Maimonides Community

BH. Shvat

7, 5777 / Feb 3, 2017

‫ב“ה‬

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 4:54 404 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 5:57 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

This newsletter is dedicated in memory of

Isaac Rosenblum of Cohoes, Yartzeit this Shabbos ONLY THRU FEBRUARY! The national donor match opportunity for our science center expires at the end of this February. We are now over 50% (!!) in donations and pledges towards $150K match.

The matching foundation will accept both donations and pledges towards the match.

Please speak to Rabbi Rubin 423-4103, everyone’s contribution really matters.

CHUMASH SIYUM HS GIRLS ADIRONDACKS TRIP Thanks to Ted & Susannah Levin driving them up north and chaperoning this adventure, thanks to Rabbi Yaakov & Lisa Kellman for hosting and arranging. They snowshoed across a frozen lake (part of it was during a snow-squall), walked through a path in the woods, slid down a snow-covered hill, and enjoyed relaxing all bundled up in Adirondack chairs where the lake’s beach used to be but is now covered with snow. And CONNECTION MAKES IT WORK special thanks to Pizza Night for two reasons: But how its connected, and what is connected, Pizza Night proceeds covered the expenses of the sequence and parts all matter! That’s what the trip and they had yummy leftover pizza pies these students in Science-Enrichment are warmed up for lunch in the Kellman’s cabin. learning with Mrs. Kirkley using snap-circuits, electric Lego, wheeled robots and other makeMAIMONIDES it-work engineering fun.

404 Partridge Street

REFUAH SHLAYMA Keep Shlomo Yaakov ben Henna Chaya in your prayers for a speedy & complete recovery.

MAZAL TOV CARAS FAMILY On celebrating the upshernish of their son Yossi during Thursdays lunchtime at Maimonides. Much Nachas! See pictures inside on page 3. >>

Albany NY 12208

4th grade enjoyed a special Toldot Siyum (they called it a Seder because of the table setup) at Rabbi Mathless’ home, with a fun stump-the -Rabbi session and yummy nosh.

DEDICATE DAY OF LEARNING The Gurocks are dedicating a day of learning at school this coming Monday in memory of grandparents Morris and Jean Bresel, from Kansas City and Omaha, who raised a family in Omaha. They were hardworking, passionate about religion, valued family and spent their later years traveling the world. To sponsor a day, call Rabbi Rubin 423-4103.

SCIENCE REVIEW BINGO Mrs. Maher did a bingo game with her 4th graders as they reviewed a unit of science before a test. It’s fun to review that way!

HASHEM’S GARDEN PLEASE KEEP SICK KIDS HOME Somehow these few weeks have been a rough patch for kids, who’ve been coming down with viruses, flu, strep—and missing a lot of school days. Please keep kids home if they are running a fever or exhibiting symptoms, and doctors recommend to stay home for 24 hours GREAT EXPRESSIONS! afterward so the illness can clear and not pass A roving student TNT photographer caught on to others. Hope everyone stays well! this shot during free-play in Nursery. We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we loved the expressions on their faces!

NEW STICKER

CHART GOAL Simmy is standing next to the 3rd grade classroom’s new sticker chart. Last time they earned stickers for cooperation and helpfulness to each other, this time Mrs. Kirkley has new criteria for them to earn stickers by. Stay tuned for what it will be!

What would you consider worthy enough to be Hashem’s Garden? Kids thought of Gan Eden, Jerusalem or the Beit HaMikdash, but then learned a surprisingly local new insight!

SHTENDER -MAKING Rabbi Shmuly and 5/6 grade boys did a wood -working shop to build a “Shtender” Chazzan stand for their davening classroom. They learned a lot about precise measurement, cutting properly and also about the process of finishing the wood.

TREE TERMS Tu Bishvat will be next Shabbos, so Kindergarteners are learning the Hebrew words for all the different parts of the tree, and things growing around it from: Eitz = tree, Eisav = grass, Anaf = branches, Aleh = leaf, etc.

