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17 Adar I, 5779 / Feb 22, 2019
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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 5:18 Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 6:19 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
ISRAEL MOON LAUNCH Our school has been following the background and preparations of “Berasheet” moon-launch by Israel’s SpaceIL since start of the school year, even participated HANDWRITTEN MEGILLAHS in voting for its name! The moon-landing No, not the whole Megillah, just the first few vessel launched last night, piggy-backing on an words—and Yes! these were handwritten by our American rocket. We will continue to follow Nursery (3-4 year old Nursery!) students! its historic, futuristic journey!
This week’s newsletter is sponsored in loving memory of
Salo Steper
Shlomo Yaakov ben Mordechai and Chaya Henna Yartzeit 20 Adar (Feb 25th) FIERY COIN
A MINI-PURIM TREAT Purim isn’t for another 3 1/2 weeks, but on Purim-Katan (the Mini-Purim) this week there was extra singing and liveliness, some silly hats fun, and Morah Rochel brought tiny delicious chocolate mint lentils for the students.
COUNTING WEIGHTS Haman promised the King 10,000 talents of silver for killing (chas v’shalom) the Jews. But in this picture Yair is counting weights based on a list of formulas that he has on his math worksheet.
THE GRANDPARENTS PROJECT To go forward we also need to go backwards! Morah Dini’s 3rd graders each made a poster based on their own interviews with or research about their own grandparents and family history. As the last Parsha of the Torah teaches us: “Remember the days of yore, understand the years of each generation!”
This week’s Parsha Ki Tisa opens with the Machtzit HaShekel (half-Shekel contribution) that Moshe had a difficult time understanding (according to the Midrash) until G-d showed him an image of a coin of fire. HS Girls learned Chasynthesis on coin vs/& fire, a tension and synthesis relevant in (Jewish) life. Kindergarten students made this art project of a fiery coin.
ALL SUMMER IN A DAY
6th grade read this short sciencefiction story by Ray Bradbury THE NUMBER ELEVEN about a class of students on A 5th grader turned 11 one day this week so Venus who had never seen the Rabbi Shmuly turned it into: What Jewish sun, all aside for one girl. It’s a things connect to number 11? Mishna’s (they thought-proving story, full of metaphor. They are learning now) earliest day to read Megillah also watched it in film form after reading it. in a village is on the 11th of Adar; Ketoret It’s also interesting that since its 1954 writing, incense had 11 ingredients, each lunar year science has a better understanding of that has 11 days less than 365 days of the solar year planet, different than the story depicts. (why there’s an extra month of Adar this year).
OWLS IN THE FAMILY 4th graders are reading this story by Farley Mowat about two owls named Wol and Weep who make all kinds of lively mischief but are rescued by Billy who brings them to his home. It’s a funny story but is also a little sad, according to the 4th graders.
A SLURPIE SIYUM After learning Mishna Bava Kama all about different types of hazards and damages, Rabbi Shmuly took his 4th graders to Speedway for a Speedy-Freeze Siyum outing but asked them to look for Mishna connections along the way: They saw hazardous icy snow walkways, and they also realized that having Slurpies more often than an occasional Siyum treat could be damaging to your teeth and health!
SHOVELING IT CLEAN A family was away for an extended weekend but the car was left at school and got snowed in and plowed in during the last storm. Rabbi Mathless rolled down car windows, blasted some lively Adar music and the boys eagerly chiseled and shoveled away clearing out the car. They also did the same near the new basketball hoop.
SNOW TUNNELS
The snow has In honor of the not been that happy month of deep, but that Adar & increased can’t keep our joy on Purim students from Katan, Nursery digging snow students pasted shapes to make clown faces. tunnels in the plowed-up piles and having other snow fun. Its good to enjoy fresh air and movement time outdoors, so please make sure students are dressed properly for it.
HOW DO ANIMALS WINTER?
LILLIPUT ARCHITECTURE Second graders built a whole little Lilliput town made of blocks (and tape) after hearing the story of Gulliver’s Travels. First graders tied up (a willing) Mrs. Mattice with ropes!
