Maimonides Community

BH THURS, Kislev

Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org

produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

29, 5773 / Dec 13, 2012

Candle-Lighting:

4:04 Shabbos Ends:

5:10

This newsletter is dedicated in honor of

SEE SPECIAL “MC” CHANUKAH MIDWAY SUPPLEMENT It would be too much to squeeze it all into just 4 pages, so in addition to this regular weekly “MC” newsletter, there’s a 2-page supplement this week with prize-winners, photos and reports from the “Chanukah Midway” Raffle-Auction & Dinner event on the 4th night of Chanukah. Thanks to all who made it a wonderful success and enjoyable evening!

Yaakov Backman’s Engagement to Chana Miriam Stone And in appreciation of his mother Sharona’s dedication in the School Office assisting administration, teachers & students in so many ways!

MAZAL TOV ITKIN FAMILY Rabbi AB and Binie Itkin had a baby girl this past weekend, what a nice Chanukah present!

They named her Chana at the Maimonides Minyan on Monday morning.

MAZAL TOV BACKMANS on the announcement of MHDS alumnus Yaakov Backman’s engagement to Chana Miriam Stone. Mazal Tov to Avremi & Sharona and the Backman family! Yaakov’s brother Efraim is getting married IYH at the end of this month to Devorah Leah Eisenberg.

WELCOME BACK MORAH EVE DREIDELS ‘N DOUGHNUTS

Nursery students made their own minidoughnuts (“Sufganiyot” without jelly) from MAZAL TOV KRAMERS ingredients to batter, placing the batter in the on the birth of a baby boy (Bris IYH this doughnut maker/oven (as Nachman Areyh is Friday) to Sholom and MHDS alumna Kaila doing here), and waiting for theirs to brown (Chanowitz) Kramer. and get ready for icing and sprinkles. In the interim they played Dreidel (Leah gets a good MAZAL TOV TO BEV SHOR spin going on her orange Dreidel) and learn on the birth of a granddaughter to her son about patience. They are very excited for their Adam and wife Audrey in Florida. Simchas are performance on stage today (pics next week). especially sweet after a loss (Bev just got up from Shiva for her sister).

MAIMONIDES

MAZAL TOV GOLDSTEINS MHDS alumnus Hershel Goldstein (son of Rivka and Zev) and his wife Chaya Mushka had a baby girl this week. They live in Monsey.

ROSENBERG CONDOLENCES Condolences to Stanley and Margie Rosenberg on the passing of Stan’s mother Eleanor. Shiva continues after Shabbos at her home at Ohav Shalom Ap artments #511, Saturday through Monday evenings, 6:30-8pm.

404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

Eve Cameron is our talented and energizing Israeli dance teacher, we missed her while she was away in Israel for the past few weeks. She came back this week and the girls got right back into it… Morah Eve also took some time to share with our students about being in Israel during Amud Anan Pillar of Defense when rockets were flying from Gaza. She described the protective rooms they had to run to when rocket alarms sounded. She gave each girl a souvenir bag with rocks she collected in Jerusalem and sand from Tel-Aviv beaches.

TWELVE ON 12/12/12 Guess what happened on 12/12/12 in the 5th grade?

Rabbi Rubin tested them on their Chumash studies about the 12 Sons of Jacob as the brothers were reunited for the first time after many years in Parshas Vayigash.

WWW.TORAHPALACE.COM Play the online game and quiz for a chance to win prizes of Jewish books and Judaica! The Chanukah game will be up until Tevet 24, so you have time after Chanukah as well.

WIN OR LOSE... AND DREIDELS 5th graders each chose a Chanukah topic (oil, Hallel, Dreidel etc) to make a presentation on, using pictures, text, drawings… Shaina is holding up her poster on Dreidels for a TNT photographer (her fellow classmate) and it so happens that she is standing underneath a sign about good sportsmanship that reads “You Win or Lose” - what a good Dreidel message!

NURSERY REACHES THE TOP Every day the Nursery Morahs assign two students to help everyone give Tzedakah. One student hands out coins (parents are welcome to send in penny-rolls) and the partnering student holds the Tzedakah box for all his/her classmates to put the pennies in. This week they filled their Tzedakah box to the very top.

