Upcoming Events

• Friday, October 27 - Sophomore & Junior Friday-ton

• Sunday, October 29 - ICJA Cross Country Run for Israel open to all - 10-11:30am @Pooch Park (Click here to register.)

• Motzei Shabbat, November 4 - 3on3 Basketball Tournament @ICJA with pizza and Gatorade - 8pm

• Wednesday, November 15 - ICJA Open House for 7th and 8th grade students and their families - 6:45pm - 9:15pm (Click here to register.)

Please let us know if you know any families in the Chicago area where a parent left to fight in the war and could use some support from ICJA students (babysitting, playtime, homework help, etc.). Click here and complete the form; we will contact the family to see how we can help.

On Monday, the entire ICJA student body heard from Gil Hoffman '95, Executive Director of Honest Reporting.

This week began with the entire student body coming together to hear from Gil Hoffman '95, former political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post and current Executive Director of Honest Reporting, which fights biased press coverage of Israel.

Mr. Hoffman reminisced about his time at ICJA, noting it was "four years that changed my life" and that, "I came here and learned what it is to a be a religious Zionist." He gave shoutouts to a number of ICJA teachers who inspired him, including Rabbi Fliegelman, Mrs. Goldstein, and Rabbi Kurtz.

Students should speak out against biased reporting, Mr. Hoffman urged, showing an example of an inaccurately captioned photo that was published in the New York Times while he was a student (pictured above). He encouraged students to use social media to criticize inaccurate coverage of Israel.

Pictured above: sophomore Mina Brandes asking a question

Pictured above: seniors Yitchak Mishkin, Adam Katz, and Joseph Rothner asking questions

Pictured above: ICJA students listening to the inspiring talk

Students began a new sugya in Masechet Makkot.

Seniors in Rabbi Yishai Broner's accelerated Talmud class began a new sugia this week, learning about what damages are due a Cohen who was falsely accused of a crime and therefore couldn't collect the matanot (portions) due to a Cohen.

Pictured above: Jed Marcus

Pictured above: Sam Gorenstein

Pictured above: Dory Marshall

Yasher koach Benjy Baronofsky, Ari Klein, and Gabe Klein.

Seniors Ari Klein, Gabe Klein, and Benjy Baronofsky (pictured) were named Commended students by the National Merit Scholarship Program this week.

Students discussed Hamlet's pessmistic view of life.

Seniors in Ms. Sheri Goldstein's Honors English class: World Literature" are reading Hamlet. This week they discussed Hamlet's "What a piece off work is man" monologue, examining the way Shakespeare described Hamlet's despair.

Pictured above: Uriel Kolom

Pictured above: San Polster

Pictured above: Ms. Goldstein making a point

Students began a new unit on Jewish views of abortion.

Mrs. Olivia Friedman's senior AJSP (Advanced Jewish Studies Program) class is divided into two separate seminars: "Jewish Life Cycle" and "Ethical Dilemmas." This week, students began a new unit in "Ethical Dilemmas," learning about Jewish views of abortion, with a discussion about ground rules for discussing this topic.

Pictured above: Shayna Weinstein

Pictured above: Nava Cohen suggesting that everyone listen to their peers respectfully

Pictured above: Maayan Dallal

Students discussed Israel with Israeli teens from the iCenter and wrote letters to Israeli chayalim.

On Wednesday, each Hebrew class in school received visitors from the iCenter. Israeli 18 year olds who've postponed their military service to work here in in Chicago discussed Israel and how they and their families have been reacting to war there.

Speaking in both Hebrew and English (pictured above: Mrs. Dana Rubin's freshman boys' Hebrew class conversing entirely in Hebrew), students bonded with their Israeli peers, discussing friends and family in Israel, Israeli culture, and the political situation today. Later on, some students and Israeli teens at played basketball (pictured below).

At the end of each talk, students wrote Hebrew-language letters to chayalim. Thank you Mrs. Alissa Zeffren for coordinating these visits.

Pictured above: junior Aaron Hartman writing a letter to soldiers

Pictured above: sophomore Devorah Kaplowitz writing a letter to soldiers

Pictured above: junior Avner Frazin writing a letter

Pictured above: sophomore Jessica Michaeli writing a letter

Pictured above: junior Gabe Aberman writing a letter

Pictured above: sophomore Leah Jacobs writing her letter

On Tuesday, girls signed up for ICJA Takes the Stage Committees.

