Maimonides Community

BH.

7 Adar I, 5774 / February 7, 2014

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 4:58 Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 6:01 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

This week’s newsletter is sponsored in honor of those recognized in the new local “Yoma” Daf Yomi film (to be screened this Sunday eve)

Yom Kippur War Veterans Ariel Sharon Shloshim Memorial  the Yom-Kippur Yartzeit of Dr. Bernie Teitelman  The Albany Daf Yomi  Maimonides 7th Graders now studying the new tractate Sukkah 

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THE NEW LOCAL “YOMA” FILM This Sunday after Maariv, a new short film by Michael Caras will be shown at CBAJ (a bit NOW INTO FIRST ADAR Adar is the Hebrew month of joy and this year past 5:30pm) featuring local veterans of the Yom-Kippur War, on its 40th anniversary, a we have two months of Adar! tribute to the late Ariel Sharon on the eve of  HS Girls baked 70 smile-cookies, each with a different, unique “face”. This represents the his Shloshim, and tidbits from the Daf Yomi studies on Talmud tractate Yoma (now being “70 Faces (facets) of Torah” and how each person is unique. They gave these cookies to completed), and even a glimpse into the Maimonides 7th grade studying tractate each student on the condition that they think of some way to “Pay It Forward!” and Sukkah, which Daf Yomi is now beginning.

(You can join Daf Yomi for daily Talmud do something for someone else to cheer them up and make them happy! See cookie study, early weekday mornings at CBAJ or weekends at Shomray Torah). pics and some of the actions our students pledged to do…

WHITE  The boys davening group has OUTSIDE, begun a lively Simcha dance regimen for the last minute or GREEN two of the davening time each morning.

INSIDE

WOMENS SPA EVENT THIS SUN! They may be some possibility of light snow in the forecast, but it will be warm & energizing inside the Shabbos House for this year’s 9th annual Spa event, with a live inspirational concert by Sarah Hecht, a gourmet luncheon with a salad bar, pasta bar and soup bar, and hands-on rejuvenating Spa treatments. Plus there will be a small auction with nice prizes.

Please note that this is a womens event, and not intended for middle school-age girls. See page 4 for more info and details. Drop off is available at Shabbos House, but please park nearby, preferably in the UAlbany Dutch Gold Student Lot. For more info contact Clara: 3648280 or Leah: 495-0779.

Outdoors it’s all white now, with snow everywhere!

Inside 1st grade these big green plants are growing, that started off as lima beans just a few weeks ago before Tu Bishvat. The kids are excited to see the sprout & grow, and happy to care for them. It’s also a metaphor: nurture living growth regardless of what’s out there!

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

ESTHER FINKELSTEIN, OBM Mrs. Finkelstein, a long-time member of CBAJ, served as synagogue secretary during the time when Maimonides was located at CBAJ (1980’s on Hackett Blvd & Federal Street). She was kind to our students & helpful to our teachers with copies and other office matters. Mrs. Finkelstein maintained a warm connection with our school, she contributed from time to time & asked that this newsletter be mailed to her home so she could follow the happenings.

REMEMBERING EUGENE WEISS A Holocaust survivor (saved his brother during the death march, from which many Rabbis come) and local real-estate developer supported causes in Israel including Laniado Hospital & Boys Town, and hosted Federation at Latham Circle. He was related to Klauzenberger Rebbe, active at Beth Israel in Schenectady, his grandkids go to Chabad Hebrew School Clifton Park

TOSEFOS & MEDIEVAL CASTLES Rabbi Rubin’s 8/9 Talmud class learned a Tosefos this week in COMMUNITY HELPERS tractate Shabbos 7b, about a small hole in a Mrs. Carroll’s first graders read a book titled wall that opens to a larger space just past the “Who Works Here?” and then each made hole and its ramifications for the laws of their own paper carrying and throwing on Shabbos. The puppets and wrote a students realized Tosefos (12th century) may HEBREW NAMES IN 3-D few lines about have been describing a defensive window in Kindergarteners wrote their names using different jobs in a medieval castles which had narrow slits or playdough, which has a 3-D tactile feel and is a small openings that had wider open spaces community, from different way to look at the form of the letters inside for castle defenders to sit inside and police officer to of your name. It’s a change from the pencil! plumber, fire-fighter shoot out arrows or other weapons. to chef.

