BH. WED Kislev
13, 5776 / Nov 25, 2015
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 4:06 (!) 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 5:10 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
This newsletter is dedicated in honor of
Ephraim Leibel
the newborn recently named son of Morah Stephanie and Ben Zaientz by their Albany friends
SHORT WEEK NEWSLETTER Thanks to Thanksgiving, we have a shortened school week, ending Wednesday at 11:30am, with no classes aside for one, doing any TNT reporting until next time. Stay tuned for more student reporting & photos in the next “MC”.
ALBANY IN NEW HYDE PARK Last Friday two UAlbany and Shabbos House alumni, Ben & (Morah) Stephanie (formerly of Maimonides Nursery) celebrated the Bris of their son Ephraim Leibel at their Shul, the Young Israel of New Hyde Park, where Rabbi Eliyahu Teitelman is the Rabbi! This picture at the Bris has three families (Teitelman, Rubin and Zaientz) all who lived or live in Albany.
CHANUKAH SPIRIT AT SCHOOL
ISRAEL ALBANY REGARDS Gail Phaff (L) and Ethel Silverstein (R) both originally from Albany, but living in Israel for many years now with their families, came to see Morah Rochel at a family wedding during her trip to Israel last week.
This bulletin board is just one sign (pun intended) of the Chanukah spirit at school. Our students are learning about the holiday, and preparing plays and skits to be performed on the Thursday of Chanukah, December 10.
KEEP OUR LIGHTS SHINING
That’s the theme of this year’s Raffle-Auction event on the very last day and lingering last KIDS! EARN FREE TICKETS! moments of Chanukah. The booklet with the Kids can earn free Raffle-Auction prize packages and order form is now arriving tickets by selling tickets to family, in the mail to area homes. If you didn’t get a friends & neighbors. Be sure they booklet, call the school office (518) 453-9363 write your name on the “Sold By” RABBI SAM SHOR’S CLASS line on the order form. For each $50 in tickets or stop by during schools hours to pick yours Speaking of Rabbis and families hailing from up. You can also order tickets online using this Albany, Rabbi Sam Shor (in Israel, working for you sell you get a free $5 ticket, for each $100 link: www.maimonidesschool.org/auction in tickets you get $15 in free tickets, and for Israelight, Kemach Institute and Orayta, as well as the Shir Hadash synagogue), he was in $150 sold you get $25 in free tickets! You can ISRAEL IS ON OUR MIND... town visiting his mother and family in Albany claim your free tickets from Mrs. Backman in Older students followed #EzraSchwartz’s story when Rabbi Rubin asked him to give a class to the office on Wed & Thurs of Chanukah. our HS Boys. He taught them a timely class on MAIMONIDES Pirsumei Nissa (publicizing the miracle) aspect of the Chanukah Lights, from viewpoints of 404 Partridge Street Rabbi JB Solveitchik & Rabbi Gedalia Schorr. Albany NY 12208
#SHARETHELIGHTS HASHTAG Speaking of Pirsumei Nissa, which Rabbi Sam discussed with our boys, a hashtag is one way to publicize the Chanukah lights, all across the internet. Post your Menorah pictures online using the hashtag: #sharethelights
DBQ: WESTWARD EXPANSION The HS Boys did a DBQ (document based questions) essay on the US governments policies during the 19th century westward expansion and the effect of these policies.
ANNUAL CHANUKAH DINNER Every year the Kochmans outdo themselves preparing a themed-Chanukah dinner, with exotic and interesting flavors and tastes from around the world. Stay tuned for what’s in store this Chanukah! The school’s Chanukah Dinner, as always, will be together with the Raffle-Auction event, this year on Monday, December 12th, 5-7pm. Dinner cost is $7pp or $25 max per family.
NATURAL DISASTERS Ms. Ford’s 2nd graders are learning about natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes. Here they are creating a vortex inside these two bottles to simulate a tornado. The kids got so interested in the subject that two of them got out more books about it from the public library.
