Maimonides Community

BH. THURS Shvat

4, 5779 / Jan 10, 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 4:24 Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 5:30 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

CONDOLENCES SYKES FAMILY Our condolences to Jerry and Ilene Sykes on the recent passing of Jerry’s mother. She lived to 100 years of age and spent her last years in this area. Jerry and Ilene are both very active in many communal Jewish organizations and are also generous supporters of the Maimonides School. May her memory be a blessing.

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

MAZAL TOV BERMANS To Harvey & Lynn Berman on the birth of a granddaughter Chana, born to Shmuly and Mushkie Berman. Much Nachas!

This MC Newsletter is sponsored in loving memory of “a research scientist, son of a research scientist!”

Dr. Charles Heidelberger Yechezkel ben Michoel Yartzeit Today: 4th of Shvat By his daughter Lisa and Rabbi Yaakov Kellman

ELECTRONIC SCRIBBLER BOTS Mrs. Mattice’s 2nd graders made their own “Scribbler Bots” using electronic toothbrushes as the motor, sections of pool-noodles, markers as its legs and a personalized face or panel design. The markers are its legs, and when placed on paper and turned on they will scribble and doodle away in a random way!

They first tried using 4 legged markers but after experimentation (an important part of the process!) realized that the 3-legged bots were more stable and reliable. It was harder to get all 4 markers to work together in unison than it was to get 3 of them in sync. They also experimented with markers in the same color families (orange, yellow, red) vs. opposing colors (red, yellow, green). Thanks to Mrs. Mattice for this fun, engaging, multi-step STEM activity that they each took home, and for bringing in the parts and supplies, too!

PIZZA NIGHT THIS SAT NIGHT! Yes, Pizza Night III. 7:15-8:45pm. See page 4.

HEBREW WINTER CLOTHES 4th graders made these with Morah Rivi and labeled each article of clothing with its Hebrew OUR LABS ARE TAKING SHAPE! word. The weather is turning colder, parents Activities are already taking place and more be sure your children are well-prepared—ready equipment and furnishings coming in to our to go out and enjoy outdoors for recess time. new and renewed lab spaces: STEAM activities underway in Makerspace downstairs, more THANKFUL FOR WARMTH Science in the Lab Upstairs, the outdoor Thanks to Simmy Rubin and the WOW (wide open windows) Learning & technician who came in to tweak the settings Discovery Center now filling in with Compost so the heaters are working much better. Lesson Bins, Rain-Barrels, Solar-Panels, Greenhouse learned: A small settings adjustment goes a & more. Thanks to our many donors and to long way—same is true of attitude in learning! Legacy Learning Labs for making this happen!

FULFILLING YOUR POTENTIAL

ONE BIT ISN’T LIKE THE OTHER 8th grade boys checked out the difference in drills and drill bits in the new “Makershop” this week. Each has their own function & purpose, depending on the need. As Avot 4:3 teaches us, “there is no (person or) thing that doesn’t have its (time and) place”.

CONDUCTORS AND RESISTORS

LORD OF THE FLIES

6th grade boys Gemorah learned 8th grade finished reading a beautiful psychological insight this thought-provoking book and relevant life lesson from about human nature and survival in how the Gemorah (Sukkah 3b) difficult situations. It deals with differentiates between a tiny house and issues like nature vs. nature, mind a same-size field watchmen’s hut. vs. heart, group vs. individual. They’re now reviewing for a test on it and will be writing essays about it afterwards.

NEW POPCORN ADDITION 8th grade boys Tuesday recess BETTER TOGETHER ESSAYS drink-sale has now added popcorn to their sales menu. Speaking of essays, its time for middle & high Note: This coming week, it school students to get started on the annual will be on Monday instead of “Better Together” essay contest. The subject is Tuesday because a visiting can be anything related to seniors especially in Yeshiva from Monsey will join regard to interacting with them and learning our boys for an expanded from them. Ask Rabbi Yossi for more info. davening & learning together.

