BH. Cheshvan
7, 5775 / Oct 31, 2014
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 5:31 404 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 6:31 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
3-D PRINTER COMING TO MHDS Big news! Thanks to a very generous grant from Bender Scientific Fund at Community Foundation our school will be getting a state of the art 3-D Printer! This will allow our students to have first-hand and hands-on experience with cutting edge technology and to witness close-up the marvel of the marriage between concept and object, from computer design to physical reality.
This newsletter is dedicated in honor of the birth of a baby girl to Rabbi Yossi & Morah Leyee!
CONDOLENCES ROSENFELDS To Peter and BJ Rosenfeld of Clifton Park on the passing of Peter’s father Alfred (Avraham ben Aharon). He lived to 93 years and had a very full life. He enjoyed Friday Night dinner with friends and then passed away on Shabbos morning in his own home. Like Rabbi Yossi IT’S FALL NOW, TIME FOR STAV! said, he was blessed similar to Avraham-Avinu Stav is Hebrew for Fall. Pictured here is Morah who “grew old and came with his days.” Devorah’s Fall Hebrew bulletin board with words like Magrayfah = rake, Aleh = leaf, Anaf = branches, Mitriyah = umbrella, Anan = cloud…
LIKE THE STARS & THE SAND See this week’s Parsha for G-d’s promise to Avraham that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars and the sands. Nursery created this visual of G-d’s promise.
NOTE CALENDAR UPDATES
ESTY LIBRARY ENTHUSIASTS
K-GARTEN’S MINI UMBRELLAS Kindergarteners colored these mini-umbrellas and accompanying raindrops and posted them up (by themselves!) on this board. Just in time for today, Zayin (7th of) Cheshvan, when the last Jew reached home in biblical Israel after the holidays and that’s when all the rest of the Jews began to pray for rain. Mrs. Maher’s class began writing water poems (posted outside their classroom) during Parshat Noach & the Flood and finished them by ZayinCheshvan.
These students are some the most enthusiastic and eager users of the Esty Library. Most classes have library day on Thursday. See page 2 for some of the new books that have been donated and dedicated to the Esty Library.
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
The Federation’s Eshkol Region Welcome at Schenectady JCC with an American BBQ, this coming Sunday November 2nd. Esty Lecture & Pizza Night on Sat Nov 8th. No School on Friday Nov 21st. There will be regular school on Wednesday, Nov 26, Erev Thanksgiving this year. Raffle-Auction and Chanukah Dinner will be again on 8th night of Chanukah (not 7th as listed last week) - Tuesday 12/23 5-7pm.
MZT R’ YOSSI & MORAH LEYEE Mazal Tov on the birth of a baby girl last night (Thurs) on the eve of Zayin (7th of) Cheshvan to Rabbi Yossi and Leyee, to the baby’s sisters and brother, and the whole Mishpocha.
NEW ESTY LIBRARY BOOKS
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Thanks to those who dedicated new books in SPACE ART the Esty Library at school. Sometimes it’s not Mrs. Sylvia Solomon and Mrs. Joyce what you say, but Teitelman for each sponsoring volumes 1 & what you leave out 2 of “The Little Medrash Says: Treasure that is noticed more. Chest” of Talmudic stories written for kids. In art, the uncolored Mrs. Maxine Morgenbesser for sponsoring can be stand out and two new books “Lemonade Girls” and “The be the focus just as Stolen Secrets” in honor of her two new much (or more!) granddaughters: Basya Sarah & Shoshana. than the colored 2 new Yahadus textbooks w/ Jewish General part. This can be a positive way to understand Knowledge curriculum dedicated in honor the many negative commandments (Don’t eat of the marriage of Sarah & Parnav Medalie. this or don’t do that…) of the Torah.
YAHADUS SPONSORSHIP Each of the Yahadus book textbooks cost $45, the teacher’s guide is $150. We are sharing them between classes. These are high-quality educational curriculum materials for General Jewish Knowledge. Sponsorships are available, speak to Morah Rochel if interested.
