Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program

Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY maimonidesschool@gmail.com

BH. Adar I 24, 5776 / March 4, 2016

ADAR EMOJI PILLOWS These 8th grade students finished all of Samuel I with their Navi teacher Morah Tzivie. For a siyum they made these emoji pillows, first of all because their Siyum celebration happened in Adar, the happy month, and also because of the range of emotions you find in this book of Prophets. It’s interesting that they finished Shmuel I in Adar I!

NOTE DISMISSAL CHANGES The teaching staff had to make changes to the daily dismissal procedures for improved safety & behavior. Parents & students, please note: All Nursery, Kindergarten, first and second

grade students will stay in the downstairs lunchroom until their family name is called.

Grades 3-5 remain in their classrooms and wait for their family name to be called.

6/7 graders remain with Mrs. Crawford. 8th graders remain with Mrs. Ramsay. HS Boys remain with Mrs. Roland. No dismissal will be allowed prior to

3:30pm. Any earlier pickups need to be arranged at the school office.

Parents should not enter the building to pick up their children. If they do need to come inside, it should only be to the office. We find parents entering at dismissal can be disturbing and disruptive to other children.

Parents and students: Thank you for noting these changes and for following these new procedures. This will allow for a much smoother and more relaxed dismissal each day.

SHLOCK ROCK Lenny Solomon and Shlock Rock came back to town this week at the JCC sponsored by Israel’s Nefesh b’Nefesh and 16 local Jewish organizations,

including Maimonides. After 30 years of music, live shows in all 50 states, and 36 CDs released with more than 400 creative songs - Lenny is still so vibrant, lively and very invested! He’s pictured here with Moishy K. our HS student who cherishes communal events, especially music and Simcha!

AS THE PALACE (INTRIGUE) UNFOLDS Morah Devorah’s first graders made these Armon palaces which unfold to tell of the Purim story and its famous characters.

SUNLIGHT & MARK ON WALL 7th grade Chumash was waiting for a sunny day. They learned about Moshe’s mark on the wall, telling Pharaoh, this time (when the sun hits here) tomorrow… so they made a mark on the wall and waited to see it hit the same point on the next day at that time. Alas, the next day or two was cloudy, but finally the sun came out again. You might not be able to see the mark in this picture, it was slightly off from where the light shown a few nights earlier, that’s because the sun moves a little bit each day as well. It was a nice opportunity for a hands-on learning of both Chumash & science! RABBI SPEAKS ON ELECTIONS CBAJ hosts Rabbi Marc Angel to speak on Election Ethics this Sunday. There’s a Chinese Dinner, too! See page 4 for more details.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This newsletter is dedicated

in honor of the birth of

Elroi Tzur Solomon אלרואי צור

by his great-grandparents

Michael & Sylvia Solomon

Candle-Lighting:

5:31 Shabbos Ends:

6:32

NEW CROCHETING WORKSHOP Mrs. Gittel “Bubby” Laber came in to do a crocheting workshop with our 8th graders. It connects with some of what they learned in the laws of Shabbos, and also has nice life lessons about bringing individual yarn strands of different colors together, not to mention making something pretty and useful.

AYINS WITH EYNAYIM These Hebrew letter Ayins, decorated by the Kindergarteners, have 2 Aynayim (eyes) on each. They also learned the Ugah Song, which is a lot of fun and teaches a lot of basic Hebrew words (not necessarily Ayin-related) like: LaShevet = sit, LaKum = stand or get up, Nistovev = to go around, Kol HaYom = all day.. ANIMAL SKULLS Mrs. Dubarry’s 4/5 grade class visited Mrs. Berke’s HS science class to see 3 animal skulls: a bear, white-tailed deer & muskrat. Actually, first they had to try and guess which animals they were from. They made observations and discussed them, including differences in their head size and in their types of teeth.

PUZZLE MAKERS These nursery students are making their own puzzle! They first colored a sheet of paper and

now they are working to cut it into unusual shapes that will have to be put back together.

