MC newsletter Raffle-Auction winners, glimpses of the wonderful event, the 8th night Menorah Lighting and an inspiring Yom-Kippur War Chanukah story from Ephy Carmel. Also look for the photos of our Chanukah songs and performances (the kids did great!) and some upcoming communal events on page 4. Thanks to all for you amazing support of this year's Raffle-Auction fundraiser! It is certainly one of most successful yet, raising nearly $14,000 for the school! This was a broad-based, collective effort of many individual generous ticket purchases that go a long way for Jewish education. Thank you!! We hope everyone had a bright and joyous Chanukah, may it continue to shine its light into our lives ahead. Good Shabbos, Maimonides School
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 & 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 Teves 3, 5774 / December 6 , 2013 THANKS TO ALL FOR A MOST SUCCESSFUL RAFFLE-AUCTION WINNERS: Indeed, everyone is truly a winner for generously supporting Jewish education. See full list of prize-package winners on page 3. This year’s totals to benefit the school are close to $14,000. The Split-the-Pot was our highest ever, at $880 to the winner (Bev Shor), how appropriate for the 8th night of Chanukah! As Rabbi Rubin put it, “On the 8th night we are firing on all cylinders, the full array is lit, we’re not waiting around for what is next!” MENORAH LIGHTING: Before the prize drawings, Rabbi Rubin invited 8 people (see page 2) including board members, MHDS alumni and community friends to come up and each light a candle in the Menorah seen all -lit above, led by Ephy & Nurit Carmel. Mr. Carmel shared a very heart-warming and inspiring Chanukah story from his experiences in the Yom-Kippur War (see page 2). GREEK CHANUKAH DINNER: The dairy Greek food was especially delicious. Shmuel Kochman put out a feast, and made the rich, thick Greek yogurt (for the Tzatziki salad dressing/dip) from scratch at Nathan’s Kitchen. The Spanakopita with feta & spinach in phyllo dough was delectable and a big hit. Plus there were other traditional Greek foods, like rolled grilled eggplant with feta and tomato sauce, tasty Fassolatha soup & more! KIDS PROGRAM: Special thanks to the Bnos Chaya HS girls for running a half-hour entertaining and educational Chanukah trivia game for kids with surprising wrapped mini- presents (see page 2) and also for help with selling the last-minute tickets. MZT: KASRIEL SHOLOM RUBIN Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Efraim & Menucha Rubin on the birth and Bris of their newborn son, named Kasriel Sholom after Menucha’s paternal grandfather. Rabbi Rubin pointed out that the baby’s Hebrew initials spell “Kosher!” The Bris was this past Tuesday in Crown Heights. Much Nachas! CHANUKAH DAYS 5-8 AT MHDS In addition to regular Jewish and General Studies classes this week, being the second half of Chanukah (we were away on break for the first half with Thanksgiving) it’s been a fun few days of hands-on learning with various classes baking Chanukah cookies (Mendel in Nursery pictured holding his bag of Chanukah sprinkles cookies), from- scratch Latkes, and even doughnuts, too, from tasty batter to sprinkled confectionary sugar! SONGS, SKITS & PRESENTATION On the 8th day of Chanukah, most classes presented a song, skit or presentation to fellow students and parents. It was a full house, nice to see that we’re really outgrowing the “back upstairs room”. The kids did a great job making their own costumes, memorizing their lines and putting themselves into it with bright and warm positive energy. It was so nice to see! See pictures on pages 3 and 4. MAZAL TOV KELLMANS On their daughter Naama’s (MHDS alumna) engagement to Nathan Green. Much Nachas! WELCOMING GUESTS Chaim is visiting this area from Israel for medical treatment, Kindergartners welcomed him right into their classroom & hearts. This embrace was natural (actually not the focus of photo it was cropped from). Refuah Shlayma! Candle-Lighting: 4:04 Shabbos Ends: 5:08 MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 This Newsletter is sponsored in honor of the engagement of Naama Kellman to Nathan Green By her parents Rabbi Yaakov & Lisa Kellman
Transcript
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 & 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 Teves 3, 5774 / December 6 , 2013
THANKS TO ALL FOR A MOST SUCCESSFUL RAFFLE-AUCTION
WINNERS: Indeed, everyone is truly a winner for generously supporting Jewish education. See full list of prize-package winners on page 3. This year’s totals to benefit the school are close to $14,000. The Split-the-Pot was our highest ever, at $880 to the winner (Bev Shor), how appropriate for the 8th night of Chanukah! As Rabbi Rubin put it, “On the 8th night we are firing on all cylinders, the full array is lit, we’re not waiting around for what is next!”
