Maimonides Community

BH. Tammuz

12, 5775 / June 29, 2015

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 8:19 404 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 9:29 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

INSIDE THIS “MC” NEWSLETTER  

Moving-Up Day 8th Grade Graduation Mayor Sheehan Presents “Better Together” Essay Medals and Citations Upcoming Events on page 4 as usual

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

SUMMER STUDY SIESTA +SIYUM

This MC Newsletter is sponsored in memory of

This siesta isn’t meant to put you to sleep! It’s open to men and women in the community  and will be held at Shabbos House, Tuesday afternoon July 7th. The last Yartzeit: 18th of Tammuz part of the program (over dinner) will be a 5775 IS A Siyum on Talmud tractate Brachos studied PALINDROME At Moving-Up Day (June daily at lunchbreaks in the IBM offices at Nanotech on Fuller Rd. These are scientists 18th) Morah Rochel and engineers who take out time daily to study pointed out that the and welcome the community to join in their Hebrew year this year reads the same from left completion celebration! RSVPs are not to right, and right to left. required but are helpful so Shabbos House can That’s very symbolic of a be best prepared: mail@shabboshouse.com or Maimonides education, which brings together 438-4227. See page 4 for details. the best of Jewish (Hebrew is read from right CARAS HOUSEWARMING to left) and General Studies (English is read Mazal Tov to Michoel and Leah Caras on the from left to right) in one very rich, full and purchase of a home on Grove Street near New wonderfully integrated of year of learning!

Scotland (believe it or not, right next door to RED COW SIGHTED IN ALBANY! Mr. D!) Michoel had a 12 Tammuz houseMany are familiar with Mr. Stan Rosenberg’s warming farbrengen this week, and Leah plans Parsha Tie collection that ties (pun intended) to do something for women at a later date. in the weekly Torah portion to a tie for that week. Last week for Parshat Chukat he wore a FREINDSHIP CIRCLE CAMP red shirt that said: Red Cow! It may be last The Friendship Circle has a short but actionweek’s news, but Torah is always timely! filled 3-day summer camp this week, based at Maimonides with activities and trips. Contact REGISTRATION FORMS Chaya 488-8992 for info and details. And you Maimonides administration and faculty are can www.tinyurl.com/Click4Friendship once already planning for next year. This coming a day, help Friendship Circle win! year’s Registration Forms will be available in MAYOR AT OUR GRADUATION the 2nd week of July. Parents are asked to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan came to our CONTRIBUTE ONLINE: return registration forms in a timely fashion.

Graduation ceremonies on June 18th to The school year may be over, but Maimonides Prospective parents are welcome to contact the present the gold and silver medals and needs communal support year ‘round. school. This helps the school be best prepared certificates to our Middle and High School www.tinyurl.com/MaimonidesPayPal Thanks! with class configurations and curriculum. students who participated in the “Better 2 Write” essay contest and the Better Together MAIMONIDES program. See her message on page 3. 

CONDOLENCES TO THE ZALENS Condolences to Stanley and Valerie Zalen on the passing of his mother Ruth. Shiva will be at their Delmar home. May they be comforted among mourners of Zion & Jerusalem.

CBAJ TORAH & TEA BREAK Rabbi Lehrfield’s Torah and Tea class, 10:30 on Wednesday mornings returns in August.

Morris Aronson Moshe ben Yosef

404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

MILESTONES CELEBRATE AT MOVE-UP Nursery sang great songs with hand-motions, and Morah Rivka spoke of how much they’ve changed and grown. Kindergartens sang songs of their learning and ended with a giant lettering that spelled Kindergarten. Mrs. Carroll’s 1st & 2nd grade students got bags of summer goodies and specific awards for their academic and social accomplishments. Morah DL recognized each of her students with a poem about their strengths. 3/4 graders were also each recognized individually for their classroom contributions. Some 5/6 graders have now been with Mrs. Maher for 3 years!

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION Many people volunteer their time, talent, resources and energy to make a small school like Maimonides successful. At Moving-Up-Day Morah Rochel recognized Mrs. Wildman for arranging Soup-of-the-Week, Aviva Rossman for pitching in and stepping up when needed, Mrs. Ellen Kaplowitz and Mrs. Michelle Chaiken for literacy support, and Mr. John Dunn for “getting things done” and being willing to help the school in many ways.

Kids: Learning never Ends! Be sure to learn

something everyday this summer…

Siman 1776: Hilchos July Fourth Weekend 10 Seifim Presented by “The Torah Times” with glosses by Rabbi Y. Rubin

GRADUATION SPEECHES Our 8th grade graduates each spoke at the graduation ceremonies on Thursday night, June 18th at the Maimonides School: Orley Morrison used the analogy of knishmaking (her father Leibel is an expert!) how the final part is gathering up the remaining scraps of dough and filling and making a knish out of that, too! Nothing goes to waste, all resources are cherished, you can make something wonderful out of little scraps that others may dismiss or think little of.

