BH
Adar 19, 5773 / March 1, 2013
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:
5:26 Shabbos Ends:
6:27
LOOKING FOR OLD JOURNALS We’re still looking for old Maimonides school journals from the years 1989-1996 as well as 2001. (We did get the “Jewish World” article from 1989 when the annual dinner and award was first established after the untimely passing of Dr. Morton Berger in 1988). The school’s journal copies of 1989-1996 were lost in the storage-trailer fire in 2005. Please, if you can look through old files if you may have one or more of these journals, call Rabbi Rubin 4234103 or school office: 453-9363 ext 1. Thanks!
This newsletter is sponsored in honor of
Chaim Kudan’s Bar-Mitzvah this Shabbos at Shomray Torah by his parents Ruvain & Shayna and the Kudan family SEE INSIDE FOR COSTUME PICS On Monday, Shushan Purim many students came to school in costume and there was a “Costume Parade” with each student presenting and explaining their costume. See pictures atop pages 2 & 3.
YARMOVE ON THE COVER Before moving on to Chicago for a job as Kosher buyer for much larger supermarket chains (now buying for 1,300 stores!), Yakov Yarmove started off doing the same for Price Chopper right here in Albany. Now he’s on the cover of “Mishpacha Magazine” talking about his job, common Kosher misconceptions and about his passion in finding new Kosher products and making Kosher more mainstream and more accessible even in small, far-flung towns and communities. Kol HaKavod!
TRIPLE KUDAN MAZAL TOV This Thursday the Kudans went down to NY where their son Chaim had his Bar-Mitzvah Aliyah in 770, and at that same Minyan their newborn granddaughter (born to MHDS alumna Rivky and Yossi Dubroff) was named Esther (for Purim) Tzivia (for an aunt), and just after that Minyan was the Bris-Milah for their newborn grandson (born to MHDS alumna Nechama Dina and Yossi Kagan) named Yitzchak Meir (in memory of Yossi’s father). All in one day! Many more Simchas!
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STUDENT PIC ON J.W. COVER Chana Laber took this photo in the Nursery classroom for TNT (MC newsletter reporting) and it was used as the cover photo for “The Jewish World” newspaper’s Purim cover!
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
100 BOXTOPS FOR 100TH DAY Just in time for the 100th day of school this week, the K. Kids collected 100 Boxtops set them up in the shape of “100”! If each boxtop is worth a dime, 100 boxtops are worth ____!
Flagmaker Betsy Ross and President Abe Lincoln (at Kingston’s Purim USA theme).
A Schenectady Police Officer on duty at MHDS
A French Musician & French Fries (in connection with “Purim in Paris” @ Greenbush)
S.M.A.R.T. IS NOW UNDERWAY Ms. Jill Jones is already at work as our new resource teacher for early intervention, called SMART (Some Mentoring and Reading Time) Program at school. Thanks to Mrs. Rosenfield for all the work put in to make this happen for our kids. Also thanks to Mrs. M. Rosenfield for researching and arranging the snake exhibit to come to our school from Cobleskill!
A walking iPhone
Super-Mentsch!
MIFGASH WINE SALE The Mifgash communal afterschool high school had a winetasting and fundraiser last night at Glennpeter Jewelers. You can still order Passover wine through them (via University Wine & Liquor) at a 15% discount by emailing: mifgashpassoverwine@gmail.com (In past years Maimonides often had its own SELF-PORTRAITS IN ART CLASS Pre-Purim & Pesach wine sale, perhaps this is We missed this in the last newsletter, so here it something we can revisit in the future). is now. Art teacher Mrs. Levin has been working with these students on self-portraits, better understanding facial features and learning new artistic techniques.
HOW MANY DIPS WAS THAT? Mrs. Maher’s students have been learning about Colonial times and enjoyed a candlemaking activity, the good old-fashioned way. It was common then for kids to help with candlemaking which was an important household chore before electricity. The thickness and strength of the candle depends on how many times it is dipped in the hot wax. Most kids dipped their candles over 70 times! They balanced the wet wax on pencils which held them steady as they walked around and let their candles dry a little between wax dips. It then had to hang-dry overnight.
FROGS HERE, FROGS THERE... Like the famous kids Pesach song, 2nd graders are learning about frogs in both their General Studies (they read “Frogs” by Gail Gibbons, about how animals change as they grow) and Judaic classes (frogs in the 2nd Plague of the TAMBOURINES & JOY AT D.O.S. Pesach story). Pictured above is a diagram A few days after Purim this week, our students made by a student of a frog with labels. went to the Daughters of Sara to sing for the residents, led by our music teacher Mrs. Lynn “Morah Leah” Gross. Students played tambourine to accompany their singing.
