Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, January 24 - Shloshim for Rabbi Reuven Gross, z"l - 1pm

• Tuesday, January 24 - Boys' Night Seder - 8-9pm at the Skokie Kollel (This is a recurring, weekly event every Tuesday night when school is in session.)

• Tuesday, January 24 - Open House for parents of Arie Crown 8th grade students - 8pm at ICJA

• Wednesday, January 25 - "Jewish History in a Flash" with Ronnie Halibrad

• Wednesday, January 25 - Open House for parents of Hillel Torah 8th grade students - 8pm at the home of Jennie and Avi Rothner

• Thursday, January 26 - Boys' Night Mishmar - 8-9pm at the Skokie Kollel (This is a recurring, weekly event every Thursday night when school is in session.)

• Thursday, February 2 - ICJA hosts Hillel Torah 8th grade student visit

• Tuesday, February 5 - Society of Patrons Reception - support our school and enjoy a beautiful evening, featuring comedian Eli Lebowicz '07 - RSVP here (See flyer below for details.)

• Tuesday, February 6 - Ann Rita Schwartz, z"l Chesed Day

• Tuesday, February 6 - Tu B'Shevat - special afternoon program

• Monday, February 13 - Friday, February 17 - Jewish Though Seminars (in school)

• Wednesday, February 22 - Sunday, February 26 - Ladies Aces' Varsity Basketball RASG Tournament, Miami

This week, students gave presentations on fun destinations and took notes - all in Hebrew.

This week, freshmen in Mrs. Dana Rubin's Hebrew class took turns giving presentations about different places they've enjoyed visiting, explaining - in Hebrew - what attractions there are, why sites are interesting, and any special details visitors should know before planning a trip.

While they spoke, classmates took detailed Hebrew-language notes on the presentations, answering a series of detailed questions. Afterwards, students engaged in Hebrew-only Q&A about the destinations and their visits.

Pictured above: Avi Rubin giving a presentation about Wintrust Arena at DePaul University in Chicago

Pictured above: Jack Marshall delivering a presentation about the nation of Panama

Pictured above: Aaron Katz telling classmates about "Cloudgate" (eg "The Bean" in Millenium Park

Pictured above: Aaron Koenig giving a presentation about Lincoln Park Zoo

This week, students competed to see who could best protect an egg dropped off a ladder.

This week, students in Mr. Allen Sears's Conceptions of Physics class held their annual Egg Drop competition to see who could construct a holder that would best protect an egg as it was dropped off a tall ladder.

The Egg Drop was the culmination of weeks of work: students brainstormed container ideas, built and test prototypes, and used data from their tests to build their final egg containers. This week, they put their containers to the test.

Yasher koach to Jacob Pick and Yitzchak Mishkin's group: their egg remained perfectly intact. Yasher kochechen also to Julia Benditzion and Nava Cohen, whose egg survived the drop with only a slight crack.

Pictured above: juniors Jacob Pick and Yitzchak Mishkin dropping their egg

Pictured above: juniors Julia Benditzson and Nava Cohen about to drop their egg

Pictured above: junior Moshe Seruya preparing his egg holder

Pictured above: Mr. Allen Sears with eggs for the competition

Students discussed animals in Israel's Ramat Gan Safari.

In Mrs. Anat Tanner's freshman girls' Hebrew class, students watched a Hebrew language movie about Ramat Gan Safari, a Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, where animals roam in recreated natural habitats, and visitors are able to drive their cars through to view the wildlife.

After watching the movie, students used their Hebrew skills and new vocabulary to discuss the animals in depth.

Pictured above: Caley Gordon and Ariella Pullin

Mrs. Tanner discussing the film

On Sunday, January 13, freshmen boys and dads davened at Young Israel of Skokie.

Last Sunday morning, some freshmen and their fathers davened at Young Israel of Skokie. After davening, students and their fathers reviewed the Gemara and halachot regarding making a bracha, and inadvertently having the wrong focus for part of the bracha. The question they discussed was: Do I fulfill my responsibility or not? Students in Rabbi Louis Fliegelman's Talmud class continued the discussion on Wednesday morning.

Thanks to Young Israel for providing doughnuts to our students and dads.

Pictured above: Mr. David Well; Judah Well; Eli Gelb; Dr. Mike Gelb; Rabbi Gershon Schaffel, rabbi of Young Israel of Skokie; Josh Miller; Mr. David Miller; Rabbi Louis Fliegelman; and former ICJA dad Mr. Eytan Dallal, Young Israel of Skokie President

Students read about some everyday activities, and discussed them in Hebrew.

This week, sophomores in Mrs. Orit Marmel's honors Hebrew class read an essay about various everyday activities such as talking, texting, driving and hiking, and then conducted a very lively discussion about what activities could be done simultaneously.

Pictured above, Ezra Comrov

Pictured above: Avi Meyer

Pictured above: Ami Weiss

Pictured above: Levi Polsky

Students read peirushim and shared insights into the complex relationship between Avraham and Hagar.

Students in Mrs. Beth Pogonitz's senior honors Chumash (Bible) class delved into פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּרָא this week, discussing the ways various commentaries including Rashi and the Keli Yikar, discuss the relationship between Avraham and Hagar, and sharing personal insights as well.

Pictured above: Kayla Kupietzky and Toibeh Sarah Gersten making a point during the discussion

Pictured above: Nechama Tarshish and Yael Kolsky

Pictured above: Shaina Tarshish and Carmel Schreiber

Students learned about leadership from ICJA mom and Northwestern University professor Dr. Gail Berger Darlow.

