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ICJA News
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10 Students Join Fencing Club
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Photo credit: Gary Chuven
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This third season of ICJA cross country featured more runners, races and personal records (PR's) than ever before. The Aces hosted its second dual meet against CJHS and then hosted the Chicago Prep Conference meet, with almost 100 runners from six schools.
At the conference meet, the team took 2nd in Boys Varsity, 2nd in Girls Varsity, 2nd in the Boys Open and 1st in the Girls Open. Individual medals went to Sammy Magid-Boys Varsity Silver; Jacob Magid-Boys Varsity Bronze; Shana Shapiro-Girls Varsity Gold; Noah Nagar-Boys Open Bronze; and Michal Weissberg-Silver in the Girls Open. Most impressively, 27 of the 28 runners set a PR!
Prior to the conference meet, mid-October featured two cross country meets with outstanding results. At the Chicago Prep Classic in Lincoln Park, the team had over 23 runners. Over 10 schools were there in a very competitive field.
We put our best up against the city's best and did well with Shana Shapiro finishing 21st in Varsity. Great runs also by the Magid brothers with Sammy running 18:57 and Jacob running 19:08 in the Varsity 3-mile race. Rookies Laura Chuven finished 25th in the Freshman/Sophomore race and Shneur Strauss ran a great Varsity race. Special kudos to Adina Schreiber, Talia Molotsky, Hadas Rosenberg and Rachel Russman who also ran the three mile Vasity race.
On Sunday, Oct. 9, the team faced off against CJHS for the season's second dual meet. Once again our runners swept all the golds, and the JV boys won overall. Most importantly, 17 runners set personal records! Gabe Michael took the JV Gold and Ezra Kapetansky took the JV Bronze. Shana Shapiro continued her mastery of the field, winning Girls Gold by a wide
margin
and getting her first sub-14 minute 2-mile race. In Boys' Varsity, we
had our first ever 1-2 finish with Sammy Magid taking the Gold,
followed very closely by Jacob Magid taking the Silver. The Boys Varsity race was neck and neck with a near miss and a full collision at the finish line. The final score was CJHS 24.5 and ICJA 31.5. Scorers for ICJA were Sammy Magid (1), rookie Schneer Strauss (4), Avi Gutstein (6.5), Jacob Magid (9), and Avi Eisenstein (11).
Students Volunteer in Annual Schach Run
By Jacob Magid
While
most Jewish teenagers stick to helping their parents put up the family
Sukkah, Ida Crown students took to the streets to help families around
Chicagoland build sukkot. Organized by Bnei Akiva, 53 students from all
four grades delivered schach to roughly 100 different homes.
"We really went above and beyond of what was accepted of us tonight," said senior Ezra Allswang. "I know it seemed like it would be hard, and the bundles did look heavy at first, but accomplishing the task ended up being rather easy."
The students were split up into five different U-haul vans and had delivered a total of around 625 bundles of schach by the night's end. Well, in actuality it was the beginning of the morning. "I didn't get home until 3AM, but I wasn't that tired. Plus, I hear that you get extra points in shamayim for every extra hour you stay up delivering schach," said one student.
The delivery boys and girls were rewarded for their hard works with barbeque chicken wings, courteous of Chicago Tailgators. Company owner, Aces baseball coach, and one of the U-haul drivers, Steven Greenberg was happy to provide the early morning snack.
"I've never eaten that many wings so fast," said Senior Ori Schwartz. "I think I'm going to have a tummy ache."
Student Wins Sportsmanship Award
Congratulations
to Daniel Jocoby on winning a $1000 scholarship from the Positive
Coaching Alliance for sportsmanship. Daniel, who plays baseball and runs
cross country for the Aces, was one of six winners from over 120
applicants, selected based on letters of recommendation, academics and
mostly for their love and respect for their sport and team spirit.