COAL MINERS & PEARL DIVERS The High School boys painted this banner at their Monday night Shabbos House sleepover after learning a dual-parable about two ways (each with their reasons and methods) to “Go Deep!” They will be sharing this with Monthly Mishmar Boys this coming Monday, and presenting at the communal Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen that night. Boys in grades 3+: If you have props or costumes that can be used for coal mining (flashlights, hard hats, toy shovels or toy axes) or pearl diving (towels, goggles, toy snorkeling equipment etc), please bring it on Monday!!
WAFFLES & ICE-CREAM SIYUM 3rd graders enjoyed a deliciously refreshing waffles & ice-cream Siyum with Rabbi Shmuly after finishing a chapter of Mishna Rosh Hashanah. They made the yummy hot waffles from scratch in “Nathan’s Kitchen”!
UNEXPECTED PROPHECY
Really, the Rambam lists a series of ideal This coming Monday 3:30pm until the Pidyon conditions for a person to receive prophecy, but HS Boys with Rabbi Simon learned an HaBen (and later farbrengen) begins, the HS interesting Gemorah about some of the Girls will be doing a program for girls in grades 4 and up. Suggested $3 covers supplies. unexpected people you might hear some form of prophecy from, including kids!
GIRLS AFTERSCHOOL ON MON
CHANUKAH PLAYS ON THURS Thursday morning, December 10th will be our school Chanukah performances. Our various classes are planning, preparing and rehearsing their lines. Parents & friends are welcome! There is no school on Friday of Chanukah to allow for an extended Chanukah weekend off.
RAVINA VS. RUNYA Rabbi Rubin’s Bava Basra Talmud class is now learning about a cost of fencing dispute between Ravina and his neighbor Runya. Then they learned about the Bar-Metzra neighbor law. Property law, zoning law, neighbors and privacy are big subjects.
THE PROCESS OF LEARNING This 2nd grade chart is great because it shows the process of learning. The first column is “What I Know”, the 2nd column is “What I Want to Learn” and the 3rd, still empty because they are in middle of learning about natural disasters is: “What I Have Learned.”
#LEARNFOREZRA Our HS is joining an effort based out of YU’s Azrieli school of education for Jewish High Schools around the country to each complete a tractate of Mishna in Ezra Yechiel Schwartz’s memory. Our HS will be learning the four chapters of Mishnayos Challah.
at Maimonides and in the Community
CITIES, ROADS & BUILDINGS
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Morah Rivi’s 4/5 students built these houses and roads out of paper & cardboard and labeled their components with Hebrew tags.
12/20: JERUSALEM OF LEGO
INSIDE TEFILLIN
Displays and Drawings on Monday, the very end of Chanukah, December 14th, 5-7pm at Maimonides The Kochmans are once-gain preparing a delicious and festive themed-Chanukah Dinner . Cost $7pp/$25 family
Rabbi Mathless has a special once-a-week class with 6/7 grade boys preparing for Bar-Mitzvah. This past week he showed them the insides of Tefillin boxes, how Rashi and Rabbeynu Tam differ in their order of the scrolls, they even got to roll out the length of a Tefillin scroll.
Using 60,000 Lego blocks, Steven Schwartz AIA will lead area students in grades 3-6 in building a Jerusalem recreation. Our students are invited to attend as well. Program begins at Beth Emeth on Academy Road, promptly at 9:45am.
12/24-27: JEWISH GIRLS RETREAT The winter session! Contact Nechama Laber for details on this overnight short but richly filled camp experience with energy and warmth even in the dead of winter…
12/28-31: HALF-DAYS AT MHDS On the half days at school during the last week of December, plans are in the works for an especially exciting and meaningful time. A oneday Camp Gan Israel Winter Camp is being planned...Our annual Breishis carnival will be a half-day that week as well.
