BH
Sivan 3, 5772 / May 24, 2012
Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org
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
PREPARING FOR SHAVUOT
EDIBLE SINAI
Shavuot begins this Sat Night through Monday night. Many of our classes have been studying, preparing, doing crafts and hands-on learning in preparation for the holiday. See below for some of the class activities.
Torah is meant to be internalized and it is indeed tasty! That’s why Nursery kids mixed up a delicious chocolate batter (see eager mixer on right) to make Har-Sinai cupcakes which they’ll decorate, just as the Mt. Sinai was beautiful for the Torah!
Candle-Lighting: 8:03 (Friday) Yom-Tov Ends: 9:15 (Monday)
This newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of
Yetta Leifer
a founding member & dear friend of the Maimonides School, and an avid volunteer for Chabad’s Hospital Visitation Program After her passing, the Leifer Family Fund continued her support of Maimonides for another decade.
SCRIBAL ARTS IN NURSERY
Yartzeit on 2nd day of Shavuos
Nursery students tried their hand using a feather quill and bold black ink as they learned about how a Sofer (scribe) writes each of the thousands of letters in a Torah scroll.
FIRST FRUITS Shavuot is also the holiday when Jewish farmers (in Israel) brought their first fruits (Bikurim) to the Jerusalem Temple. Kindergartners made fake colorful fruits of clay, inside a basket, as was the tradition. The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe considered the study of youth to be a form of “first-fruits” which is considered holy!
ANOTHER EDIBLE TREAT... 4th graders went into “Nathan’s Kitchen” to bake up a delicious batch of cream-cheese & butter rugelach! The tradition to eat dairy foods on Shavuos has a whole bunch of reasons behind it: (a) Torah is likened to milk & honey (think sweet cheesecake). (b) Another name for Sinai is Har Gavnunim (similar to Gevinah - Hebrew for cheese). (c) Chalav (Milk) equals 40 in Gematria, like the days Moshe spent up on the mountain. (d) Pharaoh’s daughter sought a Jewish nurse (actually Moshe’s mother) because baby
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
FLOWERS FOR SHAVUOS Kindergarten designed their own recycled bottle vases and tissue paper flowers to bring home for the holiday. It is customary to decorate homes and shuls with flowers this holiday. Nathan Rosenstein, a”h, would deck out the Torahs at Shteeble with plastic flowers.
Moshe would not nurse non-Jewish milk. (e) Sinai was like the birth of the Jewish people and newborns drink (their mother’s) milk. (f) At Sinai the Jews got the laws of Kosher, shechting and salting meat. They were not properly prepared for that right away, so they just enjoyed a dairy meal. (g) The initials of 3 words in Bamdibar 28:26 about the Korban of Shavuos spell Chalav. (h) Some eat foods in triangular shapes to recall the Gemorah (now studied by our 6/7 graders) about #3 having a special connection to the Giving of the Torah. (i) The “Two Loaves” of Shavuot correspond to two meals, one meat and one dairy. (j) FYI: Some have a custom to first eat dairy, then wait, and follow-up with a meat-meal. (k) Why not? It’s good to have a Yom-Tov with a different culinary twist!
SKRIBBLER TO PUBLISH ESTI Talk of publishing… 7th grader Esti’s “An Unforgettable Moment” will be published in the upcoming May edition of “The Skribbler Magazine”. Congratulations!
HEBREW BREAKFAST Morah Devorah’s 1st graders are preparing for their annual Hebrew breakfast, after Shavuot. There’s Daysah = cereal, Tzalachat = plate, Kaf = spoon, Mazlayg = fork etc… This placemat tags all items in Hebrew. (And another Shavuot tie-in, because it will be dairy, too!)
LAST MINUTE JOURNAL ADS Ads can still be submitted, as journal goes to print morning after Shavuos. We hope to get all ad text etc before this weekend. Payment should be sent to school office, and ad-copy emailed to: maimonidesschool@gmail.com.
DOT AND JABBER REPORTS
THIRD GRADE ON “DAH-BEAR”
These first graders are proud of their work! The papers posted on the board behind them are their home & class work on the “Dot and Jabber” story they read.
Rabbi Yossi’s 3rd graders are the first to use the online “Dah-Bear” flash cards and Hebrew practice (enabled by the Legacy Heritage Fund). They are actually viewing Morah Rochel’s Chumash sheets and words that are in use on that website! Sometimes they do it in the computer lab, this time they did in their classroom on a hand-held Tablet PC!
