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BH THURS

Tishrei 8, 5773 / September 12, 2013

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 6:52

produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

Shabbos Ends:

7:51

P.C. SUKKAH UPGRADES Rabbi Rubin sat down with the Bar-Mitzvah boys class to brainstorm ways to improve on the well-used Sukkah at Price Chopper (locals on lunch break and guests and travelers from all over use it at all hours, even in middle of the night). The kids came up with some really good ideas and suggestions and they hope to work on putting some of them into action (with help from Price Chopper, too).

OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD! Our school may be on a small one-way street in upstate NY, but we want our students to know the ups and downs and ways of the world and their place in global society! And in some way, we are indeed at the center of the world, as the mall sign proclaims: “You are Here!” and as the Talmud says (Bechorot 8b): The wise men of Athens asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya: "Where is the center of the Universe?" He raised his finger and said: "Here!" They said to THE JEWISH BIRTHDAY CLUB him, "How do you know?" Rabbi Joshua Once a month at the morning recess, HS girls replied: "Bring ropes and measure it!" will be giving a cupcake to all students who have a birthday that month, along with a GIVE WITH special certificate that includes suggestions of positive things to do to celebrate your birthday.

TARGET… ONCE A On Wednesday they gave cupcakes to all the WEEK UNTIL 9/21 students born in the Hebrew months of Elul Each vote gives our school and Tishrei. Happy Birthday Kids! And special one dollar. We reached the area’s top 5 leaderboard! The thanks to the HS Girls for this initiative… weekly voting ends midnight Sat 9/21/2013, Motzai Shabbos Sukkot, that’s one or more times to vote. Our direct link is:

http://givewith.target.com/school/119264

FAREWELL MRS ROSENFIELD See back page (page 4) for this important school announcement and stay tuned for further developments and details.

TNT STUDENT NACHAS When working on the front page of the preRosh-Hashanah newsletter featuring the BFF (Bike for the Fight) sendoff, a student asked, “Why did you only include these two Q&A, there were at least 5 questions?” Before Rabbi Mendel had a chance, 7th grader Mendel V. explained: “It is because these questions and answers have life messages!” (TNT stands for the “Torah & Technology” Program at Maimonides that produces this MC Newsletter and some other projects). Look for these two life-meaningful BFF questions in this week’s “Jewish World” newspaper as well!

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This newsletter is sponsored in memory of our dearly beloved

Dr. Bernard Teitelman on his 8th Yartzeit on Yom-Kippur

By Joyce and the Teitelman and Lew Families DO YOU REMEMBER “ZAHIR”?

A few years back Maimonides honored a spectrum of community members who specialize in a specific Mitzvah, and do that Mitzvah with special interest, added zeal, passion and love. Rabbi Rubin spoke about this “Zahir” concept on Shabbos Shuvah, using it as a unique explanation on Pirkei Avot’s “someone who does one Mitzvah, acquires one (spiritual) defense attorney”. Albany attorney E. Stewart Jones got a synagogue mention!

NU, DID YOU GET THE NEW CANDLE-LIGHTING MAGNET? The handy & useful Shabbos Candle-Lighting magnets (our high-holiday fundraiser) for your refrigerator has been mailed to area homes. If you don’t get it this coming week and would like to get one, call the school office 453-9363 or email: maimonidesschool@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support in keeping the light of Torah alive at Maimonides, for a bright future!

WHERE’S MY TOOT? 4/5 graders studied scenarios in Mishna Rosh Hashanah with Rabbi Shmuly about hard-toget Shofars in complicated spots: can you get it or not on the holiday? Can you go into a ruin to find a Shofar, how about a shofar stuck up in a tree, or what about if you need to swim to an island to get it, or ride an animal to get it?

YOM-KIPPUR CHARADES Morah Clara handed out a bunch of cards, O’FISHALY FIRST GRADERS each one had a Yom-Kippur observance on it.

Mrs. Carroll’s new first grade students painted A WORKING SCALE Her class worked in pairs to come up with a Morah Clara teachers Yahadut (Jewish life and short wordless skit about that observance, in a these fish, as they O’Fishaly (officially) become first graders and begin a new year of learning. holidays) to 4/5 grade and she brought in a game of Charades with the class. miniature working scale with two tiny baskets, APPS PROJECTS REMINDER using marbles as the weights. Usually this is MRS. MAHER IS A MAIL-LADY? the type of scale you see in pictures, and kids The current project is about Tishrei foods.

