BH. Elul
13, 5779 / September 13, 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 6:51 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 7:50 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 week’s MC Newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of
MAZAL TOV MR. STEVE CARUSO
Toby Sonenberg
On his special Aliyah to the Torah this week at school and his new Hebrew name Shmuel (Samuel). It was a major highlight this week at school, very festive and joyous for all grades! See inside > on page 3 for pictures and more!
MAZAL TOV YESHAYEVS Mazal Tov to Dr. Raisa & Aaron Yeshayev on the birth of a baby boy!
Tova bas Shlomo on her recent passing Dedicated by her son Sam Sonenberg and family MEIR’S YARTZEIT ON 9-11
This year Elul and September dates match up, so MHDS alumnus Meir O’Brien’s 11th of Elul (2nd) yartzeit fell MAZAL TOV KUDANS on 9-11. We had a Towards the end of the summer MHDS lunch ceremony at alumna Sara’le Kudan got engaged to Yossi school. His mother Rapoport of Atlantic City NJ. Mazal Tov to Mrs. Vicky O’Brien Sara and her Chassan, and to the Kudan shared beautiful parents and all of her siblings. things about him, including how Meir SONENBERG CONDOLENCE was a bright student Our condolences to Sam Sonenberg & family who learned quickly, on the passing of his mother Toby Sonenberg. yet Maimonides found many ways to challenge She was born on a Shabbos and passed away and engage him, including MathCounts on a Shabbos, at age 87. Throughout her life she was always there and “went to bat” for her competition & his being the first Maimonides student to qualify for Chidon and represent three sons. May her memory be a blessing. our school at the competition. That’s why we named our school’s Chidon program “Meir’s FAREWELL RABBI A. KELMAN Mitzvos”. She shared about the amazing & Rabbi Avraham & Rabinessa Liora Kelman & lasting effects Meir had on people even in his family are leaving Schenectady for Sante Fe. hospital room. For 9-11, Rabbi Yossi showed Our older boys (his students) went to say clips from the inspiring story (now the “Come farewell, he gave each of them some Seforim From Away” musical) about travelers stranded (he had 75 boxes packed just of books!). We at Gander, Newfoundland on 9-11, including will miss this unique renaissance Rabbi, versed a Rabbi Sudak of England in so many areas of Torah, trained as a Sofer, who is a character in that Mohel and Shochet, who taught our students story of generosity, unity & an interesting spectrum of Jewish knowledge: humanity despite the tragedy Halacha to culture, history to practicum. of that dark and sad time.
AN ALBANY CONNECTION… This picture of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein of Poway receiving a prosthetic index finger (lost in the synagogue shooting) has been seen around the internet. The prosthetist who helped him (and pictured here alongside him) is Shmuel/Sam Heifetz, a 3rd-generation prosthetist, is none other than MHDS alumnus Avigael (Bomzer) Heifetz’s husband!
THIS DIDN’T FIT IN THIS WEEK, LOOK FOR IT IN NEXT WEEK’S MC: Guided Art making Egyptian Pharaoh's as 5th grade begins Chumash Parsha Miketz, a HS chemistry lab (that looked really cool) of dyed salt cracks in ice, “The Stolen Day” story & essay in 6/7 grade, plant and animal cell-structures in 6/7 science, Paschal Lamb in 6/7 Chumash, Nursery stuff & more!
WILLY WONKA’S FACTORY 5th grade English class is reading and working through this amazing story of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. Even though many have seen the movie they are still very much enjoying the book.
HEBREW LICORICE LETTERS These Kindergarten kids enjoyed using long thin (and tasty) licorice to shape some of the Alef-Bais letters. The more ways you learn it, the more memorable it will be!
ABOUT US: HEBREW/ENGLISH The 4th grade bulletin board has student projects in both Hebrew and English with tidbits about themselves and their families.
GEOMETRY CITY PROJECT
9th grade geometry was assigned to design a city with certain basic requirements (a school, Nursery learned a lot about library, police station, fire-department, parks, These Hebrew verbs shopping and residences, etc) some facilities apples this week, as they are very timely for this prepare for Rosh Hashanah have to be closer to each other (for example time of year: Tokeah = the school and library), space is more of a and the fall apple season. blowing (shofar), They did a taste poll using premium for some type of locations over Shomaya = listening (to others, and they have to map it all out on red, yellow and green the Shofar), Mevakesh = apples. This year the yellow graph paper, using the right proportions. requesting, Shoel = apples got the most votes, asking, Mesaper = telling, Solaiach = forgiving. PERSONAL FINANCE and red apples were just 12th grade math class (after exceeding their one vote ahead of green math Regents requirements) are taking a apples—at least in the Nursery. They also tried to virtual personal finance class, they call it paint their papers based on “adulting” where they learn about balancing the apples sitting in middle income and expenses, taxes and car-insurance and the range of factors needed to evaluate car of the tables and some of purchases and job choices and more. their Still Life painted apple artwork is pictured above.
