Maimonides Community

BH. Av

10, 5780 / July 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 7:58 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 9:03 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

CONDOLENCES MORRISONS...

MAIMONIDES Condolences to Rabbi Leibel Morrison of 404 Partridge Street Troy on the passing of his mother Mrs. Ruth Albany NY 12208 Senser, at age 90, in Pikesville MD. Originally from Crown Heights she settled with her family mostly in Akron Ohio, and dedicated a This MC Newsletter is Torah at the Cinncinati Yeshiva (where several of Morrisons studied and where her grandson - MAZAL TOV SHEPHERDS dedicated in memory of MHDS alumnus - R’ Eliyahu Morrison works Mazal Tov Rabbi Mendy & Chaya Shepherd local US Army Scout in WW2 now). She was charitable, helped many people, on the upcoming Upshern of their son Azriel and made everyone feel special.

Yitzchak this coming week. Mazal Tov to the local Laber grandparents and to the Laber Known for “stomping on Hitler’s .. AND MAZAL TOV MORRISONS great-grandparents and to the Shepherd Hat” in Munich and for sharing Mazal Tov to MHDS alumna Chana Rivka grandparents in Detroit. Much Nachas!

Morrison on her engagement to Zalman Rice this story years ago at Maimonides of California, and to MHDS alumna Shleima MAZAL TOV C.P. RUBINS Yartzeit today: 10th of Av Morrison on his upcoming marriage this Aug Mazal Tov to Rabbi Yossi and Morah Leyee 5th IYH to Chaya Mushka Melinas of Iowa.

Rubin and the Clifton Park Rubins on the MHDS REOPENING COMMITTEE recent birth of a baby daughter whom they named Yocheved Miriam for the baby’s great- Thankfully, our school has an able, dedicated and invested re-opening committee of ten grandmother Bubbe Rubin of Montreal. people (representing admin, faculty, parents, community and professionals): Michael Caras A GREAT GRAND MAZAL TOV Dr. Dina Gottesman, Joshua Gurock, Katie Mazal Tov to R’ Shmuel and Gittel Laber as Hoffman, Dr. Ed Jacobs, Devorah Leah Kaufman, they recently welcomed, with much thanks to Abigael Ramsay, Rabbi Israel Rubin, Rabbi Hashem, their fourth great-grandchild and Zalman Simon, and Rebeka Wildman. first great-granddaughter born to their MONYE ZVINOKOVSKY OBM The committee is working to assess the Monye passed away this week. He was a warm granddaughter Chaya & Mendel Toron. Much voluminous state guidelines (which private Nachas from all their (great-)grandchildren!

Russian Jew who in recent years lived in the schools received very last minute) and based senior apartments behind CBAJ and would go on our school’s R’ SHIMON POTASH, OBM over to help with Minyans when needed. circumstances to Condolences to the family of R’ Shimon Pictured above: our school girls put a Mezuzah formulate a reon his apartment Potash of London on his untimely sudden opening plan to submit to the state. This was passing this Tisha B’Av. He was a classmate of done in a very organized and responsible as part of our school’s “Better Rabbi Mendel, they studied together in manner and the school’s plan was submitted Brooklyn. Shimon was sincere, sweet, genuine, this week to NYS Health department and next Together” the real deal, a thoughtful, caring and program visits. week to the NYS Education department (as per conscientious person with lively wit and good the submission requirements), and we await Pictured on left: Monye is shaking humor. For a time they (he and his wife their approval as well as Governor Cuomo’s Lulav at Shabbos Emmanuela have six children) were first on general approval for schools this Fall. So while Shlichus in Tunisia (!) but after a few years House Sukkah much remains up in the air, and we will have there moved back to London where he worked to be flexible and adaptive in a year like this, with the Rubin girls. He worked at the JCC at Jewish institutions, including Childrens Early Childhood (where he was called “Zaidy plans are proceeding and we are open to & Services and Youth Activities, and Lubavitch Monye”) and also helped out at Shabbos trying various possibilities. Others, beyond this House for a number of years. He spoke a rich Foundation. There is a fund online established committee, will help implement all that needs to help his family in this very trying time, geshmake Yiddish and very much appreciated to be done. The school’s registration packets charidy.com/spotash/60300 or you can also Yiddishkeit. May his memory be a blessing. have been emailed out. If you haven’t received give it to Rabbi Mendel Rubin who along with yours, please contact Morah Rochel 518-5260774. Please return the completed registration MAZAL TOV SIMCHA CADANER his classmates are collecting for this need. packets by August 16th as this is crucial for the Simcha was a counselor last year in CGI, her FREINDSHIP CIRCLE CAMP planning and functioning of our school. wedding is this coming week! Mazal Tov! End of August, looking for staff. See page 3.

Richard Marowitz

FROM OUR REOPENING SUBMISSION PLAN The narrative & points below was written by our Social Studies teacher Ms. Abigael Ramsay (also serving on our Re-Opening Committee) as part of the submission segment titled “Teaching and Learning”.

INTRODUCTION: All students must be provided with the opportunity to learn in an environment that is safe, engaging and productive. The faculty and administration at Maimonides Hebrew Day School recognize that there is inherent value in creating positive routine, best practices that best fit the needs of our student body, and access to high-quality education. We also recognize that education in a traditional classroom setting is in a state of constant change. We are prepared to meet both learning and safety standards by bringing our student body back for the 2020-2021 school year, in its entirety.

GOALS:    

ensure students feel safe, engaged, and productive recreate the routine that was established pre Covid maintain our standards for quality education maintain safety protocols that keep both our students and our teachers safe

OBJECTIVES: 











stringently adhere to NYS department of health guidelines for keeping our students, staff, and community healthy implement a staggered arrival and dismissal plan that reduces the amount of contact students have with staff and peers provide professional development for faculty on dealing with the social emotional well-being of students following extended distance learning keep students contained to one classroom for each subject and lunch; allowing for teachers to move classrooms, thereby reducing amount of contact students have in hallways and common spaces work with all teachers to determine what classroom routines and procedures can be modified to eliminate movement and contact create a contingency plan should we need to revert to distance learning with little notice (determine methodologies that support distance learning and are easily translated to remote classrooms, implement best practices that support student learning and well-being if remote learning is necessary, establish an attendance policy for distance learning)

INSIDE THE BOX - IN AN OUT OF THE BOX WAY! It’s not simple to take a group day-camp picture these days, when bunks are supposed to be kept apart for distancing purposes. But Morah Chani used this boxy workaround: Each camper posed inside the cardboard box, each in their own way and with their own unique expression, and the collage of all the boxes (a few of which are pictured here) will become the camp picture.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PRACTICE READING...

An important reopening factor under consideration by both our school and the state is the emotional wellbeing of children during a prolonged time away and at home. This has always been a focus at Maimonides but will be an increased priority in this coming school year.

TRACTATE TAANIT SIYUM

Our Kindergarten and first grade students are (hopefully) returning to school this Fall after a prolonged physical absence (as school went online in March). It would be very helpful to keep up both their Hebrew and English reading skills, practicing easy words, sounding it out with them, a little everyday will go a long way to keeping them on track.

The 9th grade boys Siyum with Rabbi Rubin on all of tractate Taanit has been delayed until after the 9 Days as they are still CONSIDERATIONS TO OUR PLAN: working at finishing it. One  we are prepared to be flexible to changing state and of the boys is away at camp in Arizona but health department guidelines still managed to call in for the learning to  we are prepared to open our school at full capacity and safely adhere to recommendations finish with his classmates! Stay tuned for the and requirements set forth by the state Siyum date - to be announced soon.

ABOUT NATHAN IN NEXT MC



THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

GROWING UP WEEK AT CAMP

If we only knew! We are so blessed to have the outdoor WOW classroom, in a time of Covid such an outdoor space can be very helpful! If we only had more such spaces!

was the theme at Camp Gan Israel this week from birthdays to a mock-wedding, artsy 3D birthday cards, baby stress dolls, resolutions, a drum-circle at the mock wedding & more!

  

classrooms will be set up to socially distance a cleaning program has been instituted student personal space cleanliness and health will be addressed a task force established for screenings, isolation of sick children, and contact tracing records

Next MC Newsletter will be 24th of Av, which is the yartzeit of Nathan Rosenstein, a lifelong Albanian, who lived upstairs at the Shteeble in his last years, was known for his Kiddushim, and for whom the kitchen at Maimonides is named. We’re going to include photos & memories, email mhdsnews@gmail.com if you have Nathan memories/photos to share.

at Maimonides and in the Community 8/1: SHABBOS NACHAMU

8/10: CHAF AV

The Shabbos after Tisha B’Av is called Nachamu named for the Haftorah and the period of comfort.

We read Parsha Va’etchanan, which is rich in many things including the first portion of the Shema and the second set of the Ten Commandments.

The 20th of Av is the yartzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneersohn who passed away in communist exile in 1944. Look for a shiur with Rabbi Rubin and farbrengen on Sunday night 9pm over Zoom.

8/1: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR Due to health risks, the summer Womens Shabbos Shiur will be meeting at one single outside location all summer: the outdoor WOW Pavilion at Maimonides, 404 Partridge at 4:45pm. Seats will be set up with social distancing in mind. Please wear a face covering which covers nose and mouth. If you are feeling ill or have been exposed to Covid, please stay home. Older children (also need face coverings) who will sit and listen are welcome, but please no younger children. Cold water & hand sanitizer provided, but no snacks. Come and learn!

8/5: TU B’AV Tu B’Av is mentioned in the Mishna as one of the greatest holidays for the Jewish people and is associated with Shidduchim and getting married.

8/14: NEXT “MC” NEWSLETTER AND NATHAN’S YARTZEIT

EARLIER IS BETTER, BUT NEVER TOO LATE This is true of many things in life, but especially life insurance an important responsibility for our families. The younger you buy into it, the cheaper it will be. Ilene Sykes is a registered representative of the reputable NY Life and is a good friend and supporter of Maimonides. Contact her to find out more.

Our next MC Newsletter (we’re doing it every other week this summer) will be on Friday, Aug 14th (the 24th of Av) for Parsha Re’eh. It also happens to be the yartzeit of Nathan Rosenstein, so we will include some photos and memories of Nathan (a lifelong Albanian who was a staple in our community) in that week’s newsletter edition.

If you have photos or memories to share please send to: mhdsnews@gmail.com

Mrs. Karmely speaks about mikvah, relationships, love and marriage for well over 20 years. In honor of Tu B’Av, she will be speaking for a few local communities on Wed 7:30pm over Zoom: 483-7301297 co-sponsored by the Chabads of Saratoga, Clifton Park and Colonie, and by Mikvah USA. For more info, contact Raizel 347-244-5612 , Leyee 518-495-0779 or Chana 718-308-1785.

Chaya is looking for male & female counselors & staff ages 14+ (compensation provided) guidelines followed. 10am-2pm. A great mitzvah to end the summer & start off Elul. Call Chaya: 518-488-8992

BERRY PICKING AT AREA FARMS

While all the county fairs are closed this year, many farms are still open for U-Pick, and right now is the Please send in your completed Maimonides school season for delicious blueberries. Check out your registration packets by this day. This is crucial to favorite farm to see what they are picking now, or help school be prepared for the year, especially with head over to Samascott in Kinderhook where they all of this year’s unusual considerations. If you have charge a per person entry free and fruit you pick by not received your emailed registration packet please the pound. They have so many blueberries waiting call Morah Rochel at 518-526-0774. for you to come pick and they are ripening now.

8/16: REGISTRATION FORMS DUE

8/19: TELDON ON PURPOSE

8/5: SARAH KARMELY

8/25-28: FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE CAMP

Rabbi Tuvia Teldon on Long Island wrote a book titled “Eight Paths of Purpose” and will speak for our Albany community on “What Happens when the Purpose You Don’t Want, Finds You”.

To get your copy of the book contact Rabbi Rubin (who has copies) or look for it on Amazon. Zoom ID 672547-2221 More info (& password) Rabbi Rubin RRalbany@gmail.com or Rabbi Mendel mail@shabboshouse.com

8/20-21: ROSH CHODESH ELUL Two days of Rosh Chodesh welcoming the new month of Elul, the month of preparation for the high holidays, including daily weekday Shofar and Psalms 27, and the spirit of Teshuva and the high holiday season.

GO SEE SOME ANIMALS AROUND And there are a number of farms where you can take the kids and go visit some animals.

Indian Ladder Farms is a close by classic. 100 years and still growing! See: indianladderfarms.com June Farms in West Sand Lake 11am-4pm $5pp.

See more at JuneFarms.com Into The Woods Farm in Middle Grove. By Appt only. 518-882-9286 walk in woods with baby goats intothewoodsfarmNY.com Adirondack Animal Land (where Morah Devorah and Mrs. Hoffman often take the little kids) is the closest you’ll get locally to a safari. Could be pricey.

Adirondackanimalland.com

GETTING LATE NOW… LAST CALL!

CALENDAR YARTZEITS Still a little time 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

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!”