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ES Calendar
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Thursday, Oct. 12
Shemini Atzeret
No School
Friday, Oct. 13
Simchat Torah
No School
Tuesday, Oct. 17
3:00 p.m. Dismissal
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Kindergarten
Principals' Coffee
8:00-8:45 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 20
Picture Day
Sunday, Oct. 22
Family Learning
As always, please see
the Kol Rambam Weekly for the all-school calendar, events and PTA notes.
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| Quick Links |
ES Missed Homework Policy
ES Announcements Archive
Galim (Israeli educational website):
www.galim.org.il
username: smaimonides
password: maimonides
Mibereshit (Parashat HaShavuah website with interactive learning activities):
English | Ivrit
YU's Shabbat Table Discussions
Soveya: Torah-based resources for healthy eating (subscribe to their e-newsletter)
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Send us your
Maimo Moments |
Whether you are a parent, alumni or faculty member, your Maimo Moments are welcomed and appreciated.
Please send your Maimo Moments to
maimomoments@
maimonides.org or call our Maimo Moments hotline 617-232-4452 x424 and record your moment in a voice message.
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Welcome!
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Dear Parents,
We had another great week at school!
Please read on for the latest Elementary School news and information about upcoming events.
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D'var Torah
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
This year we will be learning as a community about hakarat hatov and its different meanings and applications. In Sefer Bereshit the word
טוב
appears as an adjective a total of 41 times, and in Parashat Bereshit it appears 16 of those 41 times. Targum Onkelos explains that the word has various explanations as an adjective, depending on the context.
Rabbi Raphael Posen z"l in his Sefer Parshegen highlights the different meanings:
- טָב - good, wonderful - the opposite of something bad. An example can be found in the opening pesukim of the parasha:
וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹקים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹקים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
וַחֲזָא ה' יָת נְהוֹרָא אֲרֵי טָב וְאַפְרֵשׁ ה' בֵּין נְהוֹרָא וּבֵין חֲשׁוֹכָא
G-d saw that the light was good, and G-d separated the light from the darkness.
2.
תַקִּין
-
complete, whole
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ ה' אֱלֹקים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂהּ־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
וַאֲמַר ה' אֱלֹקים לָא תַקִּין לְמֶהֱוֵי אָדָם בִּלְחוֹדוֹהִי אַעֲבֵד לֵהּ סְמַךְ לְקִבְלֵהּ
The L-rd G-d said, "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him."
3.
שַׁפִּירָן
-
beautiful, attractive
וַיִּרְא֤וּ בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֥י טֹבֹ֖ת הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ׃
וַחֲזוֹ בְנֵי רַבְרְבַיָּא יָת בְּנַת אֱנָשָׁא אֲרֵי שַׁפִּירָן אִנוּן וּנְסִיבוּ לְהוֹן נְשִׁין מִכֹּל דִּי אִתְרְעִיאוּ
The divine beings saw how beautiful the daughters of men were, and took wives from among those that pleased them.
4.
יָאוּת
-
correct, favorable
וַיַּ֥רְא שַׂר־הָאֹפִ֖ים כִּ֣י ט֣וֹב פָּתָ֑ר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אַף־אֲנִי֙ בַּחֲלוֹמִ֔י וְהִנֵּ֗ה שְׁלֹשָׁ֛ה סַלֵּ֥י חֹרִ֖י עַל־רֹאשִֽׁי׃
וַחֲזָא רַב נַחְתּוֹמֵי אֲרֵי יָאוּת פָּשַׁר וַאֲמַר לְיוֹסֵף אַף אֲנָא בְּחֶלְמִי וְהָא תְּלָתָא סַלִּין דְּחֵירוּ עַל רֵישִׁי
When the chief baker saw how favorably he had interpreted, he said to Joseph, "In my dream, similarly, there were three openwork baskets on my head."
Hakarat hatov
means recognizing the good. But in order to recognize what is good, we need to know how to identify it. Targum Onkelos provides four different definitions of "good" that Hashem provides. We just need to be aware and on the lookout for them. Some examples of things we should appreciate include the general good that Hashem bestows upon us, and how all the "good" components combine to completely surround us and place us in positive and favorable situations. We should also appreciate the beauty of this world, and the completeness which Hashem created for us to enjoy.
These are just some examples of the
טוב
which we can train ourselves to appreciate daily, and which we will be exploring throughout the year.
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Thoughts of the Rav
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
The pasuk states that as G-d was creating man, He said:
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ
And G-d said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
Rashi explains that G-d took counsel with the angels:
ענותנותו של הקב"ה למדנו מכאן, לפי שהאדם בדמות המלאכים ויתקנאו בו לפיכך נמלך בהם,
From here we learn the humility of the Holy One, blessed be He. Since man was created in the likeness of the angels, and they would envy him, He consulted them.
