Maimonides Community

BH.

Adar 29, 5778 / March 16, 2018

‫ב“ה‬

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:45 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 7:46 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

PI DAY LEARNING

MAIMONIDES 3.14 (March 14th) is known as PiDay, as it recalls the famous 404 Partridge Street mathematical formula. 7th grade Albany NY 12208 Talmud class learned Sukkah 7b-8a with Rabbi Mendel where it discusses a 3:1 ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and how Rabbi Yochanon arrives at his extra-large minimum size for a circular Sukkah. After a bunch of mathematical Gemorah questions (including adding percentages, diagonal measurement and other things) the Gemorah concludes that Rabbi Yochanan was rounding it up, his 24amot circumference wasn’t a precise number.

A GUMBALL The same is said about MACHINE PARTY Gemorah’s 3:1 ratio, It isn’t an actual gumball which is a rounded machine. Mrs. Mattice has number and not the been adding colorful circles precise pi formula of: to their classroom wall 3.14159265359… Rabbi gumball machine for their Yossi brought in a fun good behavior, and now that it filled up, she mathematicallymade them a classroom party. The students decorated kippa/ were very appreciative that Mrs. Mattice yarmulka that Mendel went out of her way to find and buy H. is modeling here (<). them Kosher treats they would enjoy!

This MC Newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of

Reb Moshe Rubin Yartzeit today—Erev RC Nissan By his son and extended family

SUCCESSFUL MISHKAN? YES! Morah Rochel shared with the HS Girls an essay she read about “Was the Mishkan (biblical desert tabernacle) a success?” It seems that it was! People contributed more money and supplies than needed, everything was beautiful and well-executed, and it was the prototype for the Mishkans established in Israel and the two Jerusalem Temples. But behind the scenes we learn about problems they encountered: Moshe couldn’t get the AND PI DAY EATING, TOO! Menorah to be made, Nadav and Avihu Our school had a bunch of bagels leftover died on its inauguration day, there were from the TeachNYS event the day earlier the other issues, it wasn’t all smooth and easy. Yet, Capitol. 7th graders helped Morah Rochel add overall we see it as a major success. It’s a good a little sauce and cheese, and presto! The lesson to not let setbacks and frustrations color whole school had (circular) pizza-bagels for an our entire experience. Keep it positive! added treat at lunchtime on Pi Day!

TEACH NYS AT CAPITOL Our 7th grade boys attended part of the private school education advocacy and lobbying day at the NYS Capitol and they enjoyed the Kosher Price Chopper prepared lunch along with 1200(!) visiting NYS yeshiva and day school students and teachers.

FAREWELL MRS. KIRKLEY

Our 3rd grade general studies teacher Mrs. Sunni Kirkely is moving with her family to (sunnier) Colorado. We will miss her at Maimonides and are grateful for her teaching, BROKEN CRYSTAL JOKE SKELETAL TEST not only 3rd grade but in the past she also Rabbi Mendel shared a joke with 7th 7th grade science with Mrs. taught science-enrichment and HS science at grade boys Talmud class (ask them for it!) to Ramsay had a “map-style” test Maimonides. We explain a Rashi commentary on the difference of the human skeletal system wish her and her between distinctly separate vs. mixed-in Kosher for students to label 26 bones family well in and non-Kosher Schach.

It tied in with Kosher of the body. That funny song their new home. laws of majority/minority nullification as well! she taught them helped!

KINDERGARTEN’S TZADIK This week Kindergarten learned the Hebrew letter Tzadik, which stands for the names of two of the students in their class: Tzila & Tzvika! Plus the Tzadik letter starts the words Tzefardaya = frog, and Tzipor = bird, both of which played a role in the Passover story.

CUTTING SNOWFLAKES

AS WE OURSELVES LEFT EGYPT Nursery is learning all about Pesach, getting immersed in the story and its observances.

Nursery students were very excited to learn a new technique on afternoon this week. Morah Chani and Morah Esti showed them how to fold paper squares into triangle shapes three times (smaller and smaller each time) and then cut half-shapes into the 3-times folded paper.

It didn’t seem right until they opened up the folded paper—and they had a snowflake! They were fascinated to see the extended effect of their smaller cuts once the paper unfolded.

SOLOMON’S THRONE HS Girls learned about mechanical systems that may have powered King Solomon’s animated moving throne (something they learned in Navi class) possibly using gears and interlocking mechanisms.

Rabbi Yossi brought in a sample gear device in STEAM class to see how all kinds of reactions can be set in motion using gears, even without any use of electricity. And they learned the history of Swiss watchmaking which used dependable gear systems to do sophisticated things. Some students related it to the unique fiction book “The Invention of Hugo Cabaret” (a story told mostly via illustration) which tells of a mechanical automaton.

BOYS CHIDON WEEKEND Last week 14 of our girls participated in the Yahadus Chidon in NY and this week 10 of our boys are down in Brooklyn for the international Chidon. Thanks to Rabbi Motti for chaperoning. It’s a weekend packed full of learning and testing, game shows and entertainment, singing and dancing, fun activities and outings, mingling with fellow Yahadus curriculum students from all over the world, as far away as Australia!

COUNTDOWN TO ISRAEL 70TH Our students have been enjoying the games and Israel trivia at this educational website.

WHY FUSS ABOUT A BOTTLE? Why were students fussing all of Thursday about a bottle with a round black cap? Rabbi Yossi in STEAM class showed them this bottle with a black cap through which they could increase pressure inside the bottle, so when it was released, it would make a fun popping sound, as opening a bottle of champagne would. But the cool thing was how the bottle (to which they added a little water or a little rubbing alcohol before adding the pressure) filled with steam just after popping. That’s because the higher pressure in the bottle met with a lower pressure outside the bottle and condensed whatever was in the bottle. This is a different twist on the cloud in the bottle experiment. Interesting and fun!

After kids sharing all types of places they learned about clouds in MEASURE TWICE BEFORE...

Chumash (Sarah’s tent, leading the After the “Keresh” (Mishkan beam) woodJewish people by daytime during the Exodus, working project, Rabbi Shmuly and his crew the cloud atop Mt. Sinai, and other examples) are now building shtenders. But before you do Rabbi Yossi tied this experiment into the anything to the wood, precise plans and good cloud hovering above the Mishkan (desert measurements must come first. That’s a tabernacle) representing the Shechina Divine STEAM lesson in engineering!

Presence, which could also be seen as an area with drastically different levels of spiritual HAWAII pressure, perhaps.

SCRAPBOOK

These first graders learned about islands and volcanos and the tropics, and now made their own scrapbooks that blend all of their varied learning about Hawaii in all of their General Studies skills and subjects.

VOCAB JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT For English class with Mrs. M. 7th graders have been working on their vocab journal which was due this week. Basically, they had to take 20 lesser-known words from a recent book they read: “The Trouble with Lemons” words which they weren’t (as) familiar with, and write up definitions, find synonyms and antonyms and also write them into a sentence.

YOGA & PHYS-ED Thanks to Amanda G. who leads the HS Girls through some very rigorous exercise each Friday and to Lauren who comes Tuesdays (this week on Thursday) to do Yoga with them and separately with women from the community.

PLEASE, WE NEED YOUR KIDS PICTURES WITH SENIORS!

CONTINUED TEHILLIM

We all continue to daven for the complete We’re asking students and families to submit a recovery of Reb Moshe Losice, Eliezer Moshe ben Bracha Yospeh. Refuah Shlayma! nice picture of a student (any class: Nursery thru HS) doing something (reading, a craft, taking a walk, doing a Mitzvah, etc) with a senior (this could be a grandparent, a neighbor, a family friend etc) for a STEPHEN HAWKING photo-book with meaningful Stephen Hawking, a world-renown physicist intergenerational messages that our died on Pi Day, birthday of High School girls in the “Better 2 Einstein and the day that Galileo Lead” program will be making for died. Interestingly, 7th grade was the seniors they visit. There is a raffle for a learning about muscles and muscle gift card in each age group! For more info or diseases that day, and this is what ailed him, to submit your picture: speak to Rabbi Yossi WHY SO MUCH BLACK PAINT? he struggled valiantly against ALS for 55 years! or email: BnosChayaPrograms@gmail.com Kindergarteners were busy with a lot of black They also learned that some of his greatest This need to be in by Pesach or immediately paint today. It has to do with a Pesach project. accomplishments were based on earlier work afterwards. THANKS ALL! Wonder what it will be? Stay tuned. of an Israeli scientist whom he argued against, which teaches us that you can learn SENSORY MATZAH BAKERY and grow from anyone, even those Nursery has a kid-friendly model Matzah you disagree with. And even as we Bakery set up where roll out playdough very obviously disagree strongly with his thin and poke hole in it with tools, and race it very negative positions on Israel and religion, to the “hot” oven with poles and rods. They we can respect his genius research and his have to clean-up between each set and work determination not to let his terrible disease, closely as a team and as fast as they can. extreme disability & paralysis hold him back.

Like he said, “Don’t look at your feet (his were paralyzed) look up at the stars (he was famous for his work on astronomy)!”

FIRST OF BIOME PROJECTS IN The first set of 18 biome projects are in and the rest are due this coming week. Simi is pictured here with her Alpine biome (with fauna & flora, climate, maps and more details). Thanks to everyone’s research they will be learning about all types of biomes!

WORKING OUTSIDE THE CLASS For a change of scenery and change of pace, Mrs. Mattice once in a while has her students do some class work out in the lunchroom (when it is empty) right outside their first and second grade classroom. This time they are working together on their math-books, reviewing and practicing their math skills.

PASSOVER PREP IN NURSERY Getting the kitchen ready! See how Nursery students covered their toy kitchen with aluminum foil, and boy did they scrub in down! They have a Seder table in the works and 3 big round paper-painted Matzahs hanging on top. If your Nursery students come home with an enthusiasm for Pesach cleaning YEAST+SUGAR=BALLOON? Mrs. Mattice did this science experiment with they’ve been practicing and learning all about it in school. And they know so much about her second graders. They put yeast in one container and yeast with sugar in another, and the Pesach story, too! More crafts next week. there were uninflated balloons atop each. Only the yeast with sugar rose HAGGADAH LEARNING With the first Seder two weeks from tonight, up to inflate the balloon! Good all of our grades are now learning about timing for pre-Pesach learning!

Pesach, from the story to its laws, whether via projects and crafts or in original classic texts.

BIG THANKS FROM DASI G. Dasi G. and her family thanks everyone for their concern and offers of help, and to her Nursery friends and teachers for their beautiful cards and for being so nice and helpful to her as she returns to the classroom in a wheelchair for now. It will take some time until she is all better she’s so happy to be back in school. We wish her a Refuah Shlayma!

ALBANY = EGYPTIAN DOGS There are decorated dogs all over downtown, what do they have in common with the dogs in Mitzrayim? Any ideas?

MAZAL TOV MORGENBESSERS MHDS alum Shmuly & Pessie Morgenbesser had a baby boy in Kew Garden Hills. Mazal Tov to Bubbe Morgenbesser, many Simchas!

at Maimonides and in the Community 3/16: FIRST OF THE “LONG-FRIDAYS” This week (since we changed the clock) we’re back onto regular Friday dismissal at 3:30pm. Shabbos begins (and ends) later.

3/17: VAYIKRA, HACHODESH & ROSH CHODESH In addition to starting a new Chumash, this Shabbos we read the last of the 4 seasonal bonus Torah Readings. For shuls that have them this is a 3-Torah Shabbos! And Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh Nissan with a special Musaf.

3/17: TWO YARTZEIT KIDDUSH THIS SHABBOS This week’s Kiddush at Shomray Torah is by Rabbi Rubin in memory of his father R’ Moshe Rubin (yahrzeit 29 Adar) and Sid Stark in memory of his mother Rose Stark (yartzeit 27 Adar).

3/17: RABBI YISROEL REISMAN’S NAVI CLASS Now broadcasting 9:30pm on Sat Nights at CBAJ’s Media Center.

3/18: “GIANT TRY IT” AT THE TROY ARTS CENTER 12-3pm at the Arts Center, 265 River Street, Troy. Mush clay, hammer metal, and break glass to your hearts content, no charge, for this one afternoon try any of their many art studios and programs.

4/3: JEAN MEHLER-KELMAN ART EXHIBIT AT S-JCC There will be a reception for Rabbi Avraham Kelman’s late mother’s artwork at 4:30-6:30pm at the Schenectady JCC. She passed away in March at age 92.