THE FALL OF ROME DBQ ESSAY Our HS students recently researched and wrote DBQ (document based questions) essays on how the mighty & vast Roman empire fell. It’s an ancient story, but while the context has since changed a great deal, many of the issues can be very relevant today, as well.
LETTERS HOME FROM YOSEMITE “Letters Home From Yosemite” is a travelogue story now being read by 3/4 graders. It’s an engaging way to learn about geography, natural phenomenon, animal life and the preservation of nature.
EGG WORDS IN NEST Mrs. Carroll’s first graders read “Get that Egg!” and learned short E words, with the “eh” sound like in egg, bed, sled or net and put a whole bunch of them inside bird’s nests they made out of papier-mâché and balloons.
SNOW THIS WEEKEND!? They say a little snow may be possible…
47 HEBREW ROOT WORDS They’re not stopping at 47, but that’s quite an accomplishment. 3/4 graders have a chart on the wall of 3-letter Hebrew root words called “Shoresh” or “Shorashim”, some of which are repeated many times in different formats and conjugations. Now are up to 47 root words, and yes, they counted!
WELCOME BACK LINDSEY!
DIDN’T GET THE MAGNET?
The girls were thrilled to have Lindsey back to be their soccer coach and to help games run more smoothly and with good advice and energy. When they saw her coming they all jumped up and gave her a great big hug!
If you didn’t get the school’s candlelighting magnet, please call the office: 518-453-9363.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS MAHER
This year her birthday fell over the Sukkot holiday so she was quite surprised when her NAVI PARSHA CONNECTION 5/6 students made her a birthday party this 5/6 learned in Navi Samuel I an expression very similar to what Hashem told Avraham in week on Monday! They planned it on the this week’s Torah portion of Lech-Lecha - and Friday prior. Students brought in Pareve Trader Joe’s ice-cream, popcorn and cheese they made that connection! curls among other treats. They made a big nice W. BLITZER’S ROOTS KADDISH sign that said “#1 Teacher” all over the Twelve CNN anchors traced their family roots background, because she really is a #1 kind of teacher! Everyone enjoyed it. in a special “CNN Roots” program. Wolf Blitzer’s journey goes back to Poland. It’s a HABITAT longer program (search online for it), but R’ DIORAMAS Michoel Caras captured a moving part of it in a 2-minute clip where Wolf says an emotional Mrs. Carroll’s first Kaddish at gravestone bearing the name graders each worked Blitzer: http://tinyurl.com/blitzerkaddish on a different habitat & ecosystem to bring into class. NAVI PARSHA CONNECTION Pictured here are 4, Speaking of Lech-Lecha connections, the 3rd that range from the grade Chumash class is now learning Lechvery hot tropics to Lecha, the Torah portion read in synagogue the freezing cold this week. They are up to the part about the Arctic, and from war of the Four Kings vs. the Five Kings. the wetness of the sea to the dryness of FACE WORDS the desert. Habitat OK, it’s not a Face is more than just Book, but it’s quite an surroundings, it’s accomplishment for the supportive Morah Devorah’s first environment with grade students to first the right mix of draw all these faces and ingredients for the then label the different type of life that lives parts with their Hebrew there. There are so words, for example: many pieces to a Say’ar = hair, Ohzen = habitat puzzle, its ear, Af = nose, Tzahvar much more than just temperature & weather. = neck, Peh = mouth, Ayin = eye and Aynaim = eyes, Rosh = head, and BUSTENAI - BACK IN PERSIA... Panim = face. This was Morah Dini has been reading this story to her class when there’s a few minutes of extra time. some quality FaceTime in Morah Devorah’s It’s historical fiction, written by Rabbi Dr. classroom, learning everyday Hebrew words. Marcus Lehman. They just started but love it!
