1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

INSIDE
NOVEMBER 2014 | VOLUME 43, NUMBER 2
Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein
2
Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz
3
Executive Director Edward Alpert
4
President Barbara Breakstone
5
Rabbi Phyllis A. Sommer
6
Director of Education Judi Berliner
7
Library News
8
Jewish Music Heritage Shabbat
9
Chanukah Bazaar
10
Mitzvah Opportunities!
11
Am Shalom Young Adults
12-13
We Remember, We Celebrate
15
Travel Opportunities
16
Am Shalom LOVES Torah!
17
With Appreciation
18
Insert: November 2014 Calendar
CHAZAK
STRENGTHENING OURSELVES AND
EACH OTHER
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
The High Holy Days begin each new Jewish year, but these few days are
situated within a much larger framework of sacred time. These days are
our annual opportunity for the process of personal reflection and
communal commitment to ourselves and to those around us. Truth be
told, the process of the High Holy Days is on-going. It doesn’t end with
the final shofar blast. We are in a perpetual cycle of transformation all of
the time.
We put so much energy into building
our own inner tabernacle, so that the
presence of God might dwell in us - but
then, after all this effort, we make a
mistake and the whole thing comes
apart. When that happens, our job is to
turn around, take heart and set out to
rebuild our spiritual home. Even if it
comes apart again, we must build it
once again.
have the ongoing opportunity to look
at what we do and how we do it. You
can be sure that we will continue to
look at the liturgy that we use in Gates
of Repentance, Mishkan Hanefesh the
new prayer book we piloted on Rosh
Hashanah and the special Yizkor and
Healing service we created ourselves to
try and find the right experience that
reflects who we are as a congregation.
Rabbi Sharon Brous teaches, “There are
two spiritual axes on which the Jewish
year rotates. On one hand, the reminder
that life’s trajectory is the journey from
degradation to dignity, from darkness
to light, from narrowness to possibility.
On the other, the growing awareness of
our fragility, which compels us to live
with purpose, integrity and
compassion.” Our greatest hope is that
you leave our services with a renewed
sense of purpose, integrity and
compassion. There are so many in our
community who say that our services
have become a highlight for their Jewish
lives each year. This year, we as a
congregation tried very hard to offer
these uplifting services with the proper
balance between innovation and
tradition, between the grandeur of the
day and the daily routine we often
encounter. Walking that line can be
very difficult. This year we took some
risks and tried to look at services in
some new and unique ways. As we
move forward, the clergy, the staff, the
board and the entire congregation will
We will continue to explore the music,
instruments, and choir make up that
best enhances our prayer experience.
Service times, ticket policies, sermons,
technology, and innovation are all part
of what we look at to make the entire
experience meaningful and fulfilling.
Many have shared their opinions with
2
MEN’S
CHAVURAH
with Rabbi Steve
A variety of programming of interest
to men. Topics TBD.
Email: [email protected] to
register.
Meeting Schedule: Sundays,
November 9, December 14, January
11, March 8, April 19. All meetings
are at 9:30am during Religious
School.
us on what they liked and didn't like,
and we hope that you will as well. Feel
free to call or email any thought you
might have. To help you we have
created an e-mail account, feedback@
amshalom.com
Each day we are in a constant struggle
to rebuild ourselves. An anonymous
poet once wrote:
Your tasks:
To build a better world, said God.
I answered: How?
The world is such a large, vast place
So complicated now
And, so small and useless, am I.
There’s nothing I can do.
But God in such great wisdom said,
“Just build a better you.”
On a very personal note, it is my honor
to work with the most amazing team,
whose efforts on the High Holy Days
are matched by their equally impressive
efforts throughout the entire year. It
was my honor to share the bimah with
the most talented clergy team. A special
thank you to Rabbi Phyllis Sommer,
Rabbi Pam Mandel, Cantor Andrea Rae
Markowicz and Deanna Neil.
On Page 18 you will find just a partial
list of all who participated to make the
services here at Am Shalom so
beautiful. Our greatest hope is that you
leave our services with a renewed sense
of purpose, integrity and compassion
that will last all year long.
FROM THE DESK OF CANTOR
ANDREA RAE MARKOWICZ
Jewish Music Heritage Shabbat (JMHS) is an initiative of Am Shalom to
expose and explore the ever-evolving modes of worship and musical
expression within the prayer experience. On November 7th, we kick off
our 2nd year with The Music of Debbie Friedman with Guest Artists-inResidence, Merri Lovinger Arian and Elana Arian.
