Maimonides Community

BH. Sivan

11, 5776 / June 17, 2016

Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 8:18 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 9:30 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

MAZAL TOV LEAH! Mazal Tov to Leah and the Gurock family on her Bat-Mitzvah celebration this weekend, with a Kiddush luncheon at CBAJ. Mazal Tov! Much continued Nachas!

MAZAL TOV KUDANS

‫נשא‬

This newsletter is dedicated in honor of our 8th grade and High School Graduates.

These students have contributed in many ways over the years and deeply enriched our school and greater community.

MAZAL TOV YOCHANON

MHDS alumna Nechama Dina (Kudan) and Yossi Kagan had a bris for their newborn baby on the Shabbos of Shavuos weekend in NY and named him Menachem Mendel. Mazal Tov to Bubbe and Zeide Kudan!

Last Friday, before Shavuot, was Yochanon’s first time putting on Tefillin as practice before his Bar-Mitzvah later this summer. That Shabbos there was a Kiddush at Shomray Torah in honor of this milestone, with gratitude and amazement of how much he DEALING W/ DISAPPOINTMENT learned and accomplished in a short time!

This one deserves an extra large “Maimonides Middos”. On Tuesday this week, on the day we were supposed to have the yearend trip to the newly opened “Lucky Strike Social” Morah Rochel called many of the grades to a special meeting. The much anticipated trip had to be cancelled last “TAF” IS FOR “TOF” minute due to unforeseen technical difficulties As their year of Alef-Bet learning comes to a beyond our (or Lucky Strike Social’s) control. close, Nursery students have now reached the Morah Rochel asked the students what feelings last letter Taf! Taf stands for Tof = drum, they they felt when hearing that morning that the are holding their drums with a giant letter Taf trip was cancelled. She explained that it was on its side. As Rabbi Rubin points out in his very normal to feel disappointed, but discussed recent “Even a Single Letter” discussion, the ways how people deal with disappointments, (Mishnaic) Hebrew word for letter (biblically which is a very important skill for life. And she used as a wondrous sign or miracle) is ‫אות‬ talked about “Plan B” both in terms of the “OHS” or “OHT” which stands for Alef and school’s year-end trip and as a lesson for how (or through) Taf. Like “From A-Z”. we go about expectations and plans in life.

#ALBANYJEWISHCOMMUNITY Amarit R. began promoting this hashtag for anything and everything related to Jewish communal life here, to help promote the greater Albany Jewish community. All welcome to tag online photos or posts as appropriate.

HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY This Shabbos, Sivan 12, is Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin’s 20th Hebrew wedding anniversary.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

MAZAL TOV CHAYA SHEPHERD Mazal Tov to MHDS alumna Chaya (Laber) and her husband Mendy Shepherd on their wedding this past Wednesday night in Crown Heights. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Laber and all of Chaya’s siblings on this big Simcha! For Avraham and Nechama’s parents this is the first grandchild’s wedding.

(Photo by CJ Studios, online at SimchaSpot).

YEAR-END DATES AND INFO Please be sure to check Page 4 for updates and changes to our year-end dates regarding the year-end trip (what to bring, which grades and cost), Moving-Up Day Ceremonies and the BBQ that follows at school, and the Tuesday evening graduation ceremonies for our 8th grade and High School students. >>>>

2 PIZZA SIYUMS, HERE & THERE It’s that time of year! Classes are wrapping up their learning and celebrating completions of sections of Torah study. Rabbi Shmuly and his students made their own delicious pizza at Nathan’s Kitchen at school, and Morah Rochel took her students to her home a few blocks away to make their own pizza and enjoy a little getaway with special atmosphere.

JUMPING ON PLAN B Morah Rochel spoke about be flexible and prepared for Plan B if your original Plan A fails. 3rd graders jumped right on that! Morah Dini took her 3rd grade students to her home for a quick dose of fun, enjoying their snacks in the Gordon backyard while taking turns on their trampoline.

