Upcoming Events

• Motzei Shabbat, January 28 - Boys' Aces compete against Fasman Yeshiva High School, at Fairview - Boys' Varsity Aces compete against Fasman Yeshiva High School 9pm at Fairview.

• Tuesday, January 31 - Boys' Night Seder - 8-9pm at the Skokie Kollel (This is a recurring, weekly event every Tuesday night when school is in session.)

• Thursday, February 2 - 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

• Thursday, February 2 - Wednesday, February 8 - Girls' JV and Varsity Aces Basketball CPC Conference Tournaments

• Friday, February 3 - 11th and 12th grade girls' presentation with Dr. Smadar Rosensweig, 1st period

• Motzei Shabbat, February 4 - Boys' JV Aces play against RZ, 7:30; Boys' Varsity Aces play against RZ at 9pm at RZ

• 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

• Friday, February 10 - Shabbat, February 11 - ICGC Shabbaton - Sign up here.

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

• Monday, February 20 - Presidents' Day; ATT Conference - no classes

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

• Wednesday, March 8 - ICJA Takes the Stage girls' event: Annie at the Cadillac Theater, 7:30pm

• Wednesday, March 15 - ICJA Takes the Stage, Commemorating the Life of Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, z"l, generously sponsored by The Rella Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, 7pm

This week, our entire ICJA community gathered to mark the Shloshim of our beloved teacher and rebbe, Rabbi Reuven Gross, z"l.

On Tuesday, the entire ICJA student body and faculty came together to observe Shloshim for Rabbi Reuven Gross, z"l. After opening remarks by Rabbi Matanky, Rabbi Gross's wife Mrs. Pearl Gross spoke, and described her husband as "not bigger than life, but as big as life."

Mrs. Gross described how Rabbi Gross worked to fulfill his ambitions, including teaching and building his shul, Sha'arei Tzedek Mishkan Yair. "He was a regular person who had goals in his life," Mrs. Gross explained, and told students to follow her husband's advice: "If you have dreams, then dream them; if you have a goal, then do it."

Afterwards, students, along with Mrs. Gross and her son, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Gross, received copies of the booklet that ICJA students prepared, Reflections on Pirkei Avot.

Pictured above: Mrs. Pearl Gross speaking to ICJA students

Pictured above: Mrs. Alise Gold and Mrs. Alissa Zeffren, who organized ICJA's Pirkei Avot project in memory of Rabbi Gross z"l, holding copies of the completed book

Pictured above: senior girls sharing memories of Rabbi Gross z"l with his wife

This week began with Rosh Chodesh davening and doughnuts for Rosh Chodesh Shevat, and a special ICGC lunchtime Chabura.

Monday morning began with Rosh Chodesh davening and a special doughnut breakfast for students.

Pictured above: freshmen Ami Gavant, Aaron Koenig, Jonah Strahlberg, Zachary Fogel, Aiden Rich, Avi Rubin, Eli Fretzin and Noahm Hellman

Pictured above: seniors Danielle Cohen, Kayla Kupietzky, Carmel Schreiber, Jordyn Baker, Mika Gabay, Audrey Perlman (also celebrating her birthday on Monday), and Emma Felix

Pictured above (left to right): sophomores Toby Burstyn, Ezra Comrov, and Koby Engel, junior Josh Mishie, sophomore Yossi Burstyn,and freshman Daniel Allswang

During lunchtime on Monday, ICGC's Inspo Board held a Chabura. Looking forward to Tu B'Shevat next week, sophomores Leah Rina Brochin and Tali Weiss led an inspirational shiur about trees in Jewish thought and lessons we can learn about personal growth.

ICGC is generously supporte by a grant from the Walder Foundation.

Pictured above: sophomores Zehava Piltz, Lauren Fensterheim and Sarah Levitt

Pictured above: sophomores Leah Rina Brochin and Tali Weiss leading the shiur

Pictured above: sophomores Rachel Freed and Sarah Lipson

Students tried Victor Frankenstein for murder.

After weeks of preparation, this week, Mrs. Arons' sophomore English classes finally put Victor Frankenstein on trial for murder.

In the past months, students have learned about the trial process from ICJA dad and Chicago judge the Hon. Mitchell Goldberg; learned about portrait drawing (and created a gallery of jurors) with former ICJA mom and artist Debi Geller, and asked halachic questions about murder of ICJA grandfather Rabbi Moshe Simkovich. On Wednesday, the trial finally began. Students presented the prosecutors' case against Victor Frankenstein, while others presented Frankenstein's defense. Students took turns representing Victor Frankenstein and key witnesses.

Pictured above: Aidan Zukerman prosecuting, questioning Victor Frankenstein (Lauren Fensterheim) in court

Pictured above: Judge Marsha Arons questioning prosecuting lawyer Levi Polsky about a point of law during the trial

If it's time for Mincha, but you haven't yet davened Mussaf, which one should you say first, and why?

