Maimonides Community

BH. Iyar

19, 5778 / May 5, 2018

‫ב“ה‬

Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 7:41 404 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 8:47 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

MAZAL TOV KOCHMANS On Devorah Leah’s Bas-Mitzvah this weekend.

May she continue to be a source of Nachas!

NEW TTN VIDEO NOW ONLINE

This MC Newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of

Eve Kneznek

Social-worker and author

Rabbi Michael and benefactor of Maimonides Caras and the Thanks to Albany Police for 3 mounted police Yartzeit: Today, Iyar 19 7th grade boys and a great police escort, to Morah Rivi for just released helping most classes to design fiery hats, to their final TTN Morah Rochel for all the arrangements, to for the year on parents whose vans helped with the return Lag BaOmer trips, to alumnus Eli Kochman for training our titled “Torah Through the Ages” featuring middle school boys marching band, to the Moshe & Yehoshua, Rabbi Akiva and the drum corps boys for learning so quickly and Rambam, down to Albany NY! See it on being so flexible, to Morah Raizy for rushing to YouTube searching for: TTN Torah through deliver the frozen ices, to Rabbi Meir Simcha the Ages or see the short video online at: Rubashkin for being an amazing far-throwing www.TheTorahTimes.com quarterback, to Rabbi Motti for the Pesukim Rally, to Jack Kaplowitz and Johanna Steper REMEMBERING EVE KNEZNEK and others for coming to our parade sendoff, At school today (but not in time to make this and all the students and teachers and guests MC Newsletter) Rabbi Rubin and Rabbi Laber from Brooklyn and Montreal and all who will share some interesting things they learned made it special! The weather forecast was for from some of Eve Knezek’s high school thunderstorms but it turned out to be a writings in the 1920’s and how some of that beautiful day: sunny, warm and beautiful, connects to how she lived her life and her maybe a bit cloudy at times, with a just a few passing. May her memory be a blessing, as her drops here and there. It was gorgeous! generous bequest allowed for the purchase of SEE PARADE PICTURES ON PAGE 3 >> 404 Partridge Street for Maimonides. See more THE HEBREW BREAKFAST about this in next week’s MC newsletter.

This is an annual beloved tradition in Morah IDA LEBERMAN’S PASSING Devorah’s Kitah Alef (first grade) to enjoy a Our condolences to her family and friends. Ida NINTH GRADER ON BULLYING delicious breakfast that they all help arrange was a longtime Albanian (born 1925 in Rabbi Roy Feldman of CBAJ arranged and prepare, at which they can only speak Brooklyn) who graduated High School here for a young student lobbyist (he’s only Hebrew to ask for things or talk with one in town and was active at both Temple Israel in ninth grade) to speak to our students another. They learned many Hebrew words in and CBAJ. Some of our alumni (& students) today—on Friday. As his talk is scheduled for preparation for this and also made their very knew her, she took an active interest in them— after the MC Newsletter publication, more own Hebrew breakfast placemats. as she was an avid MC Newsletter reader. about him and his talk in next week’s MC.

THE LAG B’OMER PARADE!

LOCAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

HILCHOS SHABBOS PASS

See this online petition below in support of a How do completed passes connect local Holocaust Memorial in Niskayuna, an with the laws of Shabbos? Some of effort spearheaded by Dr. Lozman, who does a the boys realized it has to do with the laws of huge amount of work every summer to clean carrying, which needs both an Akirah (like a up and restore neglected and forgotten Jewish pass) and a Hanacha (like a catch) to be liable. cemeteries in Eastern Europe. This local project is facing zoning opposition so they are SHTENDERlooking for petition signatures as one way to MAKING show support for it, look into it yourself: These boys are not thepetitionsite.com/886/487/582/supportgathered around holocaust-memorial-in-the-capital-district/ the Shtender to study rather they “SOMETHING THE L-RD MADE” are busy sanding it 7th grade science watched a movie titled down as one of the “Something the L-rd made” about the first final steps in their CURLING DANDELION STEMS open-heart surgery.

The interesting thing Shtender-making Mrs. Mattice’s first grade students did a handsabout it was that it also intersected woodworking shop on experiment about a with what they are learning in Social with Rabbi Shmuly. reaction using common Studies about Civil Rights.

It’s looking good! dandelions found on the school lawn. Besides doing MERON REGARDS the experiment, they also The biggest Lag BaOmer had to each write down celebration in the world is on (and illustrate) the steps Mt Meron in northern Israel they did. First you pick a where Rabbi Shimon Bar dandelion, then you peel Yochai is buried and its stem into strips, then hundreds of thousands of you place the stripped ends Jews from all walks of life into a cup of water. What gather to celebrate. MHDS do you think will happen next? Ah, that’s the alumnus Eli Levin sent this photo from him hypothesis! What happened was pretty cool. being in Meron this Lag BaOmer.

They watched the stems curl up right before their eyes! Then they started to discuss: Why do you think that happened? Good science!

NATIVE AMERICAN ART STYLE First graders made these artwork patches as they learn about the Native Americans.

IN THE TEACHER’S SEAT

HAPPY NURSERY IN THE PARK

Mrs. Ramsay had her 7th grade social studies Nursery students joined the parade along with students each research 2 Civil War battles and everyone, but stopped off at the playground present them to the class, as the teacher. down the block and then went to Ridgefield Park where they enjoyed a “bonfire” picnic sitting atop the giant colorful parachute. They even shared snack with a child in the park who wanted to join them! They were so happy DUTCH-STYLE HOUSES 2nd graders are learning about the Dutch who with their wide-brimmed Lag B’Omer hats settled this area, and made 3D paper houses in each decorated with a big red heart. their architectural style.

GREAT QUARTERBACK NURSERY’S GROWING GARDEN After the parade in Washington Park, older It’s finally springtime, flowers are starting to peep out outside, and in the Nursery they each made their own giant flowers of beautifully colored plates with tall green stems.

boys enjoyed an awesome game of football with Rabbi Meir Simcha Rubashkin as automatic QB. Amazing far out long passes!

ADULT BULLYING With the discussion around bullying this weekend, one class discussed examples of adults bullying each other, which at a remove from their own age, helps see this important issue in a different light.

at Maimonides and in the Community 5/4: EVE KNEZNEK YARTZEIT TODAY Iyar 19 is Eve Kneznek’s yartzeit, her bequest to Maimonides helped purchase 404 Partridge and ensure viability of local Jewish education into the future. It is also the yartzeit of Bernie Nowitz who left his Judaic library to our school.

Today also marks the yartzeit of R’ Meir of Rothenberg, some of our students learned about his personal sacrifice to avoid future problems of ransom.

5/5: STOP BULLYING SHABBAT AT CBAJ Following Musaf Rabbi Roy Feldman will have a conversation with Sam Verstandig, a visiting teenage anti-bullying lobbyist, and following Kiddush a discussion with Dr. Naava Silton, psychologist, HACD alumna and Mrs. Rivka Kochman, early childhood educator, Maimonides teacher and parent.

5/5: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR

6/5: 30TH ANNUAL MAIMONIDES DINNER HONORS RABBI RUBIN AND MORAH ROCHEL! Dinner invites are in the mail and webpage with journal options is: www.maimonidesschool.org/ dinner (please share the link with friends, family, old Albany families and alumni!). This year, the 30th year of the dinner & the Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award honors Rabbi Yisroel & Rochel Rubin who founded the school in 1980 and continue to shepherd it daily!

6/10: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE WALK IN TAWASENTHA Stay tuned for more details!

4:45pm this Shabbos by Sarah Maddali at her home, 107 Hollywood Ave.

6/12: THE YEAR-END SCHOOL BBQ

5/5: RABBI REISMAN’S SAT NIGHT SATELLITE SHIUR

This year it will be a few days before the end of the school year, on Tuesday during the last full week of school. Cost per family is $25 or $5pp.

Now screened 10:15pm on Motzai Shabbos at the CBAJ Media Center.

5/6: ALBANY HISTORY FAIR AT CHERRY HILL

6/18: MOVING-UP DAY AFTERNOON

Free admission, at Historic Cherry Hill, 523 1⁄2 South Pearl Street in Albany.

Event includes reenactment, period costume, local WWI history & more.

As a number of families are getting their kids to camp (some starting earlier this year) on Tuesday, we’re moving Moving-Up Day to Monday afternoon at 2pm. Parents and families are welcome and encouraged to attend.

5/6: BABY ANIMAL BARN AT INDIAN LADDER

6/19: SCHOOL CLEAN-UP & PACK-UP DAY

9-6pm Sunday (also weekday hours) thru May 6th. $7 per child (no charge for Teachers and students are all encouraged to come to school on the “day-after” accompanying adult, other adults $7pp). Plus the outdoor farm animals for to put things away, tidy up and close up the school year. free. Info? Chrystie Stafford (518) 573-7485 or: indianladdertours@gmail.com.

5/7: MORAH ROCHEL’S MONDAY NIGHT SHIUR For women, 8:30pm Monday night at her home, 122 South Main Ave.

6/20: EIGHTH GRADE & HS GRADUATION Wednesday evening, after 8th grade returns from graduation trip.

7/9-8/17: CAMP GAN ISRAEL DATES

5/10: SCHOOL PICTURE DAY—B THERE & PREPARED!

Gan Israel Day Camp dates for Summer ‘18: July 9th thru Aug 17th. Dedicated staff, engaging program, meaningful memories.

For more info call Morah Devorah Leah: 518-698-1836.

Dress your best that Thursday! Individual student pictures, class pictures and the official school picture scheduled for that Thursday. Parents will have options to purchase a variety of digital/print picture packages. Stay tuned!

5/14: JNF BREAKFAST FEATURES IZZY EZAGUI

NOT EVERYTHING FIT IN THIS WEEK’S MC….

See next week for Skittles in Science, the bullying talk and what we learned Izzy Ezagui lost an arm in the IDF but that didn’t keep him from fighting his about Eve Kneznek, Book Presentations, the Northeast Passage & much more! way back into combat. Hear his overcoming the odds story at a JNF program 8 -9am at the Albany Marriott. Info/RSVP: jnf.org/capitalregionbreakfast.

LAST WEEK OF UALBANY KOSHER DINING

5/16: KOSHER TROOPS BAKEOFF FUNDRAISER 8pm at Bethlehem Chabad. 100% of the profits from this pre-Shavuot bakeoff go to KosherTroops.com. Present will be high-ranking (and local!) US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Orthodox Jew.

5/20-21: SHAVUOT 3-DAY HOLIDAY Shabbos (5/18-19) runs right into Shavuot (Sunday & Monday May 20 & 21) for a 3-day YomTov. No School on Friday the 18th. School resumes Tuesday morning at 9:30am.

6/3: EAT LOVE PRAY—WOMENS LUNCHEON & TALK Featuring guest presenter Rus Devorah Whalen LCSW PC, along with a buffet brunch, silent auction, and musical presentations. 11am at Hyatt Place in Malta with the Clifton Park Jewish Womens Connection. 518-495-0779.

UAlbany’s Kosher Kitchen in Indian Quad Dining Hall open for lunch & dinner under the Vaad. Visitor parking outside the Quad. Call 518-442-2668 for info, menu, cost... Finals week begins soon so the kitchen will be closing for the semester soon.

LOCAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL PETITION See the online petition supporting a Holocaust Memorial in Niskayuna, an effort spearheaded by Dr. Lozman, who does a lot of work every summer to clean up & restore neglected & forgotten Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe. This local project is facing zoning opposition so they are looking for petition signatures as one way to show support for it, look into it yourself: thepetitionsite.com/886/487/582/supportholocaust-memorial-in-the-capital-district/

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!”