And they can’t wait to reach the top again!

A HORSE’S SHADOW Mrs. Levin gave each of her art students an animal (horse, wolf etc) and had them try to sketch their outlines on paper using their animals as the model.

THE BENTSCHING AUCTION

Morah Devorah Leah gives out coupons for students who do a great job with Birkat HaMazon (grace after meals) aka bentsching, and every few months there is a prize auction (this time there were 5 nice prize packages set up on stage) for students to use their coupons HALLEL CHAZZANIM and win! As an intro they watched a Mendy Chanukah is the only time we Pellin video clip about his memorable, moving say whole Hallel at school (the and funny visit to a home-bound Jew named other times are holiday days Norbert/Noach (on his 90th birthday!) in when school is not in session). Eli W. and Calev E. were the Chazzanim leading the Boys Pasendena CA and helped him light the Davening for the “repeat-after-me” Hodu and Menorah. All students also enjoyed a delicious brew of iced-tea lemonade at the assembly.

Ana Hashem segments.

EDIBLE CHANUKAH IN KINDERGARTEN Many grades did some cooking (or frying!) in honor of Chanukah, but Kindergarteners did a lot with Morah Dini! They grated potatoes (see them working on the Rib-Ayzen hand-graters on left) and made Latkes from scratch (see them sizzling away on an electric skillet above), they made their own doughnuts and glazed them, and (above right) are patiently and eagerly watching fresh hot yummy popcorn pop right out of the popper into a bowl. More than just delicious fun, it’s also a way to learn processes, patience, teamwork, fine-motor skills, payback on effort, the effects of a little seasoning, and a bunch of other valuable and critical life lessons.

CHANUKAH PERFORMANCES

“ESTY LIBRARY” SET-UP AND DEDICATION

Mrs. Leah Hecht is pictured here with the 5th graders as they put library pockets in the back These kids are up on stage practicing for the covers of books and dedication labels in the front of the books. Thanks to her efforts, more Thursday morning (today’s) Chanukah than 120 (!) new books were already purchased as a jump-start for our new library, and they performances. They love singing! This “MC” (and other classes) sorted through stacks and stacks of English-language Jewish books that our newsletter has to be ready on Thursday, too, school already has (quite a few!) and kept on the shelves books in good condition, appropriate so we won’t have pictures of their actual for our students (of various reading levels). We are still finalizing the lending process. We hope performances until next week. Note the new to be able to get a digitized computer (and scanner) lending system which would be ideal. The “The Esty Library” sign above the bookcase.

The new library was dedicated on the night of older kids were delighted to see books of all age levels, even for them! Students in TNT are Midway Chanukah and the raffle-auction. The interested in starting a weekly “Book Review” column in the “MC” newsletter… lots of interest! two bookshelves on the left are now filled with TEHILLIM PRAYERS NEEDED excellent reading for kids, and we hope to “Yosef Yitzchak ben Chaya Luba” is a uncle of soon implement an organized lending-library a family in our school and one of our HS girls system for the kids to use and enjoy. worked for him during the summer. He suffered a severe heart-attack earlier this THE WAVE Chanukah and his family and friends around 6th graders are now reading “The Wave” about a high-school social studies teacher who the world are praying for his recovery. uses a class experiment to explain how a whole country like Germany could go along with all PARTY AT R’ MATHLESS’ HOUSE 6th graders enjoyed jelly doughnuts, chips and those terrible things. Then the classroom salsa and a pass-the-paper-around game that experiment gets out of control… every time the music stopped you had to answer a question at the Siyum/Chanukah party at Rabbi Mathless’ house on South Lake Ave, 10 minutes walk from school. They tried to spin as many Dreidels at once (each person kept a few going) - not as easy as they thought.

