Maimonides Community

BH

Thurs, Cheshvan 23, 5773 / Nov 8, 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:

4:20 Shabbos Ends:

5:21

This newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of

Mrs. Rivka Losice - Rivka bas R’ Moshe on occasion of her first yartzeit this past Tuesday: Cheshvan 21 LOOK WHO SANDY BLEW IN...

BIG NEWS ON ELECTION DAY

On Monday this week, a government delegation from Beit-Shemesh, Israel came to the minyan at Shomray Torah, so Rabbi Rubin asked them to come and speak to our students at school. They were in America for a fire-fighting conference (Israel had a serious issue with fires recently) in Ramapo (Monsey) NY which is a sister-city with Beit-Shemesh, but many of the firefighters were away helping victims of Hurricane Sandy and couldn’t make the conference as planned.

So the delegation (including a deputy mayor and the director of international relations) was up in Albany. They asked our students what they knew of Beit-Shemesh in Tanach (the city gets about 20 historical mentions), and Mendel V. and some other kids remembered the story (in Shmuel I) when the Jews got the Aron (Ark) back, after the Plishtim (Philistines) stole it in a war. They first sighted the returning Aron while standing in the wheat-fields in BeitShemesh, but unfortunately didn’t treat it with the proper respect it deserved. The kids also remembered that it was called “a border city” at that time (it is midway between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem). He said that David’s fight with Goliath was in a nearby valley. There’s also a strategic lookout point from there to the land of the Plishtim. The visitors told us a little about the modern city as well. It has about 80,000 people, from very diverse backgrounds. There are Chassidic, Litvish, Mizrachi, Ethiopians, Yemenites and Russians and many Americans, too. The unfortunate religious tensions between groups there made headlines in recent years.

This election was a very tight one (the popular vote was within two percentage points apart!) , and the country faces many challenges. We wish newly re-elected President Barack Obama much success in leading this country and all of its citizens forward, in the four years ahead.

CONDLENCES TO BERGERS Mrs. Debi Berger is sitting Shiva, Friday until this Monday at her home in Miami) after the passing of her mother, Geraldine Peretz of Los Angeles. Our best to her and her husband Rabbi Moshe, and the Berger family.

RIVKA LOSICE YARTZEIT

Pictured above is the display for Rivka Losice’s Yartzeit in the lunchroom on Tuesday. The wooden “well” says “Be’er Rivka” for this week’s Torah portion about Rivka’s kindness to Eliezer and his weary camels, the tablecloth TIME TO THINK OF COSTUMES was the one Rivka Losice used in her home for Goldie K. asked her friends if they thought of Shabbos, and Morah Rochel spoke to the Purim costumes yet. They replied, “Purim!? It’s students about her personal dignity and not even Chanukah yet!” So Goldie explained refinement of character. The night before, by that after this time of year (after Halloween) is Mincha/Maariv at Shomray Torah, Rabbi a great time to think ahead and buy costumes Rubin learned a Mishna beginning with the on sale. Check out the big costume selection at letter “Reish” (for Rivka) from the start of the 2nd chapter of Pirkei Avos which reflects The Party Warehouse on Fuller Road.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

Rivka’s proper blend and balance, and how it fit her well, and also the second part of the Mishna about being careful and accounted for with Mitzvos for she was a calculated and measured person with “Yiras Shomayim” (fear or awe of heaven) to remain dedicated and observant all her years in Albany. R’ Moshe Losice spoke of 4 levels of “Yiras Shomayim” that we find by Avraham Avinu: (a) he was not ashamed or intimidated and reached out with his faith to others (b) he was willing to put his money down for it, he generously fed strangers to glorify G-d’s name (c) he put his life on the line in the fiery Ur Kasdim furnace, and (d) he was even ready to sacrifice his future, his ony child at the Akeida. R’ Moshe also told the memory of the first Friday Night Kiddush he made for Rivka (of 52 years of Kiddush every single Shabbos together) in their Warren Street apartment, using the Kiddush cup they got as a wedding present from the Koznitzer Rebbe who lived across from Rivka’s family on President Street in Crown Heights.

OPINION STATEMENTS HS is about to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" so Mrs. Gray gave them a list of controversial statements and they each had to write a short response to each statement, including:  All people are created FOIL BOATS IN SCIENCE equally.

7/8 students are learning about buoyancy in  Sticks and stones may science with Dr. Sahay. They were each given break my bones but names one meter length of foil, 4 foam craft sticks, 4 will never hurt me. wooden toothpicks and 2 plastic straws, and  The justice system we have 30 centimeters of tape, to design a floating is fair for all. boat. Then they would each place pennies  Can people be classified as inside, one at a time, to see how many pennies good and bad? their boats can handle before sinking. There  Is all bad language offensive? are a few factors that play into this: including  Does literate equal stupid? surface area and weight distribution etc…  Are leaders born that way?