MENORAH LIGHTING: Before the prize drawings, Rabbi Rubin invited 8 people (see page 2) including board members, MHDS alumni and community friends to come up and each light a candle in the Menorah seen all-lit above, led by Ephy & Nurit Carmel. Mr. Carmel shared a very heart-warming and inspiring Chanukah story from his experiences in the Yom-Kippur War (see page 2).
GREEK CHANUKAH DINNER: The dairy Greek food was especially delicious. Shmuel Kochman put out a feast, and made the rich, thick Greek yogurt (for the Tzatziki salad dressing/dip) from scratch at Nathan’s Kitchen. The Spanakopita with feta & spinach in phyllo dough was delectable and a big hit. Plus there were other traditional Greek foods, like rolled grilled eggplant with feta and tomato sauce, tasty Fassolatha soup & more!
KIDS PROGRAM: Special thanks to the Bnos Chaya HS girls for running a half-hour entertaining and educational Chanukah trivia game for kids with surprising wrapped mini-presents (see page 2) and also for help with selling the last-minute tickets.
MZT: KASRIEL SHOLOM RUBIN Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Efraim & Menucha Rubin on the birth and Bris of their newborn son, named Kasriel Sholom after Menucha’s paternal grandfather. Rabbi Rubin pointed out that the baby’s Hebrew initials spell “Kosher!” The Bris was this past Tuesday in Crown Heights. Much Nachas! CHANUKAH DAYS 5-8 AT MHDS In addition to regular Jewish and General Studies classes this week, being the second half
of Chanukah (we were away on break for the first half with Thanksgiving) it’s been a fun few days of hands-on learning with various classes baking Chanukah
cookies (Mendel in Nursery pictured holding his bag of Chanukah sprinkles cookies), from-scratch Latkes, and even doughnuts, too, from tasty batter to sprinkled confectionary sugar!
SONGS, SKITS & PRESENTATION On the 8th day of Chanukah, most classes presented a song, skit or presentation to fellow students and parents. It was a full house, nice to see that we’re really outgrowing the “back upstairs room”. The kids did a great job making their own costumes, memorizing their lines and putting themselves into it with bright and warm positive energy. It was so nice to see! See pictures on pages 3 and 4. MAZAL TOV KELLMANS On their daughter Naama’s (MHDS alumna) engagement to Nathan Green. Much Nachas!
WELCOMING GUESTS Chaim is visiting this area from Israel for medical treatment, Kindergartners welcomed him right into their classroom & hearts. This embrace was natural (actually not the focus of photo it was cropped from). Refuah Shlayma!
Candle-Lighting: 4:04 Shabbos Ends: 5:08
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
This Newsletter is sponsored in
honor of the engagement of
Naama Kellman
to Nathan Green By her parents
Rabbi Yaakov & Lisa Kellman
LAST NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 5774, HONORED TO KINDLE THE 8 LIGHTS AT MAIMONIDES AUCTION Ephy Carmel (who in addition to an engineer and warrior is also a Chazzan) led the blessings and kindled a candle, followed by his wife Nurit (a long-time Hebrew teacher and also active at Beth Tephilah), MHDS alumni Daniel Seda (now at Albany High, always happy to come back and visit), Simmy Morrison (now in at Yeshiva in Miami), and Janessa Ilfeld (formely Belsky, of this area, also a MHDS alumna, now living in Elad, Israel), followed by Rabbi Moshe Mirsky (of Beth Israel, also on MHDS board, and Maxine Morgenbesser (School President, and parent of 4 proud MHDS alumni).
THE GREEK DAIRY FEAST Thanks to R’ Shmuel and the Kochman crew for going all out to make this Chanukah dinner unique and special. In addition to the buffet each table was set up with salad, stuffed grape-leaves, the made-from-scratch Tzatziki dressing/dip, Pita, Chumus and Feta. Far-Right is the Spanakopita (etc..) on the buffet (phyllo dough, spinach, w/feta) and above right are hundreds of sugar-glazed chocolate doughnut holes from Mt Pleasant Bakery (Schenectady) for dessert.
KIDS TRIVIA GAME HS Girls led a Chanukah trivia game for a half-hour (6-6:30pm) and these kids are happy to display some of their prizes!