HAPPY, ACTIVE LEARNERS

START ON RESEARCH PAPERS

SOMETIMES NOT JUST THAT

Mrs. Crawford assigned her High School students their first-ever research papers on topics on topics of their choice. Here are some of the topics they are working on: Pros and Cons of Uniforms, How Internet and Social Media affects the Music Industry, Should Tablet Computers be a primary way that Kids Learn?... They need to find at least 3 source texts, they’re learning how to cite, and how to discern between more objective or more subjective source materials.

Here’s another photo a roving student TNT photographer took, we don’t know the details, but these students in Ms. Ford’s class are enjoying their learning, that’s for sure !

WHY THE RED PAINT ON DOOR Morah Dini wrapped big sheets of paper on their classroom doorposts, and Kindergartners painted them red. Why red on the doorpost?

It’s in this week’s Parsha, from the last night of the Jews in Egypt before the Exodus.

We had a few incidents this week at school where students were “just kidding” but it turned out to be (unintentionally) disrespectful or hurtful to others. While it’s good to keep a healthy sense of humor, it’s also important to remember that it should be with sensitivity and respect.

A REVIYIS MEASUREMENT

In the same week, 4th graders learned in Yahadus class about a Reviyis (about 4 ounces) minimum needed for Netilat Yadayim and the same Reviyis measurement came up in Mishna class about taking, tilting or picking up to take at least a Reviyis measurement of a ANCIENT CHINESE DYNASTIES liquid (like wine or oil) that you’re HS Girls with Mrs. Ramsay are learning about entrusted to watch for someone old Chinese history in Global History social else. studies class: Shang, Zhou, & Qin dynasties.

NOT ENOUGH SNOW? That didn’t keep the students from working together to build not one but two! snowmen outdoors during recess-time this week. Great life lesson about making the most of limited resources and being happy with what you have, and the value of teamwork, gathering little by little to reach your goal!

THE CARAS UPSHERNISH AT SCHOOL The lunchtime Upshern was beautiful at school yesterday. The Caras family prepared delicious goodies (from Tzitzit rice-crispy treats to cut fruit in cups and fancy hot drinks) and goodie-bags for the youngest grades. Little Yossi was so well-behaved and easy going! The best part was an adorable video “Is it my Upshernish yet?” with actors Caras siblings Chaya and Yossi playing themselves—everyone enjoyed watching that very much. The first snip was by MHDS alumnus Moishe Kudan (Kohen), 2nd snip by MHDS alumnus Eli Levin (Levi) 3rd snip by Rabbi Rubin (Yisrael) and then by the grandparents and many who had a turn.. Mazal Tov, Mazal Tov! It was beautiful to have such a Simcha at school!

CHUMASH-GUM CONNECTION

THE NEW HOOLA-HOOPS!

Morah Mushky gave her 3rd graders a treat of gum for recent sticky notes they accumulated for nice Pesukim reading, but first they had to think of connections between gum and Chumash.

They had some very good ideas:  Chumash stays with you for a long time, like gum: you don’t just swallow it, you keep chewing it.  Gum can be very sticky (people who leave it around know that!) and hopefully the Chumash we learn sticks to us!  Gum comes in many colors, shapes and flavors. So, too, the pesukim of Chumash, they are not all the same.  Gum gets softer and easier to chew with time, as does learning Chumash, the more we learn and review, the easier it gets.

Student are very appreciative of the new hoolahoops. They’re a lot of fun both inside and outside and kids found multiple fun ways to use them in addition of course to the way they’re designed.

Elimination has been an indoor recess game of choice in recent weeks, especially with the cold, rain and snow.

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STAY FOCUSED: Sometimes you’ll get out even when you are focused, but the easiest way to get out is when you are not alert or focused—and same is with study, we do best when we are focused and alert.

Sometimes if you space out for just one minute that makes all the difference.