Students had strong opinions on some of these statements. They’re going to have a class discussion on it before beginning the book.

They also watched “The Sneetches” cartoon by Dr. Seuss about tolerance and differences.

MORE BOOKS 4 ESTY LIBRARY

POSTCARDS IN SECOND GRADE GUEST DANCE TEACHER Morah Eve Cameron, our amazing dance teacher introduced an enthusiastic West Coast Israeli dance instructor named Cici to the girls. Cici is in town for a special conference for Israeli dance instructor (from around the country) at Temple Israel.

2nd graders with Ms. Livingston made tourist postcards about various types of geographic places and the unique qualities of that place..

Thank you to Rabbi and Mrs. Yisroel Rubin for sponsoring books to the new library in honor of: (1) the birth of Avraham Meir Hecht (2) the birth of Asher Yitzchak Wolfe (3) the birthday of Esther Aidel Rubin of Clifton Park (4) the birthday of Esther Miriam Rubin (SH).

“ACROSS FIVE APRILS” BOOK 6th graders are reading this classic story about the Civil War from the perspective of Jethro, a young boy on a farm in Illinois, whose older brothers join the Union Army, and one brother joins the Confederacy.

RICH WITHOUT MONEY

6th graders read “The Gold Coin” and then thought of many ways to feel rich that are not money-related. We reported on this last time, 6th grade is learning about wild-animals, the 4th plague in Egypt. The word “Arov” literally but now we have the picture of their means mixtures and is used here because there whiteboard brainstorming. was a mixture of animals let loose in Egypt.

THE PLAGUE OF “AROV”

JEWELRY BEADING Devorah Leah of Kindergarten is proud to display her beaded jewelry in connection with the bracelets and other jewelry that Eliezer gave Rivka in this week’s Parsha. The Nursery kids made their own jewelry, too!

IN MIDDLE OF A MEAL...

NAVI CHUMASH CONNECTIONS … at a pizza-shop, part of the group jumps up 5th grade is nearing the end of the book of Joshua, where speaks to the Jewish people near the end of his life. One of the things he tells them is about Yosef and his brothers which is what 5th grade is learning in Chumash now.

and runs out to celebrate at a wedding passing by outside. What happens when they come back bentsching-wise? 6th graders are learning this issue in Gemorah class.

EARLY FRIDAY SCHEDULE 2:15pm dismissal after we change back the clocks. All short Friday classes are abridged slightly by 5 minutes. Davening ends at 8:35 (instead of 8:40), first period ends 9:20, 2nd period ends 10am. There is no morning recess on short Fridays (aside for pre-school and primary grades). At 11:20 we break for a shorter 20-minute recess, with lunch at 11:40am. General Studies begins 11:55am.

COLOR MIXES AND SHADING 5th grade is now doing their art segment with Mrs.Levin. They’ve been working on blending colors from light to dark (or dark to light).

With only one base-color, you make many different shades by mixing it with other colors.

They first drew a picture of a vase that Mrs. Levin set up on a table from the their viewing angle, and then colored it in with paint from the vials they mixed.

HELPING THE MAZAL SCHOOL Through the PEJE network our school is partnering to help the Mazal School in Brighton Beach recover from flooding caused

by Hurricane Sandy. Their school is similar to our size, and they’re asking for books (both Jewish and general) and school supplies that were ruined by the flooding.

We will find out more specific details this coming week.

SUPPLIES FOR SANDY VICTIMS The Rosenblum Companies (based at the Great Oaks Office Park) already sent two trucks down full of supplies to Staten Island and areas hard hit by the storm, and they plan to send another truck down soon, filled with much needed supplies donated by individuals.

See the updated list for what’s needed.

“TORAH-TIMES” SPECIAL GIVEAWAYS Enjoy Rabbi Rubin’s “Bentscher” from Avraham and Sara’s Eishel, and “The Mincha (Maariv)” from Yitzchak and Rivka’s wedding in this week’s Parsha.

WAYSIDE SCHOOL SERIES Mrs. Maher has three books in the silly and humorous Wayside School series: “Sideways Stories,” “Falling Down” (which they are reading now) and the third book: “Wayside School gets a little Stranger” (which they look forward to reading next!)

GOODBYE BUNNY RABBIT

It was a great experience having the bunny at school, but the limited enclosure and the fact that no one is around all evening and at night wasn’t so suitable for the energetic little guy, so Morah Dini found a new wonderful home for him, with a grandfather whose grandkids love rabbits and already have one of their own TOUR OF THE SCIENCE LAB to keep our rabbit company. We’ll miss him RAFFLE-AUCTION READY...

