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 maimonidesschool@gmail.com

BH. Tishrei 5, 5776 / Sept 18, 2015

BLOOMING BRIGHT Thankfully, it’s been a very bright and cheerful start to the year at Maimonides, like these girls at the ever-increasing yellow blossoms near the shed. May the year ahead continue to shine bright! These flowers were planted by Mrs. Carroll a few seasons back. A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY! Mrs. Florence Saidel turns 100! An article by her daughter Rochelle Saidel in this week’s “Jewish World” newspaper describes the many changes she witnessed and participated in over this century: When she was young her father sold fruits and vegetables from a cart pulled by a horse named Queenie. In the 1950’s they were among the first to own a black and white television in Glens Falls, and in 2015 she communicates with her family via video calls over a large flat screen TV in her living room. We fondly recall her husband, Mr. Joe Saidel, (who passed away in 1997) who was an honest and diligent attorney, first in private practice in Glens Falls and later worked for New York State Law Dept. He also served as attorney for Chabad and for Maimonides, and was a founder of the local Daf Yomi study group. After his passing, Rabbi Rubin and our then-HS girls presented her with a plaque in his memory at an event in the then-Goldberg’s restaurant (near Exit 23) but we’re still searching for that picture. MAZAL TOV MIKHAYLOVS Mazal Tov to Gregory and Nina Mikhaylov on the birth of a granddaughter named Eynat to Leah and Chaim Ovadiah Perkins.

WELCOME EMMUNAH Our 8th graders were delighted to welcome back their friend and former classmate Emmunah for a short visit, as she is here visiting from Israel to celebrate her great-grandmother’s special birthday. They missed her much after her family’s move back to Israel and it was good to see her again and catch up. MAZAL TOV MORGENBESSERS Last week’s MC Newsletter was dedicated in honor of a newborn son Yaakov Yechiel to MHDS alumnus Avi & Shoshana and grandson to Maxine Morgenbesser.

MAZAL TOV SIMONS Mazal Tov to MHDS alumnus Rabbi Zalmy & Chani Simon on the recent birth of a daughter Sheina Perl. Mazal Tov to grandparents Rabbi Nachman & Clara and the Simon family. CANDLELIGHTING MAGNET It’s in the mail! Post on the fridge for handy reference, & please respond with your support.

NURSERY IS POPPIN’ The door to Nursery this year looks like a giant box of popcorn, with the children’s names in popcorn bags. Our Nursery students are like the little kernels that with just the

right amount of warmth, come popping out, growing and exploding with yummy flavor!

LULAV & ETROG SETS Rabbi Nachman Simon has Lulav & Etrog sets for sale, while supplies last. Call 439-8280 for cost, availability, to setup a time & more info. CBAJ is also selling Lulav & Etrog sets by pre-order. Happy Lulav Shakes this Sukkot!

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This newsletter is sponsored

in honor of the tenth yartzeit

of our dearly beloved

Dr. Bernard Teitelman on Yom-Kippur

by Joyce and the Teitelman

and Lew Families

Candle-Lighting: 6:42 Shabbos Ends: 7:40

TESHUVAH AS A BASEBALL DIAMOND 3rd graders learned that (a) feeling bad about something you did wrong is like

getting on first base, (b) admitting the problem is getting on second base, (c) resolving not to do it again gets you to third, and (d) when the situation arises again & you resist temptation and don’t do it again - that gets you home! EDGAR ALLEN POE’S SUSPENSE 8th graders with Mrs. Crawford are reading two macabre suspense stories by Edgar Allen Poe: “A Telltale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”. There was some discussion as to who narrates “The Telltale Heart” is it death (our students saw it as “The Angel of Death”) or is it the killer speaking? They learned various techniques an author can use to create suspense, including things like foreshadowing or cliffhanger, characterization.

DOMINO MATH Ms. Ford’s first graders pick dominoes for their subtraction exercises. They use a dry-erase board to subtract the smaller number on each

domino from its larger counterpart, and then try to figure out the answer. This boy is using an eraser to correct his answer.

A TASTE OF “FRINDLE” 4/5 grade read an excerpt from “Frindle” adapted for their Reader, and that really whet their appetite to read the whole book! It’s a funny read, but also has some

serious lessons about how ideas spread.

HEBREW WITH MORAH RIVI 6/7 graders are going over some of their Ivrit homework with Morah Rivi. It was about a Hebrew song they learned about “Selicha” apology and forgiveness.

A HEAVILY WEIGHTED SCALE The scale is a classic High Holiday icon where we hope our positives outweigh our negatives. Kindergarteners loaded up the positive side of the scale with Mitzvah notes and pictures they drew of Mitzvot.

