BH. THURS Teves
3, 5775 / Dec 25, 2014
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 4:10 404 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 5:15 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
Shaul ben Moshe Chaim (Yehoshua's father z"l) Yartzeit on Dalet Teves and
Avraham ben Adolph (Chaya Bracha’s grandfather) Yartzeit on 27 Kislev THANKS FOR FUELING THE SCHOOL WITH THE RAFFLE-AUCTION This year’s Raffle-Auction raised $14,500+ for Maimonides, more than any previous year! See list of winners on page 3 (though everyone is a winner for supporting education!), along with pictures and report from the event. See the student-built V-8 model engine spinning a freshly 3D printed Dreidel, those honored to light a schoolbus Menorah, and the very delicious (good to the very last drop!) Chinese Chanukah dinner prepared by the Kochmans. The boys pictured above are energized “all fueled up!” on an otherwise gloomy gray day are wearing their CHANUCO t-shirts at SUNOCO, with the difference whether the red arrow points up or down. And gas is now down to $2.79!
by Dr. Yehoshua & Chaya Bracha Rubin MAZAL TOV DUBROFFS Mazal Tov to MHDS alumna Rivky (Kudan) and Yossi Dubroff on the birth of a baby boy. Mazal Tov to grandparents Kudan!
SID STARK’S FAVORITE MISHNA A MAYORAL CHANUKAH Maimonides High School students visited City Hall on the first day of Chanukah, continuing an annual tradition that includes 3 mayoral administrations, first with Mayor Whalen, many years with Mayor Jennings and now with Mayor Sheehan. Mayor Kathy Sheehan greeted them with "Chag Sameach!" in Hebrew, which everyone applauded. She gave each students chocolate gelt, and a City of Albany lapel pin. She and her staff enjoyed High School Girls homemade doughnuts. Eli & Chaim sang a Chanukah "Rap" especially written for this Mayoral Chanukah. Rabbi Rubin expressed thanks for being able to display a Menorah at City Hall, for it expresses America’s tolerance and welcome for its minorities, especially in today's world where bigotry and hate is again rearing its ugly head. Jews may be a small
population percentage yet we feel warmly welcome! Mayor Sheehan responded that Jews have a long history in Albany. Not only have they thrived here, but they have given back to the community in tremendous ways.
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
At the School Chanukah Dinner, Sid Stark was able to recite Kaddish for his father Henry after Rabbi Rubin taught the Mishna about a spark from a Menorah outside a store. Besides the obvious “Spark” connection, Saratoga’s Stark Auto is a wonderful application of a commercial venue that is a Mitzvah blessing!
MAZAL TOV MOSHE Mazal Tov Moshe for the occasion of putting on Tefillin for the very first time in preparation for his BarMitzvah. Now all of our older boys Talmud class wears Tefillin each morning! This was on the 8th day of Chanukah (turns out: Rabbi Volovik began NURSERY SINGS CHANUKAH SONGS putting on Tefillin on this very same day) and They were missing some classmates and their main teacher, but they were still quite cute on stage, younger boys came to the Shteeble and singing Chanukah songs, including a “Twinkle, twinkle” Chanukah version that they enjoyed! enjoyed Tefillin-shaped chocolates, cake rum balls, and Tefillin decorated cookies.
KINDERGARTEN PLAYS & SONG HAPPY THREESOME More than half their class was out sick or away on vacation, but that didn’t stop these happy first graders from performing beautifully!
Morah Chaya Bracha’s students performed a cute Chanukah play (their acting was quite good!) and also sang a song in Yiddish, Hebrew and English. They were comfortable and happy on stage.
THE TWO SIDES OF THE CHANUKAH STORY This was a cute play by the 2nd graders that actually conveyed a very deep message. It showed two kids, both Jewish, but from very different backgrounds, one Hellenist and one traditional. The boys befriend each other despite their family differences, and years later during the Maccabee revolt for religious freedom their paths cross again. The play flipped between the two families, and was interesting food for thought.
CHASSIDISH, ISRAEL AND AMERICAN - ALL SINGING THE SAME CHANUKAH MELODY… Another, humorous but thought-provoking play, that opens in a Yiddish-speaking Chassidish home that has too many Latkes. They think of sharing with an Israeli neighbor, but there are too many language-barriers and cultural differences at first. The kids were great at their lines and with the inflection and accent needed for that part! The two families then turn to an American Jewish family, and once again the language and culture barriers are all to obvious at first… but not for long! The families soon realize that they all sing the same Chanukah melody, that says the same message in different languages. It shows the strength of core Jewish identity and the colorful rich diversity of our people.
RAFFLE-AUCTION WINNERS Everyone is a winner for supporting education!
