IDA CROWN JEWISH ACADEMY

Upcoming Events


  • Tuesday, September 20 - Wednesday, September 21 - All school retreat at Camp Chi


  • Monday, September 26 - Tuesday, September 27 - Rosh Hashana - no classes


  • Wednesday, September 28 - Fast of Gedaliah - 2:30pm dismissal


  • Thursday, September 29 - Club Hub during 5th and 6th periods


  • Tuesday, October 4 - Erev Yom Kippur - no classes


  • Monday, October 10 - Wednesday, October 19 - Sukkot break


  • Thursday, October 20 - Classes resume


  • Wednesday, October 26 - New Parent Orientation; Senior Parent Meeting; Simulated School Night - 4:30pm dismissal


  • Thursday, November 16 - Prospective Students Open House


  • Wednesday, November 22 - Erika's Lighthouse Program during 5th and 6th periods


  • Sunday, November 27 - ICJA Israel reunion, Jerusalem (click here for more information and to sign up)



  • Friday, December 2 - Saturday, December 3 - Senior Retreat

Senior Class Picture

On Thursday, seniors posed for their class photo.

JUF Annual Meeting

ICJA's seniors were guests at the JUF's Annual Meeting.

On Thursday, ICJA's senior class was invited to be guests at the JUF's Annual Meeting downtown. Students enjoyed a gala lunch while learning about JUF's many programs and hearing from award-winning volunteers and employees about their commitment to Jewish community and individual programs that they oversee.


Students got a shoutout from JUF President Lonnie Nasatir, who spoke with ICJA students before the program began, and praised their "energy, creativey and passion" before calling on them to use their talents on behalf of the Jewish community.

Pictured above: Adi Seruya, Noah Fensterheim and Rabbi Matanky

Pictured above: Michal Bechhofer, Ori Wasserman, Toibeh Sarah Gersten, Ilan Blumenthal, Dr. Brown, and JUF President Lonnie Nasatir

Pictured above: JUF President Lonnie Nasatir in conversation with ICJA students

Pictured above: Nechama Tarshish, Yael Kolsky, Dena Simon-Hakalir and Chaya Laber

National Merit Semi-Finalists

Yasher Koach to seniors Michal Bechhofer and Ben Boyarskiy, National Merit Semi-Finalists.

There are only three National Merit Semi-Finalists in all of Skokie's schools this year - and two of them are ICJA students: seniors Michal Bechhofer and Ben Boyarskiy. National Merit Semi-Finalists scored in the top 1% of all students nationally on the PSAT. Semi-Finalists are eligible to become Finalists and then possibly win National Merit Scholarships. 


In addition to ICJA's Semi-Finalists, senior Gideon Miller was named a "Commended" student by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students score in the 96th percentile on the PSAT.

Pictured above: seniors Michelle Bechhofer and Ben Boyarskiy

Rabbi Shmuel Oren's 12th Grade Boys' Honors Talmud Class

When should we say the night time Shema?

Students in Rabbi Orens' 12th grade boys' honors Talmud class are learning Masechet Brachot, and this week they learned opinions by the Talmidim of Rabbenu Yona on when it's permissible to say the the nighttime Shema.


Should we base our calculations on when night falls or on what time people wake up?

Pictured above: Daniel Carl

Pictured above: Josh Kupietzky and Josh Felix

Ms. Susan Sennett's 9th Grade

Western Civilization Class

Students debate: Whose city-state is best?

2600 years after soldiers from Sparta and Athens fought each other in the Peloponnesian Wars, freshmen in Ms. Sennett's Western History class debated the relative merits of each of these ancient Greek city states.


Students divided into groups, nominating speakers and strategizing ways to convince the class that their city state was superior and why.  

Pictured above: Elisheva Deangelis, Yoshi Bernstein, Elie Cherney, Mina Brandes, Yair Bell and Eli Fretzen, representing Athens

Pictured above: Yehuda Goldstein, Yaffa Hoberman and Dina Gottlieb, representing Sparta

Mrs. Marsha Arons' 11th Grade

Honors English Class

This week, students produced

personal creative writing works.

To kick off their unit on creative writing this week, Mrs. Arons, a published author, shared one of her recent poems, How to Watch Your Daughter Become a Mother, to her junior Honors English students. Students discussed the piece's viewpoint and unusual style, and considered why it was powerful. One unexpected feature was the poem's use of the second person.


Students then wrote their own pieces, evoking their own emotions and memories about their own lives. "Although it is a bitter cold evening, on the sofa at my grandparents' home, an old man sits beside a backgammon board, two dice in the palm of his hand," begins Joey Amrami's piece, As if You Were a Koi Pond, a tender homage to his grandfather.

Pictured above: Uriel Kolom answering a question

Pictured above: Leah Zelden and Aviva Dallal

Pictured above: Milo Benmelech

Mr. Jacob Dickman's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Class

Students discussed legal liability

when responding to medical emergencies.

If you possess the medical skills to help in an emergency, do you have to do so?  Can you be sued if your attempts to help aren't successful?


