Week 16, January 3 – January 7
5 Shevat 5782
January 7, 2022
Dear ICJA Family:
This will be one email where I will not even write the “C” word or talk about protocols or prevention. We’ve all had enough of that these past few days!
But I will write about what a great school we have, the esprit de corps of a faculty second to none, and students who are not only inspired but who inspire us with their enthusiasm and ability to navigate difficult times.
School is not only happening – it’s thriving. But don’t take my word for it – read our weekly newsletter sent to you this morning. There are so many fascinating things our teachers are doing – that no matter the class I walk into – something special is always happening.
Just a small thing from today – my 12th-grade girls honors Talmud class needed to find a different place to learn. On Fridays, the Beit Midrash is relatively quiet, so with the permission of Kollel, that’s where we went. And it was a good but complicated shiur. And the girls – they learned really well. But afterward, what they don’t know is that Rabbi Goldstein of the Kollel came over to me and invited us to come more often – because listening to them learn was great!
Then there are our sports teams. Our wrestling team continues to find ways to safely compete, but more importantly, they are a chevra, and they come to school every Sunday morning for practice and minyan. Our basketball teams make us proud as they win and are great sportsmen and sportswomen on the court. And let’s not forget our fencing team – it’s gotten large again, and while they have a great new coach, it’s the fencers who make this team special. It’s the way the upperclassmen help the underclassmen and the responsibility they take for the sport.
And let’s not forget the clubs – so many of them that I can’t list them all. But they are working, and students are learning leadership. And among those leaders are Hadassah Bernstein, Attar Benmelech, and Chuck Moscovitch, editors in chief of the yearbook. And they’ve asked me to remind everyone that now’s the time to buy yearbooks – here is the link https://www.icja.org/product/yearbook-2020-2021-2/
So, do I sound like a cheerleader – of course, because I am! And because ICJA is such a great school that offers so much to our students, teachers, and staff. We are a family, and we care about one another.
We’re not perfect, but that’s why we need students and parents to get involved, ask questions, and work with us to make ICJA ever-greater.
In this week’s parsha, G-d commands Moshe to go to Pharaoh and continue to bring the plagues upon Egypt so that “our children and our children’s children will know” the story of the Exodus. Rabbi Menachem B. Sacks, z”l, the founder of our school, once explained that the reason G-d included not only the children but the children’s children in this command – is because that is the true challenge facing every generation. Not what will happen next – but what will happen after that. And that he explained is the reason for a strong Jewish education, to make sure that generations will treasure Torah and guarantee the future of our people.
Today at ICJA, we have students whose parents are alumni, whose grandparents are alumni, and even whose great-grandparents were alumni. And that’s the reason that even on the days when I am up late at night or early in the morning because of a challenge or two we may face – it is still exciting to be at ICJA. Because every day we work to fulfill Rabbi Sacks’ dreams and G-d’s challenge to Moshe.
Before I sign off- I want to add our wishes for a refuah shlaima to Ezra Comrov, Mr. Cooper, Ezra Jacobs, Ariel Kahnrose, Jon Okner, Dina Osgood, and to all of the students and staff who are recovering. We look forward to seeing all of you back very soon!
Shabbat Shalom, stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
4 Shevat 5782
January 6, 2022
Dear ICJA Family:
I’m sorry to begin once again with COVID-related news – but that’s how these updates started – as a way to share critical information with everyone.
So here goes:
1. Since this morning’s email, we found out that three more students and two faculty members tested positive. All told, Monday’s testing led to eight confirmed cases of COVID. While it’s more than we used to have (last year, we never had a confirmed case in our school-wide tests), it’s still pretty amazing that we had, bli ayin hara, only a 3.2% positivity rate. Please G-d, it should only get better!
Refuah shlaima to Eitan Comrov, Eliana Ebert, Tovi Litwack, Audrey Perlman, Bella Schwartz, Mrs. Aberman, Mr. McCarthy, and Rabbi Rosen. Boruch Hashem, everyone is feeling pretty good, and we look forward to seeing them back in school very soon!
2. Because of the delay in getting PCR tests, we have temporarily modified our policy re zooming into classes. While we don’t allow zooming for anything other than confirmed COVID cases or long-term illnesses, for the next two weeks, we will allow students who develop COVID-like symptoms to zoom into class for up to three days while waiting for PCR test results.
3. Today, we conducted our second all-school COVID test. We hope to have the results over the weekend and will be in touch when we do. From this point forward, we plan to return to our twice-weekly saliva PCR testing for all indoor athletes and for the few students who are not yet fully vaccinated.
