Upcoming Events

• Sunday, February 22 - 9th Grade Parent-Teacher Conferences

• Thursday, February 26 - ICJA Takes the Stage Day of Learning

• 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

• 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 - P-ACT 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.

Senior boys brought Adar joy to the whole school.

Third period on Wednesday morning, the 1st of Adar, was a scene of celebration in our school. Senior boys enacted ICJA tradition and paraded through the school singing משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה, when Adar arrives, we increase our joy.

Seniors entered many of the classrooms in the 300 and 400 wings, amassing a following of boys from younger grades as they went.

The students wound up outside, singing and celebrating until the period was over. It was a fun and energetic way to start this wonderful new month.

Pictured above: Natan Miller and Macks Kroll

Pictured above: Aaron Katz and Ezra Mauer

Pictured above: Jonah Glass and Avi Zayan

Pictured above: Eli Fretzin and Jonah Strahlberg

Pictured above: Adin Jones

Pictured above: Dani Allswang

Sophomores and Juniors in Rabbi Binyomin Segal's Chumash and Navi classes enjoyed barbeques.

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Adar, on Wednesday sophomores in Rabbi Binyomin Segal's Chumash class and juniors in Rabbi Segal's Navi class enjoyed gala barbequed lunches, courtesy of their rebbe.

Students learned and shared divrei Torah as they enjoyed these delicious Rosh Chodesh lunches.

Pictured above: sophomores with Rabbi Segal

Pictured above: sophomore Asher Segal with Rabbi Segal

Pictured above: sophomore Eitan Spolter and Jonah Krule

Junior and senior girls in Rabbi Leonard Matanky's honors Talmud Class displayed their class spirit.

On Wednesday, Rosh Chodesh Adar, junior and senior girls in Rabbi Leonard Matanky's honors Talmud Class came to school with special shirts that reflect their class spirit. Students who aren't in this class might be mystified by the shirts' cryptic slogan - and that is surely the point.

Students enjoyed sweet treats in honor of Rosh Chodesh.

Students celebrated Rosh Chodesh this week with all-school davening, sweet treats, and lots of ruach.

On Tuesday, students enjoyed a doughnut breakfast after davening. On Wednesday morning, ICJA parents Malkie and Yechiel Mashiach sponsored a second festive breakfast of warm cinnamon buns and candy.

Pictured above: seniors Aaron Katz, Yoshi Bernstein, and Ben Rosenburg

Pictured above: juniors Ariella Titievsky and Mashie Perkins

Students are learning a key moment in Sefer Shemot.

Freshmen in Rabbi Yair Lichtman's Chumash class are learning Sefer Shemot. This week they separated into chavrutot to learn Perek Dalet, a key moment in the Sefer when Hashem first speaks to Moshe and commands him to lead the Jews out of Egypt.

After learning b'chavruta, students then reconvened to discuss the Perek together as a class.

Pictured above: Kaylia Klein and Adela Schwartz

Pictured above: Ayla Needle and Orli Nagel

Pictured above: Nina Groman, Isabella Navakas, and Dahlia Bildner

The Aces and Lady Aces racked up wins as ICJA hosted the Chicago Prep Conference Tournament.

Mazal Tov, Varsity Aces, on becoming Tournament Champions last night.

This has been an amazing week for Aces and Lady Aces Basketball.

On Tuesday evening, the Lady Aces beat Francis Parker 55-45 in the IHSA Regional Semifinal Game. They had a strong showing on Thursday night against Crane in the Regional Final.

Boys Varsity Aces beat the Yeshiva 55-32 in an exciting, well-attended game Motzaei Shabbat (crowd pictured below).

On Monday, the Aces beat Westmont 47-22 in the Chicago Prep Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. On Tuesday evening, Ida Crown hosted the tournament Semifinals where the Aces beat Walther Christian 51-43. On Thursday, they beat Holy Trinity, 57-43 in the Championship game to become:

Varsity Aces: Tournament Champions!

Boys JV Aces beat Northtown Monday evening in the Chicago Prep Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. On Tuesday, they beat Christo Rey in the Semifinals. On Thursday, the JV Aces faced off against Walther Christian in the Championship Game.

