BH
RC Sivan, 5773 / May 10, 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 7:47
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:
8:54
This newsletter is sponsored in memory of
Kay Greengarten Yartzeit 26 Iyar TOUR OF OLD JEWISH ALBANY
by her daughter Morah Devorah & Sid Stark and Family
Middle schoolers went on an fascinating APPS trip tour of formerly Jewish sites & landmarks in Albany South-End neighborhood. Pictures and reports in an upcoming “MC” newsletter.
REMEMBERING “MR. LEO’S”
PIPE CLEANER FLOWERS
Leo Fliegelman passed away this week at age 95 Morah Dini shows her Kindergarteners how to fashion beautiful Shavuos flowers out of tissue (on his 95th birthday) in Florida. He and his paper and pipe-cleaners. wife were Holocaust survivors from Czechoslovakia who moved to this area in 1955. He opened Leo’s Bakery on Quail near New Scotland in 1964 and operated it until 1987. The bakery continued at that location for several years afterward under different ownership. His pastries were well-known around Albany. When our school was located DESERT JEWISH ENCAMPMENT at Beth Emeth (in the 1990’s), it was a treat for This week’s Parsha describes how the Jewish our kids to walk over from Academy Road to people encamped by tribe (in sets of 3) around enjoy a treat at Leo’s. He had a special twinkle the Mishkan as they traveled in the Desert (or in his eye and a great way with baked goods. Wilderness) between Egypt and Israel. This was BEE-BEAUTIFUL ONE OF A KIND a good way for the Nursery kids to learn about MAZAL TOV SIMONS North, South, East and West! MHDS alumnus Yisroel and Esti Simon had a These bees by Mrs. Carroll’s first graders are baby boy last Sunday in Kingston Ontario, and special and one of a kind because they were DRINK WATER painted using handprints (and no two are the Bris will be IYH this Sunday in Canada. As the days turn warmer, alike). They are also learning now about Mazal Tov to Rabbi Nachman and Clara! be sure to stay hydrated, by homophones, which is a how BEE and BE drinking refreshing sips of connects. Some say that dairy on Shavuos is water between classes, and connected to “milk and honey” so that’s at different times during another connection to bees, and bees help the day… It really helps! greenery blossom - also nice for Shavuos!
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
GOLEM COMIC ON TALMUD Last week’s “MC” told of the Talmud story Rabbi Rubin shared in the lunchroom in connection with Earth-Day. A student brought in an old edition of the “Mendy and the Golem” comic book that features this story. Here is one square.
BUT WATER IS ALSO PRECIOUS Our school experienced a steep spike in water use so our maintenance team looked at possible causes or leaks, and the City Water Department is helping us determine the cause.
ISRAELI NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS High School Hebrew class with Mrs. Keren Silberberg is working on an all-Hebrew powerpoint project about Israeli Nobel prize winners. Each student was assigned a different Nobel laureate.
INTEGRATED ALEGBRA & ALEGBRA II / TRIGONOMETRY Mrs. Maher’s High School math class now finished the Integrated Algebra course and has now begun to prepare for the Regents exam. Mrs. Sahay’s HS students have completed Trig and are also studying now for Regents.
A MATH DANCE IN A CHROMOTAGRAPHY GARDEN
Mrs. Sahay put together this bulletin board with the help of her High School 11th grade math class and middle school science classes. Middle School science class cut out pieces of coffee After finishing this book by John Steinbeck, filters in the shape of petals. Next, they colored them halfway with Sharpie highlighters, and and discussing the complex background issues, dropped two drops of water into the center of each petal and let it sit on the window sill and Mrs. Gray showed them the film, which is slowly but surely, tied dye looking colors appeared, because the water slowly separated the pretty close to the original story. colors and brought in new colors onto the coffee filter paper. That’s how these flowers were made! 11th grade math are learning about quadratic equations and created these figurines with their hands in the shape/direction of a specific equation on graph paper.
OF MICE AND MEN
DRIPPING ICE CREAM HAPPY SECRETARIES DAY
In honor of Shavuot on the bulletin board in the lunchroom downstairs at school…
First graders presented Mrs. Backman with cards of appreciation, and also 2 big bunches of “day-lilly” flowers from Mrs. Carroll, for being of service at school: “day-in, day-out!”
THE BUTLER & THE BAKER
THATCHER PARK TRIP Mrs. Laber’s High School class learned a sicha about mountains in connection to Shavuos, so she took them on a mid-day outing to scenic Thatcher Park where they hiked along the Indian Ladder Trail and saw springtime waterfalls and entered caves. They ate their lunches there and discussed their learning about mountains and Mattan Torah!
THE HEBREW BREAKFAST Morah Devorah’s 1st graders also enjoyed their annual “Hebrew Breakfast” using words they learned and foods they enjoy. Here they are pictured holding up the placemats they made for the breakfast that was held this time in the teacher’s lounge upstairs!
Morah Devorah Leah’s 4th grade finished Parshas Vayeishev with the story of Yosef meeting the butler (wine steward) and baker in prison and interpreting their dreams. They baked yummy cookies and mixed up a delicious punch concoction (with some grapejuice inside) and served it to the whole school at a special assembly where they acted out the scene where Yosef was getting sold to Egypt, and the scene of the butler and baker’s dreams and Yosef’s interpretations…
NYC FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE SAFETY PAMPHLET FOR JEWISH OBSERVANCE Thanks to Reb Feivel (of NY State Fire) for bringing this to our attention! These are important tips that have Shabbos candles and YomTov cooking in mind. The sensitivity in this pamphlet does not discourage any Mitzvah or even custom, but gives specific recommendations on how to do it in the safest way possible. Simply reading and thinking about this may be a Mitzvah! Rambam (Maimonides) amplifies the Mitzvah of “Maakah” (the safety fence) to other perils and safety issues to found in dwellings. The Chofetz Chaim says even reviewing life-safety procedures, protocols and systems is counted as fulfillment of this positive mitzvah—one of the 613!
GARAGE SALE ITEMS NEEDED
5TH GRADE MISHNA SIYUM
General Studies are preparing for their annual Garage-Sale to benefit the year-end trip, to be held in the Delmar area on the first June weekend. Please bring in any useful, decent condition stuff that they can sell. No major appliances or old TV’s and computer screens. Some limited pickups are available, call the office 453-9363 ext 1 for details and with any questions. They can use extra hangers, too!!
After learning 5 chapters of Mishna, Rabbi Yossi treated his class to s’mores - with graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate.
MORE MISHNA POWERPOINTS AT THE WALK 4 FRIENDSHIP
Rabbi Shmuly’s 4th grade Mishna students now have powerpoints on many chapters of Mishna Brachos, they are now learning the special brachos of thunder, lightning, etc.
Many students and their families participated in last Sunday’s Walk 4 Friendship (Circle) in Tawasentha Park. The weather was gorgeous, SHAVUOT TALMUD STORIES very nice turnout from many different parts of After a complicated segment to determine the the community, and lots of activities including exact date of the original Shavuos, 6th grade MANY MOONS IN SIXTH facepaint, laser-tag in the woods, and more. Gemorah class with Rabbi Shmuly now began 6th graders learned about the sun & moon in to learn some of the inspiring Aggadah stories science class (and also heard a little about how “WILLOW’S RUN” in Gemorah Shabbos about Mattan Torah. Torah & Science can be reconciled about who 4/5 grade with Mrs. Maher are now reading goes around whom) and also learned about WHY DAIRY? “Willow’s Run”, which is a companion book the moon in Gemorah class, all in the week about Margaret (friend of Lily) to the earlier 7/8 grade learned with Rabbi Mendel eight when the Omer-count is “Malchus” which is book they read titled “Lily’s Crossing”. They different reasons and metaphors why Torah Kabbalistically compared to the moon, too! take place around the time of WWII. and dairy make for good connections.
at Maimonides and in the Community 5/11: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR
5/19: BMC MEET
This week Shabbos shiur by Michal Blustein at the home of Lori Calka, 359C Hackett Blvd, 4:45pm.
at Kochman’s, for girls in grades 5-7. Email Nechama Laber at JGUalbany@gmail.com
5/11: RABBIS REISMAN & FRAND Rabbi Reisman’s Navi class Sat Nights at 10:15pm; Rabbi Frand’s class 9pm Thurs, both at CBAJ.
5/12: SETH SHAPIRO SHLOSHIM A shloshim (30 day) memorial for Seth Eben Shapiro, will be this Sunday night, at Mincha/ Maariv at Shomray Torah. 7:30-8pm Intro & Remembrances, 8-8:15pm Mincha, 8:15-8:40pm Divrei Torah 8:40-9pm Maariv, with additional remembrances and conclusion afterwards. If you would like to speak or have any questions, please contact Ruvain Kudan or Gabriella DovBear.
