BH. Elul
24, 5777 / Sept 15, 2017
ב“ה
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 6:47 404 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 7:45 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
MAZAL TOV GALPERINS Raizy Rubin’s youngest sister Sara is engaged to Mendel Perlstein of Chicago. Mazal Tov to Sara and to Rabbi & Mrs. Galperin and family, whom some in our community know from their visits here.
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
CONGRATS KATHY SHEEHAN On winning this week’s primary for Albany Mayor (actual election is in November). We appreciate the investments in our school neighborhood, from the renovated city park down the hill, to storm-water management underneath and behind the baseball field, etc.
THE BUZZ ON BEES
“NITZAVIM” AS ONE Morah Rochel got these students started on this Parsha poster but they did it themselves. The big #1 is made up of a whole bunch of people pictures they cut out of old magazines. The concept is learned from the opening line of this week’s Torah portion: We all stand before G-d, no matter our station, all as one.
As a STEAM activity and preparation for Rosh Hashanah, several classes with Rabbi Yossi watched a video about the life of bees, and then each student worked to fill a paper honeycomb with facts about bees. Some students also used facts they knew on their own. Then, they built a “hive” using the sections of their individual honey-comb segments linked into each other. Some fascinating facts include that the life of a worker bee is only 45 days, it takes 2 million flower visits to make a pound of honey, bees see different colors than we do (they see ultraviolet, but they can’t differentiate between red and black), they can use all types of different flowers to make honey (and that influences the taste of the honey) and they use detailed beedances to communicate with other bees.
This week’s MC newsletter is dedicated in honor of
Simmy Rubin’s Birthday on the 25th of Elul with wishes for
“Shnas Hatzlacha!”
LIQUID DENSITY EXPERIMENT
A LITTLE EARTHWORM’S HUGE See all those bottles? The tall thin tube is filled with each of their liquids (some colored with EFFECT IN EARLY AMERICA food-coloring to demonstrate the effect) and
SHOFAR SOUNDS IN NURSERY Morah Rivka and Morah Esti helped Nursery students learn the 3 types of Shofar sounds using a pattern taped to the floor, and their vocal intonations as a group. Not only is it good preparation for Rosh Hashanah but it helps them learn about sounds and patterns and how to differentiate and classify.
This was a science lesson learned in history class. When Europeans first came to America in the 1600’s they inadvertently brought along a species of earthworm that eventually devoured certain greenery that previously carpeted forest floors. This change to the forest floor made it much harder for the Native Americans to hunt deer which was an important food source for them and affected their survival. And it all started with a little worm!
depending on the liquid’s density, they stack one atop the other!
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ISSUES 7th graders are learning about the difference between internal and external problems in BOTH their Gemorah class (R’ Zeira’s answer to Abbaye’s question on Sukkah 2a) and in their English ELA class with Mrs. “M” Monica Mitsakas-Rock (in discussing a character’s struggles in a book).
NEW YORK STATE HISTORY
A SURVIVOR’S STORY
FLAUNTING & DOWNPLAYING
Middle & HS students got to hear first-hand a Holocaust survivor’s story. Renee Bernstein shared from her mother’s Holocaust memoir “Bitter Freedom” (available on Amazon) while interspersing parts of her own story, hidden away in a gentile home in the woods. While quite a few of them had read at least portions of the book beforehand, it was quite moving to hear it in-person, first-hand.
5th grade learned about Yaakov meeting up with Eisav in Vayishlach. Yaakov was concerned about the old sibling rivalry between them that had such animosity that years earlier Eisav wanted to kill him and Yaakov had to escape to Haran. One of the ways Yaakov dealt with this when they met up was to downplay his success, and certainly not to flaunt it arrogantly to his brother. This can also be a lesson about humility and also how not to flaunt what we have - to others who may be especially sensitive to that.
