Upcoming Events
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Friday, May 26 - Saturday, May 27 - Shavuot Break
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Monday, May 28 - Memorial Day (no school)
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Thursday, May 30 - Thursday, June 1 - Senior Retreat - click here to sign up (To discuss financial assistance for this event, please email Michael London, mlondon@icja.org.)
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Sunday, June 4 - Graduation - 1pm
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Monday, June 5 - "Academy Sports Academy," a weekly workshop for boys ages 10-17 at ICJA (see flyer below for more details) - 5:45-7:15pm
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Monday, June 12 - Edward A. Crown Scholarship Dinner - click here to register
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ICJA Hosting a Brit Milah | |
Mazal Tov to ICJA Assistant Dean Dr. Gavriel Brown and Mrs. Bec Brown! | |
On Monday morning, ICJA Assistant Dean Dr. Gavriel Brown and his wife Mrs. Bec Brown celebrated the brit milah of their newborn son, Ori Dov, here at ICJA.
Students, staff, and the Browns' family and friends witnessed Ori's brit, then celebrated with a doughnut breakfast for all the students.
Dr. Brown shared this thought after the brit: "For Bec and me, the simplest association of Ori is most resonant. A little light extinguishes darkness. Ori, a few weeks ago your Savti quoted an idea from the Rambam in one of her divrei Torah: 'A person let a pearl drop in his house, which was dark and full of furniture. Now this pearl is there, but he does not see it and does not know where it is. It is as though it were no longer in his possession since he can get no benefit from it until...he lights a lamp.' When we find ourselves in the dark a little light can clear the way."
Mazal Tov to the entire Brown family.
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Two World-Renown Speakers | |
Last Friday, ICJA students heard from Israeli educator Mrs. Miriam Peretz, and from Rav Hershel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva of REITS. |
Last Friday, ICJA got the chance to hear from two leading Jewish figures.
Israel Prize-winning educator Mrs. Miriam Peretz spoke to our students about maintaining hope and faith in the face of tragedy and pain. Her personal story of losing two sons in the IDF engrossed our students, and students were moved and inspired by her persistent optimism.
Rav Schachter, shlit"a, spoke of the importance of Torah learning and emphasized the Torah's significance in creating a relationship with Hashem. Rav Schachter's warmth and breadth of Torah knowledge resonated deeply with our students.
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Pictured above: Mrs. Miriam Peretz speaking to students | |
Pictured above: Rav Schachter signing a portrait for junior Jakob Wortman to hang on ICJA's informal classroom "Rebbe Wall" | |
Mrs. Ruth Gleicher's 9th Grade Biology Class | |
Students learned how to perform qPCR testing. |
Freshmen in Mrs. Ruth Biology class have beeen learning about DNA and RNA. This week, they explored how qPCR testing works, testing DNA samples for Covid-19.
ICJA's state-of-the-art PCR machines exponentially produce specific target DNA/RNA sequences, allowing students to quickly and effectively analyze DNA samples for Covid-19 and and other conditions.
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Pictured above: Michael Matveyev, Macks Kroll, and Jesse Goldberg | |
Pictured above: Leah Jacobs | |
Pictured above: Aaron Katz and Yaffa Hoberman | |
Mrs. Lynn Kraft's 11th Grade Advanced Jewish Studies Program (AJSP) Class | |
Students researched and prepared presentations on different brachot from Shemonh Esrei. |
This week each junior girl in Mrs. Lynn Kraft's AJSP class was given time during class to prepare a different bracha at the end of Shemonh Esrei with a chavruta, which they will then present to the rest of the class at the end of this week.
When they finished preparing their brachot, they started working on their final projects, creating a (digital) Children's Siddur explaining all the brachot in Shmoneh Esrei they learned throughout the year.
Pictured above: Leeya Starck, Leah Zelden, and Ayelet Appel
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On Sunday night, 250 female students and community members enjoyed an evening of music and fond memories. | |
On Sunday evening, May 21, 250 female students and community members gathered at ICJA to hear a special concert with Israeli singer Inbar Tabib '95. Ms. Tabib reminisced about her time at ICJA and her personal spiritual journey, interspersing her story with magical singing.
This concert was a program of this year’s ICJA Takes the Stage, Celebrating the Life of Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, z”l, sponsored by the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts.
Thank you also to Mrs. Deva Zwelling, Mrs. Lynn Kraft, and Mrs. Alise Gold for organizing this gala event.
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Pictured above: Inbar Tabib reminiscing about ICJA | |
Pictured above: students enjoyed the evening with brand-new ICGC sweatshirts | |
Pictured above: the audience sang along with Ms. Tabib | |
Mrs. Shelley Stopek's 9th Grade Boys' Hebrew Class | |
Students translated dialogues into Hebrew and role played different scenarios. | |
Freshmen in Mrs. Shelley Stopek's Hebrew class translated English language dialogues about meeting people into Hebrew this week, practicing putting English thoughts into Hebrew, and gaining valuable experience in having Hebrew language conversations with one another. | |
Pictured above: Jonah Strahlberg | |
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Mrs. Marsha Arons's 11th Grade AP English Class | |
Students analyzed characters in The Great Gatsby. | |
This week, juniors in Mrs. Marsha Arons's AP English Class took turns guiding their peers in in-depth discussions about the characters in The Great Gatsby. Students led debates focusing on characters' motives, relationships, personalities, strengths, and flaws. | |
Pictured above: Elana Druk and Uriel Kolom leading a discussion | |
Pictured above: Evan Comrov making a point | |
Pictured above: students engaged in debate | |
Last Sunday, freshman boys and their fathers gathered to daven together at KINS. | |
Each Sunday, freshman boys' davening teacher Rabbi Louis Fliegelman invites freshman boys and their fathers or other relatives to daven together at a different Chicago-area shul.