A WOMANS ROLE, A CONTRAST On the same day 3rd graders happened to learn two texts that were in stark contrast with each other. In Chumash class they learned how Hashem told Avraham to always listen to Sara’s voice. Then, that same morning, they read in the Megillah that Memuchan (Haman) advised King Achashvairosh to write a decree after Vashti’s fall that each man should rule his own house. What a different perspective on how to view a woman’s role in a family! This is a contrast and lesson that is relevant and important to this very day. AND A MISHNA CONNECTION Also that day in Mishna class, 3rd graders learned about Ikar and Tafel, two types of foods that go well together, but since Tafel supports and is there for the Ikar, we make the Bracha only on the Ikar—main food. This doesn’t apply to people, since every single person is an Ikar (Kova’iah Bracha L’Atzmo!) but it was neat that 3rd graders thought of this in connection to the contrast above between Haman’s perspective and Hashem’s guidance to Avraham: Who is the Ikar that establishes a Jewish home? The Akeret HaBayit!

VOLCANO BOOK Mrs. Maher’s 3rd graders made these volcano books after learning all about it. The book folds up to a volcano shape. They

each illustrated the fiery inside of an active volcano and wrote volcano facts on either side.

HOLOCAUST READINGS In English class with Mrs. Crawford, 6/7th are now reading Anne Frank’s diary, along with selections from two other Holocaust texts that provide background or support. They will also read a memoir of a local survivor, Mr. Oshins, who will be coming in the beginning of March to share his story with our students, as part of the school’s Better-Together program. The poster above depicts some of what they’ve been learning about tolerance.

100TH DAY OF SCHOOL Our youngest grades had special activities and 100–themed celebrations for the 100th day of school this week, that fell on Dr. Seuss’s birthday! Ms. Ford’s class had special hats and certificates celebrating “100 Days Smarter” and a room full of centers for students to do their own 100-themed learning projects.

WORKING ON THE “MC” NEWSLETTER

select quotes from student in TNT/MC

1 "Working on the newsletter is a lot of fun. It helps improve my typing on the computer, and is a real enjoyment to read every time. From Monday to Friday, I always look forward to it. It is a different sort of class, but it's great because there are no tests and things of that sort.” J.J. (Grade 6)

2 "I really enjoy reading the newsletter and i look forward to it every week. I really like reporting about stuff and to inform the community on what we are learning. It is really fun to take pictures and see all the kids smile and say "cheese!" Rivkah (Grade 6)

3 "I like the Maimonides newsletter because there's a lot of interesting information summed up into a few sentences. Also there are pictures of kids in putting fun into their learning." Nechama (Grade 8)

4 "I like working on the newsletter because it helps me explain to my parents what I did in school this week. I also enjoy reading the newsletter, like looking for what I wrote in it and learning new stuff about other classes." Jacob (Grade 3)

5 "The reason I like the MC is because everyone in the school is a part of it. You also get a glimpse into what goes on in everyone else's classes." Goldie (Grade 8)

THE GETTYSURG ADDRESS This project has been some time in the making. Mrs. Dubarry’s 4/5th grade students learned about President Lincoln and the times of the Civil War around Presidents Day. Then they each translated this famous speech into ordinary everyday modern English that they can understand (and did several drafts and revisions of that). They created old-fashioned paper using coffee and distressed inks, and after letting it absorb and dry, they wrote their modernized version out using fountain pens! They are pictured on top each holding their work, and their very old looking documents are now hanging outside their classroom. It was a great learning experience. PERFECT CHUMASH TIMING 6th Chumash class with Morah Leyee is now studying Parsha Vayera, about the hail during the Ten Plagues. Rashi gave several explanations for something, and quoted an Onkelos translation from a different Parsha. Since they had some extra time they decided to look it up, and guess what: It happened to be the Parsha of the week, and even the Chitas (the daily Chumash reading) of that very day!

A YEAST EXPERIMENT 6/7 did this science experiment with Mrs. Ballard in Science Enrichment. Each bottle has yeast and water inside, and a balloon on top. The one on the far right is the control. Some bottles have added sugar, salt, baking soda and/or vinegar. They have to predict which balloon will fill up most from the gas in the bottle. Our newsletter is going to print as this experiment began, stay tuned!

