Since Purim is celebrated on 2 different days here in Israel, the 14^th of Adar in most of the country and the 15^th of Adar, Shushan Purim, in Yerushalayim, our girls had the great privilege of getting the best of both worlds! Sunday morning they boarded a bus which would make three stops at the homes of Midmo teachers in Gush Etzion. The first stop was in Efrat, where the girls were split into two groups. One group joined Rav Ezra and Devorah Starr for the first course of their seuda and the other group joined Rav Adi and Bracha Krohn for their first course. They then headed over to Rav Eitan and Sally Mayer's seuda in Neve Daniel for their second course. Finally, they visited Rav Assaf and Leora Bednarsh and Dr. Yael and Ronny Zeigler in Alon Shvut and joined them for desert at their seuda. It was so special for the Midreshet students to be able to join so many of their teachers and take part in their seudot purim!

When they got back to school, they headed straight to the dorm and starting dressing into their costumes. They all joined together for a festive Megillah reading in school, and then went into the incredibly decorated Beit Midrash for a rockin' chagiga!!!! The theme of the chagiga was 'Game Night' so all of the girls were dressed as various games, or characters from games. There were so many amazing original costumes! Our secretary, Lori, is also a professional deejay, and she made sure we had incredibly fun music to dance to throughout the night. The Midreshet students performed the traditional Purim shpiel, where they make fun of the Midmo staff. It was definitely a night to remember!

The next morning the girls headed out to an old age home in our neighborhood to hear the Megillah with the residents and make the Megillah reading more leibidik. They then came back to Midreshet and we all had a beautiful seudah together, catered by our favorite caterer 'The Gush Gourmet'- Fagie's catering company. After the seudah the girls headed out to explore Purim in Yerushalayim.

Even though our Purim was definitely full of simcha, we did not forget the fact that here in Israel Am Yisrael is going through a difficult time. The girls collected money to donate children's toys to the settlement of Itamar, the community that suffered the terror attack where five of its members were brutally murdered last week. This week Jerusalem unfortunately suffered a terror attack. Many of the injured were brought to Shaarei Tzedek hospital, and our girls went later that night to give out food to the families of the injured.

 
May Am Yisrael know only simcha. 

Pictures from our year can be seen at http://midreshetmoriah.com/pictures/

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Parshat Shemini

A Silence that Screams out

Michal Porat-Zibman 

This past week we read Parashat Zachor- the commandment to destroy the memory of Amalek. This week we read Parashat Para, which tells us of how the Para Aduma, the red heifer would purify those who are impure. At first glance, aside from the fact that these parshiyot are read a week apart, there doesn't seem to be much of a connection between them. Rabbi Berel Wein however, suggests otherwise. Rabbi Wein says that when one thinks about Amalek, and all Amaleks that we are surrounded by today, one is left without any clear answers. Why do our enemies hate us so? Why have we been the nation to suffer persecution and terror, in almost every country, in almost every time in history? Is there a rational explanation for Anti-Semitism? Of course not. Maybe we should assume, as Rashi says, that 'it's a Halacha that Eisav hates Yakov'- meaning, don't look for an explanation-that's just the way it is. 

A similar claim can be made about the Para Aduma. It is the prototpye of a 'chok'- a law that we don't understand, that we aren't meant to understand. Don't look for an explanation, that's just the way it is. 

Rabbi Wein therefore suggests that the juxtaposition of these two Parshiyot one after another, come to remind us of this message. When it comes to something like Amalek- things happen that we just don't understand; pogroms, Holocaust and terror, even as recently as the past two weeks here in Israel. Yet it's not only when we think about our enemies that we don't understand, but lehavdil (on the contrary), even in our own Torah, our own set of laws and practices, that we find beyond our ability to understand their power and significance. 

Sometimes, even often, our lives, both individually and collectively are surrounded by more that's hidden then revealed. The question then becomes not why do these things happen or what are these things here for, but can we remain committed, dedicated, strong, and passionate servants of Hashem even when we aren't so clear on their reasons or meaning? It's no coincidence then that the tragic story of the death of Aharon's sons appears in this week's parsha as well. Aharon's famous response, "VaYidom Aharon"- a silence that screams so loud it has been echoed in almost every generation till today, is the same acceptance we are asked to take upon ourselves today. We are asked to accept the challenges that we are presented with and to try to emerge from them stronger than before. Aharon's family continued serving G-d, and did not allow this tragedy to stop them. 

