|
CALENDAR
Feb. 25: Kollel Yom Iyun
Feb. 28: Last day to submit dinner ads
March 3: Rosh Chodesh, ravening at KINS
March 23: Scholarship dinner
|
|
FOLLOW US!
|
  
Find out what's happening at the Academy and view photos from school and events by following our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. |
|
Chesed at ICJA
During this National Month of Inclusion Education, senior Chaya Levinson writes on our blog, Academy Stories, about her work with Yachad.
|
|
Thank You to Our
Society of Patrons '13-'14
*List in formation
Scholarship Guardian $25,000+
Anonymous
The Crown Family
Leslie and Tom Silverstein
Scholarship Benefactor $10,000-$17,999
Anonymous
Barbara and George Hanus
Hochberg and Lowenstein Families
Sadie and Harry Lasky Foundation
Michelle and Brian Levinson
Sandy and Gary Novetsky
Phyllis and Stuart Muller
Erynne and Ari Rennert
Gale and Eric Rothner
Scholarship Pillar $5000-$9,999
Laura and David Allswang
Jane and Eddie Best
Vivian and Nathan Bloch
Drs. Sheri and Jeffery Bressman
Dr. Sharon Sholiton and Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger
Debbie and Robert Hartman
Ahuva and Avigdor Horowitz
Drs. Tammy and Edward Kaplan
Rosenfield Family Foundation
Miki and Shmuel Schreiber
Bethia Straus and Paul Quintas
Sue and David Strulowitz
Rifka and Daniel Weiss
Chellie and Yanky Wilensky
Scholarship Sponsor $3600-$4999
Anonymous
Ora and Maury Aaron
Yarona and Shlomoh Ben-David
Jo and Jonah Bruck
Judy and Michael Daniels
Gina and Joseph Gottesman
Drs. Amy and Guy Kaissar
Cindy and Alon Redlich
Marianne Novak and Dr. Noam Stadlan
Advocate $2500-$3599
Allison and Yoni Bellows
Elizabeth and Mitch Dayan
Debra and David Dobkin
Robbie and Dr. Scott Fretzin
Ben Friedman
Barbara and Dr. Steve Geller
Aviva and Dr. Phil Greenland
Nathaniel and Lana Grey
Laurie and Bernard Hasten
Cheryl and Gary Hoberman
Rebecca and Evan Lafer
Susan and Ronnie Masliansky
Miki and Ami Pissetzky
Dr. Abraham Schiffman
Debra and David Well
Patron $1800-$2499
Anonymous
Dr. Myra Rapoport and Rabbi Michael Balinsky
Gilda and Art Birn
Gila Bronner
Edie and Allen Chernoff
Talia and Isaac Dayan
Mariya and Max Dayan
Sally and Arthur Dordek
Marilyn Eisenberg Allswang
Debra and Dr. Daniel Eisenstein
Linda and Larry Friedman
Danielle and Jason Friedman
Lisa and Rabbi Sidney Glenner
Julie and Stephen Grant
Connie and Dr. Alan Kadish
Debra Korman
Elizabeth and Steve Landes
Roslyn and David Lennon
Monica and Rich Magid
Margaret and Rabbi Leonard Matanky
Alison and Alan Molotsky
Renee Birnberg and Dr. Joseph Silberman
Tammy and Michael Sugar
Rachel and Michael Stein
|
For more information on our Society of Patrons, go to icja.org.
|
Day School Parents, educators and board members are cordially invited to attend a dessert reception on behalf of the Jewish United Fund "Bully, Bullied or Bystander: The Roles Children Play," featuring nationally acclaimed guest speaker Dr. Rona Novick Tuesday, April 1. Dessert reception at 7:15 - 8:30PM. Holiday Inn North Shore, 5300 West Touhy Avenue, Skokie. Reservations required, Dietary laws observed. Register online. |
GOOD & WELFARE
MAZAL TOV
Rebecca Hanus ('01) on her marriage to Eitan Kimelman. Mazal tov Barbara and George Hanus.
Dalia and Avner Landes ('95) on the birth of a son.
Ann Dee and Edward Holland on the birth of a new grandchild.
CONDOLENCES
Rebecca Esformes, Rabbi Morris ('64) and Delicia Esformes and Mrs. Flora and Marty Weiss on the loss of Phillip Esformes. Condolences to his many grandchildren and great grandchildren from the Esformes, Chavin, Lafer, Robinson, Weinfeld and Weiss families. Shiva is at Park Plaza through Friday afternoon and from Motzei Shabbos through Wednesday morning at the home of Mrs. Flora Weiss, 6553 N. Kimball, Lincolnwood. Hours at Park Plaza: Wed.-Thur.: 10AM -12PM, 1:30PM - 4:30PM and 6 - 9PM. Friday beginning at 1:30PM - Mincha at 3:30PM. Minyan Times in Lincolnwood. Shacharis- Sunday 8AM, Mon-Wed 7AM. Mincha/Maariv: 5:20PM.
Dr. Barry Wenig on the loss of his father Louis Wenig, grandfather of Gilad ('07) and Tamara ('02). Shiva in Skokie will be Sunday evening February 23. 5:20PM
Mincha at the Wenig residence, 9016 Keeler.