NEW: KRAV MAGA w/MARC

SIDDUR PARTY PICTURES The first grade Siddur party was a while back, and we had some pictures in the “MC” newsletter then, but we just came across these pictures.

The good news is that these kids are still enthusiastic about the prayers that they learned and continue to sing them each day!

Thanks to Rob E. who has been doing KungFu classes with our students twice monthly since the beginning of the year. We now welcome Marc, a Krav Maga instructor who will teaching this Israeli form of military selfdefense martial arts to boys in grades 4+ twice each month.

Marc explained why some of these more practical techniques are unique to Israel, developed specifically for the IDF which has younger than average soldiers, and fewer are long-term career soldiers - most serve in the IDF for 3 years or less. He explained the difference between fancy moves and tournaments vs. practical self-defense, for what some other modern martial arts would consider advanced, Krav Maga deals with at beginner levels. For example, in Krav Maga, multiple attackers is not a remote possibility but something that’s expected. But remember: it’s ONLY used for self-defense, not for fighting!

STATES OF MATTER

The Volovik children were away in Israel withj their family for 3 weeks to celebrate Mendel’s Bar-Mitzvah. It’s great to have them back! We look forward to hearing them share some of the highlights of their meaningful and memorable trip and some of the amazing sights they saw and places they’ve been.

7th grade was learning this, and how it relates to heart health. Mendel V. shared with the class the recent story of his great-uncle who suffered a massive heart attack but amazingly miraculously survived after much intense medical care, despite dire medical predictions.

WHAT MAKES YOU

HAPPY? ASSORTED STUDENT RESPONSES

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6th grade Science is learning about States of Matter: how you get from solids to liquids and gases & reverse. Mesophase is the transitional phase between states of matter, and Rabbi Rabbi Mendel has a recent piece online about “MatzahBall as Mesophase” (search that online to see the idea) that has a nice life message.

WELCOME BACK VOLOVIKS

CHOLESTEROL AND CALORIES

GREAT WALL OF YOU AND ME It all started with a quote or two on a Post-It note, and now it’s a wall by 6/7 grade girls full of quotes that they found and liked, or their own thoughts. Why “You and Me?” Because it’s a nice way for each of the students to express themselves and share with each other, and be inspired and uplifted with these words.

4 5

FAMILY: Spending time with my family, playing sports or games with family, eating dinner with my whole family, speaking to a family member who is far away, having a newborn baby, I am happy when my parents are happy, going on family trips or outings, getting something new in the house.

ACTIVITIES: Painting makes me happy, reading a good book, singing, listening to music, being able to sleep-in on a school day, I’m happy at recess time, clowns make me happy, good food makes me happy, playing sports, relaxing after a long day, I was happy to learn how to read…

SOCIAL: Having a good friend, getting a compliment, having a good teacher, being included in sports even if I am not the best player, joyous occasions like weddings or births etc, I’m happiest when I help other people be happy too, hearing good news, having a play-date after school, getting treated, knowing that others care about me..

ACHIEVEMENT: I’m happy when I do well on a test, when I finish a project and I like it, when I do better at something than expected, when I try an idea or something a bunch of times and different ways and it finally works out.

MITZVOT: I feel happy when I can help someone out and be nice to them, I feel happy when I light the Shabbos candles, I was happy to start putting on Tefillin, I am happy when I know the Parsha and share it, all Mitzvot make me happy…

THE PRAYERBOOK BLUES Morah Devorah Leah’s morning Davening class learned this song by Moshe Yess obm & the Megama Duo in preparation for their upcoming Shmona-Esray party. As Moshe Yess says in the song: going back to school to learn, so he won’t have the prayerbook blues!

THE OREGON TRAIL Both 7th grade & High School are learning about the Oregon Trail in History class (albeit at different levels), the route, the aspirations, the Conestoga wagons, how people packed up their lives and belongings, and also watched a very sad film “The Donner Party” about how challenging the journey was and how desperate some people became in difficult situations.

