The Rochelle Gemal A”H Educational Center would like to share a couple of messages that they received from their tutors.
“I’ve been working in collaboration with the RG Education Fund and get to see firsthand what a powerful impact they have for children in need of extra educational support. They make it possible to open windows of opportunity and access. Their motives are inspiring and the difference that is made because of the fund is invaluable.”
“Hi! I just wanted to let you know how the children I’ve been working with are doing. Especially their [a certain family’s] daughter. After break, I started informal assessments to track progress over the past year and she has made great, great strides! We will be continuing to get her through to the end of the program but, BH, to see such improvement with a student with her challenges is truly incredible. Thank you for making this journey possible. The difference this is making for her is invaluable.”
For more information about utilizing the services of the RG Educational Fund, or to sponsor a session for a student, please call Rabbi Norman Cohen 908-917-3901, or Mitchell Gemal 732-829-0794.
To sponsor via Zelle: rgeducationfund@gmail.com
To sponsor via Credit Card: https://secure.cardknox.com/rochellegemaleducationalfund
A Sneak Peek into SOD HAPARASHA
Below is a condensed excerpt from Rabbi Chaim Bibi’s new sefer, SOD HAPARASHA.
VAYEHI – A SPIRITUAL SIGN
The body does not clothe a person’s soul directly. There exists an interface, the Selem, which clothes the soul. Thirty days prior to a person’s passing, certain aspects of one’s Selem depart. As per the verse, “Until the day blows past and the Selalim have fled.” One’s days are solely dependent on the ability to retain his Selem. It is apparent that when a person’s “day,” or his lifetime on earth approaches its end, this is signaled by his Sel leaving him first.
The verse in our Parasha reads, “The days of Yaakov had been gathered together in advance of the death of Israel.” A spiritual sign had been given to Yaakov that his death was at hand. This is the meaning of the verse, “Our days on earth are as a Sel.” Yaakov had been granted the ability to see that his Sel had been removed from him, which served as a clear spiritual sign that his death was imminent.
The biblical account of the spies bears out this concept. The Selem that nourished the physical bodies of the land’s inhabitants had darkened. Yehoshua and Calev knew that the ensuing result would be the imminent death of the inhabitants’ physical bodies! As it says, “Their Selem has departed from them.”
On Hashana Rabba it is both visible and determined if this spiritual sign of life remains attached to one or if his death is approaching. We beseech throughout the morning that our Sel not leave before its time. This is what King David was referring when he wrote, “Man exists by virtue of his Selem.”
Sefer is now available at Amazon.com/Sod HaParasha or at local Judaic stores.
MDY Students Explore the Festive Activities of Hanukah
Last month, the PG students of Magen David Yeshivah began exploring the festive traditions of Hanukah. The students had the opportunity to engage with a dreidel. To make the experience even more exciting, a hands-on art project was incorporated. For the activity, the students dipped a dreidel into either blue or yellow paint and explored how spinning the dreidel could create unique patterns on paper. With hand-over-hand assistance, some students practiced spinning the dreidel independently, while others focused on moving the dreidel across the paper to create vibrant designs. This activity provided a wonderful opportunity to strengthen fine motor skills, explore cause-and-effect, and enjoy creative expression. The results were truly beautiful, and the students were thrilled to see how their unique creations turned out. It was a fun and meaningful way to introduce the joy of Hanukah.