BH. Iyar
19, 5779 / May 24, 2019
ב“ה
Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org 8:02 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 9:11 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
This MC Newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of
Eve Kneznek
OUR LAG B’OMER PARADE What a beautiful parade! What a beautiful day! Sunny, breezy, gorgeous—it was perfect out until the last group came back to school from the park, then it began to pour! This year, for the first time, we took the New Scotland Ave route to Washington Park. Even first graders commented on their own how they liked this route better “because we could make a Kiddush Hashem for more people”. People came out to wave us on, take videos on their phones, more waved from their offices. Special thanks to Mayors Office and Albany Police Department for mounted police & police escort.. Middle-schoolers did a great job drumming the whole way, and we were lucky to have Eli K. a Maimonides alumnus and Lag B’Omer drum corps veteran lead them on. Morah Rivi and her art students did a great job with the butterfly and tulip float, thanks to Morah Devorah for driving the truck. See the pictures on page 3, including a picture taken by a friend from an upper floor of a medical office building that we passed on the sidewalk below. A Channel 10 TV cameraman met us in the park, but not sure if/when that will air.
JOURNAL/YEARBOOK DUE
- On her yartzeit, today 19 Iyar (the day after Lag B’Omer) Her memory lives on in our school as her generous bequest enabled the purchase of 404 Partridge Street.
If you’d like to place an ad in this year’s Dinner Journal & Yearbook, to honor Joshua and Amanda Gurock, recognize Morah Dini Gordon and the 5-Year Yahadus curriculum, to remember Reb Moshe Losice obm, to congratulate an 8th grade graduate or thank a teacher—please do so by this coming Monday, Memorial Day, May 27th as we have to design the journal & get to a printer in time. Submit ad text online: maimonidesschool.org/dinner or email: maimonidesdinner@gmail.com
WHY THE PARENTHESES Everyone knows the “Kol HaOlam Kulo” song, right? Some know hand-motions for it, too! It is based on writings from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. So why are two of those words “very narrow” in parentheses for this year’s dinner theme? The reason “very narrow” is in parentheses is because Maimonides School believes and teaches that these connecting bridges can and should be broad & many, not few & narrow.
MAZAL TOV DEVORAH LEAH S. On her Bas-Mitzvah this Sunday! Best wishes!
COUNTING THE OMER WITH OUR STUDENTS, ONE BY ONE! Morah Devorah Leah keeps adding another photo of a different student holding up a number for each day of the Omer Count as we get closer to Shavuot. Indeed, the life lesson is that each student is needed, is an integral part, we can’t do it without each and every one! Everyone matters and helps us all get there! We all add up!
AUTHOR HERMAN WOUK OBM See class discussions about him in next MC…
SCHOOL PICS ONLINE Parents can purchase their kids photos (digital or print format) of individuals & class photos taken at school this week on School Picture Day. Kids look great! Order via: carasmaticdesign.com/schoolpics/
PRIZES FROM ISRAELI EMBASSY
Our video entry won 2nd place in the Israeli embassy’s contest about introducting aliens to the Israeli moon launch effort. The embassy sent each student a package of goodies, they PUSSY-WILLOW PROJECT Pictured above Chaya C. is looking at the vase are pictured here holding their embassy gifts. Special thanks to Rabbi Michoel Caras for all of pussy-willows, behind it on the wall is a his work on this with our students! bulletin board of their student-illustrated writings about them. Pussy-willows get these fuzzy nubs as winter turns into spring, these cottony covers protect the flowers before their start to bloom, so it’s a nice sign of the season.
YOM YERUSHALAYIM ART One week from this Sunday is Jerusalem Day and Morah Rivi’s art students each made their own Jerusalem art made of foil and paint.
MAIMONIDES IN WASHINGTON HOW TO GET THE FREE PASSES Round II. This past week Mrs. R. Kochman If your child did the bonus reading to be eligible for free entry passes to the Great Escape amusement park this summer, please be in touch with Morah Dini so she can email you the passes.
TURN IT, TURN IT... Pictured above 6th grade Shmuly is turning over our compost pile, burying the drier top into the moister bottom, and we get to see the worms come up every time we do that. If viewing this in color, you’ll see the great blurry motion picture with so many colors in it! The expression “Turn it, turn it” comes from Pirkei Avot about Torah, the more we see it from different sides & angles, the more we realize that everything can be found in it!
SAME WITH REGENTS REVIEW Seeing it from different angles and varying the review styles helps with test review as well. Ms. Ramsay’s HS Global History is now reviewing the same material again but this time in chart form, the more ways to review the better!
chaperoned our 8th grade girls, and while our 8th grade boys went the week earlier, their trips didn’t mirror each other. A big highlight for the girls was their visit to the Holocaust Museum and this very meaningful inscription from Chumash Devarim about the risks and dangers of forgetting, and the importance of transmitting it onward to the next generation— not only a Holocaust remembrance message but also so important about Jewish education. They also enjoyed swimming, eating at Kosher restaurants, visiting official sites (White House and the Treasury are pictured above) and spending quality time together, and also their dynamic drive in a revved up sports car rental!
SPEAKING ABOUT WWII
HS MAKES NAVI KIDS BOOKS As a final project (well, they still have a big test on the last few chapters) in Morah Dini’s Navi class each HS student wrote & illustrated their a childrens book based on a story in Melachim Kings I they learned. Several covers pictured.
The Holocaust Museum visit tied right into 8th grade history with Ms. Ramsay, where they spent a lot of time learning about WWII. Upon the 8th grade girls return from their DC trip, they learned and discussed the atom bombs on Japan that ended the war as well as the Japanese interment camps during the war inside the United States and some of the ethical and military issues relating to it.
Can you see the police horses way up front before the flower float?
Non-Stop Drum-Beat Street after Street!
Nursery joined for the first leg on Partridge Street, posing here in front of Tulip/Butterfly Float
Bar-Yochai Song at Park Playhouse
An onlooker in one of the top floors of a medical office building posted this picture from his office window!
Channel 10 Cameraman found us in Washington Park
Passing the Park South Apartments On New Scotland Sage College
Passing Albany Med
Came out to see us!
Rabbi Rubin and Morah Rochel cheerfully walking the Music Box! 1.6 miles marching later entering Washington Park
at Maimonides and in the Community 5/25: SHABBOS BEHAR
6/2: WILDLIFE FESTIVAL @WILTON 6/2: YOM YERUSHALAYIM
This is one of the shortest Torah readings of the year, only 57 verses (many years Behar is joined with Bechukotai, but not this year).
11am-3pm, Wildlife Festival at the Wilton Wildlife Jerusalem Reunification Day. This year on Sunday. Preserve. Animals, crafts, fire tower, pond science & more, enter at Camp Saratoga Parking Lot #1. 6/6: J’FED: OPIOD CRISIS TALK A panel discussion of experts on this important 6/2: WORMS WORK @ THATCHER issue is being hosted by the Jewish Federation’s A program on worms and vermicomposting (which Joint Societies, 7pm at UAlbany’s School Of Public we started at school) will be 1pm at the Thatcher Health, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, just across Park Nature Center. Call/RSVP: 518-872-0800. the river. $20 by RSVP, $25 at door. Info? 518-7837800 or online at: www.JewishFedNY.org
5/25: WOMENS SHIUR THIS WEEK This week’s womens Shabbos shiur will be given by Leah Caras at her home 96 Grove Ave (corner Helderberg Ave) at 4:45pm.
5/27: MEMORIAL DAY
6/3: LUNCH W/ DR. BREAKSTONE
No School. Enjoy the extended weekend. Please, remember we also have no school on Friday, June 7th before Shavuot, so two 4-day weeks ahead.
6/9-10: SHAVUOT HOLIDAY
5/26: HUCK FINNS PLAYLAND
Noontime at the Jewish Federation. $5pp. Dr. Breakstone is an executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel and a member of the Executives of the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF), and Keren Hayesod.
