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27 Nisan 5781

April 9, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

It’s been a short school week, but today’s our first long Friday, which allowed me to teach a little more and visit a couple of classes.

I started in Rabbi Drutman’s 12th-grade math class. But when I walked in, I wasn’t sure what was going on because they were discussing a Gemara in Megilla and why yeshivot are called “yeshivot.” It is an interesting question and was how Rabbi Drutman got their attention to then launch into an explanation of the three techniques to discover if a sine was negative or positive – calculator, count, or divide.

It’s been a few years (decades?) since I’ve studied math, but I was able to follow and even answer one of the questions – not as fast as Ayelet Dallal did (there’s your “shout out”!), but I did get it right! But what was most impressive was the pace of the class – there were engaged and solving problems so quickly.

I was going to come right back to my office, but along the way, I saw a group of boys working on an experiment in the Math/Science Commons. Mr. Sears was helping them, and as Ariel Kahnrose explained to me – they were studying circuits. Again they were on task and working, but the real nachas was the use of the space. When our architects designed that space, we imagined teachers leaving their classrooms for experiments in the open space, and it’s happening!

Yesterday, after the Yom HaShoah presentation, Mrs. Kahan stopped by my office to tell me about the in-class writing exercise she assigned as a follow-up. All of her students had to write a half-page reflection on Rabbi Polak’s presentation. Earlier today, she shared with me the reflections. They were impressive and rewarding, reading how well our students understood what Rabbi Polak wanted them to learn. Many of them recalled his words, “it takes a village to make a Holocaust,” and the fact that the Shoah was financed with stolen Jewish assets. Some also focused on what happened after the Shoah, the lasting impact that the Shoah had, even on child-survivors as Rabbi Polak. To listen to yesterday’s presentation, visit our Facebook page, or click here.

Sunday will not only be a boys’ soccer game but also day two of girls’ soccer tryouts 12:00 – 1:30 pm at ICJA! Please reach out to Coach Leo at leorodriguez989@gmail.com with any questions. 

A few weeks back, I bragged a bit about Ezra Landman-Feigelson’s passion for Chicago history which landed him as a contestant on WTTW’s “The Great Chicago Quiz Show.” I won’t tell you how he did – you’ll have to watch yourself, but he did great (and mentioned ICJA several times!). Click here to watch the show – Ezra’s part begins at 11:10.

Candle lighting tonight is at 7:05 pm. And here is the link for my weekly dvar Torah for Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom, stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy


26 Nisan 5781

April 8, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

Today was Yom HaShoah, and while we could not gather in-person as a school for a traditional assembly, we did have the privilege of hearing Rabbi Dr. Joseph Polak. Rabbi Polak is a child survivor and a most accomplished leader in our American Jewish community, serving for decades as the Hillel Rabbi at Boston University.

His presentation was intense as he challenged our students to imagine what it must have been like and understand that the only way the Holocaust could have happened was because so many people and countries were complicit in the Final Solution. 

We thank Sharon and Seymour Gertz and the estate of Margalit bat Rav Shilem Gertz z”l for sponsoring this program in memory of Rabbi Shlomo Hirsch Koller, Hy”d, and his sister Etka Koller-Cykornik, Hy”d.

To view his presentation, click here.

Earlier today, I sent a critical COVID update to all of our families. If you have not had a chance to read it, please take a few minutes to review the information. But I do want to reiterate two essential points:

1. While many have been vaccinated and restrictions are being lifted, our teenagers are currently at the greatest risk of infection. Please do not take unnecessary risks. If you need a ride, make sure the windows are open, and everyone is masked. And if you are gathering with others outside of your pod, please maintain your distance and wear masks, whether the gathering is indoors or outdoors.

2. The Chicago Center/Refuah 311 has just announced that as of Monday they will be a vaccination center for everyone 16 years old and above. Please take advantage of this opportunity and others that will most assuredly be available to get vaccinated as soon as possible. To enroll in the Refuah 311’s waitlist database, click here 

Earlier today, our Student to Student program presented to the students at Naperville Central. ICJA alum and parent of alums Alison Molotsky “chaperoned” this online program and wrote a few thoughts afterward: “…The students exceeded my expectations and gave, as a group, the best presentation of the three I’ve chaperoned. Hannah Stein did a SUPERB job of moderating and presenting. Leora Lakser, Aryeh Robinson, Benjamin Berris, and Adina Margolin, along with Hannah, in my opinion, are superstar presenters – spoke clearly, succinctly, respectfully, friendly tone, etc. Mike [Wilson, the religion teacher at Naperville] closed by telling the presenters that their parents, teachers, and ancestors should be very proud of their great presentation……best compliment we could hope to get……  

Finally, tomorrow is our first post-Pesach Friday. Dismissal will be at 3:34 pm, and periods 7, 8, and 9 will meet.

Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy


26 Nisan 5781

April 8, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

Despite our recent COVID testing results, one of our students, Attar Benmelech, who had tested negative on Tuesday, today tested positive for COVID. While it is possible that today’s rapid test may be a “false positive,” we are taking all necessary precautions.

Our medical committee has confirmed that students who were in class with Attar or passing her in the hallways have no reason for concern because of our distancing and masking protocols

Nevertheless, outside of school, five students were in close contact with her, and they are now in isolation at home. 

We wish Attar refuah shlaima and hope that this will either prove to be a false positive or an isolated case. Nevertheless, this underscores the need for continued vigilance regarding COVID guidelines. Please stay masked whenever outside of the home, maintain distance as much as possible, and practice hand sanitizing. If people outside of your family pod are in a car together, please make sure to be masked and keep the windows open.

Finally, I just received notice from Refuah 311 that beginning Monday, anyone over age 16 is eligible for vaccination at The Chicago Center/Refuah311. This is very important and exciting news. Please have everyone in your family complete their survey to be included in that database waitlist. Hopefully, very soon, there will be other sources of the vaccine available for our community’s “16 and over” crowd. Here is the link to the survey.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.

B’vracha l’refuah shlaima l’kulam!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy


25 Nisan 5781

April 7, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

Just a few hours ago, I received the good news that all of the COVID tests administered yesterday were negative! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been so happy about people being “negative” as I have been this year! Our next COVID tests are scheduled for two weeks from now. The exact date and time will be soon forthcoming.

Today, I had a chance to visit two history classes, Mrs. Zeffren’s 10th grade Jewish History and Mr. Cooper’s 11th grade American History. Both classes were engaging, despite the obvious differences in topic.

In Mrs. Zeffren’s class, the students watched a video called “The Disputation,” a dramatization of the famous disputation between Pablo Christiani and the Ramban. (Click here to watch.) To help the students better understand many of the points, Mrs. Zeffren prepared a series of questions that the students had to answer while watching, and from time to time, she paused the video to explain something in the script. I sat in the back, and it was great to see how engaged and attentive the students were throughout. Kol hakavod!

Later in the day, I visited Mr. Cooper’s class which was in the middle of a unit devoted to racism and the Black American experience.The materials for this unit were developed specifically for ICJA by Rev. Roger Cheeks of the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews. (You may recall that this was one of the initiatives that we took over the summer.)

It was great to listen to the discussion that Mr. Cooper led, especially to hear the students interact with the sources and questions Rev. Cheeks created. My favorite part was when they discussed the midrash that described the Jewish enslavement in Egypt as typified by the word פרך. As Avi Seruya explained to the class, the midrash chose not to translate פרך as “crushing labor,” but as פה-רך – euphemism. The class then discussed how oppressors use euphemisms to “humanize” their acts of inhumanity. Among the examples they discussed were:  the Japanese “Relocation Camps” during WWII; the principle of separate but equal of in Plessy v. Ferguson; the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” over the entrances to Nazi extermination camps. 

On that topic, tonight is Yom HaShoah, and tomorrow is our online assembly with child-survivor and Jewish leader Rabbi Dr. Josef Polak. As I mentioned in yesterday’s update, parents are also invited to join the commemoration, 1:15 pm tomorrow. Here is the link  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3819881616?pwd=OUxkQmJPSDc2U3VtYmpCdndLVG9sZz09.

On a completely different note, our fencing team is selling sweatshirts for $23. Anyone interested in ordering one should see Noah Fensterheim. Orders need to be in this week!

Finally, over the past few years, many joint projects have begun by the modern Orthodox high school in North America. One of those projects has been to address the question of mental health during the year in Israel. A colleague, Rabbi Noam Stein, currently at the Farber Academy in Southfield and soon to be in Israel, is creating a resource for students and parents. ICJA will be among the cooperating schools participating in a seminar on May 23. For more information, see the attached flyer.

Tomorrow, all classes will meet. However, due to the assembly, the afternoon classes will be a bit shorter than usual. Dismissal will be at 5:39 pm.

Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy


24 Nisan 5781

April 6, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

Finally! We’re back to an almost normal day with minyan, breakfast, classes, and all of the fun that is ICJA.

Of course, a few of the students were a little blurry-eyed, having to get to school a little earlier than they have for more than a year – but minyan ran smoothly, outdoor breakfast was enjoyable, and as of today, all of our faculty and staff are back and in person. Again, we want to thank Orah and Lev Katz for sponsoring breakfast for our first day back from vacation and the first day back to minyan!

This afternoon, the long-awaited ping-pong table was installed in the “fishbowl” (room 146). When I walked by I, saw that Herschel Thomas and Noam Weissman didn’t waste a minute getting in a game during their free period (and a few more later in the day as well). While that was going on, there was a pick-up football game on the west lawn, students were enjoying the tents and our comfortable Adirondack chairs, and all classes were meeting. What a great combination of formal and informal education and recreation – that’s ICJA!

As I mentioned yesterday, we had a whole school COVID test today. I hope to have the results by tomorrow and will share them as soon as they are available. Unfortunately, there were a few students who are not yet back from vacation. To return to school, they must be tested and present us with the testing results.

Earlier today, I exchanged emails with our medical committee, who gave us the go-ahead to have sports teams travel by bus to away games. Everyone will need to be masked on the buses; no more than one person can sit on a bench, and windows will need to open. But it’s progress, and it’s exciting!

Tonight at 7:30 pm, the Stadlan Family is sponsoring a memorial lecture in commemoration of the 4th yahrzeit of their daughter, ICJA alum, Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, a”h. The lecture is entitled “You’re My Person: Noticing Others, Changing Ourselves” and will be given by ICJA teacher, Mrs. Olivia Friedman. Here is the info – Meeting ID 713 951 211 Password 613.

There will be an important meeting with the senior class to discuss Senior Retreat, Senior Ditch Day, and Senior Finals during breakfast tomorrow. We need their input on all three matters and look forward to speaking with them.

On Thursday afternoon, we will be honored to welcome Rabbi Dr. Joseph Polak as our online guest speaker for Yom HaShoah. Many of you know of Rabbi Polak from his decades of service as the Hillel rabbi at Boston University. He is a child survivor and the author of a memoir, “After the Holocaust the Bells Still Ring,” and the Av Beit Din of The Rabbinical Council of New England. The online assembly will be at 2:15 pm, and parents are invited to join us. The zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3819881616?pwd=OUxkQmJPSDc2U3VtYmpCdndLVG9sZz09.

Girls’ soccer tryouts are this Thursday, April 8, from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Please reach out to Coach Leo at leorodriguez989@gmail.com with any questions.

Tomorrow is another early dismissal day, and we skip 10th period.

Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy


10 Nisan 5781

March 23, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

According to Chazal, three thousand, three hundred and thirty-three years ago today, G-d commanded the Jews of Egypt to take a lamb and bring it into their homes in preparation for offering it four days later as the very first korban Pesach (Pascal lamb).

Why do I share this piece of historical information? Because today was the last day of school before Pesach vacation and our teachers and students were also getting ready for their exodus. (Of course, some have already left – it seems no matter how long vacation is, it’s never long enough… oh well!)

Many of the Judaic classes were reviewing aspects of the Pesach seder or the unique halachot of this year’s Pesach that falls on motzaei Shabbat. In fact, I was in the middle of that review with my students when Mrs. Kraft came in to present me with a booklet of divrei Torah and artwork for Pesach prepared by the 9th-grade classes! Why 9th grade? Because they’ve been studying Shemot and the story of the Jews in Egypt! It’s a beautiful booklet – and you can download it here

By the way, Mrs. Pogonitz’s 9th-grade class finished sefer Shoftim today. It’s the fourth book of Tanach they have complete (the others were Yonah, Esther, and Yehoshua). When they get back from break, it’s on to sefer Ruth! Mazal tov!