Preparations for ICJA Takes the Stage began this week with students signing up for committees for the show. The date of ICJA Takes the Stage will be announced soon.

ICJA Takes the Stage, Commemorating the life of Batsheva Chaya Stadlan, z"l, is supported by the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts.

Pictured above: junior Sarah Lipson

Pictured above: sign up table for dancing

Pictured above: students learning about different committees' roles in the show

Students are creating one-point perspective drawings.

Sophomores in Ms. Kathleen Kelly's Art class have been viewing examples of one point perspective drawings. This week, they worked on creating their own one point works of art.

Pictured above: Benny Kalman and Dina Gottlieb

Pictured above: Channie Gelerinter

Pictured above: Macks Kroll

ICJA students and their fathers davened at Ohel Shalom Torah Center last Sunday morning.

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, some members of the ICJA family, including students, fathers, and other relatives, davened at the Ohel Shalom Torah Center, a Sephardi shul in West Rogers Park, then shared breakfast, divrei Torah, and conversation.

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

Students gave presentations on the Hero's Journey based on popular movies.

Freshmen in Mrs. Heather Hobbie's concepts English class are learning about the classic elements of a Hero's Journey. Using popular movies, students created presentations evaluating the progression of different heroes, including why they embarked on their journey, their goals, lessons they learned, conflicts they encountered and what trials heroes overcame.

This week, students took turns presenting their work to their peers.

Pictured above: Yitzy Ebert, Gabriel Schreiber, and Bentzion Beiles presenting about Moana

Pictured above: Sarah Cherney and Maya Lavi presenting about Barbie

Pictured above: Yair Elbaz presenting about Spiderman

This week we caught up with ICJA's busy Registrar, Mrs. Rebecca Gorenstein, and asked her a few questions about herself.

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

I grew up in Skokie, and attended Ida Crown, class of '97! Today I live in Skokie with my husband Joel '93 and my sons Sam '24, Max, and Mason.

What do you enjoy about working here at ICJA?

The atmosphere here is so wonderful. We're seeing that now more than ever: I appreciate the feeling of solidarity and love for Israel there is here in Ida Crown.

I love to see the students go through the stages of high school, and enjoy seeing all the amazing places they land after graduating.

Can you describe a favorite ICJA memory?

When I was a student here, I was in Mrs. Wasserstrom's honors math class for four years. Those were some of my favorite classes. I love seeing her still going strong, and now teaching my kids.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love to cook, I love to read, I love to travel - and I love to organize my home! My reading tastes are eclectic: I like to mix it up in terms of genres.

I also like cooking different things. My favorite time of day is dinner: most evenings, the five us sit down together and take a break and talk about our day. I try to make meals that are worthy of our conversations.

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

In college at University of Illinois I majored in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing. I even spent a semester in Israel studying at the Betzalel Academy. After college, I worked as a jewelry designer. I'm able to use an acetylene torch and know how to weld. I even took a class in glass blowing!

This week's Learning Dedications include the following:

Tuesday, the 9th of Cheshvan, 5784, October 24, 2023, by the Yellin family, in loving memory of Judy Yellin, z''l, יהודית מאשה בת אליעזר וחוה ילין, to commemorate her 29th yahrzeit

Thursday, the 11th of Cheshvan 5784, October 26, 2023, by Debbie Silverman '69, in memory of the over 1,400 men, women, and children including 308 Israeli Soldiers who were murdered in the October 7th terrorist attack; for the immediate and safe return to Israel of the over 220 Israeli hostages; and for the safety of the Israeli Defense Forces and all Israeli civilians

In honor of the many ICJA Alumni who are currently serving in the IDF.

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

Watch our 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.

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 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.

Spread the word - all 7th and 8th grade students and their families are invited to come to our exciting open house and learn more about what makes ICJA the premier Modern Orthodox school in the Chicago area!

Thank you to all those who donated to our Rosh Hashana Appeal. 5784 is off to a great start for Ida Crown and we are so grateful for our generous community members who support our Annual Scholarship Fund.

We are still hoping to achieve 100% parent involvement; if you have not already donated, please use the link below to give. Your contribution helps ensure no child is denied a Jewish education due to lack of funds.

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.