Maimonides Community

BH. Menachem-Av

8, 5775 / July 24, 2015

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 8:06 404 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 9:13 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

YARTZEIT DATES IN CALENDAR Contact Rabbi Yossi 495-0772/9 if you’d like to include a yartzeit date ($18 each) in the coming Jewish Art Calendar.

C.P. CHABAD WINS SOLOMON The Solomon Organization had a FB voting contest for local charities, and Clifton Park Chabad won the runner-up prize of $3K!

SCHOOL CALENDAR & FORMS

The new year is almost upon us!

If you would like to dedicate a weekly MC Newsletter in honor of a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, please contact the school office or email: maimonidesschool@gmail.com

SUMMER STUDY SIESTA

On Tuesday afternoon, July 7th, Shabbos are ready, the new school year is already House hosted “Summer Study around the corner! They were emailed to Siesta + Siyum” beginning after parents, if you did not receive one, please midday, as a Siesta would. It contact the school. Please submit registration was in conjunction with the forms in a timely fashion as soon as possible so Jewish Summer Fellowship the school can organize classes and curriculum. (formerly ILTSP) which is based in Kingston as well as the Catskills, and PTA IS FORMING it was open to the community as well. Siesta If you would like to take on a project or assist presenters included personal reflections by to support the school and our students, a new Chaya Bracha Rubin, a class on Tzelafchad's PTA group is forming for the coming year.

Daughters by Mrs. Clara Simon, Rabbi Rubin's Talmudic Archeology explaining WORST DAY EVER? CGI DAY CAMP AT SCHOOL Rabbi Yosi ben Kisma and Small Town Jewry, Chanie Gorkin of 11th Grade at Beth Rivka in Camp is going great with both Israeli and local Rabbi Yossi in the Birkat Kohanim and Mrs. Brooklyn wrote this poem and posted it on counselors, wonderful spirit and enjoyable, fun Leah Rubin on "Zooming through Torah".

PoetryNation.com and reposts made it go viral and educational activities. The theme this year all over the internet. Tisha B’Av IS the saddest is Hashem’s Wonderful World with different NANOTECH TALMUD SIYUM day of the Jewish Year, for good reason, but weeks focusing on nature, animals etc.

Following the Siesta Program, there was a this poem lends some perspective for times Siyum celebration of the daily Nanotech when we feel things are at their worst.

M’ ROCHEL GOING TO ISRAEL Talmud Study Group with much community Morah Rochel is going to Israel, and will be in attendance. Dinner was served, and each of back August 10th. Safe and enjoyable travels! the study group participants spoke, including GOOGLE FOR TISHA B’AV  My Favorite Eicha Verses by Rabbi Mendel one who was overseas and spoke via video. It NEGATIVES TO POSITIVES  Rabbi Rubin’s “Tisha B’Av Has Two Sides was such a wonderful celebration of Torah To It” which Lubavitcher Rebbe enjoyed.

Two Sides of Tisha B’Av? Rabbi Yossi gave a study and dedication, that we are including class at camp on this topic using old film most of their speeches on the inside pages of technology, remember film negatives? this newsletter, almost in their entirety: >> MANY RECENT SIYUMIM This summer, and especially during the Nine Days period, we had many local Talmud Siyum celebrations, including Rabbi Simon’s annual Siyum now a tradition of many years, Rabbi Bomzer made a Siyum, as did R’ Michoel Caras, and there was also the Nanotech Siyum earlier this summer - see inside pages.

PRAYING FOR WOLFE BABY They moved to Denver this summer but despie the distance many of us our praying for their baby girl to have a speedy and complete recovery: Tziporah Bracha bas Tzirel Shoshana.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

INTRO & WELCOME BY DR. YEHOSHUA RUBIN We are very honored to be a part of the “Siesta” learning program going on here today.