OF MICE & MEN PREZI PROJECTS
HS projects on “To Kill a Mockingbird” are due TUESDAY IS LIBRARY DAY this week and will be featured in next week’s Don’t forget to bring your books back each “MC”. As they prepare to begin reading “Of Tuesday, so other kids can Mice & Men” they each prepared a “Prezi” borrow the book you presentation on a different background enjoyed, and you will be themes of Steinbeck’s book: Dust Bowl, Great able to choose a new book Depression, Migrant Workers, Mercy Killings, from the many wonderful etc among other topics. Prezi is a new tool for titles on the shelves! them, an exciting quick way to share ideas.
SEDER PLATE ORGANIZING Kindergarteners had the Seder plate items with Velcro strips and each took turns finding the right places for everything. Pre-school and primary grades are now learning all about Pesach and preparing projects to take home for the Seder and the holiday. Older grades are beginning to learn Hilchos Pesach and some Haggadah commentary as well.
TOP ROW L-R: Bumble-Bee Transformer, Karate Guy, Happy Clown, African Lion, Mitt Romney (his brother dressed as Obama). BOTTOM ROW L-R: Raggedy Ann, Barbie Doll, bright red Lady-Bug, a happy Kallah, and a sweet Princess.
A FBI officer and a Secret-Agent confer with a clown, a lion and Mitt Romney (with a Kallah in the background) before the start of the Shushan Purim Masquerade at school.
GEMORAH PESACHIM
NURSERY IS SO EXCITED FOR PESACH
6th grade with Rabbi Shmuly is now learning about Karpas & Maror in Gemorah Pesachim (in Arvei-Pesachim, the 10th chapter) so they have an original source perspective on how the Halachos of the Seder developed to the way we observe it today. Just in time for Pesach!
Nursery students are so excited to learn all about Pesach and do all kinds of projects, including these 3 circle brown colored Matzos that Leah is holding up here.
PYTHOGOREAN TREES After learning the theorem about measuring triangles, 7/8 made decorative “trees” that demonstrate this mathematical formula.
PURIM & PREZ WEEK Our students in TNT were eager to report on their many Purim activities as well as family trips over Presidents Week Break. Below are some selections: PRESIDENTS WEEK
AVRAHAM & LOT IN VENN KAPLAN ARTICLE @ J-HISTORY Rabbi Rubin’s 7&8 grade Jewish history class helped develop the Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan article that was featured in the recent “Jewish World” newspaper, dedicated in honor of the local Daf Yomi Group. Not many people know that this prolific Jewish author and translator lived for a time in Albany NY or that he studied physics. His many works span the spectrum of Jewish learning: from Chumash translation and commentary, to books on observance, inspiration, Kabbalah, meditation, and more! This week their Jewish history class focused on the contemporary encyclopedic Halachic compiler-author Rabbi Gavriel Tzinner.
We traveled to Pittsburgh and enjoyed the Kosher Milky Way Restaurant. Another family also went to Pittsburgh and really liked the Botanical Gardens there - especially the indoor part where the climate changes. We went to Syracuse & Rochester, enjoyed museums, a pizza shop and a hotel stay! We went to West Hempstead for a Bris and stopped off in Monsey on the way back. One family went to Liberty Science Center, and also the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens.
Rabbi Yossi’s 3rd graders filled in these Venn PURIM WEEK diagrams to show the similarities & differences The Marionette Purim Show by Chana Cotter in East Greenbush was really artistic and between Avraham-Avinu and his nephew Lot professional. It was live at the East Greenbush in the Chumash Vayera they are now learning. Purim party and also filmed there live! A lot of families and kids came out to the PUSH FOR TIMELY 8AM START school’s “Hot-Spot” Prunch. Besides the soup We were great at this at the start and hot cocoa, one of the best things was the of the year, but in the past hypnotism show by a visiting Yeshiva bochur! month arrival times have been Purim in Africa in Clifton Park, almost felt slowly slipping and lately many like Africa there was so much decoration, and families have been arriving at the drum circle and big animal props. And the school deep into the first parrot named “Seymour” was so excited! period/davening class. We ask (especially A few families enjoyed Purim USA in those in close driving distance) that everyone Kingston, the related costumes were Uncle Sam, George Washington, Betsy Ross, Ben make a special effort to be on time each Franklin, Raggedy Ann, Abe Lincoln, morning (or as close to that as possible), for Strawberry Shortcake, and a Hot Pepper. the most effective start to the school day.
BH
at Maimonides and in the Community 3/2: CHAIM’S BAR-MITZVAH THIS SHABBOS 9am Shabbos prayers (Kiddush follows) at Cong. Shomray Torah, 463 New Scotland Ave. The Kudans look forward to celebrating with you!
3/2: KIDS PROGRAM BACK ON UPSTAIRS AT SHTEEBLE 10:30 to 11:30am, led by Chaya Andrusier. Parents, please encourage good behavior, those who’d like to sponsor the weekly treat please email: shabbosprogram@gmail.com.
