BH. Kislev
20, 5778 / Dec 8, 2017
ב“ה
Candle-Lighting: Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 4:04 404 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 5:08 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
CHANUKAH NEXT WEEK! See page 4 for big listing of communal events. Maimonides-wise: No School Friday (12/15) for an extended Chanukah weekend. Sunday morning (12/17) we’re hosting a Scout’s Court of Honor as MHDS alumnus Eli K. formally becomes an Eagle Scout. Tuesday evening (12/19) last night of Chanukah is the annual Raffle-Auction and Chanukah Dinner by the Kochmans (this time a Hawaiian theme). School plays and songs will be 9am on Wednesday (12/20), the last day of Chanukah. Happy Chanukah to all!
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GIRLS DAF YOMI TALMUD SIYUM USING SALO’S TALMUDS High School Girls Talmud with Rabbi Rubin learned the last page of Talmud Makkos, at the same time that Daf Yomi was concluding that tractate, with its beautiful stories of Rabbi Akiva and the Rabbis relating to the Temple’s destruction through laughter and tears (respectively). Rabbi Rubin shared his life-long inspiration from the Rebbe’s analysis and interpretation of this Talmud passage, as well as the Rebbe’s secretary Rabbi Chodakov instructing him to teach Talmud classes for girls/women (in the early 1970’s before his move to Albany). They are pictured here in their classroom (most of them) holding translated Artscroll Talmuds from the late Salo Steper’s Daf Yomi Talmud Repository at Maimonides.
JUDY MILLER CONDOLENCES
TIME FOR RAFFLE-AUCTION!!!
Judy Miller’s mother passed away in Detroit and will be sitting Shiva there following the funeral today. Stay tuned for updates on Shiva days here in Albany. Our condolences to Judy and the Miller family.
The actual drawings aren't until the last night of Chanukah, Tues, Dec 19th, but now is a great time to mail in your ticket choices, or order online: maimonidesschool.org/auction Thanks for supporting this annual school fundraiser. Help get our Maimonides train over the daunting mountain to best reach our beloved boys & girls. We think we can— with everyone’s help!
THE KATONTI TROPE Rabbi Mendel shared the post-YudTes-Kislev “Katonti” letter (based on Yaakov in Vayishlach) of Alter Rebbe, and its message of tolerance, sensitivity and understanding. They discussed why it has a higher upbeat trope instead of a lower one.
TEN YEARS THIS CHANUKAH! & RETIRING THE AVI-CHAI LOAN Since the laying of the cornerstone for the new wing expansion of Maimonides School, a few years after the purchase of the old building. This December will be the final $7,500 loan payment of $300,000 to Avi-Chai Foundation which helped fund this building expansion, which Maimonides has been paying down at all this time since. If you would like to be part of the “Minyan” (ten people) contributing $750 to have the final merit of retiring this loan, please speak to Rabbi Rubin.
2ND GRADE READS “BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS” CHANUKAH CLASSROOM DECORATIONS Morah Devorah’s 1st graders made Chanukah chains and colored 3D Dreidels. Look above their heads, the decorations are hanging from their classroom ceiling.
Mrs. Matisse’s second graders are pictured above reading a children’s play (an adaption of the fairytale classic by the Brothers Grimm): “The Bremen Town Musicians”. Reading a play is different than reading a story, each actor has its own lines, and the narrator also “speaks” to help the reader with the background, setting and transitions.
CHANUKAH OBJECTS POSTERS First graders also traced and colored these classic Chanukah objects, and their Hebrew names and posted it on the lunchroom wall opposite their classroom.
SHMONA-ESRAY PARTY Morah Devorah Leah’s 3rd grade Tefilah students have been learning the daily Shmona Esray, one paragraph at a time, and celebrated HAPPY DOUGHNUT MAKERS their completion of the entire Amidah with a These Nursery painted big round “chocolate” party this week, where they shared and sang colored doughnuts and decorated them with songs and celebrated this milestone. crunched up paper sprinkles.
CAN YOU PROVE A TRIANGLE
THE TWINS CONNECTION
10th grade girls geometry class learned several 7th grade science are learning about RULES OF DIVISIBILITY methods to “prove” (different types of) twins in genetics, and this week’s Can this number be divided into a whole triangles. It’s the logic behind what determines Parsha features twins Peretz & Zorach, sons of number without remainders or fractions? Mrs. a triangle and how it compares or contrasts Judah & Tamar. Maher’s 4th graders learned methods how to with other types of triangles. It’s figuring out figure that out, trying with single digits first how much info is needed, what’s the and then with much larger numbers. minimum info you’d need to know, and how HOT & COLD TABLES Nursery had two tables set up this week, one much can be deduced from that. table had warm cookie dough just out of the NURSERY BAKE-SHOP Nursery students have been baking up a storm, MIDDLE & HS SCHOOL POETRY oven but still pliable to play with and shape using Chanukah cookietaking turns as bakers and customers, buying Mrs. M’s English classes are now reading cutter shapes, while the and selling all types of baked goods (mostly toy Robert Frost poems, and are using a metering other table had Chanukah foods) shopping for ingredients and prepping method of counting & measuring syllables as shaped ice-cubes for them in toy kitchens. They even made their own part of an overall unit on poetry. to play with. play-dough to shape and “bake”.
