| Next Week |
Monday, Sept 19
Regular schedule
Tuesday, Sept 20
Girls' Soccer @ Mt. Alvernia (4:30)
Volleyball vs. Gann
(JV 5:30, Var 6:30)
Wednesday, Sept 21
4:45pm dismissal
Back-to-School Night 7:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 22
Girls' Soccer vs. Cathedral (TBD)
Boys' Soccer @ Pope John (4:00)
Friday, Sept 23
Portrait Day!
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In Two Weeks
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Sunday, September 25
Volleyball @ Mt. Alvernia
(JV 12:00, Var 1:00)
Monday, September 26
Girls' Soccer @ Gann (4:15)
Tuesday, September 27 3:00pm Dismissal
Volleyball @ Ursuline
(JV 4:00, Var 5:00)
Girls' Soccer @ Ursuline 4:00,
Boys' Soccer @ SSCA (4:00)
Wednesday, September 28
Volleyball @ Cathedral
(JV 4:00, Var 5:00)
Thursday, September 29
Volleyball vs. Cats Academy (JV only 5:30)
Girls' Soccer @ SSCA (4:00)
Boys' Soccer @ Gann (4:15)
Friday, September 30
Regular schedule
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Having a
MAIMO MOMENT?
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Please click here
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Online Photo Galleries
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Hosted securely on Phanfare.com. Password to view all galleries is "horim".
For all Upper School photo galleries, click here!
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| Find Maimonides On: |    
www.maimonides.org
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D'var Torah
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There is a major philosophical debate sparked by a mitzvah in this week's parsha which we are also exploring with the 9th and 10th graders this year in Masechet Chullin. It is the mitzvah of shiluach haken - sending away the mother bird before taking the eggs. The debate is about the permissibility of exploring the taamei hamitzvot - the reason behind each mitzvah. The link to this particular mitzvah is a mishna in Berachot 33b in which the mishna tells us that if a shliach tzibbur in his tefillah says al kan tzippur yagiyu rachamecha - "your mercy should extend to us as it does to the bird in the nest" - he must immediately be removed. One of the reasons presented by the gemara is that it is not for us to classify this mitzvah as one of mercy, because mitzvot "are nothing but decrees" - not for us to evaluate, but simply to observe.
The irony of kan tzippur is that the very mitzvah which sparks the controversy of exploring the taamei hamitzvot has in fact generated much discussion as to its own reason and purpose. The Ramban in this week's parsha lists three possible reasons:
- In order that we avoid having a cruel and unmerciful heart
- To ensure that we do not wipe out any species of animal
- To not cause pain to the mother bird (the Rambam's opinion)
The Ramban is certain, though, that whatever the underlying motivations, the mitzvot are not somehow for Hashem's sake, but rather letsaref bahem et habriyot - to refine us. This stands in sharp contrast to the approach of the mystics. The Zohar contends that the sending away of the mother bird is in fact an act of cruelty, through which the divine attribute of mercy is awakened and focused on Am Yisrael. This idea could be what lies behind the shocking position found in some Rishonim, that the mother should be sent away even if one does not want the eggs!
The range of opinions on shiluach haken, as well as the abundance of seforim devoted to exploring taamei hamitzvot, seems to ignore the gemara in Berachot's assertion that mitzvot are but decrees for us to follow. Why do we continue to explore the underlying reasons behind mitzvot? One answer is given by the Rambam in the Moreh Nevuchim. The Rambam posits that the opinion in Berachot is one of two offered, and it is in fact the minority opinion. The majority opinion encourages this type of questioning and analysis.
A second answer is based on a unique insight to the mishna offered by the Rav. He says that the specific context being discussed is that of tefilla - a realm in which the rules are different. It is one thing to analyze the nature of mitzvot in the act of Talmud Torah, where our approach is one of exploration, classification, and testing of theories. It is quite another thing to declare the function of a mitzvah in the realm of tefilla, as conjecture has no place in prayer. Calling to Hashem for mercy cannot depend on our correct classification of the mitzvah of kan tzippur.
For the Rav, the permissibility of assigning reasons to the mitzvot depends on the context in which it is being done. In our never-ending attempt to probe the depths of Torah, we should ask: What is the nature of this mitzvah, and by extension, what does it mean for me that Hashem commanded me to do it?