It is very fitting that we should be a part of it, because just like you, as you have taken time out of your summer to come and learn, we have been taking time every day to learn. Just like you have chosen to come and learn Torah while you could be doing something else, we also made that choice. When I came to IBM, I didn’t know that we would have a Talmud class.

My only plan was to make small things: nanotechnology. But as I got to know people, it occurred to me that we should get together once a week. Eventually we agreed to learn Talmud, and started with the first tractate of the Talmud, Brachos. After meeting once or twice, we started to discuss how often we should meet, I suggested once a week for 15 minutes, but the response was once a day. I really didn’t know if I would be able to keep up with more than that. 15mins became 30, then 45, and an hour. We tried to cap it at an hour, especially since this required everyone to stay at work longer. Now, after a little less than two years, we have completed the first tractate of the Talmud.

The Talmud mentions that Torah can only be acquired with companions, people to ask you questions and to discuss/debate the subjects. I am grateful to have such a wonderful group of people to study with. One aspect of our learning that is most precious is that everyone carved out a fixed time for the learning. People would juggle meetings, change their schedules, skip lunch, etc to make the class. When people were away, we would have a teleconference or folks would catch up on their own time. It was really quite remarkable. I only have time for one personal anecdote. When I came to IBM, one of the messages I received, and I’m not sure if they realized the language they were using: is that they appreciated my unorthodox approach to school. During grad school I took off time to go to yeshiva in Israel for the first time. I was concerned this would detract from my ability to get hired. But the world is looking for people that think differently. Torah is the ultimate source for thinking differently. So I thought that I came to IBM to do small things, it turns out we did something quite big. And now I’ll pass you over to my dear colleagues and friends together on this journey which led to my first ever completion of a tractate of the Talmud.

LARRY SMITH: I’d like to begin by thanking Rabbi Rubin and Chabad for hosting this siyum, and also the Daf Yomi donor who donated the gemaras that some of us used. I also want

to thank Josh Rubin for taking the responsibility to be our leader. Our study group met daily at CNSE. I worked at SEMATECH on the second floor, we met upstairs at IBM on the third floor in one of their conference rooms. During our first year, I left my job, but continued coming in every day for a while; later we figured out that I could call in.

Eventually I moved back to Austin and continued to call in daily. I studied Talmud before, meeting in a group with our rabbi once a week. Daily study during the work week is different: it requires a higher level of commitment, and because of that, it engenders a greater appreciation for the subject.

This is also the first time studying without a rabbi to lead us. This is made possible to a large extent by the availability of editions of the Talmud with English translation, so it is not necessary to be fluent in Mishnaic Hebrew and Aramaic. However, it is still very important to have a leader to make sure everyone approaches Talmud in the proper way. Thank you again Josh. Studying with colleagues is also a great way to get to make friends and know people better; just as you develop relationships differently by interacting at work, or visiting people for dinner, studying together is a special way of forming friendships. A few months ago I was at party and told a friend about our study group, and she looked at me quizzically and asked me why would I want to do that? I answered that this is our Jewish heritage, and this is a way to learn more about our heritage. I didn’t get a chance to explain that fully, so I’d like to do that now.

Studying Talmud is a way to better understand the laws and the rationale behind them. But that’s not all. It’s a way to get to know the rabbanim: who they were, their personal stories, histories, and relationships, their different points of view. It is a way to get to know them as real people and not just abstract entities when coming across their names at a Passover seder, or in the prayer-book. These are the people responsible for developing the Rabbinic Judaism we practice today. We also learn what life was like in Bavel and Eretz Yisrael 2000 years ago.

How people ate, slept, washed, even how they went to the bathroom. How they prayed, studied, and traveled. What their social interactions were like amongst themselves, with other Jews, and other nations. More specifically, in Brachot we gain a better appreciation for the prayers we say, by getting familiar with their history and their development.

