1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Join the
Yad Squad!
See page 3
for details!
INSIDE
Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein
2
Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz
3
Executive Director Edward Alpert
4
Youth Programming
5
Library News
6
We Remember, We Celebrate
7
SUKKOT!!
OCTOBER 2014 | VOLUME 43, NUMBER 1
GET READY TO SHAKE YOUR LULAV!
IT’S
for
e
tim
Travel Opportunities
8
Social Action Programming
9
With Appreciation
10
Insert:
October 2014 Calendar
USHMM Program
Join us for Magic Men
Wednesday, October 8th
5:00 p.m. Sukkot Family Service
Sukkot Schedule:
4:10 p.m. Hebrew School
5:00 p.m. All students go to
the Sukkot Service. *All
families* invited to join the
Service!
Followed by Pizza in a Hut
@ 5:45 p.m.
CHAZAK
STRENGTHENING OURSELVES AND
EACH OTHER
Don’t forget
some mittens!
See page 2
for details!
A fabulous family dinner featuring
neighborhood pizzas!
(RSVP required. $5/person $20/family
Sign up online at amshalom.com)
Thursday, October 9th
9:00 a.m. Sukkot Festival Service
@ Glencoe Community Garden
“Shake Your Lulav!”
Am Shalom’s mission, as a Reform congregation, is to engage, enlighten, embrace and educate
our members in ways that build a sense of community, while respecting individual forms of
expression and belief. We seek to explore our Jewish roots, awareness and values, and enrich the
spiritual lives of our members, while serving humanity through social action.
Am Shalom is proud to be a member of the Union for Reform Judaism.
FROM THE DESK OF RABBI
STEVEN STARK LOWENSTEIN
Howard Gardner is one of those really smart guys from Harvard
University. Some say he is one of the greatest minds of our time. He is
best known for his theory of “multiple intelligences,” the idea that there
is not one thing that can be measured and defined as intelligence but
many different things. He has written many books on leadership and
creativity, including one in particular,
Leading Minds. In this book, he states
what makes a leader is “the ability to tell
a particular kind of story.” A story that
explains ourselves to ourselves and
gives power and resonance to a
collective vision. If you think about it,
all great leaders tell a story. Churchill,
Gandhi, Dr. King, all had stories to
share and told them well. Stories give us
a shared identity and sense of purpose.
Stories help define who we really are.
Studies show that we are wired to
remember stories much more than data,
facts, and figures. This is fundamental
to understanding why Torah is the kind
of book that it is. It is not a theological
treatise or a metaphysical system, but a
series of interlinked stories extended
over time, from Adam and Eve to
Abraham and Sarah to Moses
wandering in the wilderness. These
events and so much many more are all
parts of that story.
Simchat Torah is the holiday where we
end and begin the Torah. We take out
the Torah scroll and unroll it around
the sanctuary. It is our chance to recall
these wonderful stories, (just in case
you missed a week or two of Shabbat
services). We hope you will join us on
October 15th for this wonderful journey
from Deuteronomy back to Genesis.
The retelling of our Jewish nation’s
history each year in the Torah becomes
an obligation for every citizen of that
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nation. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
teaches, “Jews were commanded, as it
were, to become a nation of storytellers.
By making the Israelites a nation of
storytellers, Moses helped turn them
into a people bound by collective
responsibility – to one another, to the
past and future, and to God.” In the
book Gates of the Forest, Elie Wiesel
once wrote:
When the great Rabbi Israel Baal ShemTov saw misfortune threatening the
Jews, it was his custom to go into a
certain part of the forest to meditate.
