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 Cheshvan 14, 5774 / October 18, 2013

SEE SUPPLEMENT THIS WEEK! See this week’s “MC” 4-page supplement for pictures of our APPS trip to Miller Museum in Hoosick Falls & Hemmings Vintage Auto Museum in Bennington VT, plus a glimpse of the creative APPS projects our students

did on Tishrei foods. ABRAHAM NEMETH, MATH BRAILLE PIONEER, OBM The Talmud says we can get inspiration from those who study despite great challenges.

Abraham Nemeth is one of those stories. He was born blind (in 1918), but never let that stop him. He attended Jewish Guild for the Blind in Yonkers NY, studied psychology at Brooklyn College and got a masters at Columbia. He really enjoyed math but his academic advisors discouraged him because of his blindness. After some time doing other things, he persisted, got back into math and science and got a job at the University of Detroit, even founding that school’s computer science program in the late 1960’s. As he advanced in math, he

realized that a new form of Braille needed to be developed for higher forms of math & science. He developed the “Nemeth Braille Code for Math & Science Notation” which allowed for new fields of study previously inaccessible for the blind. Since improved on and revised, it remains in use today. In retirement he worked on Braille Hebrew prayer books. He also made a wristwatch that can tell him the time just by touching it. In addition to all this, he also played piano! This amazing person is a relative of the Levin family. He passed away recently at the age 94, his memory is a blessing! SCHOOL PARENT LIASION Morah Devorah Stark has been designated the parent liaison for any specific issues or concerns that may arise that can not be easily resolved with a teacher.

SAT & SUN DAF YOMI SIYUM Our apologies for the wrong date in last week’s MC newsletter. Look for a two-part Daf Yomi Siyum on tractate Pesachim this weekend. There will be an extended Shalosh-Seudos on Sat (Daf Yomi 4pm, Mincha 5:30pm and Siyum at Seudah-Shlishit) and also a breakfast on Sunday that will feature a live call-in from

Rabbi Ziemba of Dallas TX, a grandson of Rabbi Menachem Ziemba of the Warsaw Ghetto. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began on the eve of Pesach and this Siyum in on Pesachim. Each participant will receive a copy of “Beyond the

Ghetto Walls”. Interestingly, Rabbi Ziemba wrote a brilliant book on the first chapter of tractate Shabbos titled “Totzas Chaim” some of which Rabbi Rubin shares with our Bar-Mitzvah boys studying that Talmud chapter. TOPOGRAPHY & TYPOGRAPHY HS girls are learning to make their own topographical maps in Earth Science using

Isolines (which connect all points on map that have same elevation level). It’s a method to show a 3-D effect on a flat piece paper. They are

also learning about typography (the art of font-types, sizes, styles and spacing) in Graphic Design class with Mrs. Leah Caras. In both typography and topography the lines and shapes tell a much richer and deeper story.

THE DOCTOR IS IN In this week’s Torah portion we learn the Mitzvah of Bikur-Cholim (visiting the sick) as Avraham recuperated from the Bris-Milah. Nursery students took turns playing the doctor, checking pulse and symptoms of the playroom dolls using all sorts of “medical equipment” including sanitized gloves, x-rays and stethoscopes. It was an opportunity for them to learn all about doctors visits.

Candle-Lighting: 5:51 Shabbos Ends: 6:50

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

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A younger and

older Abraham

Nemeth

WHAT’S THE MATTER? Mrs. Maher’s class learning in science about matter, students took turns examining a bunch of different objects to determine and describe “the matter!” They looked at an apple, broken-stapler, a baseball, a crayon, a ruler, a piece of folded aluminum foil, an uninflated balloon, paper clip to determine the weight, color, shape, state (solid, liquid or gas), texture (smooth/rough), is it magnetic or not, does it sink or float. For tools they used a magnet, small container of water, and a scale, and recorded everything on a chart.

