BH. Elul
28, 5774 / Sept 23, 2014
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:31 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 7:25 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
TEN REASONS FOR SHOFAR Rabbi Shmuly’s Halacha class learned 10 classic reasons for Shofar, mostly from R’ Saadia Gaon (because the Shofar dates back to the ram at the Akeida, that it’s like a spiritual alarm clock, it resembles a baby’s cry, it symbolizing a heralding coronation blast, and reminds us of Har Sinai and Mattan Torah etc), plus laws and customs surrounding this all-important Rosh Hashanah Mitzvah.
PINGING THE SERVER
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LITTLE KIDS, BIG SHOFAR Morah Chaya Bracha’s Kindergarteners learned a lot about 3 Key Words for Rosh Hashanah: “Teshuva, Tefilah & Tzedakah!” that are said aloud by the congregation at the end of the famous Nesaneh Tokef prayer.
For those who know a little bit about computers and networking, Rabbi Mendel explained that the Shofar is like “pinging the server” (configuring the master/slave computer ALL THAT APPLE TALK WAS... identities can also be a parable for Malchiyot) Last week’s MC featured apple taste tests and to test and demonstrate the related activities, but we forgot to write that it connection and was Nursery where it all happened! IP configuration between us and K-1 TRIP TO APPLE ORCHARD Hashem. The analogy goes further because of How do you like this the data-packs that are sent have 3 segments: a image of “apple header and footer that sandwich a data set in picking”? We’ll have between. This communication format is very better pictures next similar to the Tekiah blasts that are headers week with edible apples and footers for each Shevarim & Teruah, and delicious kids! Just whose broken blasts are like pieces of data in time for Rosh sandwiched between. Hashanah they are off this morning to the apple orchard for a AND A SHOFAR LIFE LESSON… field trip. Not just to Everyone has broken parts of their lives, that’s pick apples but to just life. We learn from Shofar to try to learn about how seeds grow into fruit, and sandwich broken pieces in the supportive what trees need to grow the most delicious framework of the Tekiah, never having fruit and what farmers do to help them. a Shevarim or Teruah stand alone without a Tekiah before & after.
MAIMONIDES
BETTER TOGETHER Last Sunday morning our boys visited Bnai Brith apartments where they learned a few Russian words for Rosh Hashanah favorites (there was some argument on how to call a Shofar) and the HS girls visited Ohav Shalom Apartments, and actually met a few people they already knew! They gave residents Rosh Hashanah cards and honey-cupcakes. Look for updates on our “Better Together” intergenerational program.
404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
SUBJECT AND PREDICATE Mr. D. and Grades 3/4 are now learning about the parts of a sentence, and different types of sentences… which is also very useful in prayer (which we do a lot of on Rosh Hashanah) where there are also adjectives and verbs and nouns, of course. And there are statements and exclamations and questions…
PICS COMING NEXT WEEK... Next week’s (actually next year!) MC will feature pictures of our students at the Army’s Spirit of America Show, and from their visit to Bnai Brith Apartments for Better Together.
ARTWORK Mrs. Levin’s art classes have been producing really nice work. (L) “Texture Library” by 3/4 grade (B) a Moccasin sketch by Esther W. in 6th grade. See back page for “Warm & Cold Colors” by the younger grades.
