BH. Tevet
27, 5780 / Jan 24, 2020
ב“ה
Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org 4:40 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 5:44 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
CONDOLENCES BASKIN FAMILY Our condolences to Yefim Baskin (the builder of Maimonides and Shabbos House etc), Anna Abramov and their families on their passing of their father Gennady. From Belarus, he was an expert forester in Russia, and served in the Russian army. He loved the woods & foraged there with his kids for berries & mushrooms. He and his wife Olga moved here to build a better future for their children and he was able to see his grandchildren & great-grandchildren grow up here. May his memory be a blessing.
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
KAHN FAMILY CONDOLENCES
This MC Newsletter is sponsored in memory of
Our condolences to Michelle and Judge Kahn on the passing of her brother Brian. May his memory be a blessing.
Marlene Aronson Mina Gitta bas Dovid Yartzeit today: Tevet 27
RACE CAR Rabbi Yossi and the boys in STEAM class put together a race-car model that’s powered by a thick rubber-band but helped along by the fact that its wooden wheels are covered in tight balloon skins for friction.
RABBI RUBIN IN MONTREAL Rabbi Rubin was asked to be a guest speaker at the Montreal yartzeit commemoration in memory of Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung, Montreal’s long-time chief Rabbi. He was world-renown Talmud scholar noted for his photographic memory and eager breathless continuous thirst for Torah study. He was a prominent student of Rabbi Meir Shapiro in Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, and was Rabbi Rubin’s teacher in Montreal who he speaks of him often & fondly. Rabbi Rubin took along the 9th grade boys for the experience. They’ll be back for Shabbos, look for a pictures and a report in next week’s MC.
FROGS HERE, FROGS THERE… PAPER BAG PLAGUE PUPPETS Wait, isn’t it too early for Passover? (Before you know it Price Chopper will have their Pesach foods out...) Yes, but the Torah Parsha of these weeks is all about the Exodus story. Morah Devorah’s 1st & 2nd graders each made a set of paper-bag puppets, one for each of the ten plagues. The Haggadah encourages us to “get into” the Exodus retelling, and this is one great way to do it!
One of Nursery’s activity centers this week was a whole assortment of different types and sizes of toy frogs - making this week’s Parsha Vaeira (with 7 of the 10 Plagues) visual & tangible.
MLK DAY AT SCHOOL
We had a regular day of school and many of our classes took the opportunity to tell Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s story and struggle for civil rights and especially some of his inspiring and FEDERATION GRANT DEADLINE meaningful quotes. It was especially amazing to See the Jewish Federation’s website for a list of hear how Mrs. Katie Hoffman’s Kindergarten possible grants for enrichment programs like students really absorbed the story and the overnight summer camp or academic programs issue, its message & application on their level! such as college or seminary. More on page 4.
HOW TO END LECHA DODI
SINGLE-CELLED PROTISTS
7th grade Talmud learning about runners vs. walkers in laws of damages took a surprising turn into welcoming the Sabbath. They learned two expressions and movements: Rabbi Chanina would go out to greet “the (Shabbat) bride and queen” while Rabbi Yannai would stand to welcome (and usher in) the bride. Their two versions explain the difference of Nusach between Sephard & Chabad (which combines both) whereas Ashkenaz Nusach sticks with Rabbi Yannai. Nice to see the background!
7th grade science is learning about amoeba, paramecium, and euglena. They are learning about the similarities and differences of these tiny simple basic organisms, and are making projects depicting them & their components.
THE SHAPE OF FOOD These Nursery students were playing with food “shapes” in their classroom kitchen.
POSTCARDS IN SECOND GRADE
ICE-CREAM COOKIE ANALOGIES 7th grade boys Talmud did so well on their recent two Gemorah tests that Rabbi Mendel brought in a tub of dairy ice-cream and two boxes of cookies from Kosher Price Chopper. Some enjoyed it plain but others made themselves mini ice-cream cookies and they came up with all kinds of Torah analogies to cookies and icecream, including: Torah’s brown wooden holders to the off-white parchment scroll; the inside and outside of ideas; the basic meaning and the richer deeper interpretations and much more. And it was sweet, tasty and rich, like Torah ought to be!
2nd graders “visited” 4 spots around the USA & “wrote” & illustrated postcards from those places. Now they are working with sample postcards from a workbook and seeing what needs to be corrected or changed. This lesson blends social-studies and geography, creative writing & grammar all in a set of fun activities.
