Maimonides Community

BH. Tammuz

27, 5774 / July 25, 2014

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 8:06 404 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 9:12 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

PROTECTIVE EDGE: ISRAEL IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS & ACTIONS… We are all immersed, concerned & connected with news from Israel and its Protective Edge against the unrelenting barrage of rockets (and now extensive underground terror tunnels) from Hamas in Gaza. There’s so much available online, social-media, print and TV, information and misinformation, the need for Israel advocacy, ugly anti-Semitism now spreading in Europe, gratefulness for the Iron Dome and almost-taken-for-granted miraculous protection, mourning for loss of life, the use of Human Shields, those sticking up for Israel and those arguing against it, all of the vivid images, info-graphics, video-clips and so much more… this small mid-summer MC newsletter can not do any of it justice. But as Rabbi Rubin quoted from last week’s Parsha, “Your brothers will go to fight & you will sit here!?” we must do our small share, in whatever way we can, whether it is extra chapters of Psalms, increasing in a Mitzvah observance, adding to our study of Torah, reaching out with financial or moral support, advocacy and identification.

MID-SUMMER “MC” EDITION We haven’t had an MC Newsletter in about a month, since the end of the school year in mid -June. In last MC, #EyalGiladNaftali were still missing. So much happened since then.. and since the last MC there have been local Simchas and good news to share, plus some upcoming communal events, so we figured we’d put one out before the end of July.

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

BH, BABY BOOM! May we always have Simchas & good news to share!  Gemma & Yonatan Goldstein on the birth and Brit-Milah of Binyamin Uriel.  Simmy & Mark Leifer on the recent birth of a daughter.  MHDS alumnus Sarah (Morgenbesser) & Ben Kalish on the birth of Shoshana.  And, another Morgenbesser granddaughter to MHDS alumnus Avi & Shoshana!  MHDS alumnus Levi Simon & family on the birth of a son. The Bris is this Shabbos in Dayton OH.  The Massry-Knox Family on the birth this week of a son, grandson and great-grandson!  Shabbos House Rubins on the birth this Wednesday of a daughter named Rivka.

If we missed anyone, our apologies. The more the merrier! We wish everyone much Nachas!

ENGAGEMENTS & WEDDINGS  



Mazal Tov to Pranav Maddali and Sarah Hirsch on their engagement this week!

Mazal Tov to Simmy & Chaya Rubin on their recent wedding at the end of June and their move to South Allen Street in Albany.

Leah Maxwell is engaged to Barry Siegel, their wedding will be in August.

FAREWELL TO ANDRUSIERS There was a nice communal get-together this Thursday evening at The Berkshire Pond to say farewell to the Andrusiers who are moving to Florida this summer. Morah Devorah and Morah Dini presented them with a big thick blue album of selected pictures of their children over the years at the Maimonides for cherished memories for years to come.

15 MINUTES COULD SAVE...

This Sunday’s Daf Yomi has a fascinating story with a relevant message appropriate today when Israel is under attack from contemporary Hamas Hamans, and as we the NineDays. Rabbi Rubin will present this story & commentary for 15-minute communal study in merit of Israel (as Torah “protects & saves” right after 8am Shachris at Shomray Torah (approx 9:15am) after which all are welcome to join the regular study of the Daf Yomi as well. Refreshments served.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This newsletter is sponsored in honor of the birth of

Rivka Rubin

and in memory of the four women for whom she is named: Rivka Fox HYD who perished in the Holocaust Aunt Ray Lichtman who raised a fine family in NY Rebbetzin Rivka of Lubavitch, wife of the 4th Rebbe Rivka Holzberg HYD of Mumbai Chabad House

THE JERUSALEM VISITOR An author was visiting from Jerusalem last week. He was impressed with the level of concern, connection and identification with Israel that he found in our community.

TEHILLIM & MINYAN MERIT Both Tehillim and Minyans are considered a great merit in times of need. R’ Ruvain Kudan began a 3-Weeks/9-Days short Tehillim for Eretz Yisrael each night for 5 minutes before Mincha at Shomray Torah. Weeknight Mincha times move back about 5 minutes each week as the summer progresses, this week approx 8pm.

WONDERFUL CAMP REGARDS We are delighted to hear Nachas regards from Maimonides students doing well, earning high marks and winning awards at their respective overnight summer camps. It’s a real Nachas!

We may have a small school, but (like Israel!) we BH are represented positively much higher than our numbers suggest.

at Maimonides and in the Community 7/27: MEVORCHIM & CHAZAK We bless the new month of Menachem Av, as Rosh Chodesh begins on Sunday Night. It’s also Chazak! as we conclude the book of Bamidbar! Some say Tehillim before davening on Shabbos Mevorchim.

Others may want to join to pray for Israel.

