BH. Nissan
2, 5780 / March 27, 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 6:58 Shabbat Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 8:00 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
THE SCHOOL-WIDE ROSH CHODESH ZOOM ASSEMBLY
had a lesson about not being too distracted and focusing on what needs to be focused on. Thanks to 4th grader Foli G. for leading us in Tehillim Chapter 20 in the merit of all those who need a speedy and complete recovery! R’ MENDY SHEPHERD was the 2nd speaker. He’s an EMT in Delmar, and he spoke about the many careful precautions emergency personnel have to take when dealing with suspected virus cases and how important it is that we protect ourselves and others by handwashing, maintaining distance and by staying home as much as possible. MR. STAN ROSENBERG was the 3rd guest speaker. He has a very large tie collection that he “ties-into” weekly Parsha or Jewish holiday. For this Rosh Chodesh Assembly he showed us 3 ties over Zoom: (1) His Rosh Chodesh Tie has a sliver moon crescent on it, because the new moon is at Rosh Chodesh. (2) Matzah Tie for Pesach, of course. (3) A Tie with 49 Flowers for…. counting of the Omer! Rabbi Rubin reminded us of our school’s 2nd place win in the Israeli Consulate’s “What would you tell an alien on the moon?” video contest, how we won (thanks to Rabbi Caras and the boys who worked on that) with animation and voices of school davening on Rosh Chodesh (the moon’s renewal). Morah Rochel did a show and tell of some Pesach items she pulled out of storage & said how proud she was of the triangle supporting our students’ learning in this unusually difficult situation: Students, Teachers & Parents! And how much she misses our students and the school & hopes we’re back learning there together again soon!
While all of our classes are learning very nicely on the Google Classroom (and Meet) platform, Rabbi Rubin was very eager that we get together school-wise for Rosh Chodesh. So a Zoom Meeting was planned for students and families yesterday and Rabbi Rubin arranged for 3 special guest speakers, like the W.O.W. (Wide Open Windows) speakers he likes to arrange when regular school is in session. Rabbi Mendel introduced each of the speakers and program segments. RABBI ZALMY KUDAN was the first guest speaker. He is a principal on the West Coast and a proud MHDS alumnus. He shared his fond memories of assemblies at Maimonides and how Rabbi Rubin always liked to find interesting guests to come and speak, even if they were visiting Albany just for the day or passing through on their way to Montreal. He said that one thing he really learned at Maimonides was how to make it work, no matter the circumstances, Maimonides always found a way to make it work and do it in a beautiful way. That’s a really important lesson in a situation like this, to focus on solutions instead of problems and to think in a Geulahdike redemption-type way!! In between guest speakers we sang 2 different Hallel songs, and also MAZAL TOV DELMAR SIMONS Rabbi Zalman & Chani & family on birth of a saw a Nissan Car Commercial (for the month of Nissan!) which baby girl this morning. Nice to share Simchas!
This MC Newsletter is dedicated in appreciation of
anonymous donors & our school faculty who have stepped up to support our school during this challenging time.
MORE GRADES NOW ONLINE This week more classes in grades 2-5 are now online with more live interaction. Grades 6+ continued (as from the start) with nearly their full curriculum online at Google Classroom. As Morah Rochel said at the Assembly, we’re very grateful to the triangle of Students, Teachers and Parents for making this online remote learning system work so well!
HI-TECH ISN’T THE ONLY WAY Morah Devorah mailed Pesach packets to the first graders, each with a personalized handwritten letter (the students loved that it was handwritten and personalized for each of them!) with actual materials to add to and decorate their Pesach Haggadahs, including stickers and cutouts, even cheerful butterflies for chag ha’-aviv (springtime festival) and a nice centerpiece for their Seder table.
TO B. OR (NOT) TO B.
THE NAMES OF THE HOLIDAY
6/7 English class is either working on their We call it Pesach, but Torah usually calls it Better Together Essays or reading and writing Chag HaMatzot, aka Chag HaAviv (spring about the famous horse classic “Black Beauty”. festival), and Zman Charutaynu (festival of freedom). Some grades learned about the meaning and message of all these different names for the same holiday.