BAKE-SALE RETURNS (w/TAB) HS girls will be doing Bake-Sale this year, each Wednesday at morning recess-time. New for this year is a tab “account” option, where parents can put a specific amount of money into their child(ren)’s “account” with a designated spending limit for each week, which the girls keep a careful record of. Weekly sales usually include: sprinkle-cookies, peanut-butter cookies, Zebra cookies, brownies, cupcakes, Rugelach etc. Each item is 25 cents each, while cupcakes are 50 cents. (It’s possible that 8/9 boys may also do a popcorn & hot-drinks sale, timing and logistics need to be worked out, stay tuned for details on that). NOT JUST ANY OLD STICK Calev brought in a stick from the mountains that has a distinctive root-beet smell when you peel away a bit of bark. It’s a branch from the

Sassafras tree which was often the natural flavor ingredient in root beer before most companies started using artificial flavors. Nature has so many hidden, interesting & wonderful surprises!

THREE BOOKS IN 4/5 Mrs. Maher has different reading levels (and some students already read certain books) in her class, so her students are now reading 3 different books. “Stone Fox” by John Reynolds Gardiner, “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”. DATELINE OF THE COLONIES 7th graders with Mrs. Ramsay learned about the establishment of each of the original 13 colonies, back in the 1600’s, most more than 100 years before the Revolution. They learned about Jamestown, the pilgrims & early settlers and about their trade with Native Americans.

PAPER PUMPKINS Mrs. Carroll’s students made these bright paper pumpkins out of paper, with compartment sections. WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS HS is now reading this book with Ms. Gray, about a young boy’s determination to get coon-hounds and raise them to be the best. It took him two long years to save 50 dollars, and he managed to keep this a secret from his friends and family. The girls write journal entries on certain themes in WTRFG and learn lots of vocabulary & word-usage along the way! THE GREAT RIVERS 6th graders with Mrs. Sanda are learning about ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia. They were excited to learn of the same great rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates that they know from Chumash Breishis.

ASSEMBLY FOR MAMA ROCHEL Tuesday, the 11th of Cheshvan, was the yartzeit of Rochel Imenu, but since many grades were away on the APPS trip that day, the assembly was the following day on Wednesday. Rabbi Rubin got a little emotional as he spoke about the tomb in Beit-Lechem and how Rochel cries for her children, the Jewish people. He spoke about a Kallah named Naava Applebaum that was killed with her father in a terror attack just before her wedding, and how they

took her wedding dress and wove it into a covering at Rachel’s Tomb in Beit-Lechem. Shira L. just returned from a family trip to Israel and said that she saw that wedding dress at Rachel’s tomb herself, and she said that the main covering is now blue, while Rabbi Rubin (who was there years ago) remembers it red. It was very special to have a personal regards from a student who was just recently there. AND MORE ON MENDEL BEILIS Also at the Assembly, Rabbi Rubin shared a humorous story from the otherwise very serious Mendel Beilis blood libel trial in 1913: A Russian priest was brought as an expert witness for the prosecution, saying that he knows Hebrew and is familiar with the Talmud. The defense attorneys (for Beilis) cross-examined him. They first ask him what “Chullin” meant (it’s the name of the tractate that deals with non-sacrificial meat, ie. Laws of Kosher) but he did not know. They asked about another tractate, he also did not know. Then the defense attorney asked: “Where did Baba Basra live & how did she dress?” The priest thought the question was about an old grandmother (Bubbe) & many in the courtroom burst out in laughter (because Bava Basra is the name of a Talmud tractate) which discredited the priest and his fictitious claim that he was learned in Jewish texts. Rabbi Rubin also described the clay-mixer in the Kiev brick factory which kids from the neighborhood sometimes snuck in to use (perhaps unsafely) as a merry go-around after factory hours. And how a pillowcase from a set was used to help prove who the true murderer was, but the Russian government wasn’t quite as interested in going after her.