DINNER SPREAD IN “THE JEWISH WORLD” NEWSPAPER Have you seen it? The June 9th edition of “The Jewish World” newspaper (available by subscription or at local stores like Kosher Price Chopper in Colonie) had a major two-page centerfold spread about our school dinner, it’s really something. Go get your own copy while this issue is still in stores.

THE TWISTABLE MAN POEM More of Mrs. Maher’s 3rd graders now know this Shel Silverstein poem by heart.

BIRDS-EYE SUGYOS REVIEW Rabbi Mendel prepared a one-page at-a-glance review chart of all the Gemorah Sukkah sugyos (Talmud topics) 6/7 grade boys learned this year with checkboxes identifying which concepts apply to which sugyos. And then they got blank copies of the main Gemorah tests they took this year, stapled as a group, so they could review and refresh their learning.

REGENTS, REGENTS, REGENTS This is a busy week for HS Regents testing at Maimonides. This year our High School students (depending on the grade and study track) are taking US History, English, Biology, Chemistry, Geometry, and Hebrew. We may have missed one. We wish them much success!

HOLDING IT UP HIGH

A roving TNT photographer came back with this enthusiastic shot.

We’re not sure WHAT A CAVE CAN DO TO YOU exactly what it is Several grades with Rabbi Shmuly learned the about. From the Talmud story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai books open on the (and his son) and the how learning and living table it appears to isolated in a cave (hiding from Roman be a Chumash persecution) changed his style and perspective class. Of course, we could ask Max himself, and view of the world—and they expressed all but how would you caption this photo? this in their powerpoints. Rabbi Israel Rubin says this post-cave change is reflected in Rabbi 6/7 GRADE NAVI ROUNDUP Shimon bar Yochai’s famous Pirkei Avos This year 6/7 grade with Morah Rochel teaching about the 3 Crowns and the 4th finished Shmuel I (about Shaul being the first Crown that rises above them. king, young David vs. Goliath, Saul’s jealousy and pursuit of David, Saul’s fateful death after THE FUNNY “LEVI, LEVI” SONG a Philistine battle and David’s eulogy of him) Speaking of Pirkei Avot, our students able to and they started the second book of Shmuel attend the CBAJ Torah365 Siyum on the 2nd about David’s early days as King of Israel. day of Shavuot were very happy to sing the humorous “Levi, Levi” song, they had that Have you submitted one yet?

PJ LIBRARY APPRECIATION song down pat! Thanks to Morah Dini and Ms. Ford’s first and second graders helped Morah Devorah for chaperoning and leading BETTER TOGETHER RECIPES make this appreciation poster for Amy We’re STILL looking for recipes our students them and to Morah Devorah Leah for Drucker of PJ Library who comes to school to teaching them this great song and getting can get from seniors, relatives or family show them new books and read and discuss friends. This project is starting to take shape. them so enthusiastic about it! with them stories each week. It lists their We’d love to have at least one recipe from favorite books that Amy read to them this year each school family. Please email yours to: ARE YOU MISSING MAIL? in PJ Library time. Expressing maimonidesschool@gmail.com Please ask your Hecht kids traveling up the Thruway report gratitude is “Maimonides Middos”! friends & relatives! Thanks very much! seeing a US mail truck on fire—on the road!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHANA She turned 6 on one of the very last days of school, a perfect time to celebrate with her Kindergarten friends.

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS THE INSIDE STORY TO PAGE 2’S PJ LIBRARY APPRECIATION On page 2 we put in the cover of Ms. Ford and the1st grade’s PJ Library appreciation book, but going back to first grade on Friday, we got the full picture of the inside pages (all doublesided) of the giant book they made of their favorite stories. In appreciation of Mr. Steve’s postcards, they also made him an oversized set of postcards for appreciation.

A NURSERY SONG We took this picture as they were practicing for their Moving-Up Day performance. But they aren’t wearing something special they have planned because they want it to be a surprise on Tuesday!

THE ENGLISH (ELA) FINAL 6/7 graders took an English Final in the last days of the year. It covered several of the books they read this year, with a focus on plot and character, vocabulary, multiple choice questions and an essay.

We will be recognizing and appreciating volunteers at the start of our Moving-Up Day ceremony this Tuesday at 10am. Remember that there’s a noontime BBQ that day, cost is $7pp or $25 max per family. And the 8th grade and HS graduations are that Tuesday Night, 6pm at Maimonides.

PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR Yes, the school is already actively planning for and preparing for next year! Parents, please look out for registration forms this summer.

Your timely return enables the school to be properly organized and ready for the new year, and whatever class configuration changes and exciting new (and old) projects planned for next year. Already looking forward!

VESSELS OF THE TABERNACLE

IVRIT SIYUM TRIP TO FUNPLEX Over the course of the year they completed several Ivrit (Hebrew language) workbooks, so Morah Devorah took her 2nd grade students on a fun-filled Siyum trip to FunPlex in East Greenbush. They played miniature golf, drove Go-Karts, enjoyed the giant water bumper balls and shpritzed each other on bumper boats.

Rabbi Yossi’s 7th grade Chumash class did a end of year powerpoint project about the vessels of the Mishkan (tabernacle), based on their studies of Chumash Terumah, as well as a bunch of interesting commentaries and life relevant meanings. There’s so much significance and insight to everything from the materials and measurements and design of each of these vessels. (By the way, does anyone remember the F.Y.T. booklet of Mishkan vessels that our HS girls made back in the Ohav Shalom days, more than a decade ago?)

DID YOU GET A YEARBOOK? We have extra copies of this year’s Yearbook/ Journal in the school office. In addition to bios & tribute ads for this year’s honorees it has 1 page of this year’s pictures of each class.

PIRKEI AVOS STUDENT POSTERS Pirkei Avos has been a big studying theme since Pesach, and some of our student work on specific Mishnas are posted near the main entrance and near the Computer Lab. Some of our classes did their work in Powerpoint format on the computers. We keep learning Avot all summer!

at Maimonides and in the Community 6/18: PARSHAS NASO This very long Parsha includes the laws of Nazir, Sotah and Mishkan transport, plus the seemingly repetitious offerings of the twelve tribal princes.

The Haftorah is about Samson’s birth, from the Navi texts that our 4/5 graders recently studied.

6/18: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR

Look up details online at: OneToOne.Global. It’s an intriguing and diverse list of speakers, the event seems to be related to Rebbe’s inspiration, but from a very broad and global view.

6/21: MOVING UP DAY, YEAR-END BBQ & GRADUATION NIGHT •

This week the womens Shabbos shiur will be given

by Nanette Brenner at the home of Ellen Kaplowitz, 44 Oakwood Street at 4:45pm.

•

6/19: FATHERS DAY Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads! Look for some special gifts from our younger students (it’s a surprise…) Here are a couple of local things you might want to do around town with the kids: • City of Albany’s “Dad Fest” 1-6pm in Washington Park. Free admission.

• “Cruisin’ on the Ave” 18th annual Fathers Day car show, 1-5pm on Mohawk Ave in Scotia near 147. Free for spectators.

• Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival, see online for cost info. 5:30am-4pm.

• Schenectady Greenmarket, Sundays 10-2, outside City Hall, vendors, farmers etc.

6/19: MEET THE SIMON KALLAH Meet Aharon Simon’s Kallah and wish Mazal Tov 3-5pm at the Simons home, 109 Elsmere, Delmar.

Moving Up Day: School begins with davening at 8am. The Moving-Up Ceremonies with parents, family & friends begins 10am. A year-end BBQ will follow near noontime. $25 per family, $7pp.

Graduation (HS and 8th grade) at 6pm that evening. Families & Community very welcome!

6/21: LEAP OF FAITH @ CHOPPED Airs this Tuesday night 10pm on FoodNetwork’s popular “Chopped!” program of secret ingredients, with a Kosher twist. Look for Rabbi Hanoch Hecht of Rheinbeck (parent at Maimonides)!

6/30: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE BBQ 5-8pm at the Pear Orchard Picnic Area of Thatcher Park. Cost is $10pp or $30 per family. This event will also recognize Friendship Circle volunteers and is open to the whole community. For more info/RSVP: chaya@capitalfriends.org

7/11-8/19: CAMP GAN ISRAEL

Registration is now open! A great staff is lined up, and there are exciting plans in the works for this summer. Call Camp Director Devorah Leah 6/19: FATHERS DAY BBQ AND Mathless 698-1836 for more info. The day camp is based at Maimonides, but you don’t have to go to FAREWELL TO THE LEHRFIELDS Maimonides to attend and have a really fun, CBAJ has their annual member meeting at 5pm enjoyable and meaningful time. You can sign per with a 5:45pm BBQ to follow that will also be a farewell to Rabbi Binyamin and Orit Lehrfield who week or for the whole summer season. Check out the FB page “Camp Gan Israel of Albany” or visit: are moving to Memphis TN. tinyurl.com/ganisraelalbany for registration forms.

6/20: YEAR-END TRIP TO GEYSER AT SPA STATE & STRIKE ZONE Grades 3-7 (maybe 8th, too) will be going on a yearend trip to the Geyser at the Spa State Park, with bowling and bumper-cars at Saratoga Strike Zone, both in Saratoga. We will have a caravan of minivans driving (if you can drive, please speak to Morah Rochel). Pack croc-type shoes, a towel, change of clothes, and regular lunch and snack.

Cost will be $5 per child (send some additional money—not too much-if kids want to play arcades there). Pickup is as usual at 3:30.

6/20: ONETOONE.GLOBAL

7/25: KLEZMER KOSHER FEST 5pm at the Shmaltz Brewery in Clifton Park. Stay tuned for more info.

7/25: “3 WEEKS” LUNCH & LEARN Stay tuned for a Lunch & Learn at Shabbos House on Monday, at the start of “Three Weeks” in conjunction with the visiting Jewish Summer Fellowship from Kingston.

8/8: SIYUM BBQ IN DELMAR An annual “9 Days” tradition. As Rabbi Simon says, “Stay tuned!” More info 439-8280.

A 12 hour different type of event this Monday starting 1pm (to 1am) at the New York Public Library, features 75+ speakers from all walks of life and expertise, and available for streaming online.

$1800 SCHOOL TORAH BIMA DEDICATION OPPORTUNITY One of our HS students wants to build a Bima (with guidance and assistance) for school as his final Eagle Scout project. We are pleased with this student initiative and desire to give back to school and community. If you are interested in dedicating this Bima (with an embroidered inscription on the velvet cover in honor/memory of a loved one) please contact Rabbi Rubin.

YEAR-END TRIP INFO See calendar. Here’s the main points: Who is going: Grades 3 and up. 8th grade may join depending on number of drivers.

Where are we going: The Geyser at Saratoga Spa State Park and Strike Zone in Saratoga. NOTE: The trip will cover bowling and bumper cars. If kids wish to play arcades there, they should bring some extra money for that.

How are we getting there: Parent and Teacher volunteer drivers. If you are available, please let Morah Rochel know ASAP. What to bring: regular snack and lunch, water shoes (like crocs), change of clothes (you will get wet!) and a towel, sunscreen, and a hat. Plus $5 cost per child to help cover costs.

When are we going and returning: We plan to leave approx 9am after davening on Monday and to return to school by 2:30 or latest 3pm. Pickup will be 3:30pm as usual.

Please sign the permission slip sent home today!

FATHERS DAY TORAH Rabbi Rubin published a booklet on Talmudic discussions regarding honoring parents in honor of Father’s Day, dedicated as at farewell to Rabbi & Mrs. Lehrfield and in honor of Leah Gurock’s Bat-Mitzvah this weekend. Mazal Tov and much Nachas!

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!”