at Maimonides and in the Community 9/26: EREV ROSH HASHANAH
10/12 Sunday: Columbus Wknd & engaging Sukkot Morning Study, stay tuned for details. Be sure to get your Boarding Pass! 10/12 Sunday: Kids Program with Motti (back from Australia for a bit) 4-5pm, at 9/27: SHABBOS SHUVA DRASHA Shteeble. Prizes & more! It’s customary for Rabbis to say a special speech on 10/12 Sunday: After Maariv Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur: in the Simon’s Sukkah, 139 Rabbi Y. Rubin at Shomray Torah: “Slow Elsemere Ave, Delmar. Motion vs. Jumping Ahead!” Rabbi B. Lehrfield at CBAJ: “Demons, Teshuvah 10/13 Mon: Day II of Columbus Day Morning Study after Shachris at Shomray Torah. and the Yom Kippur Service” 10/13 Mon: Bethlehem Chabad Sukkah-Hop 10/13 Mon: Sushi in the Sukkah Party at 9/30: MHDS OPEN HOUSE Clifton Park Chabad, 5pm at 495 Moe Road An opportunity for parents to meet the new and with a Kosher version of Mr. Fuji’s Sushi and continuing faculty and get a little taste of the goals the Kleine Klezmer music in the Sukkah. for the year (aside for what you pick up from the 10/14 Tues: Sukkos Fun Day 4-7 at Saratoga kids, from homework, and here via the “MC”). Chabad with food, activities etc. 526-0773. 6:30-7:30pm. Individual parent-teacher conferences 10/15 Wed: Hoshana Rabba late night study at for student progress will follow later this Fall. Shomray Torah/Shteeble. This Sukkot Night Simchas Beis HaShoeva List in 9/30: TRUGMANS AT TORAH-TUES Formation… Stay tuned for enhanced listing of Rabbi Avraham Arieh & Rachel Trugman of Ohr evening celebrations in different Sukkahs.. Chadash, Moshav Meor Modiin in Israel, present “Meaningful Prayer & Melody” at Shabbos House 10/19: JOIN TEAM CHABAD AT 7:45pm TorahTues slot open to community (if not THE BREAST CANCER WALK at MHDS Open House). See full schedule: Area Chabad Centers are looking forward to www.shabboshouse.org/learn/torah-tuesdays/ having a team at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Washington Park on the 10/1: THE TRUGMANS AT MHDS Sunday after Simchas Torah. Contact Rabbi On Wednesday morning (approx 9am) between Mathless 522-1872 for more info. Rosh Hashanah and Yom-Kippur Rabbi and Mrs.
Some have custom to Hataras Nedarim on this day before a Minyan or court of 3 peers, and being that this will be a Shmittah year, some also have a custom to fill out a Pruzbul form, as per Hillel’s enactment for loans during Shmittah year.
Trugman will be at Maimonides for a special Aseres Yemei Teshuvah program with our students. Parents and community are welcome.
It’s still not too late…
DON’T HAVE A PLACE FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS? There are many wonderful local options! Call Rabbi Rubin 518-423-4103 or your Rabbi to find the option best or closest to you.
PARENTS: MHDS OPEN HOUSE THIS TUESDAY 9/30 6:30pm
10/2: COMMUNAL KAPOROS As is a long-standing Albany tradition, we do a communal Kaporot ceremony (one hen for all women, one rooster for all men). Thurs evening, 6pm behind Shomray Torah, just before Mincha/ Maariv. Kaporot participant contributions should be made to Maimonides. This year Rabbi Kelman, the new Beth Israel Rabbi will be the Shochet.
LOOKING AHEAD TO SUKKOT
10/8 Wed Night: First Night, after-dinner in Rabbi Rubin’s Sukkah, 122 South Main Ave. 10/9 Thurs Night: Second night of YomTov after dinner at ????? Would you host? 10/10 Friday Night: After Shabbat Dinner, in the Gordon’s Sukkah, 29 Glenwood Street. 10/11 Shabbos Night: At the Kochman’s Sukkah, 169 Sycamore Street.
MIKVAH BNOS ISRAEL IMMERSION TIMES FOR MEN Note: Everyone MUST shower prior to immersion DATES & TIMES: Erev Rosh Hashanah: Wed, 9/24/14: 3:30pm to 5pm Erev Yom Kippur: Friday, 10/3/14: 12:45pm-2pm and again from 3pm to 4:30pm. COST: $10pp per day + $2 extra charge for towel $30 max per household per day Ages 12 and under free (Children under 18 must be accompanied by parent)
MAIMONIDES TISHREI HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 9/24-26: School closed for Rosh Hashanah and Erev Rosh Hashanah, from Wed thru the wknd. 9/30: Open House Night at School for Parents. 10/3: No School, Erev Yom Kippur 10/8: Half-Day English Only, Erev Sukkos 10/9-17: No School all of Sukkot. 10/20: School Resumes at 8am.
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!”