DISPATCHES FROM INTERIM WEEK 5772, DAY 2

March 6, 2012

Today was busy!  During minyan, Rabbi Chaitovsky gave us some more insights about Megillat Esther.  This was followed by an intellectually stimulating lecture about “The Golden Age of Spain” given by Dr. Heather Miller Rubens of the Institute for Christian-Jewish Studies.  She discussed (and shared many primary texts) the fact that the historical record of the Jewish experience under Muslim rule in medieval Spain is very mixed: during some generations, it was one of co-existence and tolerance, and in other generations, one finds conflict and maltreatment.  This segment of the program was important because it illustrated how nuanced and various the relationship between Jews and Muslims has been for the past 14 centuries.

After the lecture, our very own resident artist Morah Brandes introduced us to some of the principles of Islamic art, especially the prohibition against representational art in most circumstances (because of their understanding of the Ten Commandments).  Then the students were dispatched to work hands-on on creating their own art in this tradition.

As the morning ended, we formed a production-line, making lunches for a homeless shelter, and mishloach manot baskets for children and parents who are victims of domestic abuse and are being sheltered by CHANA – the Jewish response to this problem.  In doing this we were embodying the value of tzedakah (zakat in Arabic), which both faith traditions share.

The afternoon was spent working on our Purim schpiels.

Tomorrow, we journey to the Maryland Science Center for a special IMAX showing of “Journey to Mecca,” and to tour a mosque.  Please remember to dress modestly (girls bring a scarf, wear nothing too tight).  We will be back a little after 1pm, and dismissal will happen then in observance of the Fast of Esther (no lunch time) and Purim later that night.

Dispatches from Interim Week 5772, Day 1, March 5, 2012

After minyan this morning, students and faculty were treated to a very informative overview of the beginnings of Islam by Imam Earl El-Amin. Imam El-Amin also shared his personal story – he converted to Islam many years ago, in part because he learned that his African ancestors were probably Muslims. He is very active in interfaith activities, grew up with many Jewish friends, and knows many local rabbis quite well; he also has met with both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict. He took several questions from the audience. After a brief break, we reconvened to hear Imam El-Amin talk informally with Rabbi Chaitovsky about various key questions of theological aspects of the two faith traditions of Judaism and Islam. The Imam also asked questions of the students so that he had a better understanding of our school. Students also had another opportunity to talk with him on topics ranging from what challenges both Jews and Muslims face today, and how he interprets writings that seem antiquated, controversial, or hurtful to some groups (including Jews).

In the afternoon, students broke up into their schpiel troupes and wrote their Purim skits for Friday’s performance. Each group has a particular part of the Megillah, a genre they are using for performance, student directors, and several items that must be included: certain props and certain clichés. Following this, we enjoyed an academic introduction to Islam as well as traditional Arab story-telling with Dr. Hezi Brosh and Jennifer Rudnik (local professional story-teller). Dr. Brosh has his Ph.D. from Tel Aviv University, and is an Associate Professor at the United States Naval Academy. He is the first scholar to explore the influence of cognitive and affective variables on the learning of Arabic as a foreign language by Hebrew speakers (who knew that someone could specialize in that!).

All in all, a successful first day!

IslAM in the AM...PuriM in the PM

We’re getting so excited about Interim Week – beginning this Monday, March 5. For the first time since Interim Week began in 2004, we have a dual theme – one that is taking place primarily in the morning (studying Islam), and one that is taking place primarily in the afternoon (celebrating Purim, which falls on Thursday). For the Islam part, we have scheduled lectures by scholars and imams, a theological discussion between an imam and our very own Rabbi Chaitovsky, a professor of political science from Johns Hopkins University, a professional storyteller who specializes in the legends of 1001 Nights, a hands-on study of Islamic art, a special IMAX called “Journey to Mecca,” and a fieldtrip to a mosque. We will also enjoy a banquet in the style of the Golden Age of Spain at the Royal Restaurant as our Purim Seudah. For the Purim part, we have been studying Megillat Esther with various scholars and rabbis all through February (and enjoying a hamentaschen contest). The students have been divided up into five Purim schpiel “teams” and will hold a competition of parts of the Purim story for the best “schpiel.” The week will be rounded out with a tzedakah project making lunches for My Sister’s Helper and mishloach manot baskets for families at the Chana shelter for victims of domestic abuse. The greater Cardin community is invited to some of these events – check out our website for more information.


~Leslie Smith Rosen
Dean of General Studies

Happy Birthday to the Trees

Yesterday was Tu B’shevat – the Jewish Arbor Day. I remember attending Hebrew School at Beth Israel and celebrating the New Year of the Trees by eating dried fruit – figs, pomegranates and dates – and collecting money for JNF to plant trees in Israel.


Celebrate with Jews around the world in honor of Eretz Yisrael – eat from the Shivat Haminim (Seven Species): wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates (Deut. 8:8) and if you really want to party, sing “Happy Birthday” to the trees!

~Barbie Prince
Head of School

Log on to the Jewish Day School Video Academy, sponsored by the AviChai Foundation, and show your support for our video submission. We think you will really enjoy it! With your support and votes, we can win up to $10,000 for Cardin. The deadline to vote is February 5th.


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Chanukah is here! Jews all around the world are lighting their chanukiah and frying their latkes. In Spanish class we have been learning about Latin American Chanukah traditions such as eating sufganiot with guava jelly and latkes with dulce de leche. We also learned to sing the popular Ladino tune Ocho Kandelikas Para Mi (Eight Candles For Me). We watched Youtube clips of the chanukiah lighting ceremony in Boca Stadium in Argentina and we read the story of the Macabees in Spanish.

Chanukah isn’t the only celebration we have been learning about! The quinceañera, which is very similar to the celebration of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a ceremony marking a 15-year old girl’s transition from childhood to adulthood in many Hispanic countries. Students learned about some of the traditions at a quinceañer: the vals (waltz) performed by the quinceañera and her court, the last doll the quinceañera brings to her party symbolizing the end of her childhood and the padrinos (godparents or close relatives) who present the quinceañera with a present. The quinceañera celebration is a time during which a young girl begins to think about her future. Spanish students studied the future tense and created a poster which illustrated what they want to do in the future.

Feliz Januka
~Rebecca Weinstein
Spanish Instructor

Students in physics are pictured here firing their trebuchet’s into army of plastic soldiers. This is a continuation in their study of projectile motion and the culminating activity for their first trimester in physics. Next they will be studying forces and their application to objects in motion.

If you’re interested in doing your own building or learning more about the art of siege warfare there are a lot of trebuchet and catapult shows and competitions today.

Two of my favorite sites for pumpkin throwing and competition are: http://science.discovery.com/tv/punkin-chunkin/ and http://punkinchunkin.com/

Hurling pumpkins after Halloween is just good recycling!

~Dean Whitfield
Mathematics & Science Chair