The Call To Listen
The Call To Listen
As a new school year begins and our days once again take on a familiar rhythm, we enter a season that asks us to slow down, reflect, and listen. The month of Elul arrives each year as a gentle invitation to prepare our hearts for the sacred days ahead. It is a time of “cheshbon hanefesh” “an accounting of the soul” a time to look inward, consider our choices, and think about the people we hope to become.
Each morning during this month, the shofar’s call breaks into our routine and reminds us to awaken. Its sound is not a command, but an invitation: Listen. Pay attention. Notice. Prepare.
The shofar does not speak with words, yet it communicates something deeply meaningful. Its sound reaches beyond language and asks us to open our hearts.
The Hebrew word shema means “listen” or “hear,”. Chassidus explains that listening is never a passive act. To truly shema is to listen with intention and to allow what we hear to transform us. The daily shofar blasts of Elul invite us into this deeper kind of listening. They ask us: What have we been overlooking? What relationships need attention? What parts of ourselves are waiting to grow?
This is the essence of teshuvah. Often translated as repentance, teshuvah more deeply means “return.” It is the process of returning to our values, returning to our purpose, and returning to the best version of ourselves. Each shofar blast during Elul is a reminder that we are never stuck; every day offers the possibility of renewal.
The beginning of a school year mirrors this message of Elul. A new year brings its own opportunities for reflection and renewal. It is a time to ask not only, “What will we learn?” but also, “How will we grow?” It is a time to listen more carefully to the voices of others, and to the quiet wisdom within ourselves.
As we hear the shofar throughout Elul, may we allow its sound to become more than a daily ritual. May it become a reminder to pause and listen. May it help us hear the needs of those around us with greater compassion, hear our own hopes and challenges with greater honesty, and hear the call to become more thoughtful, generous, and connected human beings.
May this new school year and this month of Elul bring moments of reflection and growth. May we enter the year ahead with open hearts and open ears, ready to listen for the many ways we are called to grow.
כתיבה וחתימה טובה לשנה טובה ומתוקה
Good Shabbos
Parshas Ki Savo begins with the mitzvah of Bikkurim, where a farmer brings his first fruits to the Beis HaMikdash and expresses gratitude for everything that brought him to that moment. Before celebrating the fruit of his labor, he pauses to recognize the journey, the difficulties, the people, and ultimately Hashem, that made his success possible.
This offers an important lesson in chinuch. Children naturally notice what they have accomplished, but helping them recognize the journey behind those accomplishments gives their success greater meaning. A child who learns to appreciate their own effort, the support of others, and the opportunities Hashem gives them develops a deeper sense of gratitude and perspective. Even a small achievement can become meaningful when we learn to recognize everything that went into reaching it.
Question 1: Which two mountains stand opposite each other when the Jewish people enter Eretz Yisrael, with blessings on one and curses on the other?
Question 2: What fruit is specifically mentioned among the Bikkurim?
Clouds In A Jar
Sixth Grade Science brought the water cycle to life with a fun, hands-on experiment: “Cloud in a Jar!” Both the boys’ and girls’ classes explored condensation by creating their own clouds in a jar using hot water, ice, and smoke.
As they experimented, students learned not only what caused the clouds to form, but also what happened when the experiment didn’t work and why. It was a great opportunity to observe, problem-solve, and see the science they’ve been learning come to life right before their eyes.
A special thank you to Mr. Thompson (Mr. T) and Mrs. Rowe for the exciting and memorable science lesson.
A Warm Welcome To Middle School
Our middle school girls kicked off the year with a fun and community-building welcome program! We were especially excited to welcome our sixth graders as they begin this exciting new chapter.
The girls decorated delicious cookies for one another and got creative with a partner portrait activity. As they answered different “get to know you” questions, each answer determined a different feature to add to their partner’s portrait, making every picture unique while giving the girls a fun way to learn more about one another.
It was a fun-filled afternoon of creativity, friendship, laughter, and excitement for the amazing year ahead!
A special thank you to our Shluchos, Laya and Devorah Leah, for organizing such a warm and welcoming program for our middle school girls!
The King Is In The Field
As Chodesh Elul began, the Kitah Beis girls learned the powerful mashal of Ha’melech Ba’sadeh, “The King is in the Field.” 👑🌾 To bring the lesson to life, the girls acted out the mashal, first trying to approach the king while he was in his palace.
