Coming Full Circle

Every day, we experience the joys and sadness of the cycle of life. The events of this past week were a testament to this.

On our campus, students joyously ate lunch in the sukkah, celebrated, shook the lulav, and embraced the festivities of Sukkot. Soon we will be “Rejoicing in the Torah” (Simchat Torah), reading aloud from the Torah and dancing in circles. This is the time when we start the Torah readings from the beginning of the scrolls, continuing our life cycles, and coming "full circle." We do this as “more than a school…a family,” a statement which we take to heart at DKJA.

Therefore, it was second-nature for our school family to reach out in compassion as we learned of the passing of Mary Anne Shapiro, mother of William Shapiro (’09 High School at DKJA). Mary Anne was a longtime volunteer in our school library, with the PTO, and at numerous school activities. She was able to proudly witness William accept his high school diploma last June. William’s beloved father and grandmother also passed away recently. Through these sad circumstances, our DKJA family came together in support. Once again, the symbolic circle was never more apparent. 

William, despite the sadness surrounding his family, continued to “repair the world” by assisting with projects such as Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for the needy, among other projects. His values and inner strength are apparent, and commendable.

We, as a school community and a school FAMILY, are here for one another, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and forever. We come together to share in each other’s joys and sorrows, and to lend a hand whenever we can.

As we embrace Simchat Torah on Sunday, please keep the symbolic meaning of the circle of life in your thoughts, and take a moment to reflect upon the importance of embracing (encircling) our loved ones, and our Torah values.

Make a note. . . Our very own Rabbi Green is being honored at the Boca Raton Synagogue as the Chatan Kol HaNearim, "the groom to all the children," for his years of dedication to the Jewish teen community of Boca Raton. Chatan Kol HaNearim is one of the few honors given out each year during Simchat Torah. Rabbi Green will be called to the Torah for an aliyah at which point in time all the children of the community traditionally gather together under a large Talit (prayer shawl) and participate in the aliyah as well – signifying their connection to the tradition of Torah learning and continuity of the Jewish people. This honor will take place at 11:15 a.m. this Sunday morning in the main sanctuary of the Boca Raton Synagogue, 7900 Montoya Cirlce.

Chag Sameach,
Karen Feller
Head of School

On Thursday, October 15, 2009, DKJA students will participate in a schoolwide pep rally, which will take place at 2:25 pm in Zinman Hall. Students should show their school spirit by wearing red:

• Wear a red school uniform shirt and uniform bottom OR

• Wear the red school uniform dress

• DKJA Student Council will also be selling red school spirit shirts that will be available for sale and may be worn on that day with a uniform bottom. The Student Council members will be selling the shirts ONLY until Monday, October 12, 2009. The cost is $12 per shirt or two shirts for $20. The shirt will honor DKJA's 30 Years of Strength.

Shirts must be ordered by MONDAY to ensure delivery in time for the pep rally. Additional shirts will be available for sale after Monday, but they will not arrive before the pep rally.

Click here for an order form. Order forms are available in the school office and the Shuk.