Upcoming Events
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Friday, October 11 - Erev Yom Kippur - no school
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Wednesday, October 16 - Friday, October 25 - Sukkot Break; no school
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Monday, October 28 - Classes Resume
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Tuesday, October 29 - Junior PSAT 9am - 12pm
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Motzaei Shabbat, November 2 - 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament - come play with your friends and rabbeim @ICJA 8:30pm (Click here to sign up)
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Monday, November 4 - ICGC and Lady Aces watch Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz @United Center
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Friday, November 8 - End of First Quarter
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Wishing our students, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and all members of the ICJA Family a
Gmar Chatima Tova.
As Yom Kippur approaches, please click HERE to donate to our Rosh Hashana Campaign 5785. All donations support ICJA's scholarship fund and ensure no child is denied a Jewish education due to lack of funds.
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Students began this week with learning and tefillot. | |
This Monday morning, students came together after Selichot to commemorate Hamas' October 7 attack and Israel's ensuing Operation Swords of Iron.
Students joined with thousands of their peers worldwide in a World Mizrahi program, hearing from speakers in Israel who lost family members and learning Mishnayot with them virtually, in memory of all the chayalot and others who have been killed over the past year.
Rabbi Doron Perez, whose son Daniel was killed on October 7th, began the learning; followed by Mrs. Hadas Lowenstern, whose husband Elisha was killed last Chanukah; Rabbi Doron Chitiz, whose brother, Yaron Chitiz was killed while protecting his soldiers, and Mrs. Senai Guedalia, whose husband Malachi ran to the Southern Front on October 7th and saved many lives before he was killed in battle. The names of these and other chayalim who were killed in battle were displayed (pictured below).
This moving morning concluded with Tehillim and the song Acheinu, said together with thousands of other teenagers around the globe. Click here to watch the program.
(Pictured above: sophomores Raya Volkov and Baila Laber learning Mishnayot during the program)
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Juniors and Seniors at City Hall | |
Students supported Chicago Alderman and former ICJA parent Debra Silverstein. | |
On Wednesday morning, juniors and seniors arrived at school at the crack of dawn - literally. After 6:15am davening, students boarded busses to City Hall, where they prepared to show support for Chicago Alderwoman and former ICJA parent Debra Silverstein, who tabled a motion to hold a moment of silence commemorating Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
After waiting in line for over an hour, students were admitted to the chamber: girls were able to sit on the main floor, while ICJA boys were seated in an upstairs viewing gallery. At over 100 people, we were the largest part of a diverse group of Jews from across the city and suburbs who came to support Ald. Silverstein.
Ald. Silverstein spoke in the Council about Hamas' attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 abducted, including over 100 hostages who are still unaccounted for in Gaza. Ald Silverstein then called for a moment of silence. Ida Crown students joined with the entire Council and the packed public gallery in observing this solemn moment. Click here to watch Ald. Silverstein's address.
(Pictured above: seniors Ella Kalon, Maytal Needle, Leora Weinberg, Rachel Sommer, Lea Ackerman, Dalia Kalutsky, Lilac Marcus, and Ariela Bielak with Ald. Silverstein)
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Pictured above: students in the City Council chamber | |
Pictured above: juniors Ezra Mauer, Gabe Boshes, Natan Miller, Avi Zayan, and Yoshi Bernstein | |
Pictured above: the minute of silence in the chamber | |
Mrs. Heather Hobbie's 9th Grade English Class and Mrs. Rachel Polsky's 9th Grade World History Class | |
Students are conducting individualized research projects. | |
Freshmen in Mrs. Heather Hobbie's English class and Mrs. Rachel Polsky's World History class are spending the holiday period gaining valuable experience in researching and writing in-depth research papers.
Students each chose a topic to research, and discussed the importance of limiting their research to a topic and time period they can assess thoroughly . Students are now researching their topics, taking notes, and planning how they will structure their papers.