The Rav asks: Why did Hashem need to address Himself to the angels? Did He need a license to create man? The Rav explains that man is a competitor to the angels, and when you introduce a competitor, you need to inform them beforehand.
The Rav then explains that they compete because angels are a uniform being, and man is versatile. Angels represent one idea and one event, while man represents all ideas, which are at times contradictory and conflicting. Man's life is a mixture of glory, adventure, failure and misery, while the life of an angel is very simple.
Recognizing that life is a series of ups and downs, that it is complex, and that we are constantly moving and working to improve will serve us well as we experience the emotional and physical rhythm of life.
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Theme of the Year
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Our theme of the year -
hakarat hatov (showing appreciation) - was introduced to students and faculty with an all-school gathering yesterday. The kick-off included a
video which students watched in their classrooms before joining together for a live presentation featuring Professor Fluff's brother Freddy, several students, and school staff members. A special
hakarat hatov
song
was also introduced to the crowd.
The students were very excited to learn that they will become ambassadors to spread the word about hakarat hatov, just as they did last year with arvut. "You will be the ambassadors of hakarat hatov," explained Scott Mattoon, Associate Head of School for General Studies. "You'll develop your own projects and teach the rest of us."
The first ambassadors will be students from grades 3-5, who will be responsible for "Hakarat hatov - spread the love!" and will be tasked with explaining what that is, and why it's so important.
Our next ambassadors will be students from the Early Childhood Center through second grade. They will explore "Hakarat hatov bein adam lechavero" (showing appreciation to other people) and will share how important it is to thank others for their help, and to recognize the good in everyone.
Middle School students will then teach us about "Hakarat hatov l'Hashem" (showing appreciation to G-d) and how to recognize, be grateful for, and acknowledge all that He provides for each of us every day.
Finally, Upper School students will help us learn about "Hakarat hatov l'avoteinu" (showing appreciation to those who came before us) and guide us in how to be grateful to our parents - and all those who came before us - for their devotion, sacrifices, and incredible accomplishments.
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| Pinat HaParasha is Back! |
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Please click here
to view the
Pinat
HaParasha for Parshat Beresheet. You are encouraged to print the document and use it as a source for discussion at the Shabbat table.
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Early Dismissal Next Tuesday
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There will be a
3:00 p.m. dismissal for the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School next
Tuesday, October 17 due to a faculty meeting.
The buses to Sharon will leave at 3:45. If you do not use the Sharon bus, please pick up your child(ren) at 3:00 p.m.
If you are unable to pick up your child(ren) at 3:00 p.m., there will be:
- Bus Recess for Grades K - 2 until 3:45 p.m.
- Bus Recess for Grades 3 - 5 for students who will be taking the bus or attending Mates, or whose parents are unable to pick them up until 3:45.
- Mates is only available for those who are already signed up.
- There are NO after-school programs on this day.
LaShanta will be sending an email requesting your child's dismissal information.
Please contact her in the Elementary School office (617) 232-4452 x 300 (
[email protected]) if you have any questions or other pick-up details.
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Sukkot Activities
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Sukkot is called
z'man simchatainu, and we certainly fulfilled that aspect of the
chag at school this week! We enjoyed celebrating with your children as they participated in the following activities:
Decorating the Sukkah
Shlichot Avigail and Renana organized a
sukkah decorating activity based on the the theme of
hakarat hatov. Students artistically conveyed messages of thanks on colored hearts, which are currently displayed in the
sukkah.
Lunch with Music and Dancing
Thanks to the Maimonides Jazz Band, led by our music teacher Mr. Malkin, the school experienced a lively and exciting lunch in the
sukkah
on Monday as we sang along with them to our favorite
Sukkot melodies.
Simcha Dancing
The entire school danced and sang together to celebrate
Sukkot.
Tefilla
All classes added aspects of the special
tefillot which we recite during
Sukkot. Students sang
Hallel together and some recited the
hoshanot. The 4th and 5th graders davened
Hallel and
musaf together in the lunchroom
on Tuesday.
Today for Hoshana Rabba, all classes participated in a special
hoshanot activity as we did
hakafot and celebrated with a special snack in the
sukkah.
Sukkah Hops
Students had the opportunity to visit a neighborhood
sukkah or our own Brener
sukkah to sing, eat, play games, hear a story, and enjoy the
chag in the
kedusha atmosphere of a
sukkah. Many thanks to the Bessler and Rose families for hosting and entertaining our students.
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Principals' Coffees Start Next Week
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The first
Pr
incipals'
Coffee
this year will be for kindergarten parents, and will take
place next Wednesday, October 18 at 8:00 a.m.
in the
library
on the third floor.
Principals' coffees are taking place for parents of students at each grade level on mornings from October through December. The coffees are an opportunity for parents to talk with the principals, ask questions, give input, and learn more about different aspects of Maimonides students' life and learning at a particular grade level.
Come and meet other families from your child's class and ask the principals questions about the class, curriculum, or anything else!
Upcoming coffees:
1st grade -
Wednesday, October 25
2nd grade -
Wednesday,
November 8
3rd grade -
Wednesday,
November 15
4th grade -
Wednesday, November 29
5th grade - Wednesday, December 6
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| Rosh Chodesh Pizza |
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Next
Friday, October 20
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a
pizza
lunch will be provided by the PTA for those who ordered in advance. Please remind your children to wear white shirts, and to bring snacks and drinks.
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| STEM at Maimo |
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This week students combined their knowledge of coding with their Sukkot learning. The second grade programmed KIBO robots to shake their lulavim. They worked together in small teams to see if they could attach a lulav to the robot and have it shaken in all directions.
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Family Learning Focuses on Chagim
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Over 50 people participated in the first family learning before Rosh HaShanah. This year's Family Learning features the
chagim, and the first session focused on Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. There was learning and an activity for each one of these holidays.
For Rosh HaShanah, families
learned why we eat apples and honey and how honey is produced, and taste-tested different types of honey.
The Yom Kippur station focused on not wearing leather shoes and
learning the difference between leather and other materials.
For Sukkot, participants learned
mishnayot about various shapes, sizes, and forms of
sukkot, and assessed understanding through a
sukkah scavenger hunt.
We concluded with a group Kahoot review game which was a lot of fun.
Join us for the next Torah and STEM Family Learning on Sunday, October 22 (see below).
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| Next Family Learning on Sunday, October 22 |
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Candy on Halloween
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As you may be aware, Halloween this year will be on
Tuesday, October 31. A few students have asked if it is OK to give out candy.
Students have been taught that even though we do not participate in Halloween by trick-or-treating, it might be considered meritorious to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters who come to our house
mipnei darkei shalom
, for the sake of maintaining good relationships with our neighbors.
Please feel free to contact Rabbi Saltzman or your child's
limudei kodesh teacher if you wish us to discuss this issue further with your child.
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Mazel Tov!
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Mazel tov to Kaylee Frager, 4th grade limudei kodesh teacher, on the birth of her grandson. Parents are Meira and Rabbi Aaron Frager.
Mazel tov to Limor Cohen-Melul,
Elementary School Ivrit teacher and
limudei kodesh
support specialist, and her husband
Daniel Melul on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Noam '23. Mazel tov as well to brother Roee '26.
Send us your simchas!
Please share your simcha announcements with us by sending details to [email protected].
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| Alumni Newsletter Online |
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The monthly alumni newsletter for September is now online, and can be found
here.
This issue's articles include:
- Reuven Cohn '65, ז"ל , Bridged Generations with Passion, Wisdom and Caring
- Graduate's Brew Helps Boost Israel's Fledgling Craft Beer Industry
- Alumna's Book Explores "What Actually Happened to the Arts in Nazi Germany"
- Retreating from Irma, Floridians Find Food, Shelter and Warmth in Atlanta
- Alumna Lands New Position That Combines Good Taste and Love for Israel
- Alumnus Focuses on U.S. Shipping and Physical Infrastructure
- Class notes
If you would like to receive the alumni newsletter each month, contact Mike Rosenberg at
(617) 232-4452 x 405
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| Lost and Found - השבת אבידה |
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Below are the lost items we have collected. Please take a look to see if anything looks familiar and retrieve it. If you label lunchboxes, water bottles, and clothing, we will be sure to return them to your child directly.
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Directory Online
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The 2017-18 Directory with names and addresses is now online and can be accessed via the Parent Portal on our website at
http://www.maimonides.org/parents. Once you have logged in, click on "Family Directory" in the menu at left.
You will need your My BackPack information to log into the Parent Portal. If you need help, please contact
[email protected].
Individual class lists will be distributed in October.
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Social Time!
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There's so much going on here at Maimo! Be sure to check out our social media to get the inside scoop (with lots of great photos) on happenings at school.
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See What's Happening in the Other Divisions
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 Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School!
If you'd like to take a peek at the other divisions' newsletters, please click here for the Early Childhood Center, or click here for the Middle and Upper Schools.
If you would like to contact a specific school office, please use these emails:
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!שבת שלום
Rabbi, Reena, and the Maimonides ES Faculty
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