Week 10, November 8-12
8 Kislev 5782
November 12, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
When I first began writing these updates, it was to share critical information and let everyone know that despite being online – learning continued at ICJA. Since then, school has been open, the more drastic restrictions of COVID have been lifted, and life at ICJA is back to normal (despite the masks).
Yet, two things are different.
The first is that we’ve found new ways to make the ICJA experience more enjoyable for our students. This includes everything from a new lunch menu and frozen yogurt to pop-ups and guest speakers for Rosh Chodesh. The second is that while these daily updates share less “critical” information, they do feature “shout-outs” for students and teachers.
Of course, the great things I get to see and those reported to me are only a fraction of all of the fantastic things our students and teachers do. After all, we are a great school – and while these daily updates take time to compose, I continue to write them so that you become as big a fan of ICJA as am I!
So here are four things to take us into Shabbat.
1. Yesterday, we had three students shadow at ICJA. Which means we had at least three students guide them through the day. Thank you, Avi Chen, Dana Kalutsky, and Rachel Sommer, for a job well done!
2. Our Open House for prospective students is this coming Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. Nearly one hundred 7th and 8th-grade families have already registered to attend! If you know anyone with a 7th or 8th-grade student who you think should join the ICJA family, it’s not too late for them to sign up and come! For more information, here is the link – https://www.icja.org/open-house/.
3. I just had a chance to visit Mr. Sears’ Conceptual Physics class, and what a joy it was to see how engaged his students were in a lesson on optics. They were using whiteboards to chart the path of rays through lenses and pinholes. Dina Simon advanced a theory about the brightness and focus of an image through a pinhole – so he had her test her hypothesis. And Zach Miller drew one of the diagrams that was the focus of the class, especially in their discussion of half lenses. But all of his class deserve a shout-out for their engagement and their learning. Kol Hakavod to Rachel Adar, Jordyn Baker, Moshe Drutman, Adi Seruya, and Dalia Wolper.
4. HAM Radio Club – for ICJA veterans, “yes,” that means that Mr. David Newman, our beloved biology teacher from 1972-2010, is back at ICJA! Students – now is your chance not only to get to know Mr. Newman (he was my biology teacher!), but more importantly, to learn Morse Code, speak with people around the world, and ultimately be licensed as a HAM radio operator. The first meeting is after school, on November 24th at 5:00 pm in room 410.
Don’t forget that Parent-Teacher Conferences are this Sunday, online and beginning at 12:30. If you need any last minute help accessing the online platform – please be in touch with Rabbi Binyomin Segal bsegal@icja.org. Rabbi Segal will also be available on the day of the conferences and be in a special zoom room 30 minutes before conferences begin (and in-between his own parent meetings) to give any last-minute support: https://icja.us/help
Candle lighting today is at 4:12 pm.
Shabbat Shalom, stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
7 Kislev 5782
November 11, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Today’s big event was the “pop-up,” our monthly surprise program for our students – just for fun. And they had a lot of fun today, with the indoor racetrack we assembled and the large remote cars they raced. Each grade had a turn at racing – four drivers and another four people at least in the “pit,” jumping onto the course in case of car trouble. Each race was just a few minutes long, so there were many winners. I especially enjoyed that for the first time in over a year, the bleachers were opened, and spectators were cheering the teams on! It was great watching our students have a good time, relax a bit while feasting on the fresh popcorn that was the special treat of the morning.
It was a great morning. But not as great as having Rabbi Stromer come into my office all excited about a Torah thought that one of his students, 12th grader Jonathan Thomas shared in class. It was part of the students’ project to prepare and present different pesukim from the book of Mishle. The pasuk that Jonathan was assigned was יש זהב ורב פנינים וכלי יקר שפתי דעת – Gold is plentiful, jewels abundant, But wise speech is a precious object. After reviewing the classic commentaries, Jonathan added a thought of his won. He explained that Moishle was the work of King Solomon, who was fabulously wealthy. And yet, when we think about Shlomo HaMelech, what do we remember? It’s not the storehouses of gold, silver, and jewelry, nor the massive flocks and herds. Instead, we remember that he was the wisest of all men – and that said Jonathan, is how Shlomo HaMelech understood that wisdom is the most precious commodity of all!
During 4th period today, our Mechanchot began the first in a series of meetings with our female students about the school uniform. Last year, the uniform was revised based on the recommendations of a committee assembled by the Mechanchot. And in general, things are much better, with more options and less confusion. Yet, we skipped a step by not making time to explain the reasoning behind the changes and the new expectations. Therefore, over the next couple of weeks, the Mechanchot will be meeting will all of the girls to listen and to explain the what and why of the uniform.
