BH. Iyar
2, 5771 / May 6, 2011
Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 4539363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org 7:42
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 UJFNENY maimonidesschool@gmail.com
Shabbos Ends:
8:49
This newsletter is sponsored in memory of
Dr. Morton “Morty” Berger on occasion of his recent yartzeit on Nissan 28
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS BEGIN In preparation for the May 24th Maimonides Scholarship Dinner our students have been meeting and videointerviewing “People of the Book” honorees. Mrs. Silton shared with 7th graders the inspiration and process behind her book “Of Heroes, Hooks and Heirlooms”, her private escape (her minivan) where she found enough quiet to write the book, and the contest that got her started. Her love of books came from growing up as one of the only Shabbosobservant families in South Bend, Indiana. Linda Elovitz Marshall read her (soontobe published by KarBen) “Talia and the Rude Vegetables” in Mrs. Carroll’s classroom. The kids loved it, and it has a great lesson, too! Before she started the story she gave students a turnip, parsnip, potato, onion, garlic etc to hold on to for display at certain
M A I M O N I D ES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
parts of the story. She also read “Lizzie’s Tongue” to test their reaction, because she is still working to find a publisher for it. 7th graders met with Mr. Joseph Krausman, who was hired by the former Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink (jokingly) for his background in fictionwriting. Mr. Krausman has graduate degrees in fine arts & philosophy, wrote short stories & plays, directed a theater in MA, and continues to write, reads a little Yiddish every day and presents his poetry at local readings. Children’s book author and illustrator Sylvie Kantorovitz (who wrote/illustrated more than 20 books, starting with Raffi’s “The Wheels on the Bus”) read her most recent book to Kindergarten and 3rd grade (and before she left, 4th graders caught her, too!) and helped them realize what illustrations may add to the text of a story, with elements the author may not have thought of. UAlbany Distinguished Professor Dr. Jeffrey Berman sat down for a thoughtprovoking talk with our HS girls and talked about some of his 12 books on love, grief and loss in literature, selfdisclosure as a writing or teaching method etc. This is just in time after their reading of “Death Be Not Proud” and writing essays on it. Clips of their interviews will be woven together into our video presentation at the May 24th dinner.
DINNER DATE/TIME/PLACE Tuesday, May 24th, 6pm at CBAJ.
>>> ERUV IS DOWN THIS WEEK
THE RUSSIAN K’SHOHT STORY
Please be aware of this alert, as this affects carrying or strollers this Shabbos in Albany.
Rabbi Mendel’s boys davening class can tell you this powerful story about Rabbi Alter Metzger’s Shabbos morning visit to a Russian synagogue (long before the fall of the Iron Curtain, when Russia was still communist) and the Chazzan’s unusual behavior that morning.
JOURNAL ADS FOR DINNER The deadline is fast approaching! Ads need to be submitted by May 13th (later ads may be in the journal supplement). PARENTS who paid annual “dinnerdues” at school registration are automatically entitled to a 1/4 page ad (or pay the difference for a larger journal ad), which can be used to congratulate all or specific honorees, appreciate a teacher or promote a business or service. Journal ads can be submitted to the school office or to maimonidesschool@gmail.com
SEE HOW MAIMONIDES CAN BE GREAT FOR YOUR CHILD!
Find out firsthand by scheduling a personal visit to our classrooms, for Kindergarten, second grade, Bnos Chaya girls HS or any class. Maimonides offers positive nurturing experiences integrating students from various backgrounds and levels/styles of learning, HS WATER WALK VOLUNTEERS personal observance or affiliations. Call the 3 HS girls assisted with the BBQ and gave out office 4539363/3434 9am3pm on school days, waterbottles to participants at JNF’s Susan or call Morah Rochel evenings 5260774/482 JOURNAL AD PRICES Shpeen Walk for Water at the Golub Center. 5781 for info or to schedule a visit. There’s less All journal ads directly benefit the school’s Afterwards the HS girls walked down busy than a month left to regular classroom learning, Scholarship Fund which is overspent these days Washington Ave to Michael’s for free Mother’s so now is a good time to arrange a visit. due to the great need. Maimonides will not turn Day beading and even got some WalMart away a child due to a lack of funds. shopping in before they got picked up. USING A CONCORDANCE BOOK
$36 = 2line greeting $54 = 1/10 page $72 = 1/8 page $108 = 1/4 page $252 = 1/2 page $540 = Full page $1,080 = Scholarship page $1,800 = Diamond page
1/2 page ad and higher includes 2 complimentary dinner couvert. 1/4 page includes 1 complimentary dinner couvert. Thank you for your generous support!