HOMO VS. HETERO-GENEOUS Mrs. Sahay’s 6th grade science learned about two types of mixtures: Heterogeneous (parts remain distinct) and Homogeneous (all parts blend together as one). They had a party and students brought foods that represent either type: fruit-salad (hetero), soda (homo), trailDAD’S LITTLE HELPER That’s what it says on his shirt, and that’s what mix (hetero) and so on… This is also relevant little Mendel S. likes to be! He enjoys dress-up in social studies as there are two theories on how diverse religious and ethnic groups come in Nursery, and below his right elbow is a together in America: is it the Melting Pot? or a picture-sign about praying in Shul! big Salad-Bowl? These 2 types of blending or unity are also reflected in two inspirations for POLINOMIAL FUNCTIONS Ahavas Yisrael (love of one’s fellow) found in Algebra II/Trig students in HS are learning Tanya 32 (re: the inner-soul-core which we all how to graph math equations using tools like share) or Derech Mitzvosecha (we are all parts degrees, roots, conjugates, and an shortcut of one body, interdependent on each other). using the exponent of the highest number…

SPONSOR A NEW BOOK? These books are not on our shelves yet, and can be sponsored for the prices listed. Contact Leah Hecht or school office for more info or to pick up this “not-yet-sponsored-books” flyer.

SO MANY CHANUKAH EVENTS! Our students participated in so many communal events, whether it was the tallest local Menorah, the one made of Lego or Ice, and all the fun activities, shows and crafts… our HS visited the Capitol, met Jews at Crossgates… there’s not enough space this week for reporting and photos, maybe next week!

at Maimonides and in the Community 12/14: CHANUKAH WEEKEND

12/22: PIZZA NITE II

No School Friday, for extended Chanukah Wknd.

The 8th Chanukah light is on Sat Night, and the holiday festivity ends on Sunday afternoon. The 8th day is known as “Zos Chanukah!”

The first pizza-night was a great success, the HS got lots of positive feedback on the improved, speedy service, and new offerings! Look for updates!

12/14: ROSH CHODESH TEVET

12/24-27: HALF-DAY AM ONLY Monday through Thursday, AM Judaic classes only at Maimonides. Stay tuned for some special activities on these days. Send snack but no lunch (see below: Tuesday 12/25 will be different).

Thursday night into Friday is Rosh Chodesh. We add Yaaleh v’Yavo and Al HaNissim in both the Amidah and Bentsching, and at Minyan we sing full Hallel and add Musaf. There won’t be school so older kids are encouraged to try and make it to a 12/25: ACTIVITY DAY AT SCHOOL morning Minyan (6:30am at CBAJ or 8am at Tuesday’s half-day AM will include special themed Shomray Torah) to get the full deal! activities including a “Sefer-Breishis” Carnival with lunch-time & soup-of-the-week. Tuesday’s dismissal 12/15: R’ ELAZAR OF MODI’IN will be 12:45pm. Parents of children in other Modi’in is the birthplace of the Maccabees and schools who wish their child(ren) to join that plays a big role in the Chanukah story. Rabbi morning should contact the school office.

Rubin will speak about a teaching of R’ Elazar HaModiai (from Modi’in) on Shabbos morning at 12/28-1/1: EXTENDED NEW YEARS Shomray Torah before Torah reading, followed by No school for an extended New Years weekend, an after-Musaf Kiddush. from Friday 12/28 through Tuesday, January 1st.

School resumes at 8am on Wednesday Jan 2nd.

12/15: T.C.N. CLASSES AT CBAJ

Screened live at the CBAJ Luchins Media Center, Rabbi Reisman’s Navi lecture Sat 7:30pm. Rabbi Yissachar Frand Parsha class is Thursdays at 9pm.

12/26-30: JGR WINTER RETREAT

Jewish girls ages 8-15 at Dunham’s Bay Resort in Lake George, Dec 26th to Dec 30th. This year’s theme: “Hidden Treasures Within” with creative 12/15: DELMAR CHANUKAH writing, art, crafts, drama, choir & dance. Schedule Annual Chanukah party & celebration 7:30pm at includes tubing, bonfire, swimming, performing the Simons, 109 Elsmere Ave in Delmar. 439-8280. arts, yoga, crafts, talent show and DJ nite. Girls are expected from far and near. A project of YALDAH Media, Inc. and Chabad of S. Rensselaer County.

12/15: CBAJ & HACD CONCERT Live concert led by Rabbi Rami Strosberg hosted by Info? JewishGirlsRetreat.net or call: 727-9581.