ICJA librarian Mrs. Debbie Steinberg has worked with students individually, helping them strategize how they will research their topics.
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Pictured above: Caleb Shpayher, who is researching the LSU Tiger's 2019 season, and proving that it was the best college football season of the 2000s | |
Pictured above: Miriam Linzer, who is researching links between social media and depression, especially concerning the social media feedback loop, which trains users to crave the social validation of likes and views on social media more than real life experiences | |
Pictured above: Sammy Baijtner, who is researching the history of Legoes from 1930 until 1960, including the forerunners of the toys and early designs | |
Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz's 12th Grade Girls' AJSP Class | |
Seniors are learning the halacha of teshuva on Yom Kippur. | |
Should one recite one's sins silently or out loud on Yom Kippur? Seniors in Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz's Advanced Jewish Study Program (AJSP) class spent time this week learning the Mishna Berurah on the laws of confessing sins on Yom Kippur in preparation for the holiday. | |
Pictured above: Leah Rina Brochin and Yardana Schayer | |
Pictured above: Sarah Levitt and Lauren Fensterheim | |
Pictured above: Lea Ackerman and Maytal Needle | |
Mrs. Orit Marmel's 10th Grade Boys' Honors Hebrew Class | |
Sophomores described items they'd pack in a time capsule. |
Sophomores in Mrs. Orit Marmel's honors Hebrew class have been preparing Hebrew-language presentations about items they would chose to place in a time capsule. This week they presented their ideas, explaining in Hebrew what items they would include in a time capsule, and why.
Students asked questions and took notes on their classmates' presentations all in Hebrew, as well.
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Pictured above: Caleb Novick, who would place a phone SIM card, DNA, and a map of the universe as we understand it today, among other items, in his time capsule | |
Pictured above: William Moscovich, who listed a soccer ball, a Siddur, family pictures, and unpolluted air (because he expects the future will be more polluted) among other items in his time capsule | |
Pictured above: Yair Elbaz, who would place an iPhone, a Tanach, a daily calendar and a laptop, among other items, in his time capsule | |
Rabbi Joel Gutstein's 10th Grade Boys' Talmud Class | |
Sophomores got a hands-on lesson in the halacha of building a sukkah - and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. | |
Sophomores in Rabbi Joel Gutstein's Talmud class have been learning the halachot of building a sukkah. This Thursday, they took advantage of the beautiful weather to get a hands-on lesson. Students traveled to Rabbi Gutstein's home where they helped him erect the walls of his sukkah while discussing what makes the structure kosher or non-kosher.
Afterwards, students gathered for a hearty breakfast of French toast and souffle cooked by their teacher.
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Pictured above: students working on the sukkah | |
Pictured above: Aidan Itzhaki, Oren Goizman, Ayden Mishkin, and Asher Gadd eating breakfast with Rabbi Gutstein | |
ICGC Board members got a lesson in Public Speaking. | |
On Thursday, Ida Crown Girls' Club board members enjoyed a special lunchtime seminar in the art of public speaking, delivered by ICJA's former English Department Chair, Public Speaking teacher, and current ICJA Seminar teacher Ms. Sheri Goldstein.
Ms. Goldstein taught students how to connect with audiences, and described how to respond to difficult challenges such as audience members losing interest or asking questions that are hard to answer. Afterwards, students took a few moments to journal some of the key lessons they learned.
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Getting Ready for Yom Kippur | |
Students are preparing for the Day of Atonement. |
Students are preparing for Yom Kippur, both in their Judaic classes where they're learning the halachot of the day, and outside of class, where they have shared advice and thoughts about approaching Yom Kippur. We asked some students what they are looking forward to, whether they have tips for easy fasting, and on what they plan to break their fast.
