BH. Sivan
27, 5780 / June 19, 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 8:19 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 9:30 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
BEAUTIFUL LAST DAY OF SCHOOL MOVING UP DAY It was a beautiful ending, a much-needed positive closure to a most unusual few months. The vibe was great, the weather was gorgeous, and all enjoyed the social-distanced outdoor moving up ceremonies on the front lawn of Maimonides. One family came at a time, as per a pre-announced schedule, Morah Rochel announced each, as they arrived separately, on the loudspeaker “________, a one of a kind of a family, on a one of a kind Moving Up Day!” Everyone got certificates, Nursery graduates
held up “Last Day of Preschool” signs for their pictures (thank you Rabbi Caras) and the Kindergarteners got graduation hats (measured online!) with their names in Hebrew and English on them. There was a Kosher smoothie truck for all to enjoy & families returned textbooks, calculators and chromebooks while picking up name-labeled treats, awards and recognition from by-family designated spots on outdoor
tables. The last few groups did stay around to congregate a bit, but almost all wore masks (many took them off for the pictures), people kept their distance, and it meant the world to the kids to see each other a bit, even at wave's length and say thanks to their teachers. Just before the farewell car parade down Partridge Street, we heard warm words from Mayor Kathy Sheehan and from NYS Assemblywoman Pat Fahy (who drive over on her bike). The program ended with a car parade of families slowly driving down Partridge Street with teachers lined up with signs, bubbles and more on the sidewalk. Thank you Rabbi Caras for taking the student and family photos. Thanks to Simmy Rubin for moving out the blue stages and setting up outside. Thanks to Morah Rivi for the balloons and festive décor. Thanks to the teachers for the signs and all the special treats and momentos for the students. Thanks to Rabbi Abba for arranging the Kosher smoothie truck (they were very refreshing on such a hot day not a single cloud in the bright blue sky!). Thanks to Rabbi Rubin and Morah Rochel for the warm welcome to each student and family. We’re hoping for a good and healthy return to school next year! See more Moving-Up Day pictures on page 3
This MC Newsletter is dedicated in loving memory of my father
Yaakov ben Yechiel John Amann
On the occasion of his 50th yartzeit 25th of Sivan By Maxine Morgenbesser and family
CONCLUDING PITGAM POETRY Middle School’s last “Pitgam Poetry” class this year was on these four words traditionally said as part of the Siyum conclusion of a tractate of learning, “Hadran Alach, V’Daytan Alach” (We will return to you, we continue to think of you!) which is a great message about finishing a year of school - because in truth: Learning Never Ends! And we benefit from reviewing & thinking about what we learned and building on that to continue to learn more!
REMEMBERING DR JON OBRIEN This past Sunday was Dr. Jonathan O’Brien’s 20th Hebrew yartzeit on Sivan 22, the secular anniversary of his passing will be June 25th. As part of his “Examined Life is a Life Worth Living” book (written during his illness) he described Maimonides as “A Treasure in our Backyard” (and this was before Maimonides moved to its current location just two blocks from his home). May his memory be a blessing for his wife Vicky and their children (MHDS alumni) who now live all over the country.
BBQ STARTER PACK
REPORT CARDS MAILED
One of the last things Rabbi Mendel’s Most report cards were Gemorah class learned together this year was mailed home this week, the importance of initiative and doing it on look for it in the mail. your own. In that spirit at Moving-Up Day Kindergarten report each of his students received their own “BBQ cards will arrive a little Starter Pack” with condiments, pickles, chips later. Earlier, before the and a bottle of Dr. Pepper, and one big onion. end of the marking There was a paper explaining the allusions and period, Morah Rochel metaphors for each of the items included emailed parents a grading rubric system for 3 especially about the onion. levels of the school reflecting modifications put in place by our faculty after thoughtful review and consideration of what a number of THANK YOU MR. STEVE Mr. Steve was other schools are doing for this third term/ marking period during online/distance so happy to learning with all of its unique challenges. come to Moving-Up Day to see the POPCORN PAJAMA PARTY students and 3rd graders celebrated an end of year party for teachers, he good learning by each student coming to their said that he online class wearing their pajamas along with a missed us so favorite snack and they watched a film titled much! He was “Bullied” together. It was fun, even if very helpful in it was remote. The film has a good carrying all of ending and a good message. the returned textbooks back inside the school building (thanks also to Chaim R. for helping him with that). We are now finally making his Bar-Mitzvah at school photo album but also including some other pictures of him with our students throughout the year. If you have a nice picture of Mr. Steve please email it to mhdsnews@gmail.com. Thanks!
TALMUD TAANIT CONTINUES! School may have ended this week, but Rabbi Rubin’s 9th grade Talmud continues to study Talmud Taanit together daily over the phone, and people in the community are welcome to join. Now that school ends on Wednesday, the 2:00pm daily study time is more flexible and can be rescheduled for a better time that might fit others schedules. Please call Rabbi Rubin if you would like to join.
