Upcoming Events

• Friday, December 20 - Assembly to celebrate Coach Doug Klein being inducted into the Wrestling Officials and Coaches Hall of Fame, 1st Period

• Monday, December 23 - ICJA Florida Get-Together in Aventura, FL (see flyer below - click here for more information and to register)

• Monday, December 23 - January 1 - Winter Break - no classes

• Thursday, January 2, the 8th day of Chanukah - Classes resume

• Tuesday, January 7 - Thursday January 9 - 48 Hour Causematch Alumni Campaign to benefit ICJA's Annual Scholarship Campaign (in honor of Mr. Daniel Harris, Ms. Sheri Goldstein, and Ms. Susan Sennett) - click here to become an ambassador and to find out more information

Wishing all members of the ICJA Community a Happy Chanukah and a wonderful Winter Break.

We look forward to getting back to school on January 2, 2025, the Eighth Day of Chanukah!

After learning the halachot of netilat yadayim, students created personalized washing cups.

Sophomores in Mrs. Kochava Yitzchak's Advanced Jewish Studies Program (AJSP) class are learning the halachot of netilat yadayim. This week, they created personalized washing cups decorated with their names, drawings, and other artistic elements.

After completing their cups, students practiced washing correctly.

(Pictured above: Talia Bielak washing with Mrs. Yitzchak)

Pictured above: Meira Shultz and Chavi Campbell

Pictured above: Dolly Cohen and Baila Laber

Pictured above: Masha Perkins and Zahava Volkov

Sophomores incorporated AI into their learning.

Sophomores in Mrs. Marisa Loebmann's Chumash class are learning about Kivrot HaTaavah in Sefer Bemidbar.

This week they used descriptions from the pesukim to write prompts that were given to AI image generators. The class was surprised to see how the same story could be depicted in a variety of different images. 

(Pictured here: Talia Bielak and Dolly Cohen with their presentation)

Juniors discussed empowering a messenger on their behalf.

Juniors in Rabbi Shlomo Rosen's Talmud class are learning Masechet Kiddushin. This week they discussed ways that a shaliach can act on other people's behalf, particularly the example of one person offering a korban Pesach on behalf of others.

Pictured above: Moshe Nedwin and Daniel Wolper

Pictured above: Yair Bell

Pictured above: Boaz Stopek

Yasher koach to the Aces and Lady Aces for victories against Rochelle Zell HS.

Yasher koach to the ICJA Aces and Lady Aces for a pair of victories over Rochelle Zell last Motzaei Shabbat!

The bleachers were packed as the Lady Aces triumphed over RZ 63-44 and the Aces won by 39-37. Thank you to all the players and supporters from both schools who came to cheer and make these friendly games filled with ruach and fun!

Pictured above: senior Daria Lennon

Pictured above: senior Avi Meyer

Pictured above: senior Nina Ripstein

Pictured above: sophomore Ayden Mishkin

Pictured above: senior Dana Kalutsky

Pictured above: senior Avi Okner

How do you define the motion of a two-stage rocket?

Juniors in Mr. Jonathan Keller's Physics class performed and wrote up virtual labs this week.

Students measured the trajectory and speed a virtual spaceship took as it launched into space, then disengaged from its launching rocket. Students plotted key points on a velocity-time graph, then analyzed the rockets acceleration and motion.

(Pictured above: Raeli Lopin working on her report)

Pictured above: Yehuda Goldstein and Benny Kalman

Pictured above: Temima Marshak consulting with Mr. Keller

Pictured above: Jessica Michaeli and Natan Rine

Students answered questions about Frankenstein to open a locked box.

When sophomores entered Mrs. Michelle Prince's English class this week, they were confronted with a dim room lit by flickering electric candles.

Students have been reading Frankenstein, and the room evoked the candle-lit era of that novel. Working in groups, students were given a series of tasks to complete, each of which helped them fill in words in a word puzzle.

Tasks included: students learned when various pieces of technology were invented and determined which inventions Victor Frankenstein would have had access to; analyzed texts from the novel about Frankenstein's family; and discussed which objects he used to build his monster. After completing their word puzzles, students had the clues they needed to open a locked box and find the treasure inside (a packet of candy for each group).

Pictured above: Nathan Rothner and Baila Laber consult with Mrs. Prince (wearing a lab coat)

Pictured above: Asher Gadd and Rose Matatya

Freshmen and their relatives davened together last Sunday at Skokie Central Congregation, with students leading davening.

