Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024 - NHS Induction Ceremony

• Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - ICJA Takes the Stage Artist in Residence Program for girls with Nikki Sausen of Paint with Me 

• Friday, March 15, 2024 - Freshman Fridayton - sign up here and pay here (To discuss financial assistance, contact Michael London.)

• Sunday, March 24 - Purim - purchase ICJA Purim e-cards here

• Monday, March 25 - Shushan Purim

• Tuesday, April 2, 2024 - ICJA Takes the Stage girls' outing to see Peter Pan

• Sunday, April 7, 2024 - 18 Under 18 Awards Event

• Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - Torah Awards Presentation

• Thursday, April 11, 2024 - ICJA Takes the Stage, Commemorating the Life of Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, z"l, generously sponsored by The Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts

• Thursday, April 18 - Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - Pesach Break

• Wednesday, May 2, 2024 - Classes Resume

• Tuesday, June 4 - Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Senior Retreat

• Monday, June 17, 2024 - Edward A. Crown Scholarship Dinner honoring Eric Rothner (Crown Leadership Award), Leslie Wortman (Crown Service Award), and Chavee Gottlieb (Educator of the Year)

Juniors and Seniors heard from Col. Golan Vach, former head of the IDF's National Rescue Unit.

On Thursday this week, juniors and seniors heard from Col. Golan Vach, former head of the IDF's famed National Rescue Unit of the Home Front Command, which has assisted in some of the most difficult disaster rescues and humanitarian aid missions around the world. The unit operates search and rescue missions, aiding in rescue and recovery from terror attacks, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters.

Col. Vach described rescue operations he's participated in and showed videos of rescues. He noted that after last year's devastating earthquake in Turkey, Israeli rescuers saved more lives than any other nation's rescue teams. Col. Vach also described the huge challenges facing Israel as it battles Hamas and attempts to rescue Israeli hostages in Gaza, describing a mission that required 3,000 Israeli soldiers to rescue two hostages last month.

Col. Vach concluded by offering words of advice to our students about ways they can help Israel, including seeing the good in Israel and refraining from lashon harah about the Jewish state. "Achdut is the secret sauce," Col. Vach told our students, before thanking them for the many actions our students have already undertaken.

Yasher kochachen to the Nach Yomi Club on making their first siyum this week.

Yasher kochachen to our new Nach Yomi Club, which celebrated their first siyum this week on Sefer Yehoshua during Monday morning breakfast!

Kol hakavod to Yakira Wittlin, Sarah Leonard, Maayan Engel, Yardana Schayer, Yaffa Hoberman, Devorah Kaplowitz, Ayelet Klein, Chavi Campbell, Ariella Titievsky, Kinneret Finegold, Mrs Zeffren, and Mrs Kraft.

After learning about the Battle of Carchemish in Yirmiyahu, students read secular sources of the event.

Juniors in Mrs. Beth Pogonitz's class are learning Sefer Yirmiyahu, and have been learning about the 605 BCE Battle of Carchemish, which pitted the Egyptian army against the armies of Babylonia plus its allies, and is documented in Sefer Yirmiyahu. This week, students studied some of the secular sources that exist documenting this ancient battle.

Pictured above: Ranon Ginsberg and Levi Polsky

Pictured above: Elisha Shpayher and Toby Burstyn

Pictured above: Avi Meyer and Zev Margolin

Freshmen read original sources which shed light on the European explorers' decisions to sail for distant lands.

How did Europeans during the Age of Exploration view native people in the new lands they encountered? What were they expecting to find in undiscovered lands? What did they fear about travelling far from home?

On Tuesday, freshmen in Mrs. Rachel Polsky's Western Civilization class took advantage of the nice weather to head outdoors where they read Age of Exploration documents shedding light on these and other questions.

Pictured above: Dalia Cohen with Mrs. Reegan Goldstein

Pictured above: Faigie Bock and Sophie Rine

Pictured above: Nathan Rothner

Juniors are calculating the effects of time and force on momentum.

While being thown, a net force of 132 N acts on a baseball (mass=0.140 kg) for a period of 0.045 sec. What is the magnitude of the change in momentum of the ball?

Juniors in Mr. Allen Sears's Physics class are calculating these and similar problems, gaining an understanding of the ways that time and force affect objects' momentum.