FAMILIES AT HOME We asked TNT students to share remotely of what their families are doing at home during this time (aside for all their schoolwork, of course):
PATACH ALEF IN THE SNOW The morning after the snowfall this week, Rivka (Kindergarten) looked out the window and noticed the shape of an Alef letter in the snow with a line underneath it (all made by snow falling off the deck trellis) and she said: “I see a Patach Alef!” Can you find it?
YOUR NAME EXERCISES Mrs. Hoffman sent this to her Kindergarten students, they do the exercises according to the letters of the first and last names! Try it at home! It’s good for all ages.
6TH GRADE IS OFF TO ROME! Well, you can’t travel these days, besides, we are all supposed to stay home. After learning about ancient Greece in Ms. Ramsay’s history class they are now learning about Rome.
QUARANTINED IN TIBERIAS Some of our older students saw this text from Reb Mendel Vietebsker describing how their families (early settlers back in Israel in the late 1700’s) had to quarantine themselves in a courtyard of homes from after Purim until sometime in Iyar (including all of Pesach) to safeguard themselves from a plague that hit that area.
SIGNS AND SENSES OF SPRING
“HAMALACH HAGOEL” This famous verse, an old Jewish lullaby and a popular song (with many tunes) recalls Jacob’s blessing to his son Joseph in Parsha Vayechi which 5th graders are now learning (now online) with Morah Chani. They discussed Yaakov’s choice of fish (who multiply fast and eyes are always open) as a blessing metaphor. Morah Chani asked her students to think of a specific living thing or physical object they’d choose to use as a metaphor to bless someone with, which sparked an interesting (both deep and silly) discussion. They also played a fun and engaging online jeopardy game to help review the pesukim and Rashi commentary (see the screenshot above).
Snow was the big news this week! And good packing snow at that! It didn’t last long but many students did enjoy it while it lasted. One family had a few boxes of instant oatmeal in a flavor no one liked, so they improvised a cookie recipe to use it up and it wasn’t bad! One family made their own Model Matzah Bakery out of cardboard and a red light inside the box to look like a hot oven. One family tried to take a hike in Thatcher Park but there were too many people on the trail to exercise social-distancing. So they went to a nearby open field and had a great game of family tag. A lot of families are already cleaning for Pesach now, especially with everyone home anyways. The second day of snow was extra interesting, because there was snow on the ground but it was warm outside! One family facetimed a boy with special needs and had a good time talking together. Every day our whole family goes out take a walk just to get out, get fresh-air and have a change of scenery. But we have to make sure to keep our distance from other people and not touch stuff while we are out. Throwing out stuff! We are cleaning and getting rid of old junk. Stuff we didn’t even know we had! Saying extra Tehillim! Some of the people sick with the virus are people we know, so we are davening for them to get better soon! We watched rockets launching, girls plays, online art classes and cooking shows. We dropped off food at the doors of homes of people who had trouble getting out. Ride bikes! One family was excited to get a new giraffe unicycle (the high one!) and have been practicing with it, but any bikes are fun, too! One family already completed 3 1000 piece puzzles! It was fun to watch a puppet show online. We walked in nature preserves and local parks, a different one each day. I helped cook and bake at home.
Mrs. Hoffman gave Kindergarten students an outdoor assignment: They need to find 4 of the 5 senses of warmer weather and the start of Spring: touch, sight, hearing, smell or taste. One more newsletter next week before
Pesach! Students, please share your reporting all week long with That’s (close to) the title of a Dr. Seuss book, mhdsnews@gmail.com You can share and a creative writing assignment by Mrs. (online or remote) school news, home Maher: If you could have a pet, what animal activities, fun outlets or Pesach prep. would it be, and why? Plus they had to try to Help fill next week’s newsletter! illustrate a drawing of that pet.
WHAT PET WOULD I GET?
Parents: Please remember to print the That’s a big question! But that’s not stopping newsletter before Shabbos so (you and) our HS students from taking practice Regents your kids can read it and enjoy!
WILL THERE BE REGENTS?
tests as part of their ongoing learning now.