KIDDUSH & HAVDLAH 5th grade Yahadus learned some interesting facts about these famous weekly Shabbos (and Holiday) Mitzvot. First of all, according to the Rambam: Kiddush and Havdalah are the two bookends (opening and closing) of Shabbos and both are a Mitzvah from the Torah! But the Mitzvah is only the words recited, not the cup of wine which was added by the Rabbis to make it more of a festive ceremony. The HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER? SAY Rabbis also added Kiddush and Havdalah for YomTov which isn’t included in the original (AND DRAW) IT IN HEBREW! Torah Mitzvah. Another Rabbinic add-on is Morah Rivi’s younger Ivrit students did a the daytime (lunch-time) Kiddush for Shabbos project describing their summer using Hebrew (and YomTov). One more interesting fact: language, with their own illustrations. drinking of the Kiddush wine is a custom, but there’s a Halachic obligation to have the SAYING NO TO PEER PRESSURE Kiddush connected to a meal of Hamotzee This came up in two High School classes this or Mezonot, without which we don’t fulfill week, in both their Tanya and Mishlei classes. our Kiddush obligation! Obviously, some forms of peer-pressure can be a good thing, as positive encouragement from WHERE ON EARTH? friends and a nudge/push in the Before 5th graders start their right direction can be helpful, but history/social-studies class with sometimes it can be a negative and Mrs. Ramsay this year, they’re pressuring force. taking a global map quiz to make
CLASSIFICATION MNEUMONIC 4/5 graders learned about the classification system and the six kingdoms in science. The classification system can be easily remembered with the initials of this line: King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup: King=Kingdom, Philip=Phylum, Came=Class, Over=Order, For=Family, Good=Genus, Soup=Species.
sure they know their continents and oceans, and major countries.
JEWISH ART CALENDARS This year’s Jewish Art Calendar, published annually by Capital Chabad, will be mailed to area homes as part of an expanded, specialedition “Jewish World” newspaper mailing. If you don’t get yours call: 518-423-4103
4th graders (with Mrs. Maher) also began their history class with a good look at the map, but this class looked closer to home, as their focus is on NY State history. They found all of our neighbor states: VT, CT, MA, NJ, PA, and even Quebec and Ontario (in Canada) which share borders with New York. Depending on where you live in NYS, bordering states could be close by or far away. They also learned nicknames (like The Big Apple or The Empire State) and abbreviations (like NYS and NYC).
ALLITERIATION IN THE BIBLE Rabbi Kelman showed the HS Girls a number of examples of alliteration (literary use of adjacent words beginning with same letter or sound) in the Torah as well as in Rabbinic writings, especially in our prayers and Selichot as we approach the High Holidays. Good timing, because they are also learning a variety of literary terms and devices in their English class!
THE IROQUOIS LEAGUE 7th graders are learning about this time period before & at the start of the colonial period. Iroquois was a league of five Native American nations: Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk. They each sent representatives to a joint council to discuss many matters, from hunting to borders. The neat thing about learning about these Indian tribes is that they lived right here in and around our area!
MEIR O’BRIEN & THE CHIDON As our students are getting into another year of excited Yahadus curriculum learning in the hopes of attending the highly anticipated international Chidon, we remember our very first Maimonides student to go to the Chidon and represent our school ten years ago, and that was Meir O’Brien, of blessed memory, who passed away at age 20, just around the time the school year started.
SHOFAR BLASTS IN MUSAF Rabbi Shmuly’s 7th grade girls learned 3 opinions in the Mishna about the placement of the additional blasts during the Musaf prayer, and they made powerpoints with charts and images lining up the three opinions. Even today there’s some variation in custom, including whether to blow during the quiet Amidah as well or not.
A SPECIAL PIRKEI AVOT COLLECTORS BOOK JUST IN TIME FOR THE SIYUM! Rabbi Rubin, who loves Pirkei Avos, and has written extensively on it, got this special collectors book from a Pirkei Avos collector in California. This man, Dr. Weiss, is a physician by trade but his big hobby is Pirkei Avot. Most of the book lists hundreds of Avot commentaries, old and new, including two entries for Rabbi Rubin’s writings! But the kids’ favorite part of the book are the picture pages with fascinating Pirkei Avot memorabilia, ranging from (L-R): Israeli stamps with Avot sayings, Shul plaques for the Avot chapter of the week, title pages of very old editions of Avot commentaries, and perhaps their favorite: old music records of Chazzanut based on words from Pirkei Avot! Being that this Shabbos, the last before Rosh Hashanah, is the Siyum (completion) of Pirkei Avot study this summer, Rabbi Rubin will bring this unique Avot collectors book to Shomray Torah for people (young and adult) to carefully peruse and enjoy.
