Maimonides Community

BH. Iyar

2, 5774 / May 2, 2014

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 7:38 404 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 8:44 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE Grades 4+ watched 3 short but memorable films of Holocaust survivors at an school assembly this week. The first two stories were from the Azrieli Foundation’s Holocaust Survivor Memoirs. The first, “If, By a Miracle” was the story of Michael Kutz who was ten when he climbed out of a mass grave and joined the partisans in the Russian forest. Mr. Kutz ends with encouragement for ten-year olds to realize how much they can accomplish, despite their young years.

The second was “In Hiding” by Marguerite Elias Quddus of France, who hardly even knew she was Jewish before she went into hiding. It was so hard for her to tell her story that she first began by illustrating it, and only after that began to tell this very sad story of her youth. The third film was of “Rabbi Lau’s First Speech” that he bravely said at age 7 in the Czestochowa concentration camp that showed what productive workers kids could be thereby saving the young children from being killed

In the merit of Jewish boys and girls learning Torah and doing mitzvot, may Hashem grant Menachem Mendel ben Menucha Rochel a complete and speedy recovery.

THE BEST ANSWER TO NAZIS A parent said, “The best answer to the Nazis are the children right here, studying Torah, proud & happy to be Jews - that’s the best revenge, our best chance for a Jewish future.”

And so are the Mazal Tovs listed below.. So, we found this appropriate Family Circus cartoon by Bill Keane in our archives.

MAZAL TOV R’ MOSHE LOSICE on becoming a great-grandfather! A baby boy was born to his granddaughter in Lakewood.

MAZAL TOV ABRAMS Yoni and Esther Abrams (formerly of Albany) wrote us from Florida to share the good news of the birth of a grandson named Yedidya Moshe to their daughter Ariella & her husband Yosef Hamoui. The Abrams send warm regards to all in the Albany community (especially at Shteeble) who remember them.

FRUIT BLOSSOMS

because the Nazi commandant cruelly said that they were “a waste of bread”. We watched on film (from TorahCafe.com) the beautiful meeting of Rabbi Lau with a Mr. Sam Harris, a fellow Holocaust survivor of the same Czestochowa concentration camp, who was also a young child there, and very clearly remembers Lau’s speech! Rabbi Lau was liberated from Buchenwald and came to Israel, where he later became the Chief Rabbi!

IRENE SENDLER: LIFE IN A JAR Grades 2 & 3 watched “Life in a Jar” the story of Irene Sendler, a courageous Polish Catholic woman who saved Jewish children in Warsaw.

This week was the last opportunity for the Nissan blessing on fruit blossoms. Despite the drizzle, our students went over to Vicky’s house to say the special blessing.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

-Rabbi Mendy and Devora Leah Mathless & family MAZAL TOV ROSENBERGS MHDS alumna Mrs. Fruma (Chanowitz, formerly of Albany) and her husband R’ Feivel Rosenberg had a baby boy in Morristown NJ. By the way, the recent Holocaust reunion story posted online this week, and shared with our students, is a Chanowitz great-aunt, thought to have perished, but survived the war in Russia and established a family there! Fruma is named for the sister on right in this picture - next to her sister Asna Mera who survived the Holocaust unbeknownst to her family for 70 years! (search online for: Chanowitz Holocaust Kaddish 70 Years for this remarkable story).

STATE MATH TEST THIS WEEK Several grades have been working hard to review & prepare for the big NYS Math test this week, reviewing all kinds of math formulas, working on word problems & finding solutions, & how to “show your work”.

FOUR ON PESACH IN HEBREW Four is a big number on Passover, Morah Devorah Leah’s 3rd graders each split a paper into four, and wrote a Hebrew paragraph about these four things they experienced this MAP OF THE UKRAINE Passover: Something A few weeks ago, Hershey V. was going around funny, something school taking pictures for TNT/MC and he beautiful, a special came back with this photo of a map of the time, and something Ukraine. Where did he find it? It was unusual or enjoyable. Like the time a sister displayed on the “Mendel Beilis” cart. So why accidentally spilled grape juice on an uncle, or did he take this picture? Because of “all that is the songs at Moshiach-Seudah, the day spent going on in the Ukraine these days.” What a with grandparents, when I opened the door great connection and superb reporting! for Eliyahu HaNavi, or when the family lost Actually look closely at this clear map to see the 10th piece of bread during the search, and the regions in dispute: The Crimea at the ended up finding it in plain sight on the table! bottom surrounded by the Black Sea, and the Dnieper River that cuts north-south straight through Ukraine, dividing it into east-west regions. Unfortunately this week, Mr. Gennady Kernes the Jewish mayor of Kharkov, (a large city in eastern Ukraine near Russia) was shot in an assassination attempt, and airlifted to Israel for treatment. We said Tehillim for him (Moshe ben Chana) at the start of our Holocaust remembrance assembly this week, as well as for a Refuah Shlayma for Menachem Mendel ben Menucha Rochel.

