Maimonides Community

BH. Cheshvan

3, 5777 / Nov 4, 2016

Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 5:26 404 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 6:26 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

‫ב”ה‬

‫נח‬

This newsletter is sponsored in honor of

Sid Stark’s Special birthday Shabbos Noach - See special Torah-Times edition issue -

MENDEL BRIKMAN OBM Mendel Brikman, 43, passed away this week after a valiant battle with a long illness which left him bodily weak but ever stronger in spirit.

He started and ran a Brooklyn electronics store, raised a family, and was beloved for his warm communal involvement. The Brikman family has deep roots in Albany with Mendel’s WHO IS IN THE PICTURE? MAZAL TOV R’ SIMON & STAN! grandfather Reb Isser Brikman, father & uncle The Iyun supplement of HaModia Magazine This World Series has been especially riveting Kalman and Baruch Brikman part-founders of Shomray Torah and an inspiration to those published ten photos taken by an American given the history of Cubs and Indians who soldier for visa haven’t won a World Series since 1908 & ’48 who remember their family fondly from that papers in respectively and how tight the series time here. See this story about Reb Isser in Albany that also typified his late grandson Shanghai, just and the last game was! We’re after WWII. especially excited for two of the most Mendel Brikman: shabboshouse.org/ remembering-brikmans-sukkah/ May Mendel’s The magazine loyal, enthusiastic local Cubs fans: memory be a blessing and may his wife and six asked readers to Rabbi Nachman Simon & Stan Rosenberg. children and entire family be blessed with help identify solace and comfort and with much happiness. the Yeshiva students (they RAFFLE-AUCTION UNDERWAY were under the Prize packages are now being finalized, if you’d impression that like to solicit or donate a prize package please these were Mirrer Yeshiva students, when in be in touch with Raizy: 772-7299. The annual fact they were Lubavitcher Yeshiva students).

Chanukah dinner, raffle displays and raffle Rabbi Rubin recognized his father on the top JJ’S KINGSTON BAR-MITZVAH drawing date will be Wed, Dec 28th, 5th Night left, and his uncle on bottom right, the sole Mazal Tov JJ and family! Very beautiful and of Chanukah, tickets can be purchased ahead survivors of their family after the Holocaust lively Bar-Mitzvah celebration last Sunday in of time: at the office, online or by mail. thanks to life-saving visas issued by Japanese Kingston. His Maimonides friends are Consul Chiune Sugihara. Rabbi Rubin pictured here (blurry) in a swirling dance! discussed these pictures and their backstory MAIMONIDES with his Jewish history students (pictured here) and sent this photo of their happy discovery to 404 Partridge Street Hamodia, perhaps it will be printed.

Albany NY 12208

PARENT-TEACHER CONF. Thursday, November 10th. Parents, stay tuned for schedule of appointments to be sent out.

There will be no school for students that day.

FLYING TO & FROM ISRAEL Morah Rochel heads to Israel just as Labers & Morah Devorah return. Feeling connected!

WHAT DOES I.D.K. MEAN?

PRIMARY

Of course, “I Don’t Know”! But 7/8 CAUCUSES grade girls learned a scenario in the Gemorah where there is an UPDATE argument (regarding bricks of a fallen wall, or can also be regarding confusion MEAT CANDIDATES of a loan) how to best understand and Chinese: Sesame Chicken, Wonton or Eggdrop interpret a person’s claim of “I don’t know.”

Soup, Lo-Mein, Bokchoy salad Mexican: Taco Bar, Chips & Salsa, Meat or Bean Chili, Pico De Gallo Salad Shabbos: Cholent, Kugel, Chicken, MB Soup, etc Israeli-Style: Grilled Chicken Wraps, Felafel, Humus & Babaganoush, maybe Schwarma

ROSH CHODESH MINYAN @ MHDS The MBC (Maimonides Boys Choir) was back in action singing a great Hallel when the Minyan came to Maimonides (and the next day, too!) It was also JJ’s first opportunity to get an aliyah at school after his Bar-Mitzvah two days earlier. Eli K’s new bima wasn’t yet totally finished there are still some last finishes and touches before we can use it, maybe next month for Rosh Chodesh Kislev!