DATA CHARTS
Ms. Coffey’s 6th grade math students collected data from peers on a bunch of questions and are now learning how to do the math and ROCKS AND MINERALS Mrs. Maher’s students began a science unit on input that data into plot charts and other formats for an appealing visual data report. rocks and minerals, some of which are quite ordinary and common, others are rare and expensive—but all are found naturally in the earth. Each type has its own properties.
SOUP OF THE WEEK? Parents, please call Mrs. Wildman to volunteer for your week to make hot soup.
WHOLE NUMBER X FRACTIONS NOW UP TO LETTER “AYIN”
Nursery students are now up to the Hebrew Mrs. Maher’s 5th grade math is learning to multiply whole numbers letter Ayin (also is the word for “eye”) which they are coloring now at their tables. by fractions—to do that you have to turn whole numbers into a fractions.
TWO TALMUD TESTS AHEAD
HS GIRLS AWAY THIS WEEK Staffing a winter camp on Long Island. Updates when they return in the next “MC”.
READING ABOUT IDIOMS
“Peas in a pod” isn’t expressing the same thing Mrs. Hoffman’s as “sardines in a can”. Mrs. Mattice’s second Kindergarteners graders read a book that explains expressions learned that like “smart cookie” and “cool as a cucumber”. there are three different ways that animals deal with winter: (1) Hibernate (2) Stay Active (3) Migrate.
THE XYZ AFFAIR Not only is the name of this historical event interesting but the story itself is quite intriguing, too! 6th graders are learning it with Mrs. Ramsay in Social Studies class about the early history of the United States.
CLOWNING AROUND
6th graders reviewing most of Sukkah 3a, 8th grade is reviewing most of Bava Metziah 37b. Tests next week!
NOW YAHADUS FOR FUN! Leading up to each of the 3 Yahadus tests there is a lot of pressure and not enough time to cover the core material for the tests. But now that the tests are done some classes are going back to relearn book sections that are not obligatory for the test but are much more interesting and enjoyable to read.
AND YAHADUS ON PURIM 5th grade Yahadus started learning the Purim unit, not only the laws but also the sections of customs, stories, inspiration and additional Megillah inspiration and relevance. They learned different opinions about what was so wrong about the Jews attending and enjoying King Achashvairosh’s huge feast.
ARE YOUR KIDS TABS LOW? Some families have gone low on their drink sale or bake sale tabs (credit lines at school). Please send in some money if you’d like your son(s)/daughter(s) to enjoy these weekly treats. It supports 8th grade graduation trips.
SIX HOURS OF READING LOG March 1st is the deadline for students in K-6 to come in with a 6-hours home-reading log to qualify for free Six Flags tickets. Morah Dini is our school coordinator.
MINUTE-TO-WIN-IT Adina is pictured here in Mrs. Maher’s class moving ping-pong bowls from one bowl to another using nothing but a spoon in her mouth! The Minute-to-Win-It winner was Malka who moved 6 balls in one minute.
ONE SHEMOT PARSHA AT A TIME This big Parsha sheets hangs in the first and second grade classroom and every time they learn about the weekly Torah portion they color that one in. As you can see we only have 2 more weeks (after this Shabbos) to the Book of Shemot and then Chazak! Chumash-wise, the 2nd graders are now in Parsha Noach and moving along nicely as they boost their skills. Parents, please keep reviewing and reading with them. It helps a lot!
EATING BEFORE PRAYER
^ A PRE-PURIM BAKE-SALE To find out more about 8th grade girls prePurim Bake-Sale (by 3/5, by the dozen) open to community, email: 78bakesale@gmail.com
MORE ANTENNA & SPEAKERS This week in Makerspace students built a radio using a Click-Circuit set, but the antenna was too short and the speakers too small. Not a problem! They built an extender to the antenna and added speakers to it, too!
