Maimonides Community

BH. Shvat

5, 5780 / Jan 31, 2020

‫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 4:49 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 5:52 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

MAZAL TOV ETHEL KAGAN On becoming a great-great-grandmother! The newborn baby boy was named Meyer Simcha for Ethel’s husband Myer Kagan, a long-time Kosher butcher in Albany (first downtown by South Pearl Street, then for many years where the Lionheart Pub is today on Madison Ave, and then the transition to the Kosher Price Chopper in Colonie). Wishing Ethel much continued Nachas in good health!

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This MC Newsletter is sponsored in memory of

Eliezer Leib ben Ephraim Gordon

Yartzeit this Shabbos, Shvat 6 EXPERIENCING THE EXODUS It’s not Passover yet, but these students really live with the Parsha of the week!

Morah Rivka brought in grasshoppers to the Nursery classroom (see students holding the container on left) as they learned the three plagues of Parsha Bo (this week’s Torah portion). They built two home prototypes, an Egyptian house and a Jewish house, both made of cardboard. Can you spot the difference around the doorway? (You may need to see the newsletter in color to be able to see it).

PAINTING THE DOORPOST Kindergarten also got into the Parsha action and after their Morah taped paper all around their classroom doorway, they all worked with brushes and red paint to paint the doorway!

HOW TORAH INK IS MADE

Rabbi Shmuly’s Mishna class looked into how ink is made, especially the ink used to write TREE ON Torah scrolls and Mezuzahs. Good quality ink THE BOARD can last for many dozens or hundreds (or even Tu Bishvat is just thousands!) of years. Last week they researched over a week away, details about Korban Minchas (the flour and so first graders & spice offerings in the Bais HaMikdash).

Morah Devorah began decorating WAS ANNE FRANK their Hebrew tree PREPARED - ESSAY board with Shoresh 7th grade English class = roots on with Ms. Tang did an essay bottom, a big on whether Anne Frank thick Gezah = was prepared to go into the hiding in the trunk, Anafim = branches, Aleh = leaf, and Annex or not. They had to support their Peirot = fruit. They will be adding and labeling opinion based on her diary text, descriptions fruit with their Hebrew names. Tu Bishvat is SEE PAGE 4 FOR YUD SHVAT of what she did and didn't take with her, etc.

Events… this Shabbos, Monday (in Colonie ad our annual Tu Bishvat fruity breakfast at school and this year is also the date for the 3rd Saratoga) and Tuesday (at Shteeble) and also PIZZA NIGHT - THIS SAT NIGHT! Chidon test for students in grades 4-7. next Motzai Shabbos Shirah Melava Malka.

2nd to last of the winter season… starts 7:30

DECADES MAGAZINE PROJECT 5th grade Social Studies were each assigned a decade to research and produce a magazine with highlights of that decade. Other students in school got to browse their work and vote on LET’S LEARN S’MORE NAVI!! their best issues. They also showed their work 4th graders finished learning about Gideon in their Navi class (Book to some of the teachers and were surprised to of Judges - “Shoftim”) with Morah Chani, and they filled up the find out that some teachers lived through and beans in their good behavior jar, so they enjoyed yummy indoor s’mores as their Siyum with remember nearly all of those decades! the anticipation of learning s’more Navi.

CONFUSING NAMES

MORNING OBSERVANCES

As name confusion sometimes happens in our school, HS Navi class is now learning about 2 Yehoram’s (Kings II 8) only that in their case, one was good and one was not.

Morah Leyee’s HS Halacha class completed a unit on morning blessings, there’s a lot to think about (or not think!) in beginning of our daily routine. And the way we start our day can change up the whole day!