RELEVANT HEBREW VERBS
APPLE STILL LIFE & AN APPLE POLL
WHERE DID ELIJAH GO?
MISHNA SUKKA POWERPOINT Rabbi Shmuly’s Mishna classes are learning Mishna Sukkah and making powerpoints to make it come alive in a fun, engaging way.
WHO IS AT FAULT?
Rabbi Mendel’s Talmud class this year is learning select cases from tractate Bava Kama on the laws of damages. They started with a debate about a jug left in the street with regard to damage to the jug or a person who tripped over it. The question has a lot to do whether we assign blame solely to the person who put the jug in the street or also assign blame to the walker/passerby who should have looked where they were going. The Gemorah has 5 opinions on this, with a whole bunch of varied cases and specific exceptions to reconcile with the Mishna’s blaming the jugputter. But there’s a message here, too! It’s easy for the walker to blame the jug-putter and take no personal responsibility, saying that it’s RECONSTRUCTION OF SOUTH the other guy’s fault! But (many of the 5 opinions in) this Gemorah teaches us that This picture was taken of the Social Studies white-board in Ms. Ramsay’s classroom as they even if someone else is to blame, we can still be held responsible. This goes beyond study the period after the Civil War. It shows insurance applications, it is a good how the same event can have all types of message for life! Don’t be busy different effects, positives & negatives, shades blaming others all the time, better let’s see of gray and affecting different people in what we can do ourselves to avoid pitfalls and different ways, including all types of complex hazards and get to where we need in life safely. and unintended consequences.
HS Girls Navi class is about to find out! They are now learning Kings II in Prophets.
LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL 12th grade “Participation in Government” learned about the differences in the layers of government, who is responsible for what and which areas overlap. They had to find news articles where the different layers of government are relevant.
ACID, BASE & CABBAGE JUICE Mrs. Mattice and 5th grade science did an experiment using cabbage juice to determine whether various things were acids or bases. It all depends on the PH level & you can tell that by the color it turns.
TORAHPALACE.COM GAME Now open for Tishrei. Answer questions to win prizes. Made by Morrisons in Troy NY.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Grades 6-7 science with Ms. Brown are learning the scientific method about coming up with a question and hypothesis about some specific issue and then testing the hypothesis via an experiment with good detailed reports of observations and criteria. The students worked in teams to come up with a hypothesis about something (anything really) and then testing it to share the results. They tried things like varying ingredients in a recipe and tasting the results, trying cat toys with a dog, testing rotten fruit and seeing which color dyes a white color the fastest. Of course there may be other factors and variables and those too have to be worked into the scientific method.
Mr. Steve Caruso (aka “Mr. Steve”) volunteers at our school in the younger grades and is very sweet and gentle with our children and helpful as needed. He loves to read with them and help them with their work. They asked if he had a Hebrew name and he did not, so Mrs. Ellen Kaplowitz, who introduced him to our school arranged with Rabbi Rubin for him to have a Bar-Mitzvah at school (at a Torah reading only ceremony this Thursday) with a new Jewish name (he chose Shmuel—Samuel). He really wanted to have it at school so all the children could be there and he could celebrate this very important occasion with them! Our students of all ages were so excited for this, there was an incredibly special feeling in the room, it was a great merit to be part of something like this—and our kids really felt it!
Mr. Steve and his brother Donald who came to celebrate with him. Mr. Steve “Shmuel” Caruso’s Aliyah!
5TH GRADE SEPARATING STUFF (OR TRYING TO...) Here’s another science experiment that 5th grade did with Mrs. Mattice. They used different tools and methods (sifters, magnets etc) to separate things like corn flakes, instant coffee, push-pins and paper-clips. They tried different things to make it work and the trial and error method got them to discuss what worked and why it did or why it didn’t work and what might be a different way to do it. Good science!
While Mr. Steve put on Tefillin with Rabbi Yossi, his brother Donald told Rabbi Rubin about their mother & grandmother, and life in Albany’s Jewish South End.
Stan Rosenberg was another Shmuel - part of the Jewish “Sam’s Club!”
Everyone was so emotional, especially Mrs. E. Kaplowitz!
WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN INSIDE HS Girls discussed this with Rabbi Mendel in their “redefinitions” class this week as the Baal Shem Tov’s commentary to Psalms 107:5. They looked at this from a psychological and relationship lens, and what people might really We threw candies and then everyone danced around “Siman Tov uMazal Tov!” mean underneath, whether consciously or subconsciously. They also looked at different definitions of the month of Elul, and different ways to view simpler people. Just today they learned 3 meanings of the Hebrew word for Prayer: Tefilah.
PROJECT PLANS Our middle schoolers are discussing plans for the “Kids Can Build” can project to benefit the Shalom Food Pantry. We hope to get there Chaim R. got the honor of “Gelilah” wrapping step by step and can by can! the Torah because that day was his Hebrew birthday! And it is his father’s birthday, too! Yes we can! Stay tuned…
Students were so happy to wish him Mazal Tov and he was so happy they could be there to celebrate with him!
