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. Iyar 19, 5775 / May 8, 2015

The weather couldn’t be better, the spirits were high, it was one very special Lag B’Omer Parade in a year when Albany was one of the only cities to have one! See inside for more photos, so much to share… but photos can’t convey the sounds of the beating drums, the marching feet, the pride inside the children’s hearts and the joy on their faces, and the warm feelings adults felt, hearts, the waves and smiles from all the onlookers. WHY “HUMAN DIGNITY”? This year’s theme was about Rabbi Akiva, and one of his teachings is especially relevant to all sides of the current events in Baltimore, Israel and even Albany. He taught “Beloved is man who is created in the Divine Image, even more beloved is when we recognize that!” Rabbi Rubin made “Human Dignity” stickers that we shared with onlookers, and are a timeless and important message even long after the parade!

THE RABBI AKIVA BANNERS Each class painted a banner about one aspect of Rabbi Akiva’s life and teachings, which remain relevant today as they were 1900 years ago. See accompanying pamphlet “A Guided Tour to the Rabbi Akiva Banners” for the background Talmud stories for each banner.

MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208

This MC Newsletter

is dedicated in memory of

Eve Kneznek Chava bas Baruch Her generous bequest enabled the

purchase of our school building and

ensure the future of local Jewish education

Yartzeit on Iyar 19

the day after Lag B’Omer

Candle-Lighting: 7:45 Shabbos Ends: 8:52

MAIMONIDES COMES IN FIRST PLACE!

Our High School & Middle School students participated in the BetterTogether’s “Better2Write” contest. Our in-school winners, Chaim Kudan (HS) and Nechama

Krimmer (MS) competed against the winning essays from 25 Jewish schools including much larger and better known schools like Ramaz, Manhattan Day School, etc. Word came back on Lag B’Omer morning, that the BetterTogether judges chose Chaim’s essay as the #1 overall essay! We couldn't be prouder! Interesting note: Chaim’s guitar was a key feature in his essay, and the announcement of his winning came as he was playing that very guitar (along with Eli on violin) for the seniors at Parkview Apartments, along the Lag B’Omer Parade route!

RABBI AKIVA’S “HUMAN DIGNITY” LAG B’OMER PARADE

MEETING SAM AND AUSTIN Sam and Austin are the two police horses who led our Parade. Before setting out the students got to meet them (and their officers!) They really added so much to the experience!

DRUM CORPS LAST MINUTE The boys are rehearsing one last time before setting out. Last parade a few years back, the large Falcons Marching Band of Albany High (who performed this year in Ireland) led our parade but they got back to us last week that they wouldn’t be able to make it this year. No big deal! With one week left our boys sprung into action! Mr. D is very musical, and he trained them well in just a few practice lessons. The drums came together from a few places. The hats? Rabbi Rubin and Eli designed them and homemade and ready to go with final touches just a few minutes prior to the parade. Moshe K. is not pictured here in the practice (but is in all the other drum pictures) because he was still finalizing his instrument! We love that our HS boys are flexible, willing, take initiative and make things happen. And they sounded great! The marched and drummed all the way from school to Washington Park. PARADE QUEENS CROWNED Odelia C. and Chaiki R. were crowned the

Lag B’Omer Parade Queens because their birthdays are on Lag B’Omer. It recalled the golden Jerusalem tiara Rabbi Akiva made for his wife.

NURSERY’S AHAVAT YISRAEL Rabbi Akiva’s most famous & most beloved teaching was that “Love Your Fellow is the

basis of the whole Torah!” Each Nursery student wore a big red heart that said Ahavat Yisrael inside. They colored all around it.

Thanks to Simmy & JR of SNR Construction, Nursery kids were able to ride all the way to

Washington Park and back on the trailer in the parade together with Rabbi Rubin and their teachers singing songs all the way there!

BRINGING UP THE REAR We had the drums way up front behind the police horses and more music at the back of the parade. Chaim and Eli, on electric guitar and violin, both amplified by portable amps, playing all kinds of lively music. They played the whole parade route and made a special performance at Parkview Apartments, too.