These prayers include the Shma, the shmona esrei; blessings over food and birkat hamazon; kiddush and havdala, and various natural phenomena. We learn about their wording, meaning, rationale, prayer order, proper time and place, specifics on how to pray, e.g. what direction to face, what kavana is necessary, under what conditions it is permissible to interrupt, what to do if you make a mistake. Just as studying music helps one better appreciate a concert, studying Tractate Brachot helps one better appreciate our prayers. To conclude, I’m looking forward to continuing studying with my chaverim, and I would encourage other to give it a try.

SCOTT HALLE: In the beginning of Berachot, there are many

endless discussions about time in its relation to the saying of Shema. In one of its many digressions, it brings the statement from Shemot 11:4 in which Moses told Pharaoh that “at ABOUT midnight God will go out and kill every firstborn”. The questions is raised, why did Moses say ABOUT midnight, is there any doubt in Heaven about when midnight really is? Was Moses confused about the time? Reb Zeira says that Moses really knew the exact moment of midnight. So why did Moses say ABOUT midnight? Reb Zeira continues, Moses thought that Pharoh’s astrologers might err in their calculation of midnight, and Moses would be called a liar (4b)… The Gemarah uses this discussion to teach one if its many lessons it says.. “For the master said: Teach your tongue to say ‘I do not know’ lest you be caught in a falsehood”. The simple ability to say “I don’t know”, helps us from becoming arrogant, and keeps our humility in check. Its especially true for me, since over the past year and a half of learning Berachot, I have been humbled many, many times, in my first attempt to learn from the Talmud..Its been a privilege for me to learn with Joshua, Ted, and Larry, to learn the berachot in their talmudic context, to be inspired by gemara one day and the next day to totally disagree with the logic of the argument, to be totally confused, to ask lots and lots of questions, and for some of the questions we raised, sometimes we said we really don’t know. Berachot is filled with Amoriam (Rabbis) who disagree with one another, sometimes over a seemingly straightforward interpretation of a Mishnah. The magic of learning gemera is to both understand the tangled web of contradictions of Rabbinic opinions, and the inevitable resolution of the conflict of opinions that leads us to a deeper understanding of the oral law.

Who knew every Rabbi could have a different opinion? Some-times Gemara even surprises us with straight-forward insights. I will leave you with one from Berachot 32b: The Rabbis taught: Four activities require strengthening (constant renewal of one’s efforts in order to succeed) : Torah study, practice of Good Deeds, praying and pursuing a livelihood. It is the last activity that prevents me from being physically with you today. I hope that our future learning together will provide a good pathway for further strengthening. Shalom from Eindhoven! (in the Netherlands, participating in the Siyum via Video).

TED LEVIN: Before I begin, I'll mention some of many people I think about at this time.

• First, Yasher Koach and Mazel Tov to my study partners Larry Smith, Yehoshua Moshe Rubin, Scott Halle and Aron Cepler.

We should continue with strength onto Mesechet Megilla (and beyond!).

• To R' Yitzchok Raskin in Burlington, Vt, who mentioned I should “learn a little” after Succos the year before last. I hope I've learned a little....

• To my brother Yochanan Shmuel ha Levi ben Rosemary,

who really needs a miracle.

• Yo my wife Susannah. Really, what do I say at this point that's not trite. Or that you haven't heard before. I love you very much.

• To my kids Eli, Noach & Shira. I love you all.

1) Daily Study at Work: Every day at about noon, we met and learned as much as we could. The amount of learning was not fixed, the duration for which we met each day was not set, but the daily learing was. Also, we did this in the middle of the work day, when there are all sorts of other commitments and people tugging at us. But, the experience of doing this at work really turned the entire day. It created a fixed point of Torah every day, which changed each day and the weeks and months that we learned. It changed how I view work in that, to at least a small degree, the work schedule started to revolve around Torah Study, rather than the other way around. I think that this happened only due to the daily study.

2) Learning with your colleagues: I think it's important to learn with other people, especially people from different backgrounds and age ranges.