Questions for the Shabbos table:
- How do the various conceptions of this mitzvah point to different philosophical points of view?
- Which mitzvot, for you, have the impact of being metsaref habriyot - refining your character?
- With which mitzvot is it hard for you to see how they refine your character?
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| Thoughts of the Rav | |
Last week, we began discussing the act of cleaving to Hashem. The Rav z"l writes that cleaving is different than uniting since in the process of unification, the different components lose a part of what makes them unique - uniting with the divine would, the mystics believed, come at the cost of our own individuality. Uniting is found in solitude and seclusion, in retreating from worldly pursuits rather than sanctifying them.
Not so with cleaving. The pursuit of devekut is man's attempt to cleave to Hashem "[not by] denying his actual essence, but, on the contrary, by affirming his own essence. The actual muticolored human personality becomes closer to G-d when the individual lives his own variegated, original life, filled with goals, initiative, and activity."
For the Rav, the medium through which man accomplishes this devekut is halacha. We connect not by giving up parts of ourselves, but by focusing our thoughts and practice towards Hashem through our mutual connection to halacha. In essence, we attempt to "know" Hashem by learning and actualizing His revelatory halachic commands.
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Helping Hands
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An 11th grade Advisory group led by Head of School Naty Katz used their weekly session to help out in the Early Childhood Center today. A fun time was had by big kids and little kids alike!
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| PTA S'chach Sale | | |
Order fresh-cut cedar s'chach for your Sukkah from the Maimonides School PTA! For details and to place an order, click here:
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Printable and Electronic Calendars Online
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The printable school calendar for this year is now online at
The electronic calendar for 2016-17 is also online! You can visit http://maimonidescalendar.org/calendar throughout the year for the most up-to-date information on everything that's happening, both throughout the school and in each individual division.
The online calendar can be customized to show only the divisions and events you wish to see. See http://maimonidescalendar.org/calendar-instructions for more detailed information on how to use the calendar.
In addition, you will be able to subscribe so that school events and alerts will appear on your personal calendar. More information will follow soon.
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| Senior Camping Trip | |
Senior year begins with an epic camping trip, so the class of 2017 headed west this week for a few days in the beautiful Berkshires.
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Volunteer for Yom Chesed
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 Yom Chesed is December 4 -- Would you like to get involved?
Our third Yom Chesed is scheduled for Sunday morning, December 4, 2016. Yom Chesed is an all-ages community service initiative for our entire Maimonides community. Our past Yom Chesed events have each involved over 500 participants helping a broad range of community organizations.
Registration will begin later in the fall, but in the meantime, we are looking for volunteers to help with this event. Even if you can't attend Yom Chesed, we would love your help prior to the event with planning and coordinating activities, shopping for supplies, or making phone calls.
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Handbook Now Online
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Username is: maimoparents
Password is: horim
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| Follow Maimo on Instagram | |
We're  expanding our social media network! Please follow us on Instagram at @Maimobrookline. If you're new to our community, note that we're also on Facebook
(Maimonides School, Maimonides Early Childhood Center) and Twitter (@kolrambam). You'll find all the latest news and activities from school posted on our social media outlets.
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| Vehicle Policies and Procedures | |
Please see this link for current information on the school's parking policies, as well as updated drop-off and pick-up procedures.
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Online Access to Directory
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We know many of you are eager to connect with each other! The printed Maimonides School 2016-17 Directory is in production, but parents can access the directory information online via MyBackpack.
In order to locate family or classmate contact information, follow these steps:
- Log into My Backpack
- To find a single family, search by last name in the Directory box
- To generate an entire grade list, click on "Advanced Search Options" and follow these steps:
- Click on the "Search for Student" tab
- Select the grade you want and click on "Search"
- Click on "Detail" to see email address information
NOTE: In order to return to the entire grade list, do NOT hit the browser back button. Instead, click on the "Back to Search Student/Parent" button, found above the student name (at top left).
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See What's Happening in the Other Divisions
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Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School!
If you'd like to take a peek at the other divisions' newsletters, please click here.
If you would like to contact a specific school office, please use these emails:
us@maimonides.org
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