Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, September 10 - Early dismissal 4:30 - Simulated School Night / Senior Parent Meeting

• Thursday, September 11 - Club Hub in the Cafeteria 5th & 6th Periods / 12th Grade Attends JUF Annual Meeting

• Wednesday, September 17 - Thursday, September 18 - All-School Retreat @Camp Chi - Click here to sign up (Email ybildner@icja.org to discuss financial assistance)

• Monday, September 22 - Erev Rosh Hashana (no classes)

• Tuesday, September 23 - Wednesday, September 24 - Rosh Hashana

• Thursday, September 25 - Tzom Gedalia (early dismissal 2:30pm)

• Wednesday, October 1 - Erev Yom Kippur (no classes)

• Thursday, October 2 - Yom Kippur

• Monday, October 6 - Wednesday, October 15 - Sukkot Break

• Thursday, October 16 - Classes Resume

This Rosh Hashana, partner with ICJA to prepare the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.

Click here to donate to our Rosh Hashana Campaign.

Click here to view ICJA's September lunch menu schedule.

Students are gaining skills in writing persuasive essays.

Incoming freshmen read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (2008) over the summer. In Mr. Ben Kramer's English class, students are now writing about this moving book, and discussing ways to support their assertions in persuasive essays.

Students discussed literary techniques including paraphrasing, summarizing, and using direct quotes as they learned the skills of stronger writing.

Dov Finkel working on his essays

Shulamit Stopek writing about The Last Lecture

Jacob Leonard and Ayden Frankel with Mr. Kramer

Juniors created dialogues in Hebrew.

Juniors in Mrs. Moria Kohanchi's Hebrew class have been getting to know one another and making plans to meet up for coffee - all in Hebrew. After watching a Hebrew language video of two strangers meeting on a train, asking questions about each other, and making plans to meet for coffee, students worked on their own similar dialogues.

Afterwards, students used multimedia to enrich their dialogues as they gained valuable skills in Hebrew conversation.

Aryeh Lowenthal and Ayden Starck

Gabriel Nudman and Bentzion Beiles

Yehuda Weiss and Asher Gadd

Sophomores are learning how to make detailed observations of chemicals.

Sophomores in Mrs. Chavee Gottlieb's honors Chemistry class this week classified pure substances and mixtures by observing their macroscopic appearances and provided chemical formulae.

Students recorded data and learned how to identify elements, mixtures, and compounds.

Yis Burgher and Jordan Rich

Ronit Kinar, Michal Belsh, and Adi Gryka

Jonah Krule and Asher Segal

Students shared persuasive speeches.

Can you talk smoothly for several minutes without hesitating or saying "um" at all? Seniors in Mrs. Heather Hobbie's Public Speaking class can. This week students took turns giving amusing speeches to their peers in an animated, polished way.

Jessica Michaeli arguing that listening to music can be an addiction

Jonah Glass persuading his classmates that hockey is the best sport

Elisheva Deangelis arguing that pineapple pizza is cultural appropriation

Juniors educated their peers about Jewish life in Shakespeare's time.

(Pictured here: Maya Kutliroff teaching the class about the daily life of Jews in Italy in the 16th and 17th Centuries)

Juniors in Mrs. Tirza Kahan's AP Language class are preparing to read The Merchant of Venice. This week, they prepared by taking turns teaching their peers about different aspects of life, particularly the life of Jews, during Shakespeare's lifetime.

Masha Perkins teaching about whether or not a will can dictate that someone get married, as a will in The Merchant of Venice does

Gabriel Nudman teaching about the play The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlow

Ilya Friedman teaching the difference between tragedies and comedies in the oeuvre of Shakespeare

Seniors describe their favorite things - all in Hebrew.

Like all of ICJA's Hebrew classes, Mrs. Orit Marmel's 12th grade girls' honors class learns Ivrit b'Ivrit - with the class speaking in Hebrew. This week, Mrs. Marmel had a question for students: what makes your heart happy? Students took time to plan presentations about their favorite places and things, then gave Hebrew presentations to their classmates.

