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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 [email protected]

BH. THURS Nissan 13, 5776 / April 21, 2016

ESHKOL REGION VISITORS A week ago on Friday, Federation brought 3 representatives from Israel’s Eshkol Region (our community's sister region) to visit our school and speak to our students. Last week’s MC had a brief report, here’s more detail: After speaking about the rockets, tunnels and terror from Gaza, they asked, “What do you think my kids at home are worried about? What concerns them most?” No, it’s not the terror, but what I am bringing them back from the United States! Or a big test they are having tomorrow. The same kind of things that would keep kids in Albany up at night. They spoke about the big agricultural emphasis where they live, growing 15+ varieties of tomatoes, colorful carrots, and other produce. They have an event called “The Salad Trail” where people come and eat what they pick. There’s an area near them that a few years ago was all sand dunes, with no history of settlement, and some Jewish families who had lived in Gaza before the disengagement moved there, and now it’s flourishing! It’s a whole community, the sand dunes are now filled with lush agriculture, it’s nothing short of a miracle (and lots of hard work). Rabbi Rubin asked about Passover customs. They explained that the Jews in their region have roots in many different places, including Eastern Europe and South America, so each brings their custom and flavor. They described the heavy traffic on the first day of Chol HaMoed, everyone has off from school (and many from work, too) and it’s the start of spring and people like to get out and travel, so there’s so many cars on the road. A big thing they talked about is called “Mimouna” a Moroccan Jewish celebration on the night after Pesach is over. You don’t have to be Moroccan to enjoy! You don’t even need an invite! They prepare all kinds of very sweet Chametz, and people come in and out to enjoy and celebrate.

MAOS CHITTIM FUND RAISED Grades 2-7 raised $70.56 in their classroom Tzedakah boxes between Purim and Pesach, for funds for the needy before Passover. Those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters sure add up to quite a bit!

MORE PESACH LEARNING Classes continue to learn more about Pesach this week (like Nachman here in 2nd grade doing a Pesach sheet) and doing more projects like the reclining pillows on right, and Haggadahs and much more.

MAZAL TOV KUPERMANS Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Dina (Stark) and Dr. Shlomo Kuperman on the birth of a baby boy, bris will be in Albany (G-d willing) on Tuesday of Chol HaMoed Pesach. Special Mazal Tov to the Saba and Savta Sid and Morah Devorah Stark. Much Nachas!

COMFY SEDER PILLOWS Morah Devorah and the first graders made these beautiful, comfy Seder pillows to recline with. They have a beautiful fabric, made even more beautiful and meaningful by the student writing and illustrations. We had to take two pictures (top and bottom above): One with everyone posing and the other with them smooshing their faces, enjoying the pillows.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This newsletter is dedicated in memory of an Eishes Chayil - Yartzeit 11th of Nissan -

May her memory be a blessing for her family

ערב פסח

COLORFUL HAKHEL UNITYART This is from a Girls Afterschool program a while back, but we never had it in the “MC”, a composite art piece, girls worked on separate sections, combined for a very colorful Hakhel (year of unity) art hanging in our lunchroom. BETTER TOGETHER RECIPES We’re looking for submissions of recipes our students can get from seniors, neighbors or relatives or family friends. Hopefully we can get enough recipes (short stories, descriptions or backgrounds) to make a cookbook out of it! Email to: [email protected] Pesach might a very good time for this! Ask your relatives! Thanks so very much…

THE SIYUM SCAVENGER HUNT Rabbi Mathless sent his students (in boys and girls teams) out on a scavenger hunt to prepare for their Chumash Siyum. Mendel (top) holds up their list of things to find. These students (above) had to look back into the Chumash to find the clue they were looking for…

A DEFENSIVE DRIVING LESSON Rabbi Mendel explained to 4/5 graders that you start learning to drive a car in an empty parking lot with no cars around. But then you have to start driving in a street with other cars. You have to be aware not only of your own driving skill but also what other drivers are doing and how they can affect you and how you may affect them. Looking before changing lanes, assessing space for parallel parking… the same is true in a classroom: Students have to focus on their own learning skills, of course,

but it’s also important to think about how their behavior or choices can affect other people in the classroom.

Learning to be aware of and concerned with other people’s needs and sensitivities is an important part of growing up. (NON-) CHAMETZ PARTY As other classes did, 3rd graders enjoyed a Chametz party. What made their party different? A lot of their treats were not even Chametz: like chocolate and cucumbers, and delicious homemade Pesach lemonade. These kids loved it, we are proud of their flexibility!

PESACH MADGAB GAME 8th graders with Morah Leyee decorated a jar filled with Mad-Gab-like (a very funny verbalization

game) related to Pesach terms and expressions. SENDING AWAY MOTHER BIRD

8th graders learned this Mitzvah in their Yahadus studies, and Rabbi Caras was especially delighted to teach it because this is a Mitzvah

that came to his windowsill (literally!) He told them background material he learned about it and also showed them a video of how he and his family observed this Mitzvah when they still lived on Glenwood Street behind school. GIFT CARDS FOR TEACHERS

Thanks to Rachel Horan of the PTA and all parents who contributed toward the Sunshine Fund and to Amanda Gurock for

her assistance, our teachers each received a very thoughtful card and nice gift card for Passover from our school families. It was very appreciated. Thank you, thank you!!!