Pictured above: ICJA supporters last Motzaei Shabbat as the Aces played FYHS

Pictured above: sophomore Akiva Mishkin against FYHS

Pictured above: sophomore Jordan Rich playing FYHS

Pictured above: sophomore Emmett Gellman playing FYHS

ICJA won this prestigious tournament for the 3rd time in a row - and holds the record for most wins overall.

The Wrestling Aces traveled to New Jersey last Thursday for the XXIXth Henry Wittenberg Yeshiva Wrestling National Championships at the Frisch School in Paramus.

Fourteen teams from six states competed. After winning in 2024 and 2025, the Aces arrived seeking a three-peat, bringing seventeen wrestlers to fill thirteen of fourteen weight classes.

After fending off host Frisch, the Aces battled Kushner in a neck-and-neck race that saw multiple lead changes. Entering the final session ahead 175–172, ICJA faced Kushner head-to-head in the 106, 113, and 120 finals—and took control.

Junior Caleb Novick (106) won gold with a pin.

Freshman Ruvi Gurvich (113) dropped a tight bout but denied bonus points with a late takedown.

Junior Megill Hameiri (120) captured his second title with a 12–3 major decision.

Sophomore Eitan Spolter (157) followed a semifinal upset with a first-period pin in the finals.

Junior Levi Madoff (165) finished second.

Junior Ayden Starck (215) claimed his first title with a third-period pin over SAR’s top seed.

The Aces secured the championship, 207–187.5.

Additional medalists included: Senior Captain Adin Jones (3rd at 138), who rallied from a 10–5 deficit to win his final match 12–10; Sophomore Ari Shyovitz (3rd at 175); Freshman Asher Gelerinter (3rd at 285); Freshman Netanel Rosenbaum (4th at 106); Sophomore Mijael Mora (5th at 126); Freshman Max Madoff (5th at 132); Freshman Dovi Finkel (5th at 175); and Junior Gabriel Nudman (7th at 150).



Ida Crown now owns eleven Wittenberg National Championships—by far the most in tournament history. Yasher koach to our team and captains on this historic win.

Students shared what they're most looking forward to.

Whether it's sweet treats, fun costumes, beautiful davening, or family time, Purim is a special holiday. This week we caught up with some ICJA students and asked what they're most looking forward to on Purim this year.

Pictured above: juniors Jacob Ackerman, Archer Gradstein, Ami Appel, and Aryeh Lowenthal, who are looking forward to raising money for tzedakah as they've done every year at ICJA, along with several other boys from their class

Pictured above: senior Leah Jacobs, who is looking forward to dressing up - and hasn't yet decided what she will be on Purim this year

Pictured above: senior Yair Bell, who is looking forward to his family's Purim seuda this year

Pictured above: Dahlia Osgood, who's looking forward to giving mishloach manot, and sophomore Emily Adler, who enjoys seeing everyone's costumes on Purim

Pictured above: senior Adin Jones, whose favorite part of Purim is mishloach manot - and is using an Aladdin theme for them this year

Pictured above: freshman Eyal Dekalo, who is looking forward to dressing up as Batman this year

Pictured above: freshmen Orli Neiger and Isabella Navakas, who both enjoy giving Mishloach Manot on Purim

Pictured above: Jacob Leonard, who is looking forward to hearing the Megillah on Purim and to dressing up

Pictured above: freshmen Orli Nagel and Maddy Goltz, who are looking forward to their matching costumes and spending time with friends

Students gained skills in treating cardiac, breathing, and bleeding injuries.

At ICJA's popular Hugo's Heroes club, students learn first aid and how to help in a medical emergency.

In this week's meeting, students split up into three groups to learn how to treat heart, breathing, and bleeding injuries.

The first group learned about cardiac arrest and other heart problems that result in irregular, rapid or delayed heartbeats. Students learned how to monitor and stimulate the heart using electrodes. 

Students moved on to provide oxygen to non-breathing patients by intubation. Students learned how to fit an incubator down a patient's throat to provide oxygen directly to the lungs. 

The third group learned how to stop the bleeding from serious wounds using tourniquets including different knots and different areas of injury. 

