Maimonides Community

BH. Tishrei

5, 5776 / Sept 18, 2015

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:42 404 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 7:40 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

This newsletter is sponsored in honor of the tenth yartzeit of our dearly beloved

Dr. Bernard Teitelman on Yom-Kippur

by Joyce and the Teitelman and Lew Families

BLOOMING BRIGHT

WELCOME EMMUNAH

Thankfully, it’s been a very bright and cheerful start to the year at Maimonides, like these girls at the ever-increasing yellow blossoms near the shed. May the year ahead continue to shine bright! These flowers were planted by Mrs. Carroll a few seasons back.

Our 8th graders were delighted to welcome back their friend and former classmate Emmunah for a short visit, as she is here visiting from Israel to celebrate her greatgrandmother’s special birthday. They missed her much after her family’s move back to Israel and it was good to see her again and catch up.

A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY! Mrs. Florence Saidel turns 100! An article by her daughter Rochelle Saidel in this week’s “Jewish World” newspaper describes the many changes she witnessed and participated in over this century: When she was young her father sold fruits and vegetables from a cart pulled by a horse named Queenie. In the 1950’s they were among the first to own a black and white television in Glens Falls, and in 2015 she communicates with her family via video calls over a large flat screen TV in her living room.

We fondly recall her husband, Mr. Joe Saidel, (who passed away in 1997) who was an honest and diligent attorney, first in private practice in Glens Falls and later worked for New York State Law Dept. He also served as attorney for Chabad and for Maimonides, and was a founder of the local Daf Yomi study group.

After his passing, Rabbi Rubin and our thenHS girls presented her with a plaque in his memory at an event in the then-Goldberg’s restaurant (near Exit 23) but we’re still searching for that picture.

MAZAL TOV MIKHAYLOVS Mazal Tov to Gregory and Nina Mikhaylov on the birth of a granddaughter named Eynat to Leah and Chaim Ovadiah Perkins.

MAZAL TOV MORGENBESSERS Last week’s MC Newsletter was dedicated in honor of a newborn son Yaakov Yechiel to MHDS alumnus Avi & Shoshana and grandson to Maxine Morgenbesser.

MAZAL TOV SIMONS

NURSERY IS POPPIN’ The door to Nursery this year looks like a giant box of popcorn, with the children’s names in popcorn bags.

Our Nursery students are like the little kernels that with just the right amount of warmth, come popping out, growing and exploding with yummy flavor!

Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Rabbi Zalmy & Chani Simon on the recent birth of a daughter LULAV & ETROG SETS Sheina Perl. Mazal Tov to grandparents Rabbi Rabbi Nachman Simon has Lulav & Etrog sets for sale, while supplies last. Call 439-8280 for Nachman & Clara and the Simon family. cost, availability, to setup a time & more info.

CBAJ is also selling Lulav & Etrog sets by preCANDLELIGHTING MAGNET order. Happy Lulav Shakes this Sukkot!

It’s in the mail! Post on the fridge for handy reference, & please respond with your support.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

TESHUVAH AS A BASEBALL DIAMOND 3rd graders learned that (a) feeling bad about something you did wrong is like getting on first base, (b) admitting the problem is getting on second base, (c) resolving not to do it again gets you to third, and (d) when the situation arises again & you resist temptation and don’t do it again - that gets you home!

EDGAR ALLEN POE’S SUSPENSE 8th graders with Mrs. Crawford are reading two macabre suspense stories by Edgar Allen Poe: “A Telltale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”. There was some discussion as to who narrates “The Telltale Heart” is it death (our students saw it as “The Angel of Death”) or is it the killer speaking? They learned various techniques an author can use to create suspense, including things like foreshadowing or cliffhanger, characterization.

DOMINO MATH Ms. Ford’s first graders pick dominoes for their subtraction exercises.

They use a dry-erase board to subtract the smaller number on each domino from its larger counterpart, and then try to figure out the answer. This boy is using an eraser to correct his answer.

A TASTE OF “FRINDLE” 4/5 grade read an excerpt from “Frindle” adapted for their Reader, and that really whet their appetite to read the whole book! It’s a funny read, but also has some serious lessons about how ideas spread.

HEBREW WITH MORAH RIVI 6/7 graders are going over some of their Ivrit homework with Morah Rivi. It was about a Hebrew song they learned about “Selicha” apology and forgiveness.

BUBBLES & TESHUVAH

A HEAVILY WEIGHTED SCALE The scale is a classic High Holiday icon where we hope our positives outweigh our negatives.

