Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

1)         This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Mrs. Rina Zinkin

3)         Mazal Tov

4)         Mi SheBerach   

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This Week at Midreshet

This past Shabbat, we enjoyed our annual Shabbat Yishuvim. The whole school spent Shabbat in Neve Daniel - one of the yishuvim in Gush Etzion, where many of our own faculty lives. The girls were hosted by the very welcoming and friendly families of the yishuv, joining them for lunch as well. We ate our seudah together Friday night, followed by an oneg with Rabbi Kenny Hirshorn who gave us a heartwarming, inspiring and often hilarious look-back at the yishuv when it was just 16 families living in caravans.

On Shabbat afternoon, we heard from three women who made aliyah (each at a different stage in her life) and who now raise families and have careers in Israel. They shared their thoughts about aliyah, the culture gap between them and their kids, the joys and hardships of life in Israel and their experience learning Hebrew. Our students had a chance to ask questions and surrounded them during the break as well. We then heard from Laura Ben-David, employee at Nefesh B'Nefesh and passenger on the first NBN flight ever! She shared with us how this amazing organization began, what it's been like to help bring 30,000 olim to Israel and what the transition has been like for people. Again, our students had many questions and enjoyed meeting her. Seudah Shlishit was hosted by Rav Eitan, where we heard from Rav Ron about his "secret formula" for maintaining a connection to Israel when you do not live here.

This beautiful and inspiring Shabbaton was followed by the Yom Iyun L'Tzionut. We had a day of speakers, learning, and discussions about the history of our nation with Eretz Yisrael, the philosophies of Rav Kook and Rav Soloveitchik regarding the State of Israel and the importance of our own ability to explain and defend what goes on here. The day ended with our favorite... a faculty panel!

All of this focus on Israel is in preparation for the amazing period of holiday-fun that follows Pesach and the girls' return to school. We will all be better prepared to enjoy and understand Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim.

Unfortunately, we ended the week by joining Am Yisrael as we mourned the loss of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg. Girls in Midreshet over the past 25 years have merited seeing Rav Sheinberg in person and receiving brachot and advice from him. We also mourned the tragic death of the Jews killed in Toulouse, France. We went to the funeral of Rav Yonatan Sandler, his 2 sons Aryeh and Gavriel and Miriam Monsonego, the daughter of the school's principal. We listened to speeches by government officials and the Ashkenazi and Sephardi Chief Rabbis, all stating our inability to understand this tragedy, our belief that these children and Rabbi are heroes and pure souls, and our resolve to fight Anti-Semitism and live as proud Jews. 

Wednesday afternoon the David Project class traveled to Holon to participate in a special volunteer opportunity with the Save a Child's Heart Foundation.

Sunday night many of our students will be flying to Poland to join the Heritage program, with a few starting Motzei Shabbat for a first-stop in Prague. We are certain this program will be life changing for them and wish them a very meaningful trip. 

See the latest photos on our website: http://midreshetmoriah.com/galleries/

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Be Comforted

Mrs. Rina Zinkin

Last Shabbos we read Parshat Parah, which teaches us that the ashes of the Parah Adumah, the red heifer, are used to ritually purify one from the spiritual impurity which follows contact with the dead. It is introduced as “Zot Chukat haTorah” (Bamidbar 19:2); it is the ultimate chok. A chok is a command which is beyond our rationale and beyond the dictates of our logic. Rashi predicts that this mitzvah may be questioned and says, “Gezeirah hi milfanai- ein lecha rishut l’harher acharehah.” Rashi explains that because the mitzvah of para adumah is a chok - a G-d given, incomprehensible dictate - therefore, it must be followed without question. Although it may not make sense from our limited perception, this should not deter us from observing this mitzvah.