The age ranges of our small group spanned about 3 decades. During the learning, we didn't just learn, we told each other about upcoming simchas, our travels, our travails. The Gemara brings up so many different, and sometimes wild ideas, that it provides a context to talk with your chevra, and from across the centuries the Rabbis of the Gemara urge you to do so. From Brachot 63a, “The Torah is acquired through study in a group.” Friends are acquired that way too.

3) Context and Consciousness: Learning the Gemara gives you the back story and the context of yiddishkeit. By doing so, you're making Jewish Consciousness, a “Jewish Brain”. Your connecting your actions and your other learning with what you're learning now, making the connections like the neurons in your brain. One story that struck me is the story of Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Elezar ben Azaria. Rabban Gamliel was the head of the Yeshiva in Yavne just after the destruction of the second temple (may it be speedily rebuilt!). Rabban Gamliel was quite strict and exacting, and publicly humiliated Rabbi Yehoshua over differences of opinion on matters of halacha. The members of the Yeshiva deposed Rabban Gamliel, and appointed Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya. When Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria became the Nasi, he allowed into the study hall those who were previously excluded. The Gemara says that hundreds of benches were added to accommodate the bigger crowd. Now all this sounds harsh, but this was the time that Judaism was in utter chaos after the destruction. How was Judaism to survive? What kind of leadership is required? More exacting and strict or more lenient?

These are very relevant and important questions for us today!! Ultimately they reach a compromise.

However, if you recall, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya is one of the rabbis mentioned in the haggadah (I am like a man of 70 years, kol y'mei hayecha.....). So our story from the Gemara places the what we say in the Haggadah in historical context. And then, the Haggadah recited on Pesach, Zman Cherutenu, the season of our freedom adds to what's said in the Gemara. Not only how do we survive such terrible circumstances, but how do we thrive and be free?

Pirkei Avot actually answers the question. The free

person is one who studies Torah. Thanks to R' Mendel and Raizy Rubin for helping us to add to the learning and the simcha.

Thanks to Yehoshua Moshe Rubin for making this Siyyum a big deal.

ARON CEPLER: The most important lesson I learned in high school, college, grad school, etc., was that if you don't understand something in a class, it is your responsibility to keep trying to understand. Either raise your hand and ask questions during class, go for extra help, or do your own research. If you don't, the momentary embarrassment of admitting you don't fully understand is outweighed down the road when you still don't know the subject material. At the end of Brachos (somewhere in the late 60s), we see this lesson. If you don't understand and you don't ask, "a hand upon your mouth, " you will have to silence yourself when someone asks you later. So, I found this parallel in my own educational experience and in a lesson from the Talmud.

Chaya-Bracha, for her support and understanding when coming home so late, and for making treats for the mini siyumim after each chapter. I want to thank my Rabbi, Rabbi Eli Silberstein of Cornell University, for providing me with his guidance and support since the day I stepped in his Chabad House almost 9 years ago. With no further delay, I will present the conclusion of tractate Brachos...

RABBI ELI SILBERSTEIN:

I've known Yehoshua from his years at Cornell, and I remember our first time meeting, when he was reluctant and hesitant. But once he got beyond that initial hurdle, the most distinctive thing I remember about him is his constant thirst for Torah study. An incredible desire to study that was never satiated, and continues to this day.