A-Z PRIZE PACKAGES, 3D DRIEDELS, CREATIVE MENORAHS, V8 MODEL, A RAP, APPS PROJECTS, CHINESE DINNER, ETC! There was some much to do, see and enjoy at the 8th Night of Chanukah at Maimonides!!
WHAT A KOSHER CHINESE DINNER! The Kochmans worked very hard to make chicken & vegetarian stir-fry, two types of rice, chicken with and w/o sauce, fresh yummy eggrolls, and two types of soup: a perfect Egg-Drop and Hot & Sour that was vegetarian. All this is quite labor-intensive and everyone enjoyed! Each year they do a different food theme, and its something exciting to look forward to each Chanukah!
3D PRINTED DREIDELS!
A) LAPTOP Joseph Dubov B) STEINZALTZ TALMUD Yitzchak Krimmer C) HOME IMPROVEMENT B. Fox D) iPAD MINI +JEM & AMI Aharon Simon E) DRESS UP Sharona Backman F) SILVER STYLE Shoshana Plotkin G) SHABBOS PACKAGE Vicky O’Brien H) PHOTO SHOOT Yossi & Leyee Rubin I) WOODEN TOYS Elaine Ehrenpreis J) ROOM FOR GUEST Sarah Kievman K) OUT & ABOUT Shaindy Heisler Rosenfeld L) HOUSEWARES Rochel Rubin M) KEURIG 2.0 Zvi Bass N) FUN TABLES Salo & Johanna Steper O) NIGHT OUT ON TOWN Rochelle Stracher P) AMERICAN GIRL DOLL Beth Gray Q) TIME OUT FOR ART Lori & Akiva Calka R) MAGNATILES Mendy & DL Mathless S) GAMES GALORE Maxine Morgenbesser T) ACTIVE KIDS Salo & Johanna Steper U) SUPER-CLEAN Joyce Teitelman V) BREAKFAST PACKAGE Vicky O’Brien W) ALL-SET Ruth Phaff X) BUILD UP! (Legos, Knex, Clics) S&J Steper Y) PHONE SET Devorah Kaufman Z) GIZMOS & GADGETS Erica Grant ?) MYSTERY ($150 at Staples) E.M. Vinisky SPLIT-THE-POT: $730 Simmy & Chaya Rubin
This Makerbot was on Chanukah loan from RPI, a faculty member of which is advising Maimonides on our 3D printing project. It was a big thrill for young and old alike to watch the print go back and forth, under neon green light, building layer after layer of a dreidel, with perfect Hebrew lettering, and yes - they did spin! The older boys also built a small model of a V8 (thinkof Chanukah’s 8 Lights) engine, and they affixed one of the freshly printed 3D Dreidels atop its fan to make it spin at the 8th night Chanukah celebration.
LIGHTING THE SCHOOL-BUS MENORAH Top Row R-L: Mr. Rob Kovach, CEO of Jewish Federation says the blessings & lights the first candle; Yosef Costa, MHDS parent lights 2nd candle; Daniel Seda, MHDS alumnus who enjoys “coming home for the holidays” lights the 3rd; Morah Rimma of MHDS Nursery lights the 4th; Yoni on leave from US Army lights 5th, his brother Avraham lights 6th, Rabbi Moshe Plotkin of New Paltz Chabad and beloved uncle of the Gordons lights 7th, and MHDS alumnus Eli Levin lights the 8th candle - on the 8th night of Chanukah!
at Maimonides and in the Community 12/25-28: JGR WINTER RETREAT
1/8/2015: CAMPAIGN TRAINING
The annual Jewish Girls Winter Retreat is on for another season, this weekend back at Dunhams Bay on Lake George. For more info call Nechama Laber: 727-9581. Many of our girls are attending, as well as some local families who are helping staff the event that attracts girls from all over.
A training session for SuperSunday volunteers, led by Ann Levin, past President of Boston’s CJP and an account director at an advertising agency. 6pm with dinner. Register at www.JewishFedNY.org or call 783-7800.
12/27: SHABBOS & “HEY-TEVES” This Shabbos, the 5th of Teves, marks 28 years (30 years since the start of the saga) since the landmark ruling treating Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library (which has first edition Talmuds, Baal Shem Tov’s Siddur and other Jewish treasures) as a communal heritage rather than a personal possession. Mr. Joe Seidel obm and the State Archives in Albany played a role in this story and there will be a Kiddush Farbrengen in Shomray Torah, even with a number of families out of town this weekend.
12/28-12/31: TRAINS AT MiSci If you haven’t been at MiSci (Schenectady Museum) is a while, maybe time to check it out. Huge set of model trains are running much of the coming week, plus all regular exhibits. On Sunday one free child per adult admission.