MAIMONIDES DINNER ‘12
ALREADY UP TO FRACTIONS The new math curriculum teaches advanced concepts in simple form in earlier grades, that’s why 1st graders are up to fractions!
This year’s dinner will be held on Tuesday, June 5th at the Shabbos House. Dinner honorees are:
Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award The distinguished and renown Rabbi Dr. Lamm is former President and Chancellor of Yeshiva University, author, philosopher and scholar, a colleague and mentor of our beloved Dr. Morton Berger of blessed memory.
FLOWCHARTS
Dedicated school parents, communal pillars, and honorable “Mentschen!”
Rabbi Shmuly’s 5th grade Gemorah class’ handwritten flowcharts were featured in last week’s “MC” newsletter. This week they redesigned the same flowcharts in clearer, easierto-read digital format on the computer! This type of charting helps visualize the back ’n forth (“Shakla v’Tarya”) of complex Gemorah discussions.
Special Presentations to:
STORY OF RUTH
Sage Colleges Community Service Award In appreciation of the dedicated Sage students who enriched and assisted Maimonides as sports coaches, artists, and aides.
Lewis & Beth Gray - “Eitz-Chayim” Award
Dr. Leonard Morgenbesser Proclamation Tribute Remembering Rivka Losice “Aishes Chayil” Tribute Invitations were mailed. If you didn’t get yours, please call the office at (518) 453-9363/3434. Ads arriving until June 3rd will be included in the Journal supplement. This important school fundraiser is a communal event, an annual memorable milestone. Please take part!
BIOME POSTERS UP ON WALL Look outside Mrs. Maher’s classroom for the posters of biomes (Ocean Twilight and Cave biomes pictured above) researched and presented by students. In addition to the posters, some students brought in samples or other representation of their biome plants, animals etc, to share with the class. Other biomes also up now include: Grassland, Tropical Forest, Coral Reef, Desert etc…
Many communities have the custom to publicly read (&/ or privately study) the Book of Ruth on Shavuot. Most of our classes studied it this week. Older classes looked at some of the passages from a psychological perspectives of courage, loneliness, being a stranger, overcoming hardship, determination…
YIDDISH SPEAKING NEBRASKA BRACE Former Arbor Hill Alderman Nebraska Brace died last week at age 83. He was flamboyant and dynamic, and a non-bashful vocal advocate for his community. He was a drill sergeant and boxing coach in the Army, and owned a “soul-food” restaurant on Third and Swan Street. He also worked on the staff of the NY Senate. In his later years he was a greeter at Albany Wal-Mart, and would happily greet surprised Jewish shoppers in Yiddish! As the “Gazette” newspaper clipping (from the 80’s) attests, he learned Yiddish from his youth living in the Jewish community on South Pearl Street area, his family moved there from North Carolina in the 1930’s.
Ah, the confusing passageways in Washington! In the Botanical Gardens… (A) At an Early-Flight exhibit inside the Air & Space Museum.
Outside the Capitol Building
At the Smithsonian Metro Station
(L) Chaya, down the Mall from the Washington Monument.
THE 8TH GRADE WASHINGTON DC TRIP Not all the photos are in yet, but here’s the shots from one student’s camera. The students had a fabulous time, thanks to the thoughtful foresight and planning and tireless (or caffeinated) chaperoning (and driving!) by caring 8th grade parents Mrs. Susannah Levin and Mrs. Orit Taksir. Huge thanks to the Schones and Labers (Srs) from Fairfax for the separate boys and girls sleeping arrangements and for hosting. The group left Albany early on Sunday morning, returned late Thursday evening, and had a wonderful time in Washington in the days in between. Some of their favorite trip highlights include: Strange Signs: One of the funny ones is pictured above. Another read “Area is closed for Permitted Activities” so, are forbidden activities allowed? Holocaust Museum: Left our kids with a lot of thought, it was very sad but also inspiring in way, with very interesting exhibits. They called Rabbi Rubin from the Museum on Speakerphone and they spoke about the Eisheshuk Shtetl exhibit. Riva said she had family from there. Morning Minyan: Thanks to Rabbi Deitsch and Chabad of Fairfax, (and Mrs. Levin’s early rising) our boys davened each morning with a Minyan, and