Well, not really. She has been teacher for draw in their Tishrei books, but this one is 3You can make a menu or a cookbook, a poster many years, and never dimensional and actually works! worked a day for the post to advertise a certain fruit, a game, a booklet, a 3-D model, even videos or a powerpoint! At office. But she has a MAIMONIDES MOVES! special mailbox system at the APPS meeting this week, some students shared their project ideas that are already In a free 15 minutes after an back of her classroom underway: Behind the Scenes with Honey, a APPS meeting, the girls took a where her students can Tzimmes Can Label, a matching game, a popwalk in the steaming heat outside and came pick up their mail in their numbered boxes. out Pumpkin Pie from a Sukkah, even a Ram’s back for refreshing water and A/C. The boys Head mask! Good thinking.. we can’t wait to did a series of indoor races: crab-walks, wheel- PRAYER PRACTICE see the projects on display about a week or 10 barrow, somersault and hopping. It was Boys in 4+ davening class have begun a new days after Sukkos, and the APPS trip to follow. random, unexpected and fun, and highlighted daily davening segment. In addition to the the “Maimonides Moves” mission that singing sections and the silent (read on your movement and exercise can and should be own) sections, Rabbi Mendel chooses a new part of everyday life and normal activity and segment of the Siddur each day for boys to need not be limited to gym, sports or take turns as the Chazzan, each one reading designated times. aloud a line or two for the group. This weeks’

NY STATE CITY NICKNAMES Mrs. Maher’s Social Studies class are studying early NYS history and came across interesting trivia about popular nicknames for some of NY State’s cities: Big Apple for NYC, Queen City (of Lakes) for Buffalo, Collar City for Troy and Carpet City for Amsterdam (because of said goods that were once manufactured there), Flour City was the first nickname for Rochester NY, but when many flour mills closed, they changed it to Flower City. Spa City is a nickname for Saratoga Springs. A Maimonides Middos message: Especially with people, but sometimes even with cities, it’s important to draw a line between nicknames that are positive, pleasant & welcomed, and nicknames that might be uncomfortable and possibly cause hurt.

focus was on “L’David Hashem Ori” (Psalm 27) and on the long list of “Avinu-Malkeinu”.

They also served as Chazzan for “Shir HaMaalos” (Psalm 130) said this week only.

FRED III IS STILL GOING STRONG Mrs. Maher’s stapler.

It started with Fred as the first stapler, when that broke, Fred II came along, but he broke, too. Fred III is still going strong since last year. Long may he live!

TISHREI IS A BUSY MONTH As this student-drawn calendar illustrates this month is filled with holidays, Mitzvot, rituals and customs, and lots of visual symbols!

YOM-KIPPUR WAR - 40 YEARS

This year marks 40 years since the YomKippur War in 1973, when Israel was attacked on several fronts by Arab armies on the holiest REMEMBERING 9/11 day of the Jewish calendar. Many Israeli Some years our school did a 9/11 memorial soldiers and reservists were called out of assembly and special projects (remember the synagogues to go defend Israel in this dark Twin Tower Candlesticks?) especially on the hour. It wasn’t an easy war, there were many 10th anniversary, but this year it was mostly in dead and wounded, but in the end Israel individual classrooms. One class discussed the prevailed. Some of our classes heard about the TO BE CONTINUED... heroism of those who perished on Flight 93, heroism and incredible bravery of IDF Tank 5th grade finished Parshas Miketz this week led by Todd Beamer (famous for “Let’s Roll!”)

Commander Zvika Gringold who fought off (continuing where they ended off last year), who resisted the attackers, and even if it would oncoming Syrian tanks sometimes alone, and with Rabbi Yossi, but it leaves in middle of the not help them, they crashed the plane so it even though he was vastly outnumbered, he story, so even though it is the end of the would not cause harm to even more people. overcame them or sent them in retreat.

Parsha, it feels like a “to be continued…”

SUKKAH IN TALMUD CLASS

WHEN THE WORK IS DONE

7th graders are learning the first chapter of tractate Sukkah with Rabbi Mendel and this week finished the first “sugya” (Talmud segment) about a wording difference between Sukkah and Movuy, and why for the same issue one text only lists a problem while the other lists the solution. They learned two answers to this question and are eager to move onto the next Sugya of why a Sukkah can not be higher than 20 Amos, on the two days of school next week and after Sukkot! Sukkot may be over by then, but they will just getting their feet wet in their goal to learn 8-12 Sugyos in Sukkah by the end of the year.

If you’re done with your work in Mrs. Maher’s class there’s still more to do, only it’s lighter than regular work, and more fun: “Month to Month ME” is a workbook of all sorts of activities and things to fill in that helps you practice some handwriting, as well as find out a little more about yourself. Then there’s also “Mad-Libs” which keeps kids thinking creatively, uses language skills and comes out pretty funny.