Pictured above: Menachem Friedman, Jacob Friedman, and Ranon Ginsberg

Pictured above: Yardena Schayer, Sheindel Belies, and Allie Stein

Pictured above: Sarah Lipson, Avi Okner, Yitzchak Bock, and Talia Linzer confer with Mr. Sears

Students are discussing current events in Hebrew.

On January 30, Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested in Turkey after showing fans his bandaged wrist, which had "100 days," a Magen David, and "7.10" written on it, a reminder of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Jehezkel wass charged with "inciting hatred".

This week, sophomores in Mrs. Marmel's honors Hebrew class read about the event and discussed it - conducting their research and conversations entirely in Hebrew, of course.

Pictured above: Ami Gavant

Pictured above: Ezra Mauer and Eli Fretzin

Pictured above: Zachary Fogel and Ben Rosenburg

Students discussed the phenomenon of the "bystander effect" in the episode of Joseph's brothers selling him.

Seniors in Rabbi Menachem Rosenbaum's Chumash class headed outside during the beautiful weather this week to discuss the "bystander effect." which posits that individuals are less likely to offer help in the presence of other people.

Students then debated how the bystander effect informs the Biblical episode of Joseph being sold by his brothers. While only some of Joseph's brothers instigated his kidnapping and enslavement, other brothers failed to intervene and stop them, students discussed.

Pictured above: the class enjoying the fine day

Pictured above: Jakob Wortman

Pictured above: Josh Mishie

Juniors began exploring the college application process in a special four-part this week.

Juniors began their four-part College Advisory classe this week, taught by Director of College Guidance Ms. Susan Weiss.

Students discussed the application process and what materials they will need to send to colleges when they apply next year. Future weeks will focus on creating activity resumes, navigating the Common App college application, what to look for in a school, and how to think about college admissions essays.

Last Friday, sophomores heard from Rabbi Gutstein's son about his time serving in Gaza.

Last Friday, sophomores from Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz's and Rabbi Joel Gutstein's Talmud classes came together to hear from Netanel Gutstein, Rabbi Gutstein's son, about his time serving in the IDF in Khan Yunis in Gaza.

Netanel explained how he and his fellow soldiers found Hamas weapons in private houses and in a mosque, and answered students' questions. Thank you to Netanel and to Rabbi Gutstein for arranging this fascinating, informative event.

Freshmen girls continued their weekly team-building program this week, speaking with classmates then sharing what they'd learned about their peers.

Freshmen girls continued their weekly team-building sessions this week with Mrs. Etty Gugenheim and with Mrs. Noa Nussbaum (pictured here). On Thursday morning, students spent time asking classmates questions about themselves, then shared what they had learned with the wider group. Students were surprised to learn about interesting experiences, hobbies, and talents of their classmates which they hadn't know before.

Seniors learned about healthy relationships.

On Tuesday, seniors learned about healthy relationships, unhealthy, and abusive relationships and the dangers of emotional, physical and financial abuse as they move into adulthood.

Thanks to Dr. Shoshannah D. Frydman, Executive Director of Shalom Task Force, for speaking to ICJA girls, and to Mr. Jeffrey Younger, Shalom Task Force's Director of Communications and Program Operations, for speaking to ICJA boys (pictured below). Thanks also to Mrs. Etty Gugenheim and Mr. Phil Zbaraz for facilitating this event.

Freshmen and their relatives davened together at Heritage Russian Jewish Congregation last Sunday.

Many Sunday mornings, ICJA's freshmen boys' rebbe, Rabbi Louis Fliegelman, arranges for students and their fathers (or grandfathers or other relatives) to meet at a different Chicago-area shul to daven Shacharit together and enjoy breakfast and learning.

Last Sunday they gathered at Heritage Russian Jewish Congregation in West Rogers Park. After davening, the boys and fathers spoke with Rabbi Eliezer Dimarsky.

For more information about the Veshinantam Levanecha program, email Rabbi Louis Fliegelman at lfliegelman@icja.org.

Last Friday, ICJA girls celebrated Purim Katan with a fun Shabbat Shteig and volunteering for Sharsheret.

On Friday, February 23, ICJA girls celebrated three special occasions in a fun Shabbat Shteig: Purim Katan, Erev Shabbat, and Sharsheret Pink Day.

Senior Noa Gavant delivered a brief dvar Torah and junior Eliana Levine told students about Shareheret's Pink Day, raising awareness about breast cancer (pictured above). Students then enjoyed cholent and kugel, and later packed care packages for Sharsheret to deliver to women undergoing treatment for breast and ovarian cancer. Students concluded the morning with dancing and singing.