12/30: ONE-DAY “TEAM-UP” CAMP Camp Gan Israel and the Friendship Circle are teaming up for a one-day “Team-Up” winter camp, open for children ages 3-10 of all ability levels, joining together in friendship and fun! Contact Friendship Circle Director Chaya 4888992 or CGI Director Devorah Leah 698-1836.
2/28: SPA FOR BODY & SOUL The 11th year! Stay tuned for info. Save the date!
TORAH365 This coming week, “Torah365” is now studying Mishnas 9-11 in Chapter 2 of Pirkei Avot. See cbaj.org/Torah365 for study questions on each Mishna, sample commentary, events and info.
Here are questions & tips from Rabbi Rubin’s Pirkei Avot commentary: In this week’s Mishnas 2:9-11, we learn about Rabbi Yochanon ben Zakkai’s 5 star students, how he praised them & what they each taught: “Rabbi Joshua (is praised as) his mother’s delight!” Isn’t every child their mother’s delight? Why not his father’s? And what does this tell us about Rabbi Joshua himself? When introducing the teachings of Rabbi Yochanon ben Zakkai’s 5 star students, the Mishna clearly states: “They each said three things:” and indeed, each of them do. Aside for Rabbi Eliezer who says 5 things, and his 5 things are listed just after the Mishna says that each will say 3!
at Maimonides and in the Community
MOTTI’S MOBILE MENORAH
11/25-29: THANKSGIVING @MHDS
12/4: FREE FRIDAY SKATING E.S.P.
11/25: Wednesday half-day Hebrew only. 11/26-27: Thurs & Friday, no school. 11/30: Classes resume 8am on Monday
Free skating at Empire State Plaza, rentals $4 adults, $3 kids, skate rentals are free on Fridays.
Have Chanukah, will travel! See it lead the Car Parade on Wed, and all around town!
12/9: CHANUKAH AT THE GALLERY
Several runs and a walk, early Thanksgiving morning. See www.TroyTurkeyTroy.com for info.
Young professionals join Chabad of University Heights and Bethlehem Chabad for a Chanukah Raffle-Auction tickets submitted by this date, earn a night out starting 7pm at Albany Center Gallery on free $10 ticket. That’s about 10 days from this Columbia Street downtown. newsletter to get your tickets in!!
11/26: THANKSGIVING FEAST
12/4: “SHABBAT 360” UALBANY
All full-course Thanksgiving feast with trimmings served at Saratoga Chabad at 4pm on Thanksgiving Day. Call 526-0773 for RSVP and for cost information. Being that it is also the 14th of Kislev, the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s wedding anniversary, there will be added farbrengen spirit.
12/6: FOUR CORNERS MENORAH
11/26: TROY TURKEY TROT
11/27: FREE ALBANY INSTITUTE Free admission for Friday of Thanksgiving Wknd, 10am-5pm at the Albany Institute of History and Art. Classic paintings and sculpture, Egyptian mummies and a local history “50 Objects” display.
11/28: RAMBAM VS. RAAVAD One of the most famous Rabbinic rivalries is between the Rambam and the Raavad. Rabbi Rubin will address one of their debates this Shabbos, regarding the status of the Maariv prayer, quoting Rav Chaim HaLevi Brisker, and a Rabbi Mendel Cohen from Sacramento, California.
11/28: SHABBOS VISITORS It’s still tentative, but a well-regarded Monsey Yeshiva High School may be visiting Shomray Torah this Shabbos.
11/28: RABBI REISMAN @7:30 Now that Saturday Nights are earlier, Rabbi Y. Reisman’s Navi class from Brooklyn will be screened 7:30pm at the CBAJ Media Center.
11/30: BOYS/GIRLS AFTERSCHOOL From 3:30 until the Pidyon HaBen (see below) starts. $3 for girls program supplies. Boys in grades 3+: bring coal-mining or pearl-diving props or gear.
