BH RC
Adar I 5774 / January 31, 2014
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 4:49 Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 5:52 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
This week’s newsletter is sponsored in honor of the Bat-Mitzvah of Nechama Dina Krimmer
TALMUD: ABBAYE’S BIG LIST
WELCOME TO MAIMONIDES
Rabbi Mendel’s 7th grade Talmud class (not all pictured above) are now studying Sukkah 7b where Abbaye’s List lines up opinions who trend toward more permanent-style Sukkahs.
SAUSAGE LINKS
Ms. Stefanie Bailund-Witty is the new Nutrition instructor for High School, this week was her first lesson. Welcome to the Horan Family on moving to town and to their children Akiva & Ari in Nursery & 1st Grade.
One of our students had homemade sausage at MISHKAN IN THE PARSHA home. That was an excellent way to view this Gemorah. Each issue is a separate mini-Sugya And in our classrooms, too! From Nursery and concept, but Abbaye links them all together. on, students learned about the construction and materials. Kindergarten read a colorful DEMOCRATS VS. REPUBLICANS book & also saw pictures online. Older grades learned about the design, use & symbolism of Tosefos takes a closer look at the list and proves that while Abbaye links the opinions for the 3 vessels in the Kodesh (outside the Holy of Holies) & how the Menorah, Shulchan (Table) following a similar trend or style the Rabbis listed may not be in agreement with each other and Inner Mizbaiach (Altar) continue to act as on the specific issues. Rabbi Mendel explained a “tripod” supporting Jewish life today, even this is similar to members of the Congress who without a physical Beis-HaMikdash (Temple). are Democrats or Republicans, who may or not agree and vote with their fellow Democrats or MAIMONIDES Republicans on each particular issue, but are 404 Partridge Street still affiliated with that party for overall style.
Albany NY 12208
ACHEIRM ON GAZEBO? Acheirim (who is actually Elisha ben Avuya quoted by Rabbi Meir) is on the list for not allowing circle Sukkahs, “because they don’t have corners”. Our students asked: What would Acheirim say about an octagonal shape Gazebo? Is that still considered round? Or does it have corners to some degree? What is the reason that Acheirim insists on “corners”?
OUR TU BISHVAT WAS TOPS! “The Jewish Press” featured the photo of our students at the Tu Bishvat reception at the NYS Capitol atop their page of “Community Currents” with Tu Bishvat events in the NYC Metro area some with quite elaborate fruit arrangements.
NEW BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED At the Esty Library at Maimonides. Sponsor a book for $20. Call 453-9363 ext 1.
NAVI PLAYS & PROJECTS: THE GIDEON STORY COMES ALIVE Morah Clara’s students prepared Navi projects in different mediums. (Far-Left) Mussie’s toddler-style hands-on popup book all about Gideon, opened to the page with an angel rising up and down. (Middle-Left) Ita as Gideon is listening in to an enemy conversation, thanks to an angelic tip that he got. (Middle-Right) the Jews of the time were losing much grain to enemy thievery, so they hid grain in secret places, like this wine-press that Rivka made an advertisement for. (Right) Esther’s box shows two scenes of Gideon’s requested sign from Hashem about the wet wool and dry ground, and vice versa. NOT PICTURED: but quite entertaining was JJ’s and Mendel A’s animated cartoon shown on the video-screen, using GoAnimate website tools. We all learned a lot about Gideon from their presentations, including how he chose his troops using an experiment, how Gideon’s eavesdropping on an enemy conversation helped him gain confidence, and how diplomatic he was with the tribe of Ephraim helping them feel better about their role in the war’s success. Thanks to Morah Clara and all her 4/5 Navi class students for making the Navi story come alive in such a multi-faceted way!
PEELING LAYERS OF TIME
FINGERPRINTING IN SCIENCE
HS students in Earth Science class are learning Fingerprinting in science class was really fun. about digging into the rich multi-layered strata 7th grade is learning about DNA and of earth and other dating tools of history. fingerprints, so they colored pencil on their fingertips, then pressed it onto a piece of tape. After that, they had to try and classify what DANGER & RESPONSIBILITY each type of fingerprint was. There 7th grade Chumash class is learning about the are Loops, Arches and Whorls (as dangers of spreading fire and how a person is in the LAW) with deltas and ridges responsible for damages caused by negligence and more! It’s also a nice visual with fire, even if they had no intention of lesson how each person is really so unique, but arson or of destroying neighboring property. you have to look closer up to truly realize that.
WHAT’S IN A CITY? 3rd graders have each been assigned random cities from all across the country. They have to each do their own research to find out unique or special things about that place, landmarks and attractions, geographic details and more. It will all come together in a grand Social Studies project about communities.
