BH. Iyar
ב“ה
9, 5777 / May 5, 2017
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 7:42 404 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 8:49 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
This week is the Jewish History Yartzeits of
Eli, Chofni & Pinchas From the Book of Samuel which our Middle School is learning
MAZAL TOV OHIO SIMONS Mazal Tov MHDS alumnus Rabbi Levi and Rochel Simon of Dayton OH on the birth of a baby boy. Special Mazal Tov to oldest brother Menachem, current student at Maimonides.
ANNUAL MAIMONIDES DINNER Save the date: Tuesday June 6th! It’s the week after Shavuot, one week after Memorial Day. Journal deadline is Friday before Memorial Day Weekend. This year’s honorees are Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin for twenty years of dedication. The dinner will also celebrate the Science Lab S.T.E.A.M. Center campaign and the dedication of S.T.S. Salo’s Talmud Studies at Maimonides. Look for the invite in the mail or you can use this online page for info/ads: www.maimonidesschool.org/dinner.
MAZAL TOV SAADYA K. & FAM FROM MAPS TO FLAGS
Morah Devorah’s first graders did a lot of learning about Israel, including making that beautifully decorated giant map of Israel that is MAZAL TOV PERKINS on the wall behind them, from stenciling in Mazal Tov to Chaim Ovadya and Liya the lettering, coloring the big blue sea, labeling (Mikayalov) Perkins, on the birth of a daughter the countries surrounding Israel, and more! named Tiferet Yael. Special Mazal Tov to the grandparents: Grigoriy & Nina Mikhaylov!
NEW BABY NAMES
Maishe & Malkie Backman named their newborn son Yosef Boruch for Avremi’s father, the baby’s great-grandfather. Simmy and Chaya named their newborn son Moshe (for Moshe Rubin) Gavriel (for Gaby Holzberg HYD of Mumbai Chabad) and Michel (for Yechiel Michel Piekarski).
MILLER CONDOLENCES A CANDLE AND A LETTER On Monday, grades 3+ had a short ceremony for Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s memorial day for fallen soldiers & victims of terror). Morah Rochel lit a yartzeit candle and Rabbi Mendel shared a moving letter from an IDF widow who wrote to the Lubavitcher Rebbe how to share this tragedy with their young kids. The Rebbe’s meaningful response is in handwriting at the top of her letter.
Mazal Tov MHDS alumnus Saadya & Chaya Sara Kaufmann of Houston on the birth of a son, not long after the passing of his father.
Condolences to Rebecca Miller (known to many from her work at the Federation) on the passing of her father Ed after battling ALS.
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
HEART COOKIES Middle & HS made heartshaped cookies to share with seniors in Better-Together. Rabbi Yossi learned with several classes meaningful source texts about Ahavas Yisrael including parts of Tanya chapter 32, and a Pirkei Avos insight from the Berditchiver.
NETZACH & ADRENALINE HS Girls this week learned about adrenaline both in connection with “Netazach” in their studies of the Sefirot for Sefirat HaOmer and also in their Biology science class.
SHEMA COMMENTARY In their Chumash class on Shema with Morah Leyee, HS learned many classic commentaries: Ohr HaChaim, Baal HaTurim, RambaN & RambaM, Rashi, of course, among other classics, learning multiple interpretations and angles for each phrase!
MATILDA MAZAL TOV In Jewish history class Rabbi Kelman shared with the HS Girls family stories of a uniquely special woman in his wife’s family named Matilda Mazal Tov. Sometimes the best history is not learning about general time periods or famous people, but through the lens of individuals: their interactions, struggles, accomplishments, and experiences.
FELAFEL LUNCH AND TRIVIA GAME
After a yummy lunch of Falafel with pita MATILDA THE BOOK and salad (tons of Israeli salad cut up, dressed And 4th graders are excited to have begun and served by 7/8 grade girls) students enjoyed a reading Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” this week, this “Happy Birthday Israel” cake (on left) made by group loved hearing about this clever girl’s the HS, and a game of Israel trivia led by Morah Rivi (see their hands up in the air eager to pranks and escapades and ways of dealing with answer the questions!) her situations.
HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI
THE STOCK MARKET CRASH
HS Girls are learning the history of that time Hopefully not now! This goes back to 1929, as well as discussing pros and cons for opinion almost a hundred years ago, a period 7/8 is now studying with Mrs. Ramsay. Many of the essays on whether using the atomic bomb to stock prices then were bought on margins, end WWII with Japan was the right choice there was a lot of borrowed money (based on given both the circumstances then and the long-term repercussions & history’s hindsight. more borrowed money) that people didn’t really own. The problem got far worse once people realized what’s going on, and pulled WEIGHT IN NAVI AND MATH their money out, and everything crashed. That 4th graders are learning about various weight (& other factors) began the Great Depression. measurements in math class with Mrs. Maher They learned about an economy’s ripple effect. from ounces to tons, and they also learned When money is tight, luxury items go first. So about weights this week in Navi class with those companies started to lay off people. Now Morah Rochel, when Gideon made those people didn’t have jobs anymore, so they sure to weigh all the jewelery—and mended their clothing instead of shopping for they learned each of the various new, and that affected those industries, and types of jewelry listed in those verses. the lack of money and lack of confidence is When one of the students went to California what set everything spiraling downward. for Pesach, he saw a scale that his grandfather used to measure diamonds!
