BH
Iyar 16, 5773 / April 26, 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 7:31
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:
8:36
This newsletter is sponsored in memory of
Dr. Lenny Morgenbesser Leib Yisroel ben Eliezer on the occasion of his Shloshim
by friends of the family the Bodner-Huberfeld Tzedakah Foundation May his memory be a blessing
LAG B’OMER THIS SUNDAY! See page 4 for the “Lag B’Omer at the Lake” with JCC and Chabad. There will also be a birthday BBQ starting 6:30pm at Clifton Park Chabad. We wish a big Mazal Tov to the Gray EARTH-DAY CLEAN-UP family on Rebecca’s Bat-Mitzvah in Queens, Several grades took time on Monday to clean and to those families going to the Simcha. up around the outside of the school, spruce up Some will also be at the “Great Parade” in the garden, and plant Crown Heights, thanks for representing! some flowers - both outside in the ground PRICE CHOPPER WARNING and in soil in buckets. AdvantEdge Card purchases at PC Colonie It’s really nice that the through today earns you a level of discount (up students take pride in to 25% off entire purchase) on the FIRST their school. Everyone purchase you make at Price is happy to finally feel Chopper Colonie between JOURNAL… AND SUPPLEMENT the warmth of the April 28th & May 11th. Be This year’s Tribute Journal/Yearbook is now at bright sun, see the sure to make a big purchase that first time you the printer (72 pages, with student, tribute ad grass turn green, the go shopping (with your AdvantEdge card) after pages, reflections on the Berger Award and trees begin to bud and April 27th because you don’t want a 25% writings by Eve Kneznek and more!) the blossom - signs of discount wasted on a small shopping. If you supplement will be prepared early on Sunday. spring all over! HS just need a few things, buy w/o your card, so If you’d like to put an ad/greeting in the girls also did a great you use the discount with your card (before supplement, email: mhdsnews@gmail.com or job cleaning up the May 11) and get the big savings. mail@shabboshouse.com as soon as possible. Esty Library Room.
THIS MONDAY NIGHT (4/29)... will be the annual Scholarship Tribute at the school (parking in both parking lots & onstreet parking on Partridge & on Woodlawn). Buffet dinner will begin at 6pm in the “Esty Library” (the back upstairs room) followed by 7pm program in the big hall upstairs, & dessert buffet & tea downstairs in lunchroom following the program. Mincha can be during dinner, Maariv during desserts. Space is limited due to the school venue, but we still have room for last minute reservations - call office 453-9363/3434 (ext 1) Monday 9-3 or email maimonidesschool@gmail.com anytime.
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
A FEW “MC” CORRECTIONS From last week’s “MC” Newsletter: From the piece on “Felafel Philosophy”: Chumus and Felafel Balls have the same basic ingredients: ground chickpeas, spices etc; but not Techina sauce - which is made from ground sesame seeds. From Upcoming Events: NYS Museum’s CANstruction closed in mid-April, and is not open thru May as listed.
“RECONNECT” @ STARBUCKS
HS GEMORAH TAANIS CLASS SHAPES GO 3-D THIS WEEK Last week Ms. Livingston’s 2nd grade math class learned about 1-dimensional shapes (squares, triangles, circles, hexagons etc) and how they can split or join one another. This week they played with 3-D shapes (different shapes, but all blue translucent) of the same, as part of the new curriculum introducing math concepts (in basic form) in earlier years.
Starbucks had a “Reconnect” one day only special recently, free cups of coffee until noon. THE BAR-YOCHAI The HS girls got in their studying, and for a MERON SONG treat got there in time and came back with Kindergarten’s Lag coffees, plus a few for their teachers, too! A B’Omer book includes warm L’chaim! Does anyone remember the some of the words of the Parshas Lech-Lecha message learned from a chorus of the classic “Barword printed on the lid of coffee-cup last year? Yochai” song that many, especially Sephardic It was pictured in the “MC” newsletter… Jews, like to sing on Lag B’Omer.
