REFLECTIONS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
The story of Yaakov and Esav, which we will read in Parshat Toldot this Shabbat, seemed pretty straightforward to me as a child in Hebrew school at Beth Israel (then in Randallstown).  Yaakov was the good son who stayed home and studied, Esav was the bad son who hunted and killed; Yaakov would continue the Abrahamatic line of the Jewish people, and Esav would align himself with Ishmael, the future enemies of the Jews.   As for their parents, Rivka was told by Hashem that her elder twin would serve the younger, then manipulated that prophesy by deceiving her husband into blessing the younger son. For me, Isaac was the old dotty guy who couldn’t tell his sons apart. 

As an adult, parent and educator, this parsha now disturbs me with its parental favoritism and sibling rivalry.  The parents don’t work together to raise their sons; in fact, it appears as if the sons are left largely to raise themselves.  In addition, each parent has a clearly favorite son.  Esav, Yaakov’s favorite, hunts so that he can feed his father, who is engaged in other activities and cannot provide meat for himself.  Yaakov, favored by Rivka, took advantage of Esav by tricking his older brother into selling his birthright for some lentil stew, and then ultimately engaged in an elaborate scheme with his mother to deceive his father.  So much for the straightforward story of my childhood!

As parents, and certainly as teachers, we work diligently to treat our children fairly. What does that mean?  Should each child, or student, be treated equally?  The educational community has spent a lot of time in recent years examining whether fair is the same as equal and has come to the conclusion that fair is not the equivalent of equal when it comes to teaching.  Psychologist Haim G. Ginott wrote about how children want to be treated uniquely, not equally.  Does this mean that a teacher should write 11 different tests for the 11 students in the class?  Of course not.  But it does mean that we should know the strengths and weaknesses of each student, enabling us to work with each individual.  This is a skill we need to teach our students as well.  While it is all right to care for some peers more than others, it isn’t alright to treat meanly those classmates that aren’t liked as much.  In other words, the modeling we do as adults – treating our children fairly – has to be a lesson we impart to our children.  G-d had very specific plans for Yaakov and Esav, and we can’t begin to assume what would have happened if Rivka and Isaac were different parents.  However, we do know that these brothers were very different people, each with good and bad qualities, just like all people. If we, as teachers, parents and influential adults, can use a little more insight and intuition when dealing with children, we can prevent similar rifts and jealousies from separating the young people we deal with today.

Each child carries its own blessing into the world. (Yiddish Proverb.)

Shabbat Shalom,
Barbie Prince

SCHOOL NEWS
VIP’s Join in Cardin’s Celebration
You saw the announcement last week.  Now we want to recognize the individuals who came together for this momentous occasion.  We express a deep thank you and Yasher Koach to Shoshana Cardin, Howard Janet, Stewart Greenebaum, Marc Terril, Jimmy Berg, and Jeff Scher for joining all of us at The Cardin School on Thursday, October 25.  Launching our school into the next phase of development, the group officially signed the agreement to acquire the property purchase rights to 22 acres of land in Owings Mills from The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore on which to build a permanent campus.  The signing ceremony, which took place in the Moadon, was attended by Cardin students, faculty, parents, and members of the local media.

Good & Welfare
New American in Our Midst
On Friday, October 26, Cardin’s Spanish Instructor, Judy Frumin, was officially sworn in as a citizen of The United States.  Congratulations to Judy for her hard work and commitment!

Classes in Action
Hebrew VI
To commemorate the conclusion of the NETA book, Zvi Geva’s Hebrew VI class recently completed a fantastic art project and presentation on the theme of costumes תחפושות: a Dual Identity Mask project.  The masks were created by students using plaster of Paris, gauze, and miscellaneous art supplies.  The final steps were to write a descriptive paper about their masks in Hebrew and then present their papers in Hebrew, along with their masks, to their classmates.

Beyond the Classroom
TGIF or TGIS
Thank God It’s…Friday makes students around the country feel good - the end of the week, a rest from studies.  But here at Cardin it is also a preparation for the highlight of the week, our beloved Shabbat.  Recognizing that not everybody prepares for Shabbat in the same way, students participate in various activities depending on their mood and inclination:  the more scholarly will head to room 205 to study the weekly Torah portion with Yoni Silverman (a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University); the more contemplative will head to room 206 to ponder the writings of great philosophers on Shabbat with Morah Rosen; the more active can Israeli dance their way to Shabbat with Erin Beser (a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University) and Morah Chaban in room 204;  the more soulful can sing their hearts out with Rabbi Chaitovsky and Moreh Geva in the Moadon; and finally, the more ritualistic students practice and learn the rites of Shabbat with Mr. Rothberg in room 207.

Once everyone has prepared for Shabbat in his or her own way, the school-wide party begins in the Moadon.  Students, faculty, and administration make ready to sing and dance to the wild keyboarding of Rabbi Chaitovsky and use their muscles to heft our Cardin honorees around the room high in a chair.  And what is a celebration without food?  The pièce de résistance, delicious mouth-watering cake to sweeten everyone’s pallet, is served thanking God it’s Friday.

If any Cardin Community member would like to share a simcha with us by sponsoring our Shabbat refreshments, please contact Rabbi Stuart Seltzer at 410.585.1400.  We’ve already had the opportunity to wish siman tov umazel tov to Margie Hoffman on the birth of her twin granddaughters, to Rabbi Seltzer on the anniversary of his becoming a Bar Mitzvah, to Rubin Waranch on his birthday, to the soccer team for a great season, to Sam Auerbach on his birthday, and to Senorita Frumin for becoming an American citizen.

