Candle Lighting Time - 4:18 PM Page 1 Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי בס"דCity Councilwoman Gale Brewer Visits MDS By Yehudit Robinson, Director of Educational Technology, [email protected]This week, we were honored with a visit by City Councilwoman Gale Brewer and her Chief of Staff, Shula Warren. Ms. Brewer was extremely pleased with the high quality of our facility and mentioned that she’s never seen students that are so happy as at our school. She marveled at the artwork, she commented on the rigorous academics that she wit- nessed, and she was delighted by our wonderful outdoor space on the roof. In addition to visiting classrooms, Ms. Brewer met with the Student Government presidents and vice presidents, and explained to them a bit about the political pro- cess. “Believe it or not,” she laughed, “in New York City, sometimes, it’s not always easy to get things done!” It is important for our school to have a strong relationship with our community, our neighborhood, and our City leaders. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with Ms. Brewer and other City and State public leaders to continue their important and help- ful advocacy on behalf of MDS and the entire Jewish community. Reminder: Monday, December 31st: No Board of Education busing. Afterschool clubs will meet. Tuesday, January 1st: No School
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Candle Lighting Time - 4:18 PM Page 1
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
בס"ד
City Councilwoman Gale Brewer Visits MDS By Yehudit Robinson, Director of Educational Technology, [email protected]
This week, we were honored with a visit by City Councilwoman Gale Brewer and
her Chief of Staff, Shula Warren. Ms. Brewer was extremely pleased with the high quality of
our facility and mentioned that she’s never seen students that are so happy as at our
school. She marveled at the artwork, she commented on the rigorous academics that she wit-
nessed, and she was delighted by our wonderful outdoor space on the roof.
In addition to visiting classrooms, Ms. Brewer met with the Student Government
presidents and vice presidents, and explained to them a bit about the political pro-
cess. “Believe it or not,” she laughed, “in New York City, sometimes, it’s not always easy to
get things done!”
It is important for our school to have a strong relationship with our community, our
neighborhood, and our City leaders. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship
with Ms. Brewer and other City and State public leaders to continue their important and help-
ful advocacy on behalf of MDS and the entire Jewish community.
Reminder:
Monday, December 31st: No Board of Education busing. Afterschool clubs will meet.
Tuesday, January 1st: No School
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Snowflakes for Sandy Hook By Linda Kastner, Art Department, [email protected]
The Connecticut PTA requested that
students around the country create snowflakes to
decorate the new school that the Sandy Hook Ele-
mentary students will begin to use following their
winter recess. Our students responded to the re-
quest for Snowflakes for Sandy Hook by getting
creative. We enclosed the following letter with
our snowflakes:
Dear Children, Teachers, Parents, Administrators,
Custodial Staff and Support Staff of Sandy Hook:
Enjoy these beautiful snowflakes made by stu-
dents in our school to decorate the halls of your
new building.
We are a Jewish Day School in New York City.
We have a special blessing for you: ‘ יברכך ה” -
“ וישמרך May G-d bless you and protect you”.
In Hebrew we say !שנה טובה - Have a very healthy
and happy New Year!
Fondly, The Students at Manhattan Day School
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Rembrandt Van Rijn was born in Amsterdam in 1606. His greatest triumphs were marked by his self-portraits and illustra-
tions of scenes from the Bible. His depiction of his biblical scenes was very informative and his knowledge and friendship with Am-
sterdam’s Jewish population helped him in his research for his paintings.
But among the 2300 works by Rembrandt, 90% of them are self-portraits. No other artist is known to have represented him-
self so frequently. Although his life had much tragedy, his artwork always soared to great heights.
In these portraits by the 6th grade art students, digital photos of them were used instead of a mirror like Rembrandt em-
ployed, and the students learned shading only by making careful observations of the lights and darks on their facial photos. The natu-
ral shading is more obvious and exaggerated on a photo and made it easier to recognize. The students were able to see the textures in
the hair, the glint in the eye, the color of their iris, and the highlights on their face. The whole key to drawing begins with making
careful observations and not just looking, but seeing. Tempera paint and colored pencils were used for added depth and dimension.