A FOCUS ON SINGLE ITEM OF NATURE Mrs. Levin took 6/7 graders outdoors (it was a gorgeous day) gave each student a drawing board and paper, and told them to choose a single, simple items from nature. Some took twigs, others did small flowers, an acorn, and sat down to

zero in and focus on that specific item, tune out everything else and just draw that thing. It’s an an exercise in Kavanah (focus, concentration—as in prayer) and the connection between what we think about and what we do with our hands…

WAFFLES ARE CHAMETZ In more ways than one! One day this week, Mrs. Dubarry’s “Word of the Day” was Waffle and she wasn’t referring to the waffles we eat, but to waffling

back and forth, when people are indecisive, unsure, non-committal. Both the food and the attitude can be a form of Chametz!

THE DAILY NASI IN TROPE The boys davening class has been doing the daily Nasi aloud together in Torah reading singsong for the first twelve days of Nissan (on class days, of course) one day for the leader of each of the twelve tribes who dedicated the Mishkan tabernacle on that day. It’s great trope (Torah cantillation reading) practice because everything aside for the name of the Nasi (leader) and name of the tribe is exactly the same, the repetitiveness can be helpful. SEFIRAT HA’OMER BEADS We don’t have a picture of it, but Nursery students made a cute and useful calendar with 7 rows of 7 beads that travel across a ribbon. Students can mark off each day of the Omer by moving the beads across, one at a time!

POETRY PARTNERS On the Wednesday half-day this week, Ms. Ford paired up second graders to assist first graders with their monthly poetry assignments. What comes to mind for January? April? Or September? Lists of words that reflect or evoke feelings or memories or experiences.

A ONE-DAY H.S. BOYS NY TRIP Thanks to Motti for taking our HS boys in and out of NY for a one-day, one-night trip this week to experience Erev Pesach big city hustle and bustle (Nathan Rosenstein OBM used to love that!) and exciting and meaningful farbrengens at the Rebbe’s Ohel for his (114th) 11th of Nissan birthday anniversary.

MORE SEDER PILLOWS These are from the Kindergartners, and 3rd graders made them, too! These pillows utilized extra (new but unneeded) t-shirts, upcycling! ALUMNI TORAH BOOKLET As in part years alumni are putting together a booklet of local (Hebrew and English) Torah insights. There’s still time to participate until the first or second day of Chol HaMoed, and you don’t have to be an alumni to submit a piece! Email [email protected]. Short Torah insights will be shared orally between Mincha & Maariv Chol HaMoed nights at Shomray Torah. GERMAN AMERICAN JEWISH We had an interesting young guest on Wednesday. His father is US Army Chaplain on a base in Germany where 40 Jewish soldiers (out of thousands) are stationed, and he used to go to a big Jewish school in Frankfurt but now goes away far from his home away home – to a yeshiva in Monsey. He had many interesting experiences. Mrs. Dubarry’s husband was also once stationed in Germany, so she knew exactly what he was talking about. IMPORTANT PESACH TIMES As we know from Matzah, timing is everything. Here are some of the important Halachic times to keep in mind this Pesach: • Erev Pesach Finish Eating Chametz by 10:35 • Burn Chametz the latest by 11:44am • First Seder (Shabbos) Candlelighting 7:28 • Earliest First Seder Kiddush 8:17pm • Second Night Candlelighting after 8:32pm • First 2 Days of YomTov end at 8:34pm • 7th Night of Pesach Candlelighting 7:35 • 8th Night of Pesach Shabbos Candles 7:36 • Pesach (and Shabbos) Ends: 8:41pm • Eat Sold Chametz after 9:45pm

OUR “TIMES-UNION” PHOTO FROM JOURNEY THRU THE BODY “Times-Union” photographer Mike Farrell captured this action shot of our students learning oversized teeth brushing techniques at the “Journey Through the Body” experiences at Crossgates Mall. Proper hygiene is very important, and Mussar texts emphasize that “Cleanliness is next to G-dliness!” Chassidic texts say, “a small hole in the body is a big hole in the soul” so we really have to take good care of our body’s health and hygiene!

4/20-29: SCHOOL SCHEDULE 4/20-21: Half-days English only, pickup 11:30am No School for Middle and High School 4/22-29: No School. Pesach ends 4/30. 5/2: School Resumes on Monday at 8am!

4/22: EREV PESACH AT MHDS An annual tradition: community comes out for the firstborn Siyum (by Rabbi Simon on tractate Gittin) and burning of Chametz at Maimonides on the morning before Passover. The 8am Shomray Torah Minyan will be at Maimonides instead. There will be a Rambam Cake for Maimonides’ birthday, and a glimpse at an fascinating and diverse 1800 volume Haggadah collection!