(Pictured above: junior Natan Rine performing Kaparot in school this week with the aid of Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer)
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Pictured above: junior Mina Brandes, who is "looking forward to recognize all the things I'm growing towards" this Yom Kippur and to starting the new year with a "fresh, clean slate" | |
Pictured above: freshmen Gabriel Rich and Emmett Gelman, who both advise drinking lots of coconut water before the fast to help stay hydrated and stave off headaches | |
Pictured above: junior Esti Mora, who is planning to break her fast with a homemade Asian-inspired protein bowl that includes rice, vegetables, and either fish or meat | |
Mrs. Beth Pogonitz's Modern Jewish History Class | |
Seniors discussed different approaches to remembering Jewish tragedies. |
Seniors in Mrs. Beth Pogonitz's class combined their study of the Holocaust with commemorations of Hamas' October 7 attack this week in a series of discussions.
Students read a Hebrew language essay written by Mrs. Pogonitz's cousin in Israel, Elisheva Stollman, who reflected on the fact that for much of her life the Holocaust was the defining Jewish tragedy of modern life, and now many of the lessons she learned about are relevant to her life after Hamas' attack. Students also read excerpts from Elie Wiesel's speeches and from his book The Oath, and an essay about the purpose of remembering the Holocaust by historian Yehuda Elkana.
After hearing these many views and insights, students spent time discussing what they feel is the purpose of remembering tragedies and how tragedies befalling Jewish communities ought to be remembered.
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Pictured above: Rachel Freed, Yitzchak Bock, Rachel Sommer, and Lilac Marcus | |
Pictured above: Gabe Aberman, Leah Rina Brochin, and Dana Kalutsky with Mrs. Pogonitz | |
Pictured above: Yardana Schayer, Aidan Zukerman, Sarah Levitt, and Talia Linzer | |
The Soccer Aces marked October 7 along with peers from Rochelle Zell HS. |
On Monday, October 7, the ICJA Soccer Aces were scheduled to play against Rochelle Zell High School. Before the game, the teams gathered together in ICJA's gym, along with ICJA's student body, to commemorate Hamas' attack on that day with tefillot and a presentation.
Seniors Aiden Zukerman (pictured here, speaking) and Avi Chen joined with RZ students in leading the gathering in tefilla.
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Freshmen and their relatives davened together last Sunday at Young Israel of Skokie. |
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, students davened at Young Israel of Skokie. Afterward, they spoke with Rabbi Gershon Schaffel.
For more information about the Veshinantam Levanecha program, email Rabbi Louis Fliegelman at lfliegelman@icja.org.
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Four ICJA students named Young Sacks Scholars | |
ICJA students will engage in extra learning, based on the teaching and legacy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. | |
Yasher koach to seniors Rachel Freed, Elisha Shpayher, Yossi Burstyn, and Lilac Marcus on being chosen to participate in the Young Sacks Scholars Program this year.
Scholars will engage in a rigorous year of learning, including online seminars. Only 25 students were chosen from the USA and Canada. We are proud of our students for being such a large part of this cohort.
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ICJA has been named the top Jewish high school in Illinois. | |
For the first time, Niche.com, the popular school ranking website, has named ICJA the top Jewish high school in Illinois. ICJA was previously ranked second. This honor reflects our school's stellar academics in both Jewish and general studies, our strong extracurricular programs, and the warm, nurturing atmosphere that we all strive to maintain inside our school.
Yasher koach to our students, teachers, parents, staff, and all members of the ICJA community who make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Click here to read ICJA's profile and previous reviews on Niche.com, or to leave a new review.
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This Week's Learning Dedications | |
This week's learning dedications include: | |
Monday, the 5th of Tishrei, 5785, October 7, 2024, by Manny Feferman ‘71,
Elyse Litwack ‘98, Rabbi Donny and Rena ‘01 Schwartz and family, Abby Feferman ‘04, Tovi Litwack ‘22, Yosef Litwack, and Shiri '27 Litwack, in memory of our dear wife, mother and bubbie, Debbie Feferman, דבורה חנה בת וועלוועל דוד, ז״ל, on the occasion of her yartzeit on the 4th of Tishrei
Thursday, the 8th of Tishrei, 5785, October 10, 2024, by Howie and Jeff Perlstein, in memory of Harold Perlstein, חיים אלעזר בן ר׳ יהודה בנימין ז״ל, in commemoration of his 5th Yahrtzeit, which is observed on ט׳ תשרי
If you would like to sponsor a Day of Learning, please contact our Director of Development, Deva Zwelling, at (773) 973-1450 ext. 115, or dzwelling@icja.org.