There he would light the fire, say a
special prayer, and the miracle would be
accomplished and the misfortune
averted. Years later when a disciple of
the Ba'al Shem-Tov, the celebrated
Magid of Mezritch, had occasion for the
same reason, to intercede with heaven,
he would go to the same place in the
forest and say, ‘Master of the Universe,
listen! I do not know how to light the
fire, but I am still able to say the prayer,’
and again the miracle would be
accomplished. Still later, another rabbi,
Rabbi Moshe-Leib of Sasov, in order to
save his people once more, would go into
the forest and say, ‘I do not know how to
light the fire. I do not know the prayer,
but I know the place and this must be
sufficient.’ It was sufficient and the
miracle was accomplished. The years
passed. And it fell to Rabbi Israel of
Ryzhyn to overcome misfortune. Sitting
in his armchair, his head in his hands,
he spoke to God, ‘I am unable to light
the fire, and I do not know the prayer,
and I cannot even find the place in the
forest. All I can do is tell the story, and
this must be sufficient.’ And it was
sufficient."
Wiesel concluded, “Why did God
invent people? Because God loves
stories.”
In this new year ahead, we hope that
you will share your story with us. It is
your personal narrative that makes you
the fascinating and unique individual
that you are destined to become. Keep
telling stories.
ANNUAL
SUKKOT
GLOVE &
MITTEN
DRIVE
Decorate our Sukkah with
warmth and help others!
Bring NEW gloves & mittens
from now thru Sukkot!
FROM THE DESK OF CANTOR
ANDREA RAE MARKOWICZ
One of the many reasons I love Judaism is because throughout our
yearly cycle, we are continually gifted with opportunities to begin afresh.
Did you know that according to the Mishna and Talmud, Rosh Hashana
marks just one of four "new year" observances that define various legal
"years" for different purposes?
They are:
1. Tu Bishvat (15th of Sh’vat),
symbolizing the redemption of
the land and the awakening of
environmental awareness
through the planting of trees;
2. The first of Nisan,
corresponding to the season of
the redemption from Egypt
(Passover), the birth of the
nation of Israel, and the
beginning of spring, the season
of rebirth;
3. The first of Elul, in ancient days,
the time for the tithing of cattle;
4. And finally, the first of Tishrei,
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New
Year, celebrating the creation of
our world. On this day we enter
into the Yamim Noraim, the
Days of Awe, a time of selfexamination for ourselves, and
repentance between ourselves
and one another, and on Yom
Kippur, between ourselves and
God.
Each of these days throughout our
year offers new beginnings. There
are even more opportunities
additionally sprinkled throughout
our yearly cycle. One of my favorites
is Simchat Torah, a day to rejoice
with the Torah! This day celebrates
and marks the conclusion of the
annual cycle of public Torah
readings and the beginning of a new
cycle. We unroll the entire scroll,
revealing the stories of our tradition,
finish reading the scroll, and reroll
to the beginning to start fresh with
day one. B’reishit bara Elohim et
hashamayim v’et ha’aretz…vay’hi
erev vay’hi voker yom echad – “In
the beginning, Elohim created the
heavens and the earth…and there
was evening and there was morning,
day one.”
At this new cycle of Torah, we here
at Am Shalom are thrilled to
officially be launching The Yad
Squad! Members of The Yad Squad
will volunteer to chant/read Torah
on High Holy Days, Holidays, and
various Friday evening Shabbats
throughout the year. If you are
interested in joining the group,
please email me at
[email protected].
musical guests, The Maxwell Street
Klezmer Band, for Erev Simchat
Torah – another chance to begin
anew. Help us unroll the scroll, as
we welcome our new Religious
School students with music, singing,
dancing and the sweetness of Torah!
@ Am Shalom
Interested in joining
the Yad Squad?
Contact Cantor
Andrea Rae
Markowicz:
[email protected]
Finally, please join us and our
KOL
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FROM THE DESK OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EDWARD M. ALPERT
“You have gladdened me by your deeds;
I rejoice in your handiwork.
How great are Your works, Adonai
How very subtle Your designs!
Psalms 92:5-6
I can hardly believe that it is well over
six years since we unveiled our
beautifully renovated building. It seems
like just yesterday we were shuttling
back and forth between five different
locations. Our renovated building has
truly brought us everything we dreamed
of when we first started our plans back
in 2003.