4. Last night, I received an email from Ami Weiss asking if we are having a vaccine booster clinic for our underclassmen. I hadn’t planned on it, but because of his suggestion, this coming Wednesday, we will be having an in-school booster clinic for all students, 9th-12th grade, during 5th and 6th-period lunch. To sign-up for the clinic, click here. In addition, I am attaching a consent form that must be completed and either returned to the office or emailed to our office manager, Ms. Eve Partouche epartouche@icja.org.
Despite all of the COVID-related matters that were swirling around all day long, I did get to go into one of my favorite classes – Mrs. Wainkrantz’s 12th-grade girls Chumash class. Mrs. Wainkrantz is the most passionate student and teacher of Tanach that I know, and her class is always filled with great information and inspired learning.
Today the girls were studying the Akeida, and the idea of Yitzchak being a “korban olah” (complete offering to G-d). Kol hakavod to Mrs. Wainkrantz and her students. A special shout out to Carly Sorscher, who was on the ball and answered many of the questions she was pitching while I was there!
The Yearbook Committee is hard at work and is looking for pictures from NCSY, CTeen, Yachad, or Bnei Akiva events, photos from summer camps/programs, or any funny pictures of you and your friends taken in school. If you have them and want them to be considered for this year’s yearbook, please send them to Michal Bechhofer (michal.bechhofer@icja.org or 312-881-0130) or Moshe Osgood (moshe.osgood@icja.org or 773-999-5811). Additionally, if you live on the same block as someone else in the school, please take a picture on your block with your neighbor and send it to Michal or Moshe.
Finally, students please use the link below to fill out the yearbook survey by Tuesday, January 11. https://forms.gle/cT4V7V8E1h7xUMnS7.
Tomorrow is Erev Shabbat. We will skip 2nd period, and periods 7, 8, and 9 will meet. Dismissal is at 1:58, and candle lighting will be at 4:15 pm.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
3 Shevat 5782
January 5, 2022
Dear ICJA Family:
While we have not yet received results on Monday’s tests, I have been informed that all of the samples have finished processing and it is just a matter of hours before we receive the results. When we do, if chas v’shalom any of our ICJA family tested positive, I will be in touch directly with them this evening.
Tomorrow we will be testing once again, and hopefully, we will get the results back a little quicker.
But enough about COVID – let’s talk about school!
Yesterday, our MJH teachers, Rabbis Rosen and Simkovitch received confirmation that their classes will be having a zoom session on January 13th with noted author Yossi Klein Halevi. It’s the capstone to their reading of his book “Letter to My Palestinian Neighbor,” and part of a project that is funded by “The Letters Project ” of the Federation of the Twin Cities.
Last night, after I sent the update I walked out of my office only to see the New Trier fencing team coming into the school. And while their uniforms looked a little fancier than ours – we beat them! Congratulations to fencing team – the Foil team: Noah Fensterheim, Dina Osgood, Eliyahu Malkin, Ori Wasserman, Rivka Weinstein, and our Epee team: Tal Damelin, Sammy Polster, Ben-Tzion Rine, Aviva Dallal, Eyal Gutstein, and Shayna Weinstein.
This morning, Dr. Brown had a chance to visit Rabbi Gross’s AJSP class. Yael Kolsky was leading the class through her presentation of Pirkei Avot Chapter 1 Mishnah 4. She delved into four different commentaries and shared a beautiful metaphor about surrounding yourself with talmidei chachamim – that sitting among sages is like visiting a perfume shop—even if you don’t buy something, you still absorb the fragrance. Great job, Yael!
And this afternoon I had a chance to visit Rabbi Brown’s 12th-grade literature class. The students were reading “The Remains of the Day” by the Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, and the challenge was to define what is a great butler. (The book is a first-person narrative by a butler.) It was a great class – the students were engaged, the pace was quick, and Dr. Brown was guiding them along in analyzing the various characters in the section they were reading.
Next week I’ll be starting my second round of town hall meetings, starting with the 9th graders. On Mondays, I will meet with the boys, and Thursdays, the girls. And each week I will get to share ideas and help to address issues with a different grade. It’s something I look forward to because it’s an opportunity to interact with the entire school in a smaller setting.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
2 Shevat 5782
January 4, 2022
Dear ICJA Family:
I don’t do this often, and I know that some may disagree, but I have attached a pre-publication article that was written by a dear friend of ICJA, Rabbi Moshe Taragin. Rabbi Taragin is a R”aM (teacher) at Yeshivat Har Etzion and he is one of the most talented and thoughtful educators I know.
