Maimonides Community

BH. Iyar

12, 5775 / May 1, 2015

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 7:37 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 8:43 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

This MC Newsletter is dedicated in appreciation to those who contributed towards the cost of the Lag B’Omer Parade and Learning, a special Zechut in memory of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai!

MORE THAN FUN AND GAMES

MATZAH THAT FOILED A PLOT

Our Nursery/Preschool students enjoy a lot of free-play and fun activities, but they also learn a great deal! In both Hebrew subjects with Morah Rivka, General Studies with Mrs. Hoffman, both assisted by Morah Rimma, they are learning so much, through crafts & storytime, Parsha and holiday learning, books and projects! The Circle-Time above is their daily ABC ritual with Mrs. Hoffman, they first sing it aloud as a group and then individual students come up to point out the letters on the colorful chart.

This Sunday is “Pesach Sheini” 2nd Passover for those who missed it the first time. So it is a good time hear this story on YouTube about how Shmurah Matzah foiled a Hamas terror tunnel plot! Search online for: “The Passover Matzah that foiled a Hamas Tunnel Plot”.

To sponsor this MC Newsletter in honor of a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, please call the school office 453-9363/maimonidesschool@gmail.com

ISRAELI SALAD AT OHAV APTS

BIG TOUR OF ISRAELI CITIES AND A FELAFEL LUNCH! KOREN REP VISITS SCHOOL Many may remember that Koren Publishers graciously donated a full set of Hebrew Steinzaltz Talmud to our school’s RaffleAuction last year, won by Yitzchak Krimmer.

This week, a Koren representative came by to show and share some of recent publications, including a vibrantly clear and illustrative youth and children’s Siddur, and some Talmudic materials, too. Rabbi Rubin and the HS Boys explored the unique style of Rabbi Steinzaltz (now being published by Koren) as well as the distinctive Koren font, and careful attention to grammatical accuracy.

NEW BOOKSHELVES A closed public school was being rehabbed into a new use and the firm doing it asked Federation if anyone could use the quality bookshelves from that school’s library. Look for some new (to us) bookshelves going in at several spots around school in the near future.

See page 2 for some of the 7 poster-boards made by various classes about different cities in Israel, from Tzfat and Teverya (Tiberias was pictured in last week’s MC newsletter) in the north to Beer Sheba and Eilat in the south.

And everyone enjoyed a delicious felafel lunch (remember the huge tub of Israeli salad made by 7th graders, pictured in last week’s MC?) with pita, tehina, with themed cups and flags in honor of Israel’s 67th birthday.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

Last Friday our HS Girls visited with seniors at Ohav Shalom Apartments where they made and enjoyed deliciously fresh Israeli salad together. Guess what publication is right there on the table? Yes, they enjoy reading our MC Newsletter as well!

BUT FUN & GAMES MATTER! Lest the first article on this page be misunderstood, here’s a photo of happy first graders playing Mancala (an ancient game) during free time.

LAG B’OMER: PARENT DRIVERS NEEDED As our school no longer has a van, we need volunteer parent drivers to help transport our youngest students who can’t walk the whole parade. Please call the office 453-9363 as early as Monday to let us know if you can drive. Nursery and Kindergarten parents: We must have car-seats for that day.

TOUR OF ISRAEL’S CITIES 7 poster-boards were decorated with facts and photos and both historical and contemporary details about cities in Israel. Top left: 1st graders with their Jerusalem poster. Top right: 2nd graders poster of Tzfat, which they dubbed (after their research) “The Ancient, Holy, Artsy City of Stairs”. Above left: Morah Rivi and 5/6 present on sunny seashore vacation-y Eilat. Above Middle: 3/4 did theirs on Hebron - City of the Patriarchs, about Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel, & Baruch Nachshon’s artwork. Above right: Tel-Aviv is a very busy city and so is this poster by 7th grade.

Left: Beer-Sheva by HS Girls with a textured-paper Palm tree.

The paper-airplane symbolizes the large IDF air-force base there.

TZEDAKAH FOR NEPAL

MODEL OF ISRAEL’S NEGEV Morah Aviva and the Kindergarteners made this model of the Negev from scratch, using sand and handmade camels and accessories around a refreshing oasis.

