Maimonides Community

BH. Kislev

22, 5780 / Dec 20, 2019

‫ב“ה‬

Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org 4:06 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 5:12 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

RAFFLE-AUCTION IS SO SOON!

CHARLES FISHBAUM FAREWELL

Thanks to all for their support of this annual school fundraiser. At this point, tickets can be purchased in person at the Dec 23rd event, or online (up until about 4:30 that day) at: www.maimonidesschool.org/auction Please also share this win-win Mitzvah opportunity with friends & family. Thanks and good luck!

Charles is a UAlbany (and Shabbos House) alum who moved back to Albany to work as an attorney for NY State and has been active with University Heights Chabad and our local community. He’s moving back to NYC this weekend and we wish him continued success and will miss him in Albany! (Next week, another UAlbany-University Heights farewell).

This MC Newsletter is dedicated in appreciation of all the Raffle-Auction sponsors and contributors. This end of December fundraiser is an important help for our school!

ALSO AT THE AUCTION NIGHT: YUM! Kochmans are recreating a old-style deli for the Chanukah dinner including oldschool homemade corned beef and homecured sauerkraut, pareve NY egg-creams and Matzah-Ball soup among other deli-casies!

Dinner is $7pp or max $25 per family.  In addition to buying tickets in the auction with prizes from A-Z plus mystery and splitthe-pot, you can also vote on some of the creative Menorahs our students made.  Morah Rivi and the art students (with help from Rabbi Shmuly) created a most unusual Menorah, in some ways it is extra Mehudar (deluxe form of observance) that is also art.

Come see it! Find out what makes it such an HALFMOON CAPTAIN BRINGS HIS BOOKS TO MAIMONIDES ideal observance. It is electric now, but we Skipper Chip Reynolds was the captain of the “Halfmoon” replica historical educational boat may possibly light it with candles. that was based out of this area and then sold and moved to the Netherlands. He fondly remembers our school’s visit to the boat years ago, so when it was time for him to downsize, he RABBI KELMAN CONDOLENCE decided he would bring us his historical books on early Jewish immigration to America. This Rabbi Rubin, Morah Rochel and the 9th grade goes back to 1654, long before it was the United States when a group of Spanish-Portuguese boys called Rabbi Avraham Kelman (formerly Jewish settlers arrived by boat to New Amsterdam (now NYC) after leaving Recife in Brazil. In of Schenectady, now in Sante Fe) to offer honor of his visit, Rabbi Rubin dusted off the school’s decade-old “Halfmoon Menorah” condolences after the passing of his father. He custom designed in 2009 for the 1609 Henry Hudson Halfmoon 400 year anniversary. was so happy to hear from the boys (his former MENORAH PARADE ON TUES students) and told them a little about his late Parade leaving from school. Join if you can!

See page 4 for local communal Chanukah father, how he’d practice Jewish knowledge and Hebrew grammar exercises on the walk to event listings. Monday night is the school’s MAZAL TOV AHARON SIMON Raffle-Auction, Tuesday morning are the kids Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Aharon & Shul with them. He told us a bit about Sante plays and songs, and on Tuesday after 11:30am Ricky Simon on the birth of a daughter. Mazal Fe and also said that he uses “The Torah dismissal there will be a CAR-MENORAH Times” when teaching kids there!

Tov to the grandparents R’ Nachman & Clara. 

MENORAH MAKING Nursery students made different types of Menorahs this week. (Top) Using both the long and short ends of a cut sponge, they painted white candles candles and yellow (or red) flames, a good handson exercise of fine motor skills and spatial intelligence. (Above Left) They also made Tile Menorahs using beautifully colored tiles (they got to choose their sizes and style) and how to set them in a (more or less) straight line and decide if they want their Shamash in middle or off to one side.

These two students were deciding that as we took the photo.

(Left) This Nursery student proudly holds her finished Menorah project ready for use on Chanukah!

3 KISLEV DATES IN A ROW

WATERMELON OR PUMPKIN

Our 7th graders learned about 3 very different days in a row this week: Kislev 19, 20 & 21: 19 Kislev - is the release of the Alter Rebbe of Chabad from Czarist prison, a vindication of Hasidism and the yartzeit of the Maggid of Mezritch. It is widely celebrated by Chassidim but known in Chabad as the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus. Some of our grades heard stories and did some learning about Yud Tes Kislev.

20 Kislev - yartzeit of Rav Yitzchak Hutner, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn who was an interesting blend of Litvish and Chassidish styles. He was connected in certain ways to Israel’s Rav A.Y. Kook, YU’s Rabbi J.B. Solveitchik and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. A famous incident was in 1970 when he and others were hostages after a Palestinan terror organization hijacking of TWA Flight 741.