Rav Mattisyahu Solomon, shlita, the Mashgiach of the Lakewood Yeshiva, explains that there is great significance to why one is involved in the ritual of para adumah following exposure to death. The Mashgiach explains that being involved in such a mitzvah allows for much more than just the means to purify oneself. It offers a mindset which allows for healing after experiencing the loss of a loved one or exposure to death. Death itself must be viewed as a “g’zeirah milfanai” (just as Rashi tells us to view the antidote offered after being exposed to the dead). It too is a decree of Hashem’s, which is not meant to be understood by man. This is the only comfort that we can really have. Hashem’s ways are good- and all that happens is part of His Master plan. We involve ourselves with the para adumah and purify ourselves-physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Now, as we prepare to welcome the month of Nisan this Shabbos, the month destined for freedom and Geulah, we should look to the message of the para adumah to free ourselves from doubt, confusion and depression. We must try to internalize the para adumah’s deep message and be comforted by the concept of chok. 

Have a good Shabbos and Chodesh tov!

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Mazel Tov!               

Weddings:  

Rachelit Mitnick ('08-09) and Gavriel Bernstein on their wedding

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael  

Yaffi Adler ('03-'04) and Moti Loterstein on their wedding

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

Engagements:
Leora Erdfarb ('05-'06, '06-'07) and Ari Ringelheim on their engagement

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

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Mi SheBerach List

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

Chana bas Chaya (22/2)

Esther Golda bat Sarah Miriam (22/2)

Yechezkel ben Chanah Sarah (29/2)

Lea bat Masha (22/2)

Tzvi ben Sara (12/2)

Zev Yitzchak ben Chaya Sarah(12/2)

Dov ben Yachad Frida(12/2)

Menachem Mendel ben Maida (9/2)

Miriam Henya bat Rivka (19/1)

Reuven ben Tova Chaya (12/1)

Chana bat Sorah (5/1)

Rachel Yehudit bat Minsha Zissel (5/1)

Chaya Shaindel bat Kraindel (5/1)

Leah Golda bat Esther Frimmet (5/1)

Feiga bat Sophie (5/1)

Chane Chaim HaCohen ben Perel (29/12)

Zelda bat Rachel (20/12)

Hayeled Eitan Ze'ev HaCohen ben Leah Binah (29/12)

Batya Emunah bat Bracha Chaya (22/12)

Yosef Dov ben Frieda (22/12)

Chana Fraida bas Faiga Zelda (22/12)

Dorit Chaya Bat Geulah(15/12)

Briget Joan bat Marion Patricia (15/12)

Dorit Chaya bat Geula (15/12)

Dovid Chaim ben Brina (15/12)

Avraham ben Esther (15/12)

Adina bat Rivka(15/12)

Moriel Raizie bat Feige Kaylee (13/12)

Rachel Yehudit bat Mancha Zaisel (8/12)

Aron ben Reizel (1/12)

Yehudah ben Shoshanna (1/12)

Haddasah Leah bat Shoshana (24/11)

Baruch Yehudah ben Leah (17/11)

Charna Leah bat Shaindel (17/11)

Mazal bat Pircha (3/11/11)

Malka bat Tova (10/10/11)

Shimon Dovid Yehoshua bat Rena (6/10/11)

Rifaela Chana Rivka bat Shayna Dena (6/10/11)- diagnosed with Non-Hodgken's Lymphoma

Rachel bat Mindel (6/10/11) - Lymphoma

Tzuriya Kochevet bat Sara - mother of 4 with inoperable stomach cancer(25/9/11)

Chaya bat Zecil (22/9/11)

Perel bat Malka (21/9/11)

Rachaylle bat Turan (21/9/11)

Miriam Leah bat Reizel Dena(21/9/11)

Zechariya Kalman Hakohen ben Yael Margolit (18/9/11)
Tzipora Sara bat Esther Leah (18/9/11)

David ben Miriam (18/9/11)

David ben Rachel (18/9/11)

Rachel bat Kochava (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)

Moshe Eliezer ben Esther Miriam (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)
Moshe Yitzchak ben Shoshana(18/9/11)

Aviva Miriam bat Esther ( 11/9/11)

Osnat bat Clara (11/9/11)

Avraham Yehuda ben Davida Yehudit (11/9/11)

Tziporah Faiga Bat Sima Shaindel (11/9/11)

Chava Deena Etya Bat Chaya Tziporah Sheva (11/9/11)