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TEAMING UP: Not everyone is a fan of pairs or teams in elimination but a lot of kids think it brings a lot more fun to the game. It also can help an average player leverage their strengths with the help of a better player. This may or may not be true with elimination but certainly with study we gain by learning together with others, and the Chavrusa-style is an long-lasting traditional way of study in Yeshivot.

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IN AND OUT: You don’t stay out of the game for long, because you jump right back into the game when the person who got you out gets out, and that will happen sooner or later. The game keeps changing that way, with the dynamics of play switching as players leave and enter the game all the time. There’s a bunch of lessons here about group dynamics, and how we should always feel that any moment we can get back into the game!

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HOW MUCH FORCE: You don’t want to throw it too hard so that it will break someone’s glasses or get them hurt or make a dent in the wall, of course—but you can’t throw too weakly because you won’t get anyone out that way, and you’re far more likely to get out yourself. That balance of gentle force is hard to figure out sometimes, both in sports as well as in life.

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RULES ARE IMPORTANT: There different ways to play, sometimes they play with team-up, sometimes they don’t, the ball can’t be thrown too high, or too hard.. but no matter the rule, or which version is played its important that everyone play by the rules. If some people don’t play by the rules it can ruin the game for everyone.

VINEGARY EXPERIMENT 5/6 did a smelly science experiment yesterday, they’ll report on it for next week’ MC.

MORE KINDERGARTEN PARSHA Can you guess the Parsha Bo connection in this picture? They love hands-on Parsha!

READER RESPONSE Ms. Ford’s second graders are working on a sheet of “Critical Thinking” questions after reading the story “Anasi Goes Fishing”. It takes reading comprehension (and story/ character appreciation) to a new level.

ELIMINATION LESSONS

CHONI THE CIRCLE DRAWER In Girsoh class with Rabbi Rubin they’re learning Choni’s story in meseches Taanis. In this book they found his tombstone in Israel.

at Maimonides and in the Community 2/4: SHABBOS PARSHAS BO

2/6: VIDEO FARBRENGEN @ CARAS 2/20: NATIONAL FREE PARK DAY

 @CBAJ: Rabbi Roy Feldman to speak “On

8pm at the Caras home, if you’d like to join in watching a video of a farbrengen with the Rebbe for Yud-Shvat.

Mindfulness” and Atara Siegel at Kiddush Konversations on the “Bouba-Kiki Effect and the Development of Language” in connection with Torah365 now at Tower of Babel.  @ShomrayTorah: Rabbi Rubin will summarize and tie-together recent learning about the Tanna R’ Yehuda bar Il’ayee and his myrtle-dancing, and by the after-Musaf Kiddush/Farbrengen share a personal letter the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (1880-1950) sent his wife after a visit to an American Jewish community.

All US National Parks have free admission this Presidents Day. This includes the nearby home and presidential library of FDR in Hyde Park, and Martin Van Buren’s Lindenwald in Kinderhook.

2/8-9: YARTZEIT MINYANS

2/16-20: FEBRUARY BREAK WKND Wednesday night 8pm late Maariv Minyan at Shomray Torah and 12:30pm early Mincha Minyan As on the original school calendar, there will be no at Maimonides to say Kaddish for Yartzeit. Thanks! school Thursday 2/16 thru Monday Feb 20th.

School resumes Tuesday, the 21st at 8am. Enjoy 2/13: TU BISHVAT MELAVAMALKA the break!

Sat Night at Maimonides. Fruit and song themed.

2/24: FED CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS Open to all.

Federation (overnight) Camp Scholarships are due 2/5: TWO USED BOOK SALES 2/12: MEGA KIDS CHALLAH BAKE by this date, forms available from Federation or  Schenectady County Libraries Used Book Sale, from the school office.

Exciting hands-on Mega Challah Bake experience 1-4pm at 99 Clinton Street in Schenectady. All for kids ages 5-13. Sunday, 2:30-4:30 at the Albany books are $1.