OBSERVING COOKIE IN SCI-LAB For Science-Enrichment this week, Mrs. Ballard-Hubble brought in a guinea pig named “Cookie” for a visit. Students had to observe her (and hold her) to write down as many observations as possible and then discuss and compare what they observed. R’ CHANINA BEN TRADYON 8th grade Talmud Aggadah class learned the tragic but inspiring story of Rabbi Chaninah ben Tradyon, one of the Ten Martyrs read in the Musaf of Yom Kippur. They read of his exchange with Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma, of his tragic death, and the moving imagery of “the scroll burning and the letters jumping upward” as well as the unexpected ending with the executioner.

BUBBLES & TESHUVAH Morah Mushky blew a bunch of bubbles in the Kindergarten classroom, challenging her students to try and get the bubbles back into the bottle. Of course, that is

impossible! The same is true of things we say to and about others, once you say it you can’t pull it back in. But there still are ways to clean it up and start fresh! As they sponged it all up, they discussed ways this clean-up and refresh can apply with words, too! HEBREW COOKING CLASS Each Friday, 8th graders enjoy a cooking class with Morah Rivi using Hebrew recipes, and names of ingredients and steps of the recipe.

KERIAH METER IN THIRD GRADE Morah Dini’s Keriah Meter is back, this time in third grade. Their first goal is 1,000 lines and they are already one-third the way there. (Hebrew) Reading practice is so important for all of our students, please make a little time for it each day, try find creative, enjoyable ways to do it.

NURSERY TREASURE BOX Nursery’s Mitzvah Tree has become a Treasure Box this year. Parents, please remember to send in Mitzvah notes as often as possible, so they can fill up then box. They love when their positive behavior and good deed is read aloud and recognized. IS UR CARD LINKED TO MHDS? We’re off to a new year of the “Tools for Schools” program. Help our school earn

useful equipment at the end of the year. Please check your AdvantEdge card at any Price Chopper Guest Services desk

and link it to Maimonides (in 12208)! This is a one time effort, it takes so little time to do. It is so simple we hope more school families & community friends will take a few minutes to do this! Thank you! THE GRAPE-JUICE DEAL Speaking of Price-Chopper, there’s a current sale of $2.99 for a 64 ounce bottle of grape-juice. This is a good deal, especially considering that the 22 ounce bottle often can cost as much as $2.39 or sometimes more!

CANDLELIGHTING ESSAYS Years ago, at the Rebbe’s suggestion, the Lubavitch Womens Shabbat Candlelighting Campaign (Neshek = Neirot Shabbos Kodesh) held a writing contest about Shabbos candles. The winning entries were published (1977) in a beautiful and inspiring book: “A Candle of My Own”. There’s at least one Albany entry published there! Mrs. Laber of Jewish Girls

Unite is bringing this writing contest back “Shine Your Light” with entries published online at www.JewishGirlsUnite.com. See the website for more details.

KNIVES AT SCHOOL Not to worry! Rabbi Avraham Kellman brought in his Schechita knives to the HS boys class to teach them certain laws of Shechita (ritual slaughter) especially regarding the sharpening of the knives. He also shared with them interesting details about his former career as a Shochet. KOSHERING A CHICKEN Rabbi Kellman taught the girls HS the steps to Kosherize a chicken with Koshering salt. It’s becoming a forgotten science for most, since nowadays nearly all Kosher chicken is sold already soaked and salted at the factory. As recent as the mid-twentieth century the norm was often to do these steps at home. THE JOBS LOTTERY Mrs. Dubarry can’t do everything herself in the busy 4th and 5th grade classroom so she delegates certain jobs for students to take turns at, using a weekly lottery. Some of the jobs include mailman (putting work in student mailboxes), peer-tutor (helps others, but does not do their work), supplies manager and clean-up supervisor. It gives them a sense of responsibility and keeps the classroom running more efficiently.

REMEMBERING DR. TEITELMAN This Yom Kippur will be Bernie Teitelman’s 10th yartzeit. Most of our students today don’t remember him, but there’s much we all can learn from his personality and style.

Although he was a nuclear scientist (the proverbial “rocket scientist), he was humble and unassuming, and

despite his personal principles he was gentle and understanding of others. He chose his words thoughtfully and carefully, he was respectful of others and an avid listener. He loved learning and ideas (he participated in the Talmud study and later Daf-Yomi), and his face would light up at hearing something new or interesting. He had a knowing smile and gentle nod. He had an incredible knack and memory for names, which stood him in good stead as long-time Gabbai at Shomray Torah. May his memory be a blessing. GIRLS CHOIR Morah Chaya Bracha has choir once a week with the 6-8 grade girls. They’ve been learning songs and harmonies based on the High Holiday Machzor and Selichot, including “Rachamona” and “HaBen Yakir Li Efraim”.