THE “IDEA DIGEST” BOARD A new bulletin board at school reads “Idea Digest” named that for two reasons: (a) a collection of articles or concepts, usually when it is well-organized or condensed. (b) Just as we digest food, breaking it down and internalizing it, making it part of us, the same ought to be with ideas!

No ideas are up there yet, but we look forward to sharing once it starts filling up!

AVINU MALKEINU THIS YEAR This Kindergartener is coloring in the page in her Machzor on “Avinu Malkeinu” which this year is only recited once at the very end of Yom-Kippur because it falls on Shabbos. That makes that very last Avinu Malkeinu, all the more potent and special.

SAVE THE PLACE 4/5 made Social Studies bookmarks, and 4/5 made Navi bookmarks with Morah Clara.

THE LONG STORY BEHIND ALBANY’S KAPORT CEREMONY There are a number of old Jewish tales from this time of year, that tell unusual backstories to Kaporot by villagers and hidden Tzadikim.

Albany is no different! While in NYC and other major metro areas there’s literally a whole chicken market for Kaparot, here the custom is to do a communal ceremony, with one rooster for the men, and one hen for the women. Alas, this year it was not easy to find a rooster! Enter Craigslist, and a chicken trail all the way to a little town, and a backstory that made it all the more meaningful & emotional.

Obviously, there are a few different ways that people fulfill this ancient pre-Yom-Kippur custom, including using money. Rabbi Rubin was appreciative to Sarchi the Shochet, all involved with getting the two chickens, and everyone who came out last-minute on Tuesday night to observe this custom, and also contribute $18 to Maimonides for it.

High 5 on the 5 Yom Kippur Prayers

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CHABAD’S ART CALENDAR

For many years Chabad prepares a Jewish Art Calendar with holiday dates & info, local times & yartzeit dates. It was sent to area homes together with the Jewish World. If you G-UT’S NUMEN -THE DAY AFTER do not receive it and wish to have it for home Mr. Nathan Rosenstein, obm, life-long or office, email calendar@capitalchabad.com, Albanian, would often tell of the custom from as a limited number are available beyond the his youth which made a big deal of the Jewish World mailing. morning after Yom-Kippur. Festive candles were lit in Shul, and people made special SET ASIDE ERUV TAVSHLIN effort to come out to pray. It was called “G-ut’s This month we have 3 sets of holidays that Numen” which is Yiddish for: Hashem’s Name. It was a way to demonstrate that we are begin Wednesday night and run straight into Shabbos. In order to be allowed to prepare off to a good start after Yom-Kippur, on the food on Friday for Shabbos (according to the right foot, doing the right thing… permissible laws of Yom Tov) an “EruvTavshilin” needs to be set-up on Wednesday BOXTOPS ADD UP afternoon, Erev YomTov. It’s simple, easy and Each one is worth 10 cents. Please send them written with instructions in the Siddur. into the school office. Thanks!

3 4 5

Kol Nidrei isn’t even one of the 5, and ought to be said even before the time that Yom Kippur technically begins, nevertheless it has become one of the most important and aweinspiring prayers of the year. It has an old haunting melody, and really sets the tone for the whole Yom-Kippur.

Neilah is the closing prayer, but it’s not just the caboose. Neilah is viewed by many as the climax and ultimate of the 5 prayers. It ends with the dramatic Shema Yisrael, other verses and the Shofar blast (which must be blown after Yom-Kippur is over). YomKippur is the only day we have 5 prayers.

The Musaf Amidah and Chazzan’s Repetition is the longest Amidah of the year. Highlights include the Avodah of the Kohain Gadol (what he would do in the Bais HaMikdash on Yom Kippur) and the several times we bow down on our knees, as well as the story of the 10 Martyrs, and Aleinu inside the Amidah.

There are two Haftorahs read on YomKippur, the first during Shacharis, and the second at Mincha, when we read the entire book of Yonah as the Haftorah. There are also two Torah Readings, both from Parshas Achrei-Mos. There are two parts of the davening: That which is in the printed text of the Machzor, and the rest is in between the lines, which is filled in by the feelings and thoughts in our own hearts and minds. Even if we can’t say everything in the Machzor, its important that we have Kavanah for that which we do say.

at Maimonides and in the Community 9/12: MORE SHABBOS SHUVA DRASHOT Thurs before Yom-Kippur, CBAJ will be screening (via TCN video) Rabbi Reisman’s Teshuvah shiur 8pm, Rabbi Frand follows at 9pm.