As many of your have discovered with
your own homes, despite the newness of
our building, there are constant repairs
and upgrades that take place on an
annual basis. In fact, a couple of years
ago (and updated annually) we created
a twenty year reserve study so that we
can anticipate repairs and replacements
well into the future and plan
accordingly.
So many individuals that come through
our building offer compliments on how
clean and fresh the building looks and
those compliments belong to Juan
Gutierrez (Our Director of Facilities)
and the entire maintenance staff. Every
day they go through a check list of
things to be repaired or cleaned in our
building. Over each summer they
literally go room by room cleaning and
painting walls, washing carpeting,
polishing furniture, changing light bulbs
and doing everything in their power to
keep our building in excellent
condition. Juan has also received
HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical
certification, and takes care of most of
our repairs.
I thought I would share with you some
of the projects we completed this past
summer that were part of our twenty
year reserve study.
1. Sealcoating and striping of all parking
areas surrounding the building, as
well as our circle driveway. Repair of
two collapsed sewers
2. New landscaping. Unfortunately we
had to remove eight dead ash trees,
but a handful of new trees has been
planted and new flower beds added.
In addition we added new stone
edging around the sanctuary flower
beds to better retain rain runoff and
Am Shalom
create a common look for all of our
grounds.
3. New office furnishings for Senior staff
4. A complete upgrade of our sanctuary
sound system. After an extensive
study by sound consultants,
Kirkegaard, we have introduced new
speakers and microphones for the
sanctuary to better improve the
listening experience. We also added a
new hearing impaired system and
advanced streaming equipment.
5. Development and roll out of a new
website (currently in progress).
As a result of contributions made to our
Building Fund by all new members of
Am Shalom, the funds existed not only
to cover the above projects but, based
on our reserve study, will cover
necessary projects for the next ten years.
Please know that it will always be a high
priority of your Am Shalom staff to
maintain our sacred building and make
sure it remains a place of which we can
all be proud.
Women’s Spirituality Group
meets Saturday, October 11th at 11:30 a.m.
Register online at amshalom.com
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YOUTH PROGRAMMING
AM SHALOM
by Matthew Altman, Director of Youth Programming
About a year ago, I was introduced to all of you as the new youth
advisor. While Adam Bellows was going off to Israel to become a rabbi,
Sarah and I would hold down the fort and plan events.
Now, Sarah is also gone to Israel to
become a rabbi, and I want to
introduce you all to Kadi House,
our new youth advisor. Kadi grew
up in California and has been
involved with the reform
movement her whole life. This past
year, she was in Israel, teaching
English to Israelis, and this past
summer, she worked at a NFTY
summer camp in Seattle.
Currently, she is working here at
Am Shalom part time, and also
working at Northwestern Hillel as
their program associate.
While we will certainly miss Sarah,
Kadi and I have exciting new ideas
to bring to the youth arena. These
include laser tag, Havdalah themed
events, a school color war, a photo
scavenger hunt, and many more.
Our goal for the next year is to
engage your kids to not only want
to come to Am Shalom events to
have fun, but also to learn and
grow as human beings. We are
hoping that this year, we have
more kids come out and more new
events then we’ve ever had before!
To make that a reality, I’m
opening myself and Kadi up to
speak with parents here as needed.
Have ideas, comments, or
suggestions? Feel free to share
them! Want to meet us in person?
Feel free to stop by and introduce
yourselves – I’m here all week, and
Kadi and I are both here for
Sunday and Hebrew school. Want
your kids out of the house? We
have events to make that a reality!
In truth, Kadi and I are very, very
excited to be able to make an
impact this year. My goal is to
make each kid feel a connection to
Am Shalom and to their Judaism,
whether it’s through school or
youth events. Over the next few
years, during my time here, my
overarching goal continues to be
to make every student come into
Am Shalom, no matter what their
age is, at least once a month. The
only way this goal will be reached
is if we continue to reach kids at
an early age, and make them feel
that Am Shalom is a valuable part
of their life. If they feel that way,
then that will continue for the rest
of their time here.