MHDS TISHREI CALENDAR It’s a month full of holidays!
A FAMOUS RASHI EXPRESSION LIVING VS. NON-LIVING There’s been lots of classification learning going on in school this week! These first graders are learning about the difference between living and non-living things (and some of the trickier examples). They’ll be cutting out magazine and newspaper pictures to make collages for each category, on two sides of the paper.
9/20—Wed, Erev Rosh Hashanah, No School 9/21-22—Thurs & Fri, Rosh Hashanah, No School 9/29—Friday, Erev Yom Kippur, No School 9/30—Yom Kippur is on Shabbos 10/4—Wed, Erev Sukkos, No School 10/5-13—Sukkot & Simchat Torah, No School 10/8-11—Sunday thru Wed, Chol HaMoed Sukkot, No School (these are weekday days of the holiday: good days for family outings & activities etc) 10/16—Monday, School resumes 8am
Morah Rochel’s 4th graders learned a famous Hebrew expression that comes from Rashi: “Rachel, your youngest daughter” is a lesson is specification. Sometimes, with some people, you really have to specify with a lot of detail PLEASE CLOSE THE WINDOWS because otherwise they won’t get it, or they might (intentionally) misconstrue it. Students and teachers: While open windows (figuratively a Maimonides theme!) in this weather can be a blessing, please remember to shut them at the end of each school day.
PRETTY PAPER APPLES You can’t eat these but its quite amazing how tasty a swirl of paper can appear! Morah Rivi taught several grades the art of swirled paper.
ELEVEN MYSTERY OBJECTS
ANOTHER SCHOOL “TIKKUN” Once a week or so, Rabbi Shmuly and his 5th grade team do a fix around the school. Last week they built new cubbies, this week they fixed up an old rolling cubby cabinet. They had to mark where the screws went, work as a team to hold it in place, and learn about what can be reused and what needs to be replaced.
Mrs. Ramsay brought in eleven object fragments for her class to examine to see if they can figure out what it is, using their senses and methods of inquiry. As of this class’ TNT reporting they still did not know what she would be bringing in, but were quite curious about it and eager to find out how hard they would be to decipher. They’ll write it up for next week’s MC Newsletter.
MAMMALS, BIRDS, REPTILES... After learning a science unit on the difference between mammals, birds, reptiles, etc and then each student drew their favorites from what they learned.
DAY OF UNITY & PRAYER
Our school joined Dirshu’s day of unity and Nice article on Bethlehem Chabad dedication! prayer today, saying Psalms 20 & 130.
C6 IN TODAY’S TIMES-UNION...
at Maimonides and in the Community 9/16: SIYUM ON PIRKEI AVOT AND 9/20-22: ROSH THE ZLOTCHOVER NIGGUN HASHANAH This Shabbos is the last of the weekly summertime 5778 Avot studies for the year. Rabbi Rubin’s Siyum will showcase an Avot collection book (see page 3) that he received from a physician in California, also an Avot enthusiast. This Shabbos also is Yartzeit of R’ Michel Zlotchover. A heartfelt Niggun of yearning is associated with him, which will be sung this Shabbos at the Kiddush at Shomray Torah.
9/16: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR The last of the summer season! Grand finale! This week given by Leyee Rubin at the home of Rochel Rubin, 122 South Main Ave, at 4:45pm.
9/16: MOTZAI SHABBOS SELICHOT ushering in the season of High Holiday prayers... 8:30-10:30pm at CBAJ: “Ultimate Selichot Concert” with Rabbi Roy Feldman. 1:00am Midnight Selichot at Shomray Torah
9/17: JCC’S DUNKIN RUN Pre-registration is required to participate in this annual event, for which Whitehall Road will be closed off between 8am-10:45am.
