April 12th – April 16th
4 Iyar 5781
April 16, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Last night, our Aces played an exciting game against Fasman Yeshiva High School. Into the last inning, the Yeshiva was winning 2-1, but then with two out, Matthew Schreiber scored the tying run, which was how the game ended. But it was a lot of fun, and it was good to see so many parents, students, and friends who came out despite the chill in the air and the late hour!
Tomorrow night at Caleb Field (Laramie Park, Skokie), we play Rochelle Zell at 9:00 pm.The outcome of that game will determine who gets to play in Sunday evening’s final game of the Zaidy Robert Berezin Crosstown Classic. Thank you, Coach Steve Greenberg, and all of the players!
A few minutes ago, I had the chance to visit Mr. Sears’ AP Physics class. I knew that I wouldn’t fully understand the topic he was discussing (it’s been a long time since I was in Mr. Melinger’s Physics class). Still, I witnessed some excellent teaching as Mr. Sears was lecturing and “wondering” (modeling meta-cognition) simultaneously. The example on the board involved the principle of conservation of energy and three forms of energy – kinetic transactional, kinetic rotational, and rotational. And because of the questions that were asked and the way the answers were presented, it was very clear.
But the other item I saw was what happened when the class took their three-minute break – almost immediately, devices came out, email, and social media was being checked. Of the dozen-plus students in the room, all but three had their phones or ipads in their hands. I wonder what would happen if, even during breaks, our students could take a break from their devices and relax or interact with one another…
On Monday, during 4th period, ORA (Organization for the Resolution of Agunot) will be speaking to our senior class. It is an important program, and unfortunately, ORA remains a much-needed advocacy group.
On April 22nd, we are proud to join schools across the country in Shalom Task Force’s (STF) Go Purple Day. The mission of the day is to promote awareness of domestic abuse and healthy relationships while teaching students the importance of supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse within our community. The day is being planned by 11th graders David Gaffen and Talia Jacobs and will feature a special presentation during 4th period for 9th-11th graders.
Finally, candle lighting tonight is at 7:13 pm, and here is the link to my dvar Torah for this week which deals with Yom Haatzmaut and the parsha.
Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
3 Iyar 5781
April 15, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Today was a glorious day! It began with davening and then a virtual tour of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel with Israel tour guide Esti Herskowitz. During her thirty-minute presentation, she showed us the “slick” (a secret cache for weapons) from the 48 war and archeological evidence that tied the spot with a significant location linked to the Kings of Israel!
Next, we heard from our Consul General, Aviv Ezra, who shared not only a list of modern-day miracles of Israel, but also his “ten commandments” of Israel advocacy – the last of which was never to be silent in the face of opposition to Israel.
From there, the grades divided into four groups:
1. a fun education activity (“Cake Wars”) run by NCSY. Thank you, Rabbi Yaakov Cohen and Rabbi Jeremy Schaechter, for joining us!
2. an Israel trivia Kahoot game that Hannah Stein and Hannah Rothner created.
3. Laser tag, an obstacle course, and tricycle races on our campus’s west side. (The tricycle race was more challenging than I expected, and Mr. Harris beat me – but thanks to Amitai Kakon for helping end the race in style!)
4. the “eliminator,” a bungee run, and a target booth on our soccer field.
And finally, Rabbi Segal treated us to a great lunch of falafel, shwarma, Israeli salad, and more! Thank you Rabbi Fox, Mrs. Zeffren and all of the student committees for creating this special day. To watch the tour and the consul-General, click here.
It was fun, and it’s an ICJA tradition – as I explained to the students, ICJA has been celebrating Israel even before the State was founded. ICJA (actually CJA) students were even there alongside tens of thousands of others in the Chicago Stadium the Sunday after the State was proclaimed!
Tonight is our first game in the Crosstown Classic. I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting game against Fasman Yeshiva, and it begins at 8:30 pm at Caleb Field. Good luck to Coach Greenberg and all of our Baseball Aces!
One more item, an important one: COVID safety. Even though many of our students 16 and older are getting vaccinated, we need to remain vigilant regarding the basic COVID safety measures of distancing and masking.
