BH. Shvat
26, 5776 / Feb 5, 2016
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org 4:55 Shabbos Ends:
produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
5:58
This newsletter is dedicated in memory of
Ella Saul
Ella bas Meir Elchanan Yartzeit: Shvat 24 by the Gottlieb Family NURSERY’S DOUBLE-MEM WEEK
GRADUATING INTO SOMETHING YOU NEVER GRADUATE FROM Morah Devorah’s Kitah Alef (and parents!) celebrated their Siddur Party on Thursday morning. They took turns leading Tefilah (as indicated on their crowns) and baked Alef-Bet cookies in prayer shapes, and were presented with a new Siddur by Rabbi Rubin, who said that a Siddur is one book that you never graduate from, because you use it everyday for the rest of your life!
Did you notice that the name of this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, begins and ends with a letter Mem (regular Mem and final-Mem) like the name Miriam. Nursery students made the Mem-letters for their ongoing Alef-Bais train: red stamps are Menorahs, the stickers are of Mezonot foods and Matanot (presents).
WOLVES AND RAVENS
Morah Rochel’s 4/5 grade Navi class are now learning the story of Gideon. One little detail is that the Jews captured two enemy chieftains named Ze’ev (Wolf) and Orev (Raven). Eli G. mentioned that wolves and ravens have a Yess’ “Prayerbook Blues”, Gad Elbaz’s “Hashem Melech” and Avraham Fried’s “Hear unique hunting relationship. The class looked it up online. Indeed, there’s been significant it in the Mountains Echo”. Each student got research on this in Yellowstone National Park, their photo with a Siddur superimposed on and it appears that Native Americans and the the Kotel (Thanks Sara R. for taking the ancients were well aware of this as well. pictures and Chaya S. for photo-shopping).
MAIMONIDES THE SOUND OF SILENCE The Amidah is usually said silently, but 3rd graders with Morah DL have been singing more and more parts of it all since the start of the year to become better accustomed to it and to say it with more focus and feeling - even when they will say it silently. Once they became fluent, they celebrated with a Mesibat Shmona Esray, also this Thursday morning. In addition to song segments of the Amidah, they sang a few prayer-related songs like Moshe
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MATH IN TALMUD CLASS 6/7 Boys Talmud came across an argument (Talmud Sukkah 3b) about two ways to divide a joint courtyard between adjoining houses (with varying amounts of entrances). There are different calculations based on the two opinions of Rav Huna and Rav Chisda.
HOOVER: ENGLISH & HISTORY 8th graders are learning the Roaring Twenties in History, leading into the Great Depression. It ties right into the “To Kill a Mockingbird” book they are now reading in English class. They learned about the sad state of “Hoover Carts” (if you don’t know why the horse is pulling the car, look it up online: “Hoover Carts”) in both history and in the novel.
SECOND GRADE GEMATRIA 2nd graders colored this AlefBet chart in numerical value as they learned about Gematria. Note that last week’s “Torah365” box translated Gematria in Mishna as geometry THANK YOU MORAH D.L.! but otherwise usually refers to numerical value or Hebrew words and meanings learned from 3rd graders were grateful to Morah Devorah Leah for teaching them the Shmona Esray and words that share the same numerical value. for the Mesibat Shmona Esray earlier that day, (maybe the feelings of gratitude rubbed off BAR-MITZVAH CLASS PROGRESS from the Modim section) so they made a giant Rabbi Mathless has a Bar-Mitzvah prep class Thank You card (in the shape of a Siddur) for the 6/7 grade boys once a week and they with Morah Dini which they presented just finished a classic Maamar about Tefillin (pictured above) to Morah DL at lunchtime. and its spiritual effect.
LOT, SODOM -A LONG CHAPTER WEATHER BOOK ACCORDIONS 3rd graders just finished the Chumash chapter Mrs. Maher’s 3rd graders made accordion books about their weather studies to have handy references for all different types of scientific weather information.
about the angels who went to save Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom and how they ended up hiding out in a cave. It is a very long perek with many pesukim!