6th graders were excited to get their first tour It’s back from the printer, already in the mail but we’re glad he’ll be more comfortable in his of the Dr. O’Brien Science Lab with Dr. Sahay and also available in the school office. We will new home. He did enjoy our singing while at who showed them various pieces of equipment send it out over email as well, please feel free Maimonides. You could see him perk up when and how they would be used. They look to forward or mail to friends and family. This we started to sing the Bentsching! forward to using the lab for experiments! is an important annual school fundraiser!

at Maimonides and in the Community 11/9-10: MINYAN HELP NEEDED

11/16: CBAJ NEW MEMBER DINNER 11/27: ART VIEW OF HOLOCAUST

Several families will be away for Simchas and the Family Shabbat dinner at CBAJ. Cost for existing annual Chabad Shluchim Convention, plus this members, free for new members, contact synagogue week davening is much earlier than usual on Friday, office for reservations and details. so whoever can help make Minyans at Shomray Torah this weekend would be very appreciated.

11/17: FIRST PIZZA-NITE Save the date for the first MHDS Sat Night Pizza 11/10: RABBI REISMAN ON T.C.N. night of the season!

Rabbi Reisman’s Navi lecture is screened all over, including right here at the CBAJ Luchins Media 11/18: TASTE-OF-YESHIVA DAY Center, 7:30pm (thru the end of January). Rabbi 11:30am-1pm with a brunch at Shabbos House.

Frand gives a Thursday Parsha class, also screened Men and women from the community are very at CBAJ - that lecture time is constant at 9pm. welcome. Depending on student attendance we will either pair up with students or with fellow 11/11: T.L.C. CLUB AT THE MASSRY community members to study a prepared Torah The Teen Leadership Club and Bnos Chaya High text curriculum chavrusa-style followed by a short (MHDS) will be back at the Massry this Sunday 3class. Call 438-4227 for more info/RSVP. 5pm for jewelry-making with the residents.

11/11: KINUS BANQUET LIVE Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Holocaust survivor and noted speaker will address the annual banquet of the Chabad Shluchim Conference (Kinus) on Sunday evening.

It will be streamed live on Chabad.org (also see TorahCafe.com and Jewish.TV).

11/18: GLOBAL LEARNING DAY Federation is hosting a global Jewish learning day with the morning programs at The Massry and afternoon events (and the Mifgash Bazaar) at Ohav Shalom. Contact Federation for more details.

11/18: 2 SHOPPING BAZAARS

(a) Mifgash brings vendors and artisans (and some kids activities) for an annual pre-Chanukah Bazaar, 11/12: NO SCHOOL VETERANS DAY held this year at Cong. Ohav Shalom, proceeds benefit the communal after-school high school.

Nearly every year the school holds Parent-Teacher (b) Beth Emeth Religious School hosts a “Winter conferences (on individual student progress) on Veterans Day, but the calendar listed it as no-school Shopping Land” with vendors open from 9am-3pm to benefit their school. so we’re keeping it that way for this year, but will return next year to the conferences on this day.

11/12: WRITING CONTEST EXT. The writing contest about favorite Capital Region places has been extended until Nolvember 12th, see for info: www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/ Grants/Grants/STUDENT-CONTEST.html

11/14: WOMENS TORAH & YOGA Wednesdays thru 11/28 1:30-2:30 at MHDS with Amanda Toll, open to community women. Cost: $36 for 6 weeks. info? 495-0779. Babysitting available. The group will not meet next week on 11/21 before Thanksgiving.

11/14: THE RESCUERS SCREENING Free admission, 7pm, screening at UAlbany’s downtown Page Hall, 135 Western Ave. This documentary highlights Holocaust rescue efforts by non-Jewish diplomats. The event is sponsored by Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center, Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation & UAlbany’s Center for Judaic Studies.

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 JF-NENY Beneficiary “A Beautiful Blend: Torah & Worldly Experience!”

Mr. Tibor Spitz of Kingston, 7pm at the CliftonPark-Halfmoon Library on Moe Road, is a Holocaust survivor who expresses his experience through art (painting, sculpting, ceramics, woodcarving etc), and has a remarkable story of his escape from Communism. Not intended for children. Call 495-0772/9 for more info.

12/1: YUD-TES KISLEV WEEKEND The actual date is Sunday night-Monday. Yeshiva Bochurim will be up for this Shabbos at Shomray Torah for added flavor and warmth, and a communal Melava Malka (with kids program) will be that Sat Night. Details coming soon.

12/11: MHDS CHANUKAH 4TH NITE “MIDWAY” AUCTION & DINNER Raffle-Auction is now printed, look for it in your mailbox this coming week, if you don’t get it please call the school office… this year it’s on the 4th night, so look for a “Midway” themed evening!

1/13/13: SPA FOR BODY & SOUL Save the date for this annual womens communal event, with an inspiring speaker, delicious luncheon and hands-on workshops, held once again in Clifton Park. Call Leah 495-0772 or Clara 4398280 for more information or to volunteer.