convinced myself that if everybody did what
was necessary, COVID-19 would leave. Wishful
thinking…
Unfortunately, COVID-19 is here, and despite our
desire to wish it away, it will continue to insinuate
itself in the way we conduct our lives. We do
whatever we can to adjust to the demands of this
virus. It has become more and more apparent to me
that not only do we need to make physical
adjustments, but we also need to make emotional and
mental adjustments. Recalibrating my perspectives
and re-setting the lens through which I see my
COVID-infused life has not been easy. I will not
serenade you with my songs of challenges, as we are
all orchestrating our own symphony of daily life.
During Sukkos though I was able to adjust my lens
as to the way I could view simcha. Social distancing
dictates very strict guidelines which have limited the
celebration of various simchas. Who would have
believed that we would have weddings of fifty
people? No Kiddushim in Shuls? Minimal Hakofos?
Wearing masks to a simcha? Who would have ever
believed that Bochurim dancing at a Bar-Mitzvah
would be limited to hand clapping?
A year ago, I would not have believed these
scenarios would play themselves out, and, most likely,
you wouldn’t have believed it either. But, here we are.
All the restrictions described above are not figments
of our imaginations; they comprise our reality.
I will confess that I initially found it hard to picture in
my mind’s eye that a simcha as we “used to” know it,
could be simulated and replicated to what simchas
look like today.
A drive-by Bas-Mitzvah taught me otherwise.
Unfortunately, my granddaughter and her family were
quarantined for Succos. If that was not disappointing
enough, it also coincided with my granddaughter’s
12th birthday – her Bas-Mitzvah. Due to COVID, any
type of event marking this auspicious milestone was
not given any consideration. Nothing of great
magnitude would have been planned, but even a small
gathering was not going to happen. Layer COVID
quarantining on top of current restrictions, and you
have the perfect illustration of “adding insult to
injury”.
Our family wanted to help her mark the occasion in
a joyful way, so when my son (her uncle) suggested
we do a drive by to wish her a Mazel Tov, we were
very enthused. It was not the traditional way to
celebrate such an occasion, but, then again,
“traditional” has been redefined.
That is why on a beautiful starlet Chol Hamoed
evening, a caravan of cars drove by the house of the
Bas-Mitzvah girl sending wishes of Brachas and
Mazel.
I stopped for a moment and drank in the scene
before me. My granddaughter and her family were
standing outside their house with scintillating smiles.
It was a moment in time that I wanted to capture, hold
on to it, and never let it go.
There was no decorated simcha hall; there was nomusic, no crowds of good wishes, but the simchacould not have been greater. How could it have been?
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FRIDAY, October 23, 2020 נח Candle lighting 5:49 PM
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Continued
Standing before me (socially distanced, of course) was a young girl who was ready to take her place
among the women of Klal Yisroel. The centerpiece of her life would be crafted with mitzvos, chesed, and
Ahavas Yisroel.
She seemed to have grown older right before my eyes. Standing regally with her parents at her side, I
could only think of the mother that she would one day become IY”H. I pictured her davening next to
Shabbos licht; I pictured her preparing for Shabbos and Yom Tov; and I pictured her in a tableau of Jewish
women made up of our Imanos and Tzedkaniyos who have been our beacons of light.
Chassanim and Kallos will begin their lives under a Chupah of Kedusha. It doesn’t matter if it is in a
backyard or an ornate simcha hall. Boys will become Bar- Mitzvah; Klall Yisroel will become that much
greater; and B’nos Mitzvos will be the purveyors of our holy legacy through the future. The heart and the
neshama will bring the joy.
As we drove away from our” drive-by”, I looked up at the sky. To me it looked like the stars were shining
a little brighter; the trees were swaying to a melodic cadence. Hashem’s beautiful world was rejoicing
along with us.
Mazel Tov to all of our young women and men who have and will become Bar/Bas Mitzvah.
