| HODAOT |
Grade Level Trips
The first school wide program will be on September 11, when all our students will be going on special trips with the goal of getting recharged for the school year. We hope to encourage students to bond with their classmates and participate in meaningful and fun activities.
9th grade will be visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo for an interactive scavenger hunt and lunch catered by Milt's BBQ.
10th and 11th grade will be traveling to Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort, Illinois for team building activities, orienteering, paintball, zip-lining, high ropes and tree-climbing.
12th grade will be attending the JUF Annual Meeting and luncheon and will be taking their class picture at a location to be
determined.
All buses will depart immediately after 3rd period (11:15AM) and return by the end of the school day. The cost of the trips for 9-11 grade is $28 (the cost of the Annual Meeting luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel is underwritten by the JUF).
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Academy Stories
This summer on Academy Stories, we featured multiple alumni who are living in Israel and even serving in the army. Together, the blog posts provide insight into what life has been like in Israel this summer, under fire and why our alumni are so passionate about being there.
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GOOD & WELFARE
MAZAL TOV
Allie ('07) & Asher Burgher ('07) on the birth of a baby boy. Mazal tov grandparents Ava ('76) and Steven Burgher and Moe & Bryna Feiger ('79).
Elana Blivaiss ('99) and Hyim Baronofsky on the birth of a baby boy.
Lynn ('73) & Ira Shyman and family on the marriage of their son Jonathan to Racheli Klausner.
Flora Weiss & Zachary Ashman on their marriage. Mazal Tov to parents Rifka ('88) & Daniel ('88) Weiss and Wendy ('78) & Avi Ashman Mazal Tov to grandparents Shulamis ('63) & Bennie ('63) Weinfeld, Mr. and Mrs. Marty Weiss, Mrs. Suzanne Ballew, Mrs. Leah Ashman, and the great grandmother, Mrs. Rebecca Esformes.
Daniella & Zachary ('04) Eisenstein on the birth of a son. Mazel Tov to grandparents Karen & Dr. Mayer ('67) Eisenstein.
ICJA teacher Rabbi Barry ('61) & Susan ('64) Robinson on the birth of a granddaughter, born to their children Mimi ('91) and Raanan Robinson.
Dr. Jordana ('97) & Dan Rosen on the birth of a son. Mazal Tov to grandparents Karen & Dr. Mayer ('67) Eisenstein.
Miriam ('76) & Rabbi Elisha Prero on the birth of a granddaughter, born to Rabbi and Mrs. Tani Prero of Jerusalem. Mazal Tov to the great-grandparents, Sally & Arthur Dordek.
Rifka ('88) & Daniel ('88) Weiss on the engagement of their son, Mikey ('09) to Chavy Birnbaum Mazal Tov to the grandparents, Shulamis ('63) & Bennie ('63) Weinfeld, Flora & Marty Weiss, Mrs. Suzanne Ballew, and the great grandmother, Mrs. Rebecca Esformes.
Adina & David ('91) Aberman on the Bar Mitzvah of their sons, Shmuel and Yaakov. Mazal Tov to the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Reuven Silverstein and Cantor Arthur & Sandy ('68) Aberman.
Batsheva & Avi ('77) Goldfeder and Mr. and Mrs. Usher Kranczer on the engagement of their children, Toby and Mordechai. Mazal Tov to the grandparents, Rabbi & Mrs. Jack Frank and Mrs. Leah Kranczer.
Marlene ('67) & Larry Engelhart and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Gelbart on the birth of a granddaughter, born to Yoni and Talia ('98) Engelhart. Mazal Tov to the great-grandmother, Mrs. Frida Neuman
Linda & Alan ('62) Kagan and Mrs. Lori Goldenberg on the birth of a grandson, born to, Rabbi and Mrs. Yitzhak Kagan in Jerusalem.
Becca ('95) and Jeremy Amster on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Avery Jonah. Mazel Tov to the grandparents, Shoshana ('64) & Howard Benditzson, Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Karesh and great-grandmother, Mrs. Lydia Gutman.
Ellen ('80) & Rabbi Ben-Zion Rand, on the marriage of their son, Yosef, to Rivky Bresler.
Rabbi Neil & Tovi Kirshner on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Elisha. Mazal Tov to the grandparents Anna & Rabbi Hershel ('64) Maryles and Rita ('58) & Sheldon ('58) Kirshner.
Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Rajchenbach on the bar mitzvah of their son, Yitzchok. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi Jack & Judy ('67) Rajchenbach.
ICJA teacher Marsha & Rick Arons and family on the marriage of their daughter Eliana ('09) to Ben Marks.
Donna ('84) & Elisha Atkin on the upcoming marriage of their daughter Daniella to Yehuda Hirtz. Mazal Tov to the grandmother, Mrs. Shirley Halpert.
Susie ('64) & Dr. Michael ('64) Friedman on the marriage of their granddaughter.
Rabbi Ira ('67) & Admissions Director Rivkah Rabin on the marriage of their son, Daniel to Gila Honigsberg.
