Maimonides Community

BH. Tishrei

14, 5775 / Oct 8, 2014

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:03 404 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 7:01 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

This newsletter is sponsored in loving memory of

Esty (Rubin) Cohen

on the occasion of her Yartzeit 25th of Tishrei By her Parents & Siblings NURSERY’S MODEL SUKKAH

MAZAL TOV NOAH!

Nursery students stand outside their converted Sukkah tent, covered with twigs and leaves that they collected outside. Rafi (3rd from right) holds up his folded paper Lulav and Etrog that they made, while the other students waited for their painted yellow paper Etrogs to dry. Sukkot has quite a bit in common with going camping, so the tent is a good metaphor!

and his parents & family on the occasion of his Shabbos Breishis Bar-Mitzvah immediately following Simchas Torah and part of the same extended holiday weekend. See page 4 for a communal invite to a lunch and open house the Levin’s are hosting at their home on the Shabbos afternoon at the very end of the long Sukkot & Simchat Torah holiday stretch.

7th grade finished “The Giver” in English class just in time for Sukkot.

What’s the connection you may ask? The Rebbe points out: the 2 major Mitzvot of this holiday represent two different types of unity: Sukkah all encompassing and unifying despite differences of people inside; while Lulav celebrates and preserves individuality, unifying because HUCK FINN’S PLAYLAND? of the differences of each of the Hoffman’s Playland closed for good after this 4 species. The utopian dream of summer season, but there’s an effort by Huck “The Giver” was flawed & Finn’s Warehouse (a vast store downtown near damaging because it focused the 787 with lots of unique character) to only on the Sukkah-type of unity and tried to purchase and relocate the rides there, in time erase the Lulav-type of unity, both of which are for next summer season. Stay tuned! emphasized & needed on Sukkot.

CANDLE-LIGHTING MAGNET They should be arriving soon at area homes, with local Shabbat candlelighting times, courtesy of Maimonides, which educates generations of students to be in tune and in touch with the times and rhythms of Shabbat.

If you don’t get yours soon, contact the school office (518) 453-9363 after the holiday.

MAIMONIDES THE HECHTS FAMILY SERMON There’s an old Hecht family tradition to share ideas for High Holiday sermons, that dates back to the days of Rabbi JJ Hecht obm and his siblings. This year, after several more generations of Hechts joined the rabbinate, a Wall Street Journal editor was invited to join them as they brainstormed and shared High Holiday sermons. “One Jew got on a boat in the 1880’s..” and now the Hecht family may be the largest Rabbinic family in the world.

SUKKOT & “THE GIVER”

404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

LAST MINUTE LULAV SETS A few sets may still be available from Rabbi Nachman Simon, call before the Sukkot holiday begins: 439-8280.

HAPPY SUKKOT TO ALL… our readers and the whole community!

Dear Rabbi Rubin and Members and Friends of the Albany Daf Yomi: On behalf of my mother Mrs. Joyce Teitelman, my siblings Elana and Howie, and our respective families, we thank you for dedicating this Siyum on Tractate Chagiga - which also concludes Seder Moed - in memory of our husband, father, and grandfather, Dr. Bernard Teitelman – Binyamin ben Shmuel z”l. While personal and professional responsibilities on the home-front prevent me from being with you in person, I will be thinking of you and your special gathering on Sunday morning.

The dedication is particularly touching for several reasons: First, this Siyum is taking place on Mochorat Yom Hakippurim – the day after Yom Kippur. Our father passed away on Yom Kippur and was buried the day after. We might apply an expression from the Torah’s description of Yom Kippur: “be’etzem hayom hazeh – on this very day” (Vayikra 23:28). The significance of the timing of this Siyum is self-evident.

Second, the Siyum is taking place at Congregation Shomray Torah, aka “The Shtiebel”. Our father was connected to many Jewish institutions of prayer and study, both in the Capital District and wherever he might visit, but The Shtiebel had a special place in his heart and religious regimen. There he served with dedication for decades as Vice President, Gabbai, and occasional Sheliah Tzibbur.

More importantly, however, it was where he davened, and nothing would stop him from making the three-mile roundtrip trek to be there on time, every week. An important dimension of my own childhood education took place either at the Shtiebel itself or during the “power walks” to and from the Shtiebel, with my father and others from our far-end of the community. I can say with certainty that outside of my own family, there was no other more formative force in my own early development than The Shtiebel and its congregants.

B/W, SOON TO BE OVERLAYED IN COLOR Mrs. Levin’s art students began this project with white paint on black paper, later to be repainted with translucent multi-colored paint to give it a Van Gogh effect. In a way, that’s the story of our prayers. We use black and white letters of the Siddur, and overlay them with the colorful stories of our life and personal expression.

