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Adar 1, 5778 / February 16, 2018
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Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 5:10 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 6:12 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
FEELING FOR PARKLAND, FL All of America is mourning the tragic victims of the shooting at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. Alumnus (and former MHDS teacher) Mushky Denburg lives pretty close to that high school and she knows people who know these teens personally from the local CTeen Jewish club chapter. Some survivors came to shul to make the Gomel blessing. Among the victims killed are 5 Jewish teens and a Jewish teacher, who along with the football coach heroically put themselves between the shooter and their students. We pray for those wounded, all the families, and for the whole community to heal.
AT THE SAME TIME IT IS ADAR This Thursday & Friday we begin the Hebrew month of Adar, two weeks to Purim, a time to increase in joy. This second graders are very much in the happy Adar spirit!
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MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
ISRAELI LAB DISC PROBES As part of the new Science Lab/STEAM Project, Maimonides ordered these discshaped devices from an Israeli company called Globisens that has varied sensors and probes for experimentation and analysis. Pictured here is the first student trying it with Rabbi Yossi right out of the box. At a Rosh Chodesh assembly yesterday, Rabbi Yossi introduced one of the features of the device: to test micro-climates. It evaluates variables such as temperature and humidity, matched to time and GPS, and hooked up to an iPad shows results in graph and map form. Rabbi Yossi pointed out that the Hebrew word Chodesh (month) shares a root with Chiddush (new, novel or innovation) and Israel is known throughout the world today for it’s innovation. Look for our “70 Wonders of Modern Israel” at our Purim Brunch, Morah Rivi is working on it with students now.
This MC is dedicated to the school that remembers and retells the story of Rabbi Shamshon Wertheimer and welcomes guests so warmly! Thank you!
AN EARNED SEFER These 3 students each earned this “Midrash Yalkut Shimoni” by their participation in an out-of-school special project. In fact, one of the things they learned was a piece from this book!
CAMP SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE HAPPY ADAR SILLY SOCK DAY To get into the happy Adar spirit, Morah Rivka asked all her Nursery students to wear silly socks to school and then they took this “all socks in a circle” picture! Today (Friday) is silly hat day—maybe a picture of that in next week’s MC Newsletter.
Federation’s camp scholarship (or similar immersive Jewish enrichment programs) applications are due in one week, this coming Friday, Feb 23. Applications are available online at: jewishfedny.org/ services/scholarships or from our school office. Don’t miss out! Only one week left…
FIRST GRADE GOBLIN STORIES Sorry, the Goblins were made by first graders (not be 2nd, mistake in last week’s MC). This week they each wrote and illustrated their own imaginary stories about the goblins they made, some very good writing!!!
PICTURE CONTEST W/ SENIORS Students: take pictures (of course, with parents permission) doing a Mitzvah, craft, reading or activity with seniors (could be grandparents, neighbors, family friends) them and send it to bnoschayaprograms@gmail.com to be entered into the contest. You have until Pesach… Photos will be made into SIYUM PARTY FOR WHICH EVERYONE BROUGHT “TERUMAH” a meaningful photobook to be shared with seniors that our high What made this 5th grade Siyum party different? This time everyone brought in a treat to share! What perfect timing for Parsha Terumah which tells of how the Mishkan was built with school girls visit. contributions from all the people, while not all the same, each brought what they could!