What makes a great leader? On Thursday, January 19, members of the Ida Crown Girls' Club (ICGC) Board and ICGC Inspiration Board sought to answer that question as they enjoyed a lunchtime meeting with Dr. Gail Berger Darlow, an ICJA alumna and mom, and Deputy Director of Northwestern’s Kellogg Center for Executive Women and Clinical Associate Professor at Northwestern University.

Students took a brief personality test, then discussed ways they can identify their strengths and maximize them to become more effective leaders.

Thank you to Dr. Darlow for educating our students, and to the Walder Foundation for supporting the ICGC.

Pictured above: sophomores Daria Lennon, Talia Linzer and Dana Kalutsky

Pictured above: the ICGC Board and ICGC Inspiration Board listening to Dr. Darlow

Pictured above: sophomores Leah Rina Brochin and Sarah Lipson

Aces wrestlers are showing improvement and team spirit.

The ICJA Wrestling Team returned to action this week, traveling to Melrose Park to take on regional rivals Northridge Prep and Walther Christian. 

Against Northridge, the Aces improved on their prior performance in early December against their squad. Senior Phillip Maiman (160), in particular, showed his steady progress as he wrestled a tense match against his opponent. Sophomore Aidan Zuckerman (132) also showed great initiative as he bumped up a weight class.

In the Walther Christian match, a trio of juniors led the way for the Aces. Gabriel Klein (106) started the match with an efficient 16-0 technical fall. Millo Benmelech (182) added an emphatic first period pin. Ari Klein (113) capped off the evening with a pin of his own.

The team has a full schedule of action next week, including Senior Night on Thursday, February 26 versus Aurora Central Catholic.

Watch home games in ICJA's gym from the comfort of your own home with the "Zaidy Cam".

The Zaidy Robert Berezin, z"l Court Cam allows fans to watch games taking place in ICJA's gym. To watch the Zaidy Cam during game, click here.

Watch this year's Open House video

for prospective students - and share it with people you know who'd like to learn more about ICJA!

Founded in 1942, ICJA is 80 years old this year. Please enjoy this 80th Anniversary Video which looks back on eight decades of excellence, close bonds, and memories.

Be sure to pick up your updated ICJA Learning Commons passwords to access books and journals online!

In addition to many thousands of physical books and journals, ICJA's Learning Commons contains tens of thousands of online books, journal articles and other resources, including subscriptions to newspapers such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and more.  Students are able to access these resources through our portal.

Please stop by our librarian Mrs. Steinberg's desk in the Learning Commons or email her at  librarian@icja.org her to pick up your updated passwords to access our online material. ICJA's subscriptions are available at icja.libguides.com/home.

Do you have school-related news you'd like to see in this newsletter? Let us know!

If you have exciting ICJA-related news to share about classes, sports, clubs, or other projects, please tell us! Send news ites and/or photos to Dr. Yvette Miller, Director of Communications at ymiller@icja.org. Your items can enhance our newsletter and ICJA's social media presence.

We have opened submissions for this year's edition of Charlotte's Web, and we want to hear and see your work. Our theme this year is Time: Past, Present, and Future. However, please submit any piece of prose, poetry, or artwork even if it does not align with the theme. We will do our best to incorporate at least a part of it.

Click here to submit artwork and writing. If you have any questions, please email charlottesweb2223@gmail.com.

Charlotte's Web is funded by a grant from The Susan and Joseph Ament Fund.

EXPRESS YOURSELF! Enter the Pogrund Family Essay and Judaic Artwork Contests!



Use your creative skills to explore a Judaic topic via the written word or art.

• Eligible participants: 3^rd – 12^th grade students attending an ATT school
• Art/Essay submission deadline: Wednesday, February 8, 2023.
• Prize: $50.00 check for each winner
• FOR ESSAY/ARTWORK RULES AND GUIDELINES, visit www.att.org → Student Programs or call ATT at 773-973-2828

Student Internship Opportunities

The YU Torah Mitzion Kollel is looking to hire 2 interns: one to help with program logistics and general office work and one for technology.

Program Logistics Intern

Responsibilities include: grocery shopping for events, ordering food for events, and stuffing envelopes for mailings. The work will be on an as needed basis, generally requiring no more than 2 hours on any given week.

Intern will report directly to the Director of Operations, who will meet with the intern periodically to explain assignments.  

Intern must have access to a vehicle.

Technology intern

Responsibilities include: Editing Audio and video clips, uploading media to Youtube and Podcasts, possibly some data entry. This position will include approximately 1 hour of tasks per week.

Intern will report directly to the Director of Operations, who will meet with the intern periodically to explain assignments.  

Familiarity with any form of editing software a plus but not required.

For more information or to apply, please contact Tracy Schultz, Director of Operations, admin@torahchicago.org

Last summer, ICJA gave its Class of '22 alumni the second edition of our directory listing ICJA alumni who live in Israel and have graciously offered to open their homes to recent ICJA grads who are currently spending a gap year in Israel.

Thank you to the many alumni who have reached out to us, offering to host.

The directory was sent out to the emails of '22 grads that we have on file. If you have any questions or would like to update our contact information to help recent ICJA grads obtain a copy, please contact Dr. Yvette Miller, ICJA Director of Communications, at ymiller@icja.org.

We are still taking submissions from alumni who are willing to host, to include in future copies of this directory. Please contact Dr. Miller to be included.