MHA-FYOS Dean's Blog

This week’s parasha , Ki Tetze, presents a summary of many of the mitzvot . In the last section of the parasha , the Torah recounts two sets of commandments. The first set discusses the just treatment of the downtrodden. The Torah writes, “You shall not pervert the judgment of a convert or orphan and you shall not take the garment of a widow as a pledge. You will remember that you were a slave in Egypt and Hashem, your G-d, redeemed you from there; therefore, I command you to do this thing.” The second set discusses the obligations of a harvester to the downtrodden. The Torah writes, “When you reap your harvest in your field, and you forget a bundle in the field, you shall not turn back to take it; it will be for the convert, the orphan and the widow, so that Hashem, your G-d, will bless you in all that you do. When you beat the olive tree, do not remove all the splendor behind you; it will be for the convert, the orphan and the widow. When you harvest your vineyard, you will not...

What a great first two weeks of school!   After a summer of major renovation, MHA opened with a Chanukat Beit Sefer program in which we inaugurated the school by affixing new   mezuzot   on the main entrance and on other doorposts in the school.  Teachers, parents, students and community rabbis attended this special program.  That same day MHA hosted a well-attended Back-to-School Barbecue for all of our families.  The students have quickly adjusted to the school routine – it is such a pleasure to walk the MHA halls to see students learning and teachers teaching! In this week’s parsha, Ki Tetze, the Torah outlines the mitzvah of   shiluach haken   – sending away the mother bird before taking its chicks or eggs from the nest.  The Torah writes, “When you will happen upon a bird’s nest on the way in any tree or on the ground – with chicks or eggs – and the mother is sitting on the chicks or on the eggs, do not take the mother with ...