DAIRY CANDIDATES

FOR THE TEACHERS MEETING These 1st graders baked brownies and made extras for the teachers meeting and wrote a nice note to go along with it! There was a very nice and delicious lunch spread at the Nov 2nd teachers meeting courtesy of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bomzer in memory of a family yartzeit. And thanks to Rabbi Abba & Raizel for the Parshas Noach rainbow cupcakes.

AVSHALOM’S REBELLION

Italian: White or Red Pastas, Pesto, Tomato Soup, Focaccia or Garlic Bread Shavuos: Cheesecake, Blintzes, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Feta Salad, Cheese Quiches Breakfast Foods: Eggs, Chocolate Milk, Yogurt Bar w/Toppings, Cereals, Bagels/Toast, Waffles Pizza Store-style: Pizza or Calzones, French fries, garlic knots, felafel, mozzarella sticks Students in the Milk and Meat Parties met (ably led by the HS Girls) in separate caucuses on Thursday of this week to come up with and narrow down their menu candidates.

All student members of the Milk & Meat Parties will vote to choose their candidates on a ballot on Tuesday next week, and then face off against each other in a General Election on November 17th.

Speaking of strange political twists & surprises in the current election season, HS Girls are Menu specifics listed above may vary or change to a now learning about Avshalom’s rebellion certain degree according to cost, availability or against his father King David in their Navi other practical considerations. class with Morah Raizel.

EARLY FRIDAY NOTE As we transition to early Fridays (after this Sat Night’s clock’s FallBack) beginning next week on Nov 11th, PARENTS please take note of the following: Children who have to leave early can only be dismissed early at the following intervals, where class breaks (on shorter Fridays): 12:30pm, 1:05pm, 1:40pm.

GROWING CRYSTALS These students in Science-Enrichment are measuring and dissolving aluminum potassium sulfate in an effort to create crystals as part of a state-wide school competition.

THIRD GRADE BOOKWORM They’ve begun a Bookworm in their classroom adding a circle (with title & author) for each book they read at school or at home. They hope it grows to be very long…

In a change from previous policy, parents can respectfully come to the classroom door to pick up their children, but ONLY at these interval times, so as to minimize classroom disruption.

THANK YOU for the respect and courtesy for the teacher, classroom instruction, and your child’s classmates.

HISTORY OF ALEGEBRA In history class with Mrs. Ramsay HS Girls are learning about historical advancements that Islamic culture brought to the world during the Middle Ages, including algebra, calendar calculations, maps, calligraphy, etc. All this while they are studying algebra in math class!

BILAAM’S CURSES TO BLESSING HS Girls each prepared a section of Bilaam’s curses turned blessings to teach to the rest of their class, including commentaries they studied on their own.

FUNDAMENTAL MITZVAH POSTERS 4th graders are learning in Yahadus class about basic fundamental Mitzvot applicable to all Jews at all times, and they are pictured working here making posters about them.

“TROUBLING WATERS” In connection with the flood and life-saving ark in Parshat Noach, HS Girls learned (in two different ways, with Rabbi Yossi and with Morah Chaya Bracha) how the overwhelming, raging waters can be a metaphor for challenges in life and the ark a symbol of how to deal with them and be as unaffected as possible.

RAINBOW, ONE TILE AT A TIME THE SPELLING SWAT GAME Kindergarteners made gorgeous rainbows, one Ms. Ford’s first-grade students are trying to color time at a time. They learned about color quickly swat the spelling word she calls out. families, leaving room & projecting the curve..

THIRD’S WAFFLE SIYUM

Third graders finished Parshas Lech-Lecha and ALL ABOUT COLORS Morah Mushky made them a waffle-siyum With the rainbow in this week’s Parsha, party in the Teachers Lounge. They loved it!

Nursery students did all kinds of learning about color. This is their color sensory table.

TEACHER-PARENT: NURSERY While Nursery will not be having formal teacher-parent conferences, parents are welcome to come in and take a look at the walls where students work will be displayed.

