May 31, 2013 / 22 Sivan, 5773 Graduation Day In This Issue Senior Siyyum Graduation Class of 2013 Passing the Torch El Malei Rachamim Bike the Drive Physics Expo Math Team Party Exam Schedule Summertime Torah Study STAND UPdate Baruch Dayan Emet A Taste of Torah Siyyum Sets the Tone For Graduation
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May 31, 2013 / 22 Sivan, 5773
Graduation Day
In This Issue
Senior Siyyum
Graduation
Class of 2013
Passing the Torch
El Malei Rachamim
Bike the Drive
Physics Expo
Math Team Party
Exam Schedule
Summertime Torah
Study
STAND UPdate
Baruch Dayan Emet
A Taste of Torah
Siyyum Sets the Tone For Graduation
Alumni Trivia
Save the Date
Sun., June 9
ACT
Tues., August 13
New Teacher Orientation
Wed., August 14 -
Thu., August 15
Staff Development
Mon., August 19
New Student Orientation
Tues., August 20
First Day of School
P. O. Corner
Gelt Program The P.O. is pleased to once again introduce the gift card "Gelt program" to our families and we have made it much easier (look for upcoming email with details on how to register). Faculty and staff can also buy Gelt that will help to support programs provided for the school by the P.O. This program is designed to help families earn money toward their children's junior year Panim program and/or the Senior Israel Experience. The program is a passive earning system, in which you buy the things you ordinarily purchase anyway, and earn money which will be credited to your family for designated school trips. If you have any questions, contact Sheri Sandrof at [email protected] or call her at 847.324.3723.
Community News
and Events
Libenu Beauty Night for
"Before we intellectualize,
before we use the tools of
reason in which we have
been schooled for years,
we must allow ourselves
to appreciate that
wondrous expanse which
is so much bigger than we
are. That ultimately
allows us to be at our
most human," Rav Beit
Sefer Zach Silver
explained, fondly recalling
the desert experience
shared by the Class of
2013 this winter in Israel.
The Class of 2013 culminated their studies at morning
services with a passage from the kedushah, expressing
Look and feel your best! Join us for the Libenu Evening of Beauty and Wellness for Women.
Tuesday, June 4
6:30-9:30 PM
Women's LifeCenter
118 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette
Support this wonderful Jewish organization with a wine and cheese reception, expert consultations with health and beauty experts, and free beauty products!
For tickets, click here or call 847.982.0340 ext. 227. Libenu is a 501(c)3 organization that fosters independence and inclusion by providing supervised group homes and vocational training for Jewish adults with special needs.
.
Sponsor Breakfast
What's better than a birthday celebration with friends? Celebrate your student's birthday or other milestone with a special breakfast at CJHS. For a donation of $180 (10x chai), bagels, cream cheese, and orange juice will be served to everyone. An announcement will be made in Tefillah and in the dining hall, and the occasion will also be listed in our weekly E-News and on the school announcement board. If you have any questions,
the spot, one of you
parents please call 911,"
Mr. Griffith opened his
remarks to his
students. Rabbi Belgrad
described Zoe
Goldhirsh's graceful
dance as a metaphor for
her life, while Dr. Miller
predicted brave things for
Gabe Gavrielov, who will
always
have
his
buddies
' backs
in the
IDF next year. Mr. Griffith described the
talented Jonathan Tupper as the best-
kept secret at CJHS. "Pescadito"
Fishbaum and "Margarita" Tunik
were sent off with hugs and affection by
their Spanish teachers, while the late-
working Dani Sery was
saluted by fellow
nighthawk Ms. Gladstein.
Mr. Marchenko paid
tribute to the fearsome
leadership skills of debate
queen Ceren Maeir, and
Dr. Auslander compared
Aitan Licht to other
great New York Yankees
of history--this from
a Dodgers fan, no
less! Rabbi Silver
applauded the passion for
ethics and organizational
genius of Miranda
Smerling, whose IFYC
programming enabled
Muslim, Jewish, and
Catholic students to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict without a single feather flying. And Mrs. Eliaser, as
always, sent off Ilan Hulkower with Star Trek references
and quotes from Pirkei Avot.
If you've ever wanted to learn how to say, "And now the
teacher chokes up and cries," in American Sign Language,
you'd find this year's Siyyum particularly noteworthy. In
The true difference between the two accounts of the scouts--the ten traitors on one hand, Joshua and Caleb on the other-- is in the way that the perspective taken affected their motivation to complete the task at hand. In the first case, the less reliable
concluded that because of the strength of the enemy and the difficult terrain of the land, it would not be possible to conquer it. Joshua and Caleb, who saw the same land with the same challenges, looked hard at the panorama and decided, "It can be done! Let's go!" The Jewish
people's problem was not only the desire to return to Egypt, but in the fact that their leaders, the unfaithful scouts, discouraged them from completing the task before
even beginning it.
Now, the lesson becomes clear. As leaders, it is essential to be conscious of the perspective we take: perspective has major implications on motivation. At every moment we observe and in
every situation, we must pause and think. Is this perspective I am taking productive? Does it it help get the job done? This is so crucial because leaders must lead. If the leader decides that the task is too daunting, he or she is not leading. And their followers have nothing to do but wander in the desert.
As seniors heading out to some of the
world's best universities or to defend the State of Israel, it is certain that we will all be in positions of leadership. It is important for us to remember parashat Shlach Lecha at these times,
because our perspective and attitude as a leader has a strong influence on all of those around us. We have to be sure that we are always working, providing a perspective that motivates others to work at the task at hand.
It may seem like a tall order, but we are lucky to be coming out of an institution like CJHS, for we have
really already been doing it. At CJHS, we don't look at all of the knowledge the world has to offer, say, "Too vast!" and then never work at it. Instead, we work at it chunk by chunk constantly working to be the best students we
can be. At CJHS, we don't look at the hardest questions in Judaism, whether its God, mitzvot, humanity, or community, say "Too hard!" and then forget it. Instead, we question, we think critically, we discuss, and we grow. At CJHS, we don't look at the injustice in the world, say "Too much!" and then hide in artificial blindness. Instead, we volunteer, we fundraise, we donate, we
educate, and work to make the difference.
לא עילך המלכה לגמור ולא אתה בן חורין להבטל ממנה
It is not for you to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it. Often times the task is vast, and we know that our efforts alone will not complete it. But it is important that we stay motivated, and continue working so that we inspire others to join in. Perhaps with the help of others we may complete it, but otherwise we will be wandering the desert for forty years.
In the end, this is what I think it means to be a leader, always focus on the task at hand and make sure that you are always
thinking that the task can be completed, because it cannot be completed alone. We need help, we need friendships, we need
communities dedicated to bettering the world, we need people working together. Graduates, I hope that each year, as parashat Shlach Lecha rolls around you remember this lesson, and all of the lessons that we have learned here at CJHS. For if you do, I'm sure that this world will be lead to a better place.
--Aaron Zell ('13), in honor of the graduates
Alumni Trivia
Renana Fox's ('06) radio adaptation of
Shakespeare's As You Like It will air on
Sunday, June 9 on Washington DC's local
NPR station. We can catch the live stream
on the WAMU website here. Alumni in D.C. can even
attend the live showing at American University's Woods-
Brown amphitheater; for more information on the show
and on the Lean and Hungry Theater Company, click here. Break a leg, Renana!