Kindergarteners loaded up the positive side of the scale with Mitzvah notes and pictures they drew of Mitzvot.

Morah Mushky blew a bunch of bubbles in the Kindergarten classroom, challenging her students to try and get the bubbles back into the bottle. Of course, that is impossible! The same is true of things we say to and about others, once you say it you can’t pull it back in. But there still are ways to clean it up and start fresh! As they sponged it all up, they discussed ways this clean-up and refresh can apply with words, too!

HEBREW COOKING CLASS Each Friday, 8th graders enjoy a cooking class with Morah Rivi using Hebrew recipes, and names of ingredients and steps of the recipe.

KERIAH METER IN THIRD GRADE Morah Dini’s Keriah Meter is back, this time in third grade.

Their first goal is 1,000 lines and they are already onethird the way there. (Hebrew) Reading practice is so important for all of our students, please make a little time for it each day, try find creative, enjoyable ways to do it.

NURSERY TREASURE BOX Nursery’s Mitzvah Tree has become a Treasure Box this year. Parents, please remember to send in Mitzvah notes as often as possible, so they can fill up then box. They love when their positive behavior and good deed is read aloud and recognized.

IS UR CARD LINKED TO MHDS? OBSERVING COOKIE IN SCI-LAB We’re off to a new year of the “Tools for

Schools” program. Help our school earn For Science-Enrichment this week, Mrs. useful equipment at the end of Ballard-Hubble brought in a guinea pig named the year. Please check your “Cookie” for a visit. Students had to observe AdvantEdge card at any Price her (and hold her) to write down as many Chopper Guest Services desk observations as possible and then discuss and and link it to Maimonides (in 12208)! This is compare what they observed. a one time effort, it takes so little time to do. It is so simple we hope more school families & R’ CHANINA BEN TRADYON community friends will take a few minutes to 8th grade Talmud Aggadah class learned the do this! Thank you! tragic but inspiring story of Rabbi Chaninah ben Tradyon, one of the Ten Martyrs read in THE GRAPE-JUICE DEAL the Musaf of Yom Kippur. They read of his Speaking of Price-Chopper, there’s a current exchange with Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma, of his sale of $2.99 for a 64 ounce bottle of grapetragic death, and the moving imagery of “the juice. This is a good deal, especially scroll burning and the letters jumping upward” as well as the unexpected ending with considering that the 22 ounce bottle often can cost as much as $2.39 or sometimes more! the executioner.

CANDLELIGHTING ESSAYS

REMEMBERING DR. TEITELMAN

Years ago, at the Rebbe’s suggestion, the This Yom Kippur will be Lubavitch Womens Shabbat Candlelighting Bernie Teitelman’s 10th Campaign (Neshek = Neirot Shabbos Kodesh) yartzeit. Most of our held a writing contest about Shabbos candles. students today don’t The winning entries were published (1977) in remember him, but there’s a beautiful and inspiring book: “A Candle of much we all can learn from My Own”. There’s at least one Albany entry his personality and style. published there! Mrs. Laber of Jewish Girls Although he was a nuclear scientist Unite is bringing this writing contest (the proverbial “rocket scientist), he back “Shine Your Light” with entries was humble and unassuming, and published online at despite his personal principles he was gentle www.JewishGirlsUnite.com. See the and understanding of others. He chose his website for more details. words thoughtfully and carefully, he was respectful of others and an avid listener. He loved learning and ideas (he participated in KNIVES AT SCHOOL the Talmud study and later Daf-Yomi), and his Not to worry! Rabbi Avraham Kellman brought in his Schechita knives to the HS boys face would light up at hearing something new or interesting. He had a knowing smile and class to teach them certain laws of Shechita gentle nod. He had an incredible knack and (ritual slaughter) especially regarding the sharpening of the knives. He also shared with memory for names, which stood him in good stead as long-time Gabbai at Shomray Torah. them interesting details about his former May his memory be a blessing. career as a Shochet.

KOSHERING A CHICKEN

GIRLS CHOIR

Rabbi Kellman taught the girls HS the steps to Morah Chaya Bracha has choir once a week with the 6-8 grade girls. They’ve been learning Kosherize a chicken with Koshering salt. It’s songs and harmonies based on the High becoming a forgotten science for most, since Holiday Machzor and Selichot, including nowadays nearly all Kosher chicken is sold “Rachamona” and “HaBen Yakir Li Efraim”. already soaked and salted at the factory. As recent as the mid-twentieth century the norm MAIMONIDES RAFFLE-AUCTION was often to do these steps at home.