One day this week boys davening class had a discussion on the different opinions and MEXICAN AT COOKING CLUB traditions about eating before prayer. It’s nice when they can learn about different traditions, This week’s Cooking Club with Reb Shmuel Kochman enjoyed Mexican flavors as they cherish their own and also respect others. made nachos with cheese sauce and pico de BETTER TOGETHER ESSAYS gallo at Nathan’s Kitchen at school. Reminder, time is passing! Middle and MODEL BEIT HAMIKDASH HS students please continue to work 4th graders watched a video of a model Beit on your Better Together essays which HaMikdash (Jerusalem Temple) built to scale THE LADY OF SHALLOT POEM 8th grade English with Mr. Conley looked for are due towards the end of March. in Israel and learned a lot from the visual literary elements in this classic piece. depiction of the architecture & equipment.
MHDS IN JEW-IN-THE-CITY
A MHDS alumna (and avid MC newsletter reader) noticed a mention of our school in a “Jew in the City” blogpost written about Dr. Edith Luchins obm titled “An Orthodox Woman who got a Math PhD in the 1950’s”. She was the first woman to be appointed professor at RPI. The article states that Dr. Luchins was a founder and sustaining member of our school in Albany NY (where she lived) and indeed she was!
GOING FROM DAIRY TO MEAT Rabbi Rubin’s 8th grade Talmudic research looked at the various Halachic opinions about cleansing &/or waiting after dairy before meat. They learned the original Talmud, and saw the Zohar quoted in the Code of Jewish Law, and read an letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe on this topic to the Helmintzer Rov (who was the original Rabbinic/authority consultant on the old Albany Mikvah built in the basement of Shomray Torah at 190 Elm Street). Their classroom learning spanned centuries and the spectrum and variety of Jewish law & custom.
AT YOSEF COSTA’S GRAVESTONE UNVEILING Yosef’s stone reads: “A dedicated father, a good friend, one who cherished the Rabbis, honored the synagogue and observed Torah & Mitzvot” - all true descriptions of Yosef Costa, of blessed memory. It so happens that a number of other Albany Jews buried nearby also have Adar yartzeits, so the group spent time at each gravestone, sharing memories and reciting a Mishna and Kaddish. They visited Yosef (Igor) Yankulin (9th of Adar), Salo Steper (20th of Adar) and Reb Moshe Losice’s ‘שי mother Bracha Yospeh Losice (11 Adar). Each of these people impacted and enriched our Albany Jewish community, each in their own way, and it is important to remember them. In a way, all these visits, were Yosef Costa’s style—seeing what he could do to help out, to be there for someone.
at Maimonides and in the Community 2/22: FED SCHOLARSHIPS DUE Today is the deadline! The Jewish Federation camp scholarship applications are due today at the Jewish Federation office on Washington Ave. Forms are available online at the JewishFedNY.org website.
2/22: SHABBAT 360 AT UALBANY This is the big Shabbat of the year on campus, cosponsored by all the Jewish campus organizations. Look up “Shabbat 360 2019” online for more info. Local youth (teens, college-age) are welcome as well. 7pm in the UAlbany Campus Center Ballroom.
a special Sunday night MinchaMaariv on Feb 24th and a special lunch program at school on the Yartzeit day, Mon, 2/25.
2/26: PIZZA SALE AT LUNCH
SALO YARTZEIT & CORRECTION
This memorial ad appears in this week’s “Jewish World Newspaper” edition as we $1 per hot slice approach Salo’s 2nd yartzeit on Adar 20 and remember his legacy & love of Torah. Half-Shekel, Golden Calf, Broken Tablets etc… offered by HS His Hebrew name should read: Shlomo Yaakov ben Mordechai & Chaya Henna. Pizza Night at 2/23: CBAJ TOT SHABBAT PARADE lunch. If parents would like their child(ren) to 3/3: 1ST SUNDAYS FREE AT CLARK special Tot Shabbat at CBAJ at 10:30am with songs participate please send along a dollar or two for 10am-5pm in Williamstown MA. Explore Clark that lunch. and stories, Tefilah, a Cookie Kiddush and a firstInstitute’s classic art museum, modern architecture ever Tot Shabbat parade. and gorgeous grounds in the Berkshires. Free 1st 2/26: “LIFE ANIMATED” FILM Sunday each month, theme is Hearth & Home. 2/23: RABBI REISMAN NAVI CLASS In honor of Jewish Disability Inclusion Month, Federation is showing this film at 7pm. See more Sat nights Navi class live from Brooklyn at the 3/5: PURIM BAKE SALE ORDERS about the film at: www.lifeanimateddoc.com CBAJ Media Center at 7:30pm. Order by this date to: 78bakesale@gmail.com
2/23: SHABBOS PARSHA KI TISA
2/24: CBAJ MISHLOACH MANOT To participate in CBAJ’s Purim fundraiser/ Mishloach Manot to (specific) community members with your name on it—order online by this date at cbaj.org/mm. Forms were also mailed to homes.
