the 2010 Virtual Journal - Westchester Day School

FRANCINE GREENBERG
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, GENERAL STUDIES
It is a heartfelt privilege and pleasure to write these well
deserved words of recognition and praise to all of our honorees
tonight. This past Shabbat, we read in Parshat Terumah about
the building of the Tabernacle, with the ark listed as its first
and most prominent article of furniture. The Rabbis comment
on the unusual wording of the opening command: “They shall
make for Me an ark”, asking why the third person plural is used
instead of the usual third person singular, You? Rabbi Judah
stated that God wanted all of the Israelites to occupy themselves with the ark so that they
should all qualify for the Torah. Rambam explains this statement to imply that all of the
Israelites needed to participate in housing the tablets by either donating articles of gold for
it or by helping Bezalel or by devoting their minds and acts to it.
Our parental honorees tonight, Amy and Paul Heller, Susie and Jeff Meyers, Tina and
Joseph and Orlian are individuals who truly understand the importance of communal
responsibility in helping to build and support WDS as a place of Torah learning. They
exemplify the values, ideals and teachings which make WDS the very special place that it is.
Their acts of generosity and loving kindness have helped our Yeshiva and have had a
profound influence on all of us. Acting as Hashem’s messengers, they provide support and
encouragement so that WDS can fulfill its unique destiny.
Regarding the details of the moving of the ark, the following is said: “You shall make poles
of acacia wood overlaid with gold ……the poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they
shall not be removed…” Kli Yakar sees this command not to remove the pole in line with
God’s command to Yehoshua, “The Torah shall not depart from your mouth or the mouth of
your children, or your children’s children henceforth and forever.” Mazal Tov also to my
colleagues, Ms. Miriam Dollman and Mrs. Jane Grauer, who have devoted their lives to
integrating into the children’s everyday work and play Torah values and spirituality. Morah
Jane offers her students an ever-changing curriculum filled with hands-on activities and a
day in which not a moment is wasted. Within one hour, students can be seen making a two
dimensional American flag for Presidents’ Day, entering a teacher-created space ship with a
window from which to view the Little Dipper and responding to questions on the Solar
System. In between activities, brachot are recited over snacks and Kippot and Tzitzit stand
out in this all-boys’ class. Morah Miriam’s concern for each of her students leads her to
make subtle yet deliberate moves with each child. She has a hidden curriculum aimed at
catching teachable moments to ensure that all of her students’ emotional, academic and
physical needs are being met. She creates an environment of respect and sensitivity in
which students feel safe and loved. With teachers like Morah Miriam and Morah Jane, we
can be assured that the lessons of the Torah will remain with our children forever.