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Spotlight on Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz | |
This week we asked ICJA's Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz a few questions about himself. | |
Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz is a busy man: the Chair of ICJA's Talmud Department, he is a popular Judaic and Hebrew teacher and also is always up for a pickup game of basketball with students. This week we caught up with Rabbi Kurtz and asked him a few questions about himself.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in St. Louis and went to public school there.
How did you become connected with the Orthodox community?
I grew up going to a Conservative synagogue which had a post-bar mitzvah education program. The culmination of the program was getting to visit Israel for two months. So when I was 15 years old, I lived for two months on a religious moshav near Ashdod.
We lived with families and travelled around the entire country. That was my first experience with authentic Judaism. When I returned to St. Louis, I became close with Rabbi Simcha Krauss of Young Israel St. Louis.
What did you do after high school?
I was accepted to Columbia University and planned to go there and become a food scientist. But I graduated high school a semester early, in January, and decided to go learn in Israel for six months. That snowballed into thirteen years.
First, I learned at (the kiruv yeshiva) Or Sameach. Then I learned at Yeshivat Be'er Ya'akov. After I married my wife Esther, I spent eight years learning in different kollels in Israel.
What brought you back to the US?
I signed up for a three-year stint in Chicago as director of outreach for the Chicago Community Kollel. After three years, Esther and I felt we'd found our niche here in Chicago and were making a contribution to the community. Esther is a computer programmer by training and has been teaching Hebrew at HSBY for the past 17 years. I've been teaching for 33 years at ICJA. We're a team.
We had four kids when we moved to Chicago. Now, bli ayin hara, we have eleven kids, ranging in age from 21 to 42. Three of our kids are in Chicago at the moment. Our other kids live in New Jersey, Milwaukee, and Jerusalem.
Why did you go into Jewish education?
After six months in Israel in yeshiva, I had an epiphany of sorts: the world has enough doctors and lawyers and other professions. What it needs is more good Jewish educators.
What do you love about Ida Crown?
ICJA is an avant-garde place that meets every student where they’re at with the hope of inspiring them to be even better.
Do you have a favorite ICJA memory?
There are so many. I enjoyed being an MC at the Torah Awards. The Torah awards ceremony used to be the Torah Awards banquet in Miriam Jaffee's: I enjoyed the creativity of those events, and honoring students who’d done well in Jewish studies.
What do you do when you're not at ICJA?
I have had three other jobs! I'm the Director of general studies at Yeshivat Kesser Yonah in Chicago, which I helped found. I also was an instructor at Teachers Institute for twenty years: I taught business ethics and medical ethics. I also work as a translator, translating Hebrew books into English. I've published three books: Malbim on Rut, Pele Yoetz by Rabbi Eliezer Papo, and To Be a Mensch by Rabbi Yitzchak Shkop.
When I'm not working, I enjoy playing basketball and tennis.
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ICJA Prospective Student Video | |
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!
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ICJA Seniors Israel Mission Video | |
Watch this moving video documenting some of the volunteer activities our seniors participated in during their month-long Mission to Israel! | |
Learning Commons Passwords | |
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.
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Enter to win $1,000 for Reviewing ICJA | |
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. | |
Send Your School News to the ICJA Newsletter | |
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.
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ICJA ISRAEL CONNECT:
Connecting ICJA Alumni in Israel
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The first ICJA Israel Connect directory is out. | |
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.
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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.
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Ida Crown Jewish Academy
8233 Central Park Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60076
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