Editorial 09/05/19

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Dear Parents,

Re: A Personal Thank You and Request for Ongoing Support

It was just over a month ago that the entire community came together in such a powerful way, for the Matched Funding Telethon, to help our major annual fundraiser achieve more than we ever envisaged. I therefore personally want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those that supported the campaign, whether that be through donations, joining us in the call centre on the day (including our outstanding Sixth Formers) or ensuring our message was shared as widely as possible.

Thank you.

Sadly, although possibly not surprising, the focus on the Telethon and the timing of Pesach meant that the amount raised through Voluntary Contributions dropped off in April, leaving the Charity below its target for the year. The financial reality for the School is that it cannot sustain an ongoing shortfall and needs the charity to succeed in raising sufficient VC donations. Please can every family make a concerted push between now and the end of the academic year to ensure that you donate as much of the Voluntary Contribution pledge as possible; £5,750 for the boys’ school and £4,950 for the girls’ school. Every extra £1 will make a difference.

Yours sincerely,

Mr J Feinmesser
Hasmonean Charity Trustee Chairman

 

Dear Parents,

We have experienced a range of emotions this week: it started with real concern about the safety of the residents of Israel, spanned the very moving Yom Hazikaron ceremony at the two schools presented by Rabbi Shaw and Rabbi Kenigsburg and ended with the excitement of celebrating Yom Haatzmaut.

This feeling of national identity was palpable at both schools this week and, with it, a real sense of achdus within our school community. This was very special to witness and experience.

The opening Perek of the Parsha reminds us of the supreme importance of looking after each other: our friends, our families, strangers within the community. It is only when this is paramount within a community that a true, balanced social order can be maintained. And it is only then that we are able to be a truly holy people.

Wishing you a peaceful Shabbos,

Mrs D Lebrett
Headteacher
Hasmonean High School for Boys

 

 

Editorial 02/05/2019

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Dear Parents,

Sefer Vayikra is a book of two halves and the abrupt change takes place in the middle of our sedra, Achrei Mos.

The first 17 chapters of Sefer Vayikra all relate to the Mishkan. It covers topics such as korbonos, rules of kohanim, tumah and taharah, the dedication ceremony of the Mishkan and the avodah of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur.

Then, halfway in to our sedra, from chapter 18 onwards, Sefer Vayikra deals with a litany of miscellaneous topics starting with prohibited relationships and then “kedoshim tihiyu” to shemittah, erechin vows and much in between.

Notably, the phrase “Ani Hashem Elokeichem” appears over fifty times from chapter 18 onwards and only once in the first 17 chapters of Vayikra.

Rav Menachem Leibtag gives the following wonderful explanation.

Some people may mistakenly think that the Shechina, the Divine Presence of Hashem, is limited to the Mishkan, Beis HaMikdash or even just our own shuls. This is not true. Hashem’s Presence and message must be disseminated into everyday life. Judaism is 24/7, 365 days a year. Judaism is less of a theology and more of a way of life.

To convey this idea, the phrase “Ani Hashem Elokeichem” is not needed in the first half of Sefer Vayikra as that primarily deals with the Mishkan. Even the one time it does appear in the first 17 chapters of Vayikra is in relation to Kashrus and not the Mishkan per se.

But when Sefer Vayikra moves on to cover a host of miscellaneous topics, the phrase “Ani Hashem Elokeichem” needs to repeated over and over to remind us to bring Hashem in to every aspect of our lives.

This is a message we need to convey and model to our children and students. To live a life of Torah, recognising that Hashem’s Presence goes beyond the walls of shul, and adhere carefully to Halacha which demonstrates that HKBH is wholly integrated in to our daily lives.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi J Golker
Menahel