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 davened together at Skokie Central Congregation. Yasher koach to ICJA students, who led every element of the davening. After Shacharit, Rabbi Michael Gottesman spoke to students and their relatives, describing the history of the shul.



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

Students heard an inspirational talk from Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer.

This week, Erika's Lighthouse hosted two lunchtime talks by Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer about finding resilience in emunah.

Rabbi Stromer taught the Rashi on Parshat Vayeshev, in which he quotes a Midrash that the wagon which transported Yosef into slavery after his brothers sold him carried the unusual smell of sweet incense.

Similarly, Rabbi Stromer explained, even in our darkest moments we can find comfort by looking for examples of Hashem's love.

Even when students find themselves "pushing through the darkness," Rabbi Stromer advised, students can make the space to observe Hashem's love for them and feel comforted.

Students celebrated Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum's completion of Shas.

On Wednesday morning after davening, some students gathered in ICJA's Beit Midrash to celebrate with Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum as he completed the Daf Yomi Siyum on Masechet Bava Kamma.

This siyum was especially meaningful as it marked Rabbi Rosenbaum's completion of Shas, which is a huge accompliishment which took seven and a half years. Students enjoyed hearing Rabbi Rosenbaum's description of persevering in learning Shas through the years.

Students also heard from former ICJA parent and former ICJA Board president Mr. Ronnie Masliansky, who shared his own experience learning Shas. Thank you to Ronnie and Susan Masliansky for sponsoring this siyum refreshments in memory of Joseph and Tsippora Masliansky, a”h, who firmly believed in Jewish education and the power of one person to make a difference in the lives of others.

Pictured above: sophomores Caleb Novick and William Moscovitch and junior Dani Allswang with Rabbi Rosenbaum

Pictured above: the crowd standing for Kaddish after the siyum

Pictured above: Mr. Ronnie Masliansky speaking about his own experience learning Shas and encouraging students to learn Daf Yomi

The Wrestling Aces earned several victories this week.

On Tuesday, ICJA wrestlers had their home opener as the Aces hosted Instrinsic. Sophomore Megill Hamieri (113), Junior Adin Jones (132), Senior Avi Chen (138), Senior Aidan Zukerman (144), Freshman Ari Shyovitz (165), and Senior Moshe Tarshish (175) all won their varsity matches. Ida Crown needed everyone of these victories, as they nipped Intrinsic 30-29 in the final team score. Sophomore Gabriel Nudman (144) and Sophomore Aidan Starck (215) added JV wins, as well.

On Wednesday, the ICJA Wrestling Team continued its home stand as it hosted the squad from Golder Prep. Sophomore Megill Hamieri (113) notched a pair of victories to lead the Aces and to continue his excellent season. Joining him with victories were Sophomore Noah Ehrlich (120), Junior Adin Jones (132), Senior Avi Chen (138), Senior Aidan Zukerman (144), Sophomore Gabe Nudman (144), Freshman Eitan Spolter (150), Sophomore Levi Madoff (157), and Sophomore Ayden Starck (215), though Golder won the team score.

(Pictured above: sophomore Ayden Starck wrestling against Golder Prep)

Students share what they're looking forward to over Winter Break.

This week we asked a few students some of the things they're most looking forward to over Winter Break.

Pictured above: juniors Leah Jacobs and Esther Fretzin, who are both looking forward to hanging out with friends and family over the break

Pictured above: freshmen Sam Bajtner, who is looking forward to visiting New York, and Avi Friedman, who is looking forward to visiting his brother.

Pictured above: juniors Jack Marshall, who's looking forward to a family trip to Israel; Noam Hellman, who is looking forward to seeing family; Aaron Katz, who's excited about his family's upcoming trip to Panama; Eli Cherney, who's looking forward to visiting his dad; and Aiden Rich and Natan Rine, who both are looking forward to relaxing

Pictured above: Dahlia Osgood, who is looking forward to her family's Chanukah party

Pictured above: freshmen Talia Bajtner, who's looking forward to visiting New York; Elisheva Sudin, who's looking forward to a family trip to Panama; Tziona Mauer, who's looking forward to having no school assignments for a week; Ella Jankovits, who's looking forward to catching up on sleep; and Eliana Stolberg, who is looking forward to going to Florida with her family

Pictured above: freshmen Zachary Kupietzky, Shmuel Scharman, and Bennett Kroll, who are all looking forward to spending time with family over the break

Students learned about women's connections to Chanukah, Purim, and Pesach.

On Wednesday during lunch, ICGC held an early Chabura (as Rosh Chodesh Tammuz occurs during break). Students enjoyed a pizza lunch while hearing a shiur about the concept of “She’af Hen," the basis for women's obligation in certain holiday mitzvot, and how that relates to Yehudit and the story of Chanukah.