Unfortunately the past 2 weeks in Israel have been difficult ones. Sadly, while this month is meant to be one of simcha, it has also been one of tragedy. The murder of the Fogel family in Itamar, as well as the bomb that went off next to a bus this week in Jerusalem, are a reminder to us that the Amaleks in the world are still around waiting to remind us at any possible chance that they are not interested in Judaism being a part of this world. So just as Aharon HaKohen taught us so many years ago, one doesn't always need words, one doesn't always have to know what to say and or how to say it. 

But, like in this week's parsha, Aharon and his family continue their roles of serving G-d as the family of Kohanim. So too,  our role today is to continue learning, davening, doing chessed, supporting Eretz Yisrael, and continuing to do exactly what we are destined to do. 

If we don't allow these events to spiritually paralyze us, then we will have succeeded in emulating Aharon Hakohen, who may not have had the words, but who was able to continue in his avodah. 

May we be blessed that the sound of our actions be louder than the screaming silence.  

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Mazel Tov 

Engagements:

Yael Refah (08-09) and Ephie Mandel
Leeba Grussgott (04-05) and Seth Faigen
Laura Ruben (03-04) and Moe Davidovits

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

Weddings:

Jennifer Perl (06-07) to Sammy Kollander

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael 

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp 

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Mi SheBerach List

Chaim ben Chashka (3/3/2011) – diabetes complications 

Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (3/5/2011)

Tziporah Feiga Bat Sima Sheindel (2/26/2011)

Shira bat Deena Miriam – premature baby on a ventilator (2/19/2011)

Noa Batya bat Daniella Rut – 7 month old with leukemia (2/5/2011)

Leah Alona Bat Tziporah (2/5/2011)

Leora bat Sarah (2/5/2011)

Frimit bat Devorah (2/5/2011)

Rivah bat Jane (1/29/2011)

Amitai Yaakov ben Bracha - a 16 yr. old just diagnosed with leukemia (1/29/2011)

Dina Eta bat Chaya Tzippora Sheva (1/22/2011)

Aharon Yitzchak ben Deena Yehudis (1/6/2011)

Adi bat Zahavit (twin baby who is sick)

Reut bat Zahavit (twin baby who is sick)

Chaim Yissachar ben Chaya Mushkit (26 year old with 2 children, leukemia)

Shraga Feivel ben Sasha

Ari ben Rivka (young husband with brain tumor)

Inbal bat Nelya

Zacharia Kalman HaCohen ben Yael Margalit

Shai Ben Meital - 4 yr old with brain damage and seizures

Aviva Miriam bat Esther - 9 month old baby with cancer going through chemo

Tzipora Fayga Bat Sima Shaindel- 33 year old mother of 3 with Leukemia(9/19/2010)

Tzvi Ilan ben Gita (8/12/2010)

Chaya Tziporah Sheva bat Faiga (8/12/2010)

Chisha Bayla bat Miriam

Chaya Meira Mindel bat Chava Golda - Midreshet alumna with cancer

Refael ben Nomi- 10 month old baby who has meningitis

Avraham ben Elka (5/21/10)

Rivka Bracha bat Yehudit - mother of 6 with cancer, doing better BH

Rivka Margalit bat Ita - 12 year old girl with a brain tumor (5/27/2010)

Rachel bat Re-ayah - mother of 7 with cancer that has spread

Batya Leah bat Sara - cancer

Noa Chaya bat Nava Yehudit - baby

Yehuda Moshe Yosef ben Miriam

Rayzel bat Rifka

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Midreshet Moriah

The Educational Wing

Shaare Zedek Medical Center

P.O. Box 3235, Jerusalem, Israel

tel: 972-2-652-7449 fax: 972-2-651-1524

www.midreshetmoriah.com

דף זה יוצא בסיוע משרד הקליטה

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