7/27: KIDS PROGRAM FOR ISRAEL, THIS SHABBOS + 6:30WEEKNIGHTS A special kids program 10:15-11:15am Shabbos morning at Shomray Torah, inspired by the verse “out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, You established might, to counter enemies, to silence foe and avenger” little kids can indeed make a big difference! In addition, there’s an effort for parents and children to spend a few minutes each evening at 6:30pm (if possible) to (a) say a chapter of Psalms for Israel (b) study verses of Torah verses or texts connected with Israel (c) give Tzedakah.

7/27: SHABBOS KIDDUSH Shabbos Kiddush after Musaf at Shomray Torah to celebrate the birth of Rivka Rubin, plus Shabbos Mevorchim, farewell to the Andrusiers, etc.

7/27: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR 4:45pm given by Aviva Miller at the Miller’s home 171 Hollywood Ave. Every group Torah study is a merit for our brothers and sisters in Israel.

7/30: NINE DAYS DELMAR SIYUM 6pm at Delmar Chabad 109 Elsmere, with a BBQ following the Talmud Siyum with Rabbi Simon, an annual tradition! Call 489-1530 for more info.

3-WEEKS SIGN… in connection with the Spiritual Rebuilding theme (emphasized by the Lubavitcher Rebbe as a positive focus instead of only destruction) “May these days be transformed into days of gladness & joy!”

8/3: TRIUMPH OF OUR PEOPLE Theater and Luncheon at Beth Tephilah in Troy about the period surrounding the destruction of the Temple and the start of the diaspora. Program is for ages 12+. $5 for non-members. For info and RSVP call: 894-3491.

8/4-5: FAST OF TISHA B’AV Mon night into Tuesday. Eicha is read after Maariv on Monday Night, Kinos are said Tues morning after Tefillin-less Shachris. Early Mincha with Tefillin, Torah Reading & Haftorah before the Fast ends.

Parents are encouraged to make sure their children make time for daily reading this summer vacation, both Hebrew and English. There are numerous benefits beyond fluency! Find ways to make reading informal and natural, fun and enjoyable for parents and children alike. Use every opportunity, from road-signs to storesigns, all kinds of books, newspapers, you name it! Celebrate words! See reading everywhere!

8/5: TISHA B’AV WOMENS STUDY Annual womens study of Tisha B’Av topics, at the Rubin’s home 122 South Main. 11am Tisha B’Av

8/13: SHALOM FESTIVAL

Annual celebration in beautiful Congress Park in the heart of 7/28: 15 MINUTES FOR ISRAEL Saratoga Springs, this year featuring Join Rabbi Rubin for 15 Minutes of communal the passionate Gemorah & Rashi study in merit of Israel skillful music of highlighting a specific Talmud story from the Lazer Lloyd, a blues current Daf-Yomi that is appropriate for Hamas musician Hamas and the Nine Days. Being Rashi’s yartzeit, it (electronic & will focus on Rashi and commentaries based on acoustic guitar, plus Rashi, and its relevance today! 15 Minutes 9:15harmonica). Lazer 9:30am at Shomray Torah, (15 minute delay allows graduated from those from other Minyans to join) followed by Daf Skidmore, lives in Yomi study group, all are welcome to join as well.

Israel. He sweeps you right into his music and storytelling. (Google 7/28-29: ROSH CHODESH AV Sunday night into Monday. We add Hallel, Musaf “Lazer Lloyd Flat 5” for one of his great stories, its and Yaale v’Yavo, but it’s also the start of the Nine- on shabboshouse.org). Keith Nelson will do magic Days with the accompanying additional restrictions. tricks, juggling, fire-eating and interactive fun.

Remember the special Yartzeit of Aharon HaKohen There’s Kosher food for sale, crafts to do, and vendors. No admission charge, enjoy a day up on this day, his is the only specific Yartzeit date there. For more info call 526-0773. Shalom mentioned in the Five Books.

Festival is part of the Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival communal events.

7/29: PRAYER RALLY FOR ISRAEL

7:30pm at CBAJ for communal prayer, Tehillim/ Psalms for Israel. Please be prompt. This is set up to be early enough for others to get back to the regular Minyanim for Mincha.

READ, READ, READ

9/3: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL A new year begins! First day of school is Wed, September 3rd, two days after Labor Day. Looking forward to a great year!

3-WEEKS TORAH BOOKLET Rabbi Rubin published 6 original scholarly essays relating to the Beit HaMikdash: (1) Why the Broken Tablets were kept in the Ark? (2) No “good” in the Luchot? (3) The Ark’s measurement didn’t count. (4) The 1/2 Lug Measurement for the Menorah. (5) Why expression of “The Chosen House”?

CARDBOARD UPDATE Our recycling vendor no longer pays the school for the paper & cardboard they pick up, so we are asking parents to please not bring any more cardboard to school, please find a different way to recycle it.

SCHOOL REGISTRATION Parents, check your mail first week of August for the new year registration forms. Please try to respond in timely fashion so the school can properly finalize class configurations & multi-age curriculums. Please contact Rabbi Rubin (423-4103 / RRalbany@gmail.com) with any questions or arrangements.

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!”