Pictured above: senior Taly Benzaquen, juniors Nina Ripstein and Lea Ackerman, and freshmen Goldie Boyarskiy, Rose Matatya, and Kinneret Finegold

Pictured above: sophomores Yaffa Hoberman and Devorah Kaplowitz

Pictured above: freshmen Ayelet Kleijn, Chavi Campbell, and Meira Schultz

This week we caught up with ICJA English teacher Mrs. Michelle Prince '05 and asked her a bit about herself.

Mrs. Michelle Prince '05 joined ICJA's faculty this year, teaching English. She has a long history at Ida Crown, having attended the school as part of the Class of 2005. This week we caught up with Mrs. Prince and asked her a few questions about herself.

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

I grew up in Highland Park. Today I live in Skokie with my husband Josh and my children Ahuvah (7), Eden (4), and Donny (4).

How did you decide to go into teaching?

I've always loved literature and reading and being able to discuss reading. I attended college at Northwestern, where I was an English major. I did a teaching practicum and fell in love with teaching.

What's something you love about ICJA?

I love that life is coming back full circle for me: some of my current colleagues are my former teachers. I love the sense of community here and the mission of the school, providing an excellent education with strong Jewish values.

Where did you work before teaching here?

Before joining ICJA, I taught at Taft High School, a CPS school, for ten years. One of my students was Krista Pederson, ICJA Math Department chair Mrs. Stephanie Pederson's daughter!

What's one of your favorite ICJA memories?

When I was a student here, retreats were an incredible time to bond with my classmates. Senior retreat was particularly memorable.

I had Mrs. Orit Marmel for several years for Hebrew; I learned a lot and had fun too in her class.

Mrs. Sheri Goldstein was my senior AP English teacher. Now I'm teaching many of the works I first encountered in her class, works like Jane Eyre and Hamlet. That's one of the most incredible things about working here.

Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy reading. I like hosting people for meals. I also enjoy yoga.

What are some of your favorite books?

It's difficult for me to choose a favorite: what I consider a favorite is always changing. My all-time favorite, though, is Little Women.

Do you have any advice for ICJA students?

Yes - take this time seriously, and also enjoy it and have fun. Strike that balance. Take your academics seriously and recognize the opportunity you have to attend such a great school - but also enjoy your time here.

This week's learning dedications include:

Thursday, the 20th of Adar, 5784, February 29, 2024, in honor of the Varsity Lady Aces on their amazing season and their amazing run all the way to the super sectionals, becoming the first Jewish team in Illinois to make it that far.  Thanks to all the parents, administrators, teachers, coaches and students who showed them support all year.  Good luck in your upcoming tournament in Miami.

If you would like to sponsor a Day of Learning, please contact our Director of Development, Deva Zwelling, at (773) 973-1450 ext. 115, or dzwelling@icja.org.

Watch "Connect with ICJA," our newest video

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

Watch this moving video documenting some of the volunteer activities our seniors participated in during their month-long Mission to Israel!

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.

Review ICJA on Niche.com and enter a sweepstakes.

Help let people know how fabulous ICJA is! Whether you're a parent, student, teacher, or alumnus/alumna, the popular school ranking website Niche.com wants to hear from you. Plus, every person who reviews ICJA (or any other school) is automatically entered into a monthly $1,000 sweepstakes by Niche.com. For more information and to leave a review, click here.

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 items 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.

Sign up for the Fridayton HERE and submit payment (if paying by credit card) HERE. To discuss financial assistance, email Michael London.

Announcing ICCC: Ida Crown Cycling Club!

Join our New Alumni Facebook Group

We are excited to announce that we have a new private Facebook group called “ICJA Official Alumni Page.” It is a space for alumni from all graduating years to join. We will periodically post alumni reunions, events, fundraising opportunities, information about ICJA today, and news.

We are proud to have some families with us for four generations. If you are an alum, please join the group HERE and be sure to share the link with your family, friends, and fellow graduates. You can also share this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/UeTsqg16DDx4JHGK/?mibextid=hubsqH. Thanks for staying connected to ICJA!

Please reach out to Ilana Levy at ilevy@icja.org if you have any questions about this new effort.

Last summer, ICJA gave its Class of '23 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.