PURIM CARDS AVAILABLE Maimonides Purim Cards ($4 each) are great for out-of-town friends and family in lieu of Mishloach Manot. To order yours, contact the school office: 518-453-9363 or email: maimonidesschool@gmail.com
GATOR OR RHINO SKIN BALLS We’re looking for GatorSkin or RhinoSkin type balls for indoor play on those extra cold or A HIGH-TECH SIYUM GAME rainy days (they are firm and dense enough to throw and play but 7th graders finished Parshat Yisro and while Rabbi Mathless psyched them up for big test but soft enough for indoor impact). Thanks! instead treated them to a surprise Siyum party with ice-cream cake and a Smartboard review game that was a cross between candyland and jeopardy and involved a spinning dice, choice of question difficulty and even a timer. COTTON, SILK & MISHKAN This week 7th grade history learned about the pro and cons of the cotton boon which was a big boost to the economy and gave easier access to textiles but paid a high price in human toll with the increased slavery trade; at the same time that 5th grade history class took them on a “trip” along the Silk Road that stretched from China to Turkey, Xian to Istanbul, what types of harsh and changing terrain it crossed, and how it changed global trade and the availability of certain products and their prices. What a week to learn about the development A CHAIN OF EVENT DURING RECESS, ONE LINK LED TO… These second graders made this giant chain out of scrap paper pieces during their study breaks of fabrics and textiles during this week of Parsha Terumah, when we read about in the afternoon in Mrs. Mattice’s class. It was their own initiative, and one link led to another until they had this giant chain draping across their classroom library nook! Nice teamwork! the weaving of fabrics for the Mishkan!
HEBREW GRAMMAR That’s what this third grader is pointing to on the whiteboard in her classroom. The different tenses, feminine and masculine gender, and whether its for one person or for many…
SOUP OF THE WEEK? Some slots still available. Interested parents can contact Mrs. Wildman. Thanks!
START UP FOR PURIM PRUNCH This year’s Purim Prunch theme at the school on Purim Day will be Israeli startups & hightech innovation: “The 70 Wonders of Modern Israel”. What’s your favorite Israeli invention or technological wonder? Please send your favorite company or innovation to maimonidesschool@gmail.com. Thanks to Morah Rivi for working with our students on the art end of this project. Rabbi Yossi is “FRUITS” OF TU BISHVAT working with Israeli startup companies to get some of the equipment and educational tools Well, no fruits yet, but these lima bean plants grew tall and strong—from beans that they for our upgraded Science Lab and new sprouted. Morah Devorah sent them home JSTEAM Room Makerspace. this week for them to be cared for at home.
MORE BEAN PLANTS... Mrs. Maher’s science students also planted bean plants this week, but these were part of a science experiment. They created different conditions for the plants, to see how the varying conditions will affect the plant’s growth. They have hypothesis (educated guesses), but let’s see what happens.
CASTLE ART
Our Nursery students are getting into the Purim spirit in all kinds of ways! One of the craft projects they did this week was “Castle Art” as they THE TROUBLE WITH… ESSAYS learned in the There shouldn’t be any trouble with the essays Megillah story in 7th grade, hopefully they will do a fine job, about Shushan but they are writing essays about the book they and the big 180-day party in the King’s Palace. just read titled: “The Trouble with Lemons.”
TALMUD PROJECT PLANNING In honor of Sal Steper’s first yartzeit on Adar 20 (Wednesday after Purim) we will be having a lunch program at school, with visual presentations by our Talmud classes on their recent studies. Salo loved the Talmud! Students: Try to spend some time over this extended weekend (no school Presidents Day) to think of a visual project or presentation (poster, diagram, artwork etc) they could make of any piece of Gemorah they learned… More brainstorming and prep in school next week!
PORTEGUESE-MAN-OF-WAR
KINDERGARTEN SAMECHS Morah Chani’s Kindergarten are now learning the Hebrew letter Samech, and a bunch of words that begin with that letter, sugar, soap, salad etc.
Rosh Chodesh Minyan was at Maimonides on NEW EPISODE: TTN TERUMAH! Thursday morning, and we had a couple of tinyurl.com/TorahTimesNewsPlaylist (to see out-of-town guests join us. One of them was named Wertheimer and Rabbi Rubin episodes in most recent order) or search for introduced him by saying that when he was a this week’s Torah Times News Terumah young student in Montreal his class once episode on Youtube. Special this week? The made a play on the story of Rabbi Samson Mishkan Telethon! Look closely to see the wooden Keresh Rabbi Shmuly’s students built Wertheimer, who was falsely accused to the king he served, but his life was saved because to scale. Listen closely for puns and allusions of a Bris… and this visitor is an 8th (or so) to verses and Midrashic tidbits… Thanks generation descendent of that Rabbi and bears Rabbi Michael Caras for doing such a great his same last name. BTW, the grave of this job with our students! Rabbi can still be found in Vienna today. After a student asked in 5th grade Social Studies class about the value and relevance of learning about far off China, his fellow 5th grade peers chimed in about why it is indeed important to learn and know about! Maybe some tidbits of what they shared in next week’s MC when they report about it.