LOVE AND PURSUIT OF PEACE
A TALMUD MILESTONE
In Pitgam class with Morah Raizy, 7/8 grade discussed as a class and each wrote about the difference between “loving peace” and “pursuing peace”.
Rabbi Shmuly’s 4th grade Mishna class now learned their first “amud” (side of Talmud page, 1/2 of a “Daf”)! The last question on the page: balancing effort vs payoff, at what point CHOIR & PERFORMANCE does economic result no longer justify effort Practice on Scene I is now underway in Girls extended? They’re making powerpoints for Performance with Morah Chaya Bracha. visual expression & concrete understanding.
HOW TO CELEBRATE Morah Rivi’s 7/8 Ivrit class learned a story about a poor Moroccan family in Israel who got a nice sum of money from her husband’s employer for them to buy things to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut with. The idea was to buy new clothing or good foods, but instead she decided to go out and buy a giant Israeli flag instead. When her husband came home, he asked why didn’t she buy clothing or food instead. She explained, that in Morocco they were afraid and couldn’t display their pride outdoors, but now in Israel they can and wanted to do it in the biggest way possible! Life lessons? Sometimes people’s choices are based on past life experiences, often needs are more emotionally-driven than practical or physical.
HUMAN DIGNITY Morah Rochel’s 7/8 Navi class learned in the Book of Shmuel II about a woman named Ritzpah bas Ayah who made an effort to guard the bodies of seven people who were killed to maintain their dignity and to protect the bodies from animals until they were buried. Even if she couldn’t prevent their deaths, she worked to protect human dignity, even in death. How much more so in life!
A ROADSIDE HISTORY MARKER People pass those blue historic signs all the time, but recently upon return from a nice Shabbos spent with his classmate in Rhinebeck, Jacob noticed a history sign about Peter Stuyvesant, the last director-general of the New Netherlands Dutch colony (before it became New York under the British) and got excited, because they learned about him in history class at school!
FIVE FAVORITE SHOFTIM In hoping for a High-5 Rabbi Mendel asked 5/6 for their favorite Shoftim (Judges) as they are now completing that Sefer. They had mixed feelings about Shimshon, indeed he’s a complex character; liked Ehud for his courage and decisive action (the fact that he was a lefty inspired the lefty’s in the class); respected Othniel for being the first of the Shoftim and for his knowledge; Gideon for being different than his family, not allowing his situation to define him, and for loving peace but fighting when necessary; and of course Devorah the prophetess, she stood out not only for being a woman leader in those times but also in contrast to Barak. All in all there was so much action and interesting characters in Shoftim, and they are excited to visit a Federal Courthouse next week as a Siyum!
TRIP TO USS SLATER DESTROYER ESCORT Ms. Arika Ford took her first graders on a special field trip (a reward for excellent learning) aboard the USS Slater docked on the Hudson River in downtown Albany. They got heavy helmets to try on, and climbed in and around (even down some steep ladders) the different parts of the WWII navy ship, saw its big guns and the places where sailors slept and ate, and how they navigated the ship out on the ocean.
STYROFOAM STRUCTURES This week 4th graders in Mrs. Kirkley’s Science Enrichment class tried some new ideas and techniques in building their packingpeanuts and toothpick structures. This one by Meir comes to a peak and has an antenna coming off the top of it. Yes, it’s fun—but there’s science behind it!
TEACHER APPRECIATION Many thanks to Mrs. Chani Simon for bringing in platters of fruit and cake to the school office as teacher appreciation! Very thoughtful!
ENCATADO: PINK DOLPHINS 4th graders read a story in their reader about Pink River Dolphins of the Amazon. They are exceptionally flexible, with unusual coloring, and make noises with their mouths.
FOSSIL MAKING BAKED… AND DELIVERED! The heart cookies were just baked in school by 7/8 and HS yesterday (see page 1) and personally delivered this morning by 5/6 graders to seniors with warm wishes for Shabbat!
AT THE BACH
Mrs. Maher’s students used natural stuff they found outside (twigs, branches) set in Plaster of Paris to create their own fossil imprints. Some worked great the first time, others did not, but that did not stop Mrs. Maher, who was happy to repeat the project, especially since there’s much to be learned from examining the method and trying it again learning from one’s mistakes.