2/24: (INDOOR) GREENMARKET Year ’round farmer & crafts market at Proctor’s Theater Arcade, 10am-2pm every Sunday.
2/24: LAST DAY OF LEGO SHOW
2/27: SPECIALS AT INDIAN KOSHER
3/9: LAST PIZZA NITE! Kosher Dining (Vaad Supervision) at UAlbany’s Indian Quad open for lunch and dinner has a new Before the clocks change… this Pizza Nite will also dedicated gourmet chef Olga and now offers special feature a shiur by Rabbi Roy Feldman of CBAJ. -themed dinners on certain nights. It is a student 3/7: CRUSADES & MARTYRDOM cafeteria but community is welcome. Judaic Studies at UAlbany hosts Dr. William Chester Jordan of Princeton University to speak 2/28: K.P.C. WEEKLY SPECIAL about Jewish martyrdom during the first crusades at To pre-order the weekly Wednesday prepared 7pm in the Standish Room of UAlbany’s Science dinner special at Kosher Price Chopper, email JohnPiccolo@pricechopper.com to be added to the Library building. Info? 518-442-5300 & Dr. weekly email list with menu, pricing & other info. Federica Francesconi: ffrancesconi@albany.edu
Go see these magnificent to-scale Lego replicas of national monuments like the US Capitol, the White House, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 3/1: SIX HOUR OF READING DUE Statute of Liberty and more. All at Crossgates Mall, Kids up to grade 6 can submit a log of six hours of reading by March 1st to be eligible for free Six Flags the Lego Americana Roadshow ends today! entry tickets. Morah Dini is our school coordinator for this Read To Succeed program. 2/24: MINI-GOLF AT C.P. LIBRARY Play a round of family mini-golf at the Clifton Park Library on Moe Road, 1:30-4:30pm on Sunday.
2/24: BUTTERFLIES BACK @ MiSci MISCI Museum in Schenectady has their indoor interactive butterfly exhibit house back, even with the winter cold outside. Exhibit/experience is free with museum admission, and some local libraries have museum passes to cover (part of that) as well.
2/24-25: SALO STEPER YARTZEIT Salo Steper’s yartzeit is the 20th of Adar. There will
3/10: J-FED’S SUPER SUNDAY Call-a-thon reaching out to Capital Region area donors to support the Jewish Federation and its local beneficiaries (including Maimonides) and its overseas & Israel partners. Maimonides parents are asked to kindly volunteer a shift for this effort.
3/3: SPA FOR THE BODY & SOUL
3/21: PURIM PRUNCH AT MHDS
1-4pm joint communal event at Shabbos House. Featured presenter is the dynamic, humorous and meaningful Miriam Lipsker of Emory University Chabad in Atlanta. Her talk will be on relationships. Stay tuned for updates & details. RSVP soon!
4/7: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE GALA
Maimonides’ late morning Purim Prunch allows many to see each other in costume, swap Mishloach Manot and celebrate. Stay tuned for this year’s theme! And more Purim events to be listed soon…
6:30pm at the Albany Elks Lodge. $54pp or $72/a couple. Register www.capitalfriends.org/events/gala honors Jeff Weiss of Glennpeter Jewelers & more. For info call Chaya: 518-488-8992.
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!”