Sunday is our Parent-Teacher conference day. By now, I hope that you have been able to schedule all of your appointments. If there are still any issues – please be in touch with Rabbi Binyomin Segal bsegal@icja.org. He’ll also be available on the day of the conferences and will be in a special zoom room 30 minutes before conferences begin (and in-between his own parent meetings) to give any last-minute support: https://icja.us/help
Finally, for all students who are playing indoor sports – mandatory PCR COVID testing is continuing every Monday and Thursday during lunch. We have done everything we can to remind students. Unfortunately, despite announcements over the intercom and repeated emails, some students are not taking this seriously. Therefore, as we announced weeks ago, students who were not tested in school will not be able to participate in practices until they receive a negative PCR test. Today, the coaches were all informed of this, and we truly regret that this is the case, but health must come before all else.
Tomorrow is erev Shabbat, we skip 2nd period, and periods 10, 11, and 12 meet. It is also the last day of the quarter – and grades will be due from our teachers on Monday.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
6 Kislev 5782
November 10, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
While yesterday was an unusual day at ICJA, last night was a glorious evening. Why? Because for the first time in a long time, sports were back in full force – with fencing, wrestling, and basketball all practicing at ICJA.
More than 20 fencers came to the first practice – the largest group we’ve ever had. Nearly the same amount were at the wrestling practice, and even more were at the girls’ basketball practice. All told, over 60 students were involved in a sport last night – and it felt so good.
For those who were not at fencing or for boys who may still want to join the wrestling team – it’s not too late. Contact our athletic director, Brittany Peters, at bpeters@icja.org.
Today, we had another group of students shadowing at ICJA. More than a dozen prospective students have come just this week, and before next week we will have hosted more than 30 students. A special shout out to Avi Okner, Toby Gordon Burstyn, Nina Ripstein, and from yesterday’s visit, Emily Darlow, for hosting them and showing them all of the extraordinary opportunities at ICJA.
Today, we also hosted Rabbi Joseph Beyda, the head of school at the Yeshiva of Flatbush, and Rabbi Ari Segal, the former head of school of Shalhevet in LA. They came to see the school, meet with students and speak to teachers to learn more about ICJA. Before leaving, Rabbi Beyda shared some of his observations with me, and he told me that what impressed him so much was how much our students like ICJA and how strongly they feel that their teachers care about them and their learning. And he’s correct, or as a group of junior girls told him when I asked them to say what they like the most about ICJA – it’s the “community.” (I also asked them what they liked the least – and they said “homework.”)
As some may have noticed, we are still experiencing some minor lighting issues as a result of yesterday’s power outage. Hopefully, everything will be resolved very soon.
Next Tuesday, the 9th and 10th grades will have the opportunity to participate in a unique learning program with “Foundation Stone.” This program which is being brought to Chicago through the generosity of the Walder Science Program, focuses on the intersection of archeology and Torah. Rabbi Barnea Selavan and David Willner will be presenting during the morning – 9th-grade boys during 1st period, 9th-grade girls during 2nd period, 10th-grade boys during 3rd period, and 10th-grade girls during 4th period. It is a great learning opportunity, and we thank the Walder Foundation for making it possible!
And now – we need some crowd-sourced help. We are trying to find a place for our Senior Shabbaton (December 10-11). We need a place that can offer us 40+ rooms on two floors, a couple of large spaces for tefillah/programs and meals that are “tucked-away” and give us access to a kitchen we can use on Shabbat. If you know of any hotels that fit the bill – please email yfox@icja.org
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
5 Kislev 5782
November 9, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Today was an unusual day at ICJA (but given that every day is so special… maybe every day is really unusual?)
We started the morning with the Israel Seminary Fair, welcoming 20 seminaries who presented to our 11th and 12th-grade girls and another 12 girls from Hannah Sacks. The girls (and some mothers who joined in) could hear two or three presentations, and two programs conducted their interviews for next year! B”H, the program went VERY well, which is a credit to Mrs. Kraft, who coordinated all of the details, and of course, to the seminaries and our extraordinary ICJA girls!
But one special program a day never seems to be enough – so of course, today was also the flu and COVID vaccine clinic – which ran like clockwork! Thank you, CareOne Pharmacy, and to former ICJA parents Lydia Karoll and Dr. Rick Cohen, who administered the vaccines!
While all of this was going on – the lights went out. Apparently, there was a ComEd outage in the area, which included ICJA. But thanks to our generator and some amazing technology in our building, we experienced only a brief period without power. Classes continued, and to the credit of our teachers who adapted their lessons at a moment’s notice, ICJA kept going strong.
