The Guttenberg Press: Ki Tetzey

School started this week!  

While this exclamatory sentence could have been stated with all the same excitement that really only comes from that one week a year when all pencils are sharpened, uniforms are sparkling and the smell of fresh reams of notebook paper in any given year, this year is different. Undoubtedly this new school year is different for a variety of factors. And yet, we did begin school under immense safety precautions and it was no simple feat. There are so many who have helped us reach this point:  dedicated faculty members, the business office, IT professionals, board members, parents, and volunteers in the community.  The list is long and too many to state by name. However, I would be remiss if I did not highlight Tony Perez, Edwin Bocio, and Junior Vaquedano,  our maintenance staff, who bring their all each and every day. When our physical campus closed in March, Tony, Edwin, and Junior still put in full days working and they haven’t stopped all summer. Their work is a labor of love and without their dedication, the Hebrew Academy would not be able to say the exclamatory  statement of school started this week!  On behalf of the entire Hebrew Academy community, a tremendous thank you!

When discussing the Jewish people’s preparations for receiving the Torah, Rashi (Exodus 19:5) writes a line that eventually became famous. He said: שכל התחלות קשות- all beginnings are hard. 

As our first week of learning comes to a close, we can all relate to Rashi’s sentiments of beginnings being hard. It’s hard for students (especially new students) to meet their teachers. It’s hard for K, 6th and 9th graders to enter a new division. It’s hard for students to learn online; it’s hard for parents to manage the student’s learning online. It’s hard for students and staff on campus to wear PPE. Our teachers have done a heroic effort to mitigate each of these challenges, but I recognize that it’s still hard.  So during these beginnings, I ask for your patience and understanding as we continue on this journey together. 

Torah Question to Ponder:
Most of the mitzvot in the Torah require us to either perform or refrain from a certain action. However, there are some unique mitzvot that don’t require any action. In fact, there is one at the end of our Parsha. Is there a test for us to gauge if we fulfilled a nonaction Mitzvah? Let me know what you think! 

Shabbat Shalom!