AND SHEVACH YAKAR, TOO 7th graders are continuing to study “Shevach Yakar” (pre-Bar-Mitzvah learning) with Rabbi Mathless over Google Meet even after school ends. We’re proud of their devotion to study!
THE THIRTEEN PETALED ROSE As a year-end project last week HS Girls learned some of the Kabbalistic significance and metaphor of a rose, and then did distance guided artwork. Here are some of their pieces.
PLEASE RETURN TO SCHOOL First, thanks to all parents and families who returned textbooks, calculators, chromebooks and Esty Library books to school on MovingUp Day. It is important that we have accurate inventory as we prepare for the coming school year, G-d willing! If you still have any of these school items at home, please call to arrange to drop it off at school. Workbooks and other consumables should not be returned.
SNACK CONNECTIONS Middle school Halacha & Parsha class had a Siyum party with Rabbi Motti. They made connections from the snacks they each showed on screen (from their own homes) to stuff that they learned this year.
THE FIVE SENSES As Ms. Brown’s middle school biology science class prepares to learn Human Bio next year, they watched mini-videos on the 5 senses and then answered questions based on what they learned in the video.
HOW JEW YOU DO? On the last day of class, Morah Chana’le played “How Jew You Do?” (by JLI) a thoughtprovoking conversation discussion game with her 6th graders.
BETTY GOUDSMIT-OUDERK Why mention this lady who passed away at age 96 this week in Holland? She helped save 100’s of children in the Holocaust.
We are PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR!
Given the circumstances, it is very difficult to plan with certainty for this coming school year, but we are consulting with NYSED and Department of Health, private and religious “ONE SMALL VOICE” school consortiums, nationally and locally. We For their year-end song (no performances this are working to prepare for all eventualities. TEACHER APPRECIATION year) Mrs. Hoffman’s Kindergarteners each While hoping we can return for safe in-person Many thanks to Chaya Rubin and all the shared videos (on their class parents whatsapp actual school experience, we must also prepare participating families for a very nice year-end chat) of them singing and signing (with sign for a combination of other possibilities. The teacher token of appreciation. Each teacher language hand motions) Jack Hartmann’s song Maimonides administration hopes to establish got a bouquet of flowers, a gift-card and a bar “One Small Voice”. They were really into it parent-teacher and professional committees who of chocolate. Some families added their own and their motions flow beautifully! Thank you will work over the summer toward these goals small gifts but it was nice to have this universal Mrs. Hoffman for all the daily learning videos and possibilities for the safety of all our students expression of gratitude from school families. posted for her students. and teachers.
MORE MOVING-UP DAY PICTURES: Families enjoyed the Kosher smoothie truck (did you notice the words “Taste and See” on the truck? Like the verse: “Taamu u’Reu”!). The daylilies grew in beautifully in front of the school, the pink rose-bush was planted in memory of Esty (Rubin) Cohen. Rabbi Caras photographed students and/or families posing on the stage one at a time in front of the school. Some student brought gifts for teachers (in addition to the beautiful school families group appreciation arranged by Chaya Rubin) and teachers had gifts for their students in return. See above for some of the signs at the farewell to teachers and the school year car parade at the end. inclusive welcome of our school and On Monday evening this week (over Zoom) we community). Morah Rivi Bahir prepared and proudly graduated three very fine Maimonides showed a really sweet video montage of warm words and wishes from their teachers. Rabbi Bnos Chaya High School graduates, two of Rubin shared his personal directive from the whom have been with us for 15 years since Rebbe to teach Talmud to women and how Nursery, and one who joined us for High enjoyable it was to learn Talmud with these School all the way from Houston! The main girls. The guest speaker was Rabbi Chaim highlight was the three beautiful speeches by each of the graduates (an Lazaroff of Houston Texas who shared stories and messages about importance of education acrostic poem of fun that really reaches and involves children and Maimonides memories, why there’s no “Hilchot Chinuch” (laws of life and school lessons education) in the Code of Jewish Law. Each from fonts & lettering, and a tribute to the warm graduate had their Bnos Chaya and NYS
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Regents diplomas to display on screen as well as gorgeous flower bouquets the school sent ahead. The 1-hour Zoom event was heartwarming, enjoyable & uplifting, real and genuine, a wonderful testament to a Maimonides education. Watch it online at: tinyurl.com/MaimonidesYouTube You can also see 12 photo archive slideshows posted there that were prepared for the recent $40K40Hours40Years fundraiser.