Thank you to sophomore Kinneret Finegold for leading this wonderful Chabura, putting together an in-depth, incredible source sheet, and for your insightful, fascinating shiur.

Students set up and enjoyed a gala cafe - all in Hebrew.

On Thursday this week, Mrs. Anat Tanner's freshman girls' Hebrew class was transformed into a בית קפה. Students brought in food and drink and made signs advertising the products in their Hebrew-language cafe.

After receiving tokens denoting shekalim, students went "shopping" in their peers' cafes, enjoying delicious snacks together. Background Hebrew music made the atmosphere even more festive.

(Pictured above: Shira Kremer, Abby Monteros, and Emma Elkaim)

Pictured above: Atara Ehrenreich, Shireli Litwack, and Dana Stein with Mrs. Tanner

Pictured above: a sign advertising hot cocoa

Pictured above: Tova Suss and Eliana Stolberg

This was Mr. Daniel Harris's last week as Associate Dean at ICJA.

This week was Mr. Daniel Harris's last week as Associate Dean at ICJA before his retirement.

Staff and teachers threw Mr. Harris a "Happy Retirement" lunch party (pictured here).

We look forward IY"H to seeing Mr. Harris at many ICJA events - this time as a proud alumnus and former ICJA parent instead of Assistant Dean!

This week's learning dedications include:

Monay, the 15th of Kislev, 5785, December 16, 2024, through Friday, the 19th of Kislev, 5785, December 20, 2024, by in commemoration of the third yahrzeit of Dr. Jerrold Katz, on the 17th of Kislev, by his children and grandchildren: Orah, Lev, Benjamin ('21), Adam ('24), Aaron ('26) and Abigail Katz

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.

This week we caught up with ICJA's popular Talmud and Tanach teacher and Mechanech.

Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer's wisdom and fun sense of humor infuse his work as a classroom teacher and a Mechanech here at ICJA. This week we caught up with this popular rebbe and asked him a few questions about himself.

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up and attended MTA - Yeshiva University High School for Boys. After high school, I learned in Shaalvim, then went to Yeshiva University, where I majored in Psychology. I earned my semicha at Yeshiva University.

Why did you decide to go into education?

I decided to become a rebbe because of my own 10th grade rebbe, Rabbi Andi Yudin. He had a significant impact on my life and helped me realize the impact a good rebbe can have on students.

Where do you live now?

I live in West Rogers Park with my wife Shira and our four children: Aharon, who's nearly seven; Gitty, who's four; Ezra, who's two; and Yakira, who was born this week!

Why did you move to Chicago?

Shira and I moved here so I could learn in the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel here. We got married right before I took my college finals then we moved here afterwards!

I'm now in my seventh year working here at ICJA.

What do you enjoy about teaching at Ida Crown?

I love the opportunity to teach Torah in an exciting way. I enjoy learning with the guys here in an informal way, and I love shmoozing with students.

What's one of your favorite ICJA memories?

One of my favorites moments was during Covid when we were learning on Zoom. We were learning Masechet Makkot. We were in a particularly challenging shiur and we pushed and pushed through until we figured it out.

Then, a couple of weeks after school finished, my students came to my house for a siyum. We sat in the driveway and finished Makkot and then had a barbeque in my backyard. It was an awesome opportunity to show the guys they can accomplish and learn even in difficult situations. It was a very special moment.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I enjoy learning Torah. I like jumping rope and exercising. I enjoy reading; I really like (organizational psychologist and writer) Adam Grant and similar authors.

I also enjoy arts and crafts and finding outlets to express my creativity, whether that's doing puzzles with my kids, or painting with my kids at home. I also enjoy watching Youtube videos about learning how to paint in new ways.

Is there anything that most people don't know about you that you'd like to share?

Yes - I don’t know how to ride a bike. 

(Pictured above: Rabbi Stromer at his 12th grade boys' Navi class siyum this week after they finished learning Sefer Kohelet)

Watch "Oh the Places You'll Go," our newest 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.

Calling all 3^rd – 12^th grade students attending an ATT school! It’s time for the Pogrund Family Essay and Judaic Artwork Contests! Demonstrate your writing and/or art skills as you explore a Judaic topic. Winners receive a $50.00 check. Deadline for art/essay submission is Wednesday, January 15, 2025. FOR ESSAY/ARTWORK RULES AND GUIDELINES, visit www.att.org → For Students or call ATT at 773-973-2828 

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.