PLANETARIUM ADVENTURES Chris Grubb of Planetarium Adventures brought the StarLab inflatable Learning Dome into the “Esty Library” at school for grade groups to take turns to enter for a star-studded visit! K2 learned an “Astronomy Alphabet: From Astronaut to Zodiac” while Grades 3 and up learned about different stars & constellations that are viewable at different times of the year. 6th graders found a connection to the Chumash they recently learned in Parshas Bo, establishing the Jewish calendar based on astronomical observation (new moon, solar seasons etc). Thanks to Mrs. Rosenfield and the General Studies staff for arranging this educational experience.
KEDOSHIM MITZVOS Last week’s Parsha was filled with Mitzvot, grades 3/4 illustrated and captioned a few of them. Pictured here, FAR LEFT: Respect the Elderly (about a youngster giving up a seat for an older person at a school graduation) LEFT: Honesty in Business (2 workers at a Fruit-Stand, one being honest, and the other not being as honest…
Rabbi Rubin has been learning Gemorah Taanis with the HS Girls, which has many inspiring stories and teachings. They hope to finish an entire chapter by year’s end, even though they only meet twice each week.
TYPOGRAPHY IN ART CLASS Mrs. Levin introduced both 5th graders and 7/8 graders to Typography: the art and science behind fonts and letter forms. “Dog” was their first word to practice on (because it is only three letters and it has one letter that ascends above the line, one letter that descends and one that stays within the central lines). She showed them samples of her own commercial work, using the style of letters (themselves, even without images) to convey specific messages. Then they each tried doing the same of their own using random phrases she gave them. Rabbi Mendel shared with 7/8 a “Torah -Tuesday” class he wrote for UAlbany students that is a Torah commentary to a 2005 speech Steve Jobs (founder of Apple, Next and Pixar) said at Stanford University, which also touches upon letter forms and fonts, (and the parallel connections with the laws of Safrus - Jewish scribal art) and how it came to be that Mr. Jobs insisted that multiple typefaces be included with the Macintosh computer.
PESACH SHEINI MATZA LUNCH On Wednesday, all students enjoyed a taste of Matzah (whole wheat & regular, shmurah and machine, from Israel, Brooklyn and Ukraine) with a variety of shmears: cream-cheese, butter and strawberry jam.
GARAGE SALE ITEMS NEEDED General Studies are preparing for their annual Garage-Sale to benefit the year-end trip. After the dinner this week (Tuesday onward) 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.
TIM LYTTON’S NY STATE MATH TESTING BOOK ON KOSHER After the ELA tests last week, grades 4,6 &8
took the state math tests this week. According Professor Tim Lytton (Albany Law) wrote a book to the 8th graders, it was clearer & easier than they expected after the ELA tests last week. titled “Kosher: Private Regulation in the Age of Industrial Food” which was well-reviewed in a number of publications, including this week’s “Times-Union”. The focus of the book isn’t so much about the observance of Kosher, but about effectiveness of private agencies in food regulation.
SIYUM OUTING CELEBRATIONS
MINI-APPS TRIP The long-awaited APPS trip is being planned for the before Shavuos, in the meantime the middle school walked to Ridgefield Park to enjoy some ices and play the “Tray-Game” each student picked one random item from the tray and had to think of a connection to either Pesach-Sheini or Lag B’omer. On their way back to school they stopped at the O’Brien home to make the blessing on fruit-blossoms (said once a year, usually in Nissan, which fell to early this year for tree-blossoms in our area). Here are a few of their clever connections: Scissors: haircuts/upshernish on Lag B’Omer Glasses: give near-sighted a second chance Heart-shaped Cookie-Cutter: Ahavas Yisrael Flat-Bed Truck: Lag B’Omer Parade Float Skewer: Roast Marshmallows in Campfire Battery: Energy for a Joyous Celebration Candle: the “Medurah” fire on Lag B’Omer Prescription: opportunity to fix a problem
3rd grade finished Parshas Vayera, 4th finished Vayeishev, 5th finished all of Chumash Breishis (with special projects for “Birchas Yaakov” memorization). The weather was so gorgeous that outdoor Siyum parties was ideal. 3/4 went to Five Rivers (see them on left all up in a tree!) 5th went to Washington Park (where they spelled out “Thank You” using twigs).