REPORTING WANTED! As we keep up summer newsletter every other Friday. Email news to: mhdsnews@gmail.com
at Maimonides and in the Community 6/19: JUNETEENTH DAY
6/24: GLOBAL REBBE YARTZEIT
6/30: PANDEMIC PERSPECTIVES
The City of Albany has declared Juneteenth to be
In addition to the local yartzeit commeration with the “Timeless Lessons” event by the women on 6/23 and the Reshimot film “Maybe Alone, Never Forsaken” on 6/25 there will be regional gatherings online for Gimmel Tammuz on Wednesday 2:30pm followed by a global link up soon after that. Visit: barcheinuavinu.com for more details.
This class on historical Jewish perspectives on pandemics prepared by JLI (the Jewish Learning Institute) will be locally presented by Rabbi Mordechai Rubin 7pm on Tuesday June 30th. Zoom ID: 815-8582-8750. P: Chabad.
an official city holiday. It commemorates this date in 1865 at the end of the Civil War when Union General Gordon Granger brought the news and enforcement of the then two and a half year old Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves all the way to faraway Galveston Texas. It is also known as Jubilee Day because in the Torah the slaves were freed in the Jubilee (Yovel) Year and the verse says “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.”
6/20: SHABBOS SHELACH This Shabbos we read the story of the 12 spies/ scouts that were sent to check out the Land of Canaan (to become Eretz Yisrael) and how ten of them came back with a negative pessimistic report. This Shabbos is also the 28th of Sivan, the date when Rebbe Menachem Mendel and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn arrived in the United States in 1941 escaping the Holocaust.
6/22-23: ROSH CHODESH TAMMUZ 2 days Rosh Chodesh: Sunday night thru Tuesday.
6/22: CBAJ GRAD KIDDUSH CBAJ is hosting a graduation Kiddush with an online montage and message with guest speaker, 7:30pm over a virtual platform. RSVP by 6/18.
6/23: TIMELESS LESSONS TO LIVE BY In preparation for Gimmel Tammuz, the Rebbe’s Yartzeit, local Shluchot Chabad women directors will each briefly share a beautiful spectrum of Rebbe perspectives and teachings over Zoom ID: 259-8889551 P: 393393, 7:30pm on Tuesday evening.
CALENDAR YARTZEITS It’s not too early to get yartzeit dates to Rabbi Yossi for inclusion ($36 donation) in this coming year’s Jewish Art Calendar. It is a beautiful way to remember a loved one and commemorate their yartzeit with the community. Call Rabbi Yossi 518-495-0772 or email: calendar@capitalchabad.com
7/6-8/7: CAMP GAN ISRAEL
Following NYS Guidelines allowing day camp operations, the CGI Albany program will open this summer, but has been adjusted and modified to follow summer camp guidelines set forth by the CDC, the state of NY and in consultation with local health professionals. A new, updated and comprehensive Parent Handbook, with updated information and details, will be forthcoming later when the NYS guidelines are confirmed and will also be modified as needed. Below are some changes already in place: 1) Camp hours have been modified to: 9:30-3:00 2) There will not be any off-site trips unless guidelines change. 3) Campers and staff will have temperatures taken each morning at drop off. 4) All camp staff will be trained on appropriate cleaning, disinfection, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. 6/25: RESHIMOT FILM & DISCUSS 5) Campers will be in small groups of 10 campers This year, the Rebbe’s Gimmel Tammuz yartzeit will be June 25th and Capital Chabad Centers will or less and each group will remain with their own jointly show and discuss (online in virtual format) a counselors at all times, while social distancing from new 35 minute film about the Rebbe’s “Reshimot” other groups. For more info and registration, contact Camp notebooks (unpublished in his lifetime), many of Director Devorah Leah Rubin 518-698-1836. which were written leading up to and during the war years, some written while fleeing the Nazis. 7/3: NEXT “MC” NEWSLETTER Local Chabad Rabbis will add to the discussion. As we enter the summer months (after school ends) Zoom Link 672-547-2221 Password: 122 we’re going to go to a every other week schedule. 6/28: BATTLE Usually we don’t do many newsletters in the months but some have been asking for it OF THE BBQ’S summer as a means of helping keep community together. If This year’s Shalom you have news to share/tips for safe outdoor Food Pantry’s Battle activity or would like to sponsor a week of the of the BBQ’s will be newsletter in memory of a loved one for a special a virtual event over occasion, please email: mhdsnews@gmail.com Zoom, 4-6pm from comfort of your own 7/8: RAMBAM SIYUM ONLINE backyard (with real Look for a local Siyum on daily Rambam study actual food). For completing the annual cycle online over Zoom with more details, a guest speaker. Wednesday evening before the Fats participation cost of the 17th of Tammuz. (which benefits the Food Pantry especially during this 7/9: 17TH OF TAMMUZ The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz begins the period time of increased need) and to register visit: ShalomFoodPantry.com of The Three Weeks.
BE COUNTED! Be sure to fill out the US census form for you & your family! It helps everyone around here.
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!”