AT PARKVIEW Natasha, our “Better Together” liaison at Parkview and a resident (who was at our Torah reading) view our Parade. They gave us 25 goodie bags!

BEAUTIFUL BANNERS! Some of the banners held by students pictured here, for more background and for all of the banners, see the accompanying pamphlet “Your Guided Tour to Rabbi Akiva Banners”.

CROSSING MADISON AVENUE and headed towards Parkview Apartments (formerly Bnai Brith) on Hudson Avenue.

LEAVING PARKVIEW APTS headed to Washington Park escorted by police horses & motorcycles, we displayed our banners, said Pesukim, enjoyed ices, water (a hot day!) and chips. All classes went up to the playground area and came back down to the amphitheater area for lunch 40 minutes later.

AND A VISIT TO THE TULIPS! How could we be just steps away in Washington Park in May and not stop by to see the glorious

blossoming of tulips just a few days before the TulipFest? We had to get back to school but stopped to check them out and take some photos. So many colors! So many varieties! ...THEN THE JEWNITY EVENT Many of our families attended the Jewnity Event and BMX Bike Show at the JCC later the same Lag B’Omer afternoon. More on Jewnity (and the art contest) next week…

MANY THANKS... Rabbi Rubin for inspiring our school to be

creative, relevant and full of lively spirit! To the Albany Police Department, Sergeant

Maloney and his team, and Police Horses Sam and Austin for escorting our Parade!

Rabbi Mendel, Morah Dini and Mrs. Carroll and all teachers who helped students paint the Rabbi Akiva Banners.

Mr. Davis for a lot of the logistics, especially hanging the banners and bringing them back from the JCC Jewnity event.

The HS Drummers who trained last minute, made their own hats and did a great job!

Huge thanks to Mr. D, who did a wonderful job of training our students, teaching them to drum as a team in just a few sessions!

Chaim and Eli’s musical float (great melodies!) on back of Morah Devorah’s truck, driven by R’ Avremi Backman.

Mrs. Wildman, Mr. Costa, Rabbi Mendy, who helped transport younger classes back.

Simmy and JR of SNR Construction for the big truck and trailer for the Nursery kids to ride on there and back.

Natasha of Parkview Apartments and the residents there for applauding our parade and giving our kids very nice goodie bags.

We missed Debbie Rittano’s balloon stop at St. Rose, hope to bring it back next time!

Community members who joined us, even little kids in strollers, for adding to our parade and the overall spirit. Reb Moshe Losice visited us in Washington Park.

This year we had many more onlookers than usual, we handed out “Human Dignity” stickers and the Guide to

explaining the Banners. Neighbors were very interested, many applauded, some took videos and pictures. Thanks for being part of it!

CAMP GAN ISRAEL FORMS AVAILABLE Morah Devorah Leah Mathless will be this year’s Camp Gan Israel director,

with help from Morah Dini. A group of Israeli staff is coming for the summer! And we’re looking add some new exciting programming. Contact Devorah Leah with questions or for forms: 518-698-1836. Registration forms available! Please submit as soon as possible.

SCHOOL PHOTOS ORDERS DUE by May 18th. View online: CarasmaticDesign/schoolpics

5/9: EMOR TORAH READING Parts of the reading may be familiar from holidays! 5/9: WOMENS SHABBOS SHIUR This week’s Womens Shiur will be given by Leah Caras at the home of Sarah Maddali on Hackett Blvd Extension at 4:45pm. 5/9: T.C.N. SATELLITE TORAH Luchins Media Center at CBAJ hosts weekly long-distance Torah lectures. Due to later Sat Nights, Rabbi Reisman’s Sat Night Navi class is now at 10:30, Rabbi Frand remains at 9pm on Thursdays. 5/10: SCHEN GREENMARKET The Schenectady Greenmarket is year ‘round, during the cold months it is indoors at Proctors, and moves outdoors again in the Spring. This is the first Sunday outdoors around Schenectady City Hall. 10am-2pm. 5/10: THE TULIP FESTIVAL Sunday is the 2nd day of this annual celebration in Albany’s Washington Park. Usually the best time for photos with the tulips is on the few days leading up to the Tulip Fest, but the days after can work as well. This year is the 67th annual! 5/10: MOTHERS DAY AT TERRA 11am-4pm, a Mothers Day Buffet at Terra includes a Vegan Bar, Italian Eggplant Parm or Penne, Indian Chana Masala or Eggplant Bhurta, their Israeli or Strawberry Salad, fried Cod or baked Salmon, and much more. Costs $28 per adult, Kids 10-15 $18, 5-9 is $10. Kids 4 and under are free. Info/RSVP: 463-5600 5/14: JEWS OF AFGHANISTAN Sara Y. Aharon, author of “Jews of Afghanistan: History, Culture and Jewish-Muslim Relations” will speak at the Live & Learn Lunch Lecture series at the Albany JCC. 11am-1pm, call the JCC 438-6651 x112 for cost and info. 5/17: R’ KELMAN INSTALLATION Beth Israel in Schenectady hosts an installation luncheon formally welcoming their new Rabbi Avraham Kelman, on Sunday May 17th at noon. Couvert is $25pp. For more info: 377-3700. 5/17: ALBANY WOMENS CIRCLE 7:15pm at the home of Jory Sussman. Cheesecake tasting and recipe-swap along with uplifting pre-Shavuot inspiration with Chaya Bracha Rubin.

5/18: PHOTO ORDERS DUE Michoel of Carasmatic Design took individual and class photos at school, available for limited viewing online. Order one of 3 packages: Digital, Basic or Deluxe by 5/18. 5/18: HS BETTER TOGETHER DOS HS Girls will be doing a “Better Together” program at Daughters of Sara Senior Community. 5/18: WOMENS BEIT MEDRASH This month led by Dini Gordon, on the timely topic of Naomi and Ruth as we approach Shavuot. 8pm at Maimonides. Come and learn! 5/20: CHOP, MIX AND ROLL A cooking demo, eating and milling event, 7-9pm at the Daughters of Sara for community members ages 25-45. Call DOS Foundation: 724-3261. 5/21: DINNER JOURNAL ADS DUE Ads must be submitted by this date to be included in the printed Journal. Ads arriving after this date will be included in the Journal Supplement. Please try to be timely and not leave to last minute as this year Shavuot falls between. Ads can be a tribute to the honorees, the school or parents can also do for specific teachers should they choose. Thanks! 5/22&26: EVE & POST SHAVUOS MHDS families: No School on Friday before the Shavuos/Memorial Day Weekend, and a 9am start on Wednesday morning after Shavuos. 5/24-25: SHAVUOS HOLIDAY 3-day YomTov this year, beginning with Shabbos on May 23. And it’s over Memorial Day Weekend. 5/23: BREAKFAST FOR DINNER Call CBAJ 489-5819 or CBAJ.org to RSVP for eve of Shavuot breakfast dinner and all night learning. 6/1: MAIMONIDES DINNER This year’s Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award recipients will be Dr. William “Bill” and Adrianne Rockwood, and the school’s involvement and our partners in the “Better Together” teen-seniors program will also be recognized and highlighted. Invite is in the mail. Call office for info, invite or journal info. Thanks!

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

PICTURE DAY AT SCHOOL It was this past week on Wed. Orders due by 5/18.

TRIBUTE TO ALBANIA Earlier this year this MC Newsletter wrote about how the Muslim country of Albania saved nearly all of its Jews (and rescued others, too!) during the Holocaust. This week Federation was part of a special tribute to Albania at the NYS Capitol, with the President of Albania present! Rabbi Rubin is pictured here giving our HS girls some historical background before heading down to the Capitol to participate for part of the program.

THE HEBREW BREAKFAST This is an annual tradition in Morah Devorah’s 1st grade classroom. They learned all kinds of breakfast terms leading up to it, and then each student brought in different foods to have a delicious breakfast together. And they could only speak in Hebrew at that breakfast! It’s not so easy… but they really enjoyed it and they learned so many useful every terms, both names of foods and also key connecting Hebrew phrases.