January 2016 - Temple Chai

january 2016
ChaiLites
Standing Up for Judaism, Israel and Temple Chai
In November, I had the opportunity to
attend the URJ Biennial in Orlando with
almost 20 other Temple Chai members and
5000 fellow Reform Jews. It was filled with
not just the hope for the future of Judaism,
but the future of affiliation and the stability
of our congregations. There were classes
on engagement, Tikkun Olum, Audacious
Hospitality, interfaith and finances. We all
came away “ReJewvinated” with ideas for
our synagogue and plans for our future.
As this edition of our ChaiLites makes it
into your homes, I am in Israel and excited
to be attending my first Temple Chai trip
with my husband, daughter and son. With
all the unrest in both Israel and the world, I believe we need to stand up and
support Israel, and I know it is the right thing to be here now.
In March, the annual AIPAC conference is convening in Washington, and
Temple Chai always has several members attend what has become a show
of American support for Israel. There are so many opportunities to support
Israel, support Judaism, and to support our URJ movement.
So that brings me much closer to home. When I spoke on Kol Nidre, I
said I have never done anything more fulfilling than being President and
I truly mean this. I know I am helping to insure the future of Judaism and
Temple Chai by doing so, and I am positive there are many others who can
do the same. As Temple Chai leaders, we always say it is our job to grow
and encourage members to develop their leadership skills and contribute to
temple. We consider ourselves successful when we have the right successors
who have the passion and desire to maintain and further the growth of our
synagogue.
continued on page 3
Support Our Kids. See how you and your family
can help. Refer to page 18 for more information.
Cheshvan/Sh’vat 5776
Shabbat Worship Schedule
Friday, January 1- Shemot
5:45 p.m.
Kabbalat Panim
6:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Worship
Saturday, January 2
8:30 a.m.
Torah Study
10:30 a.m.
Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish
in the Sanctuary
Friday, January 8 – Va’era
6:45 p.m.
Kabbalat Panim
7:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Worship
with Birthday Blessings
Saturday, January 9
8:30 a.m.
Torah Study
10:30 a.m.
Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish
in the Sanctuary
Friday, January 15 – Bo
5:45 p.m.
Kabbalat Panim
6:30 p.m.
Kabbalat MLK Shabbat Worship
Saturday, January 16
8:30 a.m.
Torah Study
10:30 a.m.
Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the
Musick Family Library
B’not Mitzvah of Alexa Rubin and
Lindsey Schechtman
Friday, January 22 – Beshalach
5:45 p.m.
Kabbalat Panim
6:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Worship
Saturday, Janury 23
8:30 a.m.
Torah Study
10:30 a.m.
Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the
Musick Family Library
Bat Mitzvah of Jordan McFadden
5:00 p.m.
B’nei Mitzvah of Jaden Pazol and
Skylar Pazol
Friday, January 29 – Yitro
5:45 p.m.
Kabbalat Rock Shabbat Worship
with Anniversary Blessings
Saturday, January 30
8:30 a.m.
Torah Study
10:30 a.m.
Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the
Musick Family Library
B’nei Mitzvah of Sophia Fine and
Benjamin Ries
5:00 p.m.
B’not Mitzvah of Emma Friedman and
Rachel Weisberg
Friday, February 5 – Mishpatim
6:30 p.m.
Tot Shabbat with Birthday Blessings
6:45 p.m.
Kabbalat Panim
7:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Worship
with Birthday Blessings
We inspire Jewish journeys in an inclusive, nurturing community with
a passion for lifelong learning, music, acts of loving kindness and a love of Israel.
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Standing Up for Judaism, cont’d
The Temple Chai nominating committee will soon be convening to identify
and select the next slate of officers and trustees for the 2016/17 (5777) year.
I encourage everyone to think seriously about what role you can play and
how you can stand up for temple. Whether it is joining one of our many
committees or becoming a board member, leadership here is an opportunity
to develop the educational, programmatic, spiritual and financial direction
of OUR synagogue for both our immediate needs and for our future. Our
board comes from a wide range of professions. We have teachers, lawyers,
accountants, marketing professionals, human resource professionals, and
retired business people to name just a few. We vary in age and length of time
as Temple Chai members. I encourage you to seriously consider a board
position for the coming year.
In the coming weeks, we will list the open positions on our website. If you
have thought at all about giving back to Temple Chai, about growing your
skills, or about just being more involved as a member, I encourage you to join
us. Please let me or any Board Member know if you have any questions about
the open positions or the responsibilities of being a board member. We all
have something unique to give back to temple and our collective voices shape
the future of OUR synagogue. Stand up and let your voice be heard!
L’Dor Va Dor – From Generation to Generation
Someone You Should Know
Attention B’nei Mitzvah Families
If Your Child Will Soon
Become A Bar Or Bat Mitzvah
Please don’t forget to submit a photo for the ChaiLites
at least three (3) months prior to your ceremony.
Drop off, mail or email a clear photo of your child
with his/her name and date of their service on the
back.
If sending a jpg, please put the child’s name and
date of the service in the subject line and email it to
[email protected]. Also, please submit a two line
bio for your child and return the B’nei Mitzvah form
so we know how you would like your name(s) listed
on the B’nei Mitzvah page and all other publicity.
Please contact Deborah Greenswag to schedule your
pre B’nei Mitzvah photos 3 months prior to your
mitzvah. She can be reached at 847-537-1771 x222 or
[email protected].
Temple Chai Funeral Plan
B’shalom v’tikvah,
Laurie Azriel- Prager
Gabrielle Mattes and Maya Semmelman
received Honorable mention awards in the
2016 Youth Art Competition sponsored by the
American Enterprise Bank and the Village of
Buffalo Grove Arts commission.
As a benefit of your membership at Temple Chai, we
are pleased to make available to you and your family
a discounted funeral program at three different local
funeral providers, all of whom enjoy a close working
relationship with our congregation.
Upon the loss of a loved one, please call the temple
office. If during non-business hours, please listen to
the phone prompts to be connected to someone who
can provide immediate support, and start to help
with your arrangements.
Funerals may be held in our sanctuary (calendar
permitting), at the funeral home chapel, or graveside
at the cemetery.
Please visit www.templechai.org/lifecycles/funerals
for detailed plan information, or call our Executive
Director, Deb Mattes at 847-537-1771 x245 for more
information.
Maya Semmelman
Gabrielle Mattes
Our January’s Third Thursday program is
The History of Yiddish Seen Through a Historical Lens:
A Conversation with Carolyn Dinofsky
Thursday, January 21st
1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
The thousand year old language “Yiddish” had been the primary
identifying element for Ashkenazic Jews. Being able to communicate with
fellow Jews across Europe provided the Jewish community with a means
of survival. Yiddish was the glue that not only kept us alive, but it had
provided us with meaningful insight into our rich traditions and practices.
Join us as Carolyn Dinofsky enriches our understanding of our traditions
and practices through Yiddish.
PFLAG -- Deerfield Chapter
(Parents, Family, and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays)
Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth
Elohim
1201 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: 630-415-0622 • Office: 630-297-3658
Email: [email protected]
Meets second Thursday of each month from
7:15 - 9:00 p.m.
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Message From Our Executive Director
In October, The Synagogue
Federation hosted the program,
“Build Me a House for All People:
A Community Conversation
About Inclusion.” I was honored to
participate in a panel discussion on
the topic of “Designing Your Path
to Inclusion,” with a representative
from Temple Jeremiah and Young
Israel of West Rogers Park where
we shared stories of how our
congregations have addressed
inclusion of people with disabilities
in different ways.
Back in December 2013, Rabbi Hart officiated at the B’nei Mitzvah
of Dina Bergman, daughter of Allan and Jan Bergman, while
on the Israel trip. In front of the group of 100 temple members,
Dina, a woman diagnosed with a developmental disability who
was not allowed to have a Bat Mitzvah ceremony as a child, gave
a transformative d’var. The experience so moved Rabbi Hart and
all of the others in the desert that day, that when he returned, he
gave his own d’var on “The Sacred Obligationof Inclusion: Our
Commitment to Awareness and Action” at a Kabbalat Shabbat
worship.
One month later, in March 2014 (March is Jewish Disability
Awareness Month), we formed the Inclusion Committee, which
now meets every month and has nearly 20 dedicated members who
work to support and fulfill the Temple Chai mission statement of
being an inclusive, nurturing community.
In its brief tenure, the Inclusion Committee has already made
a significant
impact in our
community.
The accessible
doors at the east
entrance to the
building and
to the hallway
restroom were
installed last
year, with the
generosity of
the Temple Chai
Sisterhood.
The past two
years of High
Holy Day
worship have
included sign
language
interpretation,
the availability
of large-print
prayer books, the
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use of people first language such as “we prepare” instead of “please
rise”, and special accommodations for individuals with visual
impairments in our choir.
Our Religious School has employed a special needs coordinator,
Michele Perlman, for many years, and we have been able to provide
special accommodations for children during their B’nei Mitzvah
journeys and throughout their education.
Our new website will feature Sitecues, which will offer fontenlarging and audio technology for people with visual and hearing
impairments. The Inclusion Committee is setting its strategy for
the next year, including the goal to install hearing loop technology
in the sanctuary and social halls; creating additional accessible
parking near the east doors; installing a second set of lower
mezzuzot on our thresholds for people who use wheelchairs; and
offering a joint program on mental health issues with the Chai
Center in 2016.
While we still have many more opportunities ahead of us to
ensure all individual differences are accepted, appreciated, and
accommodated, I was proud to share what we have achieved so far
during the panel discussion in October. The fact that we feature
articles about inclusion in our ChaiLites on a regular basis, and
that we continue to participate in needs assessments and focus
groups with the Synagogue Federation, demonstrates our ongoing
commitment to living the Jewish value of “B’tzelem Elohim,” that
all humans are created in the Divine Image.
Deb Mattes
Israel’s Strategic Challenges!
The Existential Threat!!!
Join us for an international reality check with featured speaker
Bob Schwartz, Senior Policy Advisor,
Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest
Sunday, January 24, 2016 • 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Temple Chai
Sponsored by Temple Chai Israel Committee
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Lunch and Learn Minimesters at Temple Chai
Each class will meet from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Please be sure to bring your lunch so
that you can provide nourishment for your body, while we provide nourishment for
your mind.
Arguing With God
Wednesdays, February 3, 10, and 17 with
Rabbi Baden
Who said that having faith in God means that we
have to agree with everything God “says” or “does”?
Just as each of us may have had doubts, struggles, or
disagreements with God in our own lives, Judaism
has a long tradition of grappling with the Divine. In
this class, we will explore traditional stories from the
Bible and folklore of heroes who stood up to God,
for better or for worse, and what we learn from those
encounters that we can apply to our own lives.
Wise Aging: A Journey of
Reflection on our Lives, Inner Selves
and Deepest Values
Tuesdays, April 5, 12, and 19 with
Cantor Simon
No matter how old we are, it is never too early to
think about our approach to aging. Based on the
book Wise Aging, participants will thoughtfully
navigate the challenges of aging and views on aging.
Building new skills and understandings, using
thoughtful text study, mindfulness meditation,
cultivation of spiritual qualities, contemplative
listening, and even gentle movement, we will explore
such topics as relationships with adult children and
spouses, living with loss, cultivating well-being,
romance and sexuality, and more. Join us as we
discover new joy and meaning in life as we explore
the potential to develop into deeper, wiser people.