MORE TIDBITS ON “PEOPLE OF THE BOOK” HONOREES Dr. Bob Herman, a former professor,
economist, and adviser to NYS governors, writes columns (many now in book form) published in Chinese newspapers with readers letters. JackieMorse Kessler writes fantasy fiction to address reallife teen issues such as eatingdisorders. She spoke to our HS girls a few weeks ago and will speaking to them again this coming week. Dr. Jeffrey Berman, a Distinguished UAlbany Professor, wrote 12 books on love and loss, selfdisclosure, empathy in teaching, death in literature and teaching about death, and cathartic student diaries to an English professor. Linda Elovitz Marshall got the idea from her soontobe published book “Talia and the Rude Vegetables” from her students in the ESL (English as a Second Language) program who sometimes confused words that sounded similar. Her students even helped her change the story’s ending!
4/5/6 GRADES
Rabbi Rubin introduced grades 57 to the use of a Concordance (or Konkordansya) research TIMELY SWITCH book that lists every mention of a specific word in the whole Tanach. They were researching TO TALMUD camels, donkeys, goats and snakes in Tanach in MENACHOS preparation for the “Biblical Zoo” live exhibit at 4th grade Mishna and 5/6 the Yom Yerushalayim event, and this book grade Gemorah now gave them a great listing of all the places where switched to learning these animals are mentioned. tractate Menachos for these 4 timely reasons: 1) The Mitzvah of offering & counting Omer. 2) This week’s Torah portion Emor has the verse “on the morrow of the Sabbath” the source of the argument between the Rabbis and the Tzedukim (who denied rabbinical interpretation) about counting the Omer. 3) Pirkei Avos (studied between Pesach and Shavuos and into the summer) has the quote from Antigonus Ish Socho that the Tzedukim/ Baysusim misunderstood to deny belief in the worldtocome. 4) Daf Yomi is now near Menachos page 66 which deals with this argument of the Rabbis vs. Tzedukim on the startdate of the Omer.
MAZALTOV SELIGERSCHULMAN CLOSER LOOK AT THE FLOWERS To MHDS alumnus & JGR Staff member Devorah Leah (Seliger) and Yossi Schulman on the birth of a baby boy. We wish much Nachas to the whole Seliger family, formerly of Albany and Shabbos House.
Mrs. Carroll explains the different types of flowers to an interested student. Many of our students also had opportunity to walk over to the O’Brien home for a special Nissan month blessing on flowering fruit trees.
WHERE WAS YOUR SHIRT MADE FREE LEAD TESTING AT HOME HS girls tagged small and large countries A parent shared this info: Albany County around the world based on the tags inside their conducts free leadtesting in homes, call 447 clothing, as part of a geography project. 4620 if you think this may be an issue.
BIG COLOR WALLMAP OF ISRAEL By making a giant maps themselves, Morah Devorah’s students learned to locate Israel’s Kineret and Yam HaMelach, and the big YamHaTichon and the Hebrew terms for the surrounding countries of Suryah, Levahnon, Yarden and Mitzrayim.
REGENTS COMING UP SOON HS students are now preparing in earnest for the NYS Regents exams coming up in June.
A FISH IN THE DEPTHS Here’s a neat technique learned in art class this week. By pressing hard or softly with the pastel crayon on paper, you can create a sense of distance! They also added watercolors to the oilpastel fish paintings.
VOLUME VS. SURFACE AREA How about measuring a cylinder’s surface area and volume? They’re tackling that now in 7th grade math class.
FIRST GRADE FRACTIONS We don’t have a photo of it, but 1st graders broke up paperpies in pieces and learned the concept of fractions.
THE ELEMENTO GAME
THREE DAY NYS E.L.A. TEST
It’s played similar to BINGO, only that it uses elements instead of numbers. Mrs. Sahay’s science class played it to review elements & their various properties, behaviors & uses and have a lot of fun doing it. Winners got a homeworkpass!
NYS MATH TESTS
4th graders reported on their 3day English Language Arts State test, with portions on Wed, Thursday and Friday. 5/6 grade reported on their review preparations for the State Math test.
CAMP GAN ISRAEL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN This year’s camp will run from July 4th thru August 12th, 9am3:30pm, at the Maimonides building at 404 Partridge. Mrs. Clara Simon is the camp director, and can be reached at 439 8280. Program includes swimming and swim instruction, music, art, sports, trips, and much more in a great Jewish environment.
NODAH B’YEHUDAH GUEST A traveler this week stopped for Minyan and presented us with two books from the Noda B’Yehudah, Rabbi Yechezkel Landau of Prague (whom he descends from) and a contribution towards the “Travelers Torah.”
D.B.N.P. ESSAYS After reading John Gunther’s “Death Be Not Proud” Mrs. Mulder’s HS girls chose from several topics for an essay: courage, mindover matter and the takenforgranted joys of living.
BLUE & WHITE THIS MONDAY … and no need to pack a lunch (but please bring a snack). The school will be serving Felafel and having a special program in honor of Israel’s birthday.
AVRAHAM’S VISIT AND THE VAYERA CARNIVAL BOOTHS Avraham Avinu (aka Motti R.) invited students into his tent (with the tree growing alongside it) and told them about his lfestory, including his obedience to Hashem’s command in leaving Haran, having a Bris (and a son) so late in life, his passion for the Mitzvah of welcoming guests, and many other things that 3rd graders learned about AvrahamAvinu in Parshas Vayera. The 3rd graders prepared a whole carnival with booths and activities, for other grades to enjoy and learn. For the “tongue and mustard” Avraham served the angels, they served a taste of TofuPops and Mustard. See above for a sampling of the activities by 3rd grade with Morah Rochel.
at Maimonides and in the Community 5/7: THE SHABBOS ERUV IS DOWN psychologist & spiritual mentor taps into the
power of Kabbalah, applying its message to daily life. He wrote “Practical Kabbalah” (Random House) and lectured in over 350 cities worldwide. 5/7: BEISIYAR KIDUSH FARBRENG Laibl is the Founder & Director of SpiritGrow / Kryss Wholistic Institute based in Australia with a Iyar 2 (Friday) is the yartzeit of Rebbe Shmuel MindYoga® approach. Admission $10, or (Maharash) 4th Rebbe of Chabad, whose motto complimentary with registration to the JLI Shabbat (and niggun) was “L’chatchila Ariber” (go above the course "Oasis in Time" (this course will be held at challenge). There’ll be a Kiddush/Farbrengen Shabbos House). For info: 4950772/9 or visit: following Musaf at Shomray Torah. www.myjli.com. Please be aware that the Eruv is down. Rabbi Bomzer at CBAJ can provide more info.
5/7: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR
by Chaya Tal at the home of Lori Calka, 359C Hackett Blvd at 4:45pm.
5/8: MOTHERS DAY! Some of our students prepared special gifts for their mothers… surprise, surprise!
5/8: THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN
5/13: JOURNAL DEADLINE
Ads arriving after this date may be included in the 5/30: MEMORIAL DAY Maimonides dinner journal supplement. It’s easier No school Monday, enjoy the extended weekend. for us if ads come in before the last minute...
5/16: WOMENS BEIS MEDRASH Studying and discussing CandleLighting in classic sources, 8pm at Maimonides.
Barnum & Baily, Ringling Brothers Circus. 1 & 5pm Sunday shows at the TU Center, tickets $12+. 5/17: LIBRARY (& SCHOOL) VOTE No one likes increased taxes in this economic climate, on top of the already high taxes in this area 5/8: ALBANY’S TULIP FESTIVAL (although library taxes are a small piece of the 11am6pm on Sunday. Festival opens Friday. overall pie), but we also recognize and appreciate Bands, shows, vendors, lots of people. Even if you the value of our local libraries, and Maimonides can’t make the festival, be sure to stop by benefits greatly from a quality neighborhood library Washington Park on a nice day this week to see the and communal resource & venue a short walk beautiful blooming tulips and take some photos. away. Part of the proposed plan is new Sunday hours, and the Bach New Scotland branch would 5/9: ISRAEL’S BIRTHDAY AT MHDS have first priority. Without the new budget, branch Kids: this Monday, please come dressed in blue and hours will decrease and adversely affect the libraries white. You don’t have to bring lunch (but do bring usefulness. Find out more: albanypubliclibrary.org a snack) because there will be a delicious Felafel and make an informed decision on how to vote. lunch and a special program.
