Upcoming Events

• Friday, March 24 - Freshman Fridayton



• Tuesday, March 28 - Boys' Night Seder at the Skokie Kollel, 8-9pm (This is a recurring, weekly event every Tuesday and Thursday when school is in session.)

• Thursday, March 30 - Pre-Pesach Program with YU Kollel in school

• Monday, April 3 - Sunday, April 16 - Pesach Break - no school



• Monday, April 17 - Classes resume

• Tuesday, April 18 - Yom HaShoah program in school

• Monday, April 20 - Torah Awards 7pm

• Tuesday, April 25 - Yom HaZikaron program in school

• Wednesday, April 26 - Yom HaAtzma'ut in-school celebration

• Thursday, April 27 - Grandparents Day

Yasher koach to seniors Hadassah Bernstein and Hersch Linzer, and to teacher Mrs. Alissa Zeffren!

On Monday night, JUF and Springboard, Chicago’s hub for Jewish teen programs, honored seniors Hadassah Bernstein and Hersch Linzer as "18 Under 18" Jewish student leaders. Particularly noted was Hersch's work teaching CPR to the public at community events, and Hadassah's work with Keshet Peer Buddies. History and Tanach teacher Mrs. Alissa Zeffren was honored as a "LEADer" for her work going above and beyond the classroom.

ICJA senior Zachary Miller served as one of the MCs of the awards ceremony and several ICJA students attended. "Ida Crown was very well represented," noted Springboard director Sarina Fogel Gerson. ICJA Tanach teacher Mrs. Olivia Friedman, who attended the event to cheer on ICJA, noted that Hersch's and Hadassah's speeches were notable for including beautiful divrei Torah.

Pictured above: seniors Zachary Miller, Ori Wasserman Hersch Linzer, Toibeh Sarah Gersten, Charli Ernstein, Hadassah Bernstein Kayla Kupietzky, and Mrs. Alissa Zeffren, at the Springboard Chicago event

Pictured above: Hadassah Bernstein delivering her speech

Pictured above: Hersch Linzer delivering his speech

Yasher Kochachen to our winners!

On Thursday, the winners of the brand-new Joseph and Tzippora Masliansky Awards were named.

These awards honor a student and a staff member who have made an impact on our school. Staff and students voted for those individuals who go the extra mile. The winners are junior Taly Benzaquen and Mrs. Alissa Zeffren (pictured here). Yasher koachen to them both.

Thank you to the Masliansky Family for creating this opportunity to recognize members of the ICJA family who make a difference.

On Sunday, about 40 boys gathered for a boys' tailgating BBQ as ICJA played Steinmetz College Prep.

Last Sunday, March 19, approximately 40 boys gathered for a boys' tailgating barbecue at ICJA's baseball home games at Caleb Field in Skokie. Although the weather was cold, boys enjoyed helping grill Romanian hotdogs and having time to shmooze with each other and mechanchim Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum and Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer, as well as Rabbi Louis Fliegelman and Dr. Gavi Brown.

Thank you to our mechanchim for putting together this fun event.

(Pictured here: Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum and freshmen Aaron Katz, Jesse Goldberg, and Natan Rine)

Pictured above: senior Ori Wasserman

Pictured above: freshmen Max Gorenstein, Ben Rosenburg, and Macks Kroll

Pictured above: freshman Jonah Strahlberg

The founder of Project Chazon spoke with juniors and seniors about emuna and living a Jewish life.

On Monday, March 20, Rabbi Daniel Mechanic, the founder of Project Chazon, an organization which offers hashkafic seminars to Jewish day school students, addressed ICJA junior and senior girls and boys.

"What's the most important decision you'll ever make in your life?" Rabbi Mechanic asked, before talking about the fact that we have to recognize and embrace the Jewish learning that we already have and perhaps might otherwise take for granted: the most important choice we can make.

Students enjoyed Rabbi Mechanic's many humorous anecdotes, gripping stories, and inspiring divrei Torah to share at students' upcoming Seders.

Seniors practiced explaining complicated instructions to their classmates in an engaging, easy-to-understand way.

Seniors in Ms. Sheri Goldstein's Public Speaking class got practice this week explaining their areas of expertise to their peers. Students demonstrated how to do complicated tasks, then fielded questions.

Pictured above: Jordyn Baker demonstrating how to tie-dye clothes

Pictured above: Rachel Adar giving instructions for dancing the Cotton Eyed Joe, with Audrey Perlman dancing along

Pictured above: Dena Simon illustrating how to train her dog, Murphy

Sophomores in Mrs. Marsha Arons's English class celebrated finishing a novel with a soup party.

While reading the 1958 novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, students discussed some of the surprising similarities between the 19th century Ibo culture in Nigeria that is depicted in the book and Jewish traditions. On Monday this week, to celebrate the class completing reading the book, Mrs. Arons cooked a delicious chicken soup with yams, a food that spans both Jewish and Ibo culture.