HELP ADD TO OUR COMPOST BIN...
We’re filling it up AGAIN! Veggies peels, shredded newspaper, etc. NO onions, citrus, dairy or meat.
at Maimonides and in the Community 9/14: PARSHA KI TIETZE This Parsha is loaded with a broad spectrum of Mitzvot! Look for common laws like the safety fence, returning lost objects, eating on the job, interest on loans, marriage and divorce, and even unusual things like the rebellious son, the captive woman in war, accusations of Sotah and more…
9/14: KIDDUSH THIS SHABBOS Kiddush at Shomray Torah is sponsored by Rabbi Mathless in honor of his birthday this Shabbos.
9/14: WOMENS SHIUR This week’s Womens Shiur will be given by Morah Dini Gordon at her home 29 Glenwood Street (just behind Maimonides) at 4:45pm. As Rosh Hashanah falls later this year there’s a few more weeks of the Shabbos afternoon women’s shiur!
9/20-21: SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE CBAJ hosts Dr. Elana Stein Hain, director of faculty at Shalom Hartman Institute of N. America.
9/21: MOTZAI SHABBOS SELICHOT The High Holiday season is upon us! CBAJ has a Motzai Shabbos Selichot and live concert beginning with Havdalah at 8:45pm. Shomray Torah’s Midnight Selichot begin at 1:00am with learning and farbrengen leading up to it.
9/22: PRE-RH HONEY FESTIVAL
1-5pm at the new Jewish Girls Unite/Retreat property at 5 Mannix Road, East Greenbush 9/15: APPLE (& WINE) FESTIVAL to meet the honey bees, 10am-5pm at the Altamont Fairgrounds. Obviously see honey extracting the wine part isn’t Kosher & most of the food-stuffs demos, enjoy boating, won’t be either, but there’s still quite a bit to do crafts and more. and kids under age 15 are free. 15 and up is $9pp. Admission is $5pp and Look up appleandwinefestival.com for more info. $36 per family (BBQ food and Rabbi 9/15: CLIFTON PARK FARM FEST Avraham Laber’s honey will be sold separately). These Clifton Park farms are participating this Sunday: Bowman Orchards, Predel's Ranch, 9/22: ADK (HOT) BALLOON FEST Riverview Orchards, & Shepherd's Hey Farm. This hot air balloon festival begins on Thursday the There will also be related farm fest activities at the 19th through Sunday the 22nd, mostly at Floyd Clifton Park Halfmoon Library on Moe Road and Bennet Field in Queensbury. The colorful huge the Vischer Ferry Fire-Station. balloons lift off very early in the morning, dozens at a time! sometimes as many as 100 or more! on 9/17: PART II OF CHASSIDIC SONG Friday (Sat) & Sunday, weather permitting. Free 7:30pm at CBAJ for part II of Joshua Sussman’s Admission. More info? 518-222-4593 Chassidic Music of the High Holidays class.
9/18: CHAI (18TH OF) ELUL This date marks the birthdays of the Baal Shem Tov and Alter Rebbe, and is the yartzeit of the Maharal of Prague. Look for a local farbrengen on Tuesday or Wednesday night.
9/22: MADISON STREET FAIR A street fair on “Upper Madison” just before it meets Western Ave. 12-5pm. activities, shows etc.
SCIENCE IDEAS? OUTDOORS? It’s a new year and we’re (always!) looking for new engaging hands-on experiments or activities or tools for our students of all ages to use and enjoy, learn and explore in the school’s Makerspace STEAM Room or out in our outdoor classroom (especially while the weather is still nice).
THINK RAFFLE-AUCTION… What!? Who is thinking Chanukah now? Raizy Rubin is, because the A-Z prizes in the school’s annual Raffle-Auction (held on Chanukah) have to come together sooner than later. If you’d like to donate a prize or solicit a prize donation, please be in touch with Raizy. We already have new prize packages that we never had before!
DISMISSAL NOTICE: This year’s new policy is that NO grades (including HS students) can leave the building without being formally called by the dismissal teacher. All students should wait inside the two large upstairs and downstairs waiting rooms (not on the stairs). No one should be out on the lawn or playing basketball. Parents should not come into the building. This is both for safety reasons and organizational purposes.
TRIVIA QUESTION: WHAT DO THESE STAND FOR? These inscriptions are on a famous synagogue in Europe connected with Chai Elul. What do these inscriptions stand for?
HOLIDAY MONTH OF TISHREI MAIMONIDES SCHOOL SCHEDULE Sept 30-Oct 1—No School Rosh Hashanah Oct 2—Fast of Gedaliah, 9:30am Late Start Oct 8-9—No School Yom Kippur Oct 10—9:30am Late Start Oct 14-22—Sukkot Break, No School Oct 23—9:30am Late Start
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!”