A CHANUKAH STORY FROM ISRAEL’S YOM-KIPPUR WAR Have you seen Ephy Carmels’ serialized story in “The Jewish World” newspaper about his experiences in the Yom-Kippur War? Featured in commemoration of 40 years since 1973, it’s certainly worth a read. After lighting the Menorah he shared with us one short story, especially appropriate as we remember the valiant Maccabees fighting against the odds, as he recalled the Israelis were, especially at the start of that war. He was commander of a unit that was stationed near “Kilometer 101” near Egypt. After weeks of fierce fighting and losses, they were still in ambush mode at Chanukah time, keeping Egyptian forces from reaching their trapped Third Army. Morale was low, the war was dragging on, no agreement was yet reached, when Chabadniks reached their unit (on the front!) with Chanukah treats, an uplifting message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and 2 coins that he sent for each soldier. Ephy got emotional recalling that experience, and the spirited feeling they got, even though most of the soldiers were not at all religious. They lit a unique Menorah… see this week’s “Jewish World” for how that Menorah was fired upon and how amazed they were to return & see…
29 PRIZE PACKAGES! Pictured above is some of the display, and kids taking a closer look at that Lego Package (new for this year). On left Rabbi Rubin introduces the formal part of the evening with the Menorah Lighting, Ephy Carmel’s story and the Drawings, emceed by Rabbi Mendel.
5 CONNECTIONS OF
CHANUKAH AND
THANKSGIVING
1 A CHANUKAH MITZVAH: Many people
may not know this, but along with customs
like Dreidels and Doughnuts, a big Mitzvah on
Chanukah is called “Hallel v’Hodaah” which
means “praise and thanksgiving” to G-d for
the miracles (as we say in “Al HaNissim” etc).
Actually, Lincoln’s proclamation establishing
Thanksgiving uses the same exact language:
“a day of thanksgiving and praise.”
2 RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION: Many of the
Pilgrims were here fleeing religious
persecution in England, and religious freedom
is at the heart of the Chanukah story. Unlike
Haman of the Purim story (or later the Nazis
of the Holocaust) the Syrian-Greeks were
attacking our physical existence, they were
interested in our souls.
3 CELEBRATE AT HOME: Yes, there’s
Torah reading in the synagogue, & communal
events and public lightings, but Chanukah is
mostly an at-home holiday. Most Chanukah
observances don’t require a Minyan and can
and should be done at home. The same is true
of Thanksgiving, in which most of the rituals
center around the celebration in the home.
4 PUBLIC THANKSGIVING: That’s how
George Washington worded it in 1789.
Similarly, Chanukah is one of those Mitzvot
that have a public focus “Pirsumei Nissah” to
publicize the miracle, lighting candles in
windows and doorways, and in public spaces.
5 RECOGNIZING G-D’S HAND: The
Maccabees won a physical battle, and the
Pilgrims physically survived a winter - but
they both thanked G-d. Like Purim, the
winning-war aspect of Chanukah is a hidden
miracle, concealed in nature, but one that we
ought to recognize G-d’s hidden hand as well!
RAFFLE-AUCTION WINNERS Everyone is a winner for supporting education!
A) LAPTOP Beth & Lewis Gray B) UR COVERED (WIG) Kudan Family C) DIAMOND DAZZLE Maxine Morgenbesser D) iPOD5, JEM+OtterBox Salo & Johanna Steper E) HOME IMPROV Josh & Rebekah Wildman F) DRESS-UP Yisrael Frenkel G) SHABBOS PACKAGE Vicky O’Brien H) GOLF Vicky O’Brien I) SLEEP Menachem & Faige Andrusier J) MITZVAH Ben Zaientz K) PHOTO SHOOT Wildman Family L) TABLET PLUS Jay Portnoy M) HOUSEWARES Larry Teitelman N) STAMP & STEP IT UP Kaufman Family O) WOOD TOYS Gray Family P) BED & BATH Vicky O’Brien Q) RELAX Soochie Kievman R) OUT & ABOUT Vicky O’Brien S) GAMES GALORE Debbie & Sid Stark T) SARATOGA GETAWAY Kaufman Family U) SUPER CLEAN Sharona & Avremi Backman V) BREAKFAST Shayna & Ruvain Kudan W) LOVE LEGOS Rubin Kids (Saratoga-Albany) X) CAMERA Ted & Sussanah Levin Y) HEALTHY TREAT Vicky O’Brien Z $5 / FIND UR WAY Lawrence Teitelman ?) MYSTERY #1: $150 Grocery gift-card & $100 at TinyPrints.com Debbie & Sid Stark ?) MYSTERY #2: Case of Wine from University Wine & Liquor & 200 “Raw Revolution” Bars Michael & Diana Fenton SPLIT-THE-POT record $880 (for the 8th night of Chanukah!) Bev Shor
On Thursday, the 8th day of Chanukah, the spirit continued! Most of that morning was skits, songs and presentations by various classes, with the whole school and families in attendance. Some grades also went later to sing at Daughters of Sara, pictures of that in next week’s MC.
