Maimonides Community

BH. Tishrei

12, 5776 / Sept 25, 2015

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:30 404 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 7:28 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur recalling

Nathan Rosenstein obm’s memories of Guht’s Nuhmen and his Lower East Side Lulav & Pickle Shopping Trips.

THE SCHOOL’S ARAVOT HOSHANOT BUSHES GROWING STRONG Heshy and Barbara Ungerman planted these Aravot willow bushes on the side of school so they could grow and be used for the Mitzvah, especially for the Hoshanat “Bundle of 5” used in the prayers on Hoshana Rabba. They are growing strong this year! 3rd graders went outside to check them out and learn some Halachos of Aravos (like cut-tops can’t be used).

Kindergarten students are diligently painting these Ushpizin circles into flip-books welcoming special guests to their Sukkahs.

NEWBORN MAZAL TOVS 

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Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus, parents and teacher Rabbi Shmuly & Laiky Rubin had a baby boy on Yom-Kippur! Mazal Tov to his brothers and sisters and the whole family.

Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Rabbi Yaakov and Chana Backman on the birth of a daughter whom they named Esther. Mazal Tov to grandparents Avremi and Sharona, aunt Esti & all the Backman uncles!

Mazal Tov to Joan and Jack Rosenblum on the birth of a granddaughter born to Ilana and Noach Guttman.

Mazal Tov to Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bomzer on the birth of a grandson to MHDS alumnus Rabbi Akiva & Batsheva Bomzer of Baltimore. Batsheva is great-niece of life-long Albanians Bernie & Ella Saul obm.

MAZAL TOV ESTHER WILDMAN on her Bas-Mitzvah to be celebrated over the Sukkot holiday. Best wishes to her parents, siblings and grandparents!

MAZAL TOV A.M. HECHT Rabbi Yitzchak and Leah Hecht recently celebrated the Upshernish of their son Avraham Meir. Mazal Tov!

USHPIZIN CIRCLES

“GUHT’S NUHMEN”

HONEY DISH CENTERPIECES Kindergarteners proudly display their fauxhoney dish 3-dimensional centerpieces they made for use on their Sukkah tables. They used Q-tips to make the drops of honey.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

The day after Yom-Kippur is known in some circles as “Guht’s Nuhmen” Yiddish for “Hashem’s Name”. Nathan Rosenstein, obm, would warmly describe his childhood memories of old Albany synagogues on this day, when candles would be lit as for a festive occasion and there would be a major emphasis to come to pray early that morning to keep up the spiritual momentum and commitment from an inspired Yom-Kippur the day prior.

FLAG, FROG… WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

CANDLELIGHTING MAGNET

Flags and frogs have nothing in common, but they both start with an F and end with a G. The red letter is the vowel, which is what Ms. Ford is SNEAKY ART highlighting for her Mrs. Levin introduced the 6/7 graders to first grade students “sneaky art”. They designed cute little pieces in this “center”. of artwork to be cleverly placed around school in all kinds of places, including inside this book in “Esty’s Library” that says: “Read Me!” A face placed on a classroom whiteboard has a bubble that reads, “I’ve been watching you!”

3RD GRADE SHADING IN ART 3rd graders were very excited to have art - and a Monday at school - for their first time this year. Mrs. Levin showed them how to use a pencil different ways, and how to create a shading effect, using the same pencil.

SPELLING CENTER

HOMOPHONES IN SECOND Nachman is working on Homophones in this center in Ms. Ford’s 2nd grade classroom.

They are words that sound similar but have totally different meanings, like blue vs. blew, hair vs. hare, sail vs. sale or piece vs. peace.

It’s been mailed, most already got it at home.

Post on your fridge for handy reference, and please respond with your support. A limited number of magnets are still available from the school office. If you didn’t get one by mail, call the office 453-9363.

RED TURNS TO WHITE Morah Raizy’s Pitgam class with 8th grade this week was based on a verse in Yeshayahu featured in the Avodah of Yom-Kippur about “sins like a red string that can turn white as snow or red wool that can become like pure wool”, symbolizing the transformative power of Teshuvah to return us to our natural state without artificial dyes and additives.

THIRD GRADE JOINS T.N.T. Third graders are now part of the weekly routine of classes reporting in TNT class to produce this MC Newsletter. They learned how to log-in, write short reports, and even took a few of the pictures in this newsletter!

MOSHE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

No, this isn’t about a kid in the Maimonides Nursery. 6th graders are learning about Moshe These magnets Rabbeynu in Chumash class, back when he can be placed in was an infant first hidden inside his parents all kinds of home to avoid Pharaoh’s decree against different ways, to newborn Jewish boys and later placed in the help with spelling Nile where he was rescued (ironically) by words you already Pharaoh’s daughter Batya. know and trying new words, too.

VOCAB TEST ON “THE GIVER” In this photo the 6/7 had their first Vocab test using words goal was to find words that match from “The Giver” which is the book they are “Cat” and “Look” now reading with Mrs. Crawford. There were ten words on the test, including: Distraught, and add new words underneath each.