12/29: WOMENS BEIT MEDRASH Raizy Rubin will lead this month’s learning, focusing on our matriarch Rivka. 8pm at Maimonides, open to women of all learning levels.
1/11/2015: WIN BATTLE 4 ISRAEL Linda Scherzer, former Middle East correspondent for CNN, will be the Federation’s Joint Society speaker at Temple Israel, with dinner & desserts beginning at 7:15pm. Cost $25pp or $10 for those 22-40, prices rise if not pre-reserved 783-7800 or via www.JewishFedNY.org by Jan 9th.
1/25: J-FED’S SUPERSUNDAY School parents and friends are encouraged to sign up for a shift at Federation’s Super-Sunday which raises money for communal agencies (including Maimonides) and overseas Jewish needs. There are also follow-up phone-a-thon dates, but we want to get representation for SuperSunday itself.
2/1/15: ALBANY WOMENS CIRCLE As it’s the Sunday before Tu Bishvat, they’ll be painting flowerpots, and there will be related inspiration as well! Stay tuned for details.
2/8: SPA FOR BODY & SOUL The 10th annual: Special for this year, MegaChallah Bake! Stay tuned for more info..
THE SHOW MUST GO ON! More than half of the students were absent due to vacations or unfortunately due to illness, but as Morah Leah (Lynne Gross) taught us, "the show must go on!" (a vital life lesson, indeed!) The 6 out of the original 13 did an excellent job performing at the Beverwyck. The residents loved their beautiful performance and many said how much it meant to them. Clara Simon organized the event, and she spoke to the seniors about the connection between Chanukah and Chinuch (education) which share the same Hebrew root. She reminded them how they all have so much to offer, impart and teach to us, and encouraged them to share their wisdom, as we have much to learn and gain from them. She also prepared chocolate gelt for the children to give to the seniors and kosher nosh for everyone to enjoy.
12/30: KLEZMER AT KIDS MUSEUM NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THIS “MC”! World Awareness Children’s Museum in Glens Falls is having Klezmer music at 11am on Tues as part of their extra winter break programming. Museum admission is $5pp, kids under 3 are free. See www.WorldChildrensMuseum.org
1/1/2015: TENTH OF TEVET FAST & “JERUSALEM DAY” (II) AT MHDS Half-day at Maimonides. Special activities and crafts all centered on Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, as we commemorate “Asara b’Teves”. Children who don’t go to Maimonides are welcome to join our school for this morning.
What’s a duck’s favorite snack? Quackers and cheese (and maybe duck sauce?)
Look in the next MC Newsletter for...
Morah Rivi’s 5/6 grade Hebrew performance R’ Moshe Losice’s 5th Lichtel rescue memories Mr. Horan’s Holocaust hiding story Rabbi Rubin’s “Gates of Jerusalem” learning Morah Devorah’s “Lone Soldier” experience Classroom Learning that we missed…
WINTER VACATION SCHEDULE
12/24: Half-Day Hebrew, Performances 12/25: Half-Day Hebrew, Minyan at School, Big Breakfast, Parents & Community Welcome to join morning study for “Jerusalem Day” (I). 1/4/2015: WORDS TO ACTION 12/26-30: Winter Vacation, No School Federation hosting ADL’s “Words to Action” 12/31/2014: Half-Day Hebrew Only program for teens and college-age students to 1/1/2015: Half-Day Hebrew Only. Fast of the prepare students to deal with anti-Israel, Holocaust- Tenth of Tevet. “Jerusalem Day” (II) at MHDS. denial, hate-speech etc. in their schools. 12-4:30pm Other elementary school children welcome. Lots interactive workshop at the Federation, facilitated of crafts and activities about Jerusalem. by Beverly Geisler and Evelyn Loeb Garfinkel. Call 1/2/2015: Also Half-Day, please note change! 783-7800 for more info or to register. 1/5/2015: First day of regular full-day school.
What does a British rabbit say on the 14th of Nissan? Hoppy Possover! Three aliens came to visit earth. A went to a concert, B went to a restaurant and C went to a candy shop. At the concert A heard “Mee, mee, mee, mee, mee..” At the restaurant B heard the waiter say “Forks and knives!” The candy shop was robbed while C was inside, and the boy who lost his lollipop said, “He stole my lollipop!” All three aliens followed everyone to court. The judge asked, “Who stole the boys lollipop?” A the alien said “Mee, mee, me…” The judge then asked, “how did you hold up the store?” Alien B answered, “Forks and Knives!” Then the judged asked, “Why did you do that?” Alien C answered, “He stole my lollipop!” (and redeemed his friends with that!)
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!”