The article addresses the recent sexual abuse scandal in Israel and in particular the response to those crimes. Rabbi Taragin’s article adds an important dimension to the issue, and I am attaching it because I hope you will read it and, if you find it appropriate, discuss it as a family. But even if you feel that his article does not speak to you, please find another way to talk about this issue, because we must find ways to keep our families and community safe.
And now back to school.
I have not yet received the test results from yesterday’s testing, and while I believe that we will find that some people have tested positive, our medical committee believes that the protocols we have in place create a safe space for everyone. This is the reason our senior class decided to postpone their Shabbaton, and tomorrow’s boys’ basketball game is canceled to make sure everyone remains safe.
But enough about COVID and controversies – because walking the halls of ICJA I see so many good and exciting things that I want to reassure you that the school day has returned to normal and our students are having a good time with friends and a great educational experience with their teachers!
That’s exactly what I saw when I visited Mr. Cooper’s AP US History class today. Upon the smartboard was a map of the votes of the Electoral College from the 1884 presidential election. But the conversation in class reached back a hundred years and reached forward to today. And so, when Mr. Cooper asked about when the last time that a political party had control of the White House for an extended time – Caleb Gutstein knew that it started when Jefferson was elected. And when the conversation focused on President Cleveland’s economic policies, Hadassah Bernstein, referred to JFK and then noted that her class will be able to vote in the next presidential election! What an impressive display of knowledge!
And then leaving class, there were a group of 9th graders “hanging out” in the humanities commons. They all had their masks on – but they also were schmoozing and having a great time. It was so very normal – baruch Hashem!
On January 11th at 7:30 pm in Mr. Cooper’s zoom room will be the first meeting of the Entrepreneurship Club. Join Ben Boyarskiy, Joshua Kupietzky, and Matthew Schreiber as they help identify problems/needs, brainstorm business plans, create business pitches and learn from speakers and mentors. It sounds great!
Talking about clubs – today, Student-to-Student presented to over 90 students from Intrinsic High School (a Chicago Charter School). Our ICJA presenters all did a great job explaining topics in Judaism and how being Jewish impacts their daily lives. Shout out to Emma Felix, Taly Benzaquen, Tehila Weiner, Hannah Rothner, Laura Bellows, Jordana Zwelling, and first time presenters Hersch Linzer and Hayden Gradstein.
Tomorrow is an early dismissal day and we skip 8th period.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy
1 Shevat 5782
January 3, 2022
Dear ICJA Family:
Here we go again! We’re back in school, and things are back to normal (for a COVID era).
This morning, immediately after davening, I met with all of the students regarding the updated COVID protocols. It was a quick meeting, but I’m proud to say they “get it.” While no one likes the stricter stance on masking, it was clear that they and our staff are onboard to making school a safe place.
Of course, there are more cases of COVID among students, and we have more students zooming into classes. We also have others who B”H have recovered from their bout with the virus and are now back at school following the rules of our medical committee. All of which is a challenge, but as I told a reporter from the Tribune today, it is also a testament to the determination and creativity of the outstanding faculty, staff, and students of ICJA. ICJA is open, our students are learning, and our teachers are teaching, and we have not let a pandemic stop the amazing tradition of excellence that is seventy-nine years strong!
Thanks to our great volunteers, Rebecca Gorenstein, Andrea Polster, Becky Starck, David Aberman, Shaya Goldmeier, Joel Gorenstein, David Miller, and Joseph Zayan, testing went quickly and without a hitch. But with the surge of cases and all of the delays in processing, we may not have our results for a couple of days. But even so, if everyone keeps masking and distancing, we are in good shape (and as soon as we know, I’ll be in touch!).
One of the big questions is the Senior Shabbaton which is scheduled for this week. Our medical committee has approved to move forward for students who are fully boosted and with masking. Nevertheless, I met with the senior class today, and they decided to wait until we get the results to determine if we should move ahead or postpone the Shabbaton.
And finally, back to a real school – in Mrs. Goldstein’s public speaking class, our seniors reflected on their return to school using one of her signature exercises, “Rose, thorn, and bud.” Students shared something great, something challenging, and something they hoped might get better. None of the seniors mentioned COVID during this exercise despite so many obstacles. They talked about getting into college (mazel tov, Noam Weissman!) and spending time with family (Dini Robinson).
That’s all for now – and welcome back to the daily updates.
Stay safe, stay connected, and stay inspired!
B’vracha,
LAM
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Ph.D.
Dean, Ida Crown Jewish Academy