Mifrasim מפרשים : Navigating our Lives as Role Models, Educators, Parents and Jews

 Chamisha Asar Ani Yodeah: Dayeinu and the Most Central Number in the Pesach Experience I never understood why Echad Mi Yodea stops at just 13. Yes, the hour is getting later around our Seder tables, but there are so many more significant numbers, and wouldn’t it be great to get to Chai and end at 18 to celebrate life as we conclude the evening?    We can definitely count 14 as 14 are the books of Rambam’s Yad Chazakah, the Mishneh Torah.  And that would take us to 15. At 15, we would have a whole host of choices on how to best answer the question of chamisha asar mi yodeah?    R. Eli Sadan, head of the mechina Bnei David, discusses Dayeinu in his Hagadat Kamah Maalot. He tells us that Dayeinu has 15 lines and he takes the opportunity to tell us many concepts that are significant to the number 15, elements that teach us so many lessons needed for Pesach and beyond. Fifteen is the Story of our National and Religious Journey R. Sadan begins by telling us that the Dayeinu elucidates fifte

  Day 150: When the Perek Will End and Start Anew As the conflict rages on, our brothers and sisters continue to fight and be in the evil hands of our enemy. Each day is a new opportunity for us to look within ourselves, to reflect, to act, and to pray. Since that horrific day, so many of us have recited Tehillim. And as I have been in many shuls and schools, I would say 90% of the time at 90% of the minyanim , the deep and moving Prakim 121 and 130 have filled our lips. We look to the mountains, we cry from the depths. Prakim of eternal pain and prayer are ones that are fixed upon our lips.  For me, and a small group of us, we have used these terrible times to challenge ourselves to expand our muscles of prayer and learn a new Perek of Tehlim each day.  The daily learning in prayer began on Day 78 where, after countless days of reciting the same chapters again and again, we expanded to learn the chapter of Tehillim that corresponded to the day of the crisis. On that day, Day 78, Decem

 A Pre-Shema Educational Vision for Growth: A Conversation with Parents of the Ramaz Upper School The text below is the address given at the welcome reception for Rabbi Aaron Frank at Ramaz six weeks after he assumed the position of Upper School Principal.  Good evening.  I feel so blessed to be a part of the Ramaz family and am thankful to the community—students, parents and faculty—for welcoming me so warmly. I also want to especially thank the Upper School Administration and specifically Ms. Krupka and Rabbi Schiowitz for helping my transition run so smoothly and, of course, to Mr. Cannon for his ongoing guidance and support. I also want to thank you, the parents, and the faculty. Aside from the warm welcome, your positivity and encouragement demonstrate your investment in the success of this new chapter in the life of the Upper School, and it makes me even more proud, excited, and motivated as I assume this new role. Each and every morning, I sit with our students and encounter inc