MAGICAL MIDOS CANDY SHOP This period of Sefirat HaOmer is a time for character development and improvement.

Each Friday Morah Aviva’s puppets made an imaginary candy shop of delicacies, and each week focuses on a different emotional treat.

LETTERS TO INJURED SOLDIERS For Israel’s Yom HaZikaron, Morah Aviva’s Kindergarteners wrote letters (now enroute to Israel) thru the “Brothers for Life” program.

FUEL THE (SCHOOL) PARADE! We may not have a school van now, but the parade marches on! It’s a major Mitzvah to support year-round education, and a special merit on Lag B’Omer, especially for the key blessings that many take for granted and that others yearn for. Speak to Rabbi Rubin or give online: www.tinyurl.com/MaimonidesPayPal.

A FIERY LAG B’OMER

Morah Rochel and the Girls davening group Nursery glued broken are dedicating this month’s Tzedakah to the popsicle sticks and rescue efforts in Nepal after the devastating red tissue paper to earthquake that took 5000+ lives (!!) and create a bonfire for affected so many others. Chabad.org/Nepal Lag B’Omer on has info on how to help Cheski & Chanie paper. To experience Lifshitz who are doing incredible work there, the real thing, there is a bonfire planned as literally rescuing people, being a haven and part of Chabad/JCC/Federation’s JEWNITY refuge, serving thousands of meals… truly a event Thursday afternoon 4:30-7pm at JCC. herculean task, especially under the very challenging circumstances. Their own children were sent back to Israel for the time being, and LAG B’OMER “JEWNITY” Israel’s President Ruvi Rivlin welcomed them ART CARD CONTEST for a visit into the Beit HaNasi, gave them Take a large index card (measuring 8 inches wide chocolate, and was very sweet with them.

TZEDAKAH REMINDER Kids, please remember to bring coins each morning for Tzedakah.

The Talmud extols the spiritual value of daily giving, even if only a small amount.

IDF’S NEPAL FIELD HOSPITAL Israel sent an IDF humanitarian mission to Nepal with 260 people including doctors, medics and search dogs, 95 tons of equipment (ranging from medical X-ray machines to generators, & rubble cutting machines) to assist with search and recovery from the earthquake in Nepal.

and 5 inches high) and design/draw/etc any message or illustration about Jewish Unity.

Submit these to your school (in this case Maimonides Office, or any local school can join) and each school will bring these to the JCC, where they will be displayed as a big wall of cards at the Lag B’Omer event co-sponsored by area Chabad Centers and the JCC, and judged for prizes! It’s not too early to start thinking about it and working on it!

They are due May 4th.

5 BENEFITS OF

SHTETL ON THE MOHAWK As part of the “Better Together” program, Dr. Harvey Strum, a professor at Sage College, will speak to our HS students this coming Monday 10:30am about Jewish history in Schenectady.

BANNER PAINTING FOR THE LAG B’OMER PARADE

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TEAMWORK: It’s not so easy to work on a banner with a bunch of people, each with their own ideas, talents and painting styles.

Some groups work better together than others but all managed to make it work. It was a great opportunity to learn to give space to individuals yet work together as a team, make sure not to insult other people’s work and find each person what they are most skilled at, to help one another. Even before a drop of paint was put onto the sheets (and thanks Mrs. Carroll and Morah Rochel for the sheets and tablecloths) groups had to discuss their ideas, and come to a consensus so they could get started!

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CLEANING-UP: Classes had specific slots when they could work on this, so they had to get right to work, and clean-up too, before heading back to their next class or lunch recess. And they had to work carefully so as not to drop paint on existing work, or get themselves (even with smocks) and the floor too messy. After each paint session the paintbrushes had to all be washed out, and the mixed paint cups covered. Cleaning up was no easy job and it took time, but it had to be done. That was an important message learned!

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VISUALIZING AN IDEA: This year’s Lag B’Omer theme focuses on the life and teachings of Rabbi Akiva, from the lesson he learned from the water droplets, to the tiara he wished for his wife, to how he and his son studied in the same class, to the parable of the fox and the fish, how he went in and out OK from the Pardes, and how he taught that all people are made in G-d’s image… and more! Some of these are a little more difficult to portray in a painted banner. It took some thought but we did it!