SURPRISE B-DAY MRS. MAHER 4/5 worked together to surprise Mrs. Maher with a birthday party. Ita used the bathroom pass to go get the cake! They made her a big card using ladybugs in the font because she really loves ladybugs. SILVERMAN CONDOLENCES We offer condolences to Mrs. Phyliss Silverman on the passing of her brother. May she be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. BRATSPIS MAZAL TOV Mazal Tov to David (originally from Albany, now Israel) and Bat-Chen Bratspis on the birth of a baby boy this past Shabbat. The Brit-Milah will be G-d willing this Shabbat in Alon Shvut, Israel. SOUP OF THE WEEK Rebekah Wildman will be once again coordinating Soup of the Week, parents are asked to sign up to make a soup for a specific Wednesday (soups need to be cooked in school and clean-up is part of the commitment). Kids really look forward to this weekly winter treat, and it’s a healthy and nutritious addition to lunch-time.

RAFFLE-AUCTION UPDATE The prize packages are being finalized this weekend and the auction will be sent to the printer for mailing, and an online version to be prepared soon as well. There are returning and new prize packages and we are excited for this annual fun fundraising opportunity.

VOLUNTEER THANK YOU’S Special thanks to these school parents for donating and/or actively soliciting a broad spectrum of prize packages for this year’s Raffle-Auction, including: Devorah Leah Rubin, Dini Gordon, Tzivie Hecht, Chani Simon, Rabbi Yossi Rubin, Rabbi Abba, Laiky Rubin, Morah Rochel and Raffle-Coordinator Raizy Rubin. And we loo forward to the Kochmans once again preparing a delicious one of a kind themed Chanukah dinner. & THE BUSINESS SUPPORTERS Thanks to all the generous businesses who have contributed valuable goods and services for our annual Raffle-Auction fundraiser, including: 1sale.com, Shadora.com, Tara Music, Ruthie’s Unique Boutique, Kosher Keepers, Jewish Educational Media, Modern Carpet on Broadway, Wolberg Electric, Sherwin Williams, Home Depot, Normanside Golf Club, Drimmers Housewares, KidKraft, Green Mountain Coffee, Benz’s Fish, Shmaltz Brewery, New Mt Pleasant Bakery, ThinkFun Games, Canvas on Demand, Caras Photo, Zen Again Spa, Serebryanski Sofer, Lapiner Brothers, StampIt!, StepItUp!, Stark’s Auto, Turf & Spa, Honibe, Honest Weight Food Coop, Tofutti, Trader Joe’s, FunPlex, TreePad, Tumbling Tykes, Bounce N’ Party, Shaina Ettel Wigs. More in the works… Thank you!!!

5 THINGS ABOUT

ANTIQUE CARS Based on the APPS trip visit to the

Hemmings Auto Museum in Bennington VT

1 SPEED: We took a look at the speedometers

in many of the old cars in Hemmings Vintage

Auto Museum, and for some the top speed was

40 or 50 miles an hour. Cars today list speeds

that are so fast they are illegal. We also

noticed that a lot of the earlier tires were much

thinner than today’s tires.

2 COST: We saw a truck’s original price listed

at $900 and a car at $400. Then again, money

was worth so much more back in those days.

So, it may very well be that the true cost of

cars (measured against earnings or average life

expenses) may actually be cheaper today.

We’d have to take a look at that from an

economics perspective.

3 SHAPE: Those old cars had lots of flowing

curves or sharp edges, with large protruding

front grills. Partially because of changing

styles, and also because of aerodynamic shape

to increase fuel efficiency, today’s cars have

simpler shapes and crisper lines.

4 SEATING: Were seats smaller then or less

supportive? It seems that way. Bench seats

were more popular (and they do allow you to

squeeze in more passengers) but weren’t as

comfortable (or as safe?) as today’s seats. And

seat-belts! Air-bags! Many more safety

features today.