NEW: HS GIRLS MISHMAR Usually, the HS Girls are running a Mishmar program of after-school learning for younger students, but now they also have a Mishmar program for their own enrichment, twice each month. This past week it was led by Morah Esti Backman and was hosted at the Gurock home.
DEVORAH’S SONG 4th grade Navi (Prophets) is now learning the Song of Devorah the Prophetess after the war against the enemy general Sisrah, who was killed by Yael, another heroine of the story.
A SANDBOX IS A SANDBOX... Unless it’s a Chanukah Sandbox! Morah Rivka added solid and fillable Dreidels, Menorah shapes and other Chanukah-themed objects to the Nursery sandbox to transform it.
Q-TIP SNOWFLAKES YUD-TES KISLEV AND THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Mrs. Matisse’s first-graders used blue Q-tips with white tips to create six-pointed flakes on wax-paper. They look very pretty, but are also an actual lesson in measurement and shapes.
A few years back our older boys made these banners with Rabbi Mendel about two parables given for Chassidus by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak (1880-1950): coal-mining & scuba-diving for pearls, and the differences between them. But one thing they have in common is the need for fresh oxygen! That ties right into the science unit our 4/5 graders are doing now with Mrs. Maher on the respiratory system, how we breathe, which organs are MORE SHAPES IN FIRST GRADE involved, and how breathing supports life! First graders used the plastic shapes in the bucket (on left) to create their own pictures TWO CHANUKAH PRESENTS using tracings of those shapes (on right). Look for Report-Cards this Chanukah! Good results & PAPER CIRCUITS LED MENORA reports can be a great gift, Using copper tape and a 3-volt battery, on a indeed. Plus the school got piece of cardstock paper, some classes with big boxes of something that Rabbi Yossi learned about the positive and came from Hedstrom and negative in LED lighting and made thin paper Target, one of which will be Menorahs that actually lit up! given to each student on the afternoon (at dismissal) before the first Chanukah light! We ORDER YOUR “TORAH-TIMES” do need to take one big picture, and then off This is the best season for it… Breishis & Shmos! everyone will go to get ready for Chanukah and www.TheTorahTimes.com (via Amazon). light their Menorah for the first time this year.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ADVANTEDGE CARD! Price Chopper recently renewed their add-on points Gas-Program, there was one in the summer and now again in the Fall through New Years. Please link your card to Maimonides School for Tools for Schools program. You can do both these things at any customer service (or online) & benefits accrue automatically, both at
SHALOM KIDS YOGA CARDS 32 Yoga poses in Hebrew and English with a poem 7 Age-appropriate meditations, 7 Breathing practices to relax and calm, 8 Fun games.
$14.99 special price, with percentage of proceeds to MHDS. Email: jorystillman@gmail.com if interested. Visit www.shalomkidsyoga.com or on Facebook.
OREGON TRAIL WAGON TRAINS You might not be able to see the words in this small picture but everyone in Mrs. Ramsay’s Social-Studies class sure can, especially without the lights on. They’re learning about the westward expansion and the Oregon Trail.
at Maimonides and in the Community
It’s getting cold out, we tliek to take the kids out to play… DRESS WARM for Winter!
DAYS OFF AND HALF DAYS AT SCHOOL COMING UP 12/15: Friday of Chanukah, No School 12/25: Monday, No School. Enjoy the extended weekend. 12/26-28: Half-Days: Tues to Thursday, Judaic Studies until 11:30am each day. Second Chidon test is on Tuesday, 12/26. 12/29-1/1/2018: No School, Friday to Monday. Enjoy this four day weekend.
Tephilah historic synagogue on River Street. 12/9: YUD-TES KISLEV MELAVA MALKA SIYUM AND FARBRENGEN 12/18: 6pm public Menorah Lighting in Saratoga’s 7pm at Maimonides, this one for one and all, families and community. This annual Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen will also celebrate Daf Yomi’s Siyum on Makkos, with the beautifully inspiring story at its ending. Rabbi Simon will make the Siyum, Rabbi Rubin will share 1964 memories of Rebbe’s talk on this piece of Talmud, and Rabbi Roy Feldman will speak on the Alter Rebbe’s Halachic Revolution.