everyone got an Aliyah! (We had a full line-up of Kohain, Levi and Yisrael on board the trip). The Ronald Reagan Building: One of Mrs. Levin’s childhood friends works there, so she invited them inside. They saw a portion of the Berlin Wall, and enjoyed the architecture of the building. National Police Week: Police were in town from all over. Our students met officers from Oklahoma, Irvine CA, North Dakota, Delaware… Congress in Session: Two bills were passed while their tour went through. It wasn’t well attended, and most on the floor looked pretty distracted, according to our students. They learned that the more important issues were to be discussed later in the week. Natural History Museum: They saw an exhibit on the Cuban miners, checked out the Hope Diamond and saw lots of cool bugs on display. Regular Stores: In Virginia, they stopped at a Trader Joe’s, CVS and 7-Eleven (where they got slurpies of course). They brought most food stuffs from Albany, but they shopped a bit at a Kosher-Mart in Maryland and ate dinner out at the Kosher-Dragon, and another night at Max’s. Congressman Tonko’s Office: They visited his office in the distinguished Cannon House Office Building. Memorials: They visited Vietnam, WWII, and Lincoln Memorials, and ate lunch near the Navy Memorial (where some famous quotes are engraved). More Museums: There are so many museums in Washington! In addition to the ones above, they visited the Spy Museum, the Air & Space Museum.. Ford’s Theater: Inside, they saw a play of the play (and Lincoln’s assassination) in Ford’s Theater…
BANANAS, BROWNIES ETC…
THE SNOW TREASURE
After studying about Manna, with all the Rashi’s, Morah Leyee’s 6/7 enjoyed “Mannatreats”: bananas because Manna was white, brownies for some had to be baked, sprinkles because it came in small, round form..
5th graders are reading a story of Norwegian kids keeping gold from the Nazis in WWII.
VENUS TRANSIT ON JUNE 5TH Not quite like an eclipse, its even rarer when Venus travels directly between earth and sun. Schen. Museum has a 5-9pm viewing event.
Kate Warne? They’re among 7 civil war spies that 4th graders researched and made posters of (hanging outside their classroom). Some worked for the North, some for the South..
THE BUTTERFLY TREE
4th graders read a book called “The Butterfly Tree” and then each student drew their own pictures with crayon and painted over it with Middle-schoolers are writing poems comparing paint - patterned (somewhat) after the style of emotions to colors. Look for them to soon be WOMEN CIVIL WAR SPIES posted up at school. Have you heard of Belle Boyd, Nancy Hart and the book, and wrote their own accompanying words about their picture.
IF EMOTION WAS A COLOR
at Maimonides and in the Community 5/21-6/3: BUCKLE-UP NEW YORK
6/3: MAZAL TOV MALKA W.
We should always be buckled-up for safety anyways, Mazal Tov to Malka & family on her Bas-Mitzvah! but just FYI through June 3rd there’s a special enforcement for buckling-up throughout NY State. 6/5: MHDS ANNUAL DINNER See honoree info on page 2… If you need invite or 5/25-28: SHAVUOT / MEMORIAL an ad-blank call the school office: 453-9363/3434. No School Friday. Shavuot falls on Sun & Mon of Memorial Wknd. School resumes at 9am Tuesday. 6/6: L&L ON JEWISH GENETICS Capital District Board of Rabbis is hosting a “lunch 5/26: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR and learn” at the Federation’s Golub Center on the 4:45pm at the home of Debbie Stark, 233 South topic of Jewish genetic diseases & testing. Program Main Ave, given by Raizy Rubin. has two parts: 9:45am text-study, and 11am-1pm presentation and lunch (underwritten by Levine’s Memorial Chapel). For info/ RSVP: 489-4706 x14. 5/26-28: SHAVUOT AT SHTEEBLE In addition to the regular davening, look for the following special events this Shavuos weekend at Shomray Torah “the Shteeble”:
5/26 Shabbos Day: A Pre-Shavuos Meat-Cholent Kiddush sponsored by a visiting traveler, also in honor of Avremi Backman’s birthday. 5/26 Sat Night: Late night learning… Beginning at 12am Rabbi Rubin will present “10 Centuries in 2 Hours” of Rabbinic scholarship and personalities. 5/27 Sunday: Ten-Commandments at TorahReading, with dairy ice-cream Kiddush after Musaf. 5/28 Monday: “Baal ShemTov Yartzeit Farbrengen” and end-of-Yom-Tov Niggunim at approx 7:50pm after an earlier 7:30pm Mincha (Daf Yomi 6:30).