Born in Crown Heights, she was married to USAF Captain Dr. Herb Kelman for 65 years. She began her artwork in the 1970’s in Forest Hills, Queens. > STAY TUNED FOR DATE/TIME OF PESACH KIDS PROGRAM

4/3: PESACH OUTING AT SARATOGA CHABAD 5:30pm program includes Pesach meal, juggling entertainment, and live music. Cost is $10pp/$54 family. RSVP by 3/28. After 3/28 cost rises to $18pp. 518-526-0773 for RSVP and more info.

4/3-5: BIRD LAB AT NYS MUSEUM Special activity to learn more about birds, two times over these days: 10am11:30am and 2-3pm in the Museum Lab. Other Spring Break activities as well.

3/18: CLASSICAL MUSIC SHOWCASE AT NYS-MUSEUM

4/3-5: SPRING BREAK AEROSCIENCES MUSEUM 1-4pm in the Adirondack Hall at the NYS Museum, free music, all types of instruments played by members of the Albany Musicians Association, Local 14 Tuesday thru Thursday of Chol HaMoed, 10am-4pm with special activities, simulated reality etc in addition to the regular exhibits. More info? ESAM.org. of the American Federation of Musicians.

3/18: OHAV SHALOM’S RUMMAGE SALE 8:30am-1pm. There can be some old treasures (books, toys etc) to be found.

3/25: TERRIFIC TURTLES AT THE PINE BUSH 1-3pm at the Pine Bush Discovery Center. $3pp/$5 family. (518) 456-0655.

Call ahead to reserve. Includes hike at different Pine Bush location.

3/25: CAPITAL DISTRICT GARDEN & FLOWER SHOW In time for Chodesh HaAviv! 10am-5pm at HVCC, 80 Vandenburgh Ave in Troy. Cost is $14pp, kids under 12 are free with adult.

4/10: CHLOE VALDARY SPEAKS FOR J-FED WOMENS Open to the entire community, Jewish Federation’s Womens Philanthropy presents a multimedia presentation by Chloe Valdary using pop-culture to talk about Israel. 6pm (with buffet dinner) at Beth Emeth. Cost: $36pp, $40 at the door. $20 for ages 12-40.

4/18: YOM HA’ATZMAUT COMMUNAL CELEBRATION 6pm-10pm at the Sage College Armory. 7pm “Tekes Maavar” 8pm Rami Strosberg and orchestra music and dancing, visiting food truck and more.

4/22: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE AUCTION EVENT

3/30: EREV PESACH MORNING AT MAIMONIDES

At 184 Washington Ave Extension. Stay tuned for details.

A longtime annual tradition. Morning Minyan, Siyum Bechorim and Chametz Breakfast treats. Communal Chametz Burning later that morning. Stay tuned for times and info.

6/5: 30TH ANNUAL MAIMONIDES DINNER HONORS RABBI YISROEL AND MORAH ROCHEL!

3/30-31: PESACH SEDER NIGHTS The first Seder is Friday Night, March 30th, second Seder on Saturday Night.

See below for some communal Seders for those not making Seders at home:  CBAJ’s Friday Night 3/30 communal Seder. Non-members: $45pp, $40 per child. Register by March 13th online at www.CBAJ.org/passover-5778/  Bethlehem Chabad Community Seder 3/30th 6:45pm, $30pp, $10child.

2nd Night Simon family-style Seder 3/31 Info? 518-439-3310  Saratoga Chabad communal Seders both nights, call 518-526-0773 for info.  Shabbos House communal Seders both nights for students and young adults, see ShabbosHouse.org/Passover2018 or call 518-526-0770 for info.  Colonie Community Seder, 6:45pm at Holiday Inn Express, 16 Wolf Rd., $25pp, kids $10, Info/RSVP: ChaiCenterColonie@gmail.com 368-7886.

Save the date! More details soon. This year, the 30th year of the dinner & the Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award honors Rabbi Yisroel & Rochel Rubin who founded the school in 1980 and continue to shepherd it daily to this day!

7/9-8/17: CAMP GAN ISRAEL DATES Gan Israel Day Camp announces its dates for the Summer 2018 season. Dedicated staff, engaging program, meaningful memories.

For more information call Morah Devorah Leah: 518-698-1836.

“MAOS CHITTIM” FOOD FOR THE NEEDY As we prepare for our own holiday meals it is customary to contribute to the needs of others. Contact Rabbi Rubin 518-423-4103 for discrete distribution, or Shalom Food Pantry or your Rabbis discretionary fund.

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!”