And There They Go!! - Parsha Vayishlach

"Now is the time"

Dear friends, family members and students of Beis Yosef Torah Academy

I can't get over how fast the week went.  It just seems that when we get in a roll, it's time to stop. 


One thing that I noticed this week was how important the children rely on each other.  We had one child that was out for a few days, and it just played havoc on his friend and study partner.  This boy could not really get into the day at all.  It was as if he just wasn't all himself.  I guess he wasn't, because when his partner came back things started to pick up for him.


Last week I received an email from a friend regarding the eLearning situation in the states.  There were a few reports put out and the results were very amazing.


Quote "Education Secretary Arne Duncan released the final version of the National Education Technology Plan.  The plan which emphasizes the role of the deaprtment as a facilitator, is focused on enhancing academic instruction through Internet-based learning, a decreased emphasis on "seat time"and a preference for more flexibility".


The week before there was a recent article in the LA Times business section discussing long distance learning.  Two quotes are worthy of being noted:


Ä recent report by the U.S. Department of Education found that students in online conditions performed modestly better, on average, than those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction":


"Michael Lambert, exectuive director of the Distance Education and Training Council, a nonprofit accreditation agency for online learning, said he expects the number of students taking cyber-courses to suprass those in traditional classrooms within the next decade"

So it seem that things are starting to look up for those that are offering virtual classrooms.  Granted there are some technical issues to still work out, it is clear that this is the future and Beis Yosef Torah Academy is on the cutting edge of where education is going.


Aleph Beis - Group A is moving along, it wasn't an easy week for them, but all in all they have continued to surprise themselves with what they are reading.  Kol Hakavod!!!  Group B is not letting up.  They are working on new words that have Kamatz and Patach together in them, and they started reading their first book. It was very moving to see the excitement on one child''s face as he finished a complete sentence. Keep up the good work Group A and Group B

Chassidus - 
As we continue our journey of the soul, we started to look at what Pirkei Avos is saying regarding that we should not think of ourselves as a Tzadik.  We talked about what does a Tzadik have, and they said they have "good middos, learn Torah, are nice to people, and they need to be wise".  Regarding the wicked (Rasha) person, they said they are "just mean"

Pirkie Avos - We continued the understanding of our tradition, and talked about how Moshe gave the Torah to Yeshua since he wasn't going to go to Eretz Israel.  

Tefillah - We cut out Shema Cards in order to have pictures to look at, and help us to concentrate when saying the first paragraph of the Shema.


Parsha HaShavua - The class was recorded and you can hear it if you press the parsha class in the upper right hand corner.

In Hilchos Shabbos Last week learned the laws of Choresh, and how we have to be careful when playing outside in order to not trespass this melacha.  This week week we learned about Zoraya (Planting).  This was important for us as we are starting to prepare for our garden.  We also noticed that there is a pattern happening with the laws that we are learning and what we will learn next week.


Eli's Corner - Beis Yosef Torah Academy was very excited to welcome our newest Melamed; Eli Marks.  Eli taught us about the story of Chanuka as well as some of the minhagim.  The class thought it was interesting to know that what is writen on the Dreidel  in Israel is not the same as outside of Israel.  In Israel there is a פ for Poh (here) and outside of Israel there is a ש for sham.  Eli was not feeling good one day, so he taught us in the Virtual classroom from his home.


Moshiach - We read the story "The Best Call of All" we talked about how we will feel when Moshiach comes.  What will the world be like.  The boys said that there will be no killing, no stealing, everybody will be really good, there will be peace, and people will be happy. (AMEN)

Dvar Torah - Vayishlach means that "He sent" this refers to the mission that the soul has when being in-clothed in a physical body to perform their mission here on earth.  Meaning to perform Mitzvos and learn Torah and influence our invironment positively so that the physical world becomes a home for G-d. (Lubavitcher Rebbe)


Wishing you and your family and friends a warm Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Dovid and Chaya-Rachel Wheeler

Registration for the online classes are now open.  Please visit the link below to sign up. 

To sign up for the online school please visit: Beis Yosef Torah Academy

Once again, your children will need to have:

- Computer

- Webcam (some come with built in microphone)

- Microphone/Headset