5/12: THE TULIP FESTIVAL Big annual city celebration and fair (Sat and) Sunday in Albany’s Washington Park. Tulips make great photo backgrounds even if not at the festival.
5/12: MOTHER’S DAY Even though Kibud Av v’Aim is every day of the year, it’s special to do something special on this day
5/5-19: I.L.F. BABY ANIMAL DAYS Indian Ladder Farms (on Route 156) hosts Baby Animal Days ($5 per kid, adults free w/child) 9am5pm. Might be an idea to do before or after the Friendship Circle walk, once on that side of town.
5/11: END OF “POT OF GOLD”
5/22: JERNY’S “UCJ” UNITY CELEBRATION OF JERUSALEM 5-10pm at Proctor’s in Schenectady. Visit: TheIsraelCenter.org. Look for info on this year’s Israeli food court, vendors & local organization booths & activities. The Shlomo Katz concert (of Jerusalem, performed all over the world) tickets are $30, call 346-6204, will be from 8-9:30pm. Look for Maimonides’ booth and activity table!
5/30: O’BRIEN YARTZEIT Remembering Jonathan and Jerry O’Brien at a yartzeit commemoration, Thursday evening at Shomray Torah.
6/2: JGU FASHION & CONCERT
6/9: J.W.C. GALA LUNCHEON Year-end for Clifton Park Jewish Womens Circle.
Be sure to redeem your “Pot of Gold” percentage savings at the Colonie Price Chopper by May 11th.
For women & girls, hosted by Jewish Girls Unite, 1:30pm at Maimonides. Guest singer Dasi Sessel! Buffet, art exhibit and raffle. $18pp, or sponsor. Call Nechama 727-9581.
6/11: GEORGETTE’S WEDDING
5/14: LATE NIGHT TORAH STUDY
at Shabbos House, honoring Jerry and Ilene Sykes. For more info visit: www.jfsneny.org.
www.tinyurl.com/LchaimUnite2013
Georgette/Yocheved Esther Merceron sent her wedding (to Ezra Chaim) invitation (Mazal Tov!) to the school along with a handwritten letter, asking 5/14: TWITTER: #TORAH for Albany friends to join in her Simcha! Call the @JTAnews asks all to tweet #Torah 4 Erev Shavuos! 6/2: CBAJ DINNER/INSTALLATION school office for more info. We wish her and her This dinner will be the formal installation of Rabbi Chassan much happiness together! 5/14-17: MHDS SHAVUOT NOTES Binyamin Lehrfield, and also honor the long-time Please note the following MHDS calendar info: dedication and leadership of Mrs. Bev Shor for the 6/18: SCHOOL MOVING UP DAY Beth Abraham-Jacob synagogue. See: cbaj.org Tuesday, 5/14, Erev Shavuot: Half-Day AM Last Day of school, moving-up ceremonies for the General Studies only. Davening 8am, dismissal grades that morning, dismissal and pickup late at 11:30am, send snack but no lunch. 6/3: WOMENS B.M. ON ERUV (II) morning following presentations and refreshments. Wednesday 5/15 & Thursday 5/16: Shavuot Womens Beit Medrash 8pm at Maimonides, this Holiday, no school. Be sure to hear the 10 month, part 2 of the Mitzvah/laws of Eruv. 6/18: MHDS GRADUATION NIGHT Commandments read at Shul, enjoy the dairy! Stay tuned for formal program details. Friday 5/17: Day after Shavuot, NO SCHOOL. 6/6: J.F.S. ANNUAL CELEBRATION School resumes: Monday 5/19 at 8am. Jewish Family Services annual celebration, this year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBAJ has all-night Torah study with visiting YU and NCSY advisors, plus midnight Chinese an early morning Minyan for the all-nighters. In addition to traditional “Tikkun” at Shomray Torah, Rabbi Rubin & Yosef Costa will teach a 1am “Veterinary Halacha” and it’s implications for the Kosher milk industry, and an in-depth related discussion found in letters between Rogatchover Gaon & Lubavitcher Rebbe.
A $5 or $10 vote supports Shabbos House/Lchaim
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!”