THE PARTS OF BENTSCHING
Quite a few of the APPS projects “What Warms You?” (see next page) were about tea. That ties right in with what 8/9 are learning now with Mrs. Ramsay in Chinese history: Tea was first discovered and used as a drink back in the Song Dynasty. It’s been around a very long time, and still remains very popular.
MHDS alumna Sara Aidel and Aharon Calvo had a baby boy this morning. Mazal Tov to the whole family, including grandparents R’ Leibel and Elisheva and the Morrison siblings. 5 THINGS ABOUT THE
MISHKAN IN THIS WEEK’S PARSHA
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DESIGN YOUR OWN CITY While 3rd graders are researching real existing cities, 7th graders with Mrs. Gray are thinking of how they’d design their own cities. If you could start a city from scratch, what would you do differently? What would you build into the infrastructure or layout of the area? What rules would you put into place? How do these rules influence or change the people living there and the types of lives they live…
3rd graders have also been learning about the different parts of grace after meals, when they were written LORD OF THE FLIES HS is now reading this classic novel which (they come from different time explores a darker side to human nature, and periods) and what the main focus of each of the complex struggle between the needs of the the 4 blessing sections are. individual vs. the group in society.
A TEA TIE-IN
MAZAL TOV MORRISONS
GOT FEVER, VIRUS, ETC? Please keep children home if they are sick, as it protects other children (& faculty) from coming down with the same. Our teachers are asking, to please err on the side of caution.
HONOR YOUR PARENTS … is the Gemorah topic in 6th grade with Rabbi Shmuly, from Talmud Kiddushin.
2 3 4 5
Two things are different about the wording of the Ark’s construction from other Holy Vessels: (a) It describes making it in the plural. As Rabbi Mirsky pointed out at Sholom’s recent start of Tefillin: It takes a village, like a Maimonides Community, to help raise a child to Torah. (b) All other vessels had whole number measurements, only the ark had half-cubit measurements, which symbolizes the humility and selflessness required for Torah study. According to the Rambam, the Menorah branches had inverted (downward facing) Alexandrian-style cups on each branch (similar to Martini glasses today, wide tops and narrow bottoms). Bezalel (from tribe of Judah) and Eliav (from tribe of Dan) were the architects. They enlisted talented artisans to do the craft, including women who were amazing with weaving. The Haftorah speaks of King Solomon getting help from King Hiram of Lebanon to build the Bais HaMikdash. We read about the Mishkan this week (and the next few week’s Torah portions) but really every single Shabbos we observe the 39 Melachos (categories of work) that we learn from the construction of the Mishkan. Nursery baked Challah this week to recall the “Lechem HaPanim” the 12 loaves that were placed weekly on the “Shulchan”. Some people coordinate the number of braids and Challah to correspond to the 12 Loaves that were in the Mishkan.
(A) “Songbook of Heartwarming Niggunim” with illustration, background and description for each melody. (B) “Facts about the Sun” including its distance from earth and the speed of light (C) Coming Home on a winter Friday Night, the blast of warmth as you open the door, the chicken-soup etc all in this box (D) This “bib” is not for babies. It’s designed for temps far below Zero, this one complete with a label that explains the material and where it is made (E) List of A-Z Foods that keep you warm (F) Say, you’re going camping in middle of the winter, what keeps you warm? Layers! Eli demonstrated the many layers needed, and what materials are best for being out for prolonged periods in the cold.
(G) This game is like “Chutes & Ladders” only you go up with cards that make you warm (heat rises), and slide down with cards that cool you down. (H) Tea makes you warm, here’s some interesting facts about tea. (I) Tehillim has warmed many a heart. This poster lists a few pesukim that can be especially heart-warming. (J) This team put their Science class knowledge to APPS use. Their poster describes how a convection current works, how heat rises and falls, and how this information is used in understanding how heat works best.
(K) “Heat it Up!” is the name of her new hot drink company (Starbucks, watch out!) she’s “offering” 5 different types of drinks from good old hot chocolate up to fancy concoctions. Inside each cup she has the recipes for that drink. (L) “Warm Foods” is a cookbook with recipes to keep warm with hot hotmeal, veggie soup & more! (M) A list of tips to keep warm, from cozying under a blanket to hanging out with friends, keep moving around, & last but not least: Smile! (N) This 3-D paper tea ad, has the cup and the tea-bag, ready! (O) “Tea & Tehillim” was a favorite saying of Reb Moshe Rubin, both are always in good taste & best when hot! (P) Kids book about things that make us warm! (Q) “The Warm Cube” has an inspiring story or message about warmth on each of its sides. (R) Stories of inspirational warmth & verses about warmth. (S) This student spent an afternoon in Manhattan asking random people (w/parental consent) what keeps them warm, and made a video montage of their interesting responses…
at Maimonides and in the Community 1/31-2/1: ROSH CHODESH ADAR I Friday and Shabbos are Rosh Chodesh. This year there are two months of Adar, 60 days of extra joy!