(Chaim Kudan, national essay winner pictured with Mayor Sheehan and Rabbi Rubin)

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan presents "Better Together" Gold & Silver Medals and Certificates: "I’m so proud of the young people here.

We must hold up the work they do so they see it is important. Every child in this city has a dream, a hope, a place in this world, and we all play a role in helping them get to that place. When they do remarkable things, we should be talking about those remarkable things.

It’s great when a mom, dad, a teacher or a principal pats you on the back, but its also important to show that the broader community truly cares. We care about your success, your hopes and dreams.

So I’m here to say thank you to each of you who participated and earned this honor."

Mayor Kathy Sheehan DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE...  

Who’d appreciate getting the MC Newsletter via email? or a senior who’d appreciate a “Better Together” visit from our students?

Sholom Kochman’s theme was building a fire, thanks to his scouting experience and personal passion. He drew many parallels to education, especially at Maimonides. You start with small twigs, and build up to larger logs. The fire needs proper structure so it has room to breathe and grow. Fire provides warmth and light, both are valued in education as well.

And fire provides warmth to all others who gather round, not only to yourself.

Eli Wildman’s favorite subject is Math, so that’s what he spoke about. He used all kinds of math terms to describe education in general, of which there are many factors and angles, different ways to divide the day, ways that things add up in education, especially if you subtract distractions or things that hold you back. And other such math analogies.

Mendel Volovik spoke about the great lengths his parents took him and his siblings to get to Maimonides each day from the Berkshires, nearly 900 miles each week! He told two stories about viewing Jews as diamonds, one from the Rebbe on the Dollars Line and another from the Rebbe Rashab in the 1800’s.

Maimonides helps polish our diamonds, so the long trip is very well worth it!

Maxine Morgenbesser, President of the Board of Maimonides, shared the story (which was in the news in 2013) and lesson of the honesty and integrity of Rabbi Noah Muroff of CT who returned the $98,000 in cash he found stashed inside a desk he bought on Craigslist.

Education ought to not only give us lots of into to digest but ways to develop and improve our character and ethical behavior.

1. We are commanded to “Pray for the Peace of the Government where we reside” (Jeremiah, Avos (3:2): The Prayer for the Government is recited before musaf (Sidur Shaloh - see also RSZ manuscript).

2. July 4th isn’t an issue of "chukas hagoyim.”

Indeed, this secular/legal Holiday celebrates the freedoms the US bestows on all its citizens, including (yaish omrim, especially) Jews.

3. No special prayer in Tefila or bentching, Tachanun is said, but its an opportune time to thank Hashem for Malchus shel Chesed that allows us to freely practice Judaism.

4. The Seuda (BBQ b'la'az) includes hotdogs and hamburgers (some call it "beefburgers" to avoid a traif mention), corn, potatoes, fries, sauerkraut, coleslaw, baked beans, V'chol hamarbeh, harai zeh m'shubach.

5. Some have a custom to put a whole hotdog or slices in their Cholent; that is purely a matter of taste. Some bake a blueberry/ strawberry cake showing red white and blue, but that is not me’akev.

6. When July 4th is on Friday, do not consume a big afternoon meal to leave appetite for Seudat Shabbos.

7. Seudat Shabbos reigns supreme, yet DivrayTorah may include Inyana D’yoma references appreciating Democracy & Freedom of Religion (see above par. 2). Some cantors sing Zemiros to an American tune.

8. One should not rush thru the Shabbos Seuda or skip z'miros to go see Fireworks.

CYLOR (consult your local orthodox rabbi) as to the proper location from where to view Fireworks (i.e. going up to a rooftop, walking to the river bank, etc.) on Shabbos. One can’t fulfill Havdalah “Meorei Haesh” on fireworks.

9. Big cities hold Fireworks after "tzais ha'kochavim" of the 4th. A "ben kfar" may view local fireworks on July 3rd or 5th. One can also fulfill the minhag of BBQ on the Sunday of the "July 4th Weekend." (The Labor Day (always on Monday w/o Shabbos issues) BBQ is held on Sunday "l'chatchilah").

10. In view of “melting pot” assimilation, one must stress: “America iz nit andersh” (Frierdiker Rebbe 5740)

at Maimonides and in the Community 7/4: SHABBOS 17TH OF TAMMUZ Usually this Hebrew date is a daytime fast-day commemorating the start of the siege around Jerusalem that led to its destruction. This year it falls on Shabbos so fast is pushed off to Sunday.

