ב”ה

March 26, 2020
1 Nisan, 5780

Dear Parents,

We are in the midst of a very challenging time. For many of us, it will be a touchpoint of change that we will refer back to for the rest of our lives.

It will join the list of other, generation-defining touch points that have occurred throughout history. And one such touchpoint for our people is the Exodus from Egypt.

Amidst the uncertainty, we know that Pesach will be happening on the 14th of Nisan. And, G-d willing, we will all be well enough to sit around the Seder table – however small our groupings may be – and retell the story of how we became a nation.

The story of the Exodus is interwoven with the themes of caring, mutual responsibility, and solidarity with our people. These values are in our DNA.

While the Torah is so much more than a record of our history, it tells us that the Hebrew midwives in Egypt cared so much about the next generation that they engaged in life-risking efforts to save them after Pharoah’s decree.

Moshe’s mother, Yocheved, cared so much about her newborn baby that she prepared a special boat, and set him down between the reeds on the banks of the Nile to a safer future.

His sister, Miriam, cared so much about Moshe that she watched over him from a distance.

Pharaoh’s daughter cared about the baby she found, so she saved him despite her father’s command. She gave him his name, and she raised him as a prince in the palace.

The caring that accompanied Moshe in his childhood contributed to his personality as a leader. When he saw injustice – he could not stand to the side. He had to do use his strength to protect the weak.

Today we need that emulate those values of caring and protection.

Millions of people around the world are changing the routines of their lives: no shaking hands, no hugging, staying in our homes, not participating in social or cultural events, and not even visiting elderly parents and grandparents. Many people’s sources of income are also at risk.

We are used to living together in a community, which gives us strength in times of crisis. But now – our best survival tactic lies in staying apart. Community living means working together to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

This past Shabbat, we read the conclusion of Sefer Shmot, and around the world, the Jewish People chanted, “Chazak, chazak, venit’chazek!” “Strong, strong, and we will make ourselves strong.” We are drawing strength from one another, from our communities and the Torah that we share, even (especially) when we cannot see each other in person.

Although the current situation is a difficult and unfortunate one, it has provided us with an abundance of examples of caring in our community. In times of difficulty, we see clearest how we are thinking of one another, and how closely-knit our community truly is. We have loved seeing photos and social media posts of how your children are adapting to their online learning at AHS, and we have received many messages of support and feedback from our families, for which we are deeply appreciative.

May the month of Nisan bring us all a sense of renewal and freedom, and may our community continue to shine in its closeness and caring through this time of physical distancing.

Chodesh Tov,

Ora Shulman
Head of School