4/22-23: COMMUNAL SEDERS The first Seder is on Friday Night this year, the second Seder is on Saturday Night. • Communal Seder by Chabad to be held Friday

night at Federation’s Golub Center, $18 suggested donation. Contact Rabbi Rubin 423-4103 if interested.

• CBAJ first Seder at the Shul. RSVP by April 3. Visit cbaj.org for member/non-member pricing.

• Bethlehem Chabad hosts first Seder at the Normanside. Adults $30, Children $10. RSVP by April 17. To join Bethlehem Chabad family-style Seder on 2nd Night call Rabbi Nachman Simon 439-8280 or Rabbi Z. Simon 866-7658.

• Shabbos House, both nights, primarily for students but community is also welcome. See signup at shabboshouse.org/Passover2016

• Saratoga Chabad, communal Seders both nights, Call 526-0773 for info.

• Beth Tephilah in Troy is hosting both Seders, run at the shortest time span to fulfill Halachic requirements, approx 90 minutes. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. RSVP: 894-3491. There will also be another Chabad RPI Seder on 15th Street, call for info: 894-3491.

• Beth Israel Schenectady hosts the first Seder. Call 377-3700 for member/non-member pricing.

• The Labers are hosting guests for Seders at their home, call 833-0704 for more info.

• Union College Chabad, first seder 7:30pm, second seder 8pm. 479-9592

4/25-28: CHOL HAMOED PESACH Pesach begins and ends on Shabbos this year, which leaves a few solid midweek days to enjoy outings and activities with kids. Any ideas?

4/25-28: SHAKER ANIMAL BABIES Until May 1st, the Shaker Museum just over the border in MA has a special program with newborn

animal babies. Adult admission is steep: $20pp but kids under 12 are free. Teens priced in between.

4/25: GARDEN BROS. CIRCUS 4:30pm and 7:30pm shows at Fonda Fairgrounds. As with all events posted here, be sure to call ahead to find out pricing and any other details to ascertain if this is worthwhile and a good fit for your family. One free kid ticket with adult admission (cheaper online) may be soon be available (not yet certain) from [email protected]

4/25-28: KINUS TORAH NIGHTS Maimonides alumni will be back in town for the holiday, and we’re asking them to share short Divrei Torah at Mincha and Maariv on the Chol HaMoed Days of Pesach at Shomray Torah.

4/26: PESACH KIDS RALLY Motti is back with an energizing kids rally on the Tuesday Chol HaMoed, 10:30am-12pm at Shomray Torah. As usual, will include games and prizes and holiday learning and hands-on Mitzvot.

4/26: SARATOGA CHOL HAMOED Saratoga Chabad is hosting an evening for the kids, 5-7pm on Tuesday Chol HaMoed, including carnival activities, crafts, a magic show and a Pesach dinner. Cost is: $36 per family or $10pp. More info? 526-0773.

4/27: MINIONS AT THE PALACE $5pp, Kids are $3 each. 3pm screening of the Minions film at the Palace Theater in Albany.

4/27: STREITS MATZAH FILM 7:30pm at Agudat Achim in Schenectady. $7.50 for adults, $5 for children. Info? 393-9211. For more on the film see: matzofilm.com

4/28: TROUT DISCOVERY DAY Last day of Chol HaMoed, YomTov resumes tonight: Releasing trout and learning about them at the 1pm at Grafton Lakes State Park. $2pp or $5 family. Info? 279-1155

4/30: MOSHIACH SEUDAH An annual tradition at the very end of Pesach dating back to the Baal Shem Tov, with beautiful niggunim, stories, and inspiration. Earlier Mincha at 6:45pm at Shteeble, Moshiach Seuda follows. Earlier, at 5pm there will be a Womens Moshiach Seudah at the Rubin home 122 South Main.

5/15: YITTA HALBERSTAM The author of the popular “Small Miracles” series (extraordinary coincidences from ordinary life) will speak at the Hyatt Place in Malta for the Jewish Womens Circle of Clifton Park’s 8th annual year-end gala and silent auction. Info/RSVP: 495-0779.

5/22: TENTATIVE DATE FOR BETTER TOGETHER GATHERING This date is still tentative but look for a day in May for a special “Better Together” gathering at the school with presentations by our students and food and enjoyment for all.

6/1: MAIMONIDES DINNER Save the date for the Maimonides awards dinner on Wednesday, June 1st, honoring Phyllis Silverman with the Dr. Morton Berger award and paying tribute to 3 sets of parents with long-term dedication to Maimonides, educating all their children here from start to finish: Avremi and Sharona Backman, Ruvain and Shayna Kudan and Nachman and Clara Simon. Stay tuned for dinner invite, tribute journal info and additional details.

7/11-8/19: CAMP GAN ISRAEL Registration is opening soon, a great staff is now lined up, and there are exciting plans in the works for this summer. Call Camp Director Devorah Leah Mathless 698-1836 for more info. The Gan Israel day camp is based at Maimonides, but you don’t have to go to Maimonides to attend and have a really fun, enjoyable and meaningful time.

MAIMONIDES SCHOOL & COMMUNITY (Nursery / Elementary / High School) 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 [email protected]

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