This week’s DEATH BE NOT PROUD STEAM class Our 11th graders just finished this experimented somber reflective book. They are with conductors now taking some time to do some and resistors practice Regents tests & essays. and learned two connections: (1) The Kohain used a leather glove to hold the copper pans.

(2) The Paschal lamb could not be roasted on a metal spit instead it had to be on a wooden ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR spit, and preferably of pomegranate wood.

Some of our younger grades watched this film production with a story about giving Tzedakah ISRAEL ON THE MOON UPDATE anonymously. For 2nd graders the film’s Students in our Makerspace theme connected to the Hebrew words for are following the exciting hidden/privacy that they learned in class. adventures of the Israeli Moon Launch which was LEARNING HOW TO CARRY... titled “Breishit”! (Now that’s This isn’t about a schlepping a heavy load. a nice Jewish name for a Second grade math learned how to carry space vessel). This week they learned that it numbers over from one column to another! would be “hitchhiking a ride” (just as many Israelis do!) aboard a rocket from Cape ORIGAMI Canaveral in Florida. But it benefits NASA as RABBITS well, because they are placing some of their First graders read own research equipment aboard the Israeli a small book “A vessel, so everyone gains!

Friend for the White Rabbit” SWIRLING FAST IN THE WIND and then learned This has been a very windy week and students how to make from classroom windows have been watching origami rabbits by the new anemometer atop the weather station folding paper. It outside swirl around was fun to do and faster and faster! Down in was a good lesson the Makerspace there’s a in learning device & screen where something new by they can track the digital following step-bydata record of the step instructions. spinning outside.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CELLULAR RESPIRATION These were the subject of 8-10th grade biology science test this week, though they are opposite processes they work together to maintain homeostasis of the cell. This concept fits right into Chasynthesis class which seeks to demonstrate how (opposing) paradoxical themes can work harmoniously together.

Photosynthesis is also great timing just before Tu Bishvat (Jewish New Year for Trees) even though most leaves are gone this time of year.

NOA’S WEEKLY DANCE CLASS Noa Bahir has been teaching some very nice dances to our students, and they keep getting better at it.

Besides the dance moves themselves and it being a fun energizing outlet, they’re learning movement and rhythm, coordination, flexibility, teamwork, and much more!

A VERY HUNGRY LITTLE GIRL Everyone knows Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Little Caterpillar”, right? Well, Kindergarten made their own version, putting pictures of foods under various Brachos for each day of the week as “the little girl” went along and ate (and kept on learning) more and more about the different food blessings!

“IT’S JUST A FEW OF US” Speaking of Yeshiva Torah v’Daas... this week some kids were out sick, and some classes were more affected than others. It was a good time to retell the story Reb Moshe Losice likes to retell of Rabbi Shlomo Heiman, who gave his shiur just as enthusiastically and dramatically with only 4 students in attendance during a snowstorm—because, “It’s not just you four,” he explained, “I’m giving this shiur for you, your children and grandchildren, and anyone you will meet and influence down the line…”

HEALTH TIP: HANDWASHING! Lots of sick germs are going around these days.

One health tip is to be sure to do frequent Nursery students are learning the Hebrew handwashing. And drink to stay well-hydrated! letter Yud this week. It may be the smallest letter but it is a very important one, and they JEWELS IN learned you can find a THE DARK letter Yud inside all the During the plague other letters of the Alefof darkness, the Bais! Letter Yud is also Jews were able to the 10th letter and this see the treasures week (for Parsha Bo) they inside Egyptian are learning about the 10 homes (which Plagues in Egypt. became their payment for many years of slavery). Morah Rivka put coins and shiny ROOTS PROJECT INTERVIEWS jewels all around the Nursery classroom, 3rd graders are doing a “Roots” project for Tu closed the lights and had the kids come back Bishvat, each student is interviewing one of to see how many they could find. Some in their grandparents about when they were kids, plain sight, but some needed some searching! & to find out more about their family history.