5/11: MOMMY & ME AT THE BACH Mommies & Toddlers upto 3 years old, 1:302:15 at the Bach Library on New Scotland, with stories, songs and play. Contact Morah Devorah Leah Mathless: 2271770 or rabbimathless@gmail.com
5/10: ISRAELI MUSIC CONCERT Jewish Federation presents “Jon Nelson and Yom Hadash” in concert for Yom Ha’atzmaut, free and open to community, 7pm at Agudat Achim (2117 Union Street /Route 7) with optional preconcert dinner catered by Agudat Achim at 5:30 for a fee.
5/11: LAIBL WOLF’S KABBALAH & POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TALK
and this year’s “People of the Book” award highlights a spectrum of local Jewish authors, namely: Dr. Jeffrey Berman, Miriam Biskin, Rabbi Herbert Bomzer, Marlene RosenfieldCrawford, Dr. Bob Herman, Sylvie Kantorovitz, Jackie Morse Kessler, Joseph Krausman, Lyn MillerLachmann, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Marlene Newman, BJ Rosenfeld, Dr. Mary Valentis, and Dr. Suzanne Vromen. We also will be honoring posthumously Vera Propp and Hy Rosen, who passed away in recent months. Call the school office 453 9363/3434 if you didn’t receive it in the mail.
6/1: YOM YERUSHALAYIM EVENT JERNY’s Israel Center and area orgs are already at work preparing for this 2nd annual event held this year at Beth Emeth. TheIsraelCenter.org has updates on vendors, program and activities. Look for live animals (and rides!) in the “Biblical Zoo”!
6/5: WALK FOR FRIENDSHIP 2nd annual Walk for Friendship, noontime at Elm Park in Delmar. See capitalfriends.org for info or to support a volunteer or team. This important fundraiser benefits the Friendship Circle of local volunteers helping special needs children.
6/710: SHAVUOT SCHEDULE
6/7 Tues: Erev Shavuot HalfDay English only. Tefila 8am, dismissal 11:30. Send snack, no lunch. 6/89 Wed & Thurs: Shavuot Holiday celebrates the Giving of the Torah, it’s important for all to attend synagogue for the “10 Commandments” read on 5/22: LAG B’OMER AT HOFFMAN’S Wednesday, especially children! Area Chabads are arranging discounted wristbands 6/10 Friday: No school; Shavuot goes into the ($14 unlimited rides until close), a Kosher BBQ extended weekend. ($7pp, $25 family), with free admission to the park, live music & festive atmosphere for kids & families 6/12: CBAJ DINNER HONORS DOCS at Hoffman’s Playland on Route 9, Latham. Dinner and Journal honoring member doctors at Program is 123pm. (Maimonides neighborhood Cong. Beth AbrahamJacob who serve the greater Lag B’Omer Parade is held when Lag B’Omer is on community. For more info call the Shul 4895819. a weekday).
5/22: LATER ON LAG B’OMER After the midday Hoffman’s Playland event, look for a late afternoon Clifton Park BBQ/Party in a Collins Park 4950772/9 and an evening Galway Bonfire at the Auerback Estate 4398280.
6/17: YEAREND / MOVINGUP DAY Halfday AM only. 9am program of class presentations and refreshments, parents welcome!
7/4: CAMP GAN ISRAEL OPENS
This year’s camp will run from July 4th thru August 12th, 9am3:30pm, located at Maimonides, 404 5/24: MAIMONIDES DINNER “Practical Steps for Inner Peace, Tranquillity, & Partridge Street. Mrs. Clara Simon is the camp Calm” Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf speaks at Shabbos HONORS “PEOPLE OF THE BOOK” director, and can be reached at 4398280. Program House, (320 Fuller Rd, please park in nearby The annual Maimonides Dinner (now over 20 includes swimming/swim instruction, music, art, University lot as by arrangement) 7:30pm, open to consecutive years!) will be on Tuesday, May 24th. sports, trips, science activities & more in a great community and students (still here during finals Dr. Berger Memorial Award: Linda BergerSpivack; Jewish environment. week). Laibl, a rabbi, lawyer, educational Baruch Shenatan Torah Award: Bruce Lorence;
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL (Nursery / Elementary / High School) & COMMUNITY 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 UJF-NENY Beneficiary