BH
Menachem-Av 13, 5772 / Aug 1, 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:
7:55 Shabbos Ends:
8:59
MORE R’ MEIR SHAPIRO LINKS Rabbi Meir Shapiro was a leading rabbinical figure and innovator, a Chortkover Chassid, and for a time a parliamentarian to the Polish Sejm. He is known for beginning the Daf-Yomi study cycle in pre-war Poland, where he also founded the legendary Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin. Rabbi Rubin always felt close to Rabbi Shapiro, since his teacher, Montreal’s Chief Rabbi Hirschprung was a primary disciple of Rabbi Shapiro’s. On his way down to MetLife for the grand Siyum tonight, Rabbi Rubin made time to meet a Mr. Henry Shapiro of Monsey, who at age 95 is perhaps the one of the last surviving students of Yeshva Chachmei Lublin. It turns out that this Mr. Shapiro was in Albany in 2004 for his grandson’s graduation (this picture is from that visit) who was active at Shabbos House, and Rabbi Mendel and Raizy just traveled to NJ to attend ALBANY VIEWING OF GRAND a bris of this alumni for which Mr. Shapiro was DAF-YOMI TALMUD SIYUM Sandek. Mr. Shapiro escaped the Holocaust via 93,000 will be gathering tonight at MetLife Shanghai, and he remembers both R’ Moshe Stadium in NJ to celebrate the 12th cycle of Rubin (Mendel’s grandfather) and R’ Shmuel one-page-a-day Talmud study, which occurs Tzvi Fox (Raizy’s grandfather) from Shanghai. once in 7 1/2 years. CBAJ and Albany DafRabbi Fox later recalled that this Mr. Shapiro Yomi are hosting a live viewing (including would take attendance in the Yeshivos, and if a Mincha, Maariv and a deli-dinner) tonight at bochur was missing, he would look him up to CBAJ from 6:30pm-9pm. No charge to attend, see if he was OK or what could be done to next opportunity will be in 7 and 1/2 years! help. These were war years and there was famine and disease, and Shapiro’s attendance MAZAL TOV SIMONS rolls was his personal Bikur Cholim effort. To Rabbi Nachman & Clara on the birth and bris of a grandson named Shmuel (after his late great-grandfather) to MHDS alumnus Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Simon in Dayton, Ohio.
LOCAL TISHA B’AV KINOT INSPIRATION
At Shomray Torah’s Tisha B’Av morning service (and also later at a women’s Talmud shiur - look for a Tuesday 2:30pm Talmud class for women to begin at the start of the school year), Rabbi Rubin shared the background and meaning of two of the Kinot: Sha’ale Serufrah was written by Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg, a major Halachist from 13th century Germany (about whom the “Unpaid Ransom” story was written) about the public burning of 24 wagonloads of Talmud texts in Paris in 1242. Remember these scrolls/ books were handwritten, for it was still long before the printing press was invented. Rabbi Rubin explained some of the history leading up to this tragic event, and also pointed out how this historical memory is especially appropriate this year, juxtaposed just a few days later with the much anticipated August 1st Daf-Yomi Talmud Siyum on a grand, international scale, in a public stadium with much media publicity and fanfare. Tzion was written by Yehudah HaLevi from 12th century Spain, one of Hebrew’s greatest poets. It speaks of his yearning for Israel, the historical power and holiness of its sites and stones. Naomi Shemer borrowed from this poem for her Yerushalayim Shel Zahav. Also at Shomray Torah: R’ Moshe Losice shared personal reflections on a Kinah based on Yirmiyah’s tragic prophecy. He told the story of his aunt in his hometown of Losice, Poland during the Holocaust, which was a haunting & chilling fulfillment of that prophecy. She was standing under Nazi guard in the city-square (a place he MAZAL TOV RABBI ABBA remembers well from his youth) holding her ...and to his parents, Rabbi Yisroel and Rochel thirsty young child. She defied the rules to Rubin, on his engagement to Raizel Glick of go over to the city-square well to get a little Brooklyn, and their upcoming wedding in water for her child, but she was killed in that Crown Heights on August 21st, with an attempt, and her little one was bayoneted. Albany Sheva Brachos on Sunday, Aug 26th. CBAJ joined cities around the world with a screening of the Chafetz Chaim Heritage ELI’S FIRST-TEFILLIN Foundation’s Tisha b’Av program, this year’s MAZAL TOV SMETANA’S theme on: “The True View: How seeing the Soochie studied in our HS about a decade ago, Recently Eli put on Tefillin (practice-mode) for the first time in preparation for his upcoming good in others will help rebuild the Beis she and her husband Yossi Smetana had a Bar-Mitzvah. Mazal Tov to the Kochmans, lots HaMikdash” in a 2-part program featuring baby boy. Mazal Tov, lots of Nachas! of Nachas! This ushers in a new season of BarRabbis Paysach Krohn, Jonathan Rietti and Mitzvahs at Maimonides, which will peak Zelig Pliskin among other speakers. between Purim and Pesach.
at Maimonides and in the Community 8/1: GRAND SIYUM HASHASS LIVE 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 6:30-9pm at CBAJ’s Luchins Media Center for those in Albany wishing to participate in this momentous occasion locally, with Mincha, Maariv and a deli dinner.
8/4: MATHLESS YARTZEIT Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Mathless will be giving a Kiddush this Shabbos at Shomray Torah as we approach his father’s yartzeit (Nachman Aryeh ben Aharon) on the 17th of Menachem-Av. His father was a librarian at Yale University.
8/5: SHALOM FESTIVAL 11am-4pm, its supposed to be a gorgeous day in the park! Saratoga Chabad’s annual festival in historic and beautiful Congress Park features art, crafts, entertainment, and vendors. This year featuring Matt Esipcopo’s Magic Show (1pm), music by "Sheina Maidel & the Shmendriks" Klezmer Band (2pm) a Grand Karate Show (3pm) along with bakeyour-own-Pita, Kosher Felafel & BBQ, fresh fruit by Saratoga Apple Farms, face-painting, the Shofar Factory, a Kosher Pickle workshop, Squeeze your own orange juice, and two hours of one-on-one magic instruction by Matt Esipcopo following his show, and much more! You can also stroll around the pretty park, ride the carousel, take scenic photos or taste the various mineral springs… For more info, to volunteer or to be a vendor call Rabbi Abba 526-0773 or email: saratora@aol.com
8/8: MEET-THE-KALLAH / SHOWER Please join us as we welcome Raizel Glick into our community, and wish her Mazal Tov on her engagement to Rabbi Abba Rubin. Wednesday, August 8th, 7pm at the home of Debbie Stark 233 South Main Ave. Kindly RSVP to: 437-1738 or starkeez6@gmail.com. This is a women only event Dini Gordon, Shaina Kudan, Debbie Stark are hostesses. For those who wish to purchase a gift, Raizel Glick is registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
8/9: LAST DAY AT GAN ISRAEL
Rosemary Linsider will be in attendance, as will Joel’s children, Jed and Rachel, and Jed’s wife Kim. The event will conclude at approximately 10pm. At the reception, there will be a memorial book. Please feel free to bring a written message for inclusion in the book, or write it in when you come. Mincha 7:35pm and Ma’ariv will precede the memorial event. Questions? Contact Tim Lytton at tlytton@nycap.rr.com.
8/20-24: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE CAMP End-of-Summer day-camp program, held at the Maimonides School, 9am-3pm with daily field trips. $100 per week. Teen volunteers are still needed! Call 438-4220 for more info.
MORAH ROCHEL’S CAMP SIYUM
9/5: FIRST DAY BACK AT MHDS
During the 9-Days, Morah Rochel completed Talmud tractate Taanis with a very kid-friendly Siyum at Camp Gan Israel. They discussed a bunch of Jewish childrens videos that these kids are familiar with, and Morah Rochel told them that many of those stories (Choni HaMe’agel, Chanina ben Dosa etc) are taken from Talmud Taanis! She told them stories of how different people prayed for rain, and this summer many farmers across America are worried that their fields did not get enough rain. The kids enjoyed candies and nuts to celebrate the Siyum. The last Mishna is about the joyous Tu B’Av celebrations, when wouldbe brides would dress-up, all in borrowed clothing, so that no one would be ashamed of what they wore. This camp’s slogan this year “We Can Build It!” was perfect for the NineDays. The bunks were named: Torah Tractors, Kosher Cranes, Brachos Bulldozers, Davening Diggers… for the Mitzvah efforts that build a better Jewish future, and the Beit HaMikdash!
The new school year at Maimonides begins Wednesday, September 5th, the 18th of Elul.
THE RUACH AWARD GOES TO...
8/23: RABBI SIMON’S SIYUM 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.
9/1: MELAVA MALKA FARBRENGN Stay tuned for a pre-Chai-Elul Farbrengen on Motzai Shabbos Ki-Seitze.
9/2: MINI-YESHIVA Look for this new “taste-of-Yeshiva” learning opportunity, on periodic Sundays throughout the year. Following the morning Daf-Yomi, join Rabbis Rubin and Simon for a text-based, in-depth study on an opening piece of Talmud Brachos, Chavrusa (peer-partner) study followed by a shiur (class). All learning levels are welcome.
9/9: MONTHLY BREAKFASTUDY Join Rabbi Rubin for a brief, in-depth Torah study with a light breakfast, between 8am Shachrit and Daf-Yomi study at Shomray Torah.
9/10: WOMENS BEIT MIDRASH
...Moishe Kudan! Camp Kaylie gave Moishe its Ruach (spirit) Award. Knowing Moishe and his positive attitude & energy at Maimonides, this is certainly a well-deserved award!
BURN MARK ON THE TABLE
New season and new topics! 8pm, once a month on It’s been a great season at Camp Gan Israel, with Mondays at the Maimonides School. Text-based talented and dedicated staff from as far as Israel, learning and discussion, this year on “The Seven Arizona and Illinois, and from right here in Albany. Rabbinic Mitzvot”. Questions, info? 495-0779/2. Closing ceremonies will be at camp on Thursday afternoon. For additional info call Morah Clara at -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------439-8280. Huge thanks to Morah Clara and Morah Dini and all the staff for such an amazingly MAIMONIDES VOTE AT TARGET enriching and enjoyable summer. http://givewith.target.com/schools/70661
An out-of-town visitor (formerly from this area) in town this summer, recalled Rabbi Rubin koshering his parents kitchen in the 1970’s, and accidentally burned a mark on the kitchen table. Instead of being upset, the parents kept that table for years, proudly showing their children and grandchildren “this is a sign of when we began to keep Kosher!”
8/14: JOEL LINSIDER MEMORIAL
GREAT REGARDS FROM CAMPS
There will be a memorial event for Joel Linsider obm at Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob on Tuesday, August 14, beginning at 8:15pm. It will feature a d’var Torah and number of brief remembrances of Joel, followed by a reception.
PLEASE LINK ADVANTEDGE CARD Please take a few moments online or at any customer service to link your Price Chopper AdvantEdge card to Maimonides. It helps us get educational aids & sports equipment.
As parents and teachers, we’re thrilled to get wonderful Nachas regards back from summer camps how well our kids are doing, many of whom are excelling in their study-groups and are shining examples among their peers…