Thanks to Joan Casey RN, Dr. Susan Eller, and Dr. Lauren Wells for providing the lessons, and to club sponsors Mr. Keller and Mrs. Gottlieb for organizing this important event.

(Pictured here: junior Yakira Wittlin and seniors Dina Gottlieb and Rivka Belsh learning how to treat a person who's having difficulty breathing)

Pictured above: freshman Ayla Wittlin and junior Yakira Wittlin practicing first aid

Pictured above: junior Ayden Starck and freshmen Max Leonard and Eden Salvadori practicing first aid

Pictured above: senior Avi Zayan, sophomore Molly Zayan, junior Ayelet Klein, and sophomore Michal Belsh learning first aid techniques

Students are creating artistic depictions of Julius Caesar's characteristics.

Juniors in Mrs. Marsha Arons's English class are reading Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. This week they discussed Julius Caesar's character traits in the play, debating how his various strengths and weaknesses contributed to his fate.

Students selected several specific character traits they felt Julius Caesar embodied, found evidence for them in the play, and wrote about how they shaped the development of the play. Students then created drawings incorporating the character traits they discussed.

Pictured above: Jacob Ackerman

Pictured above: Gabriel Schreiber

Pictured above: Ami Appel

ICJA's Debate Aces racked up victories this week.

The ICJA Speech and Debate team turned in some impressive results at the final regular season speech tournament.

Sophomore Zach Kupietzky took 3rd place in Original Oratory and 2nd place in Extemporaneous Speaking.

Junior Goldie Boyarskiy won 1st place in Informative Speaking for the second tournament in a row.

Junior Masha Perkins won 1st place in Humorous Interpretation and 2nd place in Radio Speaking.

Freshman Emmy DeAngeles won 3rd place in Dramatic Interpretation.

Junior Mia Saltzman won 4th place in Humorous Interpretation.

Freshman Isabella Navakas won 5th place in Dramatic Interpretation.

Freshman Zamira Elias won 6th place in Radio Speaking and 2nd place in Original Oratory.

Yasher koach to the whole team and to Coach Ben Schneider, Mrs. Rachel Polsky, and Coach Steve Schneider. Best of luck in the upcoming National Qualifiers.

Freshmen boys and their relatives gathered at Chabad of Skokie last Sunday.

Last Sunday freshmen boys and their relatives gathered together at Chabad of Skokie 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.

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 the Director of ICJA's Learning Commons and asked her a few questions about herself.

As ICJA's Director of the Learning Commons, Mrs. Debbie Steinberg is an invaluable resource for students and teachers alike in our school, helping with research and aiding us in finding resources that we need for research and learning. This week we caught up with Mrs. Steinberg 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 1996. Today I live in West Rogers Park with my husband Jordan.

When did you decide you wanted to go into library science?

I've always loved stories and storytelling. I earned my undergraduate degree in Education at National Louis University and I received fabulous advice: since I loved libraries and loved education, I might want to consider working in a school library. I went on to earn my Master's degree in Library and Information Science at Dominican University. I love working in a school library; I feel they are hidden gems.

What do you love about working at ICJA?

I love that we have a high standard, and I appreciate working inside a Modern Orthodox framework.

What is a favorite memory you have of ICJA?

There are so many! I love it when a student I'm working with has a breakthrough in understanding what they're researching; I have fond memories of many of those moments.

How many books does ICJA's library contain? And how do you decide what to acquire for our school?

Right now we have about 9,000 books in our Learning Commons. When I'm acquiring books, I look for works that will support the teaching and learning that goes on here in the school. With sefarim, I look for new translations or new editions that contain some sort of new twist. With general books, I ask myself: will this support the type of research that our students do?

One of our special holdings that I'd recommend students take a look at is a series of books we recently acquired: Koren Tanach of the Land of Israel. They're beautiful books with fabulous illustrations. Students can check them out and pore over them on Shabbat.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes - I enjoy performing in community theater. My next performance will be in a Purim spiel. I'm also learning to sew. My goal is to one day be able to make my own clothes and costumes.

What advice would you like to share?

Be patient. Things can seem extremely urgent, but the truth is there are many things you can't rush.

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.