Haman, Mordechai, Esther and
Shushan: The Story of the Jewish
People in the Diaspora Wednesdays, March 2, 9, and 16 with
Rabbi Hart
The celebration of Purim—complete with noise
makers, costumes and Hamantaschen—only tells
part of the story. Intermarriage, assimilation, the
challenge of revealing one’s Jewish identity are not
only themes of the Book of Esther, but are in many
ways our story, as well. Come join the conversation
on what it means to live a Jewish life in the Diaspora
today. Zionist Celebrations in the
Diaspora
Tuesdays, May 3, 10, and 17 with
Laura Siegel Perpinyal, RJE
The spring is full of “new” holidays: Yom HaShoah
(Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s
Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers), Yom Ha’Atzmaut
(Israel’s Independence Day) and Yom Yerushalyim
(Jerusalem Day). How can Americans connect to
these very nationalistic, and sometimes even difficult,
holidays? How do we appropriately and comfortably
commemorate and celebrate? What does each of
these days really signify? In this class, we will delve
into the history of these holidays and discuss our
reactions to them.
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Temple Chai sponsored
the closing night movie
“Is That You” at the 2015
Chicago Festival of Israeli
Cinema
Eileen Kuenneth and Executive Director
of the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema
Cindy Stern.
Maxine and Steve Sukenik with Alon
Aboutboul, star of the film and director
Dani Menkin.
Josh Wenger, Alon Aboutboul (star of “Is That
You?”) and Robyn Wenger
Josh Wenger and Dan Hirschberg at showing
of “Is That You?” the Temple Chai sponsored
closing movie of the 2015 Chicago Festival of
Israeli Cinema.
True Meaning
This year, Temple Chai has once again helped to make the holiday season
happier for 200 children in the suburbs and Chicagoland area. I would like to
thank the Sisterhood for their generous donation and everyone who brought
gifts and gift cards. All of the children received the gifts they chose. One
congregant picked a dreidel that had a special request. A 10 year old child
wanted a copy of the new high holiday prayer book. The congregant emailed
me to see if the gift could be delayed so that he could get this beautiful gift to
this child. I, as well as the coordinator from the JCFS, was so touched that this
child wanted a true gift of Judaism and that a congregant from Temple Chai
was able to provide this to this child. Thank you to all who participated to make
this mitzvah so successful for so many children.
Marla Grabell
Dreidel Do-Gooder Chair
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Families Helping Families
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped at Families Helping Families in November.
From taking pictures, to greeting shoppers, to directing traffic and giving food pantry
tours, our volunteers were the best! We had well over 50 families participate which
translates to lots of food for the hungry, this fall.
Thank you Rich Rosen, Marlene Dolin, Sue Shamberg, Terry Steczo and a shout out to
Annie Azriel! Thanks to the Chai Center for arranging the day.
It’s a pleasure to work with you.
Kitty Loewy, Hineini Chair
Dear Kitty and Rich,
Thank you both so much for your efforts
to feed the hungry through Kingswood’s
Food Pantry in November! Kitty, we
appreciate all the food items the groups
provided and the interest shown by
so many of the families! Rich, you
were a great host both times, and your
willingness to handle the earlier group
made their participation possible. Please
thank the entire congregation on our
behalf as well. We have always enjoyed our
great relationship over the years. Thank
you again and Happy Thanksgiving!
Jim & Cheryl Gibson
Kingswood Food Pantry Coordinators
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Special Needs Programs at Temple
Chai Celebrate Inclusiveness
Temple Chai offers classes
and activities for students
who have special needs
from pre-K through 12th
grade Sunday through
Wednesday. There are
religious school and Hebrew
classes, cultural and social
activities and conversational
Hebrew sessions.
Michele Perlman has been
the temple’s special needs
coordinator for over 20
Michele Perlman
years. Perlman earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in special education and has
taught special needs programs since 1983. She currently
is an Autism specialist and a crisis team member at a
suburban elementary school.
Perlman, together with a child’s parents and the temple’s
Director of Congregational Learning, Laura Siegel
Perpinyal, discuss how to help a child who requires
special assistance to participate in the temple’s spiritual
and educational opportunities. Perlman is also alerted by
religious and Hebrew school teachers if they believe that
a child may benefit from special help. She then works
with the child’s parents to develop a plan that fits the
child’s needs.