LEARNING THE LETTER YUD

BIKING TO SCHOOL— 165 MILES!

QUARTS, PINTS, CUPS, ETC… First grade read “Lulu’s Lemonade” a math reader about liquid measurement. Then they helped Mrs. Mattice make “Gallon Man” and after that poured from one big gallon into 4 quarts, from the quarts into 8 pints, and then down into 16 cups!

Hands-on poured learning!

#WEREMEMBER CAMPAIGN Our school would like to take part in this WJC (World Jewish Congress) Holocaust remembrance on social-media, but looking for creative ideas of how we can spell out or design the letters of “We Remember” Any ideas? We’re doing it this coming week.

RESOLVING CONTRADICTIONS

A big theme in Talmud studies this week, in classes studying Sukkah 3b and also a double contradiction in Bava Metziah 37a.

It makes you think to be sure, and Alumnus Efraim it also helps to develop solutionRubin (who does oriented and problem-solving abilities & traits. a lot of research) sent us this amazing old story about a 17-year old boy Mauretz Blonder (his father was a Chazzan in Troy) who biked all the way to NYC in the rain, sleeping in a nearby alley, all to attend NY’s Yeshiva Torah V’Daas because YAEL, SISRA & DEVORA’S SONG he wanted to 4th graders are learning Navi with Morah learn Torah so Chana and now making a diorama about the much—Like the great battle when Yael killed General Sisra and “Hillel in the the song that Devorah wrote about it. It’s very snow” story in timely now, because next week’s Haftorah for the Talmud…

Beshalach–Shabbos Shira is Devorah’s Song!

A TREE GOES UP IN NURSERY Tu Bishvat is less than 2 weeks away now. This new bulletin board in Nursery has many types of fruit trees listed with their Hebrew names and drawings of their fruits.

NOT TOO EARLY FOR COMPOST It will take warmer weather for it to turn into dirt, but we started filling our new compost bins with food & paper scraps. We will keep you (com)posted!

at Maimonides and in the Community 1/11-13: JUNIOR NCSY SHABBATON CBAJ Albany hosts NCSY Hartford CT for a 5-7 grade Shabbaton.

1/11-12: BAR-MITZVAH BOYS SHABBATON Our 8th grade Bar-Mitzvah boys are having another Shabbaton together in Clifton Park this weekend. And they have a mid-week NY trip, too!

1/12: SIYUM KADDISH KIDDUSH FOR YOSEF COSTA This Shabbos will be a special Kiddush at Shomray Torah as the 11 months of Kaddish said in memory of Yosef Costa comes to a close. The Kiddush is sponsored by his family and friends, may his memory be a blessing. There will also be multiple Minyan for Torah reading this Shabbos at Shomray Torah.

1/12: RABBI REISMAN NAVI CLASS BROADCAST Sat nights Navi class viewable at the CBAJ Media Center at 7:30pm.

1/12: PIZZA NIGHT III BY MAIMONIDES HIGH 7:15pm-8:45pm. This Sat Night at Maimonides. Eat-in or take-out. You can email orders before Shabbos to BnosChayaPrograms@gmail.com. Pizza is $9 per medium pie, $10 w/toppings, fries $2. SPECIALS THIS WEEK: Drinks 50 cents, Sushi is 1 for $7 but 2 for $10, Garlic-Knots are 2 for $1 & 5 for $2.

1/13: (INDOOR) SCHENECTADY GREENMARKET

It may be cold out but kids already like our new outdoor classroom!

1/17: AIPAC SPEAKER ON “THE NEW CONGRESS... … and the US-Israel Relationship”. A talk by Ed Miller, AIPAC’s national deputy political director. Sponsored by AIPAC, 6:30pm at Beth Emeth.