WANTED: A NEW USED VAN
A MESSAGE FROM “THE CAY”
Our trusty big blue school van has served us well for many school outings, trips and Shabbatons transporting students to many educational opportunities and experiences. We got it used and its finally showing its age. It’s important for our school to have a reliable van but there’s no budget for it at this time so if anyone has or knows of a good used van or funds to help repair this one, please be in touch.
5/6 finished reading “The Cay” where over the course of his survival adventure with Timothy, Phillip learned that the color of your skin has nothing to do with what type of person you are inside. It is a story of loss and trust; bigotry, kindness & generosity.
STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE Rabbi Rubin was learning Gemorah Shabbos with his class and Mendel V. (on his own) asked the famous question posed by the Beis Yosef (why is Chanukah celebrated for 8 days of oil miracle, when there was enough natural oil to last the first day). Rabbi Rubin didn’t just answer the question… instead he pulled out a Tur book with Beis Yosef commentary, explained the title page and gave background to the various commentaries on the page, and then learned with them Bais Yosef’s question and answers in the original text. And then there’s a book that collects 100 answers to this famous question and the Rebbe discusses the pros & cons of the various answers, too. See how much learning and exploration a good question can spark at Maimonides!
WAL-MART, SPORTS & TALMUD Rabbi Rubin likes to engage and involve some of the Shteeble Shachris guests with our older boys who learn there. This week they met a man who sells imported sporting goods to Wal -Mart, but is happiest when he studies Talmud in an unusual regimen: In addition to the daily Daf Yomi he reviews the Daf from the day before, as well as an earlier page, too!
YEHUDAH AND TAMAR
I relish the fact that you aren’t in a pickle and
SCHOOL PROPERTY
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CLEANLINESS: Don’t leave papers or garbage on the desk or on the floor; pick it up even if it isn’t your mess; try to eat in designated places and don’t leave food lying around; don’t leave wrappers or bags on the floor; don’t forget to flush the toilet; don’t put handprints & smudges on the windows.
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CONSERVE: Last one out of the room for the day should shut the lights and windows; don’t leave doors open in the wintertime; use what you need for art supplies but don’t waste it; don’t waste lots of paper-towel; don’t leave sinks running; recycle waste paper in the recycle bins.
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PRESERVE: Don’t jump or stand on furniture; don’t write on or scratch desks; no melting crayons on heaters; don’t dump paint down sinks without proper dilution; never put anything but toilet-paper down the toilet; try not to jam or bang things into walls; don’t lean back in your chairs.
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ORGANIZED: Try to keep your school stuff neat and organized both in your desk and in your backpack and cubby; return books to where they belong and supplies or equipment where you borrowed it from; don’t leave things lying around - find where it belongs and put it there.
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EXTRA TOUCH: Push in chairs before you leave; handle things with care; if you move things for one class, move it back to how you found it; wipe off wet feet as much as possible before entering classroom; clean off the whiteboards; try to keep the top of the desk clean; kiss the Mezuzah! Think of something the school can use, and maybe bring it in if you can…
RESPECT FOR PROPERTY This week’s High-5 (on right > ) is appropriate for this week’s Torah portion Lech-Lecha, where Avraham and Lot’s shepherds fought a lot, and the Midrash tells us that some of this argument was about how to treat other people’s property.
POST-SCHOOL, PRE-MINCHA After the clocks fall back this weekend, and Mincha Minyan begins much earlier, we’re starting something new for the older boys: a post-school, pre-Mincha study hall at the Shteeble with a snack or wintertime hot dish prepared by rotation of parents.
P.T. CONFERENCE SCHEDULES Parent-Teacher conferences were sent home. If you did not get yours, please call the school office at 453-9363. If parents can not make the appointment in person due to work or distance, please call the office to arrange for a phone appointment during your time slots so you can discuss your children’s progress with the teachers during the designated time.