Rabbi & Mrs. Yechiel Silber on the birth of a son. Mazal Tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Mayer Silber and to the great-grandparents Cantor Wilhelm & Judith ('51) Silber.
Mikki ('87) & Shmuel Schreiber on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Ezra. Mazal Tov to grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Juda Jona.
Cheryl ('77) & Dr. Gary Hoberman on the engagement of their son, Scott, to Sara Van Bemmelen. Mazel Tov to the grandmother Mrs. Arlene P. Gordon.
Mr. and Mrs. Nachy Shabat and Dr. and Mrs. Moshe Tzvi Dauber on the engagement of their children Eliana and Yoni. Mazal Tov to the grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Shabat and Susie ('64) & Dr. Michael ('64) Friedman and Mr. Herb Schneider.
Rosalie ('72) & Daniel Novick on the birth of a grandson.
Rabbi and Mrs. Yirmiyohu Neuman on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Tzvi Yishai. Mazal Tov to the grandparents, Rita('58) & Sheldon ('58) Kirshner and Miriam & Rabbi Bernard ('50) Neuman.
Miri & David Rosenwasser on the recent of their daughter, Aviyah, to Yonatan Atkin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Atkin. Mazal Tov to grandparents, Rivka ('64) & Shmuel Brandman and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Rosenwasser.
Elisheva Slovin ('10) on her marriage to Ariel Sobin. Mazal tov to parents Alison ('75) & Ron Slovin and grandmother, Mrs. Lorraine Pure.
Rabbi & Mrs. Joseph Ozarowski on the birth of a grandson born to Zemira and Eli Ozarowski. Mazal tov to the great-grandmother, Mrs. Hilda Rappoport.
Yehudit ('02) & Aaron Gavant on the birth of a daughter. Mazal Tov to the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Aron Pressner.
Dr. and Dr. Mitch Hoberman on the birth of a daughter. Mazel Tov to the grandparents, Cheryl ('77) & Dr. Gary Hoberman and to the great-grandmother, Mrs. Arlene Gordon.
Suzanne & Noah ('99) Mishkin on the birth of a son. Mazal tov to grandparents Jan & Sherwin Mishkin.
Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Rajchenbach on the birth of a daughter. Mazal Tov tograndparents, Judy ('67) & Rabbi Jack Rajchenbach.
Cyndee & Jay ('66) Meystel on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Moshe Akiva Kutoff, son of Rabbi and Mrs. Eliyahu Kutoff. Mazal Tov to great-grandfather, Mr. Sidney Meystel.
Mr. & Mrs. Asher Feiger ('07) on the birth of a son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Steven Burgher and Mr. and Mrs. Moe Feiger. Mazal tov to the great-grandfather Rabbi Lawrence Montrose.
Rabbi and Mrs. Norman Goldberg (former ICJA Asst. Principal) on the birth of a great-granddaughter.
Please help us keep our simcha lists up to date by emailing [email protected].
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SHABBAT SHALOM
 Candlelighting for Parshat Shoftim is at 7:09PM.
ICJA is an affiliate of the ATT and a partner in serving our community, supported by the JUF/JF.
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| Welcome Back! |
Welcome back to the Academy!
This past week has been the start of one of the most exciting new school years on record! Not only did we begin the year with a yom iyun about the situation in Israel, but we also had our first "short Wednesday," began our new tefillah program of varied minyan options for students, welcomed six new teachers, a new administrator - Dr. Shelley Green, and the class of 2018!
But the greatest thing about this new year is the fact that we continue to be true to our mission of more than 70 years - to inspire Bnei and Bnot Torah to thrive in the modern world.
Of course "our" modern world has so many new challenges and opportunities, that we continue to look for new ways to make a difference in the lives of our children. Our new strategic plan (SP2.0) is challenging us to incorporate technology and project-based learning in ways our founders never would have imagined. And our college guidance has totally revamped the way our students select universities and programs in Israel.
And there is so much more to come!
On Wednesday, we began to recite the 27th psalm in which we read King David's wish, to both "live in the house of the L-rd" and "to visit His sanctuary." How can we fulfill both the wish to be resident and a visitor in G-d's house?
Perhaps the answer is by feeling at home in G-d's presence, while never taking that feeling for granted. Which is also what we do every day at the Academy, as we preserve our traditions while constantly finding new ways to touch the hearts and souls of our students.
Yesterday, I and a number of teachers received an email from one of the young women who recently graduated the Academy and is now beginning to attend an Ivy league school.
She wrote:
Before getting here last week I was so nervous. I thought I would be the dumbest person in every class and feel so behind and lost compared to my peers because I went to a small Jewish private school.
Since I've been here however (after surviving my first day of classes), I realized how well you all prepared me at Ida Crown. Professors have made references to Candide, Immanuel Kant, Descartes, Adam Smith, and many other topics that I remember perfectly learning about in your classes at Ida Crown.
Because of everything that you all taught me and gave me in your classrooms, I feel like I belong here.
I wanted to thank you so much for everything that you gave me throughout my four years at ICJA, I really would be no where without all of you. Being in your classrooms was truly an honor.
What an honor it is to teach and to lead ICJA! We have a glorious history, an extraordinary present and a future of unimagined achievement.
Welcome back and welcome to ICJA 5775!
B'vracha!
Rabbi Dr. Leonard A. Matanky
Our Groundbreaking is Nov. 2!
 Join us next week, September 4, at 8PM at the home of Aviva and Ami Robinson, 9346 Avers in Evanston to find out about the new ICJA. Let us introduce you to our new campus, at the cutting edge of 21st century learning. State-of-the-Art Science Labs, Sports & Cultural Arts Facilities, Spacious Beit Midrash, Technology Resources, Workout Areas, Student & Faculty Lounges.
RSVP to Jane Best, capital campaign director, at [email protected] or 773.973.1450.
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| ACADEMY NEWS |
Israel Program Informs, Inspires
Monday mornings tekes on Israel affairs was phenomenal, bringing local experts to speak to our students on a variety of topics related to Israel. Most inspiring for most students and staff was the program's opening speaker, Hartley Schwartz ('11), who serves as a commander in the IDF and spoke about his experience serving in Gaza.
 He described in detail what it was like for him to lead his troupes into the Gaza strip, to search for tunnels and to sleep on the floor in Gaza on his last night--which was Tisha b'Av. We are so proud of all of our alumni serving in the IDF, some of whom include (if you know anyone we inadvertently left out, please email [email protected]):
Josephine Gendler ('14) (read more below)
Zach Cohn ('12)
Avi Gluck ('10)
Hannah Dimbert ('13)
Yael Gluck ('08)
Monica Gloger ('13)
Maor Rudick ('12)
Tali Zuckerman ('12)
Hannah Dimbert ('12)
Jason Greenspan ('12)
Natan Nagar ('12) (joining this fall)
Eitan Redlich ('12)
Gabe Michael ('12)
Zach Cohn ('12)
Ariella Matanky ('10)
Jack Matanky ('11)
Through three more seminars, students learned about the war in Gaza, student advocacy on campus and a very basic understanding of Islam. Other speakers for our program included: Lital Rosenberg, AIPAC Chicago Leadership Management Director, Ashley Abramowicz, Midwest Deputy Director of AIPAC Synagogue Initiative; Cameron Erickson, DePaul University Student Activist; and Consul Maya Karmely, Midwest Consulate, State of Israel.
We All Scream for Ice Cream
 What a great first day we enjoyed on Monday! Following our Israel program at KINS, students were treated to their choice of ice cream from the ice cream truck, thanks to the Academy Associates. By lunch time, they were all geared up for the first afternoon of classes. Thank you to our staff and teachers for making this first week go so smoothly. View first day photos on our website.
New Tefillah Program Launches
After our opening day all-school davening, followed by two days of Rosh Chodesh davening at KINS, we finally kicked off our new tefillah program this Thursday. Over the summer students selected from several different davening options tailored to students' interests and needs. We hope to further our students' connection to prayer this year by keeping it fresh and varied.
Options include a Kollel Minyan, a Girls Only Davening, a Girls Singing Davening, a Learning Minyan, a Meditative Minyan, a Chesed Minyan and a Nusach Ari Minyan/Sefardic Minyan.
Welcome Class of 2018!
We are very excited to welcome the freshmen class of 2018 to the Academy this year, along with those new students who join our upper classmen as well. Orientation, led by our senior leaders and staff last week, was a great opportunity for freshmen to get to know one another and learn about high school. Our 9th grade class came to school on Monday well prepared for the year ahead. View orientation photos on our website. Many thanks to senior Sammy Greengus for taking the photos. Welcome New Staff We welcomed several new staff members to our Academy family this week and plan to feature each of them in our newsletter in the coming weeks. Welcome: Olivia Friedman: Bible, Jewish Thought, Oral Law and Prophets Devorah Goldberg: Prophets Naomi Liss: Hebrew Adina Mann: English Sara Wolkenfeld, Talmud Mindy Reiss: Prophets  We are also thrilled to welcome a new administrator to our team, Dr. Rochelle Green, director of 21st century teaching and learning. Dr. Green joins us from Nova Southeastern University, where she served as Division Dean, Program Professor and STEM coordinator. Prior to her work at NSU, Dr. Green taught middle and high school science for 16 years.Dr. Green received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell University and her Masters and Doctorate Degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Check Out Our New Website We launched a new website at icja.org this month. The site is much more user friendly, includes more news and events and an up-to-date, easy to read calendar. Check it out!
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| ALUMNI NEWS |
Class of 2014 Heads to Israel
Around 90 percent of our 2014 graduating class has already arrived in Israel or is headed there soon for their gap year. We wish them much success and can't wait to hear about all of their adventures. In the meantime, check out ICJA's most recent alum to join the IDF, Josephine Gendler ('14). Josephine joins nearly 20 recent alumni in active duty. B'hatzlacha, Josephine!
We also saw several of our Academy alumni head to Israel on the August Nefesh b'Nefesh flight. See photos of them and read more on icja.org.
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Aaron Zimmerman exits the b'Nefesh flight.
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