It’s not too early to start thinking of our school’s annual Chanukah-time fundraiser!

THE JOBS LOTTERY The Raffle-Auction usually goes to print 5-6 Mrs. Dubarry can’t do everything herself in weeks before the event, as the majority of the busy 4th and 5th grade classroom so she contributions come in by mail or prior to the delegates certain jobs for students to take event, so we need to have the prize info in by turns at, using a weekly lottery. Some of the jobs include mailman (putting work in student the start of November. Please think of a prize mailboxes), peer-tutor (helps others, but does package you may wish to donate or contribute towards, or a business you can solicit to not do their work), supplies manager and donate a service or product. Contact Raizy clean-up supervisor. It gives them a sense of Rubin with any questions. responsibility and keeps the classroom running more efficiently.

5 FAVORITE ROSH HASHANAH FOODS OUR STUDENTS ENJOYED

1

SHEHCHIYANU FRUITS: Dragonfruit was a big favorite, starfruits, asian pears and Korean melons, even coconut! Generally students said they enjoyed fruit (not only exotic) this Rosh Hashanah.

2

NEW YEAR SYMBOL FOODS More kids than you’d expect enjoyed pomegranates, but nearly everyone liked apple dipped in honey and Challah dipped in honey, too.

3

SPECIAL CHALLAH Some of the best Challah are the ones you make yourself.

One student was raving about the chocolate -chip Challah his mother served hot from the oven!

4

DESSERTS All kinds of apple cake, from turnovers to apple-crisp. Honeycake, too, of course. Some made honey-cupcakes. One family made very sweet molasses cookies.

5

OTHER FOODS Some liked Tzimmes (some had meat in Tzimmes) and carrot salad, a few students enjoyed leftover YomTov meat on sandwiches. And so much more!

“MC” NEWSLETTER VIA MAIL

What do you find at the end of a rainbow? The letter “w” of course.

What’s the best game to play while doing laundry?

Basket-Ball!

Knock, knock! Who’s there? Noah. Noah who?

Noah good place we can get something to eat?

A man was looking out his window when he noticed that there was a snail on one of his plants.

So he took the snail and threw him as far as he could. Ten years later the old man heard a tap tap tap on his window, and when he looked up he saw a very cross snail who looked at him and said, “Hey, what did you do that for?”

For those receiving this newsletter via U.S. Mail, we mail 3 MC newsletters together, so you should get the newsletters every 3 weeks.

This saves postage. Of course, we do send the newsletter (in color!) each week via email! Sign up for that via: maimonidesschool@gmail.com

AMENDMENT LOOPHOLES 8th grade history is learning about the 13th and 14th amendments. Even though slavery was over in the US, some tried loopholes in the law using things like the poll tax, sharecropping and the grandfather clause to keep up some of the practical effects of slavery.

The fight for equality and overcoming prejudice was a long struggle.

LET’S KEEP SCHOOL CLEAN! Maimonides had a deep-cleaning this summer, and hired additional help to keep the school clean. But we need students help, too! Let’s be sure to pick up after ourselves. Thanks!

HELP NEEDY FOR HOLIDAYS Contact Rabbi Rubin to contribute discreetly to needy families during holiday season or Rabbi Zalmy Simon at Shalom Food Pantry.

at Maimonides and in the Community 9/19: SHABBOS SHUVAH TALKS

9/22: EREV Y.K. MENS MIKVAH

10/1: THE ARCHIVE THIEF

It’s customary for Rabbis to share inspiring sermons on the Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom-Kippur, known as Shabbos Shuvah:  Shabbos morning at Shomray Torah Rabbi Israel Rubin will discuss various reactions and a Talmudic reflection to widely read articles by recently deceased acclaimed author & neuroscientist Dr. Oliver Sacks on “The Sabbath” (NY Times) and “Gefilte Fish” (New Yorker).  Rabbi Binyamin Lehrfield will speak at CBAJ at 10:45am on Shabbos morning on the topic of “Why Must We Suffer?”  Rabbi Avraham Kelman at Beth Israel in Schenectady will speak on: “Shuvah Alay, v’Ashuva Aleichem: Applying Principals of Teshuvah in the Modern World.”

Bnos Israel Mikvah schedule for mens mikvah use on Tues, Erev Yom Kippur: 12:45-2pm & 3:004:30pm Costs: $10pp per day, $2 extra for towel, max $30 per family per day. Kids under 12 free, only with supervising adult. Note the following: 1) Everyone must shower prior to immersion.