By now, I hope you have all signed up for online appointments for this Sunday”s parent-teacher conferences. If you need any assistance, please feel free to call the office or reach out by email to Rabbi Segal (bsegal@icja.org). For those parents who scheduled two meetings with an English teacher (one for the English class and one for the writing lab), you should have received an email asking you to choose which appointment you prefer. And for those parents who could not get an appointment with an English, please check back tonight or tomorrow. More slots will be open.
Today we had another group of 8th graders shadowing at ICJA. Thanks to their “tour guides,” Yossi Gordon-Burstyn, Avi Meyer, Simone Fridberg, and Elisha Shpayher.
Finally, a few upcoming items:
1. Dr. Brown has been working with faculty to help create an extraordinary series of Jewish thought seminars during Chanukah. Each grade will have several sessions with the 9th grade focusing on our relationship with Hashem, 10th grade understanding the “other,” 11th grade “Psyched for Avot” (on the intersections of psychology and Pirkei Avot), and 12th grade Modern Orthodoxy.
2. Friday is the end of this quarter. Grades are due Monday (which is a day off of school).
3. Recently, we were informed that the Illinois Virtual School is losing its funding from the State. This program, which worked closely with ICJA, had allowed us to offer some students an online opportunity when schedule conflicts arose. As a result, we are reviewing our “outside credit” policy for this summer and the coming years. Please stay tuned for more information.
Tomorrow, we will skip 8th period, and dismissal will be at 4:58 pm.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
4 Kislev 5782
November 8, 2021
Dear ICJA Family:
Last week, our Senior Varsity Girls’ Basketball team went to the Glouberman Tournament in Los Angeles. From all reports, it was a wonderful experience, despite some disappointments on the court. But, early this morning, one of the parents wrote to tell me that while we didn’t win a trophy, we won something much more important – the respect of the other teams for our team’s derech eretz and middot. In fact, of the 300 players who participated, it was our senior, Alex Schreiber, who won the Glouberman Award for “sportsmanship and the love of the game.” Kol Hakavod Alex!
Early this morning, everyone should have received instructions for signing up for Sunday’s online parent-teacher conferences. This year we are not using zoom but a unique platform with integrated video-conferencing called “Meet Your Teacher.” If you did not receive the email, be sure to contact Rabbi Binyomin Segal (bsegal@icja.org) ASAP.
Tomorrow is a big day at ICJA. We will welcome representatives from nearly 20 women’s programs in Israel for our in-person Seminary Fair in the morning. Mid-morning will be our vaccine clinic (thank you, CareOne Pharmacy!). In the evening, at 5:00 pm, our fencing team will have their first practice session (all interested students, experienced or not, should join for this first session!).
And of course, this is in addition to all of the regular classes and programs, clubs and sports!
To make tomorrow’s Seminary Fair “work,” it will be taking over the entire Humanities wing (the 300-wing) in the morning. Classes that are usually scheduled for that space (Chumash, Navi, and Ivrit) will be relocated to the 400-wing according to the following schedule:
| Teacher | Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 4 | Period 5 |
| Aberman, Aliza | Art Room | Mr. Zbaraz’s Office | ||
| Feuer, Susan | Front Office Conference Room | |||
| Friedman, Olivia | Art | |||
| Isaacs, Netanel | 146 (Fishbowl) | |||
| Marmel, Orit | 415 | 415 | 415 | 415 |
| Meyers, Yehuda | 417 | 417` | 146 (Fishbowl) | |
| Myers, Michael | 417 | 417 | ||
| Pogonitz, Beth | 414 | 405 | 405 | |
| Segal, Binyomin | 401B | |||
| Stopek, Shelley | 402 | 402 | 402 | 402 |
| Tanner, Anat | Front Office Conference Room | Front Office Conference Room | 411 | |
| Yitzhak, Kochava | 412 | 412 | ||
| Zeffren, Alissa | Mr. Zbaraz’s Office |
And finally, today, I had a chance to visit Rabbi Yehuda Meyer’s 11th grade Chumash class. They were studying the second verse of Parshat Va’Etchanan, and when I came in, they had just completed learning the comments of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. But then Rabbi Meyers started asking the girls about the way Moshe was appealing to G-d to enter the land and why he would begin with praising G-d. Chaya Laber “nailed it” when she said that maybe it was because this is the classic structure of tefillah – to start with praise, move on to the request and then conclude with thanks. Yaahser koach Chaya!
To all of our teachers – please don’t forget that Wednesday at 8:00 pm is our faculty meeting.
And finally, while November 17 is our Open House for prospective students, we’ve recruitment season has already begun – just today, we had four 8th graders shadowing ICJA students. Thanks to the students who helped out Ami Weiss, Gabe Aberman, Ezra Comrov, and Aaron Hartman.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy