Maimonides Community

BH. Elul

17, 5777 / Sept 8, 2017

‫ב“ה‬

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:59 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 7:58 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

BLOWING HOT AND COLD One of the big changes at school this year is the upcoming installation of a brand-new HVAC (forced air heating and cooling system) in the old building portion of the school (the original Tiferet Israel synagogue built over 80 years ago). It’s a hands-on science lesson right there! Rabbi Rubin and teachers explained to the students the difference between different heating systems and how heating (or cooling) is distributed and regulated throughout the building. This is a long overdue upgrade as the aging giant boiler is on its way out, it frees up valuable space at school for new building configurations and increases our energy efficiency. But Rabbi Rubin and Maimonides are never ones to miss an opportunity for an life-related educational message: unlike the old hot-water boiler, HVAC blows both hot and cold! On the first day of school all students were treated to hot brownies served together with scoops of cold mint ice-cream to celebrate this wonderful contrast. Rabbi Rubin asked students to come up with hot and cold symbolisms when it comes to education. Here are some of the ideas, from students of all ages:  Passion & Excitement (hot) vs. Skills (cold)  Family-feel (hot) vs. Discipline (cold)  Special Events (hot) vs. Everyday stuff (cold)  Close Friends (hot) vs. Giving Space (cold) You need BOTH to succeed at school! It also reminded the students of the “hot & cold” game, the endeavor to keep trying to get closer and closer to discovering and reaching your goal!

MEIR O’BRIEN OBM MHDS alumnus, Meir O’Brien (Meir Yisrael Hirschel ben Yehonsan Chaim & Zahavah Tziporah) passed away this past Shabbat, at the young age of 20, after a brief fight against Leukemia. Our heartfelt condolences to his mother Vicky, and to all of his siblings who also attended Maimonides. Meir graduated American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro with the Judaic Studies award, and was entering his junior year at the University of Chicago. Friends from all of his (all-too-short) life stages came in, some from great distances, a great testament to how beloved he was by his peers, to be at his funeral this Wednesday, which was held at Shabbos House where his Bar-Mitzvah was just over 7 years ago. He was lovingly eulogized and remembered by friends and family in beautifully warm ways that can keep his memory and legacy alive in our hearts. He was buried alongside his late father.

Vicky continues sit Shiva at Shabbos House this coming week through Monday evening, times TBA after Shabbat. The pictures above of Meir at Maimonides were among those shown at the slideshow at his funeral.

HURRICANE IRMA Hurricanes were talked about a lot this week at school, with the aftermath of Harvey in Texas and the monster storm Irma barreling its way closer to Florida as Shabbos approaches. We pray and hope for the safety of all in its way.

Rabbi Yossi did a STEAM unit with several grades on hurricanes, using swirling water bottles and online videos. Students saw the majesty and enormity of the circling storm from satellite images and the incredible devastation on the ground in places like St Marten and the flooding in Houston.

WELCOME NEW TEACHERS Maimonides is pleased to welcome Mrs. Monica Mitsakas-Rock (ELA for middle and high school classes) and Ms. Casey Coffey (Math for middle & high school), Esti Backman (Nursery) & Chani Rubin (Kindergarten & Nursery). More later!

CHANGING CLASSROOMS 5th graders are new to changing classrooms for some of their subjects, especially for General Studies. They are working on a quick, quieter and seamless transition between classes to make the most of their subjects in each period.

FIRST (FRUIT) COOKIES Morah Chani shaped and baked cookies with her Kindergarten students. When they were ready, she asked each student to pick their favorite one. And then, they were asked to share that one with a friend—to demonstrate the feeling of farmers giving away their first fruits in this week’s Torah portion.

THE HOT AND COLD TREAT Here are two students enjoying their hot and cold treat of brownies and ice-cream on the first day of school as Rabbi Rubin speaks to them about the upgrade to an HVAC system and the life-lessons learned from it. Special thanks to the 7th grade girls for warming up the brownies and portioning out and serving the ice-cream! Cheerful helpers…

IN MANY LANGUAGES In another Kindergarten Parsha lesson, they used universally recognized emoticons, (or ROSH HASHANAH! emojis) which are understood cross-culturally, Rosh Hashanah will be two weeks from the in any language or by any age group. This is first day of school, but is now less than two like the Be’er Heitev of this week’s Ki Tavo weeks away. Next Saturday Night (not this Torah portion translating Torah into 70 one) will be Motzai Shabbos of Selichot. Many languages to be accessible and relevant to all. of our classes are already learning all about the Speaking of different languages, the kids each upcoming holidays. piped up with an assortment of words (from Bonjour to Spaciba) and song fragments that they knew in other languages!