Background effects and color were their choice. Now that the students, “Know themselves”, we might try another portrait in the fu-
ture in a more modern style. Rembrandt would be proud of these portraits and so are we! Mazal tov for a wonderful job! The works
are on display in the first floor corridor for you to enjoy.
Schreiber, Ariella Shloush, Hannah Skydell, Victoria Sopher, Mia Spira, Emilee Srulowitz, Michaela Steinerman, Tehila Strulowitz,
and Rivka Yellin. Congratulations! We’ll continue to watch all of our classes closely for next month’s honorees.
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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8G Devar Torah Project: VaYechi Submitted by Bethany Strulowitz, [email protected]; Devar Torah written by Rachel Lubitz, 8G
In Melachim Aleph, we once discussed why a parent must rebuke his child. If you
don’t punish your children, the consequences could be fatal. If you pay attention, you will
understand why I believe this relates to Parshat VaYechi.
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Yaakov was living the final seventeen years
of his life. He was 130 years old. He made Yoseph vow to bury him in Canaan, in Israel,
because he wanted to be with his ancestors.
Yoseph had two sons, Menashe and Ephraim. He took them to Yaakov, who was ill.
Yaakov said that he would tell them when Mashiach would come. Everyone was waiting ex-
citedly to hear him reveal the future, but all he said was that Hashem came and told him that
Yaakov would multiply greatly, so he blessed Yoseph’s two sons with his hands as equivalent
to his own. We all know the famous pasuk, “Hamalach Hago’el Oti....” It means: “May the
angel who has delivered me from all harm bless these boys. May they carry on my name and
the names of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak, and may they grow into a multitude on
earth.” This was the pasuk that was used to bless them. It made them into two separate enti-
ties.
It says that Yaakov was meant to tell his sons when Mashiach would come, but did-
n’t. Why not? The sages say that Hashem prohibited Yaakov from telling, despite the fact that
he was so excited. However, there is a second explanation that can follow along with the first
one.
We know that we bring Mashiach if we really put the effort to perfect ourselves.
Mashiach is probably ready for us, but since we aren’t perfect, we aren’t ready for him. When
Yaakov was giving his sons the blessings, he actually was telling them how Mashiach would come. He was explaining the force they
had together to perfect the world. This shows us that we all have the power to bring about Mashiach, but we just need to know how to
use it properly.
Yaakov blessed his sons, telling them what sort of tribes they would produce. Yehuda would create leaders, Yissachar would
have intellectuals, Zevulun would make sailors, Shimon would bear teachers and he and Levi would be scattered around Yisrael. Gad
would have soldiers, Reuven wouldn’t succeed, Asher would be rich, and Dan would create judges. Yaakov also blessed three sons
individually, blessing Naftali with the speed of a deer, Binyamin the strength of a wolf, and Yoseph with beauty and many children.
It says that Reuven, Levi, and Shimon were being punished, despite the fact that they were supposed to be blessed. How
come they weren’t rewarded with gifts? In the beginning, I said that not punishing a child could lead to terrible consequences. I be-
lieve that these pun-
ishments were actual-
ly blessings, because
if a child is not set
straight and taught
properly, he won’t
succeed in life. This
still applies to us to-
day.
When Yaa-
kov died, they took
him and various oth-
ers to Eretz Yisrael,
where he was buried.
Yoseph even-
tually died at the age
of 110, and was later
buried in Yisrael
when the Jews re-
turned with Yehoshua.
Before Yoseph died,
he made sure that eve-
ryone understood that
G-d would always
remember them and
bring them to Yisrael.