This is the guidance we have received from our medical committee and CDC. All students must wear masks in the building except during a brief lunch (and then only in your assigned classrooms). If a student removes his/her mask, the student will be immediately sent home and be suspended for an additional day. This is the “one and done” policy that we have had in place since the beginning of the year and will continue until we receive a different recommendation from the medical committee.
Our students and staff have been fantastic this year. Because of them, our school has been a safe place to learn and to have fun! But now is not the time to be lax – everyone’s safety demands that we continue to do the right thing in school and beyond!
Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
2 Iyar 5781
April 14, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Today was a powerful day at ICJA, as we commemorated Yom HaZikaron with a special online presentation by Mrs. Mara Goldblatt. Mrs. Goldblatt, an ICJA alum and former teacher, spoke to our students about her experiences as a victim of terror. As many may recall, in 1995, Mrs. Goldblatt’s first husband, Danny Frei, hy”d, as well as her unborn child, were murdered when a terrorist broke into their home in Israel.
Mrs. Goldblatt told her story to our students of her initial struggles and the “emunah peshuta” that allowed her to move forward and start another family while cherishing all that she and her first husband had together. Her strength was inspiring and the way she reflected on all that happened made this a powerful learning experience. It was an extraordinarily moving presentation, and I urge you to watch the recording – click here.
Tonight is Yom HaAtzmaut, and this afternoon and even right now, our students are busy preparing for this festive program. Rabbi Segal, our director of communications Joel Lewison, Gabe Gordon-Burson, and Aryeh Baral spent the afternoon getting shwarma prepped for tomorrow’s lunch. At this very moment, Hadassah Bernstein, Michal Bechhofer, Pelah Cohen, Ayelet Dallal, Benjamin Elkaim, Kayla Kupietzky, Ezra Landman-Feigelson, Zoe Matanky, Carmel Schreiber, Liel Shlafrok, Tehilla Weiner, are all busy decorating the building. And rabbi Fox and Mrs. Zeffren are overseeing everything.
We thank the Gertz Family for sponsoring this program in memory of their parents, Paul and Doris Rosenberg, z”l.
Students – please remember to dress in “blue and white” for Yom HaAtzmaut! (Also, girls may want to wear leggings/pants under skirts for the outdoor activities.)
Stay safe, stay in contact, be inspired and CHAG SAMEACH!
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
1 Iyar 5781
April 13, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Tonight and tomorrow is Yom HaZikaron, the day we remember the 23,928 men and women who sacrificed their lives for the State of Israel.
In considering this day, it is appropriate to reflect on something Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, z”l said in the early ’60s at a convention of the Religious Zionists of America:
I want to add something. If you ask me, how do I, a talmudic Jew, look upon the flag of the State of Israel, and has it any halachic value? – I would answer plainly. I do not hold at all with the magical attraction of a flag or of similar symbolic ceremonies. Judaism negates ritual connected with physical things. Nonetheless, we must not lose sight of a law in the Shulchan Aruch to the effect that: “One who has been killed by non-Jews is buried in his clothes, so that his blood may be seen and avenged, as it is written: “I will hold (the heathen) innocent, but not in regard to the blood which they have shed” (Joel 4,21).” In other words, the clothes of the Jew acquire a certain sanctity when spattered with the blood of a martyr. How much more is this so of the blue and white flag, which has been immersed in the blood of thousands of young Jews who fell in the War of Independence defending the country and the population (religious and irreligious alike; the enemy did not differentiate between them). It has a spark of sanctity that flows from devotion and self-sacrifice…
It is both to the sanctity of that flag and the sacrifice of so many that I encourage everyone to find to make tonight and tomorrow special – at 8:00 pm tonight, our Kollel will be hosting an online program at youtube.com/Kollel613, and tomorrow beginning at 10:30 am, ICJA will host a special online ceremony for our students and parents. This year, the featured speaker is ICJA alum (Class of ’84) and former teacher Mrs. Mara Goldblatt. To join our program, click here.