SOUP OF THE WEEK HELPERS These girls (and other students) were thrilled to help serve this week’s Matzah-Ball soup (made by Raizy Rubin) which was good to the last drop. Mrs. Wildman is looking for more volunteers to sign up to make a soup, the kids love it, especially now that its cold out!
ALL ABOUT THE PRESIDENT(S) 4th graders are reading “So, You Want To Be President” by Judith St. George in their reader and it’s filled with fun facts and trivia about the US Presidency & presidents over the years.
SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA 7th grade history learned of this German attack on a British civilian ship (killing almost all 1201 people aboard) and how that played a role in the Unites States entering WWI. They discussed the debate over the fact that there were likely explosives stored on the ship (which may have caused it to sink so rapidly).
SNOWFLAKES & SNOWMEN SNAKES AT SCHOOL Thanks Morah Alyla for bringing in a real live snake to school (a very kid-friendly one) for the Nursery kids to see and handle, especially as it relates to the “stick turned to snake” (and back to stick again) in the Parsha last week.
BIG DIFFERENCES Even adults have trouble differentiating between these four key words Morah Devorah’s students are learning now: Ohev = love or like, Yochol = can or able, Tzarich = need, and Rotzeh = want. People tend to mix up needs and wants a lot!
Morah Dini is doing a whole Choref (winter) Ivrit (Hebrew) unit in Kindergarten. They made a big paper snowman, all kinds of cutout snowflakes, colored winter clothes, and much WIGWAMS AND LONGHOUSES more (see more pics next week) all while 4th grade Social Studies are learning about the learning the Hebrew words for each! Iroquois tribes and how they differed from the Algonquian. One difference: Algonquian lived STAY HUNGRY, STAY FOOLISH in wigwams and Iroquois lived in longhouses. This Pitgam Poetry lesson was a combination of burning bush in the Parsha, Tevet 24 4th graders paired up in groups or worked independently to make impressive longhouse (yartzeit of Alter Rebbe) and a message from Steve Jobs - all about always striving higher, models out of pipe cleaners, shoe boxes, staying thirsty for more, life-long learning and popsicle sticks, construction paper, foam, growth. This Baal Shem Tov teaching us the sticks, etc. Construction is now in progress! lesson: burning bush was not consumed, our passionate spiritual desire shouldn’t be THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO... quenched, we should yearn for more! always ask… “How can I help the school?”
BREISHIS COSTUMES AT PARSHA FAIR We didn’t have enough room in last week’s MC but quite a few students and even a teacher dressed up like biblical characters or objects from the Book of Breishis (Genesis) adding a nice flair and conversation starter to last week’s Parsha Fair. L-R: we have Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imenu (holding her candles and Challah), next is Rivka dressed as Rivka (with a pitcher slung over her shoulder), and both Adina and Rosie dressed as the moon & stars in Yosef’s dream. Mrs. Mattice dressed up as Rachav from the Book of Joshua. Not all costumed students pictured.
ORDER “THE TORAH-TIMES” This is the best season for it… Breishis & Shmos!
www.TheTorahTimes.com (printed, bound and shipped via Amazon).
SUPPORT LOCAL KOSHER
6/7 GRADE GIRLS SHABBATON Our 6/7 grade girls enjoyed a Shabbaton at Shabbos House last weekend. They played games, had lots of conversations and even enjoyed a walk to campus in the lightly falling snow. It was the last Shabbos of UAlbany’s winter break before the students returned, but there was a handful of students around the Shabbos table on Friday Night and everyone shared something, including our girls.
HEBREW FAMILY TREES Morah Rivi’s 3rd grade Ivrit students are each making their own family trees, each person labeled with their Hebrew title (for father and grandmother, uncle or cousin etc). Timely for Tu Bishvat (Jewish New Year for Trees) when we highlight the verse: “Man is like a tree of the field”, hence family trees!
WALKING VS. RUNNING After a whole Talmud unit (Bava Kama 32a) on runner vs. walkers liability, and its rules and exceptions, 7th grade boys Talmud had a test on Wed, an ice-cream cookie Siyum on Thursday (see page 2) and then waxed philosophical today on Friday about applying this to life: Usually it is best to walk, progressing gradually one step at a time, but in some situations it’s good to take a leap, jump in, rush into it. And they each thought of examples of when each is approach is best. Good food for thought!