NEW BULLETIN BOARDS UP These two bulletin boards at the main entrance of the school have great messages!

The Hebrew lines (on bottom board) are a quote from Sefer Chassidim which says, “There are three teachers: Horim (parents), Morim (teachers), & Chaveirim (friends).”

THE PLOT THICKENS...

GIANT TIC-TAC-TOE? Nope, guess again! This is the back of a new cubby cabinet, being built by the students with Rabbi Shmuly. Some classes needed more cubbies, and instead of just ordering them, Rabbi Shmuly took some time to work with his students to make them. It takes a little FIRST GRADE, FIRST DAY teamwork, not giving up at first failure, and gives a little pride in a job well done, that they Ms. Arika Ford’s first graders did some writing will be able to use and enjoy! and illustrating as soon as they got in on their first day of school and its posted proudly on their wall. No time to waste!

WHAT DOES ‫ אוה‬MEAN?

Actually, what ingredients thicken a plot?

What parts & features make it work and what roles do they play? That’s what our English This was a “homework” question from Rabbi students are exploring now with Mrs. Monika, Mendel’s davening class. This unique word on their first days of ELA class this year. appears in the Yehi Chvod collection of verses said just before Ashrei. It’s a word (there are MISHNAS FOR MEIR others that mean the same thing in Hebrew) Some MHDS alumni got together to try and that works as an on/off (or accelerant) switch learn all of the Mishna (same letters as for (student) drive & success, so its really a Neshama = soul) in memory of Meir O’Brien. very important word.

You can sign up for a tractate via this link: Lzechernishmas.com/signup.php?id=6050 & POLICY VS. PRACTICAL if you’d like to learn the Mishnas online with This came up as a difference between two English translation, try this online resource: answers in Gemorah class, Sukkah 2a. https://www.sefaria.org/texts/Mishnah

NEW WHITE-BOARDS A few classrooms got brand new whiteboards, because they were worn out and hard to read off of last year. Students compared it to the new slate of a new year, whether the new school year, or Rosh Hashanah, starting fresh and clean, without being burdened by stuff from the past. We are working on getting a few new projectors for some of the classrooms that don’t have them yet or to replace broken ones.

AND NEW CHAIRS & DESKS

MRS. SUNNY’S BUNNY

TO SPONSOR A NEWSLETTER

At least they are new to us! Thanks to Beth Emeth, some of our classes have all clean & matching desk and chair sets.

It does rhyme with Mrs. Kirkley’s first name but that’s not why she brought a bunny to her 3rd grade classroom. This furry ball of fun bounced right into the lesson with all the kids excited to learn all about it!

Please contact the school office 518-453-9363 or email mhdsnews@gmail.com. Usually sponsorship is $54 and can be made in honor of a special occasion or in memory of a loved one. And you support Jewish education!

SPEAKING OF NEW...

The old-office corner classroom finally shed its SPEECH SCREENING old wood paneling, and has freshly painted bright walls and a scraped and polished wood Through the Albany School District we had a floor, for a much more airy look and feel. district speech therapist come in to evaluate our Kindergarten students and the results will be shared with parents. This can be helpful to determine what assistance may be available or necessary.

THE FOUR KINGDOMS It might sound like old history, but this was actually a science class on classification of species and where and in what category do things belong.

PLOTTING...

No worries, our good High School girls aren’t conspiring to do anything sinister. But they Each High School girl was assigned a different are learning to plot coordinates in graphing as section of this famous painting to each draw they begin to learn geometry (which in their own rectangle, which was later joined according to some interpretations is together to recreate their creative collective mentioned in Pirkei Avos!) interpretation of the painting. It’s symbolic of their individual and collective personalities FROM 3-D TO 2-D IN MATH and efforts coming together as a class, what Also in geometry HS girls pulled apart 3-D they each do and how it all comes together. objects to lay them flat as 2-D to see how the measurements work out.

VAN GOGH’S “STARRY NIGHT”

LEGO ON THE DOOR

Have you see the decorated door to the Nursery classroom yet? It’s Lego-people themed! This has an educational message because it recognizes that there are many parts and facets to people, many components and aspects to consider. As Pirkei Avot teaches us (as interpreted by the Sfas Emes) “Judge the WHOLE person favorably.” Only when you see the whole person do you get the fuller picture and understand them much better.

THE COPIER IS STRUGGLING...

E.Q. AND I.Q. Morah Rochel spoke with some of her students on the importance and life-long value of emotional intelligence, how you relate to people and interact with others often is far greater than how much know and understand. The goal is to grow and develop in both areas.

P.E.M.D.A.S. They got a taste of this back in 5th and 6th grade, but now 8/9 is taking this to a higher level with more advanced and complex sets of problems to sort out using this method.