KESHET V’ANAN Morah Rivi’s 4th graders made these Parshat Noach hangings for home, using cotton balls and colored penne, to create a zig-zag hanging rainbow effect coming out of the cloud.

NEW TALMUD STORIES CLASS For adults. Wed 2:30pm. See page 4.

ANIMALS AT KLEINKE FARM Kindergarteners learned a lot about animals this week for Parshat Noach, and went on a field trip to see & feed the animals at Kleinke Farm in Delmar. They brought overripe and bruised fruits and vegetables to feed them.

They saw donkeys and goats, peacocks and chickens, llamas, and other animals. Rochel Leah lives nearby, so they went to her home afterwards to enjoy some yummy hot cocoa (which was a lesson in Hachnosas Orchim, from next week’s Parsha LechLecha!)

REFLEX MATH Mrs. Maher’s students are using the Reflex Math website to practice and improve their fluency with math facts.

COUNTY PROJECTS Mrs. Maher’s students are learning all about AND RAINBOW AT THE WINDOW NY State in Social-Studies. Each student is being assigned a certain county to research Nursery students pictured here with giant and prepare a presentation on. Stay tuned! colorful rainbow getting light at the window.

at Maimonides and in the Community 11/4-5: SID’S BIRTHDAY SHABBOS A special Parshas Noach celebration in Saratoga, a special Torah-Times edition was issued for it, and our students worked on a nice Sid Stark intro!

Aggadah Talmud class, studying Talmud stories, at 11/19: THE FIRST PIZZA NIGHT! 2:30pm at Maimonides, open to women & men, in A winter-tradition! Pizza Nite at “Nathan’s time before Maimonides dismissal at 3:30pm.

Kitchen” at Maimonides, first of the season, and first of our new 9th grade High School class!

11/10: PARENT-TEACHER CONF.

Look for schedule of appointments for parents and At 2am late Sat Night, we move clocks back 1 hour. teachers to discuss individual student progress. No Everything starting Sunday will be on the new time. School for students that Thursday.

11/6: CLOCKS FALL BACK

11/6: AUTO SHOW @ T.U.C. Is looking at the newest cars your kind of thing?

Local auto show at Times Union Center ends Sunday 11-5. Cost: $9pp, kids under 12 are free.

11/10: TORAH TEA ON NAVI Rabbi Roy Feldman’s TorahTea class will focus on Navi this year, Book of Samuel, 10:30am @ CBAJ.

11/11: FIRST OF SHORTER FRIDAYS

11/19: SCHOOL THANKSGIVING Thanksgiving Weekend Schedule for Maimonides: 11/23: Half-day Hebrew only on Wednesday 11/24-25: Thursday and Friday—No School

12/3: CAFÉ NIGHT—STAY TUNED Looking for something to do Sat Night? Stay tuned for several café nights planned this winter season at Maimonides or Albany-area locations.

2:15pm Friday dismissals begin until clocks change This Sunday marks the start of the indoor season of in the Spring. Please be very prompt so faculty can 12/10: ISRAELI WOMENS THEATER get home to prepare for Shabbat. See box on page 2 Sat Night 7:30pm at Schenectady JCC, all women Schenectady’s weekly Greenmarket. 10am-2pm inside Proctor’s in downtown Schenectady. cast, based on Lorca’s play: “La casa de Bernando 11/11: JEWISH WORLD KIDS ART Alba” no charge, donations welcome, for ages 14+.

Info? call Judy: 377-8803 or speak to Morah Rivi.

11/6: KIDS GARAGE SALE AT A-JCC Submit your child’s artwork by this date for the 9am-1pm. Mostly kids stuff: books, toys, clothes.. A Jewish World Newspaper calendar art contest. t the Albany JCC, on Whitehall Road.

12/10: TEN KISLEV FARBRENGEN 11/11: CBAJ NEW MEMBER SHABAT Melava Malka at the school. Niggunim, stories..