Shacharit: Monday and Tuesday at 6:30AM
Mincha/Maariv: Sunday and Monday at 5:20PM. Barry can be reached at
312.342.3227.
We regret to inform you of the loss of alum Shraga Klieman ('62) in Israel. May they be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.
|
SHABBAT SHALOM
The Sanctity of Time
By Rabbi Yoni Fox
 The link between the Mishkan and Shabbat is apparent in numerous contexts throughout the Torah. In this week's parsha, when Moshe gathers the entire nation to instruct them about the Mishkan's construction, he begins by reminding them of the mitzvah to observe the Shabbat. In a number of other places as well (see Ki Tisa 31:13 and Kedoshim 19:30), the commandments regarding the Mishkan and Shabbat are juxtaposed. What is the connection between these two mitzvot?
The Mishkan was a place of elevated holiness, where one had the ability to experience a closer relationship with Hashem. Shabbat, the day of the week endowed with a higher degree of kedusha, is the parallel to the Mishkan in the realm of time. On Shabbat we have the capacity to connect to Hashem in ways that are not always accessible during the week. Both the Mishkan and Shabbat represent opportunities to develop closer relationships with Hashem and sanctify our lives both in the realm of place and time.
Interestingly, when the construction of the Mishkan comes into conflict with observing Shabbat, Shabbat prevails. Rashi writes that the juxtaposition of the two mitzvot teaches us that it is prohibited to violate Shabbat in order to engage in building the Mishkan. This principle conveys a very powerful message; despite the significance of the kedushat hamakom, sanctity of place represented by the Mishkan, it is outweighed by the kedushat hazman, sanctity of time, represented by Shabbat. Wherever a person happens to be, one has the ability to internalize the message of Shabbat and connect to Hashem in the most meaningful way possible through the sanctification of one's time.
 Candlelighting for Parshat Vayakhel is at 5:13PM.
ICJA is an affiliate of the ATT and a partner in serving our community, supported by the JUF/JF.
|
|
|
|
|
 HODAOT |
Dinner Ad Deadline Extended to Feb. 28
Planning for this year's Dr. Edward A. Crown Scholarship is underway, with invitations coming in the mail shortly. We are thrilled to honor Laurie and Dov Pinchot, Parents of the Year; Sandy and Dr. Gary Novetsky, Crown Leadership Award; and Rabbi Barry Robinson, Educator of the Year on Sunday, March 23 at the Skokie Holiday Inn. Your participation by coming, most importantly, and by placing ads is what will make the event a big success. Make your reservations online and submit ads for 60% give/get online by Feb. 28.
Lunch Ball for Give Get
We have an opening for a lunchtime chaperone in the gym, Thursdays 12-1PM. Please contact the office if your are interested.
 Purim Cards ICJA Purim cards are now available in the office in packs of six postcards for $10. Purchase the cards in the office or call Paige Janko (847) 972-1576 or email paigejanko@gmail.com. Winter Parking While we realize that parking at ICJA, especially in the winter, is a challenge, we ask that students do not park along the side fence and do not park in the auction spots. Thank you for your cooperation. Watch on our Facebook page what happens when winter aggravation leads to chesed. 
|
|
ACADEMY NEWS |
Charlotte's Web Receives Top Honors
 Charlotte's Web: ICJA's Literary Magazine placed in the top 20 of over 400 entries in the NCTE contest for excellence in high school literary magazines. The Academy's literary magazine competed against schools of all sizes, including public schools like New Trier and Highland Park with large student staffs of writers and graphic designers producing their magazines. Congratulations to last year's editors Josephine Gendler and Moshe Brimm. You can read last year's book on our website. Production for this year's book is underway.
National Inclusion Month
By Chaya Levinson
On Wednesday, Chicago YACHAD hosted a sensitivity training session at ICJA in honor of the month of NAIM, North American Inclusion month. During 6th period, students came together to learn how to be more sensitive to those who may not be exactly like them. Through creative activities that taught lessons about listening, how to explain something without talking and communication, students were able to better understand the challenges that a person with disabilities faces. Through these activities, Yachad members hope to educate community members to be more sensitive to those around them that may not have the same abilities as they do.
Academy students have been a strong component of the Yachad volunteer base ever since the program of NCSY was founded in Chicago. Up to 40 students participate in the program this year.
Students Head to DC with Write On
By Tali Pelts
Several ICJA seniors involved in Write On For Israel, an Israel advocacy fellowship with a focus on media and journalism, last Wednesday traveled to Washington, D.C. for a one-day fly in. The students are part of the 9th cohort of Write On For Israel (WOFI), a program of JUF. Upon arriving in D.C., the group headed straight to the House of Representatives to lobby Illinois congressmen and -women.
 The four issues we focused on were Iran's nuclear program, aid for Israel's military, the Syrian refugee crisis and hunger in the United States. There was a democratic convention for Congress that day, so some fellows met with staffers rather than the Congresspeople themselves, but the lobbying experience was enriching, nonetheless. We also went to the Senate, did some lobbying there and spoke to staffers about their experiences on the job. Following our time at the Senate, we visited the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for discussions with politicians involved in Israeli and Jewish issues. We ended our stay in D.C. with a visit to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and luckily flew home that night, despite the impending ice storm. We'd like to extend our thanks to WOFI and JUF/JF coordinators, including Ida Crown parent John Lowenstein, for planning the trip and accompanying the fellows.
Read a reflection of the trip written by a WOFI fellow.
|
|
SPORTS NEWS
|
Wrestlers Finish Strong in New York
The Aces competed in 19th annual Henry Wittenberg National Invitational Wrestling Tournament at Yeshiva University over President's Day Weekend. A little more than a week after winning his second Regional championship, senior captain Chaim Chernoff won the coveted Wittenberg title at 145 lbs. A four-time Wittenberg placewinner and a returning finalist, Chernoff, the number one seed at the weight, cruised smoothly through three rounds of wrestling on Sunday. In the Round of 16, he pinned a wrestler from Maimonides in 1:11; in the quarterfinals, he dispatched an MTA opponent with a technical fall in 5:18; and in the semi-finals, he dominated the fourth seed from RTMA with a 12-3 major decision. On Monday, Chernoff faced off against #2 seeded Daniel Alpert of Torah Academy of Bergen County. Alpert had reached the finals by pinning his first two foes and scoring a major decision against his semi-final opponent. Despite the apparent strength of his opposition, Chernoff controlled the match from the opening whistle. He scored a quick takedown and exposed his opponent to take a 4-0 lead in the first period. In the second period, Chernoff scored a quick reversal as the period began and never let the pressure off Alpert for the remaining three and a half minutes of the match. Chernoff notched a technically-precise 6-0 victory. The YU broadcast team described the match as a "Text book ICJA win."
 Freshman phenom Jesse Bernstein led a strong contingent of ICJA wrestlers at 106 lbs. Working out of the #7 seed spot, Bernstein pinned his first opponent from MTA, then dispatched the #2 seed from Fuchs Mizrachi with a 13-0 major decision. His teammate, Akiva Goldberger, won his way through his quarter of the bracket, easily defeating the #3 seed, 10-4, to meet Bernstein in an all-ICJA semi-final. Bernstein beat his teammate to earn a spot in the finals, but fell short against the #1 seed, a senior for North Shore Hebrew Academy. For his part, Goldberger fought back to claim the fifth place trophy. Junior 195 pounder Jacob Zwelling returned to the Wittenberg finals for the second straight year, with a pair of slick first period pins in Sunday's quarters and semis. For the second year in a row, Zwelling title quest was blocked by an older, larger opponent. Zwelling went right after the wrestler from Kushner Academy, but was caught early in the match and was defeated.
Senior Noam Feifel fought back from a demoralizing  quarter-final loss to the #3 seed from RTMA to win four straight consolation matches to claim a well-deserved third place podium finish. Along the way, Feifel pinned a wrestler from MTA in :16 seconds; one from Maimonides in :47; one from Frisch in :50; and one from Yeshiva Atlanta in :25. He ended his Academy wrestling career with a gritty 6-1 victory over the #2 seed from TABC. Also placing for the Academy were sophomore Ofri Ben David (6th place at 120 lbs.), freshman Raphi Chernoff (5th place at 138 lbs.) and sophomore Ari Rosenzweig (6th place at 195 lbs.).
Ida Crown's hopes for a high team finish fell short in the consolation quarter-finals late on Sunday afternoon as seven wrestlers-freshman Aili Lafer (106), senior Rafi Feiger (120), senior David Shabotinsky (126), senior Yinnon Sanders (132), senior Robert Polin (152), Joey Silverstein (170), and sophomore Jacob Shiner (182)-were defeated one match before qualifying for the medal rounds. Ida Crown finished in sixth place in a very competitive tournament field, placing not as high as the team has done in the past.
 | |
Shari, Adir and Azi Feifel sporting new ICJA hats
|
"We had realistic expectations going into this year's tournament," Coach Doug Klein commented. "We lost our only healthy 160 pounder to injury three days before the tournament. Also, our chances of a high team finish have been hampered by the lack of having anyone who could fill the 220 and 285 pound slots in the varsity line-up. Still, we have an exciting core of sophomores and freshmen, and the future looks very bright for the coming years."
We were thrilled to see so many alumni come out to support our team, along with three of our alumni serving as announcers for the tournament.
Lady Aces
The varsity Lady Aces had a great showing in Miami this past weekend. The girls competed in against Jewish day school teams from across the nation at the Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach. In their first game, the girls beat Columbus Torah Academy, 46-13. Their second game against Maayonot was a total blowout with a score of 48-3. The girls played Ulpana Orot from Toronto and won 51-8 and then bean Yeshiva Atlanta 48-16. They headed in to the final game, seeded first, against Weinbaum and then suffered a tough loss to finish as runners up.
Congrats to all the girls on a great season. Many thanks to Coach Avi (Varnai) Levison for all her hard work.
View sports schedules on our calendar. We are seeking parents to submit photos from games. Email icjanews@icja.org or post them directly to our Facebook page.
|
|
|
|
|