Call Mrs. Clara Simon camp director (439-8280) for info, cost, forms etc. Gan Israel is based out of the Maimonides school building, with new, dedicated staff, lots of hands-on crafts, activities, sports, trips, enjoyable learning, and lots of memorable, meaningful fun! Stay tuned for updates, there’s a lot new this year...
6/6: HIDING AT THE BOOKHOUSE Author Diane Wyshogrod will sign copies of her book “Hiding Places” 7-9pm at the Book-House in Stuyvesant Plaza. She traces self-discovery in researching her mother’s teenage experiences hiding in a cellar in Poland during the Holocaust.
6/8-9: BOYS SARATOGA SHABBOS Shabbaton for boys. Call 526-0773 for info.
6/10: O’BRIEN BREAKFASTUDY
Following 8am Shachris at Shteeble/ShomrayTorah will be a short Breakfastudy “Just what the 5/26-27: SHAVUOT AT CBAJ Doctor Ordered!” in memory of Dr. Jonathan All-night learning Midnight to Dawn. 5am Shachrit O’Brien (yartzeit is 2 days later on Sivan 22, 6/12). option as well as a 9am Shavuot first day Shacharit.
5/26-27: SHAVUOT WITH NCSY
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CGI
6/10: F.C. WALK AT CENTRAL PK
6/18-19: GRADUATION & MOVE-UP 8th Grade and HS Graduation ceremonies will be 7pm on Mon evening, June 18th. Moving-Up Day (last day of school) ceremonies will be on Tuesday June 19th (half-day AM only).
JERNY’s 3rd annual Unity Celebration of Jerusalem, this year Thurs, 5-9pm at Beth Emeth.
“Walk for Friendship” will be at Central Park, in Schen. See www.walkFC.org for info, support walkers or a team, and/or register. Free admission. First 300 registered via website get free t-shirt. iPad 6/21: REBBE INSPIRATION Raffle, Kosher BBQ for purchase. Family/5K Walk In commemoration of the Rebbe’s yartzeit on 3rd 11-12, registration 10am, entertainment (gaming, of Tammuz (this year on Shabbos), brothers Rabbi bounce-houses, face-paint etc) 12-2pm. Rain/shine! Mendel Samuels of Farmington Valley CT (humorous, engaging & insightful speaker) and 6/10: BETH EMETH GARAGE SALE Cantor Yehoshua Samuels (lyric tenor) of Howard Sunday 9am-2pm, Bag-Sale 2-3pm. Free-Day (u Beach NY, will jointly share inspiration from the never know what’s left..) 1-2pm on Tuesday 6/12. teachings and vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Suggestion donation is $10pp, Sponsors: $100. 6/11: DANCE & SONG AFTERNOON Dessert buffet. Thursday evening, 7:30pm at the 2-3:30pm at MHDS. Dance teacher Eve Cameron Shabbos House, 320 Fuller Rd (please park in & students will present for Mothers & Daughters adjacent University lots) hosted by Capital Chabad (all women welcome). Fathers & Sons Niggunim and area Chabad Centers. For info call: 866-7658. sing-off at the same time (all men & boys welcome).
6/3: C.P. WOMENS LUNCHEON
6/11: WOMENS BET MIDRASH
Shavuot 10pm-1am learning at CBAJ with Rabbi Rami. NCSY Shavuot dairy lunch at the Cohens.
5/28: YIZKOR ON 2ND DAY Memorial prayer at shuls on 2nd day of Shavuot.
5/30: ZALAK BRIDAL SHOWER Faculty, parents & friends (adults only) are invited to a bridal shower for our own Ms. Zalak (getting married in late June) 4pm at Mrs. Debbie Stark’s home. Contact Mrs. Jen Mulder (or the office) to pitch in for group gift or purchase your own.
5/31: JERUSALEM CELEBRATION
4th annual Clifton Park Jewish Womens Circle: “The Gift of Joy - Wrapping it Up!” starts 1pm at Shen. Adult Community Center: Judy Clements happiness workshop, buffet luncheon and silent auction. $15pp advance/$18 at door. 495-0772/9.
8pm at Maimonides. This month focuses on ShirHaShirim - Song of Songs. Call 495-0772/9.
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL AND 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!”
ADDITIONAL MHDS DATES May 31 - 2nd grade goes to Dyken Pond June 6 - K-2 goes to Colonie Crossings & Picnic, 3-7 to Erie Canal &Herkimer Diamond Mine June 12 - K-3 sings @ the Massry with Mrs. Gross June 12 - Last Day of regular HS Classes June 13-20 - NYS Regents administered for HS