SIYUM ON PARSHA BESHALACH TWO REASONS FOR WASHING Rabbi Mathless’ 6/7 grade Chumash class just finished Parsha Beshalach, the story of the Exodus and Splitting of the Sea, just in time for Pesach. This is a big accomplishment, mostly because of the many difficult and long Rashis on “Az Yashir” the song at the Sea.
AN EXODUS PAINTING In connection with Rebbe Rashab’s 100th yartzeit and following R’ Moshe’s Rubin’s yartzeit, Rabbi Mendel told 6/7 graders a story heard from his Zeide Moshe of the Rebbe Rashab (5th Rebbe) and the Friediker Rebbe (6th Rebbe) in an art museum where they discussed a (mistaken) painting depicting children and their elder at the Splitting of the Sea. Turned out to be a great connection: upcoming Pesach, their Siyum of Beshalach (where they learned the B’Yad Rama verse quoted in the story) and Rebbe Rashab yartzeit - all rolled into one short story (with an important inter-generational message!)
ROARING TWENTIES DBQ
You thought this was about Covid-19, right? It actually is about the Netilat Yadayim morning handwashing ritual and Halacha class learned two opinions: (1) It is based on “Ruach Ra’ah” negative impurity during the nighttime that has to be washed away. (2) It is based on our being “reborn” and renewed each morning when we wake up. So while this isn’t about Coronavirus, it’s a good reminder to keep up the frequent 20-second soapy handwashings which doctors recommend even while social-distancing. And keep trying not to touch our faces as much! That’s the hard part.
FROM PLANTS TO HUMANS 6/7 biology with Ms. Brown is finishing up a long unit on plants and soon moving to a new unit about the human body and life systems.
Kosher Price Chopper has Pesach meals with
DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER menus plus a special 3-person option that was Morah Rochel’s Chumash class learned about this expression in Parsha Beshalach.
This week HS history took a specific look at HOW TO MAKE TEHINA... the generational tension during that decade Morah Rivi’s Ivrit (modern Hebrew) class did and the clash between traditional and modern a class all in Hebrew on how to make the values & wrote essays on ways that played out. sesame Tehina dip from scratch. Did you notice, this follows the earlier piece, also about inter-generational but with a different message/outcome.
WANTED: CARDS FOR SENIORS! Visitors are no longer allowed at the senior homes and nursing homes at this time. One way we can visit the elderly is by mail! They love getting cards, especially made by children. Please make bright colorful pretty cards with nice messages or even just drawings and mail them to Daughters of Sara (180 Washington Ave Extension) or The Massry Residence (182 Washington Ave Extension) both Albany NY 12203. If you know a specific senior you can address it to them, or you can just address it to the Seniors (you can write your name and school and grade as the return address and to sign your card) and it will be given to seniors who would appreciate the good cheer at this time.
SEDERS MEALS FROM KPC arranged by Federation etc. If you need help with pickup or delivery you can call Jewish Family Services, the Jewish Federation or some local Shuls who have volunteers to do this.
SHMURAH MATZAH FROM RABBI RUBIN For 40+ years Rabbi Rubin sells handmade Shmurah Matzah, but this year for social-distancing purposes there is a new (temporary) arrangement: 1) Call Shabbos House 518-526-0770 or 518772-7299 to let them know how many boxes (each box is 1 pound, 7-8 Matzot, $24) you want and what time you will be coming. 2) Shabbos House will leave your Matzah box (es) on their front porch table at 320 Fuller Road and leave the check (payable to Chabad) in the mailbox on the pillar. There are two types of Matzah from Brooklyn, regular and whole wheat and Matzah from Jerusalem (as supplies last & are available).
CHABAD SEDERS-TO-GO
As supplies last and health regulations allow, Here’s a really extreme case of social-distancing Capital Chabad is coordinating “Seder-To-Go” packages for seniors through R’ Leibel from saving a life! Morah Dini’s Melachim (Kings II) Navi class learned about the hidden future Beth Tephilah and other local Chabad orgs, and for local students and grad-students from king Yoash who was saved from his own crazed murderous grandmother Queen Atalya Shabbos House. Jewish Family Services is also thanks to the Kohain Gadol hiding him away coordinating volunteer food pickups from Kosher Price Chopper for home-bound. See > in the attic of the Kodesh HaKodoshim!
STAY-HOME, SOCIAL-DISTANCE
RABBI RUBIN’S CHAMETZ SALE Rabbi Rubin’s Mechiras (sale of) Chametz will not be in-person this year (even though that is usually preferred) and instead will be online at: tinyurl.com/RabbiRubinChametzForm
at Maimonides and in the Community As we (nearly) all stay-at-home, practice socialdistancing, no congregating there are no upcoming communal events (for now!, may they return speedily!) In the meantime we’ll substitute with some online resources for kids and families to enjoy at home (in addition to school-work, of course). This is a partial list, in formation, in random order, please email us mhdsnews@gmail.com so we can add to it next week for everyone’s benefit:
Some of these are free all the time, some of these listed below usually have a paywall or subscription but are now free due as a courtesy. Obviously all the links below should be with parental guidance and with respect for family values and style. They have not been individually vetted, the content may vary greatly within each. Above the list from last week, here are a few new links and resources: KidsChitas.org offers “Chitas For Kids” a free email signup for a daily booklet download with coloring pages and nuggets of learning for kids. PJ Library Live Storyhour - Wednesdays 7pm, Fridays at 11am, both on facebook.com/ PJLibraryNortheasternNewYork/ DK.com see their Stay-Home-Hub of resources for kids and adults! Thanks Mrs. Mattice! 100 Images of Rebbe Rashab Sayings for his 100th Yartzeit: Credits to Mushka Heidingsfled: Copy into your browser: photos.app.goo.gl/ Gd63u1wT3Tp9hRj36
HAGGADAH LEARNING AND PREP - VIA ZOOM 9PM While our students are learning wonderfully online, we’d like to start doing something similar for community. Check into Zoom video conferencing at 9pm each night for live Haggadah learning, inspiration and insights, starting Sunday night. Here’s the link for 9:15pm each weeknight till Passover: https://zoom.us/j/6725472221 download for free. UnclePinchey.com offers (now free) Small Wonder Puppet Theater shows to watch. TorahTots.com has music videos, some learning Yeshiva.net has adult learning & lectures and now kids stories, too. torahgames.org free games to help kids learn! While the Maimonides building and torahlive.com/schools/ use code: TORAH to access free vieos, games, and more! physical school is closed, school is jewishbedtimestories.com/stories still very on and working in a remote Chabad.org is an always free and always a loaded mega resource with articles, text learning, many virtual way. Teachers still have to be paid. While this is a difficult time for levels of Torah, multimedia, how-to etc. TorahPalace.com - a local resource, not only many, those who can contribute free but you can also win some prizes! online (we are not checking the mail Kids.NationalGeographic.com has animal videos, brain boosters and all kinds of learning. as regularly now) are very much Seussville.com Seuss-ian activities and learning. appreciated. You help ensure Bit.ly/freemakerstations has 3 weeks of maker- continuity in a time of crisis, station activities using household everyday items. luminous learning in a time of KhanAcademy has lessons and tutorials for all darkness, and assured confidence in a ages: toddler through High School. CBAJ on Facebook has Rabbi Feldman doing time of uncertainty. THANK YOU! live classes and pre-Shabbat programs etc. tinyurl.com/maimonidespaypal Vivify has STEM resources. https://www.maimonidesschool.org/donate ABCYA is a popular primary education site.
Your Support is Appreciated
And last week’s list of resources: Google’s Art & Culture - virtual tours of many famous museums and buildings. Always free. Scholastic Learn at Home - username: Learning20 Password: Clifford. Zoos & Aquariums - many now offering free live cam views (some on all the time, some at specific times) including the Cincinnati Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, Montery Bay Aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, and via Explore.org. Mo Willems Lunch Doodles - learn to draw with this kids book author & illustrator weekdays 1pm via the Kennedy Center. Good for little ones, too. Otzar HaChochma with its vast scholarly online library of Jewish texts now has free access - it’s usually expensive to use. NYPL.org has 300K e-books and audio-books to
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!”