5 REAL STEEL: Today’s cars are made out of

composite materials which are lighter, and use

less fuel, but also don’t hold up as well in car

crashes. There was a lot of chrome finish on

these old cars, especially on the front-grills,

hubcaps and fenders.

K-1 FALL TRIP TO ELLMS FAMILY FARM IN BALLSTON SPA This was from last week, but now we have the photos! Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. Hoffman took their students up to Ellms Farm to enjoy a fall outing, learn about farming, and get energized in the crisp fall outdoor weather (although warmer than usual)! They picked pumpkins (families

made some delicious recipes: pies, muffins with chocolate-chips, salted roasted pumpkin seeds etc) and schlepped them home, rode trikes on a rocky trail, checked out these pretty sunflowers, and bounced up and down on a huge orange pumpkin “pillow”. They also found their way through a tall corn maze, and got a close look at how corn grows on a stalk.

10/18-19: GREEN SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE AT BETH ISRAEL Rabbi Morey Schwartz, originally from this area, now Director of Education for Melton School of Hebrew University is this year’s Green Memorial Scholar-in-Residence at Beth Israel in Schenectady. He will speak at Friday Night Dinner: “Status Quo: Interface of Jewish Law & Modern State” at Sat Lunch: “A Radical New Approach to Binding of Isaac” & Sat Night 8:30pm: “Rethinking Miracles - a New Set of Lenses”. Info? Beth Israel 377-3700. 10/19: DAF-YOMI PESACHIM SIYUM Note earlier 4pm Daf-Yomi, 5:30pm Mincha, with extended Shalosh-Seudos at Shomray Torah. 10/20: DAF-YOMI PESACHIM SIYUM Breakfast Siyum at Shomray Torah after 8am Shachris prayers. Look for Warsaw Ghetto theme, as the uprising began on the eve of Passover. Live call-in with Rabbi Ziemba of Dallas, grandson of Rabbi Zemba of Warsaw. All participants receive “Beyond the Ghetto Walls” publication. 10/20: FIRST F.C. SUNDAY CIRCLE This Sunday will be the first of monthly Friendship Circle “Sunday Circle” events this year. To sign up or find out more: capitalfriends.org or 438-4220. 10/25: CBAJ NEW MEMBER DINNER RSVP 489-5819 by October 20th, $12 adult, $8 child, $45 family. Free for New Members. 10/26: JFS HOSTS COMEDIAN Jewish Family Services is hosting David Glickman, “Eat, Drink and Be Jewish” 7:30pm at Steamer 10 Theater in Albany. $36pp. Look up David’s trailer video on: www.davidglickman.com. RSVP required: JFSneny.org or call: 482-8856. 10/27: WALK FOR ADDICTION $5pp includes t-shirt for sign-ups & as supplies last see www.tinyurl.com/Action4Addiction to register your shirt size. 10:30am registration at UAlbany Collins Circle (main entrance) Walk begins 11am sharp. Parking available in Dutch Quad Student Gold Lot. Business sponsorships on shirts are $100. Walk benefits Hope House & Senior Hope. 10/27: SARATOGA TORAH SIYUM! Join Saratoga Chabad 4pm for a Torah completion & dedication ceremony, procession from Saratoga Public Library to Chabad on Circular Street, followed by dancing, food etc. It also will mark 100

