The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) mandates that on the Shabbat preceding the holiday of Purim, we must read the story of ancient Amalakites and how they attacked the Jewish people. This brazen act set the nation of Amalek apart in its hatred and bigotry against the Jews. According to most Poskim (Halachik codifiers) this Torah reading is considered a BIblical obligation which men, women and children must listen to carefully. The reason given for this reading in close proximity to Purim is that Haman, the villain of the Purim story who wanted to annihilate all the Jews was a descendant of Amalek, hence the connection of Shabbat Zachor and Chag Ha’Purim.
When we look a bit closer at the actual Torah reading, we notice something odd. The verse states “Zachor - Remember what Amalek did to you when you left Egypt…. You shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven - Lo Tishkach - you shall not forget!”
While we can understand the general intention of the verse, which is to blot out the memory of Amalek, what is puzzling is the language used in the verse. Are we to remember them for the evil they did, or should we wipe them out from our memories and existence?
Our commentaries explain that this Mitzvah is actually a double Mitzvah (1) erase the memory of Amalek (2) remember their treachery. In other words, it is not enough to erase the memory of Amalek and “move on” leaving them behind in the annals of history, but we must also remember what they did and learn the important lessons from our difficult past. Not just a slogan of “Never Again”, but a deeper understanding of our past and how we must fight this evil in every generation.
In the last weeks, I am extremely proud that our school inducted its first group of middle school students into our new chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. The first project our NJHS students are working on is the Tolerance Building Bandage Project. This project, eleven years in the making, aims to collect 1.5 million bandages to remember the 1.5 million children murdered by the Nazis. The goal is to complete it by June 12, 2019, which would have been Anne Franks’s 90th birthday, had she survived the Holocaust. Additionally, our middle school students participated in the Holocaust Memorial’s film and program “Bagels Over Berlin”, a program highlighting Jewish servicemen and women who fought against the Nazis during WWII.
With some of the antisemitism that we have seen on the news lately, whether in European community parades or from members of our own government, we must REMEMBER our past and protest this ugliness while also doing everything we can to WIPE IT OUT using every tool and ability we have.
At TASA, we empower our students from a young age to study our history and act as ambassadors for Am YIsrael, the Jewish people, and recognize injustice wherever it may be found. May Hashem truly wipe out all those that wish Eretz YIsrael and Am Yisrael harm. Amen.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Yossi Marrus
Dean of Students
Director of Judaic Studies
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Like what you see so far?
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Support TASA
by participating in TASA's
Purim Card Fundraiser!!
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Adorable TASA Purim cards available for a donation of $3.25 per card.
Please email
with your name & the quantity you would like.
While Supplies Last!
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TASA “Twins” with
Noam Herzog School in Akko, Israel
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For the past two years TASA has been “Twinning” with the Noam Herzog School in Akko, Israel, a school in the Western Galilee region. We were partnered together with the help of Partnership2Gether.
Both Mrs. Diric and Mrs. Endzweig have flown to Israel to participate in the Partnership2Gether Educators Conference.
TASA and Noam Hertzog students enjoy writing, Skyping and sending packages back and forth between the two schools.
In a recent Skype “Twinning” session, the students introduced themselves in Hebrew and sang Hebrew Purim songs to the students at our twin school. Morah Naomi really prepared them well! They heard some facts about the Israeli students that they connected with. They ended the session with a series of questions and answers between the two groups of students.
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Teacher Feature
Mrs. Krystal Schwab
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Hello Mrs. Schwab and welcome to TASA! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Since you are new to TASA, our readers wanted to hear more about you.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about coming to work every day at TASA?
A: My students are an amazing group of kids that make every day interesting and fun. The staff of TASA is like a family and are super supportive in everything I do.
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Q: We heard that you worked as a substitute teacher before joining the TASA team, and now you work in the Blended Learning Lab. How are the two jobs different?
A: Actually, my last position was a full time 3rd grade teacher in SAISD. It is completely different. When you are working with one grade level you can plan for just that grade level. With the blended learning lab I have to think about and differentiate within the 4 different grade levels. One moment I am working with algebra but the next I could be working with geometry. It is always an adventure.
Q: When you were a middle school student, what were your favorite and least favorite subjects and why?
A: I loved choir, music has always been a huge passion and something that I continue to be a part of today. I disliked Reading only because I didn't find my passion for reading until I was college. This is why I try to find things my students are interested in to help them enjoy reading.
Q: If you could teach any subject what would it be and who would you want to teach it to?
A: ELAR any grade. I love exploring through different genre's of books and allowing my students to free their minds through writing.
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A teacher.