RABBI RUBIN’S "REVENGE?" Strange title, isn’t it? Well here’s the unusual story as Minyan visitor Mr. Shlomo K. told it Rabbi Moshe Goldberg, Rosh Yeshiva of to our students this week: As a young camper Montreal’s Yeshiva Gedolah visited our in Montreal's Camp Gan Israel, Shlomo’s Minyan on the first day of Rosh Chodesh. He study pattern worried the camp’s Learning shared this story with our older students: Director, who happened to be Rabbi Rubin.

Once a Stoliner Chassid came to a city that Fast forward 45 years, and the now respected had no Chassidic shteiblach, so he went to the community member and successful main synagogue, a very formal type of place. international investment businessman stops in He approached the Rabbi there with an Albany on a Rosh Chodesh morning this unusual request. Stoliner Chassidim have a week. An avid book collector, he is connected custom to pray very loudly, with dramatic with prominent libraries around the world, screaming out the words… would this be and may have the world’s largest Pirkei Avos acceptable if he did that in this synagogue? commentaries collection, including rare The Rabbis was emphatic that such behavior editions that are hundreds of years old. He would not be welcome at all. But the Stoliner checks in daily with "Biegeleisen," a Boro Park had little choice, he wanted to pray with a scholarly bookstore that's also Rabbi Rubin's Minyan, so he went and against his custom favorite. So when Rabbi Rubin asked him to prayed quietly. But when he came to Nishmas, share his love of Seforim with our MHDS he could not help himself. He burst out Talmud class, Shlomo considered it a positive singing and screaming, very loudly, and then “revenge” for his camper years in the late once realizing that he did so, he prayed the 1960’s… Lesson? Never underestimate anyone rest quietly again. After the prayers, the (as Pirkei Avot teaches). You may be pleasantly Stoliner Chassid went to apologize to the surprised how students turn out later in life!

Rabbi. But this time the Shul’s Rabbi was fine Pictured above Rabbi Rubin presents Mr. K. with it, since the Chassid’s prayerful outburst with his own Sefer on Pirkei Avos, signed! was natural, spontaneous and from the heart.

BETTER WHEN ITS NATURAL

A WORKING WHISTLE & CHAIN The middle school had opportunity to visit RPI to see a 3-D printer in action, so the 4/5 had opportunity to go this week to see a 3-D printer in action at the Bethlehem Library with Morah Clara. They got to see a chain created (with the links already in place!) and a working whistle with the ball already inside!

They also marveled at a small toy snowman the printer made with a moveable head.

THE EGGS HATCHED! Do you remember the colorful eggs in the birds nests on Mrs. Carroll’s first grade bulletin board a couple of weeks ago? Well, they’ve now hatched, and with the addition of googley-eyes and little pointy beaks they now look like little birds!

LET’S STAY PURE Just in time for Parshas Emor (which talks about the purity of Kohanim) and coming from Parshas Kedoshim (which means holy) the Kochmans brought in this book by Bracha Goetz titled, “Let’s Stay Pure” which the Kindergarteners read in class.

NYS MATH TEST UPDATE Our students are doing the third portion of the State Math test today, but so far student feedback has been that (unlike the ELA test) it was fair, understandable… much, much better!

THE REBBE & GEORGE WASHINGTON’S CHAIR In his research leading up to the American Jewish Heritage Torah dedication in Clifton Park this Lag B’Omer, Rabbi Yossi came across this fascinating diary entry of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (1880-1950) from his visit to Philadelphia (on the 13th of Kislev) in 1929. Recognizing his valiant struggle for religious freedom in the USSR and his recent arrest & liberation in 1927, there was a large and dignified official reception and the Rebbe was honored to place a wreath of flowers at the Liberty Bell, and also to sit in George Washington’s “Rising Sun” chair at Independence Hall. The diary records the words said at the time by both the Rebbe and the welcoming dignitaries of Philadelphia, primarily about freedom of religion being a fundamental principle of America. The Rebbe spoke of how much it meant to him to visit this “cradle of American freedom” and to have such a warm reception for someone who was imprisoned for religious endeavors. Before placing the flower wreath he said, “Liberty based on faith is more proper and strongest.”