$60 AT CAPCOM CREDIT UNION Note to parents: Kids with accounts at CapCom Credit Union can earn up to $60 a year: $30 for handing in report card at year’s end, and 3x a year they offer $10 for children’s age-appropriate LEITZAN CLOWNS FOR ADAR book report (a 4-year olds picture etc). This is Kindergarten is learning letter “Lamed” this not an endorsement of the Cap-Com Credit week, in time to make clowns as the month of Union but a school parent suggested we Adar I approaches, for as it arrives we increase include this opportunity in the newsletter. in joy! The clowns have flexible arms and legs, the kids enjoyed making them. They also THE BIG BEAN CLASSIFICATION learned the Hebrew “Leitzan Katan” song. Mrs. Dubarry’s 4/5 grade class is learning EIGHT-ER WAITERS about the scientific On Wednesday our 8th graders helped Rabbi methods of classifying Shmuly make Morah Rochel’s surprise yummy within a species or birthday cake (they shmeared jam and family of things. As an whipped cream inside and covered it in example she brought in frosting), serve that and L’chaim grape-juice, as a bunch of different raw well as Morah Leyee’s delicious soup of the beans and had a chart week. They’re very helpful and efficient. that students had to use to describe and classify DAILY VOTE THRU MARCH that bean and what We need a new playground, give this makes it look the same sweepstakes a try. It’s one click a day for our and different from other beans she brought in. school (12208) www.togethercounts.com/ healthy-playground-makeover It’s one click a PARENTS & KIDS, & PIZZA, TOO day! And a good pledge we can all agree with! Next Motzai Shabbos (not this one) will be the next Parents & Children learning at Pizza Nite MACARONI JAR IS FILLING UP and there’s a few nice card games that were in the 3rd grade, for good work & behavior! bought as prizes. Stay tuned!
PLANTING THE P.J. PARSLEY Amy Drucker of PJ Library brought our PJ Library students little seed-papers of Parsley to plant for Karpas on Passover (though there are many different customs of what people like to use for Karpas). Ms. Ford’s 2nd graders are pictured happily planting their parsley seeds.
A pencil can have an eraser on both ends, but what would be the point? I was having a hard time understanding how lightning works, but then it struck me! What’s an alligator in a vest? An investigator!
YAHADUS CURRICULUM TEST
J-FED CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
Several classes are taking a multi-unit test this week (towards the end of year international Chidon) on the Yahadus curriculum learning (unit by unit, book by book) all 613 Mitzvot of the Torah. This time there’s a lot of technical material on the test, and the subject material was more abstract than before, but the students are doing the best they can.
IT HAS A NAME? ITS A METHOD? One day at recess, first graders got busy collecting twigs from all over the field and made a Stonehenge of sorts, putting them into a neat circle. Mrs. Levin came by and said, “Wow! That’s called environmental art! We’re going to be doing a unit on that later in the year…” These kids did it all by themselves.
The Jewish Federation offers scholarships to area children & college students for overnight Jewish camps, Jewish travel experiences, summer and yearlong Israel programs. Due to limited funding, its based on financial need: questionnaire form, parents recent federal tax return, and possible telephone follow-up. Application Deadline is March 4 for programs of summer 2016. Questions? call Rebecca Miller at Federation: 783-7800 x225, rmiller@jewishfedny.org. Forms are available at the school office or online at www.jewishfedny.org. For local day camps, the Federation funds eligible day camps directly (to a certain degree). Parents should apply directly to these camps for campership.
MISHPATIM MESSAGES 7th Grade Chumash class is learning Mishpatim with Rabbi Yossi, and it’s this week’s Parsha, too! Here’s 5 Highlights they shared with us from their learning.
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THE FOUR (LEVELS OF) SHOMRIM: This Parsha is the source of many practical everyday laws, including the varying levels of responsibility for someone else’s things, which increases according to the level of benefit (i.e. an unpaid watchman is less liable than a paid watchman, a borrower is liable for more things than a renter is). Rabbi Yossi assigned a different “Shomer” to each student on a Business Halacha website which shows practical modern examples of each of these Four Shomrim types in real life.