9/13: EREV YOM KIPPUR MEN MIKVAH TIMES 12:30 to 2pm and 3pm to 4:30 at Bnos Israel Mikvah. $10pp, $30 max per family. Ages 12 and under are free, under 18 must be accompanied by parent. Bring your own towel to avoid $2 fee.

9/15: MINI-BREAKFASTUDY FOR “RI’VA” Who was the Riva? And what’s our connection? Find out this Sunday at a short breakfastudy at Shomray Torah. One of the earliest Tosafists, he passed away on this date in 1133, and our BarMitzvah boys learned his question at the start of tractate Shabbos.

9/18-30: MAIMONIDES SCHOOL SCHEDULE 9/16 (Mon) & 9/17 (Tues): Regular school days 9/18 (Wed): Erev Sukkot, no school. There will be no school for the entire Sukkot holiday.

9/30 (Mon): School resumes 8am after Sukkot & Parshas Breishis

Pictured above and below is the award presented to Mrs. Rosenfield at the Maimonides Dinner in 2010 for ten years of service to our school.

FAREWELL MRS ROSENFIELD

9/18-25: SUKKOT CELEBRATIONS

9/18: Erev Sukkot, remember to set aside an Eruv Tavshilin! & INTERIM TRANSITION 9/18: First Night of YomTov, after dinner at Rubin’s 122 S. Main 9/19: 2nd Night of YomTov, after dinner at Kudan’s, 6 Peyster St. After 12 years of dedicated service to MHDS, our 9/20: Friday Night, - To Be Announced General Studies Principal Marcia Rosenfield 9/21: Sat Night - To Be Announced recently notified us that she is retiring to devote 9/22: Fun-Day Sukkot Fair at Saratoga Chabad 12-4pm 9/22: Sukkah Party at Rabbi Lehrfield’s home, 2pm on Cardinal St. time to personal interests.

9/22: Delmar Chabad Sukkah “Pizza in the Hut” Party 5:30pm 9/22: Beth Israel’s Simcha in the Sukkah, BBQ & music, 5pm Beloved and respected by our faculty, students and 9/23: Sushi in Sukkah in Clifton Park 5pm families, we recognize and appreciate all that Mrs. Rosenfield accomplished 9/24: Kids Holiday Program 4:30-5:30pm with Motti in Ridgefield during her tenure; her calm and consistent presence, seasoned wisdom, Park with games, spirit and prizes! Suggested donation $1 per child. advocacy, and constantly updating us with NYS and school district educational 9/24: Late Night Hoshana Rabba Study at Shomray Torah

guidelines and opportunities.

9/29: ESTY YARTZEIT & MEMORIAL Tishrei 25 (this year on Sunday, Sept 29) is Esty (Rubin) Cohen’s Yartzeit. The memorial speaker will be a week later on October 6th.

9/30: HARRY ROSENFELD’S BOOK Former Times-Union Editor (past Berger Memorial Awardee) Harry Rosenfeld (joined by TU Editor Rex Smith) will discuss his book: “From Kristallnacht to Watergate: Memoirs of a Newspaperman” 7:30pm at College of St Rose Lally School, 1009 Madison Ave.

Until we find the right person to serve in this capacity, Rabbi Rubin is consulting with the board and faculty staff to share some of Mrs. Rosenfield’s roles, to assure good continued academic and administrative function.

In the interim, our long-time dedicated secretary Sharona Backman will serve as Administrative Assistant to help coordinate administrative responsibilities shared by faculty. We thank our dedicated and supportive faculty for stepping up to the occasion for the benefit of our students and success of our school. We look forward to everyone’s understanding & cooperation during this transition.

10/6: HELANA HERMAN FOR ESTY LECTURE AND LIBRARY-MEDIA OPENING EVENT Mrs. Helana Herman of Raleigh NC will speak on relationship matters as this year’s Esty Memorial Lecture, 7:30pm at Maimonides, followed by a dessert reception and opening of the new Maimonides Library-Media Center. All adults are welcome.

11/3: RESTAURANT OPENING TBA The plan is for “Terra” to open on this date at 283 Washington Ave. Stay tuned for updates and for kashruth announcements.

Looking ahead… Save the Dates!

10/13: Taste of Yeshiva, this time in Delmar 10/29: Shais Taub on “Addiction, Recovery & Judaism” at Shabbos House, open for both students & community 12/4: Chanukah Dinner & School Raffle-Auction 2/9: Womens Spa for Body & Soul 5/28: Annual MHDS Scholarship Tribute Dinner

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!”