Welcome to the
Lorence Alumni Torah Dedication dedicated by Bruce Lorence UAlbany Class of 1970 in memory of his paternal great-grandparents Jacob Lorence & Mary Ringler-Lorence
3/2: WAKING UP JEWISH IN VIETNAM Captain Zvi "Hank" Webb shares an honest and humorous talk “Waking Up Jewish in Vietnam” on Jewish pride in jungles of war. 7:30pm at Delmar Chabad, 109 Elsmere Ave. $5pp, Book signing of “Loyal Soldier” follows talk. Info/RSVP: 439-8280.
3/2: CREATING A CULTURE OF WELCOME Dr. Ron Wolfson of Synagogue 3000 and a Jewish education expert and communal consultant will speak at the Federation 7:30pm on “Creating a Culture of Welcome”.
3/4: WOMENS BEIT MEDRASH, THIS MONTH ON HALLEL 8pm at Maimonides. This month’s topic is just in time for the Hallel on Passover!
3/10: DAF YOMI TRACTATE SHABBOS SIYUM Shabbos is one of the longest tractates, and among the most relevant! Daf-Yomi welcomes the community to celebrate the completion with a Sunday 9am breakfast at Shomray Torah. This grand Siyum breakfast is in memory of R’ Moshe Rubin (yartzeit Erev RC Nissan), and Rabbi Chaim Zev Bomzer (around his Shloshim), and Mr. Max Rosenberg (recently passed away) and Mrs. Eleanor Rosenberg (mother of Stan Rosenberg). R’ Shragie Bomzer will start the new tractate Eruvin directly from Israel!
3/10: LORENCE TORAH & MOSHE’S BAR-MITZVAH 12-4pm for Lorence “Alumni Torah” dedication at UAlbany’s Alumni House with procession to Shabbos House, for dancing, festivity and buffet luncheon (seating/ standing-room) along with Moshe Rubin’s Bar-Mitzvah celebration. Please park at Dutch Student/Gold, no parking at Shabbos House, avoid parking on side streets.
3/10: CCJE 4TH GRADE PROGRAM AT NYS MUSEUM 10am-11:30am for 4th graders at a special history program celebrating 350+ years of Jewish American History. Call Marci at the Jewish Federation: 783-7800.
3/12: OLD ILLUSTRATED HAGGADOT ART LECTURE “Old Haggadot for New Audiences” is the topic of Dr. Marc Michael Epstein (Professor of Religion at Vassar College), 7pm at the CNSE Nano College’s South Auditorium 255 Fuller Rd. The talk is sponsored by UAlbany Center for Jewish Studies, the University Art Department and CNSE. Program and parking are free.
3/14: PRE-PESACH PIZZA NIGHT AT “NATHAN’S” 5-7pm Pizza at Maimonides’ “Nathan’s Kitchen”… takeout available at 3:30pm only by advanced reservation to bnoschayaprograms@gmail.com. If interested: babysitting 3:30 -5pm at $2 per child. Stay tuned for an additional “Chametz Dinner” close to the start of Pesach also at school. Also stay tuned for post-Passover Pizza Night April 4th!
3/17: CHRIS GIBSON @ JOINT SOCIETY FED EVENT The Congressman will speak at Agudat Achim in Schenectady for the Federation’s Joint Society event about “Major Domestic and International Challenges facing the United States: 2013 and Beyond.” Call 783-7800 for info, cost and RSVP.
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!”
Sunday, March 10, 2013 28th of Adar, 5773 12pm Letter Writing & Torah Completion at UAlbany Alumni House University Drive West, between Alumni & Tricentennial Drive
1pm Procession to Shabbos House University Drive West to Great Dane Drive to Fuller Road
1:30pm Hakafot Dancing at Shabbos House 320 Fuller Road
2:15pm Buffet Luncheon 3pm Moshe Rubin’s Bar-Mitzvah Program 4pm Desserts Info/RSVP: 438-4227 / mail@shabboshouse.com Please Park in UAlbany’s Dutch Gold/Student Lot * please do not park at Shabbos House or on side-streets * SHABBOS HOUSE Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center serving UAlbany since 1976 320 Fuller Rd Albany NY 12203 (518) 438-4227 / mail@shabboshouse.com
Waking up Jewish in Vietnam Saturday, March 2, 7:30 p.m. Bethlehem Chabad 109 Elsmere Ave. Delmar Captain Tzvi "Hank" Webb joined the U.S. Army to serve his country. After escaping a bullet, a grenade and a drunken anti-Semite, he was forced to re-think: What am I really fighting for? Book signing and books for sale “Loyal Soldier” will follow the lecture. Cost: $5, Sponsors $100. For more information and to RSVP: www.BethlehemChabad.com or call 439-8280