Jessica Michaeli and Naama Horowitz

Leah Jacobs and Penina Benjamin

Rivki Belsh discussing in Hebrew how Paris makes her happy

The entire school celebrated the Daf Yomi Club's siyum on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, the entire ICJA community came together for all school davening in the gym, followed by a siyum on Masechet Avodah Zara, then a celebratory doughnut breakfast.

After Shacharit, members of the Daf Yomi Club completed the Masechet, alongside Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum. Rabbi Rosenbaum concluded the Masechet out loud for the school while seniors Yedidya Bechhofer, Avi Zayan and Yehuda Goldstein, juniors William Moscovitch and club founder and president Jacob Thomas, and sophomore Bennett Kroll did so alongside him (pictured above). Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz recited the final Kaddish. Mazal Tov to the entire club on this incredible achievement.

Thank you to Julie and Nathan Thomas for sponsoring sefarim distributed to the boys who made the siyum, and to Ronnie and Susan Masliansky for sponsoring the doughnut breakfast in memory of Joseph and Tsippora Masliansky, z"l.

Click here to hear how some club members find time to learn.

Rabbi Rosenbaum, Mr. Ron Masliansky, junior William Moscovitch, sophomore Bennett Kroll, junior Jacob Thomas, and seniors Yehuda Goldstein, Avi Zayan and Yedidya Bechhofer

Freshmen Nina Groman and Zamira Elias, and sophomores Jonathan Hellman, Lior Kirschner, and Asher Segal enjoying doughnuts after the siyum

The Soccer Aces enjoyed wins this week.

(Pictured here: sophomore Caleb Shpayher and senior Yair Bell after Caleb scored a goal against North Chicago)

ICJA's Boys Soccer Aces racked up victories this week, including defeating Fasman Yeshiva High School 4-0 on Sunday and North Chicago Community High School 3-2 on Tuesday.

Let's cheer on the Soccer Aces this Sunday, September 7, as they square off against RZ @ICJA at 2pm.

Senior Avi Rubin

Senior Eli Cherney

Senior Ben Rosenburg

Students triumphed in their first meet.

On Sunday, August 31, ICJA Cross Country Aces started their season with a timed two-mile race at Pooch Park. Parents and friends cheered the 56 runners - including 24 new members of the team - as they made two loops around the channel. Yasher koach to the entire team.

Juniors Talia Bielak, Mia Saltzman, Orli Lubin, and Ilya Friedman

Sophomores Ari Shyovitz, Zachary Kupietzky, and Binyamin Friedman

Students enjoyed a fabulous kickoff event.

On Wednesday evening, Ida Crown Boys' Club (ICBC) held its kickoff event. After a pizza dinner at school, boys boarded busses to travel to Wrigley Field, where they watched the Cubs play the Atlanta Braves.

It was a fun and meaningful first ICBC event of the year.

This event was sponsored by the Alt and Miller families in memory of George Alt, z"l.

Freshmen boys and their relatives davened at Khal Zichron Yoel of Lincolnwood last Sunday.

On Sunday, August 31, freshmen boys and their relatives gathered together at Khal Zichron Yoel of Lincolnwood for Shacharit, learning, and breakfast.

This weekly program is run by award-winning Tanach teacher and freshman boys' rebbe Rabbi Louis Fliegelman.

Contact Rabbi Louis Fliegelman to learn more or to join these weekly visits.

This week we caught up with ICJA's new Athletics Director and asked him a few questions about himself.

Mr. Adam Rich, ICJA's new Athletics Director, has big plans for sports at Ida Crown. This week caught up with Mr. Rich and asked him a few questions about himself.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?

I grew up in Skokie, and live here now as an adult. I attended Ida Crown, class of 2004.

After high school, I attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, then completed a Master's degree in Sports Business, with a focus on Marketing and Business.

Where did you work before coming to ICJA?

I did marketing and client relations for a fitness company. I also am a music producer with my own independent label.

How did you decide to go into sports management?

I've always loved sports, ever since I was a kid. At Ida Crown, I played Basketball and intramural Softball.

I decided to pursue a graduate degree in Sports Business because it's something I love, and I'm excited to be working at my alma mater. I'm looking forward to continuing the growth of Ida Crown athletics: maintaining the excellence that we've had with certain sports and building up the programs that are newer that weren't around when I was a student.

What is a favorite ICJA memory?

I have fond memories of playing in the Sarachek tournament in 2003! We defeated the defending champions in the second round. That got us to the semifinals: there was an electric atmosphere in the YU gym. We had the whole crowd supporting us because we were the underdogs.

What do you love about working at ICJA so far?

So far I love providing the students with the resources they want and need to be happy playing sports here: Whether it's new uniforms for the Soccer team or more games - giving students the support they need. I know how much kids need athletics; it's important not to overlook the value that sports play in people's lives.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes - I play softball in several different leagues. I love being outside in general, walking, working out, staying active. I'm also a foodie and love to cook. And I enjoy dramas on tv and in the movies. One favorite is Game of Thrones.

Is there anything most people don't know about you that you'd like to share?

Yes - ICJA's Registrar Mrs. Rebecca Gorenstein is my sister! And ICJA Aces Coach Jonathan Rich is my brother.

Watch "Connect with ICJA," our newest video

for prospective students - and share it with people you know who'd like to learn more about ICJA!

In addition to many thousands of physical books and journals, ICJA's Learning Commons contains tens of thousands of online books, journal articles and other resources, including subscriptions to newspapers such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and more. Students are able to access these resources through our portal.

Please stop by our librarian Mrs. Steinberg's desk in the Learning Commons or email her at  librarian@icja.org her to pick up your updated passwords to access our online material. ICJA's subscriptions are available at icja.libguides.com/home.

Review ICJA on Niche.com and enter a sweepstakes.

Help let people know how fabulous ICJA is! Whether you're a parent, student, teacher, or alumnus/alumna, the popular school ranking website Niche.com wants to hear from you. Plus, every person who reviews ICJA (or any other school) is automatically entered into a monthly $1,000 sweepstakes by Niche.com. For more information and to leave a review, click here.

Do you have school-related news you'd like to see in this newsletter? Let us know!

If you have exciting ICJA-related news to share about classes, sports, clubs, or other projects, please tell us! Send news items and/or photos to Dr. Yvette Miller, Director of Communications at ymiller@icja.org. Your items can enhance our newsletter and ICJA's social media presence.

Join our New Alumni Facebook Group

We are excited to announce that we have a new private Facebook group called “ICJA Official Alumni Page.” It is a space for alumni from all graduating years to join. We will periodically post alumni reunions, events, fundraising opportunities, information about ICJA today, and news.

We are proud to have some families with us for four generations. If you are an alum, please join the group HERE and be sure to share the link with your family, friends, and fellow graduates. You can also share this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/UeTsqg16DDx4JHGK/?mibextid=hubsqH. Thanks for staying connected to ICJA!

Please reach out to Ilana Levy at ilevy@icja.org if you have any questions about this new effort.

BIG NEWS FOR 2026! Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Award amounts have increased! - Now accepting nominations! Help our community recognize an exceptional educator! Visit The Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Award (att.org) to complete a user friendly, online nomination form, download a paper nomination form, and see rules, or call 773-973-2828 for more information. Nomination submission deadline: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.

Last summer, ICJA gave its Class of '24 alumni the third edition of our directory listing ICJA alumni who live in Israel and have graciously offered to open their homes to recent ICJA grads who are currently spending a gap year in Israel.

Thank you to the many alumni who have reached out to us, offering to host.

If you have any questions or would like to update our contact information to help recent ICJA grads obtain a copy, please contact Dr. Yvette Miller, ICJA Director of Communications, at ymiller@icja.org.

We are still taking submissions from alumni who are willing to host, to include in future copies of this directory. Please contact Dr. Miller to be included.