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Welcome!
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Dear Parents,
We had a great week 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
וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת־עֹמֶר הַתְּנוּפָה שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימֹת תִּהְיֶינָה׃
עַד מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת הַשְּׁבִיעִת תִּסְפְּרוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה׃
And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering - the day after the Sabbath - you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week - fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord.
Quick quiz: Why are we counting 49 days during this time period? If you answered "because we are counting the days until we received the Torah," you are challenged to find that idea in the pasukim above. If you did not locate it, that is because the official reason we count seven weeks is that the command is to tally the days from the second day of Pesach - when the omer, a sheaf of barley, was brought as the first harvest to the Beit HaMikdash - until 49 days later, when the wheat offering, as loaves of bread, was brought to Hashem. The pasuk instructs the people to count from one first harvest to the next, from the first offering of barley to the first offering of the wheat.
Unlike today, when the omer period is synonymous with sorrow, in the time of the Beit HaMikdash it was a time of great excitement and anticipation as the farmers were working and watching their fields grow and ripen. Finally, the first wheat harvest was brought as an offering of gratitude to G-d.
Three lessons emerge from this count account.
- The counting of the omer connects the first barley offering to the first wheat offering. As we number each day, we are reminded of the events of the past, the first barley offering, and at the same time we look forward to the events of the future, the first wheat offering. As we experienced Yom Orchim today, and enjoyed the day together with our guests, we were reminded of this same lesson of connecting the past to the future. Having our guests join us today and learn with our students is a way to connect the previous generation to the next generation. Each group shared their knowledge and experience with the other, and made meaningful memories through these interactions.
- The theme of the year at Maimonides is hakarat hatov. Gratitude to Hashem is embedded in the omer experience. The mitzvah of counting begins with hakarat hatov and ends with hakarat hatov, by bringing the first harvests of barley and wheat at the start and completion of the 49 days.
- We are reminded of the importance of living in Eretz Yisrael, as the pasuk states that these mitzvot are perfomed "מִמּוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם תָּבִיאּוּ - you shall bring from your settlements," which Rashi explains means that these are brought solely from the land of Israel. Only in Israel do we have the opportunity to experience these special mitzvot.
We hope that we will soon be able to again perform these mitzvot as G-d intended, and that the omer period will return to its days of glory and celebration.
Click here to save or print the D'var Torah
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Thoughts of the Rav
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by Rabbi Dov Huff
We generally think that a key difference between Shabbos and yom tov is that while yom tov is designated by man, through our ability to declare the new moon, Shabbos was designated by Hashem as the recurring day of rest. This difference is highlighted in the phraseology of the brachot we make in kiddush on both days.
Yom tov
- "we bless G-d who is mekadesh Yisrael vehazmanim" - He blessed the Jewish people, who in turn sanctify the yom tov.
Shabbos
- "we bless G-d who is mekadesh haShabbat" - He Himself sanctifies Shabbos.
The Rav references a Yerushalmi in Pesachim, which has a text of kiddush on Shabbos that includes "Yisrael" in the process of sanctifying Shabbos as well. The Rav concludes that there are two aspects of kedusha in Shabbos: One from Hashem and one from us.
The Rav says that we sanctify Shabbos through the recitation of kiddush, and suggests that it is for this reason that the Shulchan Aruch insists that one make kiddush immediately after returning to the house Friday night, so as not to delay doing our part in the sanctification of Shabbos. The Rav says that it is also this contribution of ours which allows us to do tosefet Shabbos - to extend Shabbos beyond the prescribed time.
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| Pinat HaParasha |
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Please click here
to view the
Pinat
HaParasha for Parshat Emor
. You are encouraged to print the document and use it as a source for discussion at the Shabbat table.
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| Yom Orchim |
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Yom Orchim - our annual Visitors' Day, which took place this morning - is always highly anticipated and greatly enjoyed by our visitors, students, and faculty. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, older brothers and sisters, neighbors, and friends joined our Elementary School students in their classrooms, participating in their learning and filling our building with excitement and energy.
