Upcoming Events

• Friday, April 4 - Shabbat Shteig for 10th - 12th grade girls during 3rd period

• Friday, April 4 - Freshman Fridayton

• Tuesday, April 8 - Pre-Pesach learning with ICJA alumni

• Wednesday, April 9 - Monday, April 21 - Pesach Break

• Tuesday, April 22 - Classes resume

• Thursday, April 24 - Yom Hashoah

• Wednesday, April 30 - Yom Hazikaron

• Thursday, May 1 - Yom Ha'atzmaut (all-school chagiga all morning)



• Monday, May 5 - Grandparents Day 1-3:30pm (See brochure below - click here to register)

• Wednesday, May 14 - Torah Awards 6pm

• Wednesday, May 28 - Physics Day for juniors

• Tuesday, May 27 - Thursday, May 29 - Senior Retreat

• Sunday, June 1 - Tuesday, June 3 - Shavuot Break

• Wednesday, June 4 - Study Day (no classes)

• Thursday, June 5 - Wednesday, June 11 - Finals Period

• Sunday, June 8 - Class of 5785 / 2025 Graduation 1pm

• Tuesday, June 17 - Dr. Edward A. Crown Annual Scholarship Dinner honoring Ald. Debra Silverstein (Crown Service Award), Daniel Harris (Crown Leadership Award), and Rabbi Yishai Broner (Educator of the Year) - Click here to register and/or buy an ad (See brochure below: 70% Give-Get credit for all reservations and ads received by May 10; 50% after that date)

Click here to view ICJA's cafeteria April menu.

Students created Hebrew-language games and presentations for their classmates.

Freshmen in Mrs. Orit Marmel's honors Hebrew class spent this week learning and teaching their classmates about Pesach - all in Hebrew.

Each student researched an element of the Haggadah then created a Hebrew language presentation incorporating insights from the Mefarshim. Students took notes while listening to their peers - again, all in Hebrew.

Finally, students also created short Hebrew-language online quizzes for their classmates to test their knowledge of what they'd just learned.

Pictured above: Elisheva Sudin sharing insights into the Four Questions

Pictured above: Ronit Kinar playing an online game about Dayenu created by Eliana Stolberg

Pictured above: Eliana Stolberg giving a presentation about the song Dayenu

Students shared personal reflections about the ten makkot.

Freshmen in Mrs. Kochava Yitzhak's Chumash class have learned about the ten makkot (plagues) in depth, reading commentaries by the major Rishonim and Aharonim, Talmudic sources, and Midrashim.

This week they took turns sharing personal reflections about how they've changed as a result of this in-depth learning. "I was astounded to see the details that Hashem put into (the makkot)," explained Molly Zayan, noting that she never learned so much about each makkah before. "I have a new perspective on Yetziat Mitrayim now," noted Ella Jankovitz. "I learned so much more this year" than in previous years, observed Adi Gryka.

Pictured above: Elisheva Sudin presenting her personal statement

Pictured above: Eliana Stolberg presenting her personal statement

Pictured above: Molly Zayan presenting her personal statement

Pictured above: Avigayil Loebmann presenting her personal statement

Students experimented with buffer solutions.

Students in Mr. Jonathan Keller's AP Chemistry class are learning how buffer solutions work.

This week they performed an experiment to illustrate buffers' behavior. Students added strong and weak acids to different solutions. They found that in all solutions without a buffer, the pH or acidity levels changed drastically.

Conversely, buffer solutions resisted changes in pH. Students learned why buffers neutralize added acids or bases, maintaining a relatively stable pH range, thanks to the presence of a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate acid). After completing their experiments, students then wrote up their findings in lab reports.

(Pictured here: junior Eli Fretzin, sophomore Jacob Thomas, juniors Yaffa Hoberman, Devorah Kaplowitz, Macks Kroll, and Natan Miller, with Mr. Keller)

Sophomores reviewed the halachot of Pesach.

Do we say a full Hallel or a half Hallel on the first days of Pesach? What about during Chol Hamoed?

When Yom Tov coincides with Motzaei Shabbat, in what order do we make Kiddush and Havdalah?

Excluding Maftir, how many Aliyot are on the first two days of Pesach?

Sophomores in Rabbi Joel Gutstein's Talmud class spent part of this week reviewing these and other questions regarding hilchot Pesach in a fast-paced Kahoot game. After weeks of learning about Pesach, students could answer nearly every question easily - yasher koach!

Pictured above: Oren Goizman

Pictured above: Asher Gadd and Yair Elbaz

Pictured above: Ayden Mishkin with Rabbi Gutstein

Students took turns teaching the class this week.

Students in Mrs. Lizi Martin's honors Talmud class are learning Masechet Taanit. This week, students took turns teaching their classmates, each covering the material in a daf they prepared.

Pictured here: sophomore Ayelet Klein teaching about different ways the Rabbis in the Gemara regarded the blessing of rain and whether rain is considered a personal blessing and reward or a reward for an entire community.

Students are delving into Joseph's life

Seniors in Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum's Chumash class are learning Sefer Bereshit. This week they learned together about Joseph's rise in ancient Egypt to become Pharaoh's trusted assistant. Students took turns reading the text and peirushim as students discussed what they were learning.

Pictured above: Menachem Friedman

Pictured above: Avi Chen

Pictured above: Avner Frazin

Which historic rabbi will win March Madness?