DAF YOMI CHAGIGA SIYUM, NOW YEVAMOS..

On the day after Yom Kippur, the local Daf Yomi celebrated the completion of tractate Chagiga and Seder Moed. The Siyum was dedicated in memory of Dr. Bernard Teitelman, who was an avid local Daf Yomi participant and whose Yartzeit is on Yom-Kippur.

See the beautiful letter on left (<) from Rabbi Lawrence Teitelman in honor of the occasion. Daf Yomi is now studying Yevamos, Third, our father participated whenever he could in the Daf Yomi, often filling in the pages that he missed at home. I remember him telling me with pride – back in known as one of the more difficult Talmud tractates. Even if you the early 1980s when I was in Yeshiva in Toronto - that Albany started a Daf Yomi. can’t commit to the everyday regimen, might be good idea to At that time, Daf Yomi was hardly the popular commodity that it is today, and “eavesdrop” for a session or two, especially over the long Sukkot there was no Artscroll Gemara, myriad Daf Yomi publications, or Internet-based holiday stretch, even if just to get a little taste. shiurim to assist with the learning. Albany was “ahead of the game” in terms of making the serious daily commitment that is required to succeed with Daf Yomi.

Tractate Chagiga in particular has a special affinity with memories of our father.

The first chapter deals with the mitzva of Aliya La-Regel, the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for each of the Three Festivals. Our father loved Israel, its holy sites, and its customs. Each week, he recited the prayer for the State of Israel and its Defense Forces. He had a special warm spot for guests, visiting professionals, or shlichim from Israel, and would enjoy conversing with them in Hebrew, a language that he learned at a young age, despite never having the benefit of a yeshiva education. The second chapter of Chagiga is “Ein Dorshin”, identifying topics that, because of their sensitive nature, cannot be discussed in public. Our father was involved in the lay leadership of many communal institutions and worked professionally in defense systems for our country, but generally a private person, he carefully respected the confidentiality of these assignments. The last chapter “Chomer baKodesh” deals with levels of sanctity. Our father loved that which was sacred, and was always looking to grow, and apply what he learned “halacha le-maaseh” – from theory to practice. Finally, the very end of the Tractate – the material for the Siyum – is the idea, alluded to in a verse about the Rimon (pomegranate), that even the so-called “empty ones” (rekanin she-bach) are full of mitzvot. Our father strongly believed in human potential, the capacity for anyone so inclined to excel and to achieve. This last thought is very much characteristic of Daf Yomi, not only the idea that Jews around the world are united literally “on the same page”, but that “ordinary” people – and not just rabbis and kollel students – are studying and mastering the Talmud, one page at a time, day after day, year after year.

May it be G-d’s will that everyone be blessed for a Gut Yahr and a Chag Sameach, and continue to go from strength to strength, beginning many more sefarim and completing them. You are an inspiration!

Mazal tov, mazal tov!

Lawrence – Eliyahu Teitelman (New Hyde Park, NY)

POETRY & HISTORY IN PRAYER FOR RAIN Our 5/6 graders will understand the beautiful poetry and historical background of Tefilas Geshem (said in the Musaf of Shmini Atzeret) better than many adults! No names are mentioned, but historical clues are given that refer to Yitzchak at the Akeida, Yaakov at the Jordan, Moshe as a baby in the Nile and later when hitting the rock, Aharon as High Priest on Yom Kippur, and the tribes crossing the Sea. They learned it with Morah Rochel and later made animated powerpoints slides of each stanza.

COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND TORAH STUDY After Shachris of Sunday & Monday on Chol HaMoed Sukkos will be a short Columbus-Day & Sukkos-themed Torah study at Shomray Torah. The topic involves a knotty Rabbi Akiva Eiger question, with a creative & inviting answer based on a story… well, can’t give it all away now!

MANY MORE WORD PROBLEMS The new Math textbooks based on Common Core standards have many more word problems than the old textbooks. This emphasis on word problems helps students…  Realize math provides solutions to problems  Appreciate the life relevance of the skills  Work not only on solutions but on seeking the appropriate method to get to that point  Keep the examples interesting & different

“THE OUTSIDERS” & SUKKOS Not to be outdone by 7th (see page 1), HS finished “The Outsiders” and came up with another Sukkot-Unity connection (aside for the obvious pun of Sukkah being outside).

The book is about groups and people who were divided & separated by their differences but over the course of the book and its sad events came to realize deeper similarities.

“S” FOR SMILES & STARS IN THE SUKKAH Mrs. Hoffman learned the letter “S” with Nursery students this week in connection with Sukkos! They also worked a day on smiles (which is also connected to Sukkot, biblically called the time of our rejoicing) and had fun using stampers and also putting stars (pictured here) on the big and little “S” (look up in your night Sukkah to see the stars!) They may work with some sand, too… All are wonderful “S” words!