SPRINGTIME BULLETIN BOARD Mrs. Carroll’s students built up this board, one item at a time. They painted brightly colored birdhouses; cut out paper flowers; tore orange, red & yellow tissue paper to make that great big sun; twisty googley-eyed caterpillars; and the richly colored butterflies with 3-D bodies; now they personalized bright yellow chicks…
at Maimonides and in the Community 4/27: RASHBI’S 3 CROWNS & 4TH In honor of Lag B’Omer “3 vs. 4 crowns” will be the topic of Rabbi Rubin’s talk at Shomray Torah w/ a 4-crown Kiddush & Farbrengen to follow.
4/27: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR 4:45pm. Again at 29 Glenwood, but this time on 2nd floor, at home of Leah Caras, given by Leah.
4/27: RABBIS REISMAN & FRAND Live screening of Rabbi Yisroel Reisman’s Navi class, now Sat Nights at 10:15pm; Rabbi Yissachar Frand’s class 9pm Thurs, both at CBAJ.
4/28: LAG B’OMER DAY
Chabad joins JCC at their scenic Camp Olam Ce-de-Ca in Grafton NY site for “Lag B’Omer at the Lake” festivities (campfire, archery, gaga, Israeli dancing, nature hikes, etc) Kosher food (organized by M. Caras) available for sale. Call Rabbi Simon 439-8280 for questions/info. Directions: 787N to 7E thru Troy. Right on 278 follow signs to turn left onto Route 2. Once in Grafton, 2 miles to Dunham Road, (if u hit Grafton Park that’s too far) turn right, and right again thru the gate after passing Martin Dunham Reservoir on left.
Birthday & BBQ at Clifton Park Chabad, 495 Moe Road (off Route 146) starting 6:30pm. Some families are headed down to “The Great Parade” in Brooklyn. Thanks for representing!
4/29: MHDS ANNUAL TRIBUTE
5/5: WALK 4 FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE This year’s “Walk 4 Friendship” (with both a Family Walk & 5K Run) will be in Guilderland’s Tawasentha Park on Rt 146. If you haven’t been yet, this will be a great to explore another great town park (hilly, wooded, scenic) of the Capital Region, while supporting a good cause and enjoying a communal outing! Find out more at and support a person/team: www.capitalfriends.org
5/5: BETH ISRAEL DINNER Beth Israel’s dinner honors Debbie Gatoff, past president & current VP of the congregation & Rabbi Rami Strosberg, HACD head of school, soon headed to Westchester. They’re also honoring past sisterhood presidents. Call 377-3700 for info.
5/6: WOMENS B.M. ON ERUV (I) Womens Beit Medrash 8pm at Maimonides, this month discussing the Mitzvah/laws of Eruv. Part II of Eruv class will be next month on June 3rd.
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 live concert, Israeli food court, Israeli vendors and many local organization booths and activities.
6/2: CBAJ DINNER/INSTALLATION
This dinner will be the formal installation of Rabbi 6pm at Maimonides with an elegant buffet dinner, Binyamin Lehrfield, and also honor the long-time dedication and leadership of Mrs. Bev Shor for the program, ending with a dessert buffet/tea room. This year reflects on 25 years of annual dinners, the Beth Abraham-Jacob synagogue. Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award and associated awards. It also recognizes (on her yartzeit) the 6/6: J.F.S. ANNUAL CELEBRATION bequest of Eva Kneznek which allowed the school Jewish Family Services annual celebration, this year to purchase its own home. at Shabbos House, honoring Jerry and Ilene Sykes. For more info visit: www.jfsneny.org.