BIKUR CHOLIM = BOKER? Rabbi Yossi shared with some of our “Better Together” students a beautiful insight from Rabbi Simeon Schreiber, author of “A Caring Presence” and an expert on eldercare: Bikur Cholim means visiting the sick. But Bikur (which means visit) can also be interpreted as Boker which means morning. When you visit someone (at any time of day or night) you bring them a little Boker, a bright morning, a new beginning, a ray of sunshine. One older lady we visited was so delighted & appreciative that she called one of students grandmother’s several times to thank her!!

ROGERS PARK CONCERT WITH THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE This was an interesting angle picture from last night’s RogerParkBand concert at the Ramada with the Friendship Circle: You see the kids in the fore, and the musicians via a mirror in the back. Friendship Circle volunteers were also recognized and appreciated. And there was so much delicious food prepared by the Reb Shmuel Kochman, including a sushi cake! HARMONY IN MUSIC & LIFE Morah Chaya Bracha is introducing her choir students to harmony. If it’s done right, it can add so much beauty to a song! 8th grade girls also wrote that it’s a life lesson, too: Learning to harmonize with people around you can make all your relationships so much better. You don’t have to be the same, but if your differences complement and are appreciated by each other that makes it extra special! Rabbi Mendel also shared a similar message in his davening class about “The Last Halelukah” Psalm 150 which speaks of instruments…

BETTER TOGETHER ESSAYS — AND RECIPES, TOO No rush on the recipes, but the essays from middle and HS students are due this coming week. And re: the recipes, its open to everyone: share a recipe from a senior (family or friend) along with a short background story or description to: maimonidesschool@gmail.com We hope to get a “Better Together” cookbook together by years end! JUDGES LIKE TREES Morah Rochel’s Navi class learned about Avimelech, and how various Jewish judges were compared to different trees. Morah Rochel asked them if they knew this or that type of tree and indeed they did, because they just recently learned that in science class!

STORYTELLER IN NURSERY The Blocks grandmother, Mrs. Debbie Block is in town, and she’s a storyteller, so she came into Nursery to share an Erev Shabbos story today. She acted out “The Squeaky Door” by Margaret Read MacDonald.

HATZALAH AT THE MINYAN BH all is well! No reason for alarm… The visitor who led the services at the Shomray Torah Minyan this morning was wearing his Hatzalah volunteer ambulance jacket while he prayed.

IS YEAST GOOD FOR THE JEWS? A visitor to school recognized that we have a major focus on intercurricular integration so he asked Yochanan and JJ what Jewish connection they could think of for the yeast experiment? They quickly answered about Matzah and Chametz on Passover. But then, they took it a step further, to explain how although yeast is totally forbidden on Pesach, but is actually very welcomed and cherished on Shabbos in our Challah—this teaches us that humility is a Jewish value (we learn that from Matzah), but so pride also has its place (as we see from Challah). The blend of both is a healthy self-confidence.

3/3-5: ROGERS PARK BAND Look them up: RogersParkBand.com out of Chicago - and this weekend in Albany!

Thurs 3/3: Friendship Circle Concert honoring FC volunteers at the Ramada Plaza, 3 Watervliet Ave 6:30pm. $10pp covers concert, light appetizers and drinks. Open to the community.

Shabbos 3/4-5: The duo from RogersParkBand will lead services, a warm oneg-farbrengen, a spirited Shabbat & musical Havdalah at Shabbos House.

Saturday Night 3/5: Cozy & intimate Musical Kumzitz, for grad students and young adults at University Heights Chabad, 147 South Lake, 8pm 3/4: J-FED SCHOLARSHIPS DUE Federation scholarship applications for financial assistance with summer camps or Israel programs are due TODAY! 3/5: R’ REISMAN CLASS CHANGE Rabbi Y. Reisman is now sitting shiva for his mother. His son will be giving this week’s Sat Night class as a tribute to his grandmother, and instead of the usual 7:30pm this time of year it will be at 8:30pm, viewable at CBAJ Luchins Media Center.

