BH
Sivan 25, 5772 / June 15, 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
Candle-Lighting:
8:17 Shabbos Ends:
9:29
DR. JERRY O’BRIEN, OBM The community was shocked by the sudden passing of Dr. “Uncle” Jerry O’Brien this past weekend. Dr. O’Brien was an anchor and support for the O’Brien children after the untimely passing of (his brother) their father Jonathan, he served as a member on the board at Maimonides and was a supporter of our school. Jerry served for more than 20 years in emergency medicine at Ellis and St Peter Hospitals. He was an avid runner, skier, mountain climber, airplane pilot & astronomer among his many varied hobbies and interests. We offer heartfelt condolences to his brother Dr. Jim O’Brien and family in CT, his sister-in-law Mrs. Vicky O’Brien, and all of Jon (obm) and Vicky O’Brien’s children (who have all attended Maimonides). He was buried alongside his brother Jonathan in the CBAJ cemetery on Fuller Road. May his memory be a blessing.
MAZAL TOV COHENS Mazal Tov to Yishai and Rachael Cohen on the birth of a daughter Sella Gitti this past Shabbat. Wishing them much Nachas!
This newsletter is dedicated in memory of
Dr. Jonathan O’Brien Yartzeit: 22 Sivan and
BENDER FAMILY HONORED The Capital Region Community Foundation recently honored Matthew & Phoebe Bender and the Bender Family Foundation with the “C. Jordan Vail Spirit of Philanthropy Award” in recognition of their extraordinary generosity, leadership and dedication to local non-profits. The Benders are supporters of the Community Foundation since 1968. The Bender Family Foundation gave our school generous grants to pay for furnishing the Dr. Jonathan O’Brien Science Lab with scientific equipment and materials.
FC WALK & RUN LAST SUNDAY
Many enjoyed the beautiful weather and atmosphere at last Sunday’s Friendship Circle Walk & Run in Schenectady’s beautiful Central Park, MAZAL TOV STEMPELS with its pretty lake, fun Mazal Tov to the Stempels, formerly of Peyster playgrounds, plentiful Street in Albany (now in Bayswater NY) on the swings and spacious engagement of their son grand pavilion. Some and MHDS alumnus walked a bit further to Moshe Stempel to see the gorgeous Rose Batsheva Alpert of Garden, now in full Flatbush. His MHDS bloom, it’s quite a sight. classmate Efraim Rubin MHDS Students in FC FC had huge bounceywas at the vurt/l’chaim this week in Flatbush. gear at the FC Walk
BBQ LUNCH AT MOVE-UP DAY Tuesday, June 19th is the last day of school for the year, (AM only) with a 9am program & presentations by classes as they formally move up a grade. There will be a lunch BBQ afterwards - suggested charge of $20/family or $5pp to cover costs.
BET MEDRASH RESCHEDULED Due to Monday’s evening funeral for Dr. O’Brien, the Womens Bet Medrash night is rescheduled for June 25, 8pm at Maimonides.
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
Dr. Jerry O’Brien Died on: 19 Sivan
“Beloved and pleasant in their lives, inseparable even in their passing...”
by Vicky O’Brien & Family bounces, a BBQ and family fun activities set-up for all Walk participants. Lydia Kulbida was once again the Walk’s emcee, and the FC teen volunteers and the Alex Aryeh Fellowship awardees were recognized. Our own 8th grader Nachum Wildman and art-teacher/parent Mrs. Susannah Levin came in 2nd place in the FC 5K Run (in addition to the FC Walk) organized by professional runner Don Lawrence of 2nd Place in the 5K Run Fleet-Feet.
THE PHILADELPHIA VISITOR Mr. Eli Gabbai, an attorney in Philadelphia and Vice President of the historic Mikveh Israel Sephardic congregation, was in Troy this
past Shabbos for an associates wedding. On Shabbos morning he asked a Jewish man on the street for directions to Beth Tephilah and encouraged him to come in as well... they made the Minyan! Some HS girls who spent Shabbos at the Labers, spoke to him about their recent year-end trip to Philly, and their stop at the Netanyahu Memorial outside Mikveh Israel. He explained that the four rock columns surrounding the memorial symbolize the 4 chambers of the heart (where Yonaton Netanyahu was shot during the 1976 Entebbe rescue), and Mr. Gabbai was very eager that this should be reported in our MC newsletter. The Labers cooked eggs in the cholent (a Sephardic specialty: “Webbos Haminados”) and Mushky Rubin (of Shabbos House) said that Professor Herman Prins Salomon of UAlbany also enjoys these cholent/adaphina eggs. What a small world... Mr. Gabbai also knows the very same Professor Salomon very well from his visits to Philadelphia for Jewish holidays. Mr. Gabbai was also excited that the Labers are related to Enrico Macias, a wellknown French/Algerian Sephardic singer.
YEAR-END DANCE PERFORMANCE Many thanks to our talented and energetic dance teacher Morah Eve Cameron for the lively and uplifting dance sessions all year and the amazing end -of-the-year performance the girls put on this past Monday afternoon. The coordination, costumes, and themes were wonderful; the joyous energy and enthusiasm was contagious. They did several types of line dances and circle dances, with a grand finale of a fantastic version of “Echad Mi Yodaiah” (Who Knows One?) with hand-motions and dance. The 8th graders baked refreshments in “Nathan’s Kitchen” for everyone to enjoy.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST 6/7 did an compare and contrast essay in English class. Some of the topics they chose were Toddlers & Teens, Pens & Pencils, Soccer & Hockey, Albany & Crown Heights.
LICK-ING FORWARD...
BOYS NIGGUNIM SING-OFF On Monday, the boys were eager to participate in an informal song session. Rabbi Rubin shared two of his favorites: Shmuel Kunda’s Lower-East-Side Chally Song and Pahm BaYaar with rhyming pesukim as bird-calls. Chazzan Avraham Backman showed how Carlebach tunes are often used in different parts of davening (the v’Shamru tune can be used in Kedusha, the Mikimi-tune from Hallel is the same as “Am Yisrael have no fear...”), R’ Itche Gordon taught the Russian words to Nyzezu Ritzy Chloptzee and some of the boys suggested Niggunim, including Kayli-Atah (that’s when the boys put their arms around each other), Hu Elokyanu, and several versions (fast and slow) of Ani-Ma’amin. They said L’chaim on grape-juice and enjoyed some nosh.
Mrs. Carroll’s students each made ice-cream cones with 4-scoops of what they’re looking (or lick-ing) forward to do this summer! Here’s samples of what they wrote, “I want to… learn how to play sports better.” learn how to swim.” visit my Bubbe & Zeide in New York.” go camping in a tent.” go to sleepover summer camp.” memorize multiplication facts.” sew my brother a hat.” Get a new Lego set.” go have a good time at the beach.”
MAJOR STRIDES IN RASHI They started to learn Rashi script and Rashi commentary back in 3rd grade, but each Rashi was still quite difficult to read and understand at the start of 4th grade. But now at the end of 4th grade, they are much better at it! They estimate that they learned 100+ Rashi’s on 6 Parshas, with more Rashi’s on each Parsha as the year went on. Morah Devorah Leah also took time to point out Rashi skills and styles, and what bothered Rashi in the pasuk/verse to make him explain it the way he did. They even learned a few Baal-HaTurim’s, too!
GARLIC-SCAPES ON PIZZA 6/7 finished 14 chapters of Navi and earned a Siyum with Rabbi Laber. They went down to “Nathan’s Kitchen” to make pizza-pitas with toppings of fresh parsley, oregano, onion & garlic-scapes (see picture - it’s the curly scallion-type tops of the garlic plant). Wow, it tasted amazing!
THE WHOLE BOOK OF JUDGES OUTDOOR ART PAINT PARTY For their last art project of the year, these 2nd and 3rd graders had 3 painting choices: (a) pastels (b) a lift-off fence project (c) watercolors. It was a beautiful day, so they worked outside, and some painted the outdoor scenery as they saw it.
Talk about a Navi Siyum: 5th grade finished the whole book of Shoftim (Judges) where they learned about the up and down times the Jews had back then, and the leaders who led them including Devorah, Gideon, Yiftach and Shimshon… Rabbi Laber brought a portable BBQ to school for the grand Siyum!
ELEVEN VS. ELEVEN, UNTIL… That was the status of the States, when Missouri and Maine became States, and the nation was then split exactly even between slave states and free states. As more states were admitted, this became a big issue.
THE HEBREW CARROT CAKE 5th graders made a carrot cake in “Nathan’s Kitchen” from a Hebrew recipe (Mendel is holding it up in the picture) in honor of Calev’s birthday. The kids who weren't busy baking did a complex Hebrew word-search with the long names of Hebrew books, magazines and publications.
HONORS AT J-FED MEETING At the Federation’s annual meeting this Thurs night, two friends and past Maimonides honorees were recognized by Federation. Mr. Morris Losice represented Modern Carpet and Shaw Industries as one of the Jewish Federation’s corporate sponsors, along with the chair for Federation’s corporate sponsorships, Mr. I. Norman Massry. Ilene Sykes, of The Party Warehouse, was presented by Rabbi Shpeen with the Sidney Albery Community Service award in recognition of her “powerhouse” leadership, involvement and compassion.