These Nursery kids are having a very nice conversation outside at the picnic table. We had some really nice weather this week, but we’d really like to take students out for recess as much as possible (aside for days that are exceptionally cold, icy or rainy). Please be sure to send students properly prepared with warm outdoor clothing.
7th graders were intrigued to find out that this dangerous jellyfish sea creature is not one single animal—instead it is a whole bunch of organisms that work and live as one. If one organism fails, the whole entity doesn’t work. This is a good life lesson, too. Classes, groups and teams all need each other, each playing their role and doing their part to succeed as a whole.
THE WERTHEIMER GUEST
WHY LEARN ABOUT CHINA?
GETTING OUT, FRESH AIR!
TWO TYPES OF AEROSOL CANS
MISHKAN NOTES These 3rd graders learned about the Mishkan in Parsha class and filled pages of their notebook with designs and “blueprint plans”.
TWO MORE CONNECTIONS 7th graders realized two more inter-curricular connections: They are learning about slavery both in Chumash class in Parsha Mishpatim and also in history class regarding the era of the cotton boom. And at the same time that they are reading about complex friendship relationships in English class, they are learning in Navi class about the close complex friendship between David & Yonatan.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Seems to be one of the qualifications for the Mishkan as the Torah looks for “Chacham Lev” or “smart heart”. Rabbi Mendel pointed out a bunch of liferelated messages that can be learned from Mishkan construction.
What makes a can spray? That difference is actually important to the laws of Shabbos, Rabbi Shmuly’s halacha class learned that deodorant sprays do not use added air to disperse as spray paint cans do, the button THE VISITING JUGGLER!!! only creates an area of low-pressure and is Alumnus Josh Phaff was in from Israel, did a great show, pics & reports in next week’s MC. therefore allowed to use on Shabbos.
at Maimonides and in the Community 2/15-16: ROSH CHODESH ADAR Two days of Rosh Chodesh, Thursday and Friday. Get into the joyous Purim spirit!
and $15 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Info/RSVP call Box Office (518) 442-3997.
2/16: SHABBOS PARSHA TERUMAH 2/23: CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS DUE
Emoji Purim Clifton Park, 4:30, Megillah 5:15 Black & White Purim Bethlehem Chabad, 5pm Albany JCC Purim Carnival 5:30-8pm
Federation’s camp scholarship (or other Jewish enrichment programs) applications are due. Applications are available on Federation’s website: More Purim listings to be updated next week! www.JewishFedNY.org or from our school office, or use this direct link: jewishfedny.org/services/ 3/7: SALO YARTZEIT OBSERVED 2/16: CBAJ COMEDY SHABBAT scholarships Stay tuned for a Talmud Fair and Luncheon CBAJ hosts comedian Jessica Schechter at a program commemorating the first yartzeit of Salo 6:15pm Shabbat Dinner (prayers 5:15pm) for those 2/23: UALBANY Steper, who loved and promoted Talmud study and pre-registered only. Rabbi Roy Feldman’s talk will was a dear friend and supporter of Maimonides. SHABBAT 360 be on comedy and wit, and he will interview the guest comedian on Shabbat morning after services. Now in its 3rd year, this mega Shabbat dinner will be 3/10: PIZZA NIGHT AT MHDS in the Campus Center Is this the last Sat Night Pizza Night of the season? 2/18: MURDER MYSTERY IN TROY Ballroom, is sponsored by Be sure to come out and enjoy eat-in or take-out Beth Tephilah is hosting “The Mysterious Megillah all the Jewish UAlbany and support our High School’s extra-curricular Robbery” & dinner 5:30pm. $10pp. RSVP by 2/13 organizations, and is open to all area college programming while you are at it! to get your character: EventsAtBTS@gmail.com or students. Use this form for tshirt signup: call: 518-894-3490. tinyurl.com/ualbanyShabbat360tshirt 3/18: GIANT TRY IT @ARTSCENTER This is the start of a series of Parshiot on the Mishkan. Rabbi Gordon will farbreng at Shteeble on how R’ Tzadok and Tzemach Tzedek intersect.
2/18: ROCK & FOSSIL FUN Rock and fossil related activities for kids in the State Museum’s Adirondack Hall.
2/19: PRESIDENTS DAY No School. Enjoy the extended weekend.
2/19: MONDAY WOMENS CLASS Morah Rochel’s Monday night women’s class resumed, this time studying and discussing Tanya. 8:30pm at her home, 122 South Main.
2/19: FREE DAY AT ALBANY INST.
2/25: GEM & MINERAL SHOW Even if you aren’t in the market for stone and mineral purchases, there’s lots to see and learn at the 25th year of this annual show, and you might even find something cool and affordable! $5 per adult entrance fee, kids 12 and under are free. There are many knowledgably passionate vendors and collectors with a huge variety of stones and rocks and minerals for sale on display.
12-3pm at the Arts Center, 265 River Street, Troy. Mush clay, hammer metal, and break glass to your hearts content, no charge, for this one afternoon try any of their many art studios and programs.
2/26: MISHMAR ON MONDAY 3:30-4:15 for boys and girls grades 2+. Suggested $2 per child for supplies. Younger childcare $2 per.
Albany Institute of History & Art is admission free on Presidents Day. Current exhibits include 2/28: FAST OF ESTHER Victorian dresses on display and original American The fast begins in this area at 5:04am at dawn, and Girl at for the Addy story. There’s also a drop-in art ends 6:13pm (or after the Megillah reading). project for kids that day featuring early American presidents using stamps, coins & silhouettes.
2/28: PURIM NIGHT (WED)
2/20: WOMENS OPEN MIC NIGHT 8pm Tuesday at 38 Kakely Street. Jewish Womens Circle open mic night to share talents and cheer on friends. Info? 518-227-0602.
2/22: BIG GALUT(E) IN CONCERT This talented and versatile Klezmer band will perform at UAlbany’s Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm. Advance tickets $15pp, $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Day of tickets (pending availability) are $20 for the general public
Hard to believe but Purim is in February this year! It falls Wednesday night into Thursday, stay tuned for a listing of communal events and celebrations (in addition to synagogue Megillah readings). Purim under the Sea 6pm at Saratoga Chabad CBAJ Purim Bounce Party. Mincha 5pm, 6pm Megillah followed by bounces and fun. Purim Carnival for college students in UAlbany’s Campus Center Ballroom
3/1: PURIM DAY (THURS) Purim morning “Israeli Startup Prunch” at
Maimonides. Megillah, light foods, Mishloach Manot swap with school & community families.
PURIM CARDS AVAILABLE Maimonides Purim Cards ($4 each) great for out-of-town friends & family in lieu of Mishloach Manot. To order, contact office: 518-453-9363/maimonidesschool@gmail.com
READ TO SUCCEED Students in this program should be sure to log their at-home reading, book titles, dates & time read to be eligible for the free Great Escape Six Flags tickets this summer.
LOCAL KOSHER DINING Back from break & can use the communal support! UAlbany’s Kosher Kitchen in the Indian Quad (not Dutch anymore!) Dining Hall is open for lunch and dinner and is under Vaad Supervision. Visitor parking is located just outside Indian Quad (which is the southeastern of the four towers, the closest one towards the Jewish community area). Call 518 -442-2668 for info, menu and cost.
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!”