HOW MICROWAVES WORK

This insight into an everyday home appliance GEMORAH STRAIGHT UP came up in Chemistry class when discussing BROWSING OLD PICTURES the polarity in molecules. Microwaves use a Girls HS learned the long Talmud story of the These 7th graders came across a small trove of magnetic field to create dipole rotation, the impeachment of Rabban Gamliel before but old Maimonides pictures and they loved it! A speed of which generates heat and cooks food. now they’re doing it straight out of the text, stroll down memory lane! We have so much reading and translating it on their more… many gigabytes! One day to organize… own. It’s current with the Daf Yomi CLEAR BAGS WITH now in Berachot 27b-28a. Their COTTON BALLS... recent history studies of Federalists vs. AntiM.A.I.N. WAYS TO SEE W.W.I. When you see these bags Federalists can help explain the hard-to7th grade history learned these four main hanging alongside the bulletin appreciate approach of Rabban issues leading into WWI: militarism, alliances, board in Morah Devorah’s Gamliel, especially in the context of imperialism and nationalism. If you change classroom at this time of year the times after the destruction.

M.A.I.N. to M.A.N.I.A. it also includes the nearing Tu Bishvat? Then you 5th issue (which was the straw that broke the surely know there are little camel’s back): assassination. beans inside, sipping moisture KOMATZ PATACH MILESTONE Kindergarteners finished their first book of from the cotton balls, developing roots and waiting Hebrew vowel practice, reviewing it each night to be planted! The kids watch at home. They got pretty good at Komatz and them closely every day and are Patach even able to read 3 letter Hebrew words with just those vowels, like Challah and eager to see every (slightest) Kallah, etc. Now they are beginning a new stage of the plant’s book with the Tzayrei (two dots) vowel. development.

MATH SHAPES Ms. Coffey’s 5th grade made all kinds of random shapes but then had to measure the area and write the measurements and formulas down alongside their creative shapes.

PROTOIST PROJECTS Mrs. Brown’s biology class each researched and presented on a single-cell organism.

DENSITY EXPERIMENT Mrs. Maher’s 3rd graders did a liquid density experiment using different types of liquids all in the same tube, to see which sunk and which rose, and which mixed easily & which did not.

NIGHTS BEFORE ELECTRICITY Rabbi Mendel’s Talmud class learned a long Mishna (Bava Kamma 55b) and a short Tosefos commentary on it that has 2 options of how to interpret one of the cases in the Mishna about nighttime exemptions. They spoke about life without electricity, and how that affected night times.

DUCKLINGS VS/ AND CHICKS Mrs. Mattice’s first graders read a story titled “Ruby in Her Own Time” (with a great life message about letting and helping people each blossom at their own pace) and then made a Venn-Diagram to discuss ways that ducklings and chicks are different, and ways that they are similar.

SHMONA ESRAY PARTY No details yet, but 3rd graders are already preparing for this milestone event as they continue to improve their daily Amida skills.

They have a great song in the works!

IS THIS STILL RELEVANT? Overheard at school in between classes: Student A: “This thing about helping an WHY IS THERE A SHEEP HERE? overburdened donkey will never happen The Egyptians had the same question! To find nowadays! When was the last time you saw a donkey go down the street?” out more listen up this Shabbos when the Student B: “The donkey is just the Torah’s Torah Parsha Bo is read! example. The idea behind it can happen in so many ways nowadays, all the time!”

What a wonderful conversation!

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR VIDEO “SCHOOL-SHOES” YET? Maimonides entered Charidy’s “Ducks in a Row” fundraising contest. We were a finalist but didn’t win one of the top 3 slots. Part of the requirement was to create a creative video - which we did (thanks Chani Rubin) titled “School Shoes - A Metaphor”. See if you can find all the analogies and puns! You can see and share it on YouTube:

www.tinyurl.com/maimonidesSchoolShoes

ORDER “THE TORAH-TIMES” This is the best season for it… Breishis & Shmos!

www.TheTorahTimes.com (printed, bound and shipped via Amazon).

GOOSE ISLAND POTATOES These aren’t any potatoes off the shelf! These are “farm-to-school” potatoes grown at Goose Island in Argyle NY (in Washington County, near Glens Falls) that our school got through Capital Roots.

Rabbi Yossi and the boys made kugels for seniors and also cooked up a hot potato treat to enjoy that very same day at school. They also got nice local apples from nearby Indian Ladder Farm for Nursery’s breakfast snack.