Q: If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
A: The Musical Schwaberry: The singing and dancing life of Krystal Schwab
Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I am involved with a variety of activities. I am currently preparing for a ballroom dancing competiiton and dance in a clogging group. I will be going back to working at Sea World soon as a part time performer. I will be working in a variety of areas of the park dancing, singing and acting. I recently was part of a local theatre production of 9 to 5.
Q: If you could be any kind of pet, what would it be?
A: I would say I would be a dog. I could be lazy and spoiled all the time.
Q: Disney Princess or Villain, and who?
A: Princess. Ariel.
Q: An apple costs 20 cents, an orange costs 40 cents, and a grapefruit costs 60 cents, how much is a pear?
A: Depends on where you buy it. Is it HEB, Trader Joes, or the Shuk in Israel?
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Changemaker: Mr. Daniel Lascu
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On March 3rd TASA students had the pleasure of welcoming Nurse Practitioner, Mr. Daniel Lascu, to our Changemakers program.
Mr. Lascu initially spoke about how historically nurses were considered to be of a "lower class" in the medical professional. It was not a sought after career path. Over the years that has changed.
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Nurses can now attain multiple levels of training - from a 2 year Associate's degree, all the way to a Doctoral degree in nursing. Nurses are very different from doctors, and they usually spend more time getting to know their patients. Nurses can work anywhere, but some have unique specialties. A Nurse Practitioner can also write prescriptions like doctors.
Mr. Lascu, who is originally from Romania, was in the Romanian army. Two years after being released from service he immigrated to the United States. Mr Lascu explained that Romania is a socialist country run by a communist government. People were not allowed to practice their religion. He was ridiculed from a young age for his Judaism. Because of their faith, his parents did not want to remain in a communist country. Most importantly, Mr. Lascu said that our democracy is not a privilege, but something we work hard for to stay free. This freedom allows each of us to CHOOSE what we want to do in life - such as become nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers....whatever our hearts desire.
Thank you Mr. Lascu for a wonderful and inspirational presentation!!
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Changemaker: Ms. Natalie Steiner
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On March 8th, Natalie Steiner representing Hillel Today, visited TASA students as part of our Changemakers Program. Natalie, was raised in Spring, Texas and grew up as the only Jewish girl in her community. When she entered college, she connected with many other Jewish students from all over the country through the local Hillel chapter.
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Natalie was able to participate in Shabbat dinners, holiday events, a “Birthright” trip to Israel, and other programs and experiences that connected her to her Judaism. These Hillel experiences inspired her to work for the organization.
Currently, Natalie heads up seven Hillel groups in the San Antonio area, which amounts to over 180 individuals! She has “Hillel Meeting Points” at both UTSA and Trinity University, where Jewish students can meet and just hang out. Recently, San Antonio Hillel students joined forces with other local Jewish teen groups to bake 100 challahs for families.
Natalie shared an exciting video on how Hillel has impacted all sorts of people around the world. Natalie brought a collection of Hillel Swag items, which were shared with grateful TASA students.
Thank you Natalie for joining with us!!
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TASA’s Changmaker program is designed to expose our students to a variety of people of note, in order to broaden their understanding of the individuals who contribute positively to our community and the world around us.
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Please send your
tasteful photos of
TASA Gear Spotted
in interesting places
(or on interesting people) to
to be featured in future issues
of the TASA Times!
Thank you!
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Digitized March Jewish Journal Available
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| San Antonio's unabridged version of the Jewish Journal is now online. You can access the Jewish Journal at: www.jfsatx.org . |
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...then turn to page 14 to read the article about our own Mrs. Endzweig!
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TASA Purim Schedule
Thursday, March 21
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- 8:00 AM - Tefillah
- 8:45 AM - Meggilah Reading (parents are welcome to join)
- 10:00 - 11:30 AM Purim Carnival for TASA students
- 12:00 AM - Dismissal
Students are encouraged to come to school dressed in appropriate costumes on Purim day.
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Upcoming Events and Programs
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- Sunday, March 17, 1:00 PM: Middle School student, David Pearsall, to represent TASA at the SA Express News Regional Spelling Bee at the Buena vista Theatre, UTSA Downtown Campus.
- Wednesday, March 20: Fast of Esther - 2:00 dismissal
- Thursday, March 21: Masquerade and Purim Carnival
- Thursday, March 21: Purim - noon dismissal
- Friday, March 29: End of third quarter
- Tuesday, April 2: Faculty meeting - No after school clubs
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From The TASA Photo Gallery
TASA's Third and forth graders help Kindergarten students
with Hebrew language skill building.
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Did you miss an issue of the TASA Times?
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Help earn cash for our school, keep sending in those box tops!
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Shmuel Bass Torah Academy of San Antonio is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio
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