Now open through Sept 2nd for the summer season, 11am-8pm. Www.HucksPlayland.com
6/3: SENATOR KAPLAN’S STORY
6/10: TANACH SIYUM AT CBAJ
5/27: MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
NY State Senator Anna Kaplan is the first political refugee, first Iranian-American elected to the NYS Senate and will speak about her efforts at talk at Bnai Shalom at 7pm. More info? 518-482-5283
Communal Tanach collective Siyum celebration after CBAJ services around noontime of the 2nd day of Shavuot. Maimonides and Hebrew Academy students will take part of the celebration. Those who took study chapters should finish by this date.
Albany’s Memorial Day Parade starts at 9:30am from corner of Central Ave and Partridge Street proceeding east down to Washington Ave to Hawk Street, the reviewing stand will be on the steps of the State Education Building. North Greenbush’s parade steps off at their Town Hall (2 Douglass St, Street Wynantskill) at 1:30pm. There are several other local parades (Sand Lake, Castleton, Hilltowns in Berne) all starting at 10am.
Shabbat goes straight into Shavuot’s Sunday and Monday for a “3 Day YomTov”. No school on Friday 6/8 and late 9:30am start on Tuesday 6/11. School Trip likely on Wed 6/12 or Thurs 6/13.
6/19: MOVE UP & GRADUATION Moving-Up Day ceremonies (& end of school) in the morning with 8th grade graduation ceremonies in the evening of the same day. HS students have a Regents testing schedule of their own.
5/27: DINNER JOURNAL DEADLINE
6/23: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE WALK
Please have your ads/greetings etc for the school’s annual Maimonides dinner journal/yearbook submitted by this date so it can be designed and printed in time for the dinner.
11am-1pm at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland.
6/26: 100+ YEAR OLD GOMEL TORAH RESTORED & DEDICATED
5/29: DEADLINE TO ORDER PICS This is the last day that parents can purchase their children’s photos (either digital or print format) taken at school last Wednesday on School Picture Day before Lag B’Omer. Do it online via this webpage: carasmaticdesign.com/schoolpics/
5/30: CBAJ INSTALLATION DINNER FOR RABBI ROY FELDMAN RSVP for honorary committee, dinner RSVPs or journal ads online at: cbaj.org/dinner This dinner is the formal installation ceremonies of Rabbi Roy Feldman as CBAJ Rabbi. Well-known Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of NYC will be featured speaker.
5/31: RIDING GOLAN’S HISTORY Federation’s Breakfast Series featured community member Ed Rosen sharing his experiences and knowledge of the Golan: 7:30-9am at Federation. RSVPs appreciated for food arrangements.
6/4: MAIMONIDES DINNER This year’s Maimonides Dinner “The whole world is a (very narrow) bridge!” will honor Josh & Amanda Gurock, dedicated parents, an invested school family with broad, lively communal vision and involvement. The dinner will also recognize our school’s first 5-year Yahadus curriculum completion & our students achievements, recognized nationally. This dinner will also be a communal remembrance for R’ Moshe Losice who recently passed away after a lifetime of local leadership and dedication. The dinner invites have been mailed, the journal deadline is May 27th. If you have questions or would like more info, call the school office 518-453-9363 or Raizy at 518-7727299. THANKS for your support (via journal ads, in person attendance etc) of this important school fundraiser and annual communal event.
Naftali (Tony) German came to the US from Gomel Russia in 1989 and carried with him a Torah from the synagogue where his father served as Gabbai, written 100 years earlier! This Torah has been lovingly restored and will be dedicated for use in Colonie community. All welcome to join this rededication celebration & amazing Torah life-story that preceded & survived all of the 20th century!
6/30: BATTLE OF THE BBQS 2.0 Teams now assembling for the 2nd Battle of the BBQ’s to benefit the Shalom Food Pantry, to be held 2-5pm at Bethlehem Chabad.
7/8-8/15: CAMP GAN ISRAEL DATES Now is a good time to find out more about what Gan Izzy has in store, and to register for day-camp this summer, kids ages 3-10. One tidbit: This year’s preschool division counselor is Simcha Cadaner, a Jewish Montessori teacher in Brooklyn. More info contact Morah DL Mathless: 518-698-1836
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!”