LAST WEEK FOR PRIZE PKGS Any donation or solicitation of prizes has to be in before the November 7th weekend, so we can finalize prize packages and have it printed and mailed to reach homes by Thanksgiving. This year’s Raffle-Auction and Chanukah Dinner will be on Tuesday evening, Rosh Chodesh Teves, the 8th Night of Chanukah, December 23rd. Stay tuned for theme and additional info, including some new prizes for this year!
5th grade Chumash just finished the story of Yehudah & Tamar, and learned from it (and a Talmud comment) what lengths we must go to avoid embarrassing ESHKOL GUEST someone even if it is very difficult for us. Not in time for this week’s newsletter.. so check back next week for pictures and report. Mr. Dubi, one of the Have you heard Maimonides is making a performance on puns? Federation’s guests from the It’s really its just a play on words. Eshkol region in Israel is visiting our school’s Zayin2 silk worms had a race. They ended up in a Cheshvan assembly this Friday morning. tie. Have you heard the joke about the wall? I just can’t get over it. The pencil joke has no point. The joke about the car drives me crazy.
5 WAYS TO RESPECT
ITZHAK PERLMAN ON VIOLIN 7th grade learned in Navi class how King Saul listened to harp music when he felt down, so Morah Rochel had her students go into the computer lab & listen to Itzhak Perlman play.
A BIRTHDAY TEA For Esti B’s birthday the HS girls went out for tea (and brought their own cake) and shared warm wishes and uplifting thoughts.
MALALA THE YOUNGEST NOBEL Malala is a teenager from Pakistan outspoken for girls education, who was shot on a school bus by terrorists because of her work. She recovered & at age 17 was recently the youngest person, to ever receive a Nobel prize. She started at age 12, even young people can make a big difference!
at Maimonides and in the Community 10/31: ZAYIN CHESHVAN
11/5: MR & MRS KRAUS, 50 KIDS
Others may be busy with fear & fright on the 31st but the school will be celebrating the relief of the last Jew arriving home after the holidays in biblical times. This day symbolizes “No Jew Left Behind”.
“50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus” a premiere documentary screening at the Clifton Park Library, 475 Moe Road, at 7pm. The story of two ordinary Americans from Philadelphia who saved 50 children from the Nazis. Followed by a discussion with Susan Axelrod on how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. This event is co -sponsored by Clifton Park Chabad and the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.
11/1: MATHLESS BABY KIDDUSH Rabbi Mendy & DL Mathless are making a Kiddush this Shabbos at Shomray Torah in honor of the birth of a daughter before Rosh Hashanah.
11/1: WINTER WOMEN CLASS As in past years, Chaya Tal is continuing the Shabbos womens shiur in a different format once the summer season is over. 3-4pm at her home on Halsdorf studying books by Rabbi Sholom Arush.
11/1: “THE DREAMERS” AT CBAJ CBAJ movie night presents “The Dreamers” a film about two Orthodox women seeking to produce films. Separate film for kids 8th grade & younger. 7:15pm. Snacks and drinks provided.
11/8: PIZZA NIGHT AT MHDS First Pizza nite of the season begins 7pm. Medium Pies $9 each, w/toppings $10. Pre-orders by email to bnoschayaprograms@gmail.com especially helpful this week as there’s an 8pm lecture upstairs at school. Proceeds benefit HS’ extra-curricular.
11/8: SADNESS TO KINDNESS
See box for more on this year’s Esty Memorial 2am on Sunday morning is the official time that we Lecture by Mr. Shmuel Greenbaum. 8pm at the school. Light refreshments served. Pizza night turn the clocks back one hour. downstairs. Kids supervision downstairs as well. Our Northeastern NY Jewish Federation partners with the Eshkol region in Israel, an area deeply affected by the Gaza rockets and terror, and will welcome leaders from that region at Schenectady JCC, starting at 6:30pm. Cost is $25pp, and an AllAmerican BBQ served by the Schenectady JCC.
10/??: CBAJ TORAH & TEA IS BACK Rabbi Lehrfield’s Torah & Tea classes resumes after the holidays, 10:30am at CBAJ.
