Upcoming Events

• Monday, October 23 - All-school assembly with Gil Hoffman '95, Executive Director of Honest Reporting

• Tuesday, October 24 - Yearbook picture day

• Thursday, October 26 - Junior PSAT in school (morning)



• Friday, October 27 - Sophomore and Junior Friday-ton (Click here to sign up - to discuss financial assistance for this event please contact Michael London.)

• Wednesday, November 15 - ICJA Open House for 7th and 8th grade students and their families - 6:45pm - 9:15pm (Click here to register.)

Please let us know if you know any families in the Chicago area where a parent left to fight in the war and could use some support from ICJA students (babysitting, playtime, homework help, etc.). Click here and complete the form; we will contact the family to see how we can help.

On Monday, the entire ICJA student body heard from members of the ICJA family who were in Israel when war broke out.

This week began with the entire student body coming together to hear from three members of the ICJA family who were in Israel when war broke out.

Senior Julia Bellows and teacher and mechanechet Mrs. Alise Gold spoke with girls and female staff, describing their experiences. Boys and male teachers heard from former ICJA teacher (and brother of Talmud teacher Rabbi Daniel Fox) Rabbi Yoni Fox, about how his family has been coping.

Pictured above: Mrs. Alise Gold speaking about her experiences as war was declared and about buying goods for IDF soldiers on behalf of Ida Crown Girls Club

Pictured above: Rabbi Yoni Fox speaking about his and his family's experiences

Students learned for chayalim and civilians in Israel.

On Monday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, over 20 girls enjoyed pizza and learned together at an Ida Crown Girls' Club Chaburah. Students learned about the month of Cheshvan בזכות in the merit of all the soldiers, hostages, and civilians in Israel who need ה׳'s protection at this difficult time. 

Thank you to sophomores Yaffa Hoberman and Devorah Kaplowitz, who delivered a moving drasha, and to Menchanchot Mrs. Alise Gold and Mrs. Lynn Kraft for organizing this meaningful lunchtime event.

Students learned Masechet Sukkah with the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago.

One of ICJA's many assets is having the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel on our campus. This week, freshmen in Mr. Kobi Greenfield's Talmud class learned with Kollel fellows, deepening their learning and understanding in the process.

Students and Kollel fellows learned the 3rd perek in Masechet Sukkah, which discusses the concept of Mitzvah Haba'ah Aveira - committing a sin in order to perform a mitzvah.

Pictured above: Yair Elbaz, Gabriel Nudman, and Noah Ehrlich learn with Rabbi Yair Lichtman

Pictured above: Megill Hameiri, Bentzion Beiles, and Matar Chill learn with Rabbi Ephraim Wiesenberg

Pictured above: Ryan Angus, Nathan Rothner, and William Moscovitch learn with Rabbi Yitzy Weiss

Students interpreted graphs of accelerated motion.

This week, students in Mr. Sears's Physics Class practiced interpreting different types of graphs representing accelerated motion, and created their own graphs describing their various combinations of distance and speed.

Pictured above: Rachel Freed, Leora Weinberg, and Avi Okner

Pictured above: Yitzchak Bock, Jacob Friedman, Allie Stein, Mr. Sears, and Yardana Schayer

Pictured above: Sarah Lipson, Talia Linzer, and Ranon Ginsberg

Students discussed opinions of why Adam and Chava ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

This week, seniors in Mrs. Beth Pogonitz's Honors Chumash class discussed the Eitz Hadaat Tov V'ra, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad. Through studying Rashi, Rambam, Ramban, and Rav Hirsch, students explored man's nature before the sin, and how eating from the fruit of the tree altered it.

Pictured above: Taly Benzaquen and Rena Neiger

Pictured above: Aviva Dallal, Jordana Zwelling, and Leah Zelden

Last Friday, students enjoyed kumzitzim on behalf of Israel.

Last Friday, students enjoyed Kumzitzim led by Rabbi Reuven Brand (for boys) and by Mrs. Lynn Kraft (for girls). Later on, students gathered in the gym to join with over 9,600 other Yeshiva high school students in saying Tehillim and hearing divrei chizuk (pictured here). Thank you to senior Millo Benmelech for representing ICJA in reciting the Tefilla for the soldiers and civilians being held hostage.

Students learned about fractals and created their own fractal shapes.

Last Friday, a group of ICJA seniors went with ICJA’s Dean Rabbi Matanky to Chicago City Hall to support Alderman Deborah Silverstein's resolution condemning Hamas' massacres in Israel. Special thanks to Alderman Silverstein and Jane Charney, JUF Assistant Vice President for Local Government Affairs, for facilitating this vital visit. Yasher koach to our students who remained calm and collected in the face of antisemitic abuse.

Gabi Katz '16 spoke to the ICJA student body and answered students' questions.

On Tuesday, October 17, the entire ICJA student body came together to hear an address by Gabi Katz '16, who is currently serving in the Israeli army in the Golan. In a moving presentation, Gabi talked about how the values he learned here at ICJA inspired him and shared details about his work defending Israel.

To watch a recording of this extraordinary session, click here. Passcode: JmAS+%L0 (To join Gaby's WhatsApp group and read his daily reflections click here.)

ICJA students and their fathers davened at Kehilat Chovovei Tzion last Sunday morning.

Many Sunday mornings, ICJA's freshmen boys' rebbe, Rabbi Louis Fliegelman, arranges for students and their fathers (or grandfathers or other relatives) to meet at a different Chicago-area shul to daven Shacharit together and enjoy breakfast and learning.

Last Sunday, some members of the ICJA family, including students, fathers, and other relatives, davened at Kehilat Chovovei Tzion in Skokie, then shared breakfast, divrei Torah, and conversation.

For more information about the Veshinantam Levanecha program, email Rabbi Louis Fliegelman at lfliegelman@icja.org.

Students read about and discussed the psychological phenomenon "Stroop Effect" - all in Hebrew.

Sophomores in Mrs. Anat Tanner's Hebrew class are learning about the psychological phenomenon the "Stroop Effect": the delay in reaction time between automatic and controlled processing of information, in which the names of words interfere with the ability to name the color of ink used to print the words. The catch is that students are reading about this scientific concept and discussing it entirely in Hebrew. Yasher koach to this class for employing Hebrew words on this complex topic.

Pictured above: Boaz Stopek and Eli Chernie

Pictured above: Yair Bell, Aaron Koenig, Jack Marshall, and Judah Well

Pictured above: Avi Rubin and Aaron Katz

ICGC Partnered with Sharsheret to hold a Babka Bake for Israel.

On Tuesday night, Ida Crown Girls' Club (ICGC) partnered with Sharsheret to hold a Babka Bake for Israel. Over 200 women and girls gathered together to say Tehillim, learn how to bake babka, and raise money for Israeli families.

Yasher koach to the ICGC board and our Mechanchot Mrs. Alise Gold and Mrs. Lynn Kraft for helping organize this major event. Thank you to Sharsheret for partnering with ICGC and to the Walder Foundation for supporting ICGC.

Pictured above: seniors Taly Benzaquen, Ayelet Appel, Noah Gavant, Rotem Lavi, and Jordana Zwelling speaking at the event

Pictured above: over 200 women and girls participating in the Babka Bake

Foreign policy expert Mr. Richard Goldberg '01 briefed juniors and seniors on the situation in Israel.

On Wednesday, juniors and seniors received a private briefing from Mr. Richard Goldberg '01, a senior advisor at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Mr. Goldberg previously worked as director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction for the National Security Council, was chief of staff for former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and deputy chief of staff and senior policy advisor to former Sen. Mark Kirk.

Mr. Goldberg talked about how the Intifada sparked his interest in politics when he was in high school, and encouraged ICJA students to make sure they are informed about foreign affairs and to lobby on behalf of Israel here in the US.