12/10: JOINT SOCIETY EVENT Dr. Sharon Goldman (who has previously spoken here on the Iran Deal) will speak on “Challenges Facing American Zionists in 2017” sponsored by the Federations Baruch, Weitzman & Maimonides Societies, 7pm at Agudat Achim in Schenectady. Cost is $30pp, NextDor Charge: $20.
12/11: PRE-CHANUKAH MISHMAR This Monday after-school a day before Chanukah, 3:30-4:15pm, Mishmar for both boys and girls, grades 2+. Please send $2 per child to cover treats and supplies, and if babysitting is necessary for younger children $2 for each child. Mishmar will usually be 2X a month, but this time will be back to back because of Chanukah and winter break ahead.
12/12-19: CHANUKAH EVENTS 12/12: Tuesday, first night of Chanukah, public Menorah Lighting at the Four Corners 12/12: Menorah Lighting at Monument Square in Troy, will continue each night of the holiday, too 12/12: Also all Chanukah, look for the Chabad Chanukah display and table in Crossgates Mall 12/12: “Chanukah at the Gallery” for 20’s & 30’s at Opalka Gallery, New Scotland Ave, 7pm. 12/12: First Night of “Final-ly Chanukah” at Shabbos House for college students 12/13: Chanukah Balloon Extravaganza, 5pm at Boscov’s in Clifton Park Center. 12/14: Chanukah Bowling at Saratoga Strike Zone, 32 Ballston Ave, 5pm. 12/14: “Latkes & Lights” at East Greenbush Library, 5-8pm. 12/15: Final-ly Chanukah Shabbat Dinner for college students at Shabbos House, 7pm 12/16: NCSY Chanukah Carnival at CBAJ, 7-9pm on Sat Night. $5pp or $20max per family. 12/17: Sunday Friendship Circle Program. 12/17: Bethlehem Chabad’s Chanukah Chocolate Wonderland preceded by a Car-Menorah Parade from a Menorah lighting at the Four Corners. 12/17: Chanukah Party at Saratoga Library, 1-4pm. 12/17: Chanukah Party 2-4pm at Troy’s Beth
historic and beautiful Congress Park 12/17: Scout’s Court of Honor. See below. 12/18: Chanukah Children’s Program 3:30pm after dismissal at Maimonides, Car Menorah Parade leaves 4:15pm Maimonides ending with Menorah Lighting outside NYS Capitol 4:45pm. 12/19: “Baby Loves Chanukah!” 3-4pm at Clifton Park Chabad. 12/19: The Maimonides Raffle-Auction with the Kochman’s Delicious Hawaiian Chanukah! 12/20: Chanukah Songs & Plays at School. 9:30am. Last Day of Chanukah!
12/17: SCOUT COURT OF HONOR Maimonides will be hosting an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on the Sunday of Chanukah, 10am12:30pm with the award ceremony for MHDS alumnus Eli Kochman as an Eagle Scout. Community is welcome to attend.
12/19: ANNUAL MAIMONIDES RAFFLE-AUCTION & DINNER The Raffle-Auction display and prize drawings will be on Tuesday, the 8th night of Chanukah, along with a delicious Hawaiian-themed Chanukah dinner prepared by the Kochmans. Tickets can be purchased via mail, in-person at the event or online at: www.maimonidesschool.org/auction
12/20: SCHOOL SONGS & PLAYS 9am on Wednesday, last day of Chanukah. Class performances at school, parents/families welcome!
NIPPER DOGS DOWNTOWN
Nipper the RCA dog is a old beloved Albany 12/24-26: J.G.R. WINTER RETREAT landmark (atop a Sunday thru Tuesday in Albany NY, an exciting building on Broadway fun-filled meaningful winter retreat overnight downtown. This year’s program for girls ages 8-18 with workshops, Art on the Streets activities and winter fun: JewishGirlsRetreat.com/ features ten little Nipper Winter or call Morah Nechama at 614-JGR-CAMP. dogs, each painted in its own different style or 12/26: SECOND CHIDON TEST theme. Ten more little It’s coming up fast! Timing isn’t great, coming after Nipper dogs will be installed by July, and Chanukah and on one of the school’s half-days, then auctioned off by the end of the year. and we will be missing a bunch of Fridays between now and then, so make sure to start studying now! Check them out downtown, between Clinton & Broadway to Madison & Phillip.
1/28: J-FED’S SUPER-SUNDAY Parents! We need Maimonides parent volunteers to assist with Federation’s Super-Sunday, as the funds raised benefit the entire community, including an allocation for Maimonides.
1/21: SPA FOR THE BODY & SOUL Stay tuned for this year’s women’s program!
SHABBOS PACKAGE UPDATE The Shabbos Package in the Raffle-Auction includes 3 fine bottles of Kosher liquor, one of which is an elegant bottle of Fig Arak by Zachlawi. Plus, there’s a gift card from Whole Foods that isn’t listed in the Booklet.
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!”