JONATHAN SARNA’S RESPONSE Rabbi Yossi shared the above with the widely respected Professor Jonathan Sarna, of American Jewish History at Brandeis and Chief Historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History. Dr. Sarna responded:

Thank you so much for your message and Yasher Koach on the new Sefer Torah. I especially appreciate the material you sent from the diary of the Freidiker Rebbe on his visit to Philadelphia. This reinforces my claim that when he talked about America being “nisht andersh” he was focusing on it being no different in terms of its spiritual potential. It is clear from what you sent that he considered it utterly different from the USSR...

PARENTS NOTE JOURNAL IS ALSO YEARBOOK

Parents, please note: The computers in the FORT CRAILO VS. SCHUYLER Last year 4/5 visited Fort Crailo, and this week office are for administration and teachers only, they got to see the Schuyler Mansion with Mrs. and we ask parents to refrain from using the Maher as part of a unit on NYS/Local history. computers in the office. Also, we ask parents (unless specific exception is made) to refrain Both are local area historic homes which belonged to the wealthy Schuyler family, who from using computers in the Media Center while a class is in progress. were Dutch Patroons that settled this region.

Our students compared the two houses and the furniture and lifestyle of each, and realized the relative modernity of Schuyler vs. Crailo, only one generation apart in the same family.

ASSER LEVY, NEW YORK 1654 Rabbi Yossi shared with students his research into Asser Levy, the first known Jewish American who arrived here in 1654 & stayed. Dr. Sarna sent Rabbi Yossi materials on Asser Levy as well. Interestingly, Asser signed his name on an English legal document in Hebrew along with his father’s name, (see above). Former Assemblyman Jack McEneny and local historian said this shows how important it was for Asser to maintain his Jewish identity. He was also known to stick up for Jewish rights, and fought against Peter Stuyvesant and won the right for Jews to serve alongside all other citizens. The small group in 1654 had a Torah scroll… and 360 years later, in 2014, we’re dedicated the Jewish American Heritage Torah in Clifton Park!

BOUNCING MARBLES

The dinner journal also serves as our annual school yearbook, so ads can also congratulate our 8th grade and HS graduates (note that graduation ceremonies will be Tues 6/17). We are very proud that this year’s two High School graduates were accepted to a top Israeli seminary of their choice, known to be a very competitive and hard school to get into.

COMMON CORE READING Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Carroll are both introducing new reading comprehension books and techniques by Patricia Pavelka (not to be confused with celebrated children’s author & illustrator Patricia Polacco) that helps students compare and contrast, pay attention to context clues, make inferences etc.

AN IDEA’S DIMENSIONS

In Science Enrichment students bounced marbles on various types of surfaces from varying heights, recorded their observations and tried to figure out why the results varied.

In “Vyadayta Moskve” HS girls learned how ideas & concepts are a balance of creativity & revelation with parameters and limitations.

How the only way to “measure” and apply a concept is when it has definition & limits.

KIDDUSH & CHILUL HASHEM

ZERO IN ON THE POSITIVES

This week’s Torah portion talks about sanctifying Hashem’s name, by being a good personal example, making a good impression, and not heaven-forbid the opposite.

HS learned insights of the Rebbe in how to view others, by focusing on their strengths instead of their weaknesses, helps make those positives the dominant reality. Also how by viewing the “whole” multi-dimensional person, “L’HAZHIR” IN FIRST RASHI one avoids making judgments based on what 7th grade learned two meanings to the word in may be only a one-side negative aspect. the first Rashi of this Parsha about education: (1) to warn, to instruct (2) to shine, illuminate. HI-5 TO RETURN NEXT WEEK Kids (and adults) need both to learn best!

Kids, have ideas? Cartoon boxes welcome, too!

at Maimonides and in the Community 5/3: PARNAV KIDDUSH

Jewish life in America, older than the nation itself!

Yehoshua Yisrael Parnav is making a Kiddush this More info, to sponsor a letter or word & be a part of it, call Rabbi Yossi: 495-0772 or visit online at: Shabbos at Shomray Torah in memory of his late father, who passed away a little while back in India. www.JewishAmericanTorah.com

5/3: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR

5/17: STARK SHLOSHIM KIDDUSH

5/6: WOMENS TUESDAY TORAH

5/19: POST LAG-B’OMER LATER

4:45pm this Shabbos afternoon given by Lori Calka There will be a Shloshim Kiddush for the late Henry Stark on Shabbos at Shomray Torah. at her home: 359C Hackett Blvd.

SCHOOL START Morah Rochel resumes her old Torah class, Tuesday nights 8pm at her home, 122 South Main, 9am start after Lag B’Omer Sunday. for women, in memory of Rashi Minkowitz.