Pictured above: senior Gabe Klein, junior Aidan Zukerman, Richard Goldberg, junior Elisha Shpayher, and seniors Jacob Friedman, Millo Benmelech, and Ari Klein

Pictured above: Mr. Richard Goldberg addressing students

ICJA Mom Mrs. Sarah Kutliroff discussed the role tefillah plays in her own life.

Freshmen in Rabbi Louis Fliegelman's Talmud class are learning Masechet Brachot, about he halacha of davening. This week, they got to hear from a very special speaker: ICJA mom Mrs. Sarah Kutliroff, who talked about the role that tefillah plays in her life.

In a moving presentation, Mrs. Kutliroff explained that tefillah is "what I rely on to get through hard times, it's the first place I go when I'm happy and grateful....." Mrs. Kutliroff closed her remarks by observing: "My bracha to all of you is that tefillah should always be your go-to in times of sadness, happiness, gratitude and all places in between."

Yasher Kochachen to the Lady Aces Cross Country Team, 1st Place Conference Champions!

Last week, the Lady Aces Cross Country Team came in first place in the Chicago Prep Conference. Yasher Kochachen to all the runners and to Coaches Dana Hunter and David Shyovitz.

Pictured above: freshman Orli Lubin at the championship race

Pictured above: freshman Mia Saltzman and sophomore Devorah Kaplowitz during the race

Pictured above: junior Aliza Shyovitz at the race

This week we caught up with ICJA's new social worker, Mrs. Etty Gugenheim, and asked her a few questions about herself.

ICJA has a new social worker: Mrs. Etty Gugenheim, LSW, EMDR. This week we caught up with Mrs. Gugenheim and asked her a few question about herself.

Where did you grow up and where do you live today?

I grew up in Chicago, and I still live in Chicago! I live in West Rogers Park with my husband Yisroel.

Why did you decide to become a social worker?

When I was in high school, I had my own struggles. I had people there for me; now I want to provide that support for other people.

I majored in Psychology and got my master's degree in Social Work, specializing in children and families. In addition to my work here at ICJA, I also maintain a private practice.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes. I don't think I'm a particularly artistic person, but I enjoy creating art.

What are your goals here at ICJA?

I want to create a warm, safe space here. I look forward to getting to know the Ida Crown students!

• Indiana University Oct. 25
• Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Nov. 2
• Bar Ilan University - Virtual visit - Nov. 9

For more information about upcoming college visits, contact Ms. Susan Weiss, Director of College Guidance sweiss@icja.org (773) 973-1450 x121.

This week's Learning Dedications include the following:

Monday, the 1st of Cheshvan, 5784, October 16, 2023, by Adele Feldman, Sharon and Jonathan Levine, Ilana and Howard Karesh, Aviva and Dov Katz,

and families in loving memory of Arthur Feldman, z”l אליהו העניך בן אהרן שלמה,

in commemoration of his 21st yahrtzeit.

The many ICJA Alumni who are currently serving in the IDF.

If you would like to sponsor a Day of Learning for a different soldier, please contact our Director of Development, Deva Zwelling, at (773) 973-1450 ext. 115, or dzwelling@icja.org.

Watch our Open House video

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

Founded in 1942, ICJA is 80 years old this year. Please enjoy this 80th Anniversary Video which looks back on eight decades of excellence, close bonds, and memories.

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.

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.

Spread the word - all 7th and 8th grade students and their families are invited to come to our exciting open house and learn more about what makes ICJA the premier Modern Orthodox school in the Chicago area!

Thank you to all those who donated to our Rosh Hashana Appeal. 5784 is off to a great start for Ida Crown and we are so grateful for our generous community members who support our Annual Scholarship Fund.

We are still hoping to achieve 100% parent involvement; if you have not already donated, please use the link below to give. Your contribution helps ensure no child is denied a Jewish education due to lack of funds.

Last summer, ICJA gave its Class of '22 alumni the second 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.

The directory was sent out to the emails of '22 grads that we have on file. 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.