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ES Calendar
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Kindergarten Principals' Coffee 8:00-8:45 a.m.
Monday, Jan. 15
No School
Professional Development Day
Grade 1 Principals' Coffee 8:00-8:45 a.m.
Sunday, Jan. 21
Family Learning
10:15-11:30
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Grade 2 Principals' Coffee 8:00-8:45 a.m.
Winter Concert
4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 30
3:00 p.m. Dismissal
Wednesday, Jan. 31
Grade 3 Principals' Coffee 8:00-8:45 a.m.
As always, please see
the Kol Rambam Weekly for the all-school calendar, events and PTA notes.
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| Quick Links |
ES Missed Homework Policy
ES Announcements Archive
Galim (Israeli educational website):
www.galim.org.il
username: smaimonides
password: maimonides
Mibereshit (Parashat HaShavuah website with interactive learning activities):
English | Ivrit
YU's Shabbat Table Discussions
Soveya: Torah-based resources for healthy eating (subscribe to their e-newsletter)
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Send us your
Maimo Moments |
Whether you are a parent, alumni or faculty member, your Maimo Moments are welcomed and appreciated.
Please send your Maimo Moments to
maimomoments@
maimonides.org or call our Maimo Moments hotline 617-232-4452 x424 and record your moment in a voice message.
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Welcome!
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Dear Parents,
We had a great (although short) week back at school!
Please read on for the latest Elementary School news and information about upcoming events.
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D'var Torah
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
This week's
parasha opens with a description of the harsh slavery and bitter lives the Jewish people were experiencing at the hands of the ruthless Egyptians. To make matters almost incomprehensible, Pharoah commands the midwives to kill any baby boys born to Jewish mothers. We are well aware of the heroism demonstrated by these women, as the Torah testifies:
וַתִּירֶאןָ הַמְיַלְּדֹת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְלֹא עָשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֲלֵיהֶן מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם וַתְּחַיֶּיןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים׃
The midwives, fearing God, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.
G-d sees the sacrifice of these midwives and decides:
וַיֵּיטֶב אֱלֹהִים לַמְיַלְּדֹת וַיִּרֶב הָעָם וַיַּעַצְמוּ מְאֹד׃וַיְהִי כִּי־יָרְאוּ הַמְיַלְּדֹת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם בָּתִּים׃
And G-d dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and increased greatly. And because the midwives feared G-d, He established households for them.
From the word
וַיֵּ֥יטֶב
we learn that Hashem showed hakarat hatov to the midwives and rewarded them in two ways: they received a reward both nationally and individually. Nationally, R. Yonah ibn Janach says that the pasuk which describes the population expansion was a direct result of the midwives' behavior. As the pasuk says,
וַיִּ֧רֶב הָעָ֛ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ מְאֹֽד
- the national reward was that the Jewish people increased at a miraculous rate. And individually, Rashi says the midwives received houses (or dynasties) of kehuna and houses of malchut, and their children would be future leaders of the Jewish people.
R. Samuel David Luzzatto (Shadal), quoting his father, says that:
ואאז"ל אמר כי ישראל רצו לשלם גמול למילדות, ולהיותם מלומדים בחמר ובלבנים, בנו להם בתים
the Jewish people themselves showed hakarat hatov to the midwives by building them homes.
Ironically, since the Jewish people were expert builders from their slavery training, they were able to demonstrate their gratitude to the midwives for putting their lives on the line to save the new baby boys.
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Thoughts of the Rav
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
Rabbi Soloveitchik writes that while Moshe was gazing upon the burning bush, he made two observations. One was that the bush was indestructible. It was
אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל
- not being consumed. The second miracle was that the fire didn't spread.
The Rav translates
מַדּוּעַ לֹא יִבְעַר הַסְּנֶה
as: Why did the bush not catch fire? There was a fire in the middle, but the exterior did not catch fire at all!
He answers that there were two messages for Moshe from this miraculous mareh. The first was to teach Moshe that the covenantal community is indestructible. No matter how difficult circumstances are, and no matter how great the suffering, the covenantal community will never terminate.
The second miracle was that the external personality of a Jew, and even their deeds, are not indicative. Sometimes there is a conflict between the external personality and the inner personality. In spite of the cold, thorny, and scratchy demeanor on the outside, deep down in the center of the heart there is warmth, sensitivity, and love.
For these reasons, a Jew should never be expelled or considered lost to the community.
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| Pinat HaParasha |
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Please click here
to view the
Pinat
HaParasha for Parshat Shemot. You are encouraged to print the document and use it as a source for discussion at the Shabbat table.
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| Next Round of Principals' Coffees |
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The next round of Principals' Coffees
will begin with
Kindergarten parents. The Kindergarten coffee
will take place
Wednesday, January 10, from 8:00-8:45 a.m. in the library on the third floor. Principals' coffees are taking place for parents of students at each grade level on mornings in January and February. The coffees are an opportunity for parents to talk with the principals, ask questions, give input, and learn more about different aspects of Maimonides students' life and learning at a particular grade level.
Come and meet other families from your child's class and ask the principals questions about the class, curriculum, or anything else!
Upcoming coffees:
1st grade - Wednesday, January 17
2nd grade - Wednesday, January 24
3rd grade - Wednesday, January 31
4th grade - Wednesday, February 7
5th grade - Wednesday, February 14
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| Important Cold Weather Reminder |
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Although the cold New England winter weather has arrived, we continue to enjoy outdoor recess unless the temperature is below 20 degrees. Students should be reminded that they must bring warm winter coats, hats (or hoods), and gloves to school each day. They are required to bring these out to recess with them, but may take off layers as they warm up when playing outdoor recess games. When there is snow on the ground, students need to wear boots in order to walk on snowy areas and snow pants if they want to play in the snow. Students will not be permitted to stay indoors during recess.
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| Alumni Newsletter Online |
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The monthly alumni newsletter for December is now online, and can be found
here. This issue's articles include:
- Sister Fuels Alumna's Commitment to Children, Adults with Special Needs
- Graduate Presenting Annual Rav Soloveitchik Seminar Sessions to Seniors
- Work at U.S. Think Tank Immerses Graduate in Middle East Issues
- Highlights from the Maimonides Invitational Basketball Tournament in Memory of Leland Gelman
If you would like to receive the alumni newsletter each month, contact Mike Rosenberg at
(617) 232-4452 x 405
or mrosenberg@maimonides.org.
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| PTA Hat Show on Sunday, January 14 |
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| Family Learning on Sunday, January 21 |
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Mazel Tov!
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Send us your simchas!
Please share your simcha announcement
s with us by send
ing details to info@maimonides.org.
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| Lost and Found - השבת אבידה |
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With the arrival of cold weather, we have found more and more jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, hats, and gloves left outside at recess and in other public spaces in the building. We have amassed a large collection of high-quality, fairly new winter clothing, none of them bearing any students' names.
We request again that you put your child's names on their items so that we can easily return them when found. Most jackets and coats come with sewn-in labels which only require a marker to write your child's name.
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Social Time!
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There's so much going on here at Maimo! Be sure to check out our social media to get the inside scoop (with lots of great photos) on happenings at school.
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See What's Happening in the Other Divisions
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 Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School!
If you'd like to take a peek at what's happening in the other divisions, click to visit the Early Childhood Center, Middle School, or Upper School newsletter pages.
If you would like to contact a specific school office, please use these emails:
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!שבת שלום
Rabbi, Reena, and the Maimonides ES Faculty
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