Rosh Hashanah begins Wednesday night, Shofar and all the special prayers are on Thursday and Friday and the holiday runs directly into Shabbos. Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin before YomTov begins (which allows us to cook for Shabbos on Friday—the second day of YomTov).
9/20-23: THREE DAY YOMTOV 2 days of YomTov + Shabbos, the first of 3 such sequences this Tishrei. For perspective on it, see: shabboshouse.org/long-short-of-a-3-day-yomtov/
9/21-22: SHOFAR & PRAYERS
Those days of being turned away for a lack of a ticket are changing. It’s not only Chabad Houses anymore. Some synagogues now welcome non9/17: APPLE & HONEY FESTIVAL 2-4pm at the Schenectady JCC, 2565 Balltown Rd. members and some do not require tickets or charge for services as they used to. But remember, the Have fun with an apple blaster, bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo—admission is free. Call JCC most important Mitzvah is SHOFAR—so even if you can’t stay for all of the prayers: Hear Shofar! for more info: 518-377-8803.
9/17: CLIFTON PARK FARM FEST
9/21: WATERSIDE TASHLICH
9/24: ADK BALLOON FESTIVAL It begins on Thursday (but that’s Rosh Hashanah) and ends on Sunday the 24th, up in Queensbury and Glens Falls. Balloonists travel from far and near for this famous festival. Most of the giant colorful hot air balloon launches (a sight to see!) are very early morning but all are weatherpermitting. See their schedule online.
9/24: UPPER MADISON ST FAIR The Upper Madison Street Fair (where Madison splits off from Western) includes crafts, drumming, chess games, musicians, vendors and more. 125pm—right on the street!
9/26: RAMBAM SIYUM AND SIMON
Tashlich is a waterside prayer ceremony on the first YARTZEIT IN BETHLEHEM Participating working farms in Clifton Park: afternoon of Rosh Hashanah. For many years now 7:30pm at Bethlehem Chabad, 393 Delaware Ave. Bowman & Riverview Orchards, Predel’s Ranch, The 1-year cycle of Mishna Torah Rambam study Double B and Shepherd’s Hey Farm are promoting there’s a communal Tashlich ceremony, gathering concludes this year on the 6th of Tishrei which is of synagogues at Buckingham Pond at 5pm. the 24th annual Clifton Park Farm Fest. Some also the yartzeit of Rabbi Nachman Simon’s father. events are free, there are costs for others. Look for a special 9/23: SHABBOS SHUVA DRASHA Rambam Siyum 9/17: COLONIE HARVEST FESTIVAL It’s traditional for Rabbis to give a special sermon program filled with The Town of Colonie hosts a free harvest festival at on the Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom words of Torah and Kippur. This year, Shabbos follows immediately the Crossings Park, with vendors and entertainers, insight, featured after Rosh Hashanah. 12-5pm this Sunday. Several clowns, a falconer, free speakers include Rabbi Rabbi Rubin will speak at Shomray Torah on wagon and pony rides, and more. Israel Rubin, Rabbi Irma’s Downed Trees and its moral life lesson. Roy Feldman, Rabbi Rabbi Feldman’s talk at CBAJ will be on: “Yom 9/18: SIX DAYS, FIFTY YEARS Avraham Kelman, Kippur: The Most Dangerous Meal” Ephy and Eitan are both IDF veterans of the Six Rabbi Nachman Day War in 1967, and they and Rabbi Israel Rubin Simon. will share their Six Day War memories at a 50 year 9/24: TZOM (FAST OF) GEDALIA Gedalia, last governor of Judea, was assassinated commemoration event at Shabbos House for Wishing all of our readers a Shana Tova! students and community. 7:30pm. This event is co- (sadly, by a fellow Jew) on Rosh Hashanah. The fast day in his memory is on the 3rd of Tishrei, the day sponsored by III-Invest In Israel, The Jewish after Rosh Hashanah. This year it’s on Shabbos, so Federation, UAlbany Great Danes for Israel, the fast is pushed off to Sunday. CAMERA, ZOA. More info on the flyer or visit: www.shabboshouse.org/6days50years for updates.
שנה טובה כתיבה וחתימה טובה
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!”