Students in ICJA's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class gain medical, first aid, pharmacological and other skills to help save lives: graduates of the class are qualified to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians licensing exam once they are old enough.  This week, students discussed legal issues related to providing care.

Pictured above: seniors Shaina Tarshish and Toibeh Sarah Gersten answering questions 

Pictured above: Mr. Dickman explaining the meaning of having a "Duty to Act"

Rabbi Louis Fliegelman's

9th Grade Boys' Talmud Class

Students enjoyed an inspirational seudat shlishit and havdalah at Rabbi Fliegelman's home.

Last Shabbat, some students in Rabbi Fliegelman's freshman boys' Concepts of Talmud class walked to their teacher's house for an inspirational seudah shlishit filled with singing and divrei Torah, followed by havdalah.

Pictured above: Daniel Allswang, Elie Cherney, Ezra Netzky, Rabbi Fliegelman, Avi Rubin, Noah Lehrfield and  Max Gorenstein

Ida Crown Girls Club Board

This week, the Ida Crown Girls' Club (ICGC) Board learned about conflict resolution and launched a new initiative.

ICGA girls have come to rely on the many fun and educational activities run by Ida Crown Girls' Club (ICGC) each year. The club's board works hard to create engaging programming; board members include: freshman Lily Douek and Mina Brandes; sophomores Tali Weiss, Allie Stein, Emily Darlow, Lea Ackerman, Maytal Needle and Sarah Lipson; juniors Noa Gavant, Leah Zelden and Ayelet Appel; and seniors Toibeh Sarah Gersten, Charli Ernstein, Michal Bechhofer, Audrey Perlman.


On Wednesday board members met with Dr. Michelle Brody, a clinical psychologist and executive coach, who gave board members tools for managing conflict resolution as community leaders.  


On Thursday, ICGC launched the Inspiration Board, designing programs specifically focused on learning and chesed. 


ICGC is supported by the Walder Charitable Trust.

Pictured above: juniors Noa Gavant and Taly Benzaquen are brainstorming for the new programs on ICGC's Inspiration Board

Pictured above: ICGC's board listening to Dr. Michelle Brody

ICJA Mechanchim Program: Rabbi Yona Reiss in Conversation on 9/11

Last Sunday, our Mechanchim organized a special father and son morning with Rabbi Yona Reiss.

On Sunday, the 21st anniversary of the September 11, 2002 terror attacks, our Mechanchim Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum and Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer organized a special father-son event to mark this date at school. 


Following davening and breakfast, students and their fathers, nearly 100 people in all, listened to a moving talk by Rabbi Yona Reiss, Av of the CRC Bet Din, about his role in determining whether spouses, parents and other relatives could assume their loved ones had died in the attacks. Rabb Reiss shared his memories and answered questions about the many halachic issues involved.

Mrs. Lynn Kraft's 9th Grade Girls'

Honors Bible Class

Students are gaining an overview of Sefer Shemot.

Mrs. Kraft's freshmen girls' Chumash (Bible) class is learning Sefer Shemot, and this week they examined various ways that different rabbis have described the Sefer's overarching themes.


Students examined ways of approaching Shemot in the Ramban, the Netziv, and the Ba'al Halachot Gadolot (Bahag).

Pictured above: Penina Benjamin

Pictured above: Rivka Belsh

Dr. Gavriel Brown's Architecture Class

Students learned about Chicago's landmarks on an architectural boat tour.

After learning about architectural concepts for the past weeks, students in Dr. Brown's Architecture class got the chance to view some of Chicago's landmark buildings this week when they took an architecture boat tour along the Chicago River on Thursday.

Pictured above: seniors Emma Felix, Yael Kolsky, Carmel Schreiber, Adina Margolin and Toibeh Sarah Gersten

Pictured above: senior Carmel Schreiber on the boat tour

Lunchtime Fun

Students enjoy camaraderie and

games during 5th and 6th periods.

Each lunchtime, our cafeteria, Learning Commons, Math and Science Commons, and gym are filled with life, as students gather to study, eat, have fun, learn and play games together during lunch. 


At ICJA, lunch period - whether it's 5th or 6th period - is a welcome break in the midst of a busy day. Students use their time not only to eat and catch up with friends, but also to study, receive tutoring, play games, and play "Lunch Ball" basketball in our supervised open gym.


(Pictured left: freshmen Ben Rosenburg and Natan Rine playing Lunch Ball)

Pictured above: sophomores Daria Lennon, Lauren Fensterheim and Sarah Levitt eating together

Pictured above: freshman Chanani Stone playing chess with Rabbi Rosenbaum during lunch

Pictured above: freshmen Elinoa Berger, Channie Gelerinter, Rivka Belsh, Gabriel Boshes, Libby Bliechman and Mina Brandes

Pictured above: cafeteria worker Gimma Yokhana serving lunch to freshman Hillel Wolkenfeld

Pictured above: juniors Jordana Zwelling, Noa Gavant and Ayelet Appel studying during lunch

Pictured above: Mr. Keller tutoring freshman Yehuda Goldstein during lunch period

Spotlight on Mr. Jacob Dickman

This week we caught up with Mr. Jacob Dickman, ICJA's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) teacher, and asked him a few questions about himself.