SHAPES BECOME FROGS Nursery made these adorable frogs (and the watery designs beneath) made up of shapes (one circle for the head, another for the body, add-on legs, google-eyes…) and their own frog free-drawing next to it. Look for frogs in this week’s Torah reading, jumping everywhere!
SPANISH SCHOOL SCHEDULE Ms. Coffey’s HS Spanish class are now each making their own daily school schedules including supply lists - using Spanish words!
CIVIL WAR: ENGLISH/HISTORY High School is now learning the Civil War in both their American History class as well as in English class where they are reading “The Red Badge of Courage”.
TRICKERY CHICORY 4th graders are learning the complex Dina and/in Shechem story in Chumash class, and they liked the word trickery, so Morah Rochel brought in similar sounding chicory for a hot drink treat. Chicory is also like trickery because it imitates coffee to some degree.
SHMONA ESRAY PARTY No details yet, but 3rd graders are already preparing for this milestone event. They have a great song in the works! Stay tuned...
Stop in to shop at the Colonie Kosher Price Chopper or call 518-456-2970 x8 to make a special order or find out about prepared meals. --------------------Kosher Dining on UAlbany’s Indian Quad (under Vaad supervision) is open for the semester and the community is welcome for lunch or dinner. Communal participation is helpful for the continuation of this important service.
SO WHICH ONE RUSTED FIRST? Last week’s MC newsletter reported on 3rd grade’s rust experiment where they put 6 items into 6 jars of water. The steel-wool rusted first! Why do you think that is?
HOT ICE EXPERIMENT HS Chemistry tried to make “hot ice” in chemistry lab but it didn’t work as expected. That’s science, too! Failed experiments or different outcomes than expected help us analyze, learn and explore further.
PRUDY’S PROBLEM 3rd graders read this story with Mrs. Maher about a girl who liked to keep everything, and the mess became uncontrollable and even exploded! But there was a solution…
YAHADUS TEST III IN 2 WEEKS The 3rd and final Chidon test is just 2 weeks from this Monday. We had less school time for this set to cover all the units. It’s important that students take time at home to review to be as ready as possible for this last test.
ESTY LIBRARY BOOKS Do you have Esty Library books at home? Please bring them back so other can read, too!
at Maimonides and in the Community 1/25: TODAY’S YARTZEITS Rabbi Hirschprung is featured on page 1, Marlene Aronson is remembered in the sponsorship box, our students also learned about Rabbi Shamshon Rafael Hirsch, whose yartzeit is also today.
1/25: KIDDUSH THIS SHABBOS We bless the new month of Shevat this Shabbos! Grand Kiddush this week at Shteeble by Michoel Caras in honor of his birthday. CBAJ has monthly Simcha Kiddush by Brenners, Gangs and Leifers.
1/25: RABBI REISMAN SAT NITE Rabbi Reisman’s Navi Shiur is screened live from Brooklyn now at 7:30pm on Sat Nights at CBAJ.
1/26: SPECIAL SUNDAY STUDY The Sunday Chassidus Shiur after Mincha/Maariv at Shomray Torah is changing for these few weeks. Instead of a shiur there’s Chavrusa study as part of a global effort to collectively study all of the Rebbe’s printed Torah before 10th of Shevat. Albany will do 32 units of study from the year of 5715 (195455) in a study-hall for this (or any other Torah study of your choice) these few Sundays, late afternoon/early evening after Mincha/Maariv.
Empire State Winter Games is held up in the Adirondacks. See more info, full schedule & costs at: empirestatewintergames.com/
1/31-2/9: SARANAC LAKE WINTER The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival dating back to 1897! (about 2.5 hours north of Albany) features winter games & activities & walk-in ice-castle! More details and info at: saranaclakewintercarnival.com/
2/1: PIZZA NITE IV
Rebecca Erbelding (archivist, curator, and historian at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, with a PhD in American history) will speak on her book “The Untold Story of America’s Efforts to 2/2: ANTIQUE SHOW AND SALE Save Jews of Europe” 6pm at Ohav Shalom at 44th annual, at the Shenendohowa High School on Jewish Federation Joint Society program. All are Rt 146 East in Clifton Park. $3pp, kids under 12 welcome. Info/Cost/RSVP: see JewishFedNY.org are free. 60 dealers and their goods on display. or call the Federation at: 518-783-7800. The first of February will be the 4th Pizza Night of the season. Sat Night at Maimonides.