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BIG PICTURE: When painting up close you notice all the imperfections and problems, but when you take a step back and see it from a distance (as banners are viewed) it often looks much better. Often, seeing the big picture (or whole person) in life helps us see things differently.

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DEALING WITH MISTAKES: Even if drafting in pencil, working in paint means that you will make mistakes. First of all, you learn that not all mistakes are so terrible, its usually not such a big deal. Another good thing about paint is that once it dries, you can paint again right over it and fix it! As Pesach Sheini teaches us: there’s always a second chance and a way to fix things!

EQUAL OR UNEQUAL These mathematical concepts are getting introduced at earlier ages now. First graders did this shape-sets project with Mrs. Carroll.

Are the sets equal, or is there greater-than and less-than? And which is the greater-than, which HAVE YOU MET A MONSTER? is the less-than?

First graders made these Monsters and they hanging right outside their classroom.

LESS REPORTING THIS WEEK

Most of our TNT classes (when students report on their studies & school activities etc for this weekly MC Newsletter) were used as banner painting times, so we had much less time for student TNT reporting this week. The usual Wed-Thursday TNT reporting days next week may also be Lag B’Omer busy, but we look forward to getting back to regular reporting after that!

“...TION” IN SPELLING Second graders learned how to spell a whole bunch of words that end in TION. How many can you think of?

COMMAS, Second graders are also learning how to use commas in grammar. Commas can be quite tricky, even adults often don’t get them right.

“TIA LOLA CAME TO STAY”

3/4 grade read this story about an aunt who comes to visit her nephew and they discover TRANSLATION FAUX-PAX something very interesting about the landlord, We mentioned this in last week’s MC with the because Tia Lola has a special way to finding intergenerational Torah reading, but forgot to the good in people. include this humorous story. Rabbi Mathless called Parkview Apartments to see if there was response from the residents to the Russian flyer they posted for the Torah Reading. The lady said the phone had been ringing off the hook! It turns out they used an online translating feature to make the flyer and for some odd reason “Lox” was translated into Russian as “Liquid Oxygen”! That sure got people’s attention, they were quite curious…

SHAVUOS TALMUD IN MS. P.P. Why can’t adults be kidding? Because kidding is only for kids!

What’s a good chapter of Tehillim to say when you are thirsty? Mizmor L’Soda! (That’s the 30th chapter of Psalms about Thanksgiving).

What has four heads and eight arms? A person, with a forehead and two forearms!

What does a flower say after an accident? Oopsy Daisy!

How do you greet someone on the 49th day of the Omer? “Hey Sivan!” (because its on the fifth - Hey in Hebrew - of the month of Sivan).

Rabbi Shmuly’s Mishna/Gemorah students are now learning the Talmud Shabbos about Shavuos (the holiday is coming up soon..) and some classes are making MS Powerpoint slides based on what they learned.

CAMP GAN ISRAEL FORMS AVAILABLE Morah Devorah Leah Mathless will be this year’s Camp Gan Israel director, with help from Morah Dini. We have a group of Israeli staff coming for the summer! And we’re looking add some new exciting programming. Contact Devorah Leah with questions or for forms: 518-698-1836.

Registration forms are now available! Please submit as soon as possible.

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY! Save the date: Wed, May 6th, day before Lag B’Omer! More info on back page’s Upcoming Events.

at Maimonides and in the Community 5/2: DOUBLE-HEADER PARSHA We read both Achrei & Kedoshim this week.

5/7: LAG B’OMER RABBI AKIVA’S “HUMAN DIGNITY” PARADE

Now that Lag B’Omer is back on a school day (Thursday) after years of Sundays, Maimonides This week’s Womens Shiur will be given by Chaya once again plans a parade on Lag B’Omer Yehudis Dank (new to the community) at the morning with students marching. Families, friends home of Ellen Kaplowitz 44 Oakwood, at 4:45pm. and community are very welcome! Parade leaves Maimonides at 9:30am, to arrive at Parkview Apts (formely Bnai Brith) on Hudson Ave for a short 5/2: T.C.N. SATELLITE TORAH Luchins Media Center at CBAJ hosts weekly long- program at 11am, followed by Washington Park.