4/30: THE POWER OF ONE
Linda Hooper of the “Paper-Clips Project” will speak for Federation Womens Philanthropy event, 6pm at HACD, 54 Sandcreek Rd. Open to those who contribute minimum $180 to Federation. $25pp, $18 for ages 12-21. Call 783-7800 x234.
5/1 & 5/17: CBAJ JOURNAL May 1st is deadline for journal ads, May 17th is deadline for dinner reservations: www.cbaj.org
5/2: ISRAEL BONDS COCKTAILS
6/9: J.W.C. GALA LUNCHEON Year-end for Clifton Park Jewish Womens Circle.
6/11: GEORGETTE’S WEDDING Georgette/Yocheved Esther Merceron sent her wedding (to Ezra Chaim) invitation (Mazal Tov!) to the school along with a handwritten letter, asking for Albany friends to join in her Simcha! Call the school office for more info. We wish her and her Chassan much happiness together! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Maimonides Scholarship Tribute Monday, April 29th, 2013 6pm at the Maimonides School 404 Partridge Street, Albany NY 12208 Elegant Buffet Dinner & Desserts Couvert: $72pp/$126 couple Tribute Journal/Info/RSVP: (518) 453-9363 / maimonidesschool@gmail.com
EVA KNEZNEK Yartzeit Memorial Recognizing Eva’s generous bequest that enabled the purchase of the Maimonides School Building
25 YEARS OF DR. MORTON BERGER MEMORIAL AWARDS & associated individual Maimonides Dinner Honorees Dr. David Axelrod* Sharona Backman Wendy Barnet Yefim & Galina Baskin Rabbi Mordechai Besser Milton* & Anne* Bindell Carl Bloomberg Hirshel & Debbie Ellenbogen Sharon Fogel Robin Freyer Hon. Ronald Goldman Col. Jacob Goldstein Lewis & Beth Gray Dr. Ed & Laura Jacobs Gloria Krimmer Ruvain Kudan Dr. Norman Lamm Bruce Lorence Avi Losice Moshe & Rivka* Losice Noah Losice* Hon. Jack McEneny Benjamin & Ruth Mendel Dr. Leonard Morgenbesser* Eli Nash Hope Berger-Nathan
Dr. Jonathan O’Brien* Leo & Ruth Phaff Dr. Richard & Vera* Propp Jack Rosenblum Sandy & Dina Rosenblum Harry Rosenfeld Marcia Rosenfield Nathan Rosenstein* Rabbi Yisroel & Rochel Rubin Seymour* & Marjorie* Saslow Norman Schimelman Faye Silton Hon. Sheldon Silver Rabbi Nachman & Clara Simon General Nolan Sklute Linda Berger-Spivack Debbie Stark Salo & Johanna Steper Ilene Sykes Dr. Bernard* & Joyce Teitelman Ira & Sheri Woren Gordon Zuckerman * of blessed memory
We apologize for inadvertent omissions. We also appreciate and
all the Maimonides Dinner Group Awardees (Rashi 900 Capital District Israel Bonds hosts gala cocktail www.tinyurl.com/LchaimUnite2013 recognize Educators, Israel@60, Zahir!, Hudson 400 Explorers etc.) honoring Rodney & Carol Ann Margolis at CNSE A $5 or $10 vote supports Shabbos House/Lchaim Nanotech, 257 Fuller Rd. Guest speaker Shahar Azani, Israeli consul for media affairs. $36pp. Info/ MAIMONIDES SCHOOL & COMMUNITY RSVP w/ Israel Bonds: (800) 724-0748. (Nursery / Elementary / High School) 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 maimonidesschool@gmail.com 5/4: BRENNER YOUTH AT CBAJ For this month’s Shabbos Lunch & Learn at CBAJ Founded in 1980, Maimonides is chartered Dr. Artie Brenner will share about his youth and by the NYS Board of Regents and is a family. Contact the shul for more info.
JF-NENY Beneficiary “A Beautiful Blend: Torah & Worldly Experience!”