3/6: RABBI MARC ANGEL AT CBAJ Rabbi Angel is Rabbi emeritus of the historic Shearith Israel Sephardic synagogue in NYC, and author of 30+ books, including the commentary in the Koren Avoth edition studied in Torah365. He will be Scholar in Residence at CBAJ, his timely

topic is “Ethics in Presidential Elections” $15pp, $6 kids under 10, $50 max per family. Includes a Chinese dinner 4:30pm, lecture at 5:15pm. Register online: cbaj.org. Note that CBAJ Mincha/Maariv schedule will be adjusted to accommodate the event: Mincha at 4:15 and Maariv at 6:15pm. 3/6: WITTY BRIDAL SHOWER Many of us remember our teacher Mrs. Sanda, her sister Stephanie Witty (who some of us know) is getting married and there’s a bridal shower at 2pm at Beth Israel in Schenectady. RSVP: 377-3700. 3/7: SENIOR HAMANTASCH BAKE Our students will be doing a “Better Together” Hamantasch Bake at Ohav Shalom Apartments at 10:15am on Monday. All area seniors are welcome! 3/10: JCC PRE-PURIM CARNIVAL 5:30-8pm at the Albany JCC on Whitehall Road. No admission charge, call for full details: 438-6651 3/10: B.T. ESSAY DUE DATE This is for middle and high school students and there’s opportunities for very valuable prizes. Some students are working on some very nice writing and perspectives. Looking forward to all of your work! 3/12: LAST WINTER PIZZA NITE 7:30pm downstairs at Maimonides. In addition to fresh hot pizzas and sushi rolled on the spot, there will be a pre-Purim surprise, too! That night we change the clocks, springing forward, so it will be the last Pizza Nite of the winter season… 3/13: ASIAN VIEW ON MIDEAST 7pm at Beth Emeth, dinner & dessert reception. Richard Fontaine, President of Center for a new American Security will speak on Asian view of the Middle East: China, India and Japan. $30pp, $15 for young adults. Info/RSVP: 783-7800. 3/14: ALBANY WOMENS CIRCLE Pre-Purim Hamantasch baking and gathering for women, location and hostess TBA soon. 7:30pm. 3/18: FIRST OF LONG FRIDAYS We change the clocks early Sunday morning the 13th, so Friday the 18th will be our first full-day Friday schedule. It’s also Shabbos Zachor that week, so that’s another way to “remember!” 3/23: PURIM NIGHT CELEBATIONS Purim is Wednesday night into Thursday this year. Evening Megillah Reading at Shomray Torah. CBAJ Megillah 7:30pm followed by a Bounce

Party with giant indoor inflatables. Purim Arcade & Masquerade at Shabbos House

for students. 3/24: PURIM DAY CELEBRATIONS This Mitzvot of Purim are primarily fulfilled during the day: Mishloach Manot, Matanot L’Evyonim, and Mishteh—the Purim feast. Plus we hear Megillah again during the daytime: “Purim in Japan” with Saratoga Chabad &

Clifton Park Chabad at the Hyatt Place in Malta, Exit 12. Japanese Dinner Buffet & Sushi Bar, Martial Arts Demo, Chopstick Competition, Origami crafts… etc. $10pp, $5 kids (ages 4-12)Info: 495-0772/9

“Purim at the Circus” 5pm at the Normanside in Delmar with Bethlehem Chabad will feature circus acts, face-painting, arts and crafts. Adults $10pp in advance, $15 at the door. $5 per child. RSVP at bethlehemchabad.com / 866-7658

Late day Megillah and evening Purim Pinot Meal at Shabbos House for students

Purim Seudah at Beth Israel hosted by Rabbi and Rabinessa Kelman, 6:30pm. Call 377-3700 to reserve.

PURIM MITZVAH MEN! MEGILLAH-TO-GO… Motti and friends will be back to help share the Purim spirit. If you know of people who can’t or won’t get to synagogue but would like to hear the Megillah read, please contact Motti so they can make their Purim schedule: Mottel770@gmail.com or call: 518-368-7886. PURIM CARDS Have out of town friends that you’d like to think of on Purim? Get Purim Cards, a virtual Mishloach Manot for a small contribution to Maimonides. Call the school office 463-9363.

Stay tuned for more communal Purim events to be listed in next week’s “MC” newsletter! Mordechai and Esther knew the future was in Jewish community and Jewish education. Support Maimonides Today: www.tinyurl.com/MaimonidesPayPal Any amount goes a long way to provide a wonderful education for our children and a bright future for our people!

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!”

at Maimonides and in the Community