Palpable, and Permeated.

TASTE AND SMELL This was a big theme in several classes this week as a classic way to classify & differentiate the four kinds in the Lulav set (that which has both taste and smell, only taste, only smell and the willow which has neither). Kindergarten and third graders both studied this in their own way, perhaps other grades did as well.

TORAH365 VIA CBAJ GOLIATH’S ARMAMENTS 6/7 grade Navi students were interested in the illustrations in Morah Rochel’s Navi book that describe (based on the verses and commentary and historical context) the weapons and armaments of the mighty Goliath as he prepared to fight David and the Jewish people.

There’s an offer for families to commit to a Nursery students are happy to draw their own small regimen of year-round weekly study of Ethics of Our Fathers using the Koren Book Sukkahs as they look forward to the holiday. (at no cost). Contact CBAJ 489-5819 or visit: This year (the way the calendar falls) there’s only two days of school (Thursday and Friday) cbaj.org/Torah365 if you are interested. This to learn all about Sukkot, but they are learning can be learned on your own, with family or friends, at CBAJ programs, and possibly at so much (and very eagerly) in this short Maimonides as well. See box on back page for amount of time. additional info as well.

NURSERY DRAWS SUKKAHS

CAPTURE THE FLAG Although they play all kinds of sports during recess-time from soccer to kickball, and basketball, too, our boys enjoyed a couple of great games of Capture the Flag. These guys are stuck, hoping to get out!

R U IN THE SUKKAH OR OUT?

THE APPLE NUMBER LINE Nursery’s teachers Morah Rivkah and Mrs. Hoffman have planned cross curricular units throughout the year. This month's unit has been apples; there have been many Apple themed projects done in the classroom. Here is an example of one fun project. We made an Apple number line. We counted apples and used our math skills for pattern making and to determine how many apples we would need to add to get to the numbers listed. Pictured here you can see a student working on the number 9 while the other children are using their fingers to tell how many more apples needs to be stamped on that number line.

Rabbi Rubin’s HS Talmud class learned a series of arguments between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel and an intriguing story and interpretation of Rabbi Yochanon ben HaChuranis whose table was in his house while he sat adjoining it in his Sukkah. Based on their class discussion and learning, Rabbi Rubin published his most recent scholarly publication (pictured above) elucidating this Talmudic Sukkot story amid a broader research into the arguments (yet with mutual respect) of Bais Shammai and Bais Hillel.

MIXING UP HONEY-CAKE Nursery students are eagerly and gingerly

MOSHE, MIRIAM & M.M. mixing up some delicious honey cake.

8th grade Chumash class with Morah Leyee is now learning the story of Miriam’s affliction after speaking ill of Moshe and the lessons regarding Lashon Hara that are learned from it. In addition, their closer examination of the verses and scenario, especially in Rashi and commentaries, brought out many insightful “Maimonides Middos” messages, that we can learn and apply in our own behavior.

THANKS TO T.N.T. REPORTERS We had a very short school week this week, with no school on Tuesday and Wednesday for Yom-Kippur, still our TNT reporters helped us fill a 4-page newsletter with many wonderful things they learned and did, mostly from Mondays learning, and a bit of Thursday as well! Kol Ha’Kavod!

THE LULAV BLESSING Morah Devorah’s first graders learned the blessing on the Lulav (which they look forward to doing each day of the Sukkot holiday aside for Shabbos) and did their own Hebrew lettering (using stencils) and illustration for these laminated posters.

IS UR CARD LINKED TO MHDS? What is the strongest day of the week? Shabbos, of course! All the rest are weekdays!

AND AN APPLE INVESTIGATOR Nursery students used magnifying glasses to get a closer look at the cross-section of an apple (which they later used to paint apple patterns on the number line above) and illustrated their observations on prepared sheets. It’s never too early to learn scientific skills of observation!

Name a word that still sounds the same even if you take away the first and last letters of the word: (EMPTY) Which city has the most bunnies? Albuny, of course!

What do you call a satellite at night? Sateldark!

We’re off to a new year of the “Tools for Schools” program.

Help our school earn useful equipment at the end of the year. Please check your AdvantEdge card at any Price Chopper Guest Services desk and link it to Maimonides (in 12208)! This is a one time effort, it takes so little time to do. It is so simple we hope more school families & community friends will take a few minutes to do this! Thank you!

at Maimonides and in the Community 9/26: SHABBOS HA’AZINU

10/1: SARATOGA SUKKAH

This Shabbos between Yom-Kippur and Sukkot is 5pm at Saratoga Chabad, 130 Circular Ha’azinu, the Parsha written like a song. There will Street. Magician Omer Black will entertain, be a farbrengen Kiddush at Shteeble for Tishrei 13. there will be Sukkot food and other fun. If headed up that way, maybe stop at Clifton Park Farmers Market (one of the last of the 9/27: NEXTDOR AT GOOLD’S season) 2-5pm in a church parking lot at Federation’s NextDor group is going to Goold 912 Rt 146. Of course, this is the season Orchards for apple-picking, tasting and a tour. for apple picking! Try Saratoga Apple RSVP by the 23rd: 858-5070. (shadow of the Saratoga Monument), or Bowman Orchards in Rexford, among 9/27-10/6: NO SCHOOL @ MHDS great local orchards enroute to/near Saratoga.