Last Sunday, students and family gathered at KINS, where they enjoyed davening with ICJA Dean and KINS Rabbi Leonard Matanky, as well as Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva of REITS. Fathers and sons then enjoyed a gala breakfast and learning together.
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Pictured above: Rabbi Leonard Matanky, Mr. David Miller, Max Miller, Jesse Goldberg, Natan Rine, Mr. Yudi Rine, Avi Rubin, Dr. Robert Rubin, Aaron Katz, Mr. Lev Katk, Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Boaz Stopek, and Mr. Jonathan Stopek | |
Bonnie Dayan, z"l Visual Arts Awards | |
Seven students won this prestigious annual award. | |
The Bonnie Dayan, z"l Visual Arts Awards celebrate ICJA students' outstanding artistic growth and effort. The art award was established in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Salzman's daughter. Bonnie was a talented, creative daughter, wife, and mother who approached life through the lens of an artist. The art program at ICJA is grateful support of the Salzman family for encouraging art students to pursue their love the arts.
This award selection is based on students showing a creative approach, purposeful development of their composition and a mastery of their medium. (Pictured above: the winning pieces, displayed in the school foyer)
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Junior Aiden Novick won 1st Place (pictured here, with his winning artwork). Junior Shayna Weinstein won 2nd Place.
3rd Place was shared by juniors Gabriella Zipperstein, Dina Osgood, and Shuli Falk; sophomore Rivka Weinstein; and senior Kayla Kupietzky.
Yasher Koach to all the winners and to all who entered this contest.
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Student in national AMEN-SELA Art Fellowship. | |
Yasher kochacha to junior Shuli Falk, one of the 3rd place winners in the Bonnie Dayan, z"l Visual Arts Award, and one of only 14 students nationwide chosen to be a fellow in the Amen Institute's SELA (Student Emerging Leaders and Artists) High School Fellowship.
For the past 14 weeks, Shuli has met weekly over Zoom with the other fellows and a mentor, has been learning Lech Lecha, and created an original piece of artwork interpreting the story of Sarah and Hagar.
(Pictured here: Shuli with her Bonnie Dayan, z"l Visual Arts Award 3rd Place-winning picture)
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Mr. Allen Sears's Conceptual Physics Class | |
This week, students in Mr. Allen Sears's Conceptual Physics class began analyzing the data they collected at Great America on Physics Day. | |
This week, juniors in Mrs. Allen Sears's Conceptual Physics class began analyzing the data they recorded as they rode roller coasters at Six Flags Great America last week on Physics Day.
First, Mr. Sears had a surprise: it was Moshe Seruy's birthday, so Mr. Sears played him Happy Birthday and Yom Huledet Sameach on his ukelely.
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Pictured above: Jakob Wortman | |
Pictured above: Jacob Pick | |
Pictured above: Mr. Sears singing in English and Hebrew with his ukelele | |
This Week's Learning Dedications | |
This week's sponsors include: | |
Monday, the 2nd of Sivan, 5783, May 22, 2023, by Ashira (Rapoport) & Rabbi Joe Ozarowski, Gitelle Rapoport & Gershom Szydlowski, and Chaya (Rapoport) Schwartz, loving memory of Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Rapoport, z"l, beloved ICJA Principal of 35 Years, in commemoration of his 20th Yahrzeit
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.
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We're accepting donations of gently-used uniform items at the front desk. | |
We are collecting gently-used ICJA uniform items for our Uniform Exchange. This program allows students to purchase low-cost used uniform clothing, raising money for ICJA's Parent Academy Associates, and eliminating waste and the amount of clothing that goes into landfills.
If you would like to donate, please bring your gently used items to the front office. Thank you.
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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!
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ICJA 80th Anniversary Video | |
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. | |
Rabbi Berel Wein '50 at the ICJA 80th Anniversary Israel Reunion | |
Watch Rabbi Berel Wein's '50 inspiring remarks at the ICJA Israel Reunion, Jerusalem, November 2022! | |
ICJA 80th Anniversary Israel Reunion Video | |
Watch highlights of our inspiring Israel Reunion, Jerusalem, November 2022! | |
2022-2023 Learning Commons Passwords | |
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.
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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. | |
Please note, Thursday, May 25, is the last day to submit ads for the ad book. Ads submitted after May 25 will be included in our supplemental ad booklet. | |
The Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago invites the community to its Evening with the Stars. Join the ATT as it presents student awards at its Awards Presentation and Annual Meeting, on Wednesday evening, May 17, 2023, at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, 8233 Central Park Avenue, Skokie. The program will begin at 7:15 pm. For more information, call the ATT: 773-973-2828. | |
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
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Introducing ICJA Bar Association for Alumni | |
Introducing ICJA Bar Association: a way for ICJA alumni
who are lawyers to form informal connections.
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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 '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.
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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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