MAIMONIDES RAFFLE-AUCTION It’s not too early to start thinking of our school’s annual Chanukah-time fundraiser! The Raffle-Auction usually goes to print 5-6 weeks before the event, as the majority of contributions come in by mail or prior to the event, so we need to have the prize info in by the start of November. Please think of a prize package you may wish to donate or contribute towards, or a business you can solicit to donate a service or product. Contact Raizy Rubin with any questions. “MC” NEWSLETTER VIA MAIL For those receiving this newsletter via U.S. Mail, we mail 3 MC newsletters together, so you should get the newsletters every 3 weeks. This saves postage. Of course, we do send the newsletter (in color!) each week via email! Sign up for that via: maimonidesschool@gmail.com AMENDMENT LOOPHOLES 8th grade history is learning about the 13th and 14th amendments. Even though slavery was over in the US, some tried loopholes in the law using things like the poll tax, sharecropping and the grandfather clause to keep up some of the practical effects of slavery. The fight for equality and overcoming prejudice was a long struggle.

LET’S KEEP SCHOOL CLEAN! Maimonides had a deep-cleaning this summer, and hired additional help to keep the school clean. But we need students help, too! Let’s be sure to pick up after ourselves. Thanks! HELP NEEDY FOR HOLIDAYS Contact Rabbi Rubin to contribute discreetly to needy families during holiday season or Rabbi Zalmy Simon at Shalom Food Pantry.

5 FAVORITE ROSH HASHANAH FOODS

OUR STUDENTS ENJOYED

1 SHEHCHIYANU FRUITS: Dragonfruit was a big favorite, starfruits, asian pears and Korean melons, even coconut! Generally students said they enjoyed fruit (not only exotic) this Rosh Hashanah.

2 NEW YEAR SYMBOL FOODS More kids than you’d expect enjoyed pomegranates, but nearly everyone liked apple dipped in honey and Challah dipped in honey, too.

3 SPECIAL CHALLAH Some of the best Challah are the ones you make yourself. One student was raving about the chocolate-chip Challah his mother served hot from the oven!

4 DESSERTS All kinds of apple cake, from turnovers to apple-crisp. Honeycake, too, of course. Some made honey-cupcakes. One family made very sweet molasses cookies.

5 OTHER FOODS Some liked Tzimmes (some had meat in Tzimmes) and carrot salad, a few students enjoyed leftover YomTov meat on sandwiches. And so much more!

What do you find at the end of a rainbow? The letter “w” of course. What’s the best game to play while doing laundry? Basket-Ball! Knock, knock! Who’s there? Noah. Noah who? Noah good place we can get something to eat? A man was looking out his window when he noticed that there was a snail on one of his plants. So he took the snail and threw him as far as he could. Ten years later the old man heard a tap tap tap on his window, and when he looked up he saw a very cross snail who looked at him and said, “Hey, what did you do that for?”

9/19: SHABBOS SHUVAH TALKS It’s customary for Rabbis to share inspiring sermons on the Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom-Kippur, known as Shabbos Shuvah: Shabbos morning at Shomray Torah Rabbi Israel

Rubin will discuss various reactions and a Talmudic reflection to widely read articles by recently deceased acclaimed author & neuro-scientist Dr. Oliver Sacks on “The Sabbath” (NY Times) and “Gefilte Fish” (New Yorker).

Rabbi Binyamin Lehrfield will speak at CBAJ at 10:45am on Shabbos morning on the topic of “Why Must We Suffer?”

Rabbi Avraham Kelman at Beth Israel in Schenectady will speak on: “Shuvah Alay, v’Ashuva Aleichem: Applying Principals of Teshuvah in the Modern World.”

9/19: TEITELMAN KIDDUSH There will be a Kiddush this Shabbos, given by Joyce & family, at Shomray Torah commemorating the upcoming 10th yartzeit of Dr. Bernie Teitelman, a long-time Gabbai, member of the Talmud study and pillar of the community, who passed away on Yom-Kippur ten years ago, 9/20: ADK BALLOON FESTIVAL Sunday 6:30am launch of 100+ hot-air balloons at Floyd Bennett Airport in Queensbury or 20+ balloons launching 5pm at Crandalls Park in Glens Falls. More info at www.adirondackballoonfest.org 9/20: MADISON STREET FAIR Sunday 12-5pm “Upper Madison Street Fair” on the block between West Lawrence & South Allen. 9/20: INTL HAKHEL GATHERING in cities around the world - and online! 1pm EST. View online at www.chabad.org/Hakhel5776 and join Jewish people of all ages from Buenos Aires to Paris, Brooklyn to Jerusalem, Moscow to London. Every seven years, after the year of Shmittah, is Hakhel - the year of gathering. 9/20: IRAN DEAL & MIDDLE-EAST A Jewish Federation Joint-Society event (open to all) featured Dr. Sharon Goldman of AIPAC. 7pm at Temple Israel. To RSVP (cost info etc) call Federation: 783-7800 9/21: COMMUNAL KAPOROT 6pm sharp at Shomray Torah. Kaporot must start on time, please be timely. In lieu of payment, please contribute in multiples of $18 (Chai - To Life!) to Maimonides. Followed by Mincha and Maariv.