2
DOUBLE LANGUAGE: In the verse about not being insensitive to an orphan or widow, many of the words in that verse are doubled. Why? Reb Moshe Losice explained to Rabbi Yossi: Most people are hurt when people are insensitive to them, but orphans and widows (and other vulnerable people) are hurt twice: once for the hurt and again when they recall their personal loss from the past and feel it more acutely because of what happened now.
3
AGAINST BULLYING: Rabbi Yossi also pointed out how these rules (like #2 above) teach us to be careful about bullying others, and being especially careful with people who may be extra sensitive to something you see nothing wrong with yourself.
4
MEAT FOR DOGS: What to do with Treif meat? The Torah says we should give it to the dogs. Really there are some other things you can do with it, too, but the Torah gives us this example to show the importance of Hakaras HaTov (expressing appreciation) for the dogs who didn’t bark when we left Egypt.
5
TWO TYPES OF MAJORITY: To acquit someone from a capital punishment, even a one-judge majority is enough; but to make them guilty you need a two-judge majority. The Torah makes it a little easier to declare someone innocent, than to declare them guilty. They learned this in Rashi, from a contrast of the words of the verse.
“MEM” IS FOR MEZUZAH Nursery has been learning the letter “Mem” this week (see page 1) and one of their projects was a make-believe Mezuzah on a doorpost. Why the big letter “Shin” on the cover? Ah, they know the answer to that! And they also know what is inside the Mezuzah cover!
A FLASHBACK TO 2ND GRADE
This flashback appears in this week’s “Jewish MORNING World” newspaper. Below are the boys now in High School studying Talmud Bava Basra with ROUTINE Nursery has its regular Rabbi Simon. In the inset is a picture of these boys meeting with NYS Assemblyman Tim morning routine at Gordon who discussed a change in NYS Law Circle-Time, and this of adverse possession to match the Talmud in student is happily pointing out the various the laws of Chazakah. Back then, actually things they are going to before the law change, he HS boys visited the law offices of a Mr. Tabner to discuss this issue do as they go along. following a famous local lawsuit in Glenmont that closely matched what they were learning SOUP OF THE WEEK then - and again now, in Talmud Bava Basra. Even in this unseasonably warm winter (who knows how long this will last?) the kids love it! GAMES ON COMPUTERS Thank to the parents who have been coming The school has been revisiting the policy of in to prepare a different soup each week in “Nathan’s Kitchen” for the kids and students games in the computer room. This will soon to enjoy. If you haven’t yet, please sign up for a be posted and announced in all classrooms. The Computers are for educational use. week with Mrs. Wildman. Some games can be very beneficial for student learning and skills. SIX FLAGS: READ TO SUCCEED Only educational games from an approved Kids and parents: Bring in signed log of six list will be allowed. This list is being hours of non-school reading time to Morah complied by teachers and will soon be Dini if you’d like to sign up for Great Escape’s posted. No other games will be allowed at free tickets. More info at: SixFlags.com/read any time. Please respect this rule or risk The log is due at school on Tuesday 2/23. losing computer privileges. And reading is always good, the more practice Computer Room use is only allowed with the more enjoyment, the better! teacher permission and supervision.
at Maimonides and in the Community 2/5-7: NCSY REGIONAL IN ALBANY of course, the HS Girls will be selling freshly made Regional Shabbaton in Albany for grades 8-12, welcome to all the guests from around the region.
pizza pies and sushi rolls etc for eat-in or take-out.
2/5-7: SHABBOS MEVORCHIM
NYS Museum hosts this 30+ vendor annual sale. $5pp admission but kids 12 and under are free. Even w/o purchases, can experience as a museum.
This Shabbos we bless the upcoming new month of Adar I, ushering in 60-days of extra joy!
2/14: GEM & MINERAL SHOW
SHORT CLASSROOM WISHLIST dry-erase markers, computer speakers, tissue boxes, all types of balls for recess and sports, arts and crafts supplies for younger grades, board games for indoor recess, hand-soaps, earphones, a nice chest or dresser for make-believe dress-up stuff in the Nursery… THANK YOU!