Chicago Fire Department Paramedic Field Chief Jacob Dickman teaches students in ICJA's EMT class all they need to know to pass the national exam to become a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. Here he tells us a little about himself.


Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York; now I now live in the Edison Park neighborhood of Chicago. I have been married to my wife Christy for 15 years and we have 3 children. Our son Joseph will turn 14 in a few weeks and we have twin 9 year old daughters Abigail and Ella. 

 

How did you decide to become an EMT-Paramedic and work with the Fire Department?

It was never my intention to make EMT-Paramedic my career or really do any work in the fire service but as everyone who ever planned out their life knows, sometimes things happen. I initially became an EMT while I was completing college so I could have a job and pay bills. I started applying for municipal jobs and got very lucky to have landed what I consider the best job in the world. 

 

What do you love most about teaching at ICJA?

When a student or former student calls, emails, or texts me that they passed their EMT boards with a level of excitement reserved for big lifetime moments. Seeing our students succeed truly gives me joy. 

 

Please tell us a bit about ICJA’s EMT course. 

I know I said I have the best job in the world working for the Chicago Fire Department but truthfully, teaching is really my passion. My goals for the course is to provide students with a foundation in not just EMS but lessons they can use in life should they decide EMS is not for them. Critical thinking skills, communication skills, and building relationships for teamwork are some of the skills that translate to whatever a students chosen profession turns out to be. 

 

Do you have any hobbies?

I really enjoy watching my son play hockey and my daughters figure skate. When I have a few minutes away from the rink, I try to golf as much as I can over the summer and I bowl once a week during the winter. 

 

Is there anything most people don’t know about you that you’d like to share?

I have co-authored two emergency management textbooks and have spoken in public many times at seminars and conferences. Believe it or not, I still have some fear of public speaking

Upcoming Yeshiva Visits

  • Migdal Hatorah: Friday, November 1 at 12:00pm (Skip 5/6)
  • Reisheit: Thursday, November 3 at 12:30pm
  • Bar Ilan: Monday, November 7 during 5th period (11:45am)
  • Netziv Aryeh: Thursday, November 10 during Breakfast (8:45am)
  • Atzmona Otzem: Tuesday, November 15 during Breakfast (8:30am)
  • Lev Hatorah: Tuesday, November 15 during 5th period (11:11am)
  • TVA: Friday, November 18 at Breakfast (8:35am)

Upcoming College Visits


  • University of Chicago: Monday, September 19 at 11:50am-12:30pm
  • Brandeis University: Monday, September 19 at 12:30am-1:10pm
  • Indiana University: Thursday, September 22
  • Princeton University : Friday, October 21 at 11:50am

This Week's Learning Dedications

This week's sponsors included:

Thursday, the 19th of Elul, 5782 September 15, 2022, by Sharon and Seymour Gertz, in loving memory of Sam Sorkin, z"l.


Tuesday, the 17th of Elul, 5782, September 13, 2022, by Deva and Josh Zwelling, Devora and Alan Sorscher, Madison, Jacob '15 and Vigo Zwelling, Lauren Sorscher '15, Ariella Zwelling '17, Jennifer Sorscher '17, Zeke Zwelling '21, Carly Sorscher '22 and Jordana Zwelling 24’, in loving memory of Rabbi Victor Zwelling, z"l, Rav Avidgor David ben Betzalel, marking his 9th yahrzeit on the 13th of Elul.


Monday, the 16th of Elul, 5782, September 12, 2022, by Annette and Jack Saltzman and family in loving memory of Miriam and Milton Saltzman, z"l.  We thank Annette and Jack Saltzman and family for establishing a scholarship in memory of their parents and grandparents.


For more information or to sponsor a day of learning, please contact our Director of Development, Deva Zwelling, at (773) 973-1450 ext. 115, or dzwelling@icja.org.

2022-2023 Learning Commons Passwords 

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.

School Announcements

Click here to register for the ICJA Israel Reunion.

Community Announcements

VOLUNTEER FOR MAOT CHITIM!


Maot Chitim Delivery Day is Sunday, September 18th, and their are 2 ways to help Maot Chitim.


As a driver: Sign up to deliver packages for those in need. 


In the warehouse: Packing starts at 5:50 AM, Shachrit with the YU Kollel at 6:15 AM. 1610 Deerfield Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035

Introducing ICJA Bar Association for Alumni

Introducing ICJA Bar Association: a way for ICJA alumni
who are lawyers to form informal connections.
ICJA ISRAEL CONNECT:
Connecting ICJA Alumni in Israel
The first ICJA Israel Connect directory is out.

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.

Support ICJA when you shop on Amazon - Here's How

Win-win! You can support Ida Crown Jewish Academy, while shopping via Smile.Amazon.com
Inspiring bnei and bnot Torah to thrive in the modern world
ICJA is an affiliate of the Associated Talmud Torahs and a partner with JUF in serving our community.


Ida Crown Jewish Academy
8233 Central Park Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60076

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