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The administration, faculty, and parent body of HALB are committed to ensuring that:
1. Each child develops positive self-esteem and respect for himself/herself and others based on the precept that each individual is created in the image of G-d.
2. The child grows spiritually, developing a love of Torah and a commitment to the observance of Halacha (Jewish law), learning to live among other cultures using Torah as his/her guide.
3. The whole child develops physically and emotionally, religiously and morally, personally and socially, as well as intellectually and academically.
4. The child develops a sense of security and belonging through his/her connection to family, school, and community.
5. The child sees himself/herself as a valued and contributing member of society with a purposeful and meaningful future.
6. The child develops a love of learning in an environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and originality in order to maximize his/her strengths as an individual.
7. The child grows academically through an educational program that is comprehensive, purposeful, and standards-based.
8. The child learns to recognize boundaries, make appropriate choices and accept responsibility for his/her actions.
9. The child learns to associate progress and achievement with consistent effort and diligence.
10. The child develops a love for the Jewish People and the State of Israel, and learns to appreciate the democratic ideals and freedoms of the United States of America.
בס"ד What is this year’s theme?"ולישרי לב שמחה" “And for the upright of heart there is joy”! In this pasuk Dovid Hamelech reminds us that one of the keys to real happiness in life is through acting with midot tovot: “Who is truly happy”? “Those who are of upright—that is—ethical hearts.” Hence the theme of our Yeshiva this year is ",ולישרי לב שמחה" “and for the upright of heart there is joy.” Chazal tell us that the אבות were called ישרים, upright; in fact, ספר בראשית, which tells the story of the אבות, is called "ספר הישרים", the “Book of the Upright.” Our focus in life must be to follow in the footsteps of the אבות and theאמהות : as they were ישרים—mentches--so too, must we be ישרים. This is a guiding principle for all members of the Yeshivat Lev community: to serve the Ribbono shel Olam by practicing exemplary midot towards others, at home, in school, and wherever we may be. Many commentaries ask: Why is there not a mitzva to exhibit midot tovot? The Netivot Shalom answers, because midot tovot is the prerequisite for performance of mitzvot—דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה. At HALB midot tovot are the prerequisites for everything else that we do and learn. The Meshech Chochma points out that, in truth, the main mitzva of chinuch Diorayta, Biblical obligation of education, is to teach midot tovot! In keeping with this key mitzva, we devote much time and energy to furthering the development of midot tovot throughout Yeshivat Lev. Which midot tovot will we be focusing upon? This year, at Yeshivat Lev, we will focus especially upon three midot tovot, which are tied very closely to the three “Rs” of our Middle States mission: - אמת: “Truthfulness.” This means telling the truth, as well as acting truthfully. This is a very difficult, yet critical מדה for our children to learn. Especially in regard to this מדה, we think about the “R” of being good “role models.” (See below)
- הכרת הטוב: Appreciation. Baruch Hashem, we all have so much to be thankful for and so many people to thank. Just as we remind ourselves of this each day, we want our children to grow in this area and to be thankful to parents, grandparents, teachers, friends and countless others. This reminds us to constantly consider the “R” of “responsibility” towards others.
- כבוד: Respect for parents, teachers, elders, classmates, and all people. This is the “R” of respect. We have decided to repeat and review this מדה, which we also emphasized last year.
We will focus upon each of these midot for a period of about three months during the school year. Over the summer, administration and faculty have been carefully planning to implement our midot curriculum from preschool through 8th grade. Midot tovot is integrated into Limudei Kodesh, Ivrit and General Studies curricula. However, the real success of the program is dependent upon all members of the community—adult and child, faculty, administration, parents, and students—being involved. Therefore, we invite everyone to join us on this most important mission! What can Parents do? - Model the behaviors that you are seeking in your child. There is nothing which is more important or which has a greater impact than the דוגמא אישית, the personal example that an adult provides for a child. Our children will imitate us whether we like it or not; let us be excellent role models!
- Discuss good midot with your children on a level that is age appropriate. HALB will provide some materials to assist you in this process; however, we encourage you to go beyond what the Yeshiva provides and engage your child in regular discussions regarding midot tovot. In particular, especially with older children, critically analyze news items that may, or may not, exemplify midot tovot.
- Practice…practice….practice…There is nothing more important than practicing midot tovot. As the ספר החינוך tells us (last year’s theme): ,כי אחרי הפעולות נמשכים הלבבות"” the heart is drawn after our actions. Therefore, we must practice proper deeds daily, regularly and constantly!
Remember: "ולישרי לב שמחה" “And for the upright of heart there is joy!” True joy is achieved through an upright heart, that is, through the practice of good midot! הצלחה רבה for a wonderful new year! ADMINISTRATION Rabbi Dr. Shmuel (Stuart) Klammer
Principal | Rabbi Moshe ZimbergAssociate Principal, grades 6-8 | Mrs. Michelle BergmanAssociate Principal, General Studies | | Rabbi Dovid PlotkinAssistant Principal, Limudei Kodesh, 1-5 | Mrs. Marjorie Hershberg Director of Curriculum & Technology | Mrs. Paula Weber
Director of Hebrew Curriculum | Dr. Fred Zelinger Director of Pupil Services | | Rabbi Yitzchak (Jeremy) FederDirector of Programs | Mrs. Debbie Eisenberg
Director of Student Support Services | | | | | | | | |
Mr. Richard Hagler
Executive Director Rabbi Dr. A.H. Friedman
Dean Emeritus ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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HALB Elementary School 