Reserve online cbaj.org or by calling: 489-5819 by 11/6: JEFF JACOBY TO SPEAK AT November 4th. New/Prospective Member Dinner. 12/27-29: CHANUKAH @ MHDS

11/6: GREENMARKET MOVES IN

JACK LAUBER LECTURE AT B.I.

Many remember Jack Lauber obm and his stand-up advocacy for Israel. Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe 11/12: ESTY LECTURE @ MHDS will speak on “In an Anti-Semitic World, Why does Rabbi A. Kelman of Beth Israel will be the speaker at this year’s “Esty Lecture” in memory of Esther America love the Jews?” Sunday, 7pm at Cong.

Aidel (Rubin) Cohen, speaking on “Hedge of Beth Israel in Schenectady. $10 donation.

Roses—True Meaning of Shalom Bayit.” Light 11/7: TWO NEW TORAH READERS Melava Malka dinner foods will be served. Event is 8pm and is an evening geared for adults.

Our two oldest now Bar-Mitzvah students JJ and Yochanon will be splitting the Lech-Lecha Torah 11/13: INCLUSION WORKSHOP reading on Monday at Shomray Torah.

9am-12:30pm Educators Workshop, 12:30-3pm Community Forum on inclusion, by Federation at 11/7: PERSONA NON-GRATA FILM Beth Emeth. Info? mgalinkin@JewishFedNY.org New Japanese feature film on Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of lives 11/13: VIA—AQUARIUM OPEN during the Holocaust by issuing transit visas including Rabbi Rubin’s father. It will be screened Opening Day is now scheduled for Saturday 11/12. in honor of Kristallnacht, night before election day, Plan is to have 25,000sf of oceanic treasure, 2000+ at Clifton Park Library, premiere screening of this fish & aquatic species, including walk-thru tunnels film in upstate NY. Info? Rabbi Yossi: 495-0772/9. and a sting-ray touch-tank. Cost is $19 per adult, $10 for ages 4-17 and kids under 4 are free.

11/8: ELECTION DAY, FINALLY...

The big long-awaited national day is finally here!

11/8: R’ MEIR SHAPIRO ASSEMBLY Rabbi Roy Feldman of CBAJ will speak at special assembly for Rabbi Meir Shapiro’s yartzeit and “Zayin Cheshvan” 9:30am for grades 5-6 and up.

11/9: WED TALMUD STORIES 2:30 Rabbi Rubin is once again starting up a weekly

Parents, please note (slightly changed) school schedule: 12/23: Friday, Half-day Hebrew only 12/26: Monday No School 12/27-29: Tues-Thurs, Half-day Hebrew only 12/30: Friday, No School 1/2/2017: Monday, school resumes at 8am.

12/28: SCHOOL AUCTION NIGHT Wed, 5th night of Chanukah. This exciting annual school fundraiser includes the celebrated themed Chanukah dinner by the Kochmans (TBD by our special election) prize packages on display and last chance to buy tickets before drawings that night.

Menorah Lighting and entertainment as well.

Tickets can also be purchased in advance (most are) though US Mail, the office, and an online link.

LOOKING AHEAD:

More Pizza Nights: 12/17, 1/28, 2/25 Chanukah: 12/24 Clifton Park Center, 12/25-26: Friendship Circle Camp, 12/26: Bethlehem 11/15: BLIND HERO: OTTO WEIDT Chabad Ice-Skating, Delmar Car-Menorah Parade 7pm at UAlbany Page Hall (downtown campus) & Chanukah Dinner, 12/27: East Greenbush 135 Western. Free screening of: “Blind Hero: The Library Chanukah, 12/28: School Auction & Love of Otto Weidt” story of a near-blind Berlin Dinner, 12/29: Chanukah Bowling in Saratoga, brush-maker who tried to keep Jewish employees 12/31: Bethlehem Chabad at Delmar’s First Night from being sent to concentration camps until 1943, Stay tuned for Car-Menorah Parade from school and how he to tried to save one of them, Alice dismissal either 12/27 or 12/29.

Licht, from the gas chambers. Sponsored by Jewish Federation & Judaic Studies Program at UAlbany.

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!”