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.