21 Kislev - is celebrated in Satmar as day of salvation of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar from the Holocaust aboard the Kastner train.

They learned how he rebuilt a decimated community from the ashes into one of the largest Jewish groups. And about the Satmar specialty & passion for Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick and helping them and their families). > It is important at Maimonides for our students get a well-rounded broad picture of Jewish life, various styles & learning to appreciate its rich spectrum.

One of the famous Yud Tes Kislev stories involves a watermelon carrying a secret handwritten (line of Shema Yisrael as a) reassurance from the Alter Rebbe to his Chassidim. But Morah Dini wondered about the availability of watermelons in the Russian winter in the late 1700’s long before foods became available out of season? As it turns out some recent research was done on this story (by Chabad families in the Ukraine a country still in the US News) and it turns out that it very likely was a winter squash or pumpkin. The reason for the watermelon is probably due to a mistranslation between Russian and Ukrainian before it ended up in Hebrew. So this turned out to be more than only a Chassidic story but also a lesson in food economy, and differences in language. (For more on the Shema in the story google “A Yud Tes Kislev story about Shema” shabboshouse).

GALLIUM IS A FUN METAL Ms. Brown’s chemistry students had a fun time with gallium in the lab because it is the metal on the periodic table with the lowest melting point. So it melts in warm water and if you let it sit in the water till it reaches room temperature, then it solidifies again!

MAKING “ANYGEMACHTZ”

There is an old Chassidic tradition that while in prison the Alter Rebbe asked for this food made of black radish and honey because it represented “sweeting the (bitter) judgement” and turning negatives into positives. While we don’t know the real recipe, we tried a “nobake” version (found online) of hollowing out the radish and letting the honey sit and soak BIG TITANIC TALK IN HISTORY inside. It was served at the communal Mrs. Ramsay’s middle school is learning about farbrengen some 6-7 hours after they prepared Gilded Age, and the Titanic was a big part (or it. Most present had never heard of this near end) of that. They learned about the hype tradition so it was a cool learning experience. leading up to the ship’s voyage, types of people aboard & amenities offered. Builders thought HONEY IN STRANGE PLACES it would be invincible (it wasn’t) because it was Speaking of honey in black radish, 5th grade Navi class is learning about Samson and the the most technologically advanced ship of its honey he found in the dead body of a lion! time, with a double-plated bottom and 16 (btw: kids thought Samsung = Samson!) watertight chambers and other features.

GOOGLE MAPS GIVES A SENSE In the above story two messengers were sent out from Alter Rebbe’s hometown Liozna, one to Berditchev, the other to Petersburg.

Kids were curious about distances, so they looked it up on Google Maps. Turns out that Lionzna is just about in the middle of the two; both are the same 9 hours by car or 6 days on foot, one is to the South(west), the other to North(east).

VOCABULARY OF A CIRCLE? Did you see this one coming? It is Geometry class learning about various terms & formulas to find certain measurements and aspects of a circle. Another one of Ms. Coffey’s math classes is similarly learning basics of geometry and each student is assigned to make a design or company logo based on certain elements: using angles, circles, line-segments and more.

GIRLS AT LOWELL MILLS DBQ High School girls are doing a Document Based Question essay on the factory conditions and mistreatment of girls in the Lowell Mills and its effects.

CHANUKAH IN SPIN CLASS

CREATIVE MENORAHS ARE IN

For Spin Class with Amanda Gurock this We had about ten student entries this year, week at the JCC, HS Girls prepared a special and you can vote on them at the School Chanukah playlist to get into the Auction on Monday night! We love them all! spirit, all lively, pumping, get you going & moving songs!

DID YOU SEE THIS IN AUCTION? Did you know we have TWO shopping spree packages this year? That the Junior Spree also includes classic practical Rebecca Minkoff bag plus a very pretty piece from Del-Mar Jewlers?

“Jewish Home” Package F has $600 in giftcertificates alone, plus a high quality Mezuzah from MachonStam.com! That you can get a $100 in pre-loaded Bitcoin and more in #R? This year the $100 from Honest Weight is not a prepared gift-basket but a gift-card and it BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS comes along with $100 at Aldi’s, and a case of Mrs. Mattice’s 2nd graders read this story and chicken, a case of Benz’s Fish, a case of Hal’s wore these masks to get into character!

Seltzer, and much more in this year’s Shabbos Package. New items this year include an PIT WAS EMPTY, NO WATER InstaPot, a Robot Vacuum, a JBL portable Pitgam Poetry worked on the choices we make speaker, 9 Playmobil sets, a Shabbat getaway at on what to fill our minds and hearts with. the Katz Hospitality Suites in Kingston, and Some middle & HS grades also learned the much more! Drawings are this Monday! source of this Rashi commentary (the doublenegative implies while there was no water AT ESTY there were snakes & scorpions) is in Talmud KADOSH’S about Chanukah. But what’s the Chanukah LCHAIM connection? How did the Gemorah Albany had great about Chanukah end up in Yosef’s representation Pit? They learned four answers!

Mushky (Rubin) Denburg and Ita LAPLAND, NOW SAMI IN SAPMI Gordon in Older MC readers may be more familiar with Florida at the term Lapland for the cold northern areas MHDS alumnus of Scandinavia where natives have their ways Esti Kadosh’s to live so close to the Arctic Circle. In fact, engagement there is a Lapland Lake in Northville NY! But party to Isaac Romano.

Mazal Tov! it has become more respectful to refer to the area as the Sapmi and the people as the Sami.

Our first graders learned about them and how they prepare for and protect against the cold!

GENE PROJECTS

COMPOUND WORDS POSTERS This is a 4th grade student poster of everyday (itself a compound word!) compound words (two words that mean something new when you put them together): newspaper, cupcake, downtown, hardworking, toothbrush, etc.

IMPEACHMENT PROCESS Without taking sides or getting political, our 12th grade “Participation in Government” program looked back at historical precedent and texts to determine the rules that deal with this process and all the rules & steps involved.

DAYTON OH ALUMNI GET WELL CARDS Morah Devorah Leah’s 2nd and 3rd graders REGARDS A while back the MC Newsletter had a nice regards from two Maimonides alumni now both working as Rabbis in Dayton Ohio. Now they sent us a picture: Levi Simon on left and Leib Agar (wearing a preChanukah head-gear decoration) on right.

Thanks for the regards and the picture!

Middle school science each researched a trait in their families (eyeglasses, lefthandedness, hair or eyecolor, height etc) and tracked these “pedigree BLESSINGS FOR A NEW HOME charts” through their families. Squares are males, circles are female. If the gene is present As Rabbi Caras and his family move to their it is filled in, otherwise the shape is left empty. new home on West Lawrence Street his 4th grade students each gave him a blessing for a new home. Some humorous, other serious.

CHANUKAH SONGS & PLAYS Parents - please try to be there if you can for the What do you wish/hope/pray for in a home? What blessing/wish would you give? songs & plays on Tuesday morning!

made colorful Refuah Shlayma cards to be brought to patients at Albany Medical Center.

Behind them on the wall you can see some of the first and second grader’s Chanukah decorations going up.

CRAZY GOOD JUDAISM Rabbi Rubin is exploring with our students and in his research what he finds to be an important early theme in the Rebbe’s teachings about being “good and crazy” in a positive way. It all starts in a Gemorah in Kesubos, which they are exploring & celebrating together. More soon!

at Maimonides and in the Community

HAPPY CHANUKAH!

12/21: SHABBOS VAYEISHEV

 Chanukah Café at Beth Tephilah, Troy.

This Shabbos we read the start of the saga of Yosef and his brothers. It’s also Shabbos Mevorchim when we bless the new month of Tevet.

12/25: DAY #3, NIGHT #4

$5pp. More info? call: 518-894-3490

 11:30am Dreidels & Donuts at Clifton Park

12/21: RABBI REISMAN SAT NITE Rabbi Reisman’s Navi Shiur is screened live from Brooklyn now at 7:30pm on Sat Nights at CBAJ.

12/21: BAT MITZVAH CLUB 7-9pm discussion with Mrs. Nechama Laber and pillar candle craft with Chana Laber. Each girl gets a self-discovery journal. For cost, location, and more info call Nechama at 518-727-9581.

12/22: CHANUKAH BEGINS! See below for a listing of local communal Chanukah events, perhaps more listed next week!

12/22: CHANUKAH FIRST NIGHT  “Superhero Chanukah” 3pm, first at Delmar’s

Four Corners and then at Bethlehem Chabad  “Chanukah Sky-High!” 3:30pm at Boscov’s at

the Clifton Park Mall 518-495-0772/9.  Chanukah Party & Lighting, Wilton Mall in Saratoga 11:30am. 518-526-0773.

Chabad on Moe Road 518-495-0772/9.  12pm Game-Lunch event at Saratoga Chabad

518-526-0773.  Chanukah Bowling, 5pm at Spare Time in

Latham with Colonie Chai Center 518-368-7886  Chanukah Café at Troy’s Tephilah, 7pm. $5pp.

12/26: CHANUKAH NIGHT FIVE  “Dreidels and Donuts” Chanukah event 4pm at

the East Greenbush Library.  Chanukah Café at Troy’s Beth Tephilah, 7pm  “Chanukah Soiree” for young professionals 7pm

at The Argus Hotel, 8 Thurlow Terrace.

12/26: CHANUKAH FRIDAY  First day of No School at Maimonides.  Thacher Park Nature Center has activities 9-5  NYS Museum exhibit explorers, 10am-4:30pm

pick up a scavenger hunt at the Discovery Place.

12/28: THREE TORAHS SHABBAT

A rare occurrence! Shabbos Chanukah is also Rosh Chodesh so we read the weekly reading of Miketz in the 1st Torah, Rosh Chodesh in the 2nd Torah Please see box for school schedule details. Other non-Maimonides students are welcome for portions and Chanukah in the 3rd Torah (or we just roll). of it, please be in touch with our school office.

12/23-1/1: SCHOOL SCHEDULE

12/28: CHANUKAH SAT NIGHT

12/23: CHANUKAH WONDERLAND 11:30am-2:30pm at Saratoga Library on Henry St.

12/23: MAIMONIDES AUCTION Monday night, second night of Chanukah, 5-7pm.

Save the date for this special event! The Kochmans always prepare a delicious Chanukah feast - this time a deli-cious old-style deli, with homemade corned beef and sauerkraut and all the fixings!

 Menorah Lighting and Chanukah celebration at

the Colonie Center Mall, 7pm.  Chanukah Mystery Dinner, 7-9pm at Beth Tephilah, Troy. $5. Based on Troy history. Ages 12+. 518-894-3490.

1/7: FAST OF TENTH OF TEVET This fast day (daytime only) commemorates the start of the siege against Jerusalem. It ends 5:10pm.

1/10-12: WOMENS SHABBAT At the historic Gideon Putnam Resort in the heart of Saratoga Spa State Park for an inspiring, relaxing, and invigorating Shabbat weekend together with local Jewish women. Organized by Capital Region Chabad’s Jewish Womens Circles, at an all-inclusive rate of $250pp (per doubleoccupancy). Price goes up after Dec 1st. For more info & to register, see: WomensShabbat.com

1/23: FRIENDSHIP NIGHT OUT An enjoyable night out (with art, auction, dinner, drinks and entertainment) at Glennpeters Jewelers to benefit the Friendship Circle. 5-7pm.

12/29: ROSH CHODESH DAY II 2 Torahs at Shacharit, for Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah readings. Two days Rosh Chodesh.

12/24: CHANUKAH DAY TWO

12/31: FIRST NIGHT BETHLEHEM

Kids plays & performances at school on Tuesday morning. Parents, families & friends welcome! Join a Chanukah Car Parade around town, leaving school after 11:30am dismissal. Menorahs atop cars or other Chanukah decorations, all are welcome!

Parade route details TBA.

6:30pm Fireworks. 7pm Kosher Food Festival at Bethlehem Chabad 393 Delaware. 518-439-3310

1/1: BIG SIYUM AT METLIFE

12/24: CHANUKAH NIGHT THREE  “Lights & Latkes” for college students, alumni

1/4: SAT NIGHT PIZZA NIGHT AND A LOCAL DAF YOMI SIYUM

and young adults at Shabbos House, 6pm  Bubble-Mania show & Yoel Sharabi concert, 4pm in the Berkshires at Holiday Inn on West Street in Pittsfield MA.

HS Girls have their 2nd Pizza Night of the season.

Come to school to eat-in or take-out, plus there will be a special local Daf Yomi Siyum celebration following up on the national Siyum in Metlife.

The once in 7.5 years Daf Yomi Siyum will be at Metlife Stadium including an Albany delegation!

MAIMONIDES SCHOOL CHANUKAH SCHEDULE 12/23: Changed to a Half-Day, with Auction Event and Chanukah Dinner 5-7pm 12/24-12/26: Half-Days, Hebrew Only 12/24: Chanukah Plays and Songs - Parents & Families are very welcome!

12/26: The Last Half-Day of Chanukah. 1st and 2nd grades will be going to visit seniors in The Massry Residence.

12/27-1/1: No School, Extended Break 1/2/2020: School Resumes Thursday, 8am.

AT THE KOSHER STORE Kosher Price Chopper (Colonie) is in Chanukah spirit! Call 518-456-2970 x8 to make a special order or find out about prepared meals.

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!”