2/1: RABBI REISMAN’S CLASS is screened live 8pm at CBAJ on Sat Night. Note time change as Shabbos ends a little later. Rabbi Frand’s class is shown Thursday nights at 9pm.
2/1: RHINEBECK ROSH CHODESH Rabbi Hanoch & Tzivie Hecht are hosting a Rosh Chodesh Adar (I) Melava Malka in Rhinebeck NY. For more info: RhinebeckJewishCenter.com or call 845-876-7666. 7:30pm.
2/2: MIDWINTER SUMMER AT JCC The Schenectady JCC is hosting a “Midwinter Summer Blowout” 12-3pm, with activities and open-houses etc. Find out more: 377-8803 or www.schenectadyJCC.org
2/2: WINTER FEST AT HUYCK Annual Winter Festival at the Huyck Preserve with snow-showing, ice-luge, ice-fishing demos, guided bird watching etc. 1-4pm. No charge.
2/2: THE SUNDAY MAAMAR CLASS Established on Simchas Torah, the Sunday afterMaariv short study of a Chassidic discourse continues each week at Shomray Torah/Shteeble.
2/4: NEGEV NIGHTS, JNF @ J-FED Rabbi Michael Cohen of the Arava Institute will speak at this JNF event at the Jewish Federation.
2/5: WED IS BAKE SALE DAY Each Wednesday during morning recess there is Bake Sale run by the HS Girls and a Cocoa Sale run by the 8/9 grade Boys. The HS girls have a tab option that parents can fill ahead of time and set rules such as one item, or under 50 cents per kid.
2/9: CONCERT AT WOMENS SPA 9th annual Spa for the Body and Soul! Look for an uplifting concert this year, with a dynamic young new Jewish singing sensation, in addition to the annual luncheon and healthy and rejuvenating workshops - for women by women. This year the event will held at Shabbos House. (Please park at the nearby UAlbany Dutch Student/Gold Lot). $20pp (prepaid by Feb 5th), $25 at door, $36 sponsor and $54 patron. Advance pay online at www.capitalchabad.com/spa or mail check to Ladies First, 109 Elsmere Ave, Delmar NY 12054. For info call: Leah 495-0779 or Clara: 364-8280.
2/9: NORTHEAST HOME SHOW AT T.U. CENTER 10am-5pm at Times Union Center and Empire State Plaza. $8 online, $10 at the door. Look it up for details. One child under 14 free when accompanied by an adult.
2/9: DAF YOMI “YOMA” SIYUM & YOM-KIPPUR WAR MEMORIES Program will feature a short film being produced at Maimonides with Michael Caras and Rabbi Rubin, interviewing IDF veterans about their personal experiences in Israel’s Yom-Kippur War - 40 years since. Screened approx 5:40pm (after Maariv) at CBAJ as part of a special Talmud Siyum on tractate Yoma (about Yom-Kippur), reflecting on 40 years since the Yom-Kippur War and the recent passing of General (later PM) Ariel Sharon, around the time of his Shloshim. A light meal will be served.
2/15: PIZZA-NITE w/ SMALL TOUCHES Why the “small touches” this time? It’s PurimKatan (the small Purim in Adar I). Stay tuned for details. 7:30pm at Maimonides’ Nathan’s Kitchen. All proceeds go to the Maimonides High school extra-curricular activities and end-of-year trip. For more info or to order/see complete menu email: bnoschayaprograms@gmail.com
2/24: WOMENS BEIT MEDRASH This month on the topic of Purim, with presenter Devora Leah Mathless. 8pm at Maimonides. The class is geared to all levels and backgrounds of learning. For more info contact Leah Rubin at 4950779 or jwc@capitalchabad.com
BIKUR CHOLIM After Rosh Chodesh davening this morning the older boys went to visit and sing Adar songs for a Jewish teen Alter Aryeh Lev ben Bracha from NYC that’s hospitalized at St. Margarets. Mrs. Rebekah Wildman is arranging visitation times.
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3/1: R’ MOSHE RUBIN 18 YARTZEIT
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A special Sat Night Melava Malka will be held at the school to remember Reb Moshe Rubin, his songs and stories, his warmth and special flavor, on the evening of his 18th yartzeit.
HOW’S YOUR PUSHKA?
3/7: J-FED ENRICHMENT GRANTS The Jewish Federation’s enrichment grants for summer sleepaway camps, Israel programs etc are due on Friday March 7th. See school office for application forms or contact the Federation.
If your Maimonides Pushka is filling up, please call the school office 453-9363 or email: maimonidesschool@gmail.com to drop it off or arrange a pickup. If you don’t have a Maimonides Pushka, please give us a call, we’d be happy to get you one for your home or office for daily Tzedakah giving.
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!”