NURSERY: This picture may not have the whole class in it, but it sure captures their lively spirit, marching forth with their “fiery” torches to vanquish darkness like the Maccabees!
KINDERGARTERS: They made these Dreidel costumes and wore them to sing at Daughters of Sara, too. Not all kids pictured, but they are eager to go on stage and perform! They actually spun in these at certain parts of the song…
GRADES 3&4: This Chanukah Play was “live reporting from the scene” by anchors and reporters of the Maccabees’ win against the mighty Syrian Greek army. They knew their lines and said them so well!
12/7: RUBIN YARTZEIT KIDDUSH Full-spread Kiddush Shabbos at Shomray Torah by Dr. Yehoshua and Chaya Bracha Rubin for the yartzeit of his father Shaul ben Moshe. 12/12: PAT FAHY AT MAIMONIDES See mini-flyer on page 2. “OU Advocacy” invites parents, friends & community to “Schools in Session” with our newly elected NYS Assembly representative Pat Fahy, 9am at Maimonides to discuss and advocate for State support and better understanding of our educational needs. 12/13: TENTH OF TEVET FAST This unusual set-up has the fast-day on Friday, extra prayers in the Shachris service, special early Mincha (3:45pm at Shomay Torah) with Torah Reading & Haftorah, and the fast ends with Kiddush on Friday Night. 12/13-14: ACAPPELA AT CBAJ CBAJ is hosting Y-Studs accapella group from YU for Shabbos. Friday Night dinner & concert is $15 adults, $10 kids, $50 family. ACappella davening on Shabbos Day. Register online by December 8th. 12/14: HS PIZZA NITE II The first Pizza Nite was a major success, thanks to all for ordering and coming out. Save the date for the second Pizza nite, Sat Night Dec 14th. 12/16: WOMENS BET MIDRASH This month’s topic is the “Tenth of Tevet” and fast-days. The discussion will be led by Raizy Rubin, Monday night, 8pm at Maimonides. 12/25-29: JGR WINTER RETREAT Find out more www.JewishGirlsRetreat.net or call Nechama Laber 833-0704. 12/23-1/1/2014: MHDS DEC & NEW YEARS SCHEDULE Mon 12/23 thru Wed 12/25: Half-Day Hebrew Only 8-11:30am. HS Girls are offering to host (for small charge TBD) an after-school (until 1:30pm) activity day. Stay tuned for details, be in touch if interested. Thurs 12/26 thru Mon 12/30: No School Tues 12/31 & Wed 1/1: Half-Day Hebrew Only Please note that there will be educational activities & experiences planned for some of these half-days. 1/26: JFED’S SUPERSUNDAY This annual phone-a-thon raises funds for the Federation’s allocations to local beneficiaries (including Maimonides) as well as overseas Jewish
needs. Maimonides Parents are asked to please volunteer for one-shift as this supports our school!
SAVE THE DATES... 1/11: Chabad 40th Year Melava Malka @ SH (they’re looking for people to share 30 second to 1 minute video clips of what Chabad locally means to them, or a specific memory of an event, teaching, experience etc). 2/9: Annual Womens Spa for Body & Soul (Committee now underway, contact Clara Simon, DL or Leyee Rubin if you would like to be involved). 5/28: Annual MHDS Scholarship Tribute Dinner
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL & COMMUNITY (Nursery / Elementary / High School) 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
FIRST GRADE: 9 Kids makes a great Menorah! They sang songs, and told the Chanukah story in Hebrew and English poetry and rhyme.
GRADES 4/5 NAVI PLAY: Morah Clara’s students wrote their own script, made their own costumes and painted their own scenery of the story of Ehud and King Eglon in the Book of Shoftim. On right Ehud shares his plan with his fellow Jews, while King Eglon of Moab is in his courtroom on left.
GEMORAH POWERPOINTS: Rabbi Shmuly’s 4-6th grade Mishna and Gemorah students each prepared powerpoint slides on the entire Gemorah Shabbos they learned about Chanukah. Rabbi Shmuly selected a slide or two from each student to display and share with the school. Everyone learned something and some of the icons/images were quite clever and funny.
RHYMING RAP: 8th graders did a short skit and a their own lively rhyming rap with fast and fun lyrics about Chanukah.