SUPPORT LOCAL KOSHER

“MAN IS A TREE OF THE FIELD” That’s the big inscription in middle of this Tu Bishvat bulletin board surrounded by artwork of floral arrangements - made with Morah Rivi in art class - in the shape of student first name initials. This ties together the person & tree!

Stop in to shop at the Colonie Kosher Price Chopper or call 518-456-2970 x8 to make a special order or find out about prepared meals.

--------------------Kosher Dining on UAlbany’s Indian Quad (under Vaad supervision) is open for the semester and the community is welcome for lunch or dinner. Communal participation is helpful for the continuation of this important service.

FEDERATION GRANT BY FEB 21 See the Jewish Federation’s website for a list of grants for enrichment programs like overnight summer camp or academic programs such as college or seminary. More on page 4.

SPEAKING OF FEDERATION We’re looking for parent volunteers for Federation’s Super Sunday phone-a-thon on March 15th.

Our school receives a funding allocation from the Federation, communal support is helpful.

SARAH DUKES’ MUSIC Some of our girls listened to some of Sarah Dukes’ piano compositions, you can hear them online at: sarahdukesmusic.com as she will be the featured presenter at the Womens Spa for the Body and Soul on Feb 9th. They talked about the moods of music.

REGARDS FROM THE RAMBAM The Itkin and Hecht families just returned from a Simcha visit to Israel and the Itkins brought back these photos from the Rambam (Maimonides - our school’s namesake)’s Kever (gravesite) in Tiberias. The elaborate steel interconnected structure represents the Rambam’s organized interwoven view of all of Torah. Note the washing sink in the front, it looks like the Temple’s Kiyor that some classes learned in Yahadus!

...THAT WAS FAST! Between the time that the pictures of the Kugel-making got into the first column of this page 3 of the newsletter and the time that we’re finishing up column 3 of the same page, Rabbi Yossi & the girls already delivered the kugel to appreciative seniors!

YAHADUS TEST III NEXT WEEK The 3rd test is on Tu Bishvat, so this week ahead is an important time to review. Chidon or not, it’s an opportunity to become more familiar with a breadth of Torah knowledge!

at Maimonides and in the Community 2/1: SHABBOS PARSHA BO Rabbi Moshe Silman is a special guest this Shabbos at Shomray Torah and will speak at the pre-YudShvat Shabbos Kiddush. Rabbi Roy Feldman will speak about the Rebbe in his series of “Thought Leaders of American Orthodoxy” at CBAJ.

2/1: SAT NITE PIZZA NITE IV

illness, dating, family, and past misadventures with honest confessions on what it’s like being 4 foot 6 and having a lot of Tourette Syndrome. See pamelacomedy.com.

7:30pm after Shabbat, free & open to community, at Jewish Federation, 184 Washington Ave Extension.

This is the 2nd to last Pizza Night of the season! Eat 2/8: SHABBOS SHIRA & in or take out. Your pizza, sushi or fries purchases POST-YUD SHVAT benefit our HS’ extra-curricular activities & trips and its nice to get out on a Sat Night. It opens FARBRENGEN 7:30pm at Maimonides’ “Nathan’s Kitchen”.

Post-Yud-Shvat Melava Malka Farbrengen 7:45pm at the school. All welcome!

2/1: RABBI REISMAN SAT NITE Looking for volunteers to share their favorite or Rabbi Reisman’s Navi Shiur is screened live from beloved Rebbe songs (either the songs composed Brooklyn now at 7:30pm on Sat Nights at CBAJ. from Tehillim or songs the Rebbe taught) along with reasons why they appreciate it, each chosen song to be sung together by those assembled.

1/30-2/2: EMPIRE WINTER GAMES Does your family enjoy watching winter sports? The 2/9: HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Empire State Winter Games is held up in the Adirondacks. See more info, full schedule & costs Show mixes basketball and entertainment. Tickets at: empirestatewintergames.com/ start around $15 for 1pm game & show at TimesUnion Center. Doors open 12pm.