years since the 1913 trial of Mendel Beilis on a blood libel, he died in Saratoga Springs in 1934. HS girls history class are working on a mini-float to remember Beilis at this event. 10/29: “JUST SAY YES!” RABBI TAUB SPEAKS ON ADDICTION 8:30pm at Shabbos House, open to students and community, part of the “A4A@A” JSAM Project. Rabbi Taub authored “G-d of Our Understanding” a Jewish view of the 12 Steps, & an advice column in AMI magazine. No charge. Desserts served. Please park in nearby Dutch Quad Student Gold. 11/3: ONE-DAY BIG SKIRT SALE Large load of skirts donated to Shabbos House will be available for $3 each or 5 for $10 with proceeds to Maimonides. Selection is limited to a few styles, mostly for women and girls ages 10+ but all are new and good quality. 12pm-3pm on Sunday, Nov 3rd at Shabbos House. Call 438-4227 for more info or for appointment if you can’t make it on Nov 3rd. 11/4: “DISOBEDIENCE” FILM ON SOUSA MENDES’ WWII VISAS Monday 6:30pm at the Clifton Park Library, 475 Moe Road. This film tells the story of a righteous gentile, a Portuguese Consul in French Bordeaux who (against official orders) granted visas in 1940 allowing refugees to escape France in WWII. Following the movie, Varda LeMonds and Harry Osterreicher will share their family stories of this life-saving escape. Info? Call 495-0772/9. 11/7: SUSTAINABLE MEAT A panel on “Economics, Politics and Regulation of Sustainable Meat Production” includes Naftali and Hanna Hannau of Grow & Behold Kosher, and Albany’s own Prof. Tim Lytton, author of a recent book on Kosher and private regulation systems. 7:30pm, at 1928 Building of Albany Law School. 11/8: 2:15PM FRIDAY DISMISSAL As we change the clocks, and Shabbat begins much earlier, Friday dismissal changes to 2:15pm. 11/11: PARENT TEACHERS CONF. No school, but Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held, stay tuned for your appointment schedule. Due to the many early holidays, instead of “Open-House” evening, class goals/format were sent home for parents. Conferences on November 11th.

11/17: PRE-CHANUKAH ACTIVITY Pre-Chanukah Menorah Making at Home

Depot, call Rabbi Yossi 495-0772. FC’s Sunday Circle with Chanukah theme, Call

Liba at FC 438-4220.

11/23: YUD-TES KISLEV SAT NIGHT Communal Farbrengen Melava Malka, stay tuned!

CHANUKAH NIGHTS Wed 11/27: Bethlehem Chabad w/Our Towne Thurs 11/28: Kosher Thanksgiving & Chanukah Dinner at Saratoga Chabad RSVP: 526-0773 Sun 12/1: Celebration at Clifton Park Center -Mall Mon 12/2: Chanukah on Ice in Saratoga Mon 12/2: Afternoon Menorah Lighting at UA Tues 12/3: Clifton Park Chanukah Bowling Wed 12/4: School Auction & Chanukah Dinner More Chanukah events to be announced soon... 12/25-29: JGR WINTER RETREAT Find out more at www.JewishGirlsRetreat.net. This year its based out of the Best Western in Albany. SCHOOL HALF-DAYS AHEAD Look for special programming and educational activities on these half-days, AM Judaic only: 11/27: Wednesday Erev Thanksgiving. No School from Thurs 11/28 until Monday morning 12/2. Stay tuned for finalized December Half-Day Schedule, with engaging educational programs.

Looking ahead… Save the Dates! 11/16: First Pizza Night of the Season, stay tuned! 12/4: Chanukah Dinner & School Raffle-Auction 1/11: Chabad 40th Year Melava Malka @ SH 2/9: Annual Womens Spa for Body & Soul 5/28: Annual MHDS Scholarship Tribute Dinner

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

Action for Addiction at Albany is the theme of this year’s JSAM (Jewish Social Action Month) project run by UAlbany’s Lchaim Student Group. A4A@A features: 10/27: Walk on the UAlbany campus, 10:30am

registration, 11am walk. $5pp participation includes t-shirt (supplies limited), $100 for business sponsorship (on t-shirt & promotions). Walk benefits Hope House Inc. & Senior Hope

10/29: Rabbi Shais Taub, author of “G-d of my Understanding - a Jewish take on the 12 Steps” will speak on “Just Say Yes!” a Jewish addiction perspective, you do not have to be an addict or know an addict to benefit from this talk.

In addition there will be a volunteering project at a Hope House’s residence. For info call Shabbos House 438-4227 / visit: www.shabboshouse.com