Shana Tova and may this year be
filled with strength, happiness, and
fun!
Youth Group Events in OCTOBER
Rishonim/Gesher
Gesher/JAmSY
AShTY
(Grades 2-4)
(Grades 5-8)
(Grades 9-12)
Project Linus
Laser Tag w/
Kickoff
Tuesday, October 28
IDF Theme
Sunday, October 19
@ Or Shalom
Saturday, October 25
Notice: all dates are subject to change.
KOL
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AM SHALOM
LIBRARY NEWS
Your donations have purchased several
new novels featuring characters with a
mission. In Boris Fishman’s work, A
Replacement Life, we meet Slava Gelman,
a first generation Russian émigré. Slava
has left his Russian community in
Brooklyn leaving instructions for his
family not to call. He is living in a small
Manhattan apartment and works as a
junior editor at a prestigious magazine
with aspirations to move up to feature
writer. The story opens on a summer
morning in 2006 when his mother breaks
the rule. She calls to tell him his beloved
grandmother, Sofia, has died. When he
returns to Brooklyn he
finds that, days before
her death, his
grandmother received a
claim form from the
Conference on Material
Claims Against
Germany. His
grandfather, Yevgeny,
explains she was in the Minsk ghetto
during the war. The crafty Yevgeny wants
Slava – you’re a writer aren’t you?- to fill
out the form for him. Even though he fled
the ghetto to save his life he feels his
suffering entitles him to payment, “Maybe
I didn’t suffer in the exact way I needed to
have suffered, but they made sure they
killed all the people who did.” Slava is
initially appalled, but his grandfather has
great persuasive power; he’s a wheeler
dealer from the old school. Finally, Slava
is thinking, “Who gets to decide what is a
good cause?” As Slava slides down a
slippery slope, his Manhattan love interest
and his Russian love interest are pushing
him in opposite directions.
Fishman loves language and the pages are
filled with Slava’s musings over words and
meanings. His grandmother dies of
cirrhosis and he thinks, “Sure her bile
ducts were blocked, her bilirubin was high
– Billy Rubin, he was a half Jewish boy, he
wouldn’t hurt her?...” Fishman’s book is
filled with irony, comic description and
memorable characters. In an interview,
the author said he was inspired when a
6
“On a Mission” by Doris Gould
relative asked him to help with
reparations form and he realized the
burden of proof was not well defined. He
thought it would make an easy scam and
then he thought it would make a good
novel. A Replacement Life was a page one
review in the New York Times, a great
start for this new author.
Max Feldman’s allegory The Book of Jonah
depicts Jonah Daniel Jacobstein on a
different sort of mission. The book opens
with Jonah rapidly moving toward partner
at his law firm, drinking fair trade coffee,
juggling two girlfriends and living a totally
self-involved life. His world begins to
unravel when he has a series of terrifying
visions of literally biblical proportions. He
finds the visions disorienting and
troubling. “He saw that he was losing –
was being robbed – of an essential
capacity: the capacity to ignore.” He finds
himself in a fight with his girlfriend when
he gives a subway panhandler forty
dollars. And, what’s worse, he sees the
duplicitous side of the deal he’s supposed
to be working on for his law firm. While
Jonah is fleeing from his destiny we are
introduced to Judith, who is running from
her own trauma. When their paths merge,
Judith is refining the hard shell that will
kill the pain of losing her parents on 9/11.
It’s risky for an author to
take on such a fantastic
premise. Will the reader
care about the characters?
As we watch Jonah
descend into the
unavoidable maelstrom of
his visions and his life we
want to believe he and Judith will emerge
whole and liberated from lives that are
defined only by getting more. Whether
Max Feldman accomplishes this is up to
the reader to decide, but remember, the
Biblical story of Jonah has more questions
than answers. In an interview on the
author’s website he states, “I hoped to
portray in The Book of Jonah my belief
that our greatest resource in trying to find
the answers to life’s mysteries and
calamities and
uncertainties is the
people around us.”
Ayelet Waldman’s
character embarks on a
still another mission in
Love and Treasure, her
work of historical fiction.
The book has as its’ backdrop the
Hungarian Gold Train of 1945. Outside of
Salzburg American soldiers captured a
train filled with gold, furniture, paintings,
jewelry and sculpture - an unbelievable
treasure. As her story opens Natalie Stein
is at the bed of her elderly grandfather,
Jack Wiseman, who was in charge of the
soldiers guarding the train. Natalie is
fleeing from her failed marriage and will
soon find herself on a mission at the
behest of her grandfather who does not
wish to carry to his grave regret over an
incident from 70 years ago. Crucial to the
plot is an enameled pendant, intricately
worked in the design of a peacock,
unusually colored in purple, white and
green. Jack kept the pendant as a
remembrance of his lover, Ilona Jakab, a
Hungarian refugee and survivor of
Auschwitz and Dachau. At his life’s end,
he wants Natalie to return the pendant to
its’ rightful heirs.
Waldman sustains multiple plot lines and
draws interesting portraits in an engaging
novel of a quest for the past. The book
unfolds in thirds – a story of the
Hungarian Gold Train, a story of the
business of war reparations and the
characters who act in place of those who
were lost in the Shoah, and a story of a
young progressive woman in 1913 as the
world erupts in chaos. Like the author’s
previous novels, Love and Treasure should
appeal to a wide audience.
Look for these books on our new book
rack in front of the windows. If you’re
interested in Love and Treasure, you
might also like Robert Edsel’s non-fiction
book, Monuments Men. It’s the basis for
the movie and you’ll find it on the new
book rack, too.
WE REMEMBER ...
The Congregation extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of:
Saralee Surett, mother of Stephen
(Laura) Simberg
Sarita Warshawsky,
mother of Ilene Shaw
Frances K. Alpert, mother of Karen
(Daniel) Lee; grandmother of
Jessica (Paul) Guten and Sama Lee
Norma Gordon, mother of
Gary (Judy) Gordon
Jack Michlin, husband of Esther;
father of Arlene (Keith) Bronstein;
grandfather of Scott (Liza), Jaime
and Hawkeye Bronstein
Elaine Bronstein, long-time Am
Shalom member
Harold Esralew, husband of Patricia
Esralew
Corrine Freedberg, mother of Lori
Komisar (Morris Silverman)
Jimmy Davis, father of
Joanne (John) Johnson
Elaine Miller, mother of Linda
(David) Greenberg
Stanley Dichter, father of Michele
(Alvaro) Figueroa
Are you interested in being notified
whenever there is a death in the
Congregation? Please send your preferred
e-mail address to [email protected]
and we will include you on our "Good
and Welfare" notification list.
WE CELEBRATE ...
If you are suffering from a recent
loss, being impacted by illness, or
just feeling stressed by life, consider
attending the Am Shalom “Almost
Daily” Minyan. This quiet and
intimate fifteen-minute service, held
in the serene worship space of the
Rosenfield Chapel, is the perfect
setting to remember a Yahrzeit, to
pray for healing, and to calm and
refresh your soul. The “Almost
Daily” Minyan is held on Mondays
and Thursdays at 5:45 p.m.
NEW!
Israeli Book
Discussion Series
opens with
The Congregation extends a hearty “Mazel Tov!” to the following:
Births
Willow Maeve & Simon Asher Taylor,
daughter and son of new members
Katie & Brian Taylor. Proud
grandmother is new member Susie
Taylor.
Wilhelmina Lasser, daughter of Jimm
& Hanna Lasser. Proud grandparents
are Am Shalom members Dr. Alan &
Nancy Lasser.
B’nai Mitzvah
Jordan Shonfeld, son of Kenneth &
Debra Shonfeld, on becoming a Bar
Mitzvah on October 11
Aaron Powers, son of Kevin & Robin
Powers, on becoming a Bar Mitzvah on
October 18
Chloe Cohen, daughter of Jill Cohen
and Michael Cohen, on becoming a Bat
Mitzvah on October 18
Jared Grossmann, son of Mark &
Michelle Grossmann, on becoming a
Bar Mitzvah on October 25
Alec Bender, son of Ruth (Charlie)
Harter and David Bender, on becoming
a Bar Mitzvah on October 25
WANTED!