Sometimes I wondered, imagine if a student like this had the opportunities to study that I had as a youth? To be able to study Torah from a young age! But then I realized, and this Nanotech Talmud Siyum is yet another wonderful proof of that, that its because he didn't have those opportunities earlier on in life is what caused this great thirst. And because of it, he is able to bring Torah to places that I myself, having DR. YEHOSHUA RUBIN: studied Torah all my life, would never be able to In most philosophies/cultures, learning is an do. There's a Talmudic statement, that a special ray exercise to apply the knowledge, like of kindness shines upon those who study Torah at nanotechnology, or the process of acquiring night. The Tzemach Tzedek asks, why only at night? knowledge itself is a great recreational experience. does it really matter what time of day we study? why But the process itself is not made into an end in itself. There is something unique about Torah, the not ray of kindness for someone who studies Torah all day? The Tzemach Tzedek explains that night process of learning itself. Jews see the Torah not here means more than a specific time of the 24just as an interesting resource to satisfy the hour day. It refers to darkness, it means challenge intellectual craving of the mind, but rather as a deep channel to connect the Jew with a world that or struggle. One who studies Torah all day or all night in Yeshiva is like studying in bright daylight. is far beyond the intellectual world. The But one who studies Torah despite challenges intellectual side of the Torah is only used as a handle or a channel to a much deeper world. And that's studying Torah at night, in the darkness. And that is why Brachot begins with Shema Yisrael and only such people merit that special ray of kindness. concludes with growth, whereby it says that people I'm not saying IBM is a dark place! On the contrary, it must be very bright, full of ideas and innovation go from strength to strength through the Torah. and research. But in terms of Judaism and midday Judaism is a dichotomy, on the one hand Torah Talmud study, it is considered a place of darkness. makes one grow and become more wise. But the Jew always remembers the ultimate intent is not just It's not easy to assemble for study each day, in the midst of one's buys workday, in a place surrounded to become very intelligent. Rather it is a window into an endless world. Knowledge can be used for by pressure and responsibility. To bring genuine good or bad. There are many examples of societies study of Torah to such a place is something that use their sophistication to create weapons, war, Yehoshua and his colleagues here can do, and have and harm to others. And therefore, the tractate of been doing for two years now, every single workday, Brachot starts out with Shema Yisrael. The Shema and that's something I can't do, no matter how represents the acknowledgement that there is a G-d much I've studied. which is creator of the entire world. And when one approaches learning with such a mindset, then their learning will be for good, and their learning will be a bracha, a blessing. We see the same sentiment in the written Torah, which starts with Beresheit, in the beginning. The Torah starts with the letter beis. And the commentators say that the Torah starts with the letter beis to remind you that there is an aleph before the beis, and that is the aluf of the world, the master of the world. So I want to thank Hashem for helping us reach the conclusion of Brachot. I also want to thank my friends, Ted, Scott, Larry, and Aron for making this such a rewarding experience. I also want to thank my wife,

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7/25: SHABBOS AFTERNOON

7/26: TISHA B’AV DAY @SHTEEBLE

VALLEYCATS BASEBALL

Starting at Halachic Noon, according to many opinions we can only study those parts of Torah which one may study on Tisha B’Av. So there will be no Daf Yomi on Shabbos afternoon, instead Rabbi Rubin will give a synopsis of the Daf in his Shabbos morning talk at Shomray Torah.

8am Shachris followed by Kinos, led and explained

by Rabbi Rubin. 11am screening of “With a Whole Broken Heart” (second screening later at Shabbos House) a documentary. Daf Yomi 6:30pm, Mincha with Tefillin at 7:30pm followed by Maariv and Kiddush Levanah.

“The Joe” is an intimate baseball ballpark right across the River at HVCC, never removed from the action. Many games are weeknights or Sundays.

Tickets are reasonable and sometimes discounted.

FARMERS MARKETS In addition to Pick Your Own (which changes as summer progresses: snappeas almost done, strawberries and raspberries now, sweet cherries soon, blueberries late in July) there are many local farmstands. Check times/locations, sample listing: Downtown Albany at Maiden Lane Park Thursday 11am-2pm Empire State Plaza Wed-Friday, 10am-1pm Behind Passano Paints on Western Barber’s Farm Stand, most weekdays midday Saratoga Springs on High Rock Ave Wednesdays 3-6pm, many vendors Schenectady Greenmarket near or in Proctors another big one, during winter its inside. Sundays 11am-2pm Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa Thursdays 3-6pm The Menands Farmers Market wholesale: 5:30am until 1pm. Monday, Wed, Fri.

