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Psycholinguist, Frank Smith, notes that the letters “ho” in each of the following words are pronounced differently: hot, hoot, hook, hour, honest, house, hope, honey, hoist.  Good readers, he asserts, can pronounce them accurately, but few know the rules.  How did they learn to pronounce these words, he asks...by reading.

I am so excited that registration for our 4th Annual Day School Family Shabbaton at Camp Ramah in Ojai is now open (December 13-15)! Last year was so much fun, and I am looking forward to building on our experience with all of our new and returning families. 

Some highlights of our time together will include: 

Dear Parents,

Every year around this time, we look to you, our parent body, to use your voice – in the most constructive of ways. As our admissions season is in full swing, we know that the #1 way for others to learn about Adat Ari El Day School is by word of mouth. In other words, YOU! 

During this time of year, we think about the past and look to the future.

Judaism places a lot of value on hospitality.  In Genesis 18 we read “And he (Abraham) lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground”.  When Abraham saw these men standing before him he literally ran to go and invite them into this tent.  

וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Vayelech Moshe v’yidaber et-had’varim haeleh el-kol-yisrael…

And Moses went and spoke all of these words to the people of Israel. 

Deuteronomy 31:1

I feel honored and excited to be organizing this year’s Adat Ari El Mitzvah Day on Sunday, November 3rd! I hope you will all join me at this special cross-communal event for our schools and synagogue to engage in meaningful charitable projects to help those in need. Since 2008, Mitzvah Day has grown into a global movement of change. Now in over 20 countries, Mitzvah Day brings 40,000 people across the world to do good together.

It was a true pleasure last night to see our parent body join together for the first time as a community this year. I loved being able to share with you some exciting new plans for the year, and appreciate your partnership in all of the ways we are going to work together this year to raise up these children.