Student to Student gave two presentations today for Naperville North High School (and they’ll give two more tomorrow). What’s nice is the feedback they received from the students in Naperville: “…All of the speakers were very good at explaining everything to those of us who might not have known a lot before this. It was also easy to tell how much their faith means to each of them, and I think that is a great example for all of us.” 

Last night was our Bubble Soccer Tournament. Sponsored by Rabbi Stromer and Rabbi Fox (and the school, of course), it was one of the latest fun programs from our mechanchim. While I am told that “everyone was a winner” in the tournament, one team excelled in the “one-two punch,” first getting the opponent off-balance then knocking him down. And that team was led by Jonah Matanky and included Ezra Landman-Feigelson, Adam Katz, and Phil Maimon.

On the topic of takedowns, our wrestling team is a very special program. Led for almost 30 years by Coach Klein, they manage to find creative ways to extend ICJA values into the program. Enon Gurvich dropped by today to let me know that recently to help time pass while doing wall sits or planks, Coach Klein began to quiz them on Gemara words and abbreviations! 

Please remember that after Pesach break, we will be restarting our mandatory in-school minyanim. To keep it simple, those who typically daven mincha in the gym or cafeteria will daven shacharit in the same locations. Those who daven in rooms 313 and 401 will be davening outside in the tents. Davening begins at 8:05 am, and breakfast will be available from Starr Catering but will have to be eaten outside.

Finally, tonight Ms. Julie Avner, a cherished member of our social services team, is getting married to ICJA alum Dr. Benjy Marks. Mazal tov!

Please have a great vacation, enjoy the seder, and celebrate how far we have come this year! (I know you have received many guides to this year’s special Pesach – but Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon has prepared an excellent summary – click here.)

Chag Kasher v’Sameach! 

Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy 


9 Nisan 5781

March 22, 2021

Dear ICJA Family:

Things should be slowly winding down in anticipation of Pesach break, but not yet.

This morning all of our students participated in an online survey, conducted by Measuring Success. This survey was supposed to happen a year ago at this time, but “something happened” and it was postponed until now. In the coming weeks I hope to be able to share with you the findings of this survey, but even more importantly, I look forward to using the findings to review the ICJA experience from the perspective of our students.

Speaking of delayed events – today, two of Rabbi Segal’s sophomore boys’ Tanach classes from last year finally had their siyum. It’s not that it took them so long to complete their studies, it’s that due to COVID Rabbi Segal wasn’t able to prepare one of his world-famous Siyum BBQ’s. But with things getting better, today was the day And today, 20 junior boys boys finally enjoyed a delicious steak lunch in celebration of the the learning they completed last year! Mazal tov on your siyum.

Today, we also had a “lock-down” drill in coordination with the Skokie Police Department. This was another one of those delayed events, and B”H we passed with flying colors. Of course, I hope to never to use this knowledge in a real life situation. Nevertheless, the safety of our school is paramount, and we continue to work closely with security agencies.

For those who are at school today or did a drop off or pick up, I’m sure you noticed the return of the tents on our western lawn. These tents will be up through the end of the school year so that students will have additional outdoor spaces to gather during lunch (and soon breakfast!) as well as free-periods.

All around school today, that are boys wearing the latest ICJA sweatshirt celebrating the upcoming “Zaidy Robert Berezin Crosstown Classic.” What is it? It’s the upcoming baseball series against RZ (April 15 at 7:00 pm) and Fasman Yeshiva HS (April 17th at 9:30 pm). Thanks to the Schwartz Family for sponsoring this and to Coach Steve Greenberg for taking care of all of the details. The games will be played at Caleb Field in Skokie. 

Tonight at 8:00 pm our Mechanchim and Mechanchot continue their pre-Pesach learning program for parents and students with an online shiur with Rabbi Rosenbaum (3/22). Tomorrow and Wednesday, Mrs. Friedman (3/23), and Rabbi Sprung (3/24) will be giving the shiurim, also at 8:00 pm. You can link to those online shiurim by clicking on their names above. 

Tomorrow, we skip 3rd period, school will be dismissed at 4:58 pm, and it is the last day before Pesach vacation. Remember, if you have any chametz in the building please remove it before Pesach begins!

Stay safe, stay in contact, and be inspired!

LAM

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.

Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy 

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