Upcoming Events

• Motzaei Shabbat, February 28 - Varsity Aces play Lycée Français de Chicago in IHSA Regional Finals @ICJA - 8pm

• Monday, March 2 - Taanit Esther - early dismissal at 2:28pm

• Tuesday, March 3 - Purim - No Classes (Click here to order an ICJA Academy Associates Purim e-card)

• Wednesday, March 4 - Shushan Purim - celebration in school, festive lunch, Purim spiel, faculty-senior basketball game, and trip to Top Golf (see flyer at end of newsletter) - come in costume - click here to register (email Yona Bildner to discuss financial assistance for this event)

• Wednesday, March 4 - ICJA Takes the Stage girls' event: dinner and trip to watch Hamilton

• Friday, March 6 - Motzaei Shabbat, March 7 - ICBC Shabbaton - click here to sign up

• Monday, March 9 - 11th grade program in memory of ICJA parent Dr. Gail Darlow '93, z"l

• Tuesday, March 10 - ACT exam for juniors

• Wednesday, March 18 - PACT for sophomores

• Wednesday, March 25 - PACT for freshmen

• Thursday, March 26 - ICJA Takes the Stage - Click here to register

• Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 10 - Passover Spring Break

• Monday, April 13 - School Resumes

Thursday, April 30 is Grandparents Day!

Parents: we need your help. If you have not already done so, please provide your child(ren)'s grandparent(s) contact information here.

Click here to view the February lunch menu.

Follow ICJA on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with school happenings.

Students spent a morning learning Torah sources about Judaism and Art - and gained artistic skills to express themselves through visual art.

This year's Ida Crown Takes the Stage, Commemorating the Life of Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, z"l, is בצלם אלקים, recognizing the fact we are all created b'tzelem elokim, in the image of Hashem. This year's show emphasizes the fact that each one of us reflects the Divine.

On Thursday, students explored this reality through learning about Judaism and Art in a fascinating morning of learning and hands-on artistic expression.

Girls gathered in the gym to learn with Marianne Novak (pictured above), whose daughter Batsheva, z"l, is commemorated in this incredible program. Students then divided into smaller groups to learn Jewish sources about Betzalel, the artist who constructed the Mishkan, and whose efforts are described in the weekly Parshiot (Torah portions) during this period.

Thank you to Mrs. Moriah Kohanchi and Ms. Lizi Martin for planning this morning's learning and to the many teachers, students, and staff who helped run these incredible learning sessions.

Ida Crown Takes the Stage, Commemorating the Life of Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, z"l, is sponsored by the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts.

Pictured above: sophomore Malka Zayan learning with Marianne Novak

Pictured above: seniors Esther Fretzin, Libby Bleichman, and Rivka Belsh learning with Moria Kohanchi

Pictured above: seniors Jayden Perlman and Mina Brandes learning together

Students learned about dress designing from professional fashion designer Hila Geller.

Students gained skills in dress designing from professional fashion designer Hila Geller, who encouraged the girls to put their learning to use and create beautiful fashions that reflect on the outside the qualities that they possess internally.

After learning about the basics of dress designing, students sketched the dresses they plan to wear for Ida Crown Takes the Stage.

Pictured above: freshman Arielle Martin Shafrir and Hava Rubin with Mrs. Geller

Pictured above: freshmen Ayla Wittlin and Molly Fogel with Mrs. Geller

Pictured above: junior Naomi Blajchman with her illustration

Pictured above: freshman Emanuella Deangelis

Pictured above: sophomores Emma Elkaim and Hailey Horowitz

Pictured above: freshmen Zamira Elias and Jessica Fiedler

Pictured above: juniors Maayan Engel and Eliana Neiger with Mrs. Geller

Pictured above: sophomores Ella Jankovits and Talia Schwartz

Pictured above: senior Devorah Kaplowitz with freshmen Emanuella Deangelis and Shuli Stopek

Students gave presentations about beloved family recipes.

This week, seniors in Mrs. Orit Marmel's honors Hebrew class gave multimedia Hebrew presentations about their family history and beloved family recipes.

While students spoke about their family recipes, their classmates took notes and asked questions in Hebrew, expanding their vocabulary and fluency in the process.

(Pictured here: seniors Yoav Schonbrun and Ezra Mauer taking notes on their classmates' presentations)

Pictured above: Zachary Fogel discussing his grandmother's meatball recipe

Pictured above: Eli Fretzin talking about his grandfather's favorite spaghetti and meatball recipe

Pictured above: Aiden Rich discussing his mother's potato kugel recipe

Sophomores are learning VSEPR theory and working to visualize molecular symmetry.

Sophomores in Mrs. Chavee Gottlieb's honors Chemistry class are exploring VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory, deepening their understanding of how electron domains influence molecular geometry.

To bring these abstract concepts to life, students are using molecular model kits to construct and manipulate structures, enabling them to visualize bond angles, identify molecular symmetry, and distinguish between electron geometry and molecular geometry.

As they build and compare models, students are also examining how variations in spatial arrangement can lead to different types of isomerism, including structural (constitutional) isomers and stereoisomers.

Pictured above: Avi Friedman and Jonathan Hellman

Pictured above: Elisheva Sudin and Asher Segal

Juniors made a siyyum on Sefer Melachim this week.

Juniors in Ms. Lizi Martin's Tanach class have been learning Sefer Melachim Alef and Bet (The Books of Kings I and II).

This week they concluded learning Melachim by taking turns preparing the concluding psukim (passages) and teaching them to their classmates.

Then, on Tuesday, the class completed a siyyum. Before taking a test on the material they'd covered, students stopped to celebrate their siyyum, enjoying sushi and camaraderie in class.

(Pictured above: Megill Hameiri and Noah Ehrlich with Ms. Martin)

Pictured above: Dov Kaiserman during the siyyum

Pictured above: Jacob Ackerman, Archer Gradstein, Aryeh Lowenthal, and Ryan Angus enjoying sushi

Pictured above: Bentzion Beiles during the siyyum

Students set up and ran a fun shuk in school.

Last Friday, juniors in Mrs. Eliora Lavi's Hebrew class set up an elaborate "shuk" (market) in their classroom, bringing in real items to sell and slips of paper and playing cards to represent money. (Pictured here)

All products were labelled in Hebrew, and sales and bartering were conducted in Hebrew. Students from other classes came by to "shop" and enjoy snacks and drinks.

Among items carried in the shuk were milkshakes, fruit, chocolate, candy, juice, and potato chips. It was a fun way to end the week - and gain greater fluency in Hebrew.

Pictured above: Sophie Rine collecting "payment" for her juice bar

Pictured above: Dalia Cohen and Talia Bielak "selling" snacks to Chavi Campbell and Eliana Frankel

Pictured above: Bela Burstyn and Baila Laber with their shuk stand

The Varsity Aces triumphed in the Regional Semifinals this week.

On Wednesday, ICJA's Varsity Aces beat Providence St. Mel 45-43 to win the Regional Semifinals. Yasher koach to the entire team and to Coach Jonathan Rich on this incredible achievement.

Be sure to come cheer on the Aces at ICJA this Motzaei Shabbat at 8pm as we host the Regional Finals and the Aces face off against Lycée Français de Chicago! ICJA is hosting this important game: let's show up and demonstrate our incredible school spirit!

Junior Caleb Novick won 3rd Place in this prestigious contest.

Junior Caleb Novick won 3rd Place in the Walder Jerusalem Science Contest.

Caleb’s research focused on an innovative rocket propulsion design known as the aerospike engine—a cutting-edge alternative to traditional bell-nozzle rockets that has the potential to significantly improve fuel efficiency across varying altitudes. He spent multiple hours each week researching and writing up his project.

As part of his award, Caleb will be traveling to Israel later this year—an incredible opportunity to continue celebrating his achievement on an international stage.

Yasher koach, Caleb, on this amazing achievement that pushes the boundaries of science.

Freshmen girls gathered this week to build class camaraderie.

Freshmen girls continued their Lifnai uLifnim program this week, spotlighting different members of their class who each spoke about themselves.

Lifnai uLifnim helps students get to know one another and builds unity and achdut amongst the grade.

Thank you to our Mechanchim and Mechanchot for facilitating this important program.

Freshmen boys and their relatives gathered at Congregation Anshe Motele last Sunday.

Last Sunday, freshmen boys and their relatives gathered together at Congregation Anshe Motele as part of our Veshinantam Levanecha program. Each Sunday, freshmen and their relatives come together at Chicago-area shuls for davening, learning, breakfast, and camaraderie. Last Sunday, after davening, Rabbi Alan Abramson told students and parents about Chicago Jewish history (pictured below).

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 feature our school's namesake, Mrs. Ida Crown z"l.

Our school carries a remarkable legacy. We are named for Ida Crown, z”l—an enterprising woman who helped shape Jewish life in Chicago and maintained her commitment to frumkeit.

From the Pale of Settlement to America

Ida Crown was born Ida Gordon in 1872 in the Pale of Settlement of the Russian Empire, where Jews were legally permitted to reside but endured severe restrictions and periodic violence. Jewish life there was precarious; rights were limited, and pogroms were an ever-present threat.

As a teenager, Ida made a bold decision: she left her family and sailed to America. She settled with relatives in Troy, New York, determined to build a new future.

In Troy, she met Arie Crown, a fellow Jew from the Pale who shared her deep religious convictions. Twelve years her senior, Arie was working as a peddler but dreamed of greater opportunity in the American Midwest. He eventually set out for St. Louis with a wagon and horses, and later turned his attention to Chicago, a rapidly growing city full of promise.

The two maintained their connection across the miles, writing letters and reuniting during the Yamim Nora’im. They married in 1892 and began their life together in Chicago.

Building a Family

Ida and Arie settled on Chicago’s North Side in a modest home and raised seven children: Sol, Irving, Henry, Herman, Jacob, Edward, and Florence.

Life was difficult compared to today. They purchased blocks of ice to preserve food and relied on daily milk deliveries. At times, money was tight. Yet their children later recalled Shabbat as a time of warmth and dignity. Each week, Ida prepared beautiful meals, created an atmosphere of kedushah, and welcomed guests—often newly arrived immigrants who needed food or lodging.

At a time when many American Jews were drifting from traditional observance, Ida and Arie remained frum. They kept a strictly kosher home and were Shomer Shabbat throughout their life, even when doing so was seen as "old-fashioned".

Ida also prized academic seriousness. Each evening, after clearing the dinner table, her children sat together in the cramped kitchen to complete their schoolwork under her watchful eye.

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

In the early 1900s, it was uncommon for women to run businesses, yet Ida opened a small dry goods store on the ground floor of the family home, selling matches and other items from a front window, contributing critically to the household income. She worked hard to master English and became an influential presence in the growing Jewish community of Chicago. The Crowns developed a reputation for generosity and reliability—people who could be counted on in times of need.

Tragedy struck when a fire destroyed much of their block, including their home and possessions. The family relocated to a smaller house nearby. Undeterred, Ida rebuilt, opening another dry goods store and once again helping her family financially.

An Enduring Legacy

Ida Crown passed away in 1956. Eight years later, Chicago Jewish Academy was renamed Ida Crown Jewish Academy by her children, honoring not only her memory but the enduring commitment of her children and grandchildren to Jewish education and communal life in Chicago.

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 to pick up your updated passwords to access our online material. ICJA's subscriptions are available at icja.libguides.com/home.

Watch our new 2025-6 Prospective Student Video!

Know a student who wants to learn more about ICJA? Send them our new 2025-6 Prospective Student Video! Click on the image below to watch.

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.

Parents: there are still slots to sign up to supervise lunch ball! This is a fun way to earn Give-Get. Parents are present in the gym during 5th and 6th periods while students play basketball, overseeing this fun daily event.

Volunteers earn $30 in Give-Get credit each day.

Join our Alumni Facebook Group

We are excited to announce that we have a 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.

The annual ICJA Israel Connect directory is out.

Last summer, ICJA gave its Class of '25 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.

Inspiring bnei and bnot Torah to thrive in the modern world

ICJA is an affiliate of the Associated Talmud Torahs and a partner with JUF in serving our community.