Pictured above: Eliya Sander with Mrs. Arons

Pictured above: Aaron Hartman and Rachel Sommer with Mrs. Arons

Students researched different halachic aspects of Bedikat Chametz, then took turns educating their peers.

This week, freshmen in Rabbi Zev Drutman's Talmud class researched the halachot of Bedikat Chametz using the new ICJA halacha curriculum source books "Tzurba," then took turns teaching the rest of the class what they'd learned.

Pictured above: Boaz Stopek and Ezra Mauer researching the history of the Bedikat Chametz ritual

Pictured above: Aaron Koenig presenting about the timing of Bedikat Chametz

Pictured above: Yair Bell and Eli Fretzin presenting about where one has to search during Bedikat Chametz

Students viewed and debated historical depictions of the Four Sons in the Pesach Haggadah.

Juniors in Mrs. Tirza Kahan's English class considered how points of view are affected by historical and cultural contexts, through the lens of the Four Sons. Students examined different historical Haggadot, comparing the way the Four Sons were depicted, and discussed why.

Pictured above: Yehoshua Zagorin, Ben Lowenthal, and Josh Mishie looking at Haggadot

Pictured above: a 1927 illustrated Haggadah

Pictured above: the Four Sons as Harry Potter characters

Are rabbis allowed to be paid for teaching Torah? Students learned what the Gemara has to say about this complex topic.

Seniors in Rabbi Yishai Broner's accelerated Talmud class are learning Masechet Chagiga, and discussed whether or not rabbis may be paid for teaching Torah, which is meant to be learned lishma.

Pictured above: seniors Yaakov David and Ilan Blumenthal

Pictured above: Avi Zeller and Ori Wasserman

Sophomores competed in Rishonim March Madness, while seniors created visual Holocaust Journals.

Sophomores in Mrs. Alissa Zeffren's Jewish History class are learning about the contributions of the Rishonim to Jewish life and learning and their lasting impact today.

This week, they put ther newfound knowledge to use in Rishonim March Madness. Students worked in groups to research the sages and their impact and to complete their brackets and to determine which sages would advance in each round and why. They then presented their brackets and winners to the rest of their classmates. (Take a look at his fun project's instructions here.)

Pictured above: Ezra Comrov, Maytal Needle, Rachel Sommer, and Lea Ackerman

Pictured above: Gabe Aberman, Eliya Sander, Zev Margolin, and Avi Chen

Pictured above: Sarah Lipson, Allie Stein, Leah Rina Brochin, and Hadar Simkovich

After their recent visit to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, seniors in Mrs. Alissa Zeffren's Modern Jewish History Class used photos they took during their visit to create journals about an aspect of the Holocaust, then shared their journals with their classmates.

The journal created by Toibeh Sarah Gersten can be viewed here.

Pictured above: Gideon Miller showing a page of his journal about Jewish life before the Holocaust

Pictured above: Toibeh Sarah Gersten with a page from her journal about armed resistance

Students celebrated Rosh Chodesh Nisan on Thursday with all-school davening and a doughnut breakfast.

Thursday morning, Rosh Chodesh Nisan, students davened together, then enjoyed doughnuts to celebrate Rosh Chodesh.

Pictured above: freshmen Zachary Fogel, Avi Rubin, Yoshi Bernstein, Ezra Mauer, Macks Kroll, and Natan Miller

Pictured above: sophomores Sarah Levitt, Yardana Schayer, and Hadar Simkovich

Pictured above: freshmen Leah Jacobs, Ariella Pullin, Aiden Rich, Mia Weiss, Gabe Boshes, and Jonah Strahlberg

Students used statistical analysis to determine if the distribution of M&M colors conforms to M&M's promises.

Students in Dr. Catherine D'Anna's AP Statistics class are beginning a new unit on inference for distributions and relationships. To start the new chapter, investigated if the distribution of color for M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies differs from the company's claimed color distribution using a Chi-square test for goodness of fit.  (The Chi-square goodness of fit test is a statistical hypothesis test used to determine whether a variable is likely to come from a specified distribution or not, and is often used to evaluate whether sample data is representative of the full population.)

Pictured above: senior Michal Bechhofer with Dr. Catherine D'Anna

Pictured above: senior Phillip Maiman

Last Sunday, some freshman boys and their fathers davened Shacharit at Hatzalah headquarters.

Last Sunday, a group of freshman boys and their fathers, along with freshman boys' davening leader Rabbi Louis Fliegelman, davened together at Hatzalah headquarters in Lincolnwood.

Two fathers of freshman, Mr. David Miller and Mr. Joel Gorenstein, are volunteer medics with Hatzalah, and they gave the group a tour and explained Hatzalah's work following daveningl.

Pictured above: examining a model used in practicing CPR

Pictured above: Rabbi Louis Fliegelman, Eli Gelb, Dr. Mike Gelb, Boaz Stopek, Mr. Jonathan Stopek, Natan Rine, Mr. Yudi Rine, Aaron Katz, Mr. Lev Katz, Max Gorenstein, Max's brother Mason, Mr. Joel Gorenstein, Mr. David Miller, Josh Miller, Ezra Netzky

Students presented to 50 students about Judaism and Jewish life in Naperville on Monday.

On Monday, March 20, Student to Student presented to students at Naperville North High School, explaining Judaism, Jewish customs, and talking about what it is like to be a Jewish teen today.

One Naperville North student wrote in their feedback questionnaire afterwards: "I really liked how you guys tried to honestly answer every question asked; I think it made the presentation even more engaging!"

(Pictured here: Student to Student volunteers demonstrat the role of a chuppah in a Jewish wedding)

Pictured above: junior Evan Comrov, sophomores Ezra Comrov and Tali Weiss, and senior Taly Benzaquen presenting about Shabbat

The Aces triumphed over Steinmetz College Prep.

Last Sunday, while boys from the ICJA boys' tailgating bbq and other fans watched, both Varsity and JV Aces triumphed in their games against Steinmetz College Prep.

In the Varsity game, Aces got on the board in the first inning. Josh Paskoff doubled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run. The Aces tallied five runs in the second inning, led by singles by Moshe Wiesenberg, Paskoff, and Benjy Baronofsky and doubles by Aryeh Neiger and Adam Schwartz. Paskoff led on the pitcher's mound: the hurler went two innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits and striking out six.

The Aces tallied ten hits. Neiger and Paskoff each had multiple hits for Ida Crown Jewish Academy Varsity Aces. Paskoff and Neiger each collected two hits to lead Ida Crown Jewish Academy Varsity Aces. Ida Crown Jewish Academy Varsity Aces didn't commit a single error in the field. Yonah Rubin had eight chances in the field, the most on the team.

In the JV game, our stellar pitchers were led by Josh Kupietzky, getting through the first inning in only 9 pitches.  After the first the Aces brought out Elisha Shpayher and Jed Marcus.  Phillip Maiman and Judah Well each went 2 for 2 on the night hitting.  The Aces won 16-0.

Thank you to the family of Robert Goldstein, z"l '71, for sponsoring ICJA players to attend Sarachek and Galbut.

As we cheer on the ACES in the Sarachek basketball tournament this weekend, ICJA thanks the family of Robert Goldstein, z"l, '71, who was a star basketball player during his years at ICJA. The Robert Goldstein, z"l Memorial Scholarship enables two ICJA basketball players, one boy and one girl, to attend the national Sarachek Tournament at Yeshiva University, and Galbut Tournament in Miami respectively.

(Pictured here: Mr. Goldstein's senior yearbook photo)

Watch this year's 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.

Watch Rabbi Berel Wein's '50 inspiring remarks at the ICJA Israel Reunion, Jerusalem, November 2022!

Watch highlights of our inspiring Israel Reunion, Jerusalem, November 2022!

This week's sponsors include:

Monday, the 27th of Adar, 5783, March 20, 2023, by Jenna Greenberg and Joshua Ginsberg, and Ranon, Elior and Matan Ginsberg, in memory of their mother and grandmother, Linda Greenberg, z"l, רבקה בת חיים וברכה, in commemoration of her 5th Yahrtzeit

Wednesday, the 29th of Adar, 5783, March 22, 2023, by Andy Ernstein, Ari, Jesse & Charli, in loving memory of Shelby Ernstein, z''l,

,שלמה יונה בן ישראל אלי הכהן , ז׳׳ל

Beloved father, grandfather, mentor and friend, to commemorate his 11th Yahrzeit on the 29th of Adar

Thursday, the 1st of Nisan, 5783, March 23, 2023, by Rosi ('69) Lennon and family, George ('76) and Julie ('76) Lennon and family, and Lori (Lennon) ('74) and Jeff Meisel and family, in loving memory of Hal Lennon, z''l, הלל בן גרשון ז׳׳ל, devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather

For more information or to sponsor a day of learning, please contact our Director of Development, Deva Zwelling, at (773) 973-1450 ext. 115, or dzwelling@icja.org.

Be sure to pick up your updated ICJA Learning Commons passwords to access books and journals online!

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.

Student Internship Opportunities

The YU Torah Mitzion Kollel is looking to hire 2 interns: one to help with program logistics and general office work and one for technology.

Program Logistics Intern

Responsibilities include: grocery shopping for events, ordering food for events, and stuffing envelopes for mailings. The work will be on an as needed basis, generally requiring no more than 2 hours on any given week.

Intern will report directly to the Director of Operations, who will meet with the intern periodically to explain assignments.  

Intern must have access to a vehicle.

Technology intern

Responsibilities include: Editing Audio and video clips, uploading media to Youtube and Podcasts, possibly some data entry. This position will include approximately 1 hour of tasks per week.

Intern will report directly to the Director of Operations, who will meet with the intern periodically to explain assignments.  

Familiarity with any form of editing software a plus but not required.

For more information or to apply, please contact Tracy Schultz, Director of Operations, admin@torahchicago.org

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.