Teacher Profile: Mrs. Zeffren- Ida Crown’s Renaissance Woman

 By Hannah Rothner-

Whether you are a freshman in her Navi class, a sophomore in her JH class, a junior working with her for Student to Student, or a senior who is helping her plan the Senior Shabbaton, chances are you know Mrs. Zeffren. 

Pandemic Environmentalism: Ways to Protect the Earth in 2021

 By Dahlia Matanky-

The Coronavirus Pandemic has presented new challenges to every aspect of our lives, including serious environmental concerns. Although Ida Crown takes efforts to be environmentally conscious, such as introducing timed lights into the classrooms, there are always ways for our community to improve.

Keshet Programming Continues in an Atypical Year

 

By Hadassah Bernstein-

Keshet continues to bring education and fun for its students this year despite the pandemic.

Moshe’s Leadership Was a Team Effort Between Himself and Hashem

By Kayla Kupietzky-

Sefer Shemot is filled with lessons that we can apply to our lives. 

In Parshat Shemot, When Hashem revealed himself to Moshe at the burning bush, He told Moshe to confront Pharaoh and tell him to let Bnei Yisrael be free (3:10); essentially asking Moshe to assume the role as the leader of Bnei Yisrael. Moshe immediately responded that he was not the right person to accomplish Hashem’s request because he was of no importance: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and free Bnei Yisrael from Egypt” (3:11).

Davening at School Remains Optional For Time Being

 

By Gideon Miller-

At the beginning of this year due to the novel coronavirus, Ida Crown did not mandate that students daven at school. On October 19, ICJA reintroduced mandatory mincha at school, but davening shacharit at school remains optional. It is unclear when davening shacharit at school will become mandatory again. Although Rabbi Matanky, the dean of ICJA, said that the “expectation is that we will have shacharit again at school,” he does not foresee this happening until at least the beginning of the second semester.

COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Offers a Promising End to the Pandemic

 

By Isaac Shiner-

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorizations (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, an important milestone in battling this pandemic. The vaccines were approved for individuals 16 and 18 years of age and older respectively and consists of a two-dose series separated by 21 days and 28 days respectively.

Ida Crown's Chesed Program Active Despite Pandemic

By Gabriel Gordon-Burstyn-

Rabbi Yoni Fox and Mrs. Zeffren run Ida Crown’s Chesed program; Rabbi Fox says that he saw it as imperative that even in the pandemic there is a schoolwide Chesed program. Rabbi Fox wanted to find a way to do Chesed while minimizing risk for the student body, and he finally found this opportunity with the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign.

Student to Student: A Club Everyone Should Join

 

By Hannah Stein-

    Student to Student, a program based at ICJA that teaches non-Jews about Judaism, has been going strong for the past few weeks. In a normal year, Jewish students from ICJA, RZJHS, and public schools visit Christain and public schools to give presentations, but in-person presentations are not happening this year because of COVID-19.

Ida Crown Class of 2020 Make the Most of Year After High School Despite Pandemic

By Gabriel Gordon Burstyn—

At every Ida Crown interview, Rabbi Matanky asks incoming freshmen how many years there are to ICJA. His answer is five years: four at Ida Crown and the fifth year in Israel for a gap year. Every year, some Ida Crown graduates go for gap years in Israel, while others go straight to college. COVID-19 has impacted the class of 2020’s plans, dictating what their first year out of high school looks like.

A Personal Reflection on the Legacy Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 

By Dahlia Matanky-

    Ruth Bader Ginsburg was more than a Supreme Court Justice, more than a strong Jewish woman. To me and many others, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an ideology, a beacon of hope and progress. When our country mourns, we mourn not only the loss of an incredible person, but also an idealized version of our country.

Investment Club Debuts at Ida Crown

By Hadassah Bernstein- 
    Ida Crown’s investment club made its debut this year, founded by sophomore Ben Boyarskiy and senior Issac Zipperstein, and advised by history teacher Mr. Cooper. The investment club focuses on teaching students valuable skills in investment.

Book Review: Sonia Purnell’s “A Woman of No Importance”

    

By Hannah Rothner-

    With winter’s promise of freezing temperatures and snow, what better thing is there to do besides curl up on the couch with a blanket, hot cup of your beverage of choice, and a good book? If you’re looking for a page turning story of heroism, spycraft, and Nazi resistance, then Sonia Purnell’s A Woman of No Importance is the ideal non fiction book for you. 

Ida Crown’s Virtual Students Express Their Feelings about Zoom Learning

By Simone Miller-

   Fifteen students and several teachers have opted to learn via zoom this school year, participating in classes through standing iPads that are ubiquitous in every classroom. I spoke to a few of these zoomers to see how their year is going so far:

Note: interviews are edited lightly for clarity and brevity.

The Debate Club: A Second Coming

 

By Ari Baral-

   Several weeks before school closed in March, then freshman Gabe Simon approached Ms. Sennett about starting a Debate Club. He wanted to use this club as a way to hone his public speaking skills and open a platform for others to do the same. Just as his plans were coming to fruition, classes became remote and the club had to be put on hold. Now as a sophomore working with Ms. Sennett, Gabe Simon restarted the club for anyone and everyone to join.

Getting to Know Mrs. Gold

By Sarah Friedman-

    I had the privilege of interviewing Mrs. Gold, a new member of Ida Crown staff. Here is a glimpse of our conversation:

Ida Crown Students Elect A New Student Council

By Gideon Miller-     

     Ida Crown students elected a new Student Council on the 29th of September with Ronen Lavi as President, Ahron Falk as Vice- President, Jonathan Thomas as Treasurer, Kayla Kupietzky as Secretary, and fifteen class representatives. Normally, Student Council elections take place at the end of the previous year, but this year the elections were delayed until the 29th because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The influence of our Avot and Eimahot

By Kayla Kupietzky-

    The coronavirus pandemic has halted normal life, but it has also brought an unexpected light, unity, and selflessness into our communities. This light and kindness was taught to us by our forefathers and foremothers years ago, whose values of hachnasat orchim and gemilut chasidim show us how to infuse selflessness into our lives despite trying times.

Illinois and Ida Crown Jewish Academy Impose Restrictive Sports Policies Amid the Coronavirus.

By Isaac Shiner-

     The world wide public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus has caused many changes for Ida Crown Jewish Academy athletes. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued guidelines that detail plans and restrictions to keep athletes safe. Also, Ida Crown Jewish Academy plans to continue to set forth their own guidelines which many go above and beyond those of the IDPH and IHSA. Rabbi Matanky, the dean of Ida Crown, explained in an email that “whether or not our interscholastic sports will begin is still up in the air and dependent on IHSA, IDPH, and our medical committee.”