A BETTER TOGETHER SUKKAH Our HS boys went after school on Monday to Bnai Brith apartments to assist with the allnew construction of a Sukkah for the residents. Before going they also learned an interesting historical tidbit that in the Beit HaMikdash there was a special room for the elderly to store the Lulavim so they would have easier access without the crowded rush in the room where everyone else stored theirs.

SCHOOL GIFT IN MEMORY OF MRS. CARROLL’S LATE FATHER

JOIN/DONATE TEAM CHABAD Team Chabad will be participating this year at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Washington Park on the Sunday morning after Shabbos Breishis. Donate to the team’s efforts or join: www.tinyurl.com/MakingStridesTeamChabad Be in touch with rabbimathless@gmail.com 522-1872, there are limited “Chabad Goes Pink” t-shirts available, first come first served.

Try to do this on Chol HaMoed, as this walk is first thing after the YomTov…

H.S. SUKKAH DVAR TORAHS Morah Chaya Bracha invited the HS Girls over to her house for pre-Sukkos Dvar Torah swap. Each student prepared one short idea, here are a few:  Water is the forgotten ingredient of Sukkos.

Of course, no one wants rain in their Sukkah, but water is featured prominently in the Sukkos Temple service, in the grand celebrations and in our prayer for rain.  The happiness of Sukkot is tied into the forgiveness of Yom-Kippur. The days in between are connector days, not off-days.  We dance in circles with closed Torahs to symbolize how every Jew, no matter their level of knowledge or observance is connected to Torah and dances with it!

We’re trying to get this gift together in memory of Mrs. Carroll’s father as soon as possible after this holiday vacation. If you’d like contribute please send any amount of your choice to the school office soon after the holiday break. We will buy a bunch of kidfriendly early-reader books and other Dr. Seuss favorites & inscribe them in his memory.

KIDS PROGRAM ON RADIO! After renting a hotel facility for the high holiday services, the manager tells the Rabbi, “Hope to see you again next year!”

When the Rabbi responds “Next year in Jerusalem!” the manager asks what they can improve or do different to keep their account!

HALACHA ON THE IPAD

No, Siri is not a Posek (Halachic authority) but Rabbi Yossi & the 7th graders used the If you’re up early this Sunday, turn your dial to 590AM at 6am to hear Aaron Mair and Joe school’s iPads for interactive digitized Sukkot Halacha studies.

Condon speak with MHDS alumnus Motti Rubin about Sukkos and the kids program at 4pm this coming Sunday at Shteeble.

PEOPLE

IS UR CARD LINKED TO MHDS?

One more reminder to please check your AdvantEdge card at any Price Chopper Guest Once a landlord in the Lower East Side got Services desk and make sure it is linked to upset that his tenant, an observant Jew, built a Maimonides! This is a one Sukkah on the rooftop of the apartment time thing, it takes such little building. He took the tenant to court. The effort and is so simple we Judge sized up the situation and sternly told the hope more school families & tenant with a wink of an eye, “You have ten days community friends will take a few minutes to to take the Sukkah down!” do this! Thank you!

IN COLOR These 1st graders are working on coloring in their “Maimonides Student” for the bulletin board featured on the back cover of this newsletter.

The students appreciated the project much more when they saw all the “people” together.

at Maimonides and in the Community 10/8 & 10/15: ERUV TAVSHILIN On the afternoon before each of the 3-day Yom Tov weekends, we have to make an Eruv Tavshilin using a bread and a cooked food and a declaration that will allow us to prepare on the 2nd day of YomTov (Friday) for Shabbos.

MANY SUKKOT HAPPENINGS! SUKKOT  

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10/8 Wed Night: First Night, after-dinner in Rabbi Rubin’s Sukkah, 122 South Main Ave. 10/9 Thursday afternoon: NCSY Sukkah-Hop for Middle School and HS (separately). Meet-up 3pm at Buckingham Pond Playground.

10/9 Thurs Night: Second night of YomTov after dinner at the Kudan’s, 6 Peyster Street.

10/10 Friday Night: After Shabbat Dinner, in the Gordon’s Sukkah, 29 Glenwood Street.

10/11 Shabbos Day: Rabbi B. Lehrfield’s Shabbos Chol HaMoed after CBAJ services is titled: “The End of the World” Sukkah Kiddush follows.

10/11 Shabbos Night: At the Kochman’s Sukkah, 169 Sycamore Street, just up from Hackett.

10/12 Sunday: Columbus Wknd & engaging Sukkot Morning Study, stay tuned for details. Be sure to get your Boarding Pass!

10/12 Sunday: 2pm at the Sukkah of Rabbi & Orit Lehrfield, 116 Cardinal in Albany.