This trail helped settle the west, and came after the famed Lewis and Clark expedition.

HAPPY ADAR FACE COOKIES HS gave each student one of these cookies at lunchtime for an Adar treat, from bake-sale at no charge. Well, there was a spiritual price-tag.

Each student pledged to do something that will make someone else happy. Here are some of the things the students pledged:  I’ll smile more often, so others will too!  Tell someone a funny joke.  Give someone a nice compliment.  Share something with a friend who is feeling down that day.  Not complain about my homework.  Greet everyone with a nice hello.  Say more positive things.  Say thank you more often, be appreciative.

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

4/5 did this project with Morah Chaya Bracha who explained (in connection with this week’s Parsha about the Kohain’s special clothing) that our spiritual clothing are our thoughts, speech and actions. Depending on how we talk or act, or even how we think, we’re “wearing” COOKIES IN SCIENCE HS brings in cookies each Wednesday for bake a different set of clothes! Each student made -sale (although this week Wed was a snow day). two people, one “wearing” positive clothing FRACTION FLAGS So Mrs. Sahay, their science teacher challenged and the other negative clothing. The kids came Mrs. Maher assigned each student a different them to find ways that cookies can be likened up with ideas of “clothing” styles for each. fraction for each of them to design a colorful to the different types of rock they are learning flag design based on that fraction. They are displayed on the wall outside their classroom. about in Earth-Science. Here’s some of what they came up with: Marble cookies (or cake) is metamorphic, because of the waves and forms ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP WARM that develop in such rock because of heat and Aharon Meir’s pressure. Rice-Krispy Treats are sedimentary APPS project wasn’t because they have layers that settle and are featured last week, LIGHT FROM DARKNESS squeezed together. For igneous rock formed but it’s a really from lava, they thought of frosted or glazed HS led Grades 2/3 in an art project using special one. He cookies for their melted effect. pastels on dark/black paper. The idea was to sewed his own “rice create something joyful and bright “coming bag” (see it in green out of the darkness” for the month of Adar. around his neck) which can be heated AMAZING up in an oven or CARTOON microwave, it keeps AT TANG its heat & can warm you for quite some MUSEUM AT time, especially if SKIDMORE you have an aching part of the body that needs Rabbi Abba went some heat. Aharon Meir got the idea from his to the Tang this Savta in Israel who sews hundreds of these week to hear a talk bags and donates them to the disabled and

by Ben Katcher, an elderly, for a little ease and comfort. award-winning

KOHAIN GADOL’S “CHOSHEN”

MEATBALLS & SPAGHETTI Rabbi Mendel taught HS a class this week titled: “The Inner Mystical Significance of Meatballs & Spaghetti”.

cartoonist and Nursery (dressed up in costume) and found this cartoon Kindergarten (holding their own replicas) both on display: It tells the story of when (1950’s) learned about the Kohain Gadol’s “Choshen” the Lubavitcher Rebbe jumped the fence for breastplate with the 12 gemstones of many Tashlich.

Locally, Bruce Lorence, remembers colors, from this week’s Parsha Torah reading. those Tashlich walks on Eastern Parkway.

at Maimonides and in the Community 2/7: ZAYIN (7TH OF) ADAR

2/12: WED BAKE SALE

Today is Moshe Rabbeynu’s birthday & yartzeit, but there’s some question if either or both should be commemorated in the first or 2nd Adar. Why not make mention & derive inspiration from both?

Especially since, this week’s Parsha “Tetzaveh” is the only Parsha since Moshe’s birth of Shmos, where Moshe is not mentioned by name, though he is alluded to in the very first word!

Each Wednesday during morning recess there is Bake Sale run by the HS Girls and a Cocoa Sale run by the 8/9 grade Boys. The HS girls have a tab option that parents can fill ahead of time & set rules such as one item, or under 50 cents per child, as you wish.

2/8: RABBI REISMAN’S CLASS

2/12: OLYMPICS, SPORT

is screened live 8pm at CBAJ on Sat Night. Note time change as Shabbos ends a little later. Rabbi Frand’s class is shown Thursday nights at 9pm.