CBAJ & HACD at CBAJ. Doors open 6pm, begins 12/31: CONCERT & NIGHT-OUT 6:30pm. Advance tickets are: $10pp, $45 max per family; at door: $15pp/$60 per family - includes Shloime Kaufman will be back for a concert and dinner. Call CBAJ 489-5819 or online at: cbaj.org. dinner at CBAJ. RSVP $30pp, $15pp. Concert only: $20pp, $10 child. Call Shul Office; 489-5819.

12/16: WIESENTHAL DIRECTOR The Jewish Federation hosts Mark Weitzman, the director of Task Force against Hate & Terroism at the Wiesenthal Center to speak on “Growing AntiSemitism Worldwide - and what we can do about it” at Temple Israel, 7:15pm light dinner (by Saati), 8pm talk. $20 prepaid, $25 at door, Age 22-40: $10 pre-paid. Call 783-7800 for RSVP/info.

12/16: F.C. CHANUKAH BOWL Annual event for for children w/special needs & families and FC volunteers, 3-4:30pm at Del-Lanes in Delmar. Call 438-4220 for info. This is the last local communal Chanukah event of 5773, your final opportunity for some festivity and flavor!

1/7: WOMENS BEIS MEDRASH 8pm at Maimonides. Call Leah 495-0779 for info.

1/13/13: SPA FOR BODY & SOUL Save the date for this annual womens communal event, with an inspiring speaker, delicious luncheon and hands-on workshops, held once again in Clifton Park. Call Leah 495-0772 or Clara 439-8280 for more information or to volunteer.

1/27: FED’S “SUPER-SUNDAY” Jewish Federation’s annual fundraising phone-athon date. Volunteers needed - this helps fund our school’s allocation. Parents, be in touch with the school office if you can sign up a shift that Sunday.

MAIMONIDES SCHOOL (Nursery / Elementary / High School) & COMMUNITY 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!”

Time is Running Out! MATCHING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW DAY-SCHOOL DONORS PEJE (Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education) and the Jewish Funders Network is offering a one-time match for school donors contributing $10K who have not previously given more than $2,000 to a Jewish day school.

This matching program runs through January 15, 2013 or until funds are maxed out. This Chanukah, as we strike the match to light the Menorah, please consider this match opportunity, or reach out to someone who may have the means and desire to invest in the Jewish future, today! Chanukah literally means dedication, it shares the same root as Chinuch (children’s education). Maimonides is that miraculous little cruise of oil that could! Please contact Rabbi Rubin 423-4103 with any questions/ interest regarding this special opportunity.

Kislev 29, 5773 Thurs, Dec 13, 2012 BH

WHY THE “MIDWAY” THEME? mid· way adverb, adjective 1. in the middle of the way or distance; halfway. noun 2. a place or part situated midway.

3. the place or way, at a fair or carnival where sideshows or amusements are located.

This year’s Chanukah event was on the 4th night of Chanukah, midway through the holiday.

THEMED DINNER BY KOCHMANS In that spirit our Raffle-Auction event, dinner and Once again R’ Shmuel & Morah Rivka Kochman Chanukah celebration had a “Midway” theme. prepared a unique and delicious dinner at “Nathan’s Kitchen” matching the evening theme, with foods right off the Midway including corndogs, fries, peppers-onion & meat that made an great sandwich on sub rolls, salad & doughnuts...

MIDWAY “POPCORN” MENORAH In 2009 we did a Half-Moon Menorah for Henry Hudson, in 2011 a Penny-Menorah, and this year a “Popcorn-Menorah” to fit the Midway theme.

Rabbi Mirsky led the Brachos, and the four candles were lit by R’ Moshe Losice, Mr. Sandy Rosenblum, Mr. Sam Candib (who made many new electrical tops for the public Menorahs) and Mr. Norman Mann of Saratoga (who graduated Torah v’Daas just as Moshe Losice came there).

KIDS MIDWAY ENTERTAINMENT Our 7/8 graders twisted balloons into hats, flowers and animals; juggled balls; did magic tricks and card tricks; ran a “Guess How Many Dreidels” & a few carnival games - all in the big room with all the prize packages set-up, until the program portion started in the back room, with the Popcorn Menorah lighting, dedication of the library, and the excitement of 27+ prize drawings & winners!