JCC. Children should be accompanied by an adult. 3/3: SHABBAT360  Sunday is last day of 3-day book sale at the There’s no Charge, but please RSVP by Tuesday, The date has been back and forth due to a venue Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Fill a bag for $1.

February 7th at www.CapitalKidsChallahBake.com issue. Hopefully it will be on March 3rd. Second 12-3pm at 475 Moe Road in Clifton Park. or 439-3310 or Chanie@CapitalChabad.com. This year of a unity Shabbos of all Jewish groups on the community-wide event is co-sponsored by the UAlbany campus, other area college students very 2/5: EMPIRE ST WINTER GAMES Jewish Federation and PJ Library, CBAJ, Hebrew welcome. Stay tuned for confirmation and details.

If you’re up to a trip to the Adirondacks, there are Academy and Maimonides and area Capital a bunch of competitive winter sports being played Chabad Centers. Sign up, don’t miss it!

3/24-25: REGIONAL SHABBATON at a bunch of different venues. Sunday is the last Chabad on Campus Regional Shabbaton to be day of the 3-day competition. Check it all out at: 2/12: TIMES-UNION HOME EXPO hosted at Shabbos House. See more soon at: ESWgames.com you might see some winter sports 3-day Home Expo with vendors and displays ends www.shabboshouse.org you have never even heard of, and get to see some this Sunday. Look up for costs or more details. north country venues you have never seen before.

Also of note: UALBANY KOSHER DINING 2/12: JNF TU BISHVAT PROGRAM 2/5-12: SARANAC LAKE WINTER 9:30-11:30am at Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf Rd. Tu UAlbany Kosher Dining at Indian Quad under CARNIVAL OF EVENTS Vaad HaKashruth and open to community: See B’Shevat seder, Israel trivia games, learn about Also up in the Adirondacks, you might want to online: ualbanydining.com/dining-choices/kosherJNF. The new film “Mekonen: Journey of an check out the Ice Castle on the shores of Lake kitchen.html African Jew,” will be shown. Register by 2/7 at: Flower, and all kinds of events, shows & activities. jnf.org/albanytbs or call JNF at 800-JNF-0099 x812. FREE SKIING 3RD & 4TH GRADE See: www.SaranacLakeWinterCarnival.com for Kids in 3rd and 4th grade can get free (aside for schedule and details. processing fee) skiing with a paying adult at 2/13: TU BISHVAT BREAKFAST participating NYS Ski Resorts, including nearby ski Tu Bishvat falls on Shabbos this year, but we will areas. Look up the Learn to Ski and Kids Ski Free 2/5: AN AMERICAN TAIL still have the annual eagerly-anticipated Tu Bishvat This animated cartoon parable of mice escaping the breakfast on the Monday following. cats in Russia to an America that supposedly had no cats (with many parallels to Jewish immigration) 2/15: AIPAC: ISRAEL & MID-EAST showing at Madison Theater—35 cent matinee.

7 pm, local synagogues join to hear Jonathan Kessler, AIPAC Director of Strategic Initiatives, at 2/5: WILTON PARK WINTERFEST Beth Emeth. RSVP to AIPAC Upstate New York’s $5 snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals, bonfire Jordana Samot atjsamot@aipac.org/646-360-1532. at the old Scout Camp and more. 10am-2pm, 80 Scout Road, Gansevoort.

2/19: GEM & MINERAL SHOW 2/5: YUD SHVAT FARBRENGEN 5pm Mincha/Maariv at Shomray Torah, 5:45pm farbrengen—all welcome! Speak to Michael Caras if you’d like to help out in any way.

Annual event with vendors, craftsmen & experts on the 4th floor of the NYS Museum. Admission is $5 (cash only) per adult, kids 12 and under are free.

There’s also a kid-friendly 12-3pm Gem, Fossil and Mineral Fair for kids downstairs in the museum.

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!”