5/21: RECREATIONAL DRUGS 5/10-11: TALMUD BEITZAH SIYUMS Rabbi Lehrfield will address a Jewish perspective on Daf Yomi concludes tractate Beitzah (about the recreational drugs, 7:15pm at CBAJ. laws of YomTov) with a Siyum at Seudah-Shlishit at Shomray Torah on Shabbos, as well as a Sunday 5/22: THE TABOO HISTORY OF morning Breakfast-Study (with eggrolls, scrambled JEWS FROM ARAB LANDS @JCC eggs, and egg-matzah - yes, a Beitzah theme!) as they

By Professor Carole Basri of the Fordham School conclude Beitza and begin tractate Rosh Hashanah. of Law, 11am-1pm at the Albany JCC for the Jules and Paula Stein Lecture. Lunch follows. Cost is 5/11: THE TULIP FESTIVAL $14pp, prepaid reservation required.

6/3-6: SHAVUOT EXTENDED Annual celebration in Albany’s Washington Park.

WEEKEND MHDS SCHEDULE Usually, though, the best time for tulip photos is 5/26: MEMORIAL DAY - NO SCHOOL 6/3: Half-Day AM English only, Erev Shavuot. during the few days leading up to that weekend.

Enjoy the extended weekend!

6/4-5: No School, Shavuot Holiday.

6/6: No School (one day between Shavuot and the 5/11: CBAJ DINNER HONORS Shabbos Weekend).

5/28: MAIMONIDES TRIBUTE

ETHEL KAGAN & THE POZNERS

CBAJ honors life-long Albanian Ethel Kagan and community leaders Louis-Jack & Rona Pozner at special Mother’s Day dinner at the synagogue.

Couvert $180pp. Dinner & journal info: CBAJ office at 489-5819 or: www.cbaj.org/dinner.

5/18: BUSY LAG B’OMER SUNDAY A busy & joyous day in our community, Shmuel Dovid’s Schenectady Bar-Mitzvah, followed by Jewish-American Heritage Torah dedication in Clifton Park, and an evening in Camp Cedeca, Grafton with the JCC… stay tuned!

5/18: THE AMERICAN JEWISH HERITAGE TORAH DEDICATION This Torah dedication date has been moved up to Lag B’Omer afternoon, starting at 2pm - how appropriate on Lag B’Omer to celebrate joyously with the Torah, music and dancing! Activities for kids, an All-American Kosher BBQ, t-shirts and music… All are welcome to celebrate with Clifton Park Chabad and Mr. Bruce Lorence as they dedicate a “American Jewish Heritage Torah” in memory of Mr. Lorence’s relatives Poetess Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo, and in commemoration of 360 years of

DINNER ON JERUSALEM DAY Wednesday, 6pm at the Maimonides School, with elegant buffet dinner and desserts, honoring: Rabbi Moshe & Karen Mirsky (the Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award), Mrs. Reeva Nowitz and her late husband Bernie OBM (“Eitz-Chaim” Award), & Dr. Madhavi Sahay (Exemplary Educator Award).

Couvert $72pp/$126 couple. For info, journal ads/ tributes, contact school office: 453-9363 or email: maimonidesschool@gmail.com. Since the first year in 1989 this is a much anticipated annual communal event and important fundraiser for the Maimonides Scholarship Fund. Invite has been mailed. If you didn’t get the invite or have any questions, please contact the school office.

5/29: HACD ACADEMY AWARDS

MAIMONIDES SCHOOL END OF YEAR DATES 6/13: Last Day of HS Classes, Regents Prep 6/17: 8th Grade and HS Graduation Night 6/19: Last Day of School, Moving Up Day 6/23: Maimonides Staff Day

7/2: REBBE’S 20TH YARTZEIT This year marks 20 years since the Rebbe’s passing, on the 3rd of Tammuz, this year on July 1st. Look for communal event, tentatively, on Wednesday, July 2nd, the day after the Yartzeit.

7/7-8/8: CAMP GAN ISRAEL SUMMER DATES

The Gan Israel Day Camp (held at Maimonides) Hebrew Academy honors several of its alumni with will run from July 7th to August 8th this year. For “Academy Awards” at its annual Heritage Dinner more information or to register please contact Mrs. held at Temple Israel: Yosef Birnboim, Deborah Rivka Kochman: campganizzyalbany@gmail.com Isser, Cantor Shira Ginsburg, David Katz, Dr. David Morrison, Dr. Simcha Pearl, and Avi Rasowsky. For info contact HAVE A FURNISHED APARTMENT? Rachael Woren at the Hebrew Academy.

An observant family is looking for a furnished apartment for 3 months, June through August. Please call Rabbi Rubin 423-4103 or email: rralbany@gmail.com

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!”