A - IPad (IV) Norman Kudan B - Laptop Computer Sara Kudan C - Beautify Home Leah Ehrenpreis D - Breakfast Special Shmuly & Laiky Rubin E - Living Torah Pinny Kievman F - Silver Spectacular Alan Auerbach G - Healthy Food Devorah Kaufman H - Shabbos Package Shechtman Family I - Games Galore Ethel Kagan J - Sleep in Comfort Marc Gronich K - Fast Food Vicky O’Brien L - Dress-Up Maxine Morgenbesser M - Tablet Plus Vicky O’Brien N - Kitchen Gadgets Levi Jacobson O - Set Out to Saratoga The Plotkins of LA P - Judaica Package: Michoel and Leah Caras Q - Chanukah Party Vicky O’Brien R - All-Set Benjamin Zaientz S - Camping Out Deena Kuperman T - Time for Him & Her Carol Simon U - Wood Toys Mendy & DL Mathless V - Super-Clean Maxine Morgenbesser W - GPS Garmin Vicky O’Brien X - Digital Camera Debbie Green Strosberg Y - Keep Talking Mrs. Mathless Z - Multi-Media Abba & Raizel Rubin ? - Mystery #1 Seiko Watch Sid & Debbie Stark ? - Mystery #2 iPod Nano Hershel Graubart Special - Split-the-Pot $635 Rosemary Levin

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORT US!  

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These local businesses contributed to this year’s Raffle-Auction (to be sent out soon).

Modern Carpet Co on Broadway, Albany Wolberg Electric on Industrial Park Rd  Party Warehouse on Fuller Road  Mt Pleasant Bakery in Schenectady  Brickman Produce in Menands  A Silver Breeze Wilton & Aviation  Zen Again Spa, Spa & Turf Motel, Saratoga Inn & Saratoga Guitar.  Lapiner Bros supply in Menands  Colonial Cleaners on N. Allen St  Yaldah Magazine (the publisher lives here now!)  R’ Mendel Serebryanski, local Sofer Thanks to these web/out--of-town businesses who have been very supportive:  1saleaday.com huge thanks to them for donating several prize packages!

Shadora.com discounted Jewelry Drimmers.com based in Brooklyn NY DrimmersHousewares.com NerArtGallery.com Fine Judaic Art Natural & Kosher Cheese (by Anderson) Keurig Coffee Makers JEMstore.com Rebbe Videos etc.

Tribes-a-Dozen specialty bread-mixes DailySteals.com Benzsfish.com Gefilte Fish +other products KosherMeatStore.com Ruthie’s Unique Boutique in Monsey Ancient Harvest Quinoa Raw Revolution Live Food Bars Levana’s & Divine Kosher Cookbooks Vital Choice Sea Food Happy Family Organic Foods HaChai Publishing quality kids books Step-it-Up-123 Jewish D.D.R.

A huge thank-you to all the school families who donated prize packages, or solicited them, who sold tickets to friends and family... all these efforts helped make this year’s Raffle -Auction a wonderful success! Everyone is truly a winner for supporting Jewish education and the children at Maimonides!

APPS PROJECTS: MEANINGFUL MIDWAY MESSAGES ON DISPLAY In keeping with the evening’s Midway theme, our 6-8 “APPS” (stands for application of concepts, a monthly project in middle-school) students designed posters highlighting various aspects of a Midway and life-lessons or Torah applications to be learned from them.

They did a great job and added much meaning to the Midway theme! Here are a few of the lessons: An Unicycle teaches us to keep moving so we can keep balance; The Ferris Wheel tells people at the top not too be too arrogant, and people on the bottom to keep hope; The Dart-Board says stay-focused and keep on target; The Ducks Game says to keep reloading and trying and not give-up; Coke is sweet and refreshing as Torah is - and it rushes to the top just as Mitzvos should be overflowing; Clowns are not afraid to dress different and they bring people joy; Cotton-Candy is sweet like Torah, and you make it using Dreidel spinning technology, it also sticks to you, just as we should stick to Torah; Balloons represent the effort to rise upward and to stay wholesome and complete; Popcorn is like davening as the heat (warmth) gets it going; a Roller-Coaster tells us to keeping going forward despite ups & downs!