“Many students who receive special help can partake
with other students in religious school and other temple
activities,” said Perlman. “Hebrew students work with
tutors in small groups or individually.” “Our goal is to
enable each special needs student to continually share
in the life of the temple community to the best of his
or her ability,” said Michele. “To accomplish this goal,
we design and re-design curriculum to fit the changing
needs of each individual student. Our special needs
programs have enabled many young people to be part of
our religious and Hebrew schools and to be successful in
their B’nei Mitzvah.” Michele has even written portions
of the service for students who require special help. She
tutors small groups and individual pupils and trains the
temple’s teen guides (Madrichim) to help students who
require assistance to stay focused in religious school.
Perlman councils parents on how to support their
special needs students and helps them to overcome any
feeling that their children are stigmatized because they
need special help. “When parents and I have worked
together and their children have gone through religious
and Hebrew school and celebrated their B’nei Mitzvah,
I know that we have done the right thing.” said Perlman.
“I believe that our special needs programs have enriched
the lives of many young people.”
Sisterhood Membership Dinner
It was another unforgettable Sisterhood
Membership Dinner on October 27th!
124 new and returning Sisterhood
members enjoyed a catered buffet
followed by the inspiring message of chef
and former Chicago restaurateur Ina
Pinkney.
Ms. Pinkney is known as the “Breakfast
Queen” of Chicago. For 30 years she
owned the restaurant Ina’s in the West
Loop. She stirred all of us as she spoke
of her drive to succeed following her
battle with polio. Prior to realizing her
talent as a chef, she worked (and lost)
21 jobs. Ina has won numerous awards
over the years but despite the awards
and acclaim she has garnered in her
career, the most significant title she
holds is Polio Survivor. Ina now speaks
to Rotary groups about the late effects of
polio in her effort to help Rotary and the
Gates Foundation achieve their goal of
worldwide eradication of polio. Ms. Pinkney signed copies of her cookbook
for our members and thanks to Leah Miska (who did a lot of baking) we were
able to taste Ina’s famous Vanilla Bean Pound Cake and delectable chocolate
brownies.
Thanks to the
Sisterhood
President’s Council
for putting the
dinner together and
a huge shout out to
the many volunteers
who helped create a
successful night.
Shirah Chavurah
Here’s a picture of
our most recent
gathering. We
enjoyed a pot luck
dinner, and each
couple brought a
bag of groceries for
donation.
Fun!
Mindy Kessler
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Please come to support
Daniela’s Mitzvah Project!
A Klezmer Music Experience featuring The Junior
Klezmer Orchestra and special guests: The
Ruach! Children’s Choir
Sunday, January 10, 4:00-5:00
PM
Temple Chai, 1670 Checker Rd, Long
Grove
$10 adults/$5 children at the door and
ALL proceeds benefit The Klezmer Music
Foundation, Inc., an organization that is close
to Daniela’s heart. The Foundation supports
The Junior Klezmer Orchestra, The Maxwell
Street Klezmer Band, and other projects that keep our Jewish culture alive and vibrant.
For more information, call Lina Ostrov: (847) 971-1571.
TEMPLE CHAI
REFORM CONGREGATION
1670 RFD
LONG GROVE, IL 60047-5289
STEPHEN A. HART, Rabbi
Ilana G. Baden, Rabbi
SCOTT D. SIMON, Cantor
DEB MATTES, Executive Director
DEBORAH GREENSWAG, Assistant Executive
Director
Laura Siegel Perpinyal, Director of
Congregational Learning
SCOTT GOODE, Assistant Director of Education,
Youth and Engagement
CHARLA SILVER, B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator
CATHY SCHWARTZ, Director of Member Services
Laurie Azriel-Prager, Temple President
Karen Schwartz, Cheryl Stern, and Linda
Brubaker, Sisterhood Co-Presidents
Dave Kogan, Chai Guys Brotherhood President
JEFF KONDRITZER, Director of Education, Emeritus
NON-PROFIT
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
Buffalo Grv., IL 60089
Permit No. 40
DEADLINE FOR march CHAILITES IS january 18TH
1670 Checker Road • Long Grove, IL 60047-5289 • 847-537-1771 • www.templechai.org • [email protected]