They then tried again when the king was out in the field, experiencing firsthand how much easier it is to approach him there. It was an exciting way for the girls to understand the special opportunity of Chodesh Elul!
Thank you to Mrs. Jacobson for bringing the lessons of Elul to life and creating such amazing learning moments for our second-grade girls!
Welcome First Graders!
This year, we were thrilled to welcome our biggest-ever First Grade class to CMCA! Their journey began with a special orientation morning, where students were invited into their classrooms to meet their teachers, explore their new spaces, and get a first glimpse of the exciting, learning-filled year ahead.
Their teachers prepared welcome bags, craft activities, and a tour of the building to help each child feel comfortable, confident, and excited to begin.
Baruch Hashem, since then it has been an absolute delight to have them with us! They have settled in beautifully and are already having a happy and exciting start to First Grade.
A special thank you to our amazing First Grade teachers for so warmly welcoming and settling our first graders into elementary school: Ms. Liyomi, Ms. Lina, Morah Estee, Morah Sarah, Rabbi Freeman, & Morah Deby.
Discovering The Sefer Torah
As our second-grade boys kick off the year, a major focus will be learning Chumash. Before long, they’ll be celebrating their Chumash Party and receiving their very own Chumashim!
As part of their Hachana L’Chumash, the boys are learning that the text inside a Chumash is the very same Torah text found in a Sefer Torah. To bring this idea to life, they participated in a special safrus workshop with Rabbi Mallinger, where they learned more about how a Sefer Torah is written, its holiness and the incredible care and precision that goes into its creation.
Thank you to Rabbi Freeman and Rabbi Mallinger for making this experience possible!
CMHS Kicks Off Year Two
This week marked the first week of our second year of CMHS, Chaya Mushka High School! The girls began the year on Tuesday by launching this year’s theme, “Together We’ll Go Far,” centered around the idea of each girl doing her part to bring light and illuminate the world around her.
Throughout the week, the girls met their teachers, settled into their classes, bonded as a group, and began building the foundation for an incredible year ahead. The energy has been positively fantastic, and there is already such a strong sense of excitement and connection.
We are looking forward to an amazing year of learning, growth, friendship, and shining brightly together!
Thank you to Mrs. Feinblum, Mrs. Kesselman, Laya, and Devorah Leah for getting the year off to such an amazing start!
Expanding Social Emotional Support Across the School
Dr. Mason, our Director of Counseling and Student Well-Being, has launched a new SEL group for our middle school girls, grounded in the Torah values that define our school, paired with practical tools and skills from positive psychology. The program kicked off with tea parties for each middle school class, creating a warm, personal space for the girls to connect before diving into the work ahead. This year's focus is on building resilience and strengthening character.
That support is also becoming more visible across our school. Dr. Mason will be rotating through elementary classes during morning meetings and lunch times, bringing SEL lessons directly to students, focusing on topics relevant to their developmental needs both in and out of the classroom.
We're excited to continue growing this program and finding new ways to support our students this year!
August 31 - Chai Elul Celebrations
September 7 - No School, Labor Day
September 8 - Curriculum Evening, 7-9 PM
September 11 - No School, Erev Rosh Hashana
Mivtza Shakul Honor Roll
Kol Hakavod to the Middle School T’mimim who excelled in davening this week!
Yam Benaish
Meir Charytan
Liam Mor
Yaakov Deitsch
Simon Jacobson
Eli Lipskier
Tzvi Lokshin
Ethan Matatov
Aharon Moshe Meyerowitz
Meir New
Zevi Rahmani
Mendel Slavaticki
Eli Sollish
Every Middle School boy is capable of making the Tefillah Honor Roll.
📌 Monthly Prize Reminder: Students who make the Tefillah Honor Roll [3] out of [4] weeks during the month will earn a prize. Keep up the great effort!
Happy Birthday to our students with Elul birthdays:
Tiferes Mallinger - 1 Elul
Mendel Sharfstein - 4 Elul
Elimelech Freeman - 7 Elul
Chaim Hertz - 7 Elul
Chaya Abraham - 7 Elul
Aliza Romano - 9 Elul
Nathaniel Yusupov - 22 Elul
Meir Barber - 22 Elul
Vita Avtzon - 27 Elul
Menachem Cohen - 27 Elul
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