Maimonides Community

BH.

Adar 12, 5775 / March 3, 2015

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

PRE-PURIM MINI-MC EDITION

This Newsletter is sponsored in memory of

See “Upcoming Events” for updated Purim event info, there’s so much happening!

Reb Michel Piekarsky

MAZAL TOV DAVIS FAMILY

Yechiel Michel br’ Efraim Yartzeit Shushan Purim (Kattan)

Their newborn son’s Bris will be after Shachris on Taanis Esther at Shomray Torah with the Seudat Mitzvah following that Wed evening’s 6:30pm Megillah reading. The Talmud says that a Bris is very much connected with Purim!

by his daughter Morah Rochel and Rabbi Rubin and Family

SEUSSIAN TORAH SOUVENIR! All jokes aside, participants at the Maimonides Purim Prunch will receive a souvenir booklet with two “Torah-Tuesday” classes on Dr. Seuss and Purim-Poems by 7th grade on Mordechai’s 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL words to Esther, “Im Hachareish Tachrishi…

On Monday, March 2nd, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, uMee Yodeah Im L’ays Kozos Higat L’Malchus” Mrs. Carroll’s first graders celebrated the and perhaps other Seuss Torah treats as well!

100th day of school. This year they dressed up as if they were100 years old, may they all live “M” IS THE WORD FOR PURIM to 100, G-d willing, in good health! They also All Mitzvot of Purim begin with the letter used the physical shapes of the number 100 to make something out of it, like the stereo or “Mem”: (1) Megillah (2) Mishteh (the feast) (3) Mishloach Manot (gifts of food) (4) Matanot slide pictured above.

L’Evyonim (charity for the poor). And of course all it should be done with lots of joy HAPPY and festivity, and in costume is even better!

NOISE

MATANOT L’EVYONIM In addition to Mishloach Manot, costumes, and banging out Haman’s Name, charity for the poor is a VERY important Purim Mitzvah.

There are many ways to do this, of course, online, via organizations, local Rabbis etc. It can also be done via Rabbi Rubin for discreet local distribution as well as a portion that goes for Israel’s poor.

HELP ISRAELI FARMERS THIS SHMITTAH WITH $7 FOR TREE Families have begun sending in their $7 fruit tree Mitzvah investment, with their votes on which fruit tree to get! Please send yours to school during the week after Purim so we can send in the order before the month of Nissan.

TORAHPALACE.COM The Purim holiday trivia game is up now at TorahPalace.com. Play it after each holiday for a chance to win valuable Judaica prizes. It is organized by the Morrisons in Troy.

Morah DL’s 2nd graders made these Ra’ashanim (aka Graggers) with all kinds of decoration.

They are very excited about Purim!

WISHING ALL OUR READERS And the entire community to have a very

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

joyous Purim, with overflowing abundant happiness spilling over to the whole year!

at Maimonides and in the Community 3/4: TAANIS (FAST OF) ESTHER

 “Purim in the Wild West” at Chabad of the Berkshires 4pm at Lenox Community Center.

Selichos and Avinu Malkeinu are added to the $18 adults, $10 over 12. $5 off for costume! morning davening. Following Shachris at Shomray Torah will be the Davis Bris. Mincha (5:20pm) also  Minyan, Torah and 8:35am Megillah Reading at Shomray Torah, 7am Megillah at CBAJ etc. has Torah reading and Avinu Malkeinu. At Mincha time there’s the custom of Machtzit 3/6: SHUSHAN PURIM AT SCHOOL HaShekel (the half-shekel coin) bring a few dollars to exchange for Tzedakah as you lift the coins. We 9am school start, with davening at 9am. Children are asked to please come in costume for the break the fast after the Megillah Reading. school’s annual Shushan Purim costume parade!

3/4: PURIM NIGHT (WED) Purim Night is “March (4th) Forth!” this year so its an easy date to remember. Look for many local events and celebrations including:  Big Bounce Night at CBAJ, 1st reading 6:30pm, 2nd reading at 8:30pm.  Purim Carnival @ UAlbany Campus Ballroom.

Free, Raffles extra. 1st reading: 7, 2nd: approx 9, no charge, raffles for iPad mini etc are sold.  Beth Israel Megillah 6:30pm, music food etc…  Purim Night at Troy’s Beth Tephilah 6:45pm.  Italian (Dairy) Purim at Saratoga Chabad, 6:30  #JeSuisJuif! “Purim in Paris” for grad students & young profs, 7pm at University Heights Chabad 147 South Lake.  The No-Frills 6:30pm Megillah Reading at Shomray Torah has now been transformed into a Seudas Mitzvah for the Fast-Day morning Davis Bris, following Megillah Reading.

3/5: PURIM MINCHA & MAARIV

3/5: PURIM DAY (THURS)

You do not have to be a scout to join, this event is open to boys and girls ages K-8, 1-4pm at Temple Israel Social Hall. Signup by 3/1: contact Contact Jesse Weinstock gashach@gmail.com 222-4070 or Adam Selsley attrcjcos@gmail.com 368-8713.

The Mitzvah of Mishloach Manot and the Purim Meal is supposed to be done on Purim Day, and yes, there are more communal celebrations!  Annual Maimonides Purim Prunch: 10am Megillah, 11am-12pm Prunch at the school.

Look for green soup, maybe green eggs, etc.

Seuss Books dedication in memory of Mrs. Carroll’s father. And a Seussian Torah souvenir!  “Purim Under Sea” with Bethlehem Chabad 5pm at the Normanside Country Club includes Bubble Show, Sushi, Seaside Salad buffet etc. $10 advance, $15 door, $5 kids.  “Purim a Paris” with Clifton Park Chabad 4:30 at the West Crescent Fire Hall, French food, wine tasting and fun. $10 adults, $5 kids.  Kingston NY is also hosting a Purim in Paris.

It’s a popular theme this year in solidarity with the Jews of Paris who suffered this year.  AJCC Purim Carnival 5:30-8pm. Free bounces, carnival games, tours of facility, plus raffles.  HACD 9am Megillah Reading. 54 Sandcreek.  “Purim In Israel” with fresh regards slideshow from Mrs. Laber’s recent visit, 3-6pm at the East Greenbush Public Library. Megillah, Food etc!  “I Remember When” Purim theme at Troy’s Beth Tephilah on River Street, 11:30am.

$7 HELPS MHDS PURCHASE FRUIT TREES IN ISRAEL

Shomray Torah: early Mincha at 2:30pm, late Maariv at 7:30pm to accommodate the Purim Seudah and communal celebrations.

CBAJ: Mincha Maariv at 5:30pm.

Our school is participating with “Zo Artzeinu” IsraelTrees.org to support religious farmers this Shmitta year and contribute towards the preparations and planting of fruit trees.

3/6: FED SCHOLARSHIPS DUE

We are asking each school family (community friends are welcome to participate as well) to send $7 (Shmitta year is the 7th year) to school which will be used to purchase a fruit tree! Each tree is $45, we hope to plant at least 2 or 3 trees, perhaps more!

The Jewish Federation offers scholarships for overnight summer camps and other experiences.

Forms are available at the school office or from the Federation. Applications must be in by this date.

3/8: PRICE CHOPPER OPEN HOUSE 10am-2pm at Colonie Kosher PC with samples and vendors from Kedem, Empire, Dr. Browns, Hain, 47th St Pizza and Montreal Kosher etc.

3/8: SCOUTS PINEWOOD DERBY

3/20: BETTER2WRITE ESSAY DUE Student participants in our school’s “Better Together” teens & seniors program have to submit their essays no later than this date.

The organization in Israel will give us educational materials relating to agricultural Halacha in the Land of Israel. Please send $7 and indicate which tree you prefer, we will purchase the trees based on the total votes:  Olive Tree  Grape Vine  Pomegranate  Fig Tree  Date Palm  Citrus Tree P.S. Of course, families who wish to buy a tree for $45 can do so (preferably via Maimonides) but we hope all participate with $7 minimum so we purchase trees as a school community.

3/22: BAR-ZOHAR SPEAKS FOR FED Michael Bar-Zohar is a former Knesset member and a best-selling author of a book on the Mossad speaking for JFed’s Society (open to community) at Agudat Achim, 7:15pm. $25pp, $10 for under 40.

Reserve with Federation, limited to 250 seats.

4/19: JCC PILLARS EVENT HONORS MOSHE LOSICE AND BLOOMBERG Reb Moshe Losice, who is well-respected in our community, is one of the JCC’s Pillars event awardees this year, along with Mr. Carl Bloomberg who is a past recipient of the Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award. For more info on the Pillars event contact the Sidney Albert Albany JCC.

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!”