This week, freshmen in Rabbi Daniel Fox's honors girls' Talmud class learned Masechet Brachot b'chavruta with a specific goal in mind: answering a series of questions about the primacy of Mincha and Mussaf, referencing the Shulchan Aroch, Tosefot, the Rama, Rashi, and other sources.

Pictured above: Mina Brandes and Penina Benjamin

Pictured above: Rivka Belsh and Yaffa Hoberman

Students used Exponential Growth and Decay Models to calculate the age of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

How old are the Dead Sea Scrolls (pictured here)? Students in Rabbi Drutman's pre-Calculus class are learning about Logarithmic Growth, including its uses in calculating carbon decay in order to date archeological finds.

Students were asked: given that the wrappings of the Dead Sea Scrolls contained 76% of their original carbon-14, how old are scrolls likely to be? They used the mathematical model for exponential growth, f(x) = A₀e^kt to find out.

Pictured above: seniors Moshe Osgood and Daniel Carl

Pictured above: seniors Charli Ernstein, Gabrielle Rosenzweig, and Jordyn Baker

Students completed final tests of the semester and prepared shiurim for the class.

This week, Rabbi Daniel Fox's freshman and sophomore combined accelerated Gemara (Talmud) class wrapped up the semester with small groups taking verbal tests. (Pictured here: Rabbi Fox testing sophomore Avi Meyer, freshman Aiden Rich and sophomore Yossi Burstyn)

While students took turns completing their tests, the rest of the class divided into chavrutot and listened to online YU shiurim about various halachot, then prepared source sheets in order to give their own mini-shiurim to their classmates in the coming weeks.

Pictured above: freshmen Ami Gavant and Zachary Fogel preparing a shiur together

Pictured above: sophomore Toby Burstyn and freshman Macks Kroll listening to an online shiur

On Sunday, January 20, freshmen boys and dads davened at Congregation Adas Yeshurun.

Last Sunday morning, some freshmen and their fathers davened, learned and ate breakfast together at Congregation Adas Yeshurun. Rabbi Zev Cohen shared inspiring words of Torah. He impressed on the boys the need to make good choices spiritually during the high school years, even as it has become more challenging. Rabbi Cohen also explained a case the Chosen Mishpat Kollel is presently learning about, involving a loan, and discussed the law of ribbis, (interest). 

Pictured above: Eli Gelb, Dr. Mike Gelb, Aaron Katz, Mr. Lev Katz, Jonah Rubin, Dr. Josh Rubin, Boaz Stopak, Yedidya Bechhofer, Natan Rine, Rabbi Zev Cohen, Mr. Yudi Rine, Eli Cherney, Josh Miller, Mr. David Miller, and Mr. David Bechhofer

Students got a speedy review of 4,000 years of Jewish history with fast-paced guest speaker Mr. Ronnie Halibard.

On Thursday, sophomores in Mrs. Alissa Zeffren's Jewish History class answered fast-paced questions as Mr. Ronnie Halibard, creator of the educational program Jewish History in a Flash, condensed all of Jewish history into an amusing and memorable 40 minute interactive session.

Students learned ways to remember the year of the destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash (3338), the length of Kind David's and King Solomon's reigns (40 years), and other essential facts of Jewish history.

On Tuesday morning, ICJA celebrated a siyum after davening.

Yasher koach to ICJA Talmud and Tanach teacher Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum for making a siyum on Masechet Nedarim Tuesday morning, as part of the daf yomi cycle!

After listening to Rabbi Rosenbaum complete Nedarim (pictured here), students and teachers alike enjoyed a delicious breakfast of sweet rolls.

Thank you to the Masliansky Family for sponsoring a delicious post-siyum breakfast in memory of Joseph and Tzippora Masliansky, a"h.

Pictured above:

Pictured above:

Students are gaining real-world skills and practical insights as they learn Brachot.

How should you take tefillin out of their bag? How should your tefillin be placed on your arm? Which bracha over tefillin should you say quietly?

Students in Rabbi Louis Fliegelman's freshman boys' Talmud class are learning Masechet Brachot, and spent this week researching and discussing the answers to these and other questions, using both the Gemara and the Kitzun Shulchan Aruch.

Pictured above: Benny Kalman and Natan Rine

Pictured above: Jesse Goldberg and Gabe Boshes

With the end of the grading period, some classes scheduled time for relaxation and fun this week.

With the end of the first semester grading period, some classes enjoyed a well-deserved fun period or two, before the new semester begins on Monday.

One particularly creative fun period occurred in Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer's sophomore girls' honors Gemara class: after learning the halachot of when to take challah, students divided into groups, which each baked a different kind of yummy treat. As part of the fun, students (pictured below) evaluated which pastries required them to take challah.

Pictured above: students in Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz's boys' sophomore honors Talmud class enjoying a game of basketball in the gym on Thursday

Pictured above: sophomores Eliya Sander, Emily Darlow, Ella Kakon, and Ella Perlman baking babka in Rabbi Stromer's honors Gemara class

Pictured above: seniors in Rabbi Yishai Broner's senior boys' accelerated Gemara class celebrating the end of the semester with lunch in The Sandwich Club

Yasher kochach to senior Michal Bechhofer on being nominated for a U.S. Presidential Scholarship.