BBQ in Delmar. Monday evening. Stay tuned!

7/28: CHABAD GOOD FOR JEWS? A farbrengen & discussion, with live chassidic melodies at Saratoga Chabad. Call 526-0773.

7/4: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR

8/11: ALTAMONT FAIR OPENS

Stay tuned for weekly announcements of the Womens Shabbos Shiur, 4:45pm at different homes, hosted and given by community women.

Better yet, contact Chaya Tal and offer to either host or present the Shiur one week this summer.

through that weekend. Look up schedule & cost.

7/4: YARTZEIT MELAVA MALKA Well, its true that Jefferson and Adams both passed away on July 4th. But this Melava Malka at the end of July 4th will be in memory of Morris Aronson, on occasion of his yartzeit, the 18th of Tammuz, and on the night before the (pushed-off) Fast Day. Stay tuned or contact Rabbi Rubin for location, time (after a late Shabbos) and details.

7/5: FAST OF TAMMUZ 17TH (18TH) The 17th of Tammuz falls on Shabbos this year so its pushed off to Sunday. Selichot prayers are added to Shachrit and there’s Torah Reading and Haftorah by Mincha, including Avinu Malkeinu.

The fast begins early Sunday morning and ends in Albany quite late: 9:11pm

8/30: SARATOGA SHALOM FEST annually in Congress Park, stay tuned for info!

CAPITAL PARK AFTER DARK Empire State Plaza shows several films on the big screen outdoors in the West Capitol Park. “Mary Poppins” (8/5) “Monsters University” (8/19) etc.

VALLEYCATS BASEBALL “The Joe” is an intimate baseball ballpark right across the River at HVCC, never removed from the action. Many games are weeknights or Sundays.

Tickets are reasonable and sometimes discounted.

FARMERS MARKETS

In addition to Pick Your Own (which changes as summer progresses: snappeas almost done, strawberries and raspberries now, sweet cherries soon, blueberries late in July) there are many local farmstands. Check times/locations, sample listing: Downtown Albany at Maiden Lane Park 7/6-8/14: CAMP GAN ISRAEL DATES Thursday 11am-2pm Gan Israel Day Camp located at Maimonides.

Empire State Plaza Quality, talented and dedicated local and Israeli Wed-Friday, 10am-1pm staff. Call Morah Devorah Leah for info, forms and Behind Passano Paints on Western details: 698-1836. An exciting summer is planned! Barber’s Farm Stand, most weekdays midday Saratoga Springs on High Rock Ave 7/7: SUMMERSTUDYSIESTA+SIYUM Wednesdays 3-6pm, many vendors Jewish Summer Fellowship (in Kingston NY) is Schenectady Greenmarket near or in Proctors coming to Shabbos House for afternoon of lectures another big one, during winter its inside. Sundays & learning, open to the community. Program 11am-2pm begins 2pm with 4 lecture slots (with short breaks Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa & refreshments) until 5:30pm when the Nanotech Thursdays 3-6pm Talmud study group will present their Siyum on The Menands Farmers Market Brachos (studied daily at lunch break over two wholesale: 5:30am until 1pm. Monday, Wed, Fri. years time!) over dinner. Men and women in the community are welcome for any part or all of the program. No charge, but participation to defray the costs are helpful. RSVPs help Shabbos House be Morah Devorah Leah Mathless is this year’s best prepared: 438-4227 mail@shabboshouse.com Camp Gan Israel director, with help from Morah Dini. Local & Israeli staff is coming for the 7/19: BOOK BARN IS CLOSING summer! Contact Devorah Get there soon to get used books at discount. 200 Leah with questions or for Troy Schenectady Road. Last day is the 19th. forms: 518-698-1836.

Registration forms available!

7/20: DELMAR TALMUD SIYUM Please submit ASAP. Thanks!

Rabbi Nachman Simon’s annual “9 Days” Siyum

CAMP GAN ISRAEL

Tuesday afternoon, July 7th at Shabbos House 2-5:30pm: varied lectures and Torah study with short breaks & summery refreshments 5:30pm: Nanotech Study Group Siyum on Talmud tractate Brachos & a Pareve Dinner All Welcome! Open to men and women in the community. Come for all or part of the program. No charge, donations appreciated to help defray costs.

This event is in conjunction with: Jewish Summer Fellowship in Kingston NY (formerly known as ILTSP) and the Lunchtime Talmud Study Group at IBM/CNSE Nanotech.

RSVPs are not required but are very helpful so we can be properly prepared. Thank you! mail@shabboshouse.com or 438-4227.

Come and Learn!

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!”