THIS, TOO, IS FOR THE GOOD Many have heard that classic line before, it is famous, even if hard to live by. But Rabbi Rubin’s students are now learning that story of Nachum Ish Gamzu (who last name derives from this saying) in Talmud tractate Taanis.

We’re still maximizing the life of the office copier but it’s struggling. We’re still on the 518/838 AREA CODES lookout for a new heavy-duty machine that can Remember, we have to start dialing 518 before better service our school’s needs. Thanks to local numbers, because 838 is an additional Mrs. Sharona Backman for adding to its life, area code for this area. We’re growing! rescuing and repairing, and caring for it.

MAIMONIDES RAFFLE-AUCTION It isn’t even Rosh Hashanah yet, but not to early to start working on this year’s RaffleAuction which will be on Chanukah. Parents or friends who’d like to help with donating, sponsoring or soliciting prizes are most welcome. Be in touch with Raizy, 518-7727299 who coordinates this annual fundraiser.

THANK YOU PARENTS, THANK YOU STUDENTS! There’s a great mood and vibe at school this year, the students are eager and excited and there’s a great feeling in the air. We thank both students and parents for this wonderful attitude and look forward to a great year!

We wish the entire Maimonides School family, all of our students and faculty, friends and supporters, the greater Capital Region Jewish community and all of our readers:

‫שנה טובה‬ ‫כתיבה וחתימה טובה‬ Shana Tova Ksiva vaChasima Tova!

May this is a wonderful year for all, Happy, Healthy and Sweet—filled with many blessings!

at Maimonides and in the Community 9/9: CHAI ELUL KIDDUSH Shomray Torah’s Kiddush in honor of Chai (18th of) Elul, birthday of both the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, is sponsored by Dr. Yehoshua and Chaya Bracha Rubin, in honor of their newborn daughter Chana Aidel.

9/9: NCSY LUNCH, CANDY SUSHI MAKING Grades 8-12 with youth directors Tzvi & Jeanette Goldstein, at CBAJ.

9/9: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR 4:45pm this week given by Shayna Kudan at her home, 6 Peyster Street.

9/10: THE ANNUAL CARROT FESTIVAL Carrots is the big theme, but it goes way beyond carrots to include vendors and crafters, and even antique cars. 10am-5pm at Agudat Achim on Union Street in Schenectady.

9/10: TROY FLEA MARKET Sunday 10am-3pm at the Troy Riverfront Park.

9/10: BETHLEHEM CHABAD BUILDING DEDICATION 3-5pm at the new home for Bethlehem Chabad, 393 Delaware Ave (just past the “Four Corners”) featuring a live musical ensemble, and a show by master illusionist Chris Wheel, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, fun for all the family.

9/11: “HOW TO LIKE THE ONE YOU LOVE” 7:30pm at the Federation, for men & women, presented by Bnos Israel Mikvah & Mikvah USA, an inspirational talk by Mrs. Rochel Goldbaum. For more info: 3363380 or SEHirsch1 @gmail.com.

9/12: PRIMARY ELECTIONS

event at Shabbos House for students and community. 7:30pm. This event is co-sponsored by III-Invest In Israel, The Jewish Federation, UAlbany Great Danes for Israel, CAMERA, ZOA. More info on the flyer or visit: www.shabboshouse.org/6days50years for updates.

9/18: NEED A PLACE FOR ROSH HASHANAH? Those days of being turned away for a lack of a ticket are changing. It’s not only Chabad Houses anymore. Some synagogues now welcome non-members and some do not require tickets or charge for services as they used to.

Several races are up for grabs this Primary Day, including a 3-way contest for the Democrat ballot line in Albany’s mayoral race. The county executive in Rennselear County is highly contested as well. Sometimes, the primary race in September matters even more than the General Election in November.

9/26: RAMBAM SIYUM AND SIMON YARTZEIT

The 1-year cycle of Mishna Torah Rambam study concludes this year on the 6th of Tishrei which is also the yartzeit of Rabbi Nachman Simon’s 9/16: MOTZAI SHABBOS SELICHOS father. Look for a special Rambam Siyum Saturday Night before Rosh Hashanah, getting into the high holiday spirit! program filled with words of Torah and insight, featured speakers include Rabbi Israel Rubin and Rabbi Roy Feldman (CBAJ), Rabbi Avraham 9/18: SIX DAYS, FIFTY YEARS Kelman (Beth Israel) and Rabbi Simon, too.

Ephy and Eitan are both IDF veterans of the Six Day War in 1967, and they More on this Siyum on the next MC Newsletter. and Rabbi Israel Rubin will share their memories at a 50 year commemoration As Rabbi Simon often says: Stay Tuned!

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!”