Rabbi Stuart Seltzer
Dean, Judaic Studies

The Skin Of Our Teeth
The Cardin School invites you to attend a performance of its production of Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth.  The play will be held Monday, Nov. 19 and Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30PM at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg JCC.  Tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased by calling 410-585-1400.

Becoming the Voices
Cardin School students, along with other Baltimore area teens in grades 8 through 12, will work in small groups, together with Holocaust survivors, professional storytellers, and classroom teachers to “become the voices” of the survivors.  The program is facilitated by the Center for Jewish Education, (CJE in partnership with the Baltimore Jewish Council, agencies of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore) and funded by a grant from the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education.  The intention of the program is to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are understood and taken to heart by the younger generations as they become the leaders and decision makers of our times.

Cardin Spirit Week
Students, faculty, and administration will show their school spirit beginning Monday, November 12 and continuing through Friday, November 16 as they take part in Cardin Spirit Week.  The week-long event will offer opportunities for individuals to come to school dressed up as their favorite “food mascot,” sports team member, and faculty member or student.  Additionally, everyone will get to celebrate their favorite decade of apparel as they sport individual attire on Decade Day.  Class Color Day will allow students to show their colors as they support their grades.  Prizes will be awarded daily for best dressed individual.
Look out for the November 30 edition of our e-newsletter as we feature “fun photos” from this “fun week.”

Fall Sports Wrap-up
In the Chesapeake Athletic Conference (CAC) Championship for Cross Country, Daniel Saltzberg came in 3rd place for the men and Allison Waskow came in 3rd place for the women.  Great job, Daniel and Allison!  The team and coaches would also like to recognize our senior class team member, Todd Weinstein.

The boys’ soccer team lost a close game against Rockbridge, who ended up winning the CAC Conference Championship.  The team would like to salute the senior members of the team: Scott Burstyn, Brandon Cassel, Daniel Eisenberg, Aaron Olszewski, and Ben Verovsky.

Although the girls’ soccer team also lost to Rockbridge in the championship tournament, they went on to win the Team Sportsmanship of the Year Award for the conference.  Congratulations go out to all the team members, especially the senior member of the team, Sam Jessa.

Only Seven Months ‘Till Prom
The Cardin prom committee is selling Kidstuff books!  There are great coupons for stores, restaurants, and attractions within each book.  The book sells for $25 and makes a great gift!  Please help support the Jr/Sr. Prom.  The sale ends on Thanksgiving!  Checks can be made payable to: The Shoshana S. Cardin School.

SGA
Saturday Night at the Movies was a success!  The Student Government collected canned goods as an entrance fee for movie night, and over 30 students spent Saturday evening hanging out with their friends, watching either Transformers or Mean Girls.

The Shoshana S. Cardin School Challah Sale is now underway!  Order forms went out this week and are due November 19.  Buy your weekly Rosendorff challah and bobka from Cardin to help support the Student Government Association.

COLLEGE SCENE
Who are the students - The admissions staff at Towson University really wants to get to know the students behind the applications.  Despite the college processing nearly 4,000 more applications in the past four years, with an average increase of 10 percent to 12 percent a year, they say they still read every essay and every letter of recommendation a student sends. – Click here to read more about it.

COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Parenting Jewish teens is more challenging than it has ever been and many of our families are struggling with this difficult transitional period of Jewish family life.  Drawing upon the teachings, insights, and wisdom that have sustained the Jewish people throughout the generations, noted speaker and educator Joanne Doades has recently released a groundbreaking guidebook titled Parenting Jewish Teens.  This book may help you navigate the tumultuous journey of parenting a Jewish child into adulthood while asking—and answering—important questions.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Do a Mitzvah…Be a Volunteer
Jewish Volunteer Connection brings together people who want meaningful, hands-on volunteer experiences.  Volunteers serve the Baltimore Jewish and general communities in a variety of ways. Anyone—children, teens, young or older adults, singles and families, professional colleagues, or a group of friends—can volunteer.  Interested individuals can participate in activities as often as they like, whether it's once a week or once a year.  To find a volunteer opportunity that fits your interest and schedule, contact volunteer@associated.org or call 410.843.7489.

Israel at Sixty: Challenges and Accomplishments
Chizuk Amuno Congregation presents the second in a series of prominent thinkers focusing on the important issues of our day.  The program and dessert reception, featuring Dr. Michael Oren, Senior Fellow, Shalem Center Jerusalem, will be held Thursday, November 29 at 7PM at Chizuk Amuno Congregation.  Admission is $18 at the door and $15 in advance.  For information and reservations, contact the Chizuk Amuno office at 410.486.6400.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Panim
Participate in Summer Jam.  Come to Washington, D.C. this summer and participate in a one-of-a-kind program on the campus of The George Washington University.  Join a diverse group of high school students from across the country and participate in meaningful (and fun!) community service projects, explore DC through field trips, study Jewish texts and values, and hear legislative updates from leading experts on domestic and international policy issues.  Click here for information and registration http://www.dcjam.org/

SHACHAR – The Ultimate Israel Experience
Registration and enrollment is now open for Shachar’s Israel Experience, to take place July 13 through August 14, 2008.  Shachar connects American and Israeli teens that are currently in 9th through 11th grade and takes them on a unique summer journey through Israel.  Highlights of the trip include: outdoor adventures – jeep rides, hiking, camel rides, kayaking, biking, swimming, and waterfalls; sports festival with Israeli peers; and building leadership skills through chesed activities and team-building fun.  Camp Shachar is a non-profit program sponsored by the Chaya Israel Foundation.  Scholarships are available on a need basis.  For details, visit www.campshachar.org or call 800.593.3382.

Subscribe   Website   Archives