Our guests started their day with a delicious breakfast in the Brener lunchroom and then joined
tefillot in the children's classrooms. Following this, special interactive learning activities took place in all Early Childhood Center and Elementary School classrooms, which involved students and visitors working together.
Our annual
Zimriya (song festival), this year in celebration of the 70th birthday of the State of Israel, closed out the morning. The entire Elementary School and Early Childhood Center, together with our guests, gathered in the auditorium. Each grade sang a Hebrew song related to Israel which included props, movement, and choreography. There were also performances by the 2nd-5th Grade Chorus and the 3rd-5th Grade activity period Israeli folk dance group. Musical accompaniment was provided by music teacher Andrew Malkin and third grade instructional assistant Ilana Herst. Everyone then watched
a video created by the students to celebrate Israel's special birthday.
It was our pleasure to meet and host all our special guests, and we hope that they will return to visit us very soon.
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| Spring Concert on May 23 |
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The Elementary School Spring Concert will be held on
Wednesday, May 23 at 4:00 p.m.
in the Brener gym. Performances will include both the Elementary School band and the combined 2nd through 5th grade chorus. The band will be performing a version of the popular song "Hand Clap," as well as their rendition of the 1812 Overture. The chorus will be performing a Hebrew selection titled "Am Echad," or "One Nation."
Please e-mail Mr. Malkin with any questions at
amalkin@maimonides.org
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| Fine Arts Presentation on June 5 |
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The third annual Elementary School Fine Arts Presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 5 at 3:45 p.m.
There will be a K-5 art exhibit and solo concert in the gym and lunchroom.
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Alumni Newsletter Online
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The monthly alumni newsletter for April is now online, and can be found
here.
In honor of Israel's 70th anniversary, this issue features seven profiles of Maimonides School graduates in Israel - one for each decade.
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 Butcherie Receipt Drive
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The PTA is organizing a Butcherie receipt drive! Get your Butcherie receipts stamped each week and give them to your children to bring to their teachers. When a class reaches 150 receipts, they will have a pizza party or an ice cream party!
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Upper School Play on Monday
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Our Upper School students have been working hard to bring you this year's amazing Upper School play!
The play being presented is "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams.
The performance will be Monday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m. The play will be in the Fox gym on Saval campus, and admission is $5 (free for faculty).
Bring your friends, family, and Maimo spirit!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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Science Camp
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Registration is now open for science camp!
Camp will run for two weeks again this year:
Week 1: June 25-29 -- STEM
Week 2: July 2-6 (no camp July 4) -- Art, Food, and the Environment
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Lost and Found
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Things are looking better on the lost and found table as the weather is slowly improving. Please take a close look and retrieve any items that you recognize.
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Celebrate Israel on Sunday
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| Screen Time for Students |
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We know that many parents try to limit screen time for their children and would like better guidelines or alternative means for students to practice their skills.
We have compiled the chart below with our recommendations and requirements for each grade. If your child does not do well with these programs and you would like alternative ways for them to work on their skills, please let the teachers know and they will be glad to make other suggestions and/or supply other materials.
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Lexia
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Reflex Math
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KeyboardingWithout Tears
or Typing Club
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DreamBox
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Ariot Cal or iTalAm
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Dah Ber
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Kindergarten
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Required
20 minutes a week; possibly more for specific students.
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Recommended
2x week
15 Minutes
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First
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Recommended 15 minutes a week;
possibly more for specific students
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Recommended 15 minutes a week
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Recommended
1 x week
15 minutes or more
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Second
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Recommended 2x week
10-15 minutes;
possibly more for specific students
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Required
2x week
10-15 minutes
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As assigned by teacher
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Third
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Recommended for specific students
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Required 3x week
15 minutes
between school & home
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KWT
Required 2x week
15 minutes
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Optional
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As assigned by teacher
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Optional & Occasional
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Fourth
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Recommended for specific students
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Required
3x week
15 minutes until completed
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Typing Club: Optional up to
3x week 15 minutes
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As assigned by Teacher
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Fifth
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Recommended for specific students
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Required
3-4x week
15-20 minutes until completed
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As assigned by Teacher
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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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