11/30: PIDYON HABEN AND THE YUD-TES KISLEV FARBRENGEN “Padah B’Shalom” and a Pidyon HaBen! The Pidyon HaBen for Simmy & Chaya’s baby Mendel will be, G-d willing, 4pm at Maimonides, followed by Mincha and Maariv, and then the Seudah along with the communal Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen. Look for the boys banner on Coal-Mining and Pearl-Dining & the Chassidic connection!
12/4: EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
12/10: MHDS CHANUKAH PLAYS
Chanukah plays by class will be performed on A joint effort to have a mega Shabbat dinner in the Thursday morning, parents and friends welcome! UAlbany Campus Center Ballroom. Area college students are welcome to join! www.facebook.com/ 12/11: NO SCHOOL AT MHDS Shabbat360 Participant Signups are appreciated! An off-Friday for extended Chanukah Wknd break. Outdoor Menorah lighting 3:30pm at Delmar’s Four Corners, followed by Chanukah Around the World Extravaganza. Contact Bethlehem Chabad.
12/6: MENORAH OF WARMTH This year Chabad of Clifton Park is making a big Menorah of donated gloves and scarves to be later given to those in need. 4pm at Boscov’s in Clifton Park Center Mall, with Chanukah celebration.
12/6: JGU ONLINE CHANUKAH At 2om, join with Jewish girls from all over, in a virtual celebration: www.JewishGirlsUnite.com.
12/6: MONUMENT SQ MENORAH 4:30pm at Monument Square in Troy for a Menorah Lighting with the Mayor. Plus Chanukah table at Monument Square Dec 7th thru 10th.
12/7: GREENBUSH CHANUKAH 4:30pm at the East Greenbush Library, with Menorah lighting and Chanukah party. Contact the Labers 833-0704 for more info.
12/7: CHANUKAH BOWL
12/11-12: CBAJ ACAPELLA SHABBAT Limited seating for Friday Night dinner & concert, RSVP at cbaj.org. Singing will continue on Shabbat day as well during prayers, lunch & learn and the Seudah Shlishit.
12/12-13: DAF YOMI SIYUM The Daf Yomi study group is completing tractate Sotah and will be celebrating with a Shabbos Siyum at CBAJ and a Sunday Breakfast with more of the Shanghai documentary at Shomray Torah.
12/13: CHANUKAH TO LIFE 1-5pm with food and activities at the Troy Atrium. More info? Call R’ Leibel and Elisheva: 274-5572.
12/13: JCC & T.I. CHANUKAH 5-8pm at the Albany SAAJCC. Max per family $36. Kids 5-12: $6, Adults: $10pp. RSVP by Dec 7th. Additional $2 fee at door. Hosted by Temple Israel and the JCC. RSVP: 438-7858x112.
12/13: CHANUKAH ON ICE 5-7pm at Bethlehem YMCA, 900 Delaware Ave. For more info call Rabbi Simon 439-8280.
Saratoga Chabad hosts Chanukah at The Strike Zone, a popular bowling alley with lots of arcade games, bumper cars & more. $10pp includes dairy dinner, latkes, games and activities.
12/13: FRIENDSHIP CIR CHANUKA
12/7: ON-CAMPUS MENORAH
and Chanukah Dinner, at the very last moments of the 8th day of Chanukah, Monday 5-7pm. Save the date! There are some exciting new prizes this year! Booklets and order forms are being mailed this week. Online link at: www.maimonidesschool.org/ auction now online and ready to use!
8:30pm Menorah Lighting at UAlbany. See www.shabboshouse.org for updates and additional Shabbos House & UAlbany Chanukah events.
12/9: CHANUKAH CAR PARADE! Plan is to leave Maimonides at 3pm (early dismissal, there will be supervision till 3:30 for those not on parade). Parade route TBA!
1-3:30pm at Afrim’s Sports, 636 Albany-Shaker Rd.
12/14: MHDS RAFFLE-AUCTION
UPCOMING EVENTS LISTING CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...
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!”