ICJA’s Erika’s Lighthouse Mental Health Awareness Club is excited that its Haiku page of video lessons is now live to all students at Ida Crown! The first unit, which covers anxiety, has a video lesson put together by ICJA’s very own Mr. Phil Zbaraz and Ms. Julie Avner. Students- please make sure to ask your questions via the anonymous Question Box (link here), so we can keep creating content that addresses your needs. Kudos to club leaders Shira David, Ilan Blumenthal, Zack Miller, Gabi Rosenzweig and Audrey Perlman for making this happen. Stay tuned for an upcoming Zoom event with noted mental health advocate Marc Fein taking place on May 2 at 3 pm- more details to follow!
On a lighter note, but also of significance, this week is the “Crosstown Classic Baseball Tournament between Fasman Yeshiva, Rochelle Zell, and ICJA’s very own Aces. All games will be played at Caleb Field in Skokie, and our first match-up will be Thursday at 7:00 pm against Fasman Yeshiva. This will be followed by a motzaei Shabbat game against RZ at 9:00 pm and the championship on Sunday night at 6:00 pm. Join us as we cheer on our Aces!
By the way, our medical committee has concurred with the new State guidelines for low-risk sports (i.e., baseball and cross-country) that our athletes will only need to wear masks in the dugout but not on the field. This is not (yet) the case for soccer, where throughout games and practices, masks must be worn.
Tomorrow is an early dismissal day (4:58 pm), and we will be skipping 11th period.
Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
28 Nisan 5781
April 11, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
This is a most unusual week because something different is happening every day.
Today was Rosh Chodesh Iyar, and as is the ICJA custom following davening, all of our students were treated to donuts sponsored by the Gendler family.
Tomorrow will be the second day of Rosh Chodesh (no donuts, though), and the 11th grade will be taking the SAT starting at 9:30 am. This test is essential, not only for the results it offers but also for the practice and the data it provides so we can better serve our students’ needs.
Wednesday is Yom HaZikaron, and at 10:30, we will be remembering the soldiers who were killed defending the State of Israel and the civilians who died in terrorist attacks. Everyone is invited to join us for our online assembly – click here to join. Our guest speaker this year is ICJA alum and former teacher Mrs. Mara Goldblatt.
Thursday is Yom HaAtzmaut.
We have a full morning program all ready to go, beginning with a live online tour of Ramat Rachel, where an important battle during the Independence War took place, and online greetings from the Honorable Aviv Ezra, our Consul-General for the State of Israel – click here to join. Following that, there will be fun, learning, and food thanks to the efforts of our activities committee led by Rabbi Fox and Mrs. Zeffren.
This brings us to Friday – which is a very short day (even though it is a “long Friday”). And it is the most regular of any of our school days this week!
Add to this the online observance of Yom HaZikaron and the celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut presented by our YU Kollel (8 pm Tuesday and 8 pm Wednesday both on Youtube.com/613), and this truly is an exceptional week.
Earlier today, I had a chance to get an update on ICGC from our mechanchot, Mrs. Gold and Mrs. Kraft. ICGC (the Ida Crown Girls Club) started less than three years ago and was created to create unique opportunities for the girls at our school to bond, have fun and do so in a safe and comfortable way.
Since then, ICGC has grown to be the most popular club among our girls (in a recent survey, over 90% of the girls said it was!). With the addition of Mrs. Hagage and Mrs. Kraft, and now Mrs. Gold and Mrs. Kraft, ICGC has added an important measure of spiritual growth and leadership training. This year, despite COVID restrictions, there have been eight special programs for the girls, most attracting most of the girls in the school. From the Babka Bake with Sharsheret to roller skating on Chanukah and meeting with Judge Ruchie Freier – this has been a great year of growth and opportunity.
We thank the Walder Foundation for supporting this program and all of the girls who have taken such an active role in making ICGC so impactful.
Tomorrow is an early dismissal day (4:58 pm), and we will be skipping 2nd period.
Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
29 Nisan 5781
April 11, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Good news!
On Thursday, I reported that one of our students, Attar Benmelech, had tested positive on a COVID Rapid Test. While rapid tests’ accuracy has improved significantly, the results of a subsequent PCR nasopharyngeal test have determined that baruch Hashem, it was a “false positive” and Attar does not have the COVID-19 virus.
As a result, Attar and the students who were quarantined because of close contact with her are cleared to return to school.
I thank the Benmelech family for working closely with us and doing everything to assure our school community’s safety.
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy