Next Week
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Sun., March 4
Seniors at AIPAC
Mon., March 5
Seniors at AIPAC
Tues., March 6
Seniors at AIPAC
X-block: 10th-grade PSAT pre-administration meeting
Wed., March 7
Seniors no classes AIPAC Reflection 12:00
Thurs., March 8
X-block: 10th-grade PSAT pre-administration meeting
4:45 dismissal
80th anniversary concert
Fri., March 9 Regular Schedule
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In Two Weeks
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Sunday, March 11 Daylight Saving Time Begins
SAT Tests
Monday, March 12 Regular Schedule
Tuesday, March 13 Regular Schedule
Wednesday, March 14 9th-grade: PSAT
Thursday, March 15 Regular Schedule
Friday,March 16
Resume 2:30 Dismissal
End of Third Quarter
11th-grade Shabbaton
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Having a MAIMO MOMENT?
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Quick Links
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www.maimonides.org
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D'var Torah |
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by Rabbi Dov Huff
There is
a dispute between Rashi and the Ramban as to what motivated the
cheit haegel. Both are analyzing the following statement of the people to Aharon
Hakohen:
Arise and make us a god to walk before us because the man Moshe who brought us up out of Egypt, we do not know what happened to him.
Rashi, in focusing on the first clause, explains that they were looking for a deity.
The Ramban, however, focusing on the second clause, explains that it was not G-d they were trying to replace, but Moshe Rabbeinu.
The Rav has a unique perspective on the cheit, which in a way bridges these two ideas. He juxtaposes man's sin in Gan Eden to that of the cheit haegel. The Rav says that in Gan Eden, Adam and Chava thought that they had divine potential - they were, after all, created in G-d's image. They thought that all they needed was to eat from the fruit of the tree, and then they could be like their Creator.
On the other hand, the golden calf, says the Rav, was about man's poor self-image. Idolatry in general, he explains, stems from a belief that lowly man cannot access a deity without the help of some medium. Not that the idol itself is a deity, but that it is a vessel in which some divine spirit will rest. Without the help of this intermediary, lowly man cannot dream of an audience with the divine.
So for the Rav, Bnei Yisrael, who had been surrounded by the idolatry of Mitzrayim, saw Moshe Rabbeinu filling this purpose. Moshe Rabbeinu had performed miracles, extracted them from Mitzrayim, and safely guided them across the Yam Suf, delivering them from the hand of Amalek. He was their radio to Hashem. Without him, they would be lost. According to the Rav, with the eigel, the people were in fact searching for both. Because the loss of Moshe Rabbeinu by extension meant the loss of connection to Hashem.
The new, groundbreaking idea of Judaism is that each individual has access to G-d. We do not need a great rabbi, an idol, or a golden calf. Hashem has granted us the ability to speak to him as individuals. With all of our shortcomings and inadequacies, we have a direct link to our Creator.
And how does that link express itself? Hashem grants us the ability to talk directly to Him through tefillah. The ability to daven is our backstage pass, allowing each and every one of us to do the impossible - to speak to the divine and unreachable G-d. The gift of tefillah allows us to cultivate our own special and unique relationship with Hashem.
Questions for the Shabbos table:
- Is tefillah something you take for granted? If so, how can you remind yourself how truly unique it is?
- Which aspects of our tefillah and avodat Hashem go counter to this idea and make it hard for us to have access? How might we overcome them?
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Thoughts of the Rav
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The Rav asks: How is it possible to stand upright in prayer in front of G-d when we daven
Shemona Esrei? Really we should prostrate ourselves, praying bent over as we plead to G-d for our lives. What allows us the audacity to speak to G-d while standing upright, in a near-equal manner?
The answer is in the parasha this week. The source for tefilla b'amidah (standing upright during prayer) may be the description of the process by which the 13 middot were given to Moshe. It is a detailed and unprecedented description of Moshe standing with Hashem and calling out His name. "Calling in Hashem's name" is indicative of the closeness of the relationship as you eliminate the distance between two parties. Another example given is when Moshe and Hashem stand together, and there is a beautiful description in the Talmud of Hashem wrapping Himself in a talit as if He is our shliach tzibbur.
These examples, from the process of how the 13 middot were given to Moshe by Hashem, allow us to stand upright in prayer, to come close and pray as if with Hashem, instead of only to Hashem.
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Financial Aid Application Deadline |
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The deadline for filing a financial aid application for the 2018-19 school year is
March 19.
The deadline for submitting the required tax documentation is April 19.
The link to the financial aid page on the school website is
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Dinner and Concert with Gad Elbaz on Thursday! |
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Maimonides is 80 years strong! Join us
next Thursday, March 8 as we celebrate our 80th Anniversary with dinner at 5:00 p.m. and a concert featuring Israeli superstar Gad Elbaz at 6:00 p.m. All Maimo families, faculty and staff are welcome to attend, but you must reserve your spot by this coming Monday, March 5.
Click here to sign up!
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Basketball Tourney Updates |
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The Maimonides girls' basketball team added to the Purim celebration on Thursday by defeating Snowden International 35-28 in the MIAA Division 4 North quarterfinals. The fifth-seeded Lady M-Cats won their first MIAA post-season game since 2014 and will meet the winner of Matignon-Lowell Catholic on Tuesday
at 7
p.m.
at Malden Catholic High School. Senior Daniella Hanau opened the scoring Thursday with a three-point field goal and ended up leading the scorers with 14. The girls' overall record for 2017-18 is now 14-4.
The boys' basketball season ended with a gallant effort at second-seeded Austin Preparatory
Tuesday
night, as the M-Cats fell 62-52 in overtime in the opening round of the MIAA Division 4 North Sectional Tournament. "The team came ready and focused, and battled through adversity the whole game," said Rabbi Ed Gelb, head coach. "I was really proud of how they played."
Trailing by four with less than a minute in regulation, sophomore Judah Kosowsky (10 points) converted an off-balance shot. After Austin missed the front end of a one-and-one, Josh Weiss (17 points, 12 rebounds) tied the game at 52 with one second left. But the M-Cats were shut out in overtime. Maimonides led through much of the first half and never trailed by more than six in regulation. Sophomore Eytan Pomper scored 14 and junior Aaron Weinstock had 10 rebounds. Coach Gelb praised seniors Doni Berg and Josh Weiss for "incredible leadership"
Tuesday
and all season. He added, "The future looks bright."
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Alumni Newsletter Online |
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The monthly alumni newsletter for February is now online, and can be found
here. This issue's articles include:
- Young Grad's English Skills Help Dominican Ballplayers Pursue Their Dreams
- Retired Alumnus Now a Volunteer with Religious Families in Galilee Community
- Maimonides Alumni Here and There
- Class Notes
If you would like to receive the alumni newsletter each month, contact Mike Rosenberg at (617) 232-4452 x 405 or
mrosenberg@maimonides.org
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PTA Skating Party
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Ezra Schwartz Memorial Baseball Tournament |
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There are still three weeks until spring, but planning is already well underway for the second Ezra Schwartz Memorial Baseball Tournament in Sharon, scheduled for April 19-22. Visiting teams will be from the Frisch School, Yeshivah of Flatbush, and Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles (YULA). Ezra,
זק"ל
, a 2015 Maimonides graduate and varsity baseball player, was killed by a terrorist in Israel in November 2015. The tournament was established by family and friends to honor Ezra's passion for baseball and create a fun environment in which to remember him. More information can be found at http://ezraschwartzbaseballmemorial.com/
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See What's Happening in other Divisions |
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Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School!
If you'd like to take a peek at what's happening in the other divisions, click to visit the Early Childhood Center, Elementary School, or Middle School newsletter pages.
If you would like to contact a specific school office, please use these emails:
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Let's Get Social! |
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There's so much going on here at Maimo! Be sure to check out our social media to get the inside scoop (with lots of great photos) on happenings at school.
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