12/13: KISLEV 19 MELAVA MALKA
12/23: MHDS RAFFLE-AUCTION AND CHANUKAH DINNER Now in its 12th year! Printed version to be mailed to homes before Thanksgiving, online version as well. The prize viewings & drawings, 5-7pm at Maimonides, will be on the 8th night of Chanukah, together with a delicious themed dinner prepared by the Kochmans at “Nathan’s Kitchen”. Stay tuned for more updates!!
There will be No School on Veterans Day to allow for Parent-Teacher Conferences to discuss individual student progress. A schedule of parentteacher appointments will be sent home. Please look for it! NOTE: If parents can’t make it to these conferences in person due to distance or work, please call the school office to pre-arrange a phonecall with the teacher at the designated time-slot.
11/14: YES, THERE’S SCHOOL! There is school this Friday, but there will be no school the following Friday on November 21st.
11/4: RACHEL IMENU
11/14: CBAJ NEW MEMBER DINNER
Commemorated at school every year, Cheshvan 11 is Rachel Imenu yartzeit.
Enjoy the extended weekend (& another extended weekend the following week for Thanksgiving).
Call CBAJ office at 489-5819 for info on this communal Shabbat dinner at the synagogue.
11/5: MAZAL & ASTROLOGY @CBAJ 11/16: JCC FUN DAY & RAFFLE Rabbi B. Lehrfield will be giving a class, 7:15pm at CBAJ on Mazal, Astrology & Fortune in Judaism.
11/5: HESS TOY TRUCK MUSEUM
ESTY MEMORIAL LECTURE The annual Esty (Rubin) Cohen Memorial Lecture will be on Sat Night Nov 8th, 8pm at Maimonides. Light refreshments served.
11/11: PARENT-TEACHER CONF.
Adults: make the time to vote this Tuesday.
11/4: MIDTERM ELECTIONS
11/21: NO SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY
Annual local tradition by Capital Chabad (going back earlier with R’ Zalman Levine), Chassidic 11/7: FIRST EARLY FRIDAY 2:15pm stories, melodies and Melava Malka/farbrengen Now that the clocks changed and Shabbat comes in atmosphere. It will also be celebrating the Siyum super early, Friday school dismissal is at 2:15pm. HaRambam for those who study 3 chapters of Maimonides’ Mishna Torah each day.
11/2: TIME CHANGE: FALL BACK!
11/2: WELCOME ESHKOL REGION
free. More than 800 species, including a newly acquired 75 pound Chinese clam. All curated by a very knowledgeable and passionate collector.
12-4pm at Albany JCC. Free admission. Bouncehouses, face-painting, fitness & movies, magnetphotos, pickle-ball & kickball etc… Raffle tickets $1 each, win up to $1,000. info call: 438-6651 x114.
11am-7pm at 1911 Curry Road in Rotterdam. Hess 11/16: JEWELS OF THE SEA is celebrating 50 years of their toy truck, with a mobile museum display here for a day. No charge. another exhibit on display at the Discovery Hall 426 Second Street in Troy, 12-4pm this Sunday, $5pp for adults, $2 for teens, and kids under 12 are
Mr. Shmuel (Steven) Greenbaum will tell his personal story of transforming personal sadness and loss into positive acts and a campaign of kindness, after his pregnant wife was killed in the August 2001 Sbarros pizza shop terrorist bombing on the corner of King George and Rechov Yaffo in Jerusalem. Mr. Greenbaum runs “Partners in Kindness” and wrote a book “Daily Dose of Kindness” as a response to the tragedy.
AND PIZZA NIGHT… Mr. Greenbaum will speak 8pm upstairs at Maimonides. There will be a pizza night downstairs that same evening (with both takeout and eat-in options) starting at 7pm, with a supervised children’s program from 8-9pm during the talk. Pre-orders will be help HS students be ready for your pizza pies: bnoschayaprograms@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!”