SIYUMS, STEWARTS & A SCAVENGER HUNT 4th graders walked to Stewarts and enjoyed a scavenger hunt of objects and observations they needed to find at the store or along the way - that connected somehow with the Chumash and Navi they’ve been studying, as well as “The Outcast” story they’ve been reading. They also enjoyed a Pizza and Smoothie Siyum; the Pizza for was finishing another chapter of Mishna, and the Smoothies were for finishing Parshas Vayeishev.
TIES FOR TATTY’S Ssshh! Keep this secret for Father’s Day on Sunday… (they can’t read yet, so we’re safe as long as we don’t include a picture). Nursery students made ties for Father’s Day, the stripes on each tie has a line about what the kids appreciate about their fathers.
TWO “TWIST & TIE” MITZVOT IN NURSERY
3rd graders studied “Biyur Tefilah” meaning of the daily prayers with Morah Moriah, and at the end of the year put together their own Siddur of the parts of davening that they studied and have a richer appreciation for. Now that the school year is coming to an end, (and before/after camp) its important that parents and children set in place a “Tefilah Plan” at a level/pace/place that works for the kids, in a comfortable and encouraging way.
As we prepare to conclude this most successful school year, we also prepare for the upcoming year. Due to the challenging economy, and the school’s anticipated budget shortfall, the Maimonides Board of Trustees met to review the school’s current deficit and made a decision to: (a) raise tuition by 15%, across the board for those paying full, and those on a scholarship arrangement, (b) clarify that mandatory registration fees are separate and distinct from tuition arrangements (c) work on an increase of 15% in donor contributions, so no child will be turned away. Our tuition remains among the lowest of day schools around the country, but our school must remain viable and fiscally responsible. While we have a very cost efficient budget (far lower than Jewish/private schools across the country) the school must meet payroll every two weeks, pay utilities, supplies and insurance (besides all the extra-curriculars) and everything that goes into making such a wonderful education and atmosphere possible locally for our children. Please arrange your registration fees and tuition early this summer with Mr. Alex Hallenstein (who is overseeing the tuition process as last year).
In addition to the spies in the start of the Parsha, the end of the Parsha has the Mitzvot of THANK YOU! Tzitzis and Challah (both are twisted or braided - although Challah does not have to be) so CIVIL WAR BATTLE FOLDABLES Nursery did a hands-on unit Antietam, New Orleans, Chancellorsville, etc learning about both Mitzvot were sites of famous Civil War battles, that which are visual, tangible, fun 6/7 students chose to do foldables on. and very relevant to kids (and Jews of all ages!) THE LAST PIECE OF… PI 5th grade finished their year of math study ATMOSPHERE MATTERS learning about the formula of Pi. Something 6/7 took their last science test of the year with to whet their math appetite for next year… Mrs. Sahay, which covered mostly the varying thickness and substance of the atmosphere on NYS REGENTS EXAMS the planets, which makes a huge difference in Our HS girls took the history exam on what can exist or live on that planet. Life on Thursday and (look forward?) to their math earth as we know it is only possible thanks to and chemistry exams next week. We wish the precise mix of elements and appropriate them much success on these important tests! thickness to allow life to exist & flourish here.
KUNG-FU YEAR-END FINALE
A SIDDUR OF MY OWN
NOTE FOR PARENTS
It wasn’t easy, and even painful at times, but the boys in Lucas Geller’s Kung-Fu class have come a long way in their stretches, moves, control and balance (some of which the kids thought simply unimaginable at the start of the year). It’s been a challenging physical workout for them every other week. This Thursday was the last class of the year, and some parents came in to see how their children progressed since the start of the year.
COVERS FOR POEM BOOKS Mrs. Mulder’s English students are designing individual covers for their poem-collections.
YALDA CLUB AFTER-SCHOOL On Tuesday, the 13th, the Yaldah after-school girls club presented posters & skits on pioneer Jewish women, and enjoyed strawberry treats.
AHEAD ON THE MATH PATH At the end of the year, Mrs. Carroll’s students are not slacking off… on the contrary, they are pushing ahead by adding to their math skills! 1st graders are beginning to add & subtract in double digits, 2nd graders began to learn multiplication, and 3rd graders are starting to add and subtract simple fractions…
KEEP READING OVER SUMMER Find ways to keep it fun, in Hebrew & English
at Maimonides and in the Community 6/16: R’ YOSI BEN KISMA KIDDUSH (humorous, engaging & insightful speaker) and
Cantor Yehoshua Samuels (lyric tenor) of Howard Beach NY, will jointly share inspiration from the teachings and vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Suggestion donation is $10pp, Sponsors: $100. Elegant dessert buffet will be served. Thursday 6/16: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR evening, 7:30pm at the Shabbos House, 320 Fuller 4:45pm given by Rebekah Wildman at the home of Rd (please park in adjacent University lots - either Lisa Kellman, 54 Ramsey Place. across the old Shabbos House or in the nearby Dutch Gold/Student lot). This event is hosted by 6/17: BRIEF TALMUD STORY Capital Chabad and area Chabad Centers. For In commemoration of R’ Chanina ben Tradyon’s more info call Rabbi Zalman Simon: 866-7658. yartzeit Rabbi Rubin will study the Talmud story of his passing, in a brief “Breakfastudy-lite” prior to 6/25: WOMENS BET MEDRASH Daf Yomi, after 8am Shachris at Shomray Torah. Rescheduled from 6/12. 8pm at Maimonides. Many in town know of Rabbi Rubin’s enthusiasm and insight into R’ Yosi ben Kisma of Pirkei Avot. Yartzeit Kiddush following Musaf at the Shteeble.
6/18: GRADUATION & MOVE-UP 8th Grade & HS Graduation ceremonies will be 7pm Monday evening, June 18th. Dr. Floyd Tuler of the Berkshires, an expert in materials science & engineering will be the keynote speaker.
6/19: MOVING-UP DAY Moving-Up Day (last day of school) will be Tues June 19th (half-day AM only), program and presentations begin at 9am, followed by a BBQ lunch (suggested $5pp and $20 per family).
6/20-21: ROSH CHODESH TAMMUZ Tues night, Wed & Thurs, 2-day Rosh Chodesh.
6/27-7/22: JGR SUMMER CAMP Another amazing overnight summer season for girls ages 8-16, begins on June 27th, based at Sage College in Troy. Staff & campers come from all over! Registration is filling up, call Nechama Laber 727-9581 or visit www.JewishGirlsRetreat.net.
7/8: G.E. FUN DAY AT THE PLAZA Interactive games & fun, booths & vendors, “2x2 Zoo”, pony rides, children’s author, shows, roaming railroad etc.. Many family days are on Sat, so for Shomer Shabbat families this Sunday event is a treat. Noon-5pm at Empire State Plaza.
7/15: JEWISH WOMEN SYMPOSIUM Panel on “Jewish Women” with Dr. Chana Silverstein, author Malka Touger, Rabbis Ari Raskin & Berl Bell, moderated by Rabbi Yitzchak Shochat of England (all accomplished scholars and presenters), as well as local Kingston-area talent… program open to men and women, includes a luncheon, 11:15-4:30 at Agudas Achim, 254 Lucas in Kingston NY. Cost is $18pp, $25 at the door.
8/1: GRAND SIYUM HASHAS The 7 1/2 year cycle of daily Daf-Yomi Talmud study will be completed at a mega celebration held this year at the MetLife Stadium in Rutherford NJ. A live telecast will be shown at CBAJ’s Luchins Media Center for those in Albany wishing to participate in this momentous occasion.
2ND GRADE BBQ SIYUM Morah Devorah’s 2nd graders finished Parshat Noach (their 2nd Torah portion!) and celebrated with a delicious BBQ at Morah Devorah’s house! In the top picture they’re wearing their “Noach-Rainbow” hats. They enjoyed climbing this tree in her backyard, and roasting marshmallows once the hotdogs were done. (Thanks to the 8th grade girls for helping out).
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CGI 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...
8/5: SHALOM FESTIVAL Save the date for Saratoga Chabad’s annual festival in Congress Park with art, entertainment, vendors..
6/21: REBBE INSPIRATION & SONG 8/23: RABBI SIMON’S SIYUM In commemoration of the Rebbe’s yartzeit on 3rd of Tammuz (this year on Shabbos), brothers Rabbi Mendel Samuels of Farmington Valley CT
Rabbi Simon will be concluding the entire Talmud at a special celebration, 6pm at the Normanside Country Club, in Delmar. No admission fee. Call 439-8280 for info and dedication opportunities.
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!”
YARTZEIT DATES IN THE JEWISH ART CALENDAR For only $18 (per date) memorialize the Yartzeit of a loved one, in a way that all the community will remember.
Contact Rabbi Yossi: 495-0772/9 or email: calendar@capitalchabad.com Must be submitted by July 25th. Advertisement space is also available.