2/4: IF ALL SEAS WERE INK Timely for Siyum HaShas & the buzz around Daf Yomi, CBAJ Book Club is reading this excellent memoir by Ilana Kurshan which creatively weaves Talmud tractates and teachings through her life. Read is on now, they meet on Feb 4th to discuss.
2/8: PAMELA SCHULLER AT J-FED
Comedian and advocate Pamela Rae Schuller will share comedic observations on disability, mental 1/26: FOX TROT AT PINE BUSH illness, dating, family, and past misadventures with Indoors presentation on the two types of foxes that honest confessions about what it’s like being 4 foot live in the local Pine Bush, followed by an outdoor 6 and having a whole lot of Tourette Syndrome. walk to find signs of these foxes. 1pm at the Pine See more at pamelacomedy.com. 7:30pm after Bush Discovery Center on Route 155. Registration Shabbat, free & open to community, at the Jewish is required. See albanypinebush.org or call 518-456- Federation, 184 Washington Ave Extension. 0655 for more info and to RSVP.
1/26: PJ LIBRARY STORY & CRAFT
2/9: HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
11am-12pm at the Albany JCC for kids ages 3-8 and their families.
Show mixes basketball and entertainment. Tickets start around $15 for 1pm game & show at TimesUnion Center. Doors open 12pm.
1/26: FREE DAY AT DIA:BEACON
2/9: “YES, AND” WORKSHOP
Dia:Beacon (in Beacon NY) is free to Hudson Valley residents (including Albany County) on the last Sunday of each month. Open 11am-4pm.
1/27: ROSH CHODESH SHEVAT One-day Rosh Chodesh. 8am Minyan at school.
1/29: RSVP BY TODAY FOR SPA CapitalChabad.com/Spa for $20 cost, goes up to $25pp after today. Spa event features pianist and composter Sarah Dukes and will be on Feb 9th.
1/30-2/2: EMPIRE WINTER GAMES Does your family enjoy watching winter sports? The
2/9: J-FED: HOLOCAUST EFFORT
2/10: TU BISHVAT BREAKFAST Kids look forward to this special breakfast of fruity cereals, fresh and dried fruits every year! Parents: If there are any tree nut allergies, please let the school know ahead of time.
2/10: YAHADUS/CHIDON TEST III This is the last of 3 qualifying tests for the Chidon but also great breath of Jewish knowledge, Chidon or not! Don’t leave studying for last minute!
2/13-17: FEBRUARY BREAK No school Thursday through Monday, Presidents Day. School resumes 8am on Tuesday 2/18.
2/17: MORAH ROCHEL 70TH BIRTHDAY On Monday evening, Presidents Day, there will be a 70th birthday celebration for Morah Rochel at school, men and women welcome. 7:30pm.
Pamela Rae Schuller will lead a creativity inclusivity 2/21: FEDERATION SCHOLARSHIPS Feb 21st is the deadline for the Northeast NY workshop for educators and community 12:45 to 1:45pm at Beth Emeth. More Info? Marci Galinkin Federation Scholarship applications for Jewish enrichment programs like overnight summer camp (518) 783-7800/mgalinkin@jewishfedny.org or academic programs for this coming year. See 2/9: WOMENS SPA, BODY & SOUL their website for info and application paperwork: jewishfedny.org/services/scholarships/ 15th year! 2-4pm at Shabbos House, co-sponsored by Jewish Women’s Connection of various local Jewish womens circles. This year look for a more condensed program, 2-4pm including a luncheon, activities & featured program. This year’s guest presenter is the talented Sarah Dukes, composer & pianist. Cost is $20pp ($25 after Jan 29) RSVP: capitalchabad.com/spa or 518-495-0779.
2/26: GIL TROY SPEAKS IN ALBANY The Jewish Federation hosts American History Professor Gil Troy of McGill University (now in Jerusalem) a presidential historian, Zionist activist, and author. He will be speaking on “Visions of a Jewish Homeland: Then, Now, Tomorrow.”
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL & COMMUNITY (Nursery / Elementary / High School) 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 maimonidesschool@gmail.com Founded in 1980, Maimonides is chartered by the NYS Board of Regents and is a JF-NENY Beneficiary “A Beautiful Blend: Torah & Worldly Experience!”