9/22: EREV Y.K. MENS MIKVAH Bnos Israel Mikvah schedule for mens mikvah use on Tues, Erev Yom Kippur: 12:45-2pm & 3:00-4:30pm Costs: $10pp per day, $2 extra for towel, max $30 per family per day. Kids under 12 free, only with supervising adult. Note the following: 1) Everyone must shower prior to immersion. 2) Bring a towel. $2 charge for towels, if necessary. 3) Remove shoes before entering waiting room. 4) Please make an effort to come toward the beginning of the shifts, so there won't be a big crowd in the last half hour. The young men who will be there to take the money, need to clean up afterwards and get home or to shul in a timely manner. Please be considerate of their time. 9/27: NEXTDOR AT GOOLD’S Federation’s NextDor group is going to Goold Orchards for apple-picking, tasting and a tour. RSVP by the 23rd: 858-5070. 9/27: SIMCHAS BEIS HASHOEVA It’s a long-standing local tradition, to have after-dinner get-togethers / Farbrengens in different Sukkahs each night. Stay tuned for list of Sukkahs and Sukkah nights in next week’s MC newsletter. 9/30: SUSHI IN THE SUKKAH 4-7pm at Clifton Park Chabad, 495 Moe Road. Kosher Sushi by Mr Fuki, live Klezmer music, and Sukkah activities. For more info call: 495-0772/9. 9/30-10/1: LIBERTY RIDGE FARM $14pp. Corn maze, pumpkin picking, rabbit houses, jumping pillow and kids activities on Bevis Road in Schaghticoke. Call for details: 664-1515 10/1: KIDS SUKKOT PROGRAM Motti is back from Australia! The Kids Sukkot rally 11am-12pm at Shomray Torah, with games and stories, raffle and prizes… this year, in honor of Hakhel (the Year of Gathering) parents and kids of all ages are welcome, too! 10/1: SUKKAH PARTY AT SARATOGA CHABAD 5pm, details (including food, activities and entertainment) to be announced. If you are headed up that way, maybe stop at the Clifton Park Farmers Market (one of the last of the season) 2-5pm in a church parking lot at 912 Rt 146. And of course, this is the season for apple picking! Try Saratoga Apple in the shadow of the Saratoga Monument, or Bowman Orchards in Rexford, among many other great local orchards near or on the way to Saratoga.

10/1: THE ARCHIVE THIEF Presented by UAlbany’s Judaic Studies Program, Professor Lisa Moses Leff of American University in DC will discuss her newest book “The Archive Thief” about the story and controversy over Zosa Szajkowski’s illicit gathering of Nazi and Jewish archives from Germany and France and bringing them to New York. The event will be at UAlbany’s Alumni House at 7pm, free and open to the community. For more info call: 442-4130. 10/2-4: RHINEBECK ARTS FESTIVAL Friday 10am-5pm with craft vendors, artisans of clay, glass, jewelry, woodworking and metal, and family activities. Admission $10pp, Kids 6-16 $4, kids under 6 are free. 6550 Spring Brook Ave in Rhinebeck NY. Look up event for more details. 10/3: STARLIGHT SUKKAH PARTY Sat Night, 8pm at the home of Rabbi Binyamin and Orit Lehrfield (116 Cardinal Ave) featuring delicious food, good friends, and music. 10/12: MHDS OPEN HOUSE NIGHT 7-8pm. Back to school, parents meet the teachers, see what is in store for the year.

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

MAIMONIDES TISHREI HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 9/14-15: Rosh Hashanah, No School 9/16: Fast of Gedalia, 9:30am start* 9/22: Erev Yom-Kippur, No School 9/23: Yom Kippur, No School 9/24: “Guhts Nuhmen” Day after Yom Kippur, 9:30am start* 9/27-10/6: Sukkot & Simchat Torah, No School extended holiday break 10/7: Morning after Simchat Torah, 9:30am* * on days with 9:30am start, grades 1+ please daven before school

Wishing all our readers and the entire community an easy fast and a Gmar Chasima Tova! If you’d like to sponsor this newsletter for an occasion or in memory of a loved one, please contact the school office (518) 453-9363.