2/6: TORAH365 CHAPTER 3 PARTY 2/21: NEW YORK IN BLOOM The Torah365 study schedule is now finishing chapter 3 of Pirkei Avot with a siyum party at CBAJ after Shabbos morning services.
2/6: A MILESTONE KIDDUSH The Samsons will be having a special Kiddush this Shabbos at Shomray Torah, celebrating a very special milestone. All are welcome!
2/6: RABBI REISMAN SAT @7:30 Rabbi Y. Reisman’s live Navi class from Brooklyn is screened 7:30pm at the CBAJ Media Center.
2/7: BACH LIBRARY SUNDAYS Sunday hours (1-5pm) at the Bach are in part to accommodate Sabbath observant library patrons.
2/7: WINTERFEST IN WILTON 10-2 at Wilton Wildlife Preserve (80 Scout Rd in Gansevoort), free drop-in event. $5 rental: snowshoes or cross-country skis at booth in Lot #1. (87 North Exit 15, north on Rt 50 for 5.3 miles. Left on Scout Rd. Past railroad bridge, right at Parking Lot #1). Bonfire at Scout Camp’s fire-circle.
2/7: ONE FREE BOOK PER CHILD Under age 18? Get one free used childrens book at the “Saratoga Book Warehouse” 68 Weibel Road during the first week of the month. Open 1-5pm on Sunday. Otherwise used books are $1 each. (maybe good stop after Wilton Winterfest…)
2/7: SUPERBOWL SUNDAY #HakhelHalftime is a project Shabbos House is doing for students hosting Superbowl parties. You can take a peek at some of the football messages by entering #HakhelHalftime into tagboard.com
2/9-10: ROSH CHODESH ADAR I Two days of Rosh Chodesh ushers in two months of Adar (a time for increased joy). 8am Minyan at School on Tuesday and back to Shteeble on Wed.
Annual event at NYS Museum, $5pp, kids 12 and under are free w/adult. 100+ floral exhibits.
2/21: GLOBAL HAKHEL AND LOCAL NANO TALMUD SIYUM 12pm EST at Shabbos House. Join communities around the world in a one-hour live screening of PM Bibi Netanyahu, Rabbi Lau, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Mrs. Frankel and others. At 1pm will be the Siyum luncheon and completion of Talmud tractate Megillah by the IBM Nanotech study group. All are welcome! (Please park at Dutch Lot.) See online RSVP form (so we can be best prepared) after Shabbos at www.shabboshouse.org
2/22: NEXT KIDS AFTERSCHOOL 4th grade and up. Boys and girls programs till 4:30 Stay tuned for details! Please note this corrected date.
2/25: B.T. COOKBOOK ENTRIES Send in a recipe from a grandparent or senior, along with a short background and enter to win a gift card, recipes for raffle are due by this date.
2/28: “BUSY IN BROOKLYN” AT WOMENS SPA FOR BODY & SOUL 11th year! This year’s featured speaker is Chana Apfelbaum, a popular and engaging food blogger in NYC. This event at Shabbos House (320 Fuller Rd, parking in UAlbany Dutch Gold lot) is cosponsored by Capital Chabad, area Jewish Womens groups and Jewish Federation. $20 ahead, $25 at the door. For more info or to RSVP call Leah 495-0779 or: jwc@capitalchabad.com. Event includes spa treatments and luncheon.
2/28: SHLOCK ROCK CONCERT Sponsored by a dozen area orgs, Shlock Rock will be in concert at the Albany JCC, starting at 4:30pm. Email: ShlockRockinAlbany@gmail.com
3/10: B.T. ESSAY DUE DATE
Don’t leave it until March, but the final date that Better Together essays are due is March 10th. This 2/13: PIZZA NIGHT IV There are nice card game prizes for the upcoming is for middle and high school students and there’s Parents and Children learning at Pizza Night! Plus, opportunities for very valuable prizes.
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!”