Rabbi Lehrfield’s next adult-ed class is on this topic from a Jewish perspective. 7:45pm at CBAJ.

2/8: THE SUNDAY MAAMAR CLASS

2/15: PIZZA-NITE w/

Established on Simchas Torah, the Sunday afterMaariv short study of a Chassidic discourse continues each week at Shomray Torah/Shteeble.

SMALL TOUCHES

Why the “small touches” this time?

It’s Purim-Katan (the small Purim in Adar I). Stay tuned for details.

7:30pm at Maimonides’ Nathan’s 2/9: CONCERT AT WOMENS SPA 9th annual Spa for the Body and Soul! Look for an Kitchen. All proceeds go to the Maimonides High school extrauplifting concert this year, with a dynamic young curricular activities and end-of-year new Jewish singing sensation Sarah Hecht, in trip. For more info or to order/get addition to the annual luncheon (salad bar, soup complete menu email: bar and pasta bar, plus desserts) and healthy and rejuvenating spa treatments - for women by women. bnoschayaprograms@gmail.com This year the event will held at Shabbos House.

(Drop off is available at Shabbos House, but please 2/17: NO SCHOOL PRESIDENTS DAY park nearby, preferably at the nearby UAlbany Dutch Student/Gold Lot). $20pp (prepaid by Feb 2/20: SHMONE-ESRAY PARTY 5th), $25 at door, $36 sponsor and $54 patron.

9am, for grades 2-3 and their families, and anyone For info call: Leah 495-0779 or Clara: 364-8280. who’d like to celebrate this milestone as they have

2/9: TIMES UNION HOME SHOW 10am-5pm at Times Union Center and Empire State Plaza. $8 online, $10 at the door. Look it up for details. Mostly vendors, booths, exhibits with some kids entertainment. Children 13 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Maybe something to do with kids on a winter afternoon when the women are enjoying the Spa event?

2/9: DAF YOMI “YOMA” SIYUM & YOM-KIPPUR WAR MEMORIES Program will feature a short film being produced at Maimonides with Michael Caras and Rabbi Rubin, interviewing IDF veterans about their personal experiences in Israel’s Yom-Kippur War - 40 years since. Screened approx 5:40pm (after Maariv) at CBAJ as part of a special Talmud Siyum on tractate Yoma (about Yom-Kippur), reflecting on 40 years since the Yom-Kippur War and the recent passing of General (later PM) Ariel Sharon, at the time of his Shloshim. A light meal will be served.

become comfortable and familiar with the words and blessings in the daily morning Amidah.

2/24: WOMENS BEIT MEDRASH This month on the topic of Purim, with presenter Mrs. Devora Leah Mathless. 8pm at Maimonides.

The class is geared to all levels and backgrounds of learning. For more info contact Leah Rubin at 4950779 or jwc@capitalchabad.com

3/1: R’ MOSHE RUBIN 18 YARTZEIT A special Sat Night Melava Malka will be held at the school to remember Reb Moshe Rubin, his songs and stories, his warmth and special flavor, on the evening of his 18th yartzeit.

3/7: J-FED ENRICHMENT GRANTS The Jewish Federation’s enrichment grants for children and teens at summer sleepaway camps, Israel programs or other Jewish enrichment etc are due on Friday March 7th. See school office for application forms or contact the Federation.

“MC” IN YOUR EMAIL You can get this “MC” newsletter in fullcolor each week to your email inbox.

Perhaps a family member or friend may enjoy it as well. Subscribe for free by contacting our school office 453-9363 or emailing: maimonidesschool@gmail.com

THE SHANGHAI MIRACLE Preview the documentary trailer and support the production effort at:

http://igg.me/at/shanghaidocumentary or speak to Rabbi Rubin 423-4103.

GIRLS’ OWN ADAR DANCING On Thursday this week, the girls did their own (supervised) lively “free-dance” in the spirit of the joyous month of Adar. We are proud of their initiative & skill, easy-going flexibility, talent and energy!

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!”