Exact parade route is still subject to approval, but distance Torah lectures. Due to later Sat Nights, in past years we went up Partridge to Madison, Rabbi Reisman’s Sat Night Navi class is now at 10:30, Rabbi Frand remains at 9pm on Thursdays. down Madison to Quail, Quail to Hudson, then into the Park. See this year’s banners theme on right (>) and look for a HUMAN DIGNITY float 5/3: PESACH SHEINI or presentation as part of Rabbi Akiva’s teaching!

14th of Iyar is the Second Passover for those in biblical and Temple times who were too far away 5/7: LAG B’OMER JEWNITY AT JCC or impure to offer the Paschal Lamb at Passover.

Capital Chabad Centers, the Jewish Federation Today, without the Holy Temple, its observed by not saying Tachanun, eating some Matzah and as and the Sidney Albert JCC are hosting an exciting Lag B’Omer JEWNITY event 4:30-7pm at the Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch emphasized: this holiday of “Second Chances” reminds us that JCC in Albany. The main feature will be a BMX bike stunt presentation, along with a traditional it’s never too late! We can still make it right…

Lag B’Omer fire, and Mitzvah Booths. JEWNITY Art Cards will be on display. Free admission.

5/3: KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE Kosher food (Vaad supervised) will be for sale and 9am-2pm at Afrim’s Sports Complex on Albany there will be a small cost for some of the bounces Shaker Rd. New or like-new kids clothing for sale. and activity booths. Info? Call Rabbi Zalman Simon 866-7658 or Linda Finke at 438-6651.

5/2: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR

5/3: SCHEN GREENMARKET

The Schenectady Greenmarket is year ‘round, during the cold months it is indoors at Proctors, and moves outdoors again in the Spring. This is the first Sunday outdoors around Schenectady City Hall. 10am-2pm.

5/3: BARNUM BAILEY CIRCUS The big show circus is back in town for a number of shows at the Times Union Center. 1pm & 5pm this Sunday. Call for info and ticket costs.

5/7: JNF BREAKFAST FOR ISRAEL

5/10: CBAJ’S UN-DINNER Instead of a dinner, CBAJ’s big fundraiser is an opportunity to honor women in the community via a Scroll of Honor and delivery of deluxe flower bouquet to honoree of choice or to a resident at Daughters of Sarah, as a well as a Journal.

Contribute online at www.CBAJ.org/undinner.

5/17: R’ KELMAN INSTALLATION Beth Israel in Schenectady hosts an installation luncheon formally welcoming their new Rabbi Avraham Kelman, on Sunday May 17th at noon.

Couvert is $25pp. For more info: 377-3700.

A free event with guest speaker Gil Tamary. Gil is a veteran Israeli reporter, now stationed in DC, & will reflect on interviews over the years with Israeli 5/18: WOMENS BEIT MEDRASH politicians and personalities. The breakfast served This month led by Dini Gordon, on the timely by the Marriot is not Kosher certified. 7:30-9am. topic of Naomi and Ruth as we approach Shavuot.

Info? JNF.org/CDbreakfast or 800.JNF.0099 x811

5/6: MHDS PICTURE DAY R’ Michoel Caras will once again be taking professional individual and class photos at school, on Wednesday, the day before Lag B’Omer.

Parents are under no obligation to purchase, but packages (photos available for preview online) are very reasonable and digital options are available.

Please dress children accordingly.

6/1: MAIMONIDES DINNER This year’s Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award recipients will be Dr. William “Bill” and Adrianne Rockwood, and the school’s involvement and our partners in the “Better Together” teen-seniors program will also be recognized and highlighted.

Invite is in the mail. Call office for info, invite or journal info. Thanks!

RABBI AKIVA’S “HUMAN DIGNITY” Rabbi Akiva’s life and teaching is the theme of this year’s Lag B’Omer Parade banners our students are painting, from 1st grade through HS. Some of his main teachings are “Love Your Fellow” and “Human Dignity”. A float or presentation on Human Dignity is also in the works! See the finished banners on Lag B’Omer or in an upcoming MC Newsletter. We also hope to make an accompanying explanatory pamphlet.

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!”