2) Bring a towel. $2 charge for towels, if necessary.

3) Remove shoes before entering waiting room.

4) Please make an effort to come toward the beginning of the shifts, so there won't be a big crowd in the last half hour. The young men who will be there to take the money, need to clean up afterwards and get home or to shul in a timely manner. Please be considerate of their time.

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. The event will be at UAlbany’s Alumni House at 7pm, free and open to the community. For more info call: 442-4130.

9/19: TEITELMAN KIDDUSH There will be a Kiddush this Shabbos, given by Joyce & family, at Shomray Torah commemorating the upcoming 10th yartzeit of Dr. Bernie Teitelman, a long-time Gabbai, member of the Talmud study and pillar of the community, who passed away on Yom-Kippur ten years ago,

9/20: ADK BALLOON FESTIVAL

9/27: NEXTDOR AT GOOLD’S Federation’s NextDor group is going to Goold Orchards for apple-picking, tasting and a tour.

RSVP by the 23rd: 858-5070.

9/27: SIMCHAS BEIS HASHOEVA It’s a long-standing local tradition, to have afterdinner get-togethers / Farbrengens in different Sukkahs each night. Stay tuned for list of Sukkahs and Sukkah nights in next week’s MC newsletter.

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.

10/3: STARLIGHT SUKKAH PARTY Sat Night, 8pm at the home of Rabbi Binyamin and Orit Lehrfield (116 Cardinal Ave) featuring delicious food, good friends, and music.

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

Sunday 6:30am launch of 100+ hot-air balloons at 9/30: SUSHI IN THE SUKKAH Floyd Bennett Airport in Queensbury or 20+ 4-7pm at Clifton Park Chabad, 495 Moe Road. balloons launching 5pm at Crandalls Park in Glens Kosher Sushi by Mr Fuki, live Klezmer music, and Falls. More info at www.adirondackballoonfest.org Sukkah activities. For more info call: 495-0772/9.

9/20: MADISON STREET FAIR Sunday 12-5pm “Upper Madison Street Fair” on the block between West Lawrence & South Allen.

9/20: INTL HAKHEL GATHERING

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

in cities around the world - and online! 1pm EST. View online at www.chabad.org/Hakhel5776 and join Jewish people of all ages from Buenos Aires to Paris, Brooklyn to Jerusalem, Moscow to London.

Every seven years, after the year of Shmittah, is Hakhel - the year of gathering.

10/1: KIDS SUKKOT PROGRAM

9/20: IRAN DEAL & MIDDLE-EAST

10/1: SUKKAH PARTY AT SARATOGA CHABAD

A Jewish Federation Joint-Society event (open to all) featured Dr. Sharon Goldman of AIPAC. 7pm at Temple Israel. To RSVP (cost info etc) call Federation: 783-7800

Motti is back from Australia! The Kids Sukkot rally 11am-12pm at Shomray Torah, with games and stories, raffle and prizes… this year, in honor of Hakhel (the Year of Gathering) parents and kids of all ages are welcome, too!

5pm, details (including food, activities and entertainment) to be announced. If you are headed up that way, maybe stop at the Clifton Park Farmers Market (one of the last of the season) 29/21: COMMUNAL KAPOROT 5pm in a church parking lot at 912 Rt 146. And of 6pm sharp at Shomray Torah. Kaporot must start course, this is the season for apple picking! Try on time, please be timely. In lieu of payment, please Saratoga Apple in the shadow of the Saratoga contribute in multiples of $18 (Chai - To Life!) to Monument, or Bowman Orchards in Rexford, Maimonides. Followed by Mincha and Maariv. among many other great local orchards near or on the way to Saratoga.

Wishing all our readers and the entire community an easy fast and a Gmar Chasima Tova!

If you’d like to sponsor this newsletter for an occasion or in memory of a loved one, please contact the school office (518) 453-9363.

MAIMONIDES TISHREI HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 9/14-15: Rosh Hashanah, No School 9/16: Fast of Gedalia, 9:30am start* 9/22: Erev Yom-Kippur, No School 9/23: Yom Kippur, No School 9/24: “Guhts Nuhmen” Day after Yom Kippur, 9:30am start* 9/27-10/6: Sukkot & Simchat Torah, No School extended holiday break 10/7: Morning after Simchat Torah, 9:30am*

* on days with 9:30am start, grades 1+ please daven before school

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!”