2/10: YAHADUS/CHIDON TEST III This is the last of 3 qualifying tests for the Chidon but also great breath of Jewish knowledge, Chidon or not! Don’t leave studying for last minute!

2/13-17: FEBRUARY BREAK No school Thursday through Monday, Presidents Day. School resumes 8am on Tuesday 2/18.

2/17: MORAH ROCHEL 70TH BIRTHDAY

1/31-2/9: SARANAC LAKE WINTER

2/9: “YES, AND” WORKSHOP The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival dating back to 1897! (about 2.5 hours north of Albany) features Pamela Rae Schuller will lead a creativity inclusivity winter games & activities & walk-in ice-castle! More workshop for educators and community 12:45 to details and info at: saranaclakewintercarnival.com/ 1:45pm at Beth Emeth. More Info? Marci Galinkin (518) 783-7800/mgalinkin@jewishfedny.org 2/2: ANTIQUE SHOW AND SALE

44th annual, at the Shenendohowa High School on 2/9: WOMENS SPA, BODY & SOUL Rt 146 East in Clifton Park. $3pp, kids under 12 15th year! 2-4pm at Shabbos House, co-sponsored are free. 60 dealers and their goods on display.

by Jewish Women’s Connection of various local Jewish womens circles. This year look for a more condensed program, 2-4pm including a luncheon, 2/3: YUD-SHVAT EVENTS activities & featured program. This year’s guest  6pm “Soul Songs” with Yehoshua Sussman at presenter is the talented Sarah Dukes, composer & First NY FCU, 2 Wall Street Colonie. pianist. Cost is $20pp ($25 after Jan 29) RSVP:  6:30-8pm “Precious Souls - the Rebbe’s belief in the Power of the Individual” interactive video at capitalchabad.com/spa or 518-495-0779.

Saratoga Chabad, 130 Circular Street.

2/4: YUD-SHVAT FARBRENGEN 8pm Maariv and Farbrengen at Shteeble, 70 years since the Rebbe assumed leadership of Chabad.

2/4: IF ALL SEAS WERE INK Timely for Siyum HaShas & the buzz around Daf Yomi, CBAJ Book Club is reading this excellent memoir by Ilana Kurshan which creatively weaves Talmud tractates and teachings through her life.

Read is on now, they meet on Feb 4th to discuss.

2/8: PAMELA SCHULLER AT J-FED Comedian and advocate Pamela Rae Schuller will share comedic observations on disability, mental

On Monday, Presidents Day, there will be a 70th birthday celebration for Morah Rochel at school, men and women welcome. 7:30pm.

2/21: FEDERATION SCHOLARSHIPS Feb 21st is the deadline for the Northeast NY Federation Scholarship applications for Jewish enrichment programs like overnight summer camp or academic programs for this coming year. See their website for info and application paperwork: jewishfedny.org/services/scholarships/

2/26: GIL TROY SPEAKS IN ALBANY

The Jewish Federation hosts American History Professor Gil Troy of McGill University (now in 2/9: J-FED: HOLOCAUST EFFORT Jerusalem) a presidential historian, Zionist activist, Rebecca Erbelding (archivist, curator, and historian and author. He will be speaking on “Visions of a at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Jewish Homeland: Then, Now, Tomorrow.” with a PhD in American history) will speak on her 7:30pm at Beth Emeth, all are welcome. No charge. book “The Untold Story of America’s Efforts to Save Jews of Europe” 6pm at Ohav Shalom at 3/15: J-FED SUPERSUNDAY Jewish Federation Joint Society program. All are This is a big day of calling to support the Jewish welcome. Info/Cost/RSVP: see JewishFedNY.org Federation’s funding for local and Israel needs, or call the Federation at: 518-783-7800. including the Maimonides School which receives funding from the Federation. Parents are 2/10: TU BISHVAT BREAKFAST encouraged to sign up for one of three calling shifts Kids look forward to this special breakfast of fruity on this day and we all can contribute some amount cereals, fresh and dried fruits every year! Parents: If to this important communal fund. there are any tree nut allergies, please let the school know ahead of time.

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!”