2nd graders enjoyed their trip to the Bach Library on New Scotland Ave. STUMBLING BLOCK These kids This week’s Parsha says “Don’t put a also love the stumbling block before the blind” and Esty Library in Navi they learned about Gideon’s Ephod at school, that became a stumbling block for the Jews. great readers!
at Maimonides and in the Community 5/5-6: GIRLS SHABBATON IN VT
5/14: LAG B’OMER PARADE IN NYC
Mrs. Levin and Chabad of Burlington are hosting and arranging an exciting Shabbaton for our 7/8 girls up there this weekend, for a great getaway bonding experience.
There’s a group from Albany going to Great Parade in NY (last year on Sunday for a very long time). You can sign up online www.TheGreatParade.com go to “Grab a Seat” click on Maimonides to sit with the Albany group. $6pp include t-shirt, concert etc.
5/6: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR 4:45pm on Shabbos afternoon, this week given by Dini Gordon at her home 29 Glenwood (first floor) just behind Maimonides.
5/14: THE TULIP FESTIVAL
5/7: WOODS AND WATERS
5/14: AND ITS MOTHERS DAY, TOO
Annual major festival on Mothers Day Weekend (Saturday and) Sunday in Washington Park.
Spring festival at Mabee Farm exploring plants and Mothers Day & Lag B’Omer are same day this year. animals, streams and ponds, and how they all tie together. 11am-3pm at Mabee Farm, 1080 Main 5/25: ALEF-BAIS PARTY Street, Rotterdam Junction NY. Free. Nature walks, Kindergarten is celebrating! Thursday, May 25th. Kayak demos, Birds of Prey, tours of historic Mabee House etc. More info? Call 877-5073 or email: 5/29-6/2: MEMORIAL DAY WKND & curator@schenectadyhistorical.org.
SHAVUOT SCHOOL SCHEDULE
5/7: DAY @ TEN BROECK MANSION A Living History Day at the historic mansion with tours, pony rides, petting zoo and reenactors, demos of spinning & weaving. Free. Visit: www.tenbroeckmansion.org for more info.
5/7: HEALTH FAIR AT THE JCC 10:30am-2:30pm at the JCC, health screenings etc.
5/10: PESACH SHEINI The biblical holiday of Second Chances, one month after the first day of Pesach. Look for Matzah and spreads as a special treat at school for this day. It means Lag B’Omer is coming up fast!
5/11: SIYUM IN A COURTHOUSE 5/6 graders are going on a field trip to a Federal Courthouse downtown to celebrate their Navi Siyum of the Book of Shoftim (Judges).
5/14: LAG B’OMER BRUNCH BBQ 11am-1pm at Clifton Park Chabad, 495 Moe Rd. Live music, bounce house, BBQ and firepit. Call 495-0772/9 for more info.
5/29: Memorial Day Monday—No School 5/30: Erev Shavuot (Tuesday) No School 5/31-6/1: Shavuot Holiday—No School 6/2: Friday, School resumes 9:30am
6/11: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE WALK 10am-12pm in Tawasentha Park, Guilderland. More info: tinyurl.com/Walk4Friends
6/4: C.P. JWC GALA & AUCTION Clifton Park Jewish Womens Circle’s 9th annual Gala & Auction features Tamar Helfen guitarist &percussionist. RSVP $18 before 5/25, $25 after. 4950779/JWC@cliftonparkchabad.com Program includes buffet, silent auction, drum circle, etc.
6/4: ISRAEL PARADE NYC Federation buses leave 7:30am for $25pp. Parade in New York City, is 57th to 74th St. on Fifth Ave. Buses return 8pm. Participants must be able to walk entire parade route, adult must accompany children. RSVP by 5/17: 783-7800 mgalinkin@jewishfedny.org or jewishfedny.org/events/ israelparade2017.
6/6: MAIMONIDES DINNER 5/14: LAG B’OMER AT HUCK FINNS This year’s Dr. Berger Memorial Award The Lag B’Omer JEWNITY communal fun day back again this year at Huck Finn’s Playland! 1:304:30pm, reduced rate of $8 per child all-you-canride (an amazing deal!) by prior RSVP to: www.CapitalChabad.com/Jewnity or call 518-4393310. There will be a children’s rally and Kosher snacks. This event is co-sponsored by Capital Chabad, the Jewish Federation, PJ Library (hosting a StoryStroll) Maimonides, and Hebrew Academy.
will be presented to Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin for 20 years of dedication to Maimonides and Shabbos House. Recognition will be made of this year’s Better Together III, a celebration of the Science Lab/STEAM Center campaign and a memorial dedication at school for Salo Steper, obm. See invitation in the mail or use this page online: www.maimonidesschool.org/dinner
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!”
THINKING SUMMER? Think Gan Israel Day Camp!