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Parsha Challenge: VaYechi By Rabbi Binyamin Yablok, Associate Principal, [email protected], based on questions from Congregation Rinat Yisrael in Teaneck, New Jersey
1. (a) Why is Vayechi “setuma” (no open space in the Sefer Torah after the previous parasha) (2 reasons)? (b) How does the
word “vayechi” tell us the number of good years, without suffering, that Ya’akov lived? (c) In what chronological order did 3
avot and 4 imahot die? (d) Why did Ya’akov (1) insist on not being buried in Mitzrayim (8 views)? (2) make Yosef swear to
not bury him there (2 views)? (Bereishit 47:28-31)
1. (a) (1) At Ya’akov’s death, Bnei Yisrael’s hearts “closed” when their road to slavery began; (2) Ya’akov wanted to reveal ultimate
redemption, but Hashem “sealed” his access to prophecy (Rashi). (b) Vayechi’s gematria is 34 – Ya’akov lived 34 trouble-free years –
17 from Yosef’s birth till his sale, and 17 from his reuniting with Yosef till he died (Ba’al haTurim). (c) (1) Sarah; (2) Avraham; (3)
Rivka; (4) Rachel; (5) Leah; (6) Yitzchak; (7) Ya’akov (Seder Olam). (d) (1) He (i) foresaw the plague of lice, that would swarm un-
der his body; (ii) did not want to suffer rolling underground to Eretz Yisrael before techiyat ha-maytim; (iii) did not want the Mitzrim
to worship his tomb (Rashi). (iv) feared that his burial in Mitzrayim would make Bnei Yisrael consider Mitzrayim their homeland, not
a temporary residence (Kli Yakar). (v) wanted his merit to protect Bnei Yisrael when they returned to Cana’an; (vi) feared his burial
in Mitzrayim would spare the Mitzrim, through his merit, from the 10 plagues (Midrash haGadol). (vii) wanted to be together with the
other avot in Me’orat haMachpeila and arise together with them (R. Bechaya). (viii) knew that Eretz Yisrael’s soil would atone for his
sins (Torah Temima). (2) (i) The oath fortified Yosef’s hand with Pharaoh – if Pharaoh refused to let Yosef go to Chevron, Yosef
could argue that he could not violate his oath to his father (Ramban). (ii) Ya’akov thought that Yosef might be upset that Rachel was
not buried in Me’orat haMachpeila and would not follow through on Ya’akov’s request (Bereishit Raba).
2. (a) What was the “kehal amim” (congregation of nations) that Hashem promised Ya’akov? (b) Did dividing Yosef into 2
shevatim affect Eretz Yisrael’s division by sheivet (2 views)? (c) Why did Ya’akov cross his hands to bless Efrayim and
Menashe (2 views)? (Bereishit 48:4,6,14)
2. (a) Hashem promised in Bereishit 35:11, “a goy (nation) and a kehal goyim (congregation of nations)” would descend from
Ya’akov – the “goy” refers to Binyamin, and the “kehal goyim” refers to Efrayim and Menashe, whom he was about to bless (Rashi).
(b) (1) No – since the size of each sheivet’s land depended on its population size that left Mitzrayim, splitting Yosef’s population into
2 shevatim did not affect the amount of land each sheivet got (Rashi). (2) Yes – the shevatim got equal portions of land, with Yosef’s
shevatim getting 2 portions (Ramban). (c) (1) Since Ya’akov knew that Efrayim would rise to a higher leadership level, he placed his
“superior” right hand on him; (2) Ya’akov wanted to honor both grandsons by having Menashe on his right side but placing his right
hand on Efrayim (Chizkuni).
3. (a) Why did Ya’akov (1) say that Rachel died “עלי” (on me) (3 reasons)? (2) not bury her in Me’orat haMachpeila (4
reasons)? (b) Why do we bless our sons saying that Hashem should make them like Efrayim and Menashe (2 reasons)?
(Bereishit 48:7,20)
3. (a) (1) (i) It is the husband who primarily feels his wife’s loss (Sanhedrin 22b). (ii) Of all of his troubles, Rachel’s death hurt him
most (Midrash haGadol). (iii) He felt his curse caused her death when Lavan confronted him about the terafim (Medrash Lekach Tov).