Good Shabbos,
Mrs. Katz
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
Our Girls Davening
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
Before Succos break, Rabbi Morgenbesser demonstrated to his First Grade Boys class how to perform the mitzvah of Lulav and Esrog.
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
OCTOBER, 2020TISHREI/CHESHVAN, 5781
29 Middle School Interims to be mailed home
NOVEMBER, 2020CHESHVAN/ KISLEV, 5781
2 Back to School Town Hall26 Thanksgiving Day –
Sunday Schedule – Boys 1-8. Girls – No classes
27 No Classes29 Sunday School Resumes
SCHOOL CALENDAR
To:
Dr. and Mrs. Avi Apfel (Parents) on the birth of a baby boy.
Rabbi and Mrs.Aryeh Ludzker (Parents) on the birth of a baby boy.
Mr. and Mrs. Yoni Newman (Alumnus) on the birth of a baby girl.
Mr. & Mrs. Menachem Schechter (Parents) on birth of baby girl.
Mr. and Mrs. Waslow (Faculty) on the birth of a baby girl.
Rabbi and Mrs. Ephraim Beshansky (Faculty, Parents) on Devorah Ita becoming a Bas Mitzvah.
Mr. and Mrs. Jared Nisenfeld (Faculty, Parents) onYosef becoming a Bar Mitzvah.
Mr. and Mrs. Mikhail Serovaysky (Parents) on Nathaniel becoming a Bar Mitzvah.
Rabbi and Mrs. Reuven Shmulevich (Parents) onTzvi becoming a Bar Mitzvah.
ברוך דיין האמת Our condolences to Mrs. Elisheva Meyerowitz and family on the passing of her mother.
ד"בס
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This week the students at Politz Hebrew Academy
davened and learned
In HONOR of
Mrs. KatzYehuda EllenYaakov EllenAsher Ellen
and
In MEMORY of
Yisroel ben AvigdorSonia bas Feivish
Yita Ruchel bas Tzirel Leah
Parnes Hayom
Parnes Hayom (Daily Sponsor) is an opportunity to dedicate a day of davening andlearning at Politz Hebrew Academy. Your dedication can be made in honor of a birthday,special event or momentous occasion, or in memory of a loved one on or around aYahrtzeit, or in the merit of a Refuah Shelaima.
The sponsorship of the day will be announced at the beginning of each class by theRebbe/Mora thereby notifying the students that the z’chus of their learning is in honor of,or in memory of, the individual.
In addition, we will publish the sponsorship in our newsletter, Reflections.
Minimum donation is $50.
Please call Mrs. Wellerstein at 215-969-5960 x160 to have it arranged.
PARNES HAYOM – A DAY OF LEARNINGTo honor or remember a loved one.
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
water bottles for each day.
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ד"בסREFLECTIONS
LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
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water bottles for each day.
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ד"בסREFLECTIONS
LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
Voting Reminders for the Politz Hebrew Academy community! Let's make it to 100% voter turnout!
Elected officials pay attention to communities that vote and they watch the numbers, neighborhood by neighborhood.. By voting, you not only make your selection for who governs, you also lend strength to our communal voicewhen we fight for our schools, neighborhoods and more!
Regardless of how you vote and who you vote for...help us get to 100% voter turnout!
1. Can I still request a mail-in-ballot?Yes! You have until Tues. October 27 at 5pm! Request it online, OR go to one of your county elections offices.
2. Where do I return my ballot?You can return a mail-in-ballot to a ballot drop box or Election Office, any day through Nov. 3!Click here to find your county's local drop boxes and election offices.
3. But...I want to vote in person on November 3...Is that ok?Yes! Polls will be open 7am-8pm! Find your polling place here.
Questions? Or if you want to help Get Out the Vote? Contact [email protected] or [email protected].
REFLECTIONS
LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
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REFLECTIONS
LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
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LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
REFLECTIONS
LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
REFLECTIONSLEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
www.politzhebrewacademy.org
REFLECTIONSLEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
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