No school at Maimonides for all of Sukkot and Simchat Torah and all the Chol HaMoed Days.

SUKKAH AT THE GREAT ESCAPE

9/27: SIMCHAS BEIS HASHOEVA It’s a long-standing local tradition, to have afterdinner get-togethers / Farbrengens in different Sukkahs most nights of the holiday. Plus there are kids programs and fun events, and a Sukkah hop.

More details on each calendar date.  Sunday Night at the Rubins, 122 South Main  Monday Night at the Kudans, 6 Peyster Street  Thursday Night at Rubins, 419 Partridge Street  Friday Night at the Gordons, 29 Glenwood  Sat Night at the Lehrfields, 116 Cardinal Ave and later late-night Hoshana Rabba at Shteeble

9/27: AT THE RUBIN’S SUKKAH Stop by Rabbi Rubin’s Sukkah after the first YomTov dinner for a little inspiration and warmth.

9/27: UNIQUE LUNAR ECLIPSE the first night of Sukkot, approx 9pm, Sci-Enrich students learned about it… look it up!

9/28: AT THE KUDAN’S SUKKAH After dinner on the second night of YomTov come over to the Kudan’s Sukkah, 6 Peyster Street.

9/30: SUSHI IN THE SUKKAH 4-7pm at Clifton Park Chabad, 495 Moe Road.

Kosher Sushi by Mr Fuji, live Klezmer music, and Sukkah activities. For more info call: 495-0772/9.

9/30-10/1: LIBERTY RIDGE FARM $14pp. Corn maze, pumpkin picking, rabbit houses, jumping pillow and kids activities on Bevis Road in Schaghticoke. Call for details: 664-1515

10/1: KIDS SUKKOT PROGRAM

For the first time ever, Rabbi Abba put up a Sukkah this year at Great Escape for families wishing to enjoy the amusement park over Sukkot.

10/1: THE ARCHIVE THIEF Presented by UAlbany’s Judaic Studies Program, Professor Lisa Moses Leff of American University in DC will discuss her newest book “The Archive Thief” about the story and controversy over Zosa Szajkowski’s illicit gathering of Nazi and Jewish archives from Germany and France and bringing them to New York. At UAlbany’s Alumni House at 7pm, free and open to community. Info? 442-4130.

10/1: YEHOSHUAS’ SUKKAH PARTY Dr. Yehoshua & Chaya Bracha Rubin & Yehoshua and Jodi Sussman are hosting a Simchas Beis HoSheva in the Rubin’s Sukkah at 419 Partridge Street (across the Maimonides School) with live music by Yehoshua Sussman. Join both Yehoshuas for a lively night m’maynei HaYeshuah!

10/2-4: RHINEBECK ARTS FESTIVAL Friday 10am-5pm with craft vendors, artisans of clay, glass, jewelry, woodworking and metal, and family activities. Admission $10pp, Kids 6-16 $4, kids under 6 are free. 6550 Spring Brook Ave in Rhinebeck NY. Look up event for more details.

10/2: FARBRENGEN AT GORDONS Come over to the Gordon’s Sukkah (29 Glenwood) for a lively after-dinner Friday Night farbrengen.

10/3: PJ LIBRARY SUKKAH HOP Shabbos afternoon in the Berkshire Pond area.

10/3: STARLIGHT SUKKAH PARTY

Motti is back from Australia! The Kids Sukkot rally Sat Night, 8pm at the home of Rabbi Binyamin 11am-12pm at Shomray Torah, with games and and Orit Lehrfield (116 Cardinal Ave) featuring stories, raffle and prizes… this year, in honor of delicious food, good friends, and music.

Hakhel (the Year of Gathering) parents and kids of all ages are welcome, too!

10/7: MHDS SCHOOL RESUMES

9:30am start on the day after Simchat Torah. Please have children daven before coming to school.

10/12: AUSTERLITZ IN AUTUMN An annual festival on the Sunday before Columbus Day with sheep-shearing, people dressed in 1830’s costume, vendors, craftsmen and entertainment.

Cost $6pp, kids under 12 are free. 11am-4pm in Old Austerlitz Village: 11550 State Route 22 in the town of Austerlitz NY not far from the MA border.

10/12: MHDS OPEN HOUSE NIGHT 7-8pm. Back to school, parents meet the teachers, see what is in store for the year.

11/3: HOWARD GARDNER SPEAKS Gardner is considered the father of the multiple intelligences theory, especially important in the educational field and approach. He will be speaking at Union College at the Feigenbaum Forum. Some of our Maimonides teachers will be attending.

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!”