(2) (i) He buried her on the road near Beit Lechem when he foresaw that Bnei Yisrael would walk on that road to galut after the first
churban, and Rachel’s spirit would plead to Hashem (Yirmiyahu 31:15) for their quick return (Rashi). (ii) Since a woman dying in
childbirth – covered with blood – must be buried immediately, he did not wait (Shabbat 23b). (iii) He was ashamed of burying 2 sis-
ters in Me’orat haMachpeila since he foresaw that Vayikra 18:18 would ban marrying 2 sisters, permitting his 1st marriage to Leah,
but not his 2nd to Rachel – he wanted to avoid shaming her; (iv) when he saw prophetically that Beit Lechem would be in Yehuda’s
territory, he buried Rachel near Efrat, in her son Binyamin’s territory (Ramban). (b) (1) We ask Hashem that our sons be like Efrayim
and Menashe, who got along without jealousy or hatred, unlike Avraham’s, Yitzchak’s and Ya’akov’s sons, who could not live to-
gether (Rashi). (2) Although Efrayim and Menashe were raised in a rich, powerful family in galut, they remained loyal to Hashem,
despite the prevailing culture’s foreign influences and daily temptations (Hirsch).
4. (a) Why did Ya’akov rebuke Reuven, Shimon and Levi? (b) Why did the bechora transfer from Reuven to Yosef, as stated
in 1 Divrei haYamim 5:1 (2 views)? (c) Since all his sons were full or half-brothers, why did Ya’akov say, “Shimon and Levi
are brothers”? (d) (1) Why was Yehuda selected for kingship (4 reasons)? (2) How was the prophecy “the kingship shall not
depart from Yehuda” true when (i) Shaul from Sheivet Binyamin was king, and (ii) the Chashmonayim from Sheivet Levi
were kings? (Bereishit 49:3-12)
4. (a) To establish that the kingship would go to Yehuda’s offspring, Ya’akov rebuked Yehuda’s older brothers as being unworthy of
royalty (Abarbanel). (b) (1) When Ya’akov married Leah, he thought he had married Rachel, and Rachel’s firstborn (Yosef) should
have been Ya’akov’s bechor – he gave Yosef the bechora destined for him (Ralbag). (2) Ya’akov himself would have fathered
Efrayim and Menashe had Reuven not transposed his couch in the matter of Bilha – Ya’akov punished Reuven and gave Yosef the
bechor’s double portion (Arizal). (c) Shimon and Levi harbored the same thoughts in avenging Dinah and instigating Yosef’s kidnap-
ping (Rashi). (d) (1) (i) His brothers saw his leadership qualities without the jealousy they had for Yosef; (ii) he was successful in all
he undertook; (iii) he established peace among his brothers; (iv) he carried himself in a royal, dignified manner (Abarbanel). (2) (i)
The prophecy regarding Yehuda’s kingship began with David haMelech, after Shaul died; (ii) while the Chashmonayim were kings,
the Sanhedrin was always headed by an offspring of David (Abarbanel).
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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The MDS Parents Council Thanks You!
The MDS Parent Council Wants to Thank You!
A very special thank you to Eta Kliger (Daniella Schreiber, 4G)
for selling MDS Merchandise in the lobby! We’re so grateful for all your help.
Also, congratulations to the following students for winning a 16 Handles gift card in our Winning
Wednesday lunchtime raffle. Enjoy!
Ariella Kaplan (2C) David Sopher (6B)
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Challah Baking Project, 1/4/13
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Boys Melaveh Malkah, 2/16/13
Save the Date!
Annual Father, Son, Grandfather
Melave Malkah
4th-8th Grade Boys
February 16th, 2013
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Order Mishloach Manot with MDS!
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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Upcoming Events...
5.5.13
Get
ready…
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 28, 2012 פרשת ויחי
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MDS Afterschool Clubs - Now Online!
The Spring Afterschool Club info and registration is now available on the MDS website!
Contact Ester Gruenberger-Kelen, Afterschool Program Director, [email protected], with any questions.