10/12 Sunday: Two local Fall Festivals: (1) at the Schenectady JCC with petting zoo, pony rides…

(2) Autumn in Austerlitz, 11-4, period costume, sheep-shearing etc, $6 per adult, kids under 12 are free. 11550 Route 22.

10/12 Sunday: Kids Program with Motti (back from Australia for a bit) 4-5pm, at Shteeble. Fun, Prizes & more!

10/12 Sunday: After Maariv in the Simon’s Sukkah, 139 Elsemere Ave, Delmar.

10/13 Mon: Day II of Columbus Day Morning Study after Shachris at Shomray Torah.

10/13 Mon: Bethlehem Chabad Sukkah-Hop 10/13 Mon: Sushi in the Sukkah Party at Clifton Park Chabad, 5pm at 495 Moe Road with a Kosher version of Mr. Fuji’s Sushi and the Kleine Klezmer music in the Sukkah.

10/14 Tues: Sukkos Fun Day 4-7 at Saratoga Chabad with music, food in the Sukkah, magic performance, 10-booth carnival… 526-0773.

10/14: 5pm for Friendship Circle families & volunteers on South Allen in Albany.

10/14 Tues: Hoshana Rabba late night study at Shomray Torah/Shteeble.

May it be a very joyous Sukkot holiday for all!

Then another 3-day holiday with Simchat Torah!

See Ruvain Kudan to participate in costs of annual Simchas Torah Luncheon at Shomray Torah.

BRIEF BEIS MEDRASH As Maimonides alumni return from Yeshivot all over, FIRST GRADERS MAKE MAIMONIDES STUDENTS there will be short Mrs. Carroll’s students colored in these images of students. Check out the details Divrei Torah in of the clothing designs, quite good for first grade! Now on entrance bulletin board. evenings between/ after Mincha-Maariv at Shomray Torah on Chol 10/23: TEACHING MIDDLE EAST HaMoed Sukkot, & 2 morning studies over Federation offers a free seminar (registration is Columbus Day Weekend, and the late night study required) by Professor Ralph Nurnberger of on Hoshana Rabba. This Holiday-time Kinus Georgetown to help teachers (private/public) teach Torah tradition is a long-standing tradition at about Israel and the Middle East. To register or Shomray Torah, join when you are able to. with any questions contact Shelly Shapiro at 783-

EVENTS ON CHOL HAMOED

7800 or sshapiro@jewishfedny.org.

In addition to the Jewish community Simchas Beis HaShoeva events and evenings listed above, here’s a sampling of some local events for some outing ideas...  Sun 10/12: “The Way We Were Car Show” downtown Ballston Spa, free admission.

Hundreds of classic cars on display.  Monday 10/13: Columbus Day Free Admission to Albany Institute of History and Art  Tuesday 10/14: “Migration Mayhem” 3pm at the Saratoga Spa State Park (if you go, spend some time at the Geyser section of the park). $3pp or $5 per family. Learn about fall habits of animals and migration patterns. Registration required: Call 518-584-2000 Ext. 150. Maybe do together with Sukkos Fun Day at Saratoga Chabad.

10/26: GIL HOFFMAN OF JPOST

10/18: NOAH’S BAR-MITZVAH

5pm event at Schenectady JCC to welcome Rabbi Avraham and Rabinessa Liora Kelman to Beth Israel and the Schenectady community. For info/ rsvp: judyb@schenectadyJCC.org or call: 377-8803.

Shacharit services at CBAJ. There will be a Lunch and Open House celebration at the Levin's house afterward. All are welcome for lunch, or to stop by afterwards anytime in the day!

to speak at Federation Joint Society event (society membership not required) at Temple Israel, with a buffet dinner prior by “As You Like It” catering of Schenectady. Mr. Hoffman is the chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and has interviewed major political players from across the spectrum. $25pp, $10 ages 22-40.

10/27: WOMENS BET MEDRASH 8pm at Maimonides, this year’s topic is biblical women with rotating presenters: Morah Rochel will present on Rachel our matriarch.

10/29: WELCOME KELMANS

10/19: CHABAD GOES PINK Area Chabad Centers are looking forward to having a team at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Washington Park on the Sunday after Simchas Torah. Contact Rabbi Mathless 5221872 for more info. To join the team or donate to the team effort, go online to: www.tinyurl.com/ MakingStridesTeamChabad

MAIMONIDES TISHREI HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 9/24-26: School closed for Rosh Hashanah and Erev Rosh Hashanah, from Wed thru the wknd.

9/30: Open House Night at School for Parents.

10/3: No School, Erev Yom Kippur 10/8: Half-Day English Only, Erev Sukkos 10/9-17: No School all of Sukkot.

10/20: School Resumes at 8am.

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!”