Enterprising high school Junior or Senior looking for an exciting
internship in Communications! Come join the Am Shalom team
and help with our big new website rollout! Hours are flexible.
Apply to Director of Communications
Carolyn Fulton - [email protected].
Wednesday,
October 22nd
at 7:00pm
Join Rabbi Lowenstein to discuss
this important book.
KOL
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COME AND JOURNEY WITH US
Morocco
Travel with our Am Shalom clergy to exciting OLD places!
Am Shalom goes to
February 15th-23rd, 2015
Destinations include: Casablanca
* Volubilis *
Fes * Meknes * Rabat * Marrakech *
Ourika Valley
Contact Elaine Wexler at Am Shalom for further details.
([email protected])
Your contact for adventure is Elaine Wexler!
You can reach Elaine via e-mail at
[email protected], or by
phone at (847) 835-4800, ext. 254.
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Ways to Stay Ahead of Schedule
at Am Shalom
1 Take our handy KOL Calendar insert and post it as a
reference. (Go! Do it now!)
2 Be sure to check our weekly KOLbytes for a listing and
highlights of the coming week’s events.
3 Watch the Am Shalom website for news, resources, and
scheduling information.
4 Come to one of our services or events. Our doors are
always open!
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THIS year in
Jerusalem!
Am Shalom
Family
Trip to
ISRAEL
December
18th-30th
Enjoy 10 full days in the
Promised Land, with fun and
educational activities for the
whole family!
Contact Elaine Wexler
([email protected])
for details.
HELPING THE HOMELESS
Fanchon Simons’
Join Us
Sunday, October 19
@ 9:00 a.m.
in the Am Shalom Kitchen
Make sandwiches, pack 400 lunches, drivers needed.
“Release your inner mustard!”
CALLING ALL GRANDPARENTS!
Sunday, November 2 @ 10:00 a.m.
Join us for a special class taught by Sharon Morton, RJE, Educator Emeritus at Am Shalom. It will provide essential
opportunities for you to embark on a journey with your grandchildren as they become philanthropists, social action
activists and mentchen. It is one of the ways to leave a signifcant legacy to them.
Why you want to participate in the GIFTS program:
• You can develop better communications skills with your grandchildren, adding value to your relationship
• You can help your grandchildren develop a greater sense of generosity and become philanthropists
• You can begin the process of writing your personal legacy statement to your grandchildren
• You can develop new relationships with other Am Shalom grandparents
This program is sponsored by Grandparents for Social Action, Chicago Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, and
Interfaith Family. RSVP to Gia Master: [email protected], or call (847) 835-4800.
KOL
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COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS
with
Buddy Schreiber
Tuesday, October 14th & Tuesday, October 21
@ 10-11:00 a.m.
Learn the beliefs and practices of the world’s greatest religions. We will study
the faiths of the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Far East. Join us as we explore
how they are similar and how they differ. A stimulating and thought-provoking
discussion! Led by Master Teacher Buddy Schreiber.