ICJA senior Michal Bechhofer has been named one of more than 5,000 candidates in the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2023.

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

More information about the program, plus Michal's and other students' nominations, can be found here.

This week we caught up with ICJA's popular Talmud teacher, Rabbi Joel Gutstein, and asked him a few questions about himself.

Known for his fun classes and love of puns and wordplay, Rabbi Joel Gutstein has educated generations of ICJA students. We asked him a little about himself.

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in Skokie, and attended the Skokie Yeshiva for high school - that's also where i received semicha. I went to Northeastern University for college: I did my Bachelors in computers there, and earned a Masters' degree in Educational Administration.

Can you please tell us a bit about your family and where you live now?

I live with my wife Fran, who is a social worker, in Lincolnwood. Our kids are Yehuda (37), Aharon (35), Zahava (33), Sruli (32), Daniel (30), Miriam (28), Avi (27), Naomi (25), Nesanel (24) and Yael (22). Three of our kids are still local. We have 17 grandchildren.

Why did you decide to go into education? What else do you do professionally?

I like to work with other people. In addition to teaching at Ida Crown - this is my 37th year teaching here - I am the rabbi at Congregation Yehuda Moshe in Lincolnwood.

I've been the rabbi at Yehuda Moshe since 1998. I used to be very close with Rabbi Fasman (the previous rabbi); I was his administrator. When Rabbi Fasman retired at the age of 90, I became the rabbi there.

I'm not the only rabbi in my family: My grandfather, Rabbi Morris Gutstein, was a rabbi at a shul called Sha'arei Tikvah, which now houses Beis Yaakov High School on Kimball.

What do you love about working at ICJA?

The atmosphere here! The people are wonderful. It's a warm, friendly, environment here: The students are wonderful, the administration and faculty are wonderful. It's also fun. My wife sometimes complains to me: 'You're not supposed to have so much fun at work!'

Can you describe a favorite ICJA memory?

I used to drive Rabbi Juzint to school. We talked in the car, about Torah, about community matters - everything.

Do you have any hobbies?

Learning! I also like hockey. I used to play, and I enjoy watching the Blackhawks play.

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

Every day in the summer, I play basketball with Rabbi Kurtz. We have a WhatsApp group called Rabbona S'Hoops. We play three on three for 40 minutes each day. We've been doihng it for over ten years.

The Aces are gearing up for future matches.

As it nears February and tournament season, the Ida Crown Wrestling Team has upped the tempo of its season with a flurry of matches to close out the regular season. Juniors Millo Benmelech (170) and Dory Marshall (182) scored first period pins against Nazareth and Ari Klein (106) scored a second period pin. Seniors Menachem Reed (113) and Philip Maiman (160) also contributed victories, though the Aces fell just sort of a team win, 30-36.

Ida Crown put in a strong performance against Chicago Hope. Reed started the match off with a decisive first period fall. Freshman Michael Matveyev followed suit with a first period pin of his own. Benmelech notched a 10-0 major decision. Marshall needed two period to dispatch his opponent via a pin. Junior Gabriel Klein (106) also contributed to the victory. Forfeits at 220 and 285, though, cost the Aces a team victory as Hope prevailed, 36-27.

Hammond Baptist traveled from Indiana to take on the Aces. Ari Klein led the match off with a first period pin. Marshall pinned his opponent in the second period. Not to be outdone, Gabriel Klein also added a first period pin. Junior Jacob Friedman (138) and Sophomore Aidan Zuckerman (132) solidified their places in the varsity line-up, as each claimed a first period pin against the Swordsmen of Hammond Baptist. Hammond won the match in the end, 37-18.

On Wednesday, the Aces traveled to North Shore powerhouse Deerfield High School. After dropping the first few matches, Ida Crown roared back with a series of impressive wins. Gabriel Klein started off with a dominating 9-0 major decision. Ari Klein followed with a second period fall. Reed was up next and earned his own second period pin. Senior Moshe Osgood (126) needed only :28 seconds to pin his opponent. Later in the match, Marshall added to his season win total with a second period pin. Senior Avi Zeller (145) - who is pictured above - came back from an early takedown to score a 9-2 decision. Benmelech capped off the match with a second period fall. Deerfield won the team score, 49-37, but the Aces made their mark.

The Aces now look forward to Senior Night versus Aurora Central Catholic, followed by the Regional Tournament on Saturday night, February 4, at Walther Christian in Melrose Park.  

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.

Attention ATT students in Grades 3-12! Only 12 days left to participate in the ATT’s Pogrund Family Judaic Artwork and Pogrund Family Essay Contest. Deadline for artwork/essay submission is Wednesday, February 8, 2023, by 5:00pm. Sponsored by the Pogrund Family, the contest provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their art/writing skills as they explore a Jewish topic. Prize: $50.00 check for each winner. FOR ARTWORK/ESSAY 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.