1/19-20: “THE SAMUEL PROJECT” FILM AT SCHEN JCC 7:15pm-10pm at the Schenectady JCC Film Festival. Contact the JCC for more info and cost. This PG-13 film tells the story of a outcast teenage art student discovering his isolated grandfather’s past. The same film will also be screened on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

1/21: ANNUAL TU BISHVAT BREAKFAST AT MHDS

This year ’round farmer and crafts market (as many as 60 vendors) moves indoors for winter inside Proctor’s Theater Arcade, 10am-2pm every Sunday.

Fruity breakfast and “New Year for Trees” program at school. New for this year, look for an outdoor classroom nature activity for Tu Bishvat using our new outdoor WOW Discovery & Learning Center—even during the winter!

1/13: SUSAN AXELROD: YOUR JOB IS TO BE

1/25: FRIDAY OFF, NO SCHOOL

Many know Susan via JGR/JGU. She’s a life-coach and will be discussing her new book: “Your Job is to Be” at the Schenectady JCC 3-5pm.

1/13-2/24: SUGAR ON SNOW AT RIVERSIDE MAPLE 1-3pm every Sunday from Jan 13th to Feb 24th, Riverside Maple Farms offers tours of their maple syrup facility including freshly made in front of your eyes maple-syrup-shaved-ice-taffy. 7152 Amsterdam Rd in Glenville. Call for info.

1/14: DRINK AND POPCORN SALE ON MONDAY On Monday, instead of Tuesday next week (since on Tuesday our boys will be joining a visiting group from a Monsey Yeshiva for parts of the morning).

1/14: MONDAY MISHMAR FOR GIRLS Monthly after-school program for girls grades 2+ activities & crafts run by HS Girls. $2pp covers supplies. 3:30-4:30pm at school. Tu Bishvat themed!

FYI. An extended weekend off at the end of January.

2/6: ROSH CHODESH ADAR I, 3RD CHIDON TEST The 3rd of 3 Chidon tests will be on Wednesday, Feb 6th, the 1st of Adar I.

2/8: A NIGHT AT THE MAGIC CLUB CBAJ hosts Ben Cohen for Friday Night dinner and entertainment of magic, comedy and mentalism. RSVP at cbaj.org by February 1st at the latest.

2/17: “JEWISH DATA” TALK AT GUILDERLAND Rabbi Laber will be presenting his extensive “Jewish Data” research database with tools and interesting examples of the many things that can be learned from gravestones and public records, 2pm at the Guilderland Public Library.

3/3: WOMENS SPA FOR THE BODY AND SOUL 1-4pm at Shabbos House. Featured presenter is the humorous and meaningful

1/16: THE WED SPECIAL AT KOSHER PRICE CHOPPER Miriam Lipsker of Emory University Chabad in Atlanta, Georgia. She will be To find out details and pre-order the weekly Wednesday prepared dinner special at Kosher Price Chopper, email JohnPiccolo@pricechopper.com to be added to the weekly email list with the menu, pricing and other details.

speaking on relationships. Stay tuned for updates & details.

3/10: JEWISH FEDERATION’S SUPER SUNDAY

Nice treats every week at morning recess on Wednesdays. They do a very nice job with it. Parents who’d like to start or replenish a tab can contact them.

Call-a-thon reaching out to Capital Region area donors to support the Jewish Federation and its local beneficiaries (including the Maimonides School) and its overseas and Israel partners for the Jewish community. Maimonides parents are asked to kindly volunteer a shift for this effort.

1/16: YUD-SHVAT COMMUNAL FARBRENGEN

4/7: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE GALA EVENT

1/16: 8TH GRADE GIRLS BAKE SALE

Wednesday evening, 6pm at Maimonides. Looking forward to a guest speaker! Stay tuned for info. To be held at the Elks Lodge in Albany.

Rabbi M. Caras has a list of ways that people can pitch in and participate.

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!”