Sophomores in Mrs. Alissa Zeffren's Jewish History (JH) Class have been presenting their March Madness brackets in class - that is, Rabbi March Madness.

Working in groups, students researched dozens of famous rabbeim including Rashi, the Radak, Rav Yosef Karo, and others. This week, each group explained how the different rabbis had advanced in their brackets. Rabbis were assessed by brilliance, influence, and their lasting legacy.

In one JH class, Rashi was the clear winner; a second JH class is extending their March Madness into next week, when their final winner will be revealed.

Pictured above: Gabriel Nudman, Zahava Volkov, Maya Kutliroff, Kineret Finegold, and Ayelet Klein

Pictured above: Ayden Mishkin, Bentzion Beiles, Caleb Novick, Iyla Friedman, and Dolly Cohen

Juniors discussed King Josiah and Huldah.

Juniors in Rabbi Shmuel Oren’s Navi class this week learned about King Josiah’s consequential reign and the teshuva he instituted for the Jewish people. 

In an animated discussion, students learned how King Josiah broke with his idolatrous family to become a pious ruler who renovated the Beit Hamikdash. They learned that he found a sefer Torah in the Beit Hamikdash that was rolled to the book of Devarim, and that King Josiah asked a servant to read the Torah and happened upon a passage warning Israel to follow Hashem’s ways. Students learned about King Josiah’s response: rending his clothes, consulting the female Navi Huldah, and being reassured that his heartfelt teshuva was accepted.

Pictured above: Yona Jones and Eli Cherney

Pictured above: Natan Rine and Aaron Koenig

Pictured above: Moshe Nedwin and Gabe Boshes

What caused the Enlightenment?

Freshmen in Mrs. Rachel Polsky's World History class worked with study partners this week to learn about the ways different historical events contributed to the birth of the Enlightenment. Students discussed ways the Protestant Reformation, Scientific Revolution, urbanization, increased book production, and the excesses of absolute monarchs all helped spark Enlightenment thinking.

Students then took turns educating their classmates about what they'd learned and discussed the way many factors worked together to alter thinking in Western Europe in the 1600s.

Pictured above: Emma Elkaim and Aaron Gelb

Pictured above: Shmuel Scharman and Eliana Stolberg

Pictured above: Zachary Kupietzky and Jonathan Hellman

Students educated 170 of their peers at St. Ignatius College Prep.

On Wednesday, juniors Penina Benjamin and Mina Brandes traveled to St. Ignatius College Prep to educate students about Judaism and being a Jewish teen today.

Speaking to 170 students over several class periods, ICJA students presented about kashrut, Jewish life cycle events, Israel, and other topics, and shared their experiences of being a Jewish teenager today.

Freshmen and their relatives davened together last Sunday at Congregation Poalie Zedek.

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

Last Sunday, students and their relatives davened and learned together at Congregation Poalie Zedek. Rabbi Isaac Small spoke about how his father and grandfather oversaw the shul during the years when it was difficult to get a minyan in the West Rogers Park area. He also spoke about his family relationship with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt"l, and how Rav Moshe visited Chicago and davened in the shul.

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

Freshmen boys welcomed fathers to daven with them during the week at school.

Freshman boys' parents and other relatives are always invited to join us for Shacharit during the week, as well. This week, fathers came to ICJA to daven with their sons in the freshman boys' minyan.

Pictured above: Mr. Noah Mishkin with his son Akiva and the freshmen boys' minyan

This week we caught up with ICJA's Registrar and Assistant to the Dean.

Students needing transcripts, schedules or to excuse an absence work with Mrs. Rebecca Gorenstein, ICJA's smiling Registrar and Assistant to the Dean. This week we caught up with Mrs. Gorenstein and asked her a few questions about herself.

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

I grew up in Skokie and attended Ida Crown! I was Class of '97. Today I live in Skokie with my husband Joel, who graduated from ICJA in '93. Our son Sam graduated from ICJA in 2024. Our middle son Max is a junior at ETHS and our youngest, Mason, is a freshman here at ICJA.

(We're really an ICJA family; my brother is Varsity Aces Basketball Coach Dr. Jonathan Rich '95!)

What did you do after graduating from ICJA?

After high school, I attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts. I majored in Metalsmithing and did an independent study in design. My first job out of college was working for a children's clothing designer, and a couple years later I moved over to jewelry designing. I stopped working when my son, Sam, was born. Almost three years ago, I started working part time here at ICJA.

What do you love about working here at ICJA?

I love the kids and the community. I also really like the fact that several of the wonderful teachers I had as a student are still here teaching my kids - and that I get to have a new and different relationship with them today as a colleague.

Can you describe any favorite ICJA memories?

When I was a student I loved going to motzaei Shabbat basketball games in the old ICJA gym. I also have fond memories of walking across the street to Quick Stop mini market for snacks.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love to travel with my family. My kids have visited over 12 countries so far and we hope to add to that number soon! I also enjoy cooking and I love to read. Some hobbies from my youth include playing the piano, doing gymnastics and snowboarding! 

Watch "Oh the Places You'll Go," our video for prospective students - and share it with people you know who'd like to learn more about ICJA!

Watch this moving video documenting some of the volunteer activities last year's seniors participated in during their month-long Mission to Israel 2023-4!

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.

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.