Pictured is Daniel (center) at the awards ceremony at US Cellular field
on Wednesday with Jarrett Payton.Student Council President on Capitol Hill
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Rabbi Matanky; Aaron Barnes, Washington Correspondent,
Israel Channel ; Spencer Brasch; Sam Caplin, Midwest Director, AIPAC |
In September Spencer Brasch joined Rabbi Matanky in Washington, D.C. for a one-day
Midwest Rabbinic Summit of AIPAC. Spencer was invited as the Academy's
student council president and was the only student leader to join more
than 50 Chicago rabbis from all denominations. He was a participant in
briefings with AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr and other staff
members on the challenges of the upcoming UN Palestinian vote, the Iran
threat, Gaza and the "Arab Spring."
In the afternoon, Spencer
received special training as a young leader on how to lobby on Capitol
Hill. We hope that this first meeting will motivate him to return home
and lead expanded student participation in Israel Advocacy--a key
component in the Academy's mission. We also offer the Gorenstein Israel
Advocacy course and programs and speakers to promote Israel advocacy.
As student council president, Spencer will receive an invitation to join other student leaders from around the country to participate in AIPAC's High School Summit in November. We are proud of Spencer, and of the opportunities that our school is able to offer our students.
Congratulations Class of 2011!
Congratulations to our senior class of 2011!
We wish you continued success as you head to the finest programs in Israel and to the finest universities, including:
Barnard College, Binghamton University, Boston University, Brandeis University, Drexel University, Indiana University, Loyola University, Michigan State University, New York University, Northwestern University, Queens College, Stern College, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Washington University & Yeshiva University
Brovender's, Derech Etz HaChaim, Emunah V'Omanut, Eretz Hatzvi, Gush Etzion, Lev Hatorah, MMY, Machon Maayan, Mevaseret, Michlalah, Michlelet Esther, Midreshet Harova, Midreshet Moriah, Migdal Oz, Orayta, Shaalavim for Women, Scharfman, Tiferet, Torat Shraga, Afikei Torah, Netiv Aryeh, Michlelet Esther, Midreshet Ein Hanatziv.
Lock-in at the Horwich JCC. The program provides a safe and fun event for the grads and a chance for them to be together for one last time. The program began at 11PM and culminated with Shacharit at the lakefront around 5:00 AM. Monday morning at the lake front was beautiful and clear with a spectacular view of daybreak! Yasher koach to Rabbi Matanky and his sleep-deprived staff chaperones. The Jason Lerner Yehudi Hatov Award
Congratulations to senior Ronit Miller, who received that newly established Yehudi HaTov Award at last week's Torah Award Banquet. Ronit was chosen by her peers as someone who embodies the best of Jewish life and practice. Pictured is Ronit (center) with Michale Goldberger (left) and Marni Rosen.
The award was established by the family of Jason Lerner a"h ('95) in consultation with world-renowned Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. His family wrote, "Jason Lerner personified the yehudi hatov. He acted only after paying attention to the feelings and needs of a fellow person."
Moreinu HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein Visits ICJA
We were honored to have Moreinu HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion and one of the leading halachic authorities of our generations, spend the morning on Nov. 1 with Academy students for davening and divrei chizuk. Following davening at KINS, in his introduction of the Rav, Rabbi Matanky said, "He is the voice of courage, the voice of reason and always the voice of Torah for our community." Rav Lichtenstein spoke to the entire student body briefly, followed by a more lengthy address to juniors and seniors. He spoke about he privilege of receiving the Torah, coinciding with the obligation of Torah and mitzvot. He then spoke about the significance of Talmud Torah in students' lives, saying that while Torah may not be the totality of students' personal lives, it should have primacy, so that Torah is a central pillar.
ICJA students and faculty were overwhelmed by the rare opportunity to be in the presence of a gadol hador. "There aren't a lot of times that we get to interact with gedolei Torah--treasure it," said Rabbi Matanky.
Crown Essentials