7/25: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR This Shabbos afternoon by Debbie Stark at the home of Leah Caras, 96 Grove Ave., at 4:45pm.

7/25: LAST MEAL OF SHABBOS

It’s important to eat a good meal at end of Shabbos, but eating must end by 8:23pm in the 7/26: WHOLE BROKEN HEART Albany area. Shabbos isn’t over yet, but we can’t This new documentary video by JLI will be shown eat past that point. Mincha will be 8pm at Shomray 11am at Shomray Torah and 4pm at Shabbos Torah, so eat a hearty meal at home before then.

House. Holocaust survivors and parents of terror victims are interviewed on how they cope with tragedy and with what they live on. It also features 7/25: END OF SHABBOS...

Havdalah isn’t recited until end of fast on Sunday clips of the Rebbe’s response to the terror attack in Kfar Chabad in its fledgling in the 1950’s. night, but we do make the fire-blessing on Sat Night. We can’t change into the non-leather shoes until the end of Shabbos. Eicha at Shomray Torah 7/28: CHABAD: GOOD FOR JEWS? will be 9:35, CBAJ starts Eicha at 9:30. Both Shuls A farbrengen & discussion, with live chassidic daven Maariv at end of Shabbos 9:13pm. melodies 7pm at Saratoga Chabad, 130 Circular Street, led by Rabbi Israel and Abba Rubin, with live Chassidic music. Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie, author 7/26: TISHA B’AV DAY of a new book “The Secret of Chabad” will join via Morning prayers without Tallis and Tefillin are Skype as well. Call 526-0773 for more info. followed by Kinos. Mincha is a bit earlier than usual, with Tallis and Tefillin, Torah reading and Comparison Price Chart from Times-Union.com Haftorah. The fast ends: 8:55pm. CBAJ says 9:03. 8/6: MHDS HOSTS ISRAEL @ICCR 2015 Ticket UnlimitedMaimonides will be hosting the Israeli delegation County Fair Children visiting the ICCR (International Center Capital price rides Region) for a lunch at the school.

8/11: ALTAMONT FAIR OPENS

Altamont Fair $15/$17

Included

Free for children under 36 inches

Columbia County Fair

$10/$12

$15/$20

Free on Thursday

Saratoga County Fair

$10

$20

Free for children under 52 inches

Schaghticoke $11 Fair

$21/$22

Free for 13 and younger

$12

$12/$15

Free for 12 and younger

$10

$20 for 20 Free for 13 tickets, 2-3 and younger tickets per ride

through that weekend. Look up schedule & cost.

8/23: FC DINNER & AUCTION Friendship Circle is having a Chinese Dinner and Auction at the Jewish Federation with live entertainment. For info on this fundraiser and to RSVP contact Chaya: chaya@capitalfriends.org or call or text: 518-488-8992.

7/26: TISHA B’AV DAY AT CBAJ Morning prayers 8am followed by Kinot. Tisha B’Av related Video talks by Rabbis Jacob Schachter, Shalom Rosner, Kenneth Brander, Meir Goldwicht, & David Gottlieb will be shown from 10:30am until after Chatzot (1:02pm). 4pm screening of “Inside Hana’s Suitcase” (90 minutes).

Mincha 7:55pm. CBAJ lists end of fast at 9:03pm.

8/30: SARATOGA SHALOM FEST

annually in beautiful and historic Congress Park, stay tuned for info! Call Rabbi Abba 518-526-0773 Schoharie if you’d like to be a vendor or volunteer.

County Fair

CAPITAL PARK AFTER DARK Empire State Plaza shows several films on the big screen outdoors in the West Capitol Park. “Mary Poppins” (8/5) “Monsters University” (8/19) etc.

Washington County Fair

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!”