WITH APPRECIATION
We thank the following for their generous contributions to Am Shalom
In Memory of Randy Warner
Mark and Nicki Mendelson
In Memory of Chong Kims’ dad
Bob and Lesley Strauss
In Memory of Cap
Bob and Lesley Strauss
In Memory of Lois Conen
Marnie Miller
In Memory of Steven Ancel
Jodi and Paul Coplan
In Memory of Rochelle Wolff
Fran Roston
In Memory of Frances K. Alpert
Joy and David Grossmann
Sharon and Cal Gordon
Shelly and Steve and Terri Lind
Marley and Gary Stein
Dana and Lee Kotler
Loren and Howard Friend
Linda Jacobson
Ellen and Bruce Wynn
Susan and Bob Davidson
Ken and Barbara Lieberman
In Memory of Beverly Cohen
Pam and Josh Miller
In Memory of Jack Michlin
Susan and Bob Davidson
Joan and Mel Schaengold
Greta De Bofsky
Lynda and Rich Strusiner
Loren and Howard Friend
Marley and Gary Stein
Minerva Solis
Debbie and Peter Zollo
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Dana and Lee Kotler
Kathy Straus
Elinor Sugar
Wendy Rubin and Buzzy Lippman
Jack, Bonnie, Landon, Emily and
Sammy Cohen
Beth Rosenbaum
Robin and Mitch Melamed
Harold and Sonia Kass
Evelyn Fox
Albert M. Friedman
Shari and Jerry Michaels
Lili Ann and Richard Zisook
Donna and Barry Feinberg
In Memory of Lillian Groveman
Cori Katz
In Memory of Bruce Horwitz’s father
Richard and Ellyn Mayer
In Memory of Elaine Bronstein
Marilyn Sobel
James Dubin
Gerard Harper
David Sicular
Stuart Oran
Teresa McNamara
Claudia Hammerman
Robert Fleder
Michael Gertzman and Carole Balin
Richard and Candy Goldstein
Vincent and Teresa Viola
Roberta Kaplan
Robert Schumer
Steven Virany and Valerie Radwaner
Mordecai Rochlin
In Memory of Irvin Goldner
Loren and Howard Friend
In Memory of Marcy Simon’s mom
Loren and Howard Friend
In Memory of Greg Eveloff
The Feinbergs
In Honor of Paige Kristin Ettelson’s
Baby Naming
Mark and Abby Lewensohn
In Honor of the marriage of Rachel Salk
and David Weinberg
The Modro Family
In Honor of Rich and Ellyn Mayer
Rich Basofin and Joan Zahnle
In Honor of Nathan’s Bar Mitzvah
Paul and Sandi Kerman
In Honor of Lizzie Friedman’s Bat
Mitzvah
Michael and Nancy Merel
In Honor of Mr. and Mrs. Terry
Bressler’s 50th Anniversary
Sandy and Marshall Gerber
In Honor of Rabbi Harold and Phyllis
Kudan’s 60th Anniversary
Michael and Nancy Merel
James and Ann Goodman
In Honor of the Jen’s marriage
Sandy and Marshall Gerber
All donations to Am Shalom are listed
in the KOL. If you would prefer that
your contribution not be listed, please
notify us when making your donation.
KOL
840 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, IL 60022-1560
Telephone: (847)835-4800; Fax: (847)835-5204
e-mail: [email protected]
Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein, Rabbi
Rabbi Phyllis A. Sommer, Director of Congregational Learning
Rabbi Pamela Mandel, Rabbi
Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz, Cantor
Rabbi Harold L. Kudan, Founding Rabbi
Judi Berliner, Director of Education
Matthew Altman, Director of Youth Programming
Sharon Morton, R.J.E., Educator Emeritus
Edward M. Alpert, F.T.A., Executive Director
Laura Horn, Associate Executive Director
Carolyn R. Fulton, Director of Communications
Barbara Breakstone, President
Gregory Miller, President-Elect
Mitchell Lederer, Vice President
Dr. Michael Blum, Vice President
Paul Kleinmann, Treasurer
Marissa Kalman, Secretary
October, 2014
Change Service Requested
KOL
Non-Profit
Organization
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PAID
Skokie, IL 60077
Permit No. 269
Volume 43, Number 1
It’s Simcha-licious!
Join us to Unroll the Scroll at our
Simchat Torah Celebration
Ending and Beginning our Torah featuring the
MAXWELL STREET
KLEZMER BAND
Wednesday, October 15th
5:30 p.m. Congregational Dinner
(no cost but RSVP required - sign up online @ amshalom.com)
6:30 p.m. Festival Service with Kindergarten and New Student Consecration
Followed by a Simchat Torah Celebration with donuts, cider, dancing and music (and caramel apples!)
Thursday, October 16th
9:00 a.m. Simchat Torah Festival Service & Yizkor
TUESDAY,
OCTOBER 21ST
@ 7:00 P.M.
PROGRAM
Join us for a screening and discussion with filmmaker
Steven Pressman of the documentary 50 Children:
The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus. Produced
in association with the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum, the HBO film chronicles the efforts
of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus to rescue fifty Jewish
children from Vienna in the late spring of 1939.
Register: http://ushmm.org/events/50children-glencoe
Richard & Gene Bindler, Co-Chairs
Am Shalom is a proud sponsor of the 2014 Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema!
Join us at the AMC Northbrook Theatre on
Monday, November 3rd, at 6:00 p.m.
as we host a screening of Guy Nattiv and Erez Tadmor’s Comedy-Drama:
We have purchased a limited number of tickets to be given on a first come, first served basis.
So hurry and reserve your tickets online at www.amshalom.com!
You may also purchase tickets after Sept. 27th, through AMC Theatres or Fandango.com.
OCTOBER 2014
Our calendar is always available online at www.amshalom.com. Now! Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/amshalomglencoe
MONDAY
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
1
WEDNESDAY
4:10pm Hebrew School
5
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
12
9:00am Ruach Choir
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
19
6
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
13
7:30am Board of Directors breakfast &
HHD review
1:00pm Joyce Schrager adult
education class
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
7:30pm Adult Choir rehearsal
20
9:00am Fanchon Simons Helping
the Homeless
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
7:30pm Adult Choir rehearsal
26
27
9:00am Ruach Choir rehearsal
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
Tishrei/Cheshvan 5775
1:00pm Joyce Schrager adult education
class
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
7:30pm Adult Choir rehearsal
7
14
10:00am Comparative
Religions class
8
10:00am Comparative
Religions class
7:00pm USHMM Program
50 Children: the Story of
Mr. & Mrs. Kraus
28
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:30pm High Holy Day choir
rehearsal
9
3
FRIDAY
Erev Yom Kippur
6:00pm Early Congregational Service
8:45pm Late Congregational Service
10
4
SATURDAY
Yom Kippur
8:15am Early Congregational Service
9:00am Tot Service
11:00am Late Congregational Service
11:00am Teen Service
2:00pm Family Service
4:00pm Afternoon, Memorial and
Concluding Service
6:00pm Congregational Break-the-Fast
11
Erev Sukkot
4:10pm Hebrew School
5:00pm All students go to Sukkot
Family Service *All families
invited to join them! Meet them at
the Service!*
5:45pm Pizza in a Hut
Sukkot
9:00am Sukkot Service @
Glencoe Community Garden
Am Shalom offices CLOSED
Erev Simchat Torah
NO HEBREW SCHOOL
5:30pm Simchat Torah dinner
Simchat Torah
9:00am Simchat Torah Service &
Yizkor
Am Shalom offices CLOSED
7:00pm B’nai Mitzvah University
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
6:30pm Shabbat Service
9:00am Library Minyan
10:30am Aaron Powers Bar Mitzvah
4:30pm Chloe Cohen Bat Mitzvah
22
23
24
25
15
6:30pm Simchat Torah Festival
Service, followed by donuts and
dancing!
21
2
THURSDAY
3:30pm Drop-In begins
4:10pm Hebrew School
7:00pm Israel Book Discussion:
My Promised Land by Ari Sharit
29
3:30pm Drop-In begins
4:10pm Hebrew School
6:30pm Myles Rosenstein Bar
Mitzvah
16
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm B’nai Mitzvah University
30
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm B’nai Mitzvah University
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
6:30pm Shabbat Service
17
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
6:30pm Shabbat Service
31
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
6:30pm Shabbat Service
9:00am Library Minyan
10:30am Jordan Shonfeld Bar Mitzvah
11:30am Women’s Spirituality group
18
Cheshvan 1
9:00am Library Minyan
10:30am Jared Grossmann Bar Mitzvah
4:30pm Alec Bender Bar Mitzvah