Beginning in 1970, Debbie Friedman
(1951-2011) was at the forefront of
reshaping music for her generation and
beyond. Debbie had a passion for all
genres of Jewish music, instrumental or
vocal, that gave “voice” to the wonders
of Jewish heritage and living. She
enjoyed classical music including opera,
symphonic and chamber music. She
never laughed louder than when
listening to Bette Midler’s humorous
music and banter.
Debbie’s early musical influences
included Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan
Baez, Judy Collins, and others in that
genre. As did her musical forbearers,
Debbie raised her voice, challenging
those in positions of power and
popularity; she challenged the status
quo. But, Debbie’s influence and
inspiration was indelibly etched on her
heart long before those musicians had
their impact. Her mother and maternal
grandparents were Debbie’s first and
real inspirations. From them flowed her
passion for love, justice, integrity,
humor – living Jewishly.
Her music touches people in myriad
ways. It compels our willing souls to
pray in a different way to see ourselves
and others through different eyes,
understand ways to give that were
previously unknown, find deeper parts
of ourselves that were hidden. Her
music makes Judaism accessible to all
those who are open. For her generation,
and those since, the teachings of
Judaism were waiting for someone to
unfold them – to unwrap them. Debbie
gave us that gift.
During Debbie’s formative years, as she
sat in synagogue services, she felt that
something was missing both for her and
for those she observed. She identified
with other young people whose Judaism
had no language that spoke to them –
or for them.
In 1970, Debbie wrote V’ahavta, a
paragraph of the Sh’ma. A month later,
she taught it to those attending a
regional youth convention. In Jewish
Sages of Today, you will find the
following discussion:
“I was stunned when they suddenly put
their arms around each other and there
were tears rolling down their faces.
They were reclaiming this prayer, and it
was ours in a musical language they
were able to understand... We were
reclaiming something that we hadn’t
touched, that we had no access to until
now.”
It wasn’t long after that she had a
realization that set the course for her
future career, while she was attending a
service at her family’s synagogue.
Debbie used music to express her
Judaism. She translated and
transformed prayers, Torah, Talmud,
and other scholarly texts, ancient and
contemporary. She brought words of
heretofore lesser-known liturgical
pieces, Torah portions, psalms, the
prophets, and philosophers, into our
every-day vernacular. Imagine ordinary
people like us – young and old, quoting
the prophets, the Talmud, the Koran,
and so on. Debbie’s music weaves the
message of one’s obligation to the
community and its individuals –
finding the parallel between the texts
and the world as she experienced it.
I am thrilled to welcome our Guest
Artists-in-Residence to Am Shalom,
both teachers of mine at Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Music, this
mother-daughter team, both had very
close, lifelong relationships with Debbie
Friedman. Their experience and
passion for Debbie’s music will greatly
enhance our exploration of Debbie’s
legacy.
Merri Lovinger Arian serves on the
faculty of the Debbie Friedman School
of Sacred Music at the Hebrew Union
College – Jewish Institute of Religion in
New York. She teaches both cantorial
and rabbinic students, offering courses
in Music Education, Conducting,
Congregational Singing, Worship, and
Contemporary Congregational
Repertoire. Merri previously served as
Program Director, and then Director of
Music for Synagogue 2000 (S2K), a
leading trans-denominational institute
developing models for revitalizing
synagogue life. She
(Continued on page 9)
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FROM THE DESK OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EDWARD M. ALPERT
Every day I count my blessings for my good health, wonderful wife and
incredible son. I am also filled with gratitude to be able to work at Am
Shalom and share in this very special community. I work with the
greatest staff in the synagogue world and am so very grateful for the
many close friendships I have made
over the years.
Too often I wonder if all of us take the
necessary time to be grateful for those
big and small things that do occur daily
in our lives. For my article this month I
wish to share with you some beautiful
words I came across on this subject
from the writings of Rabbi Zelig Pliskin.
I hope you will find them as meaningful
as I did.
“Living with gratitude elevates your
entire life. You become a more spiritual
person. You become a more joyful
person. You become a kinder and more
compassionate person. You become a
calmer and more peaceful person. You
become a person who lives in greater
harmony with others.”
“When you look at each person who
says or does anything kind to you as the
Creator’s agent, you look at this person
in a more elevated and spiritual way.
Even a long time after this seemingly
minor event happened, you can still
remember that the kind person has
served as the Almighty’s agent. Their
stature has been raised in your eyes.
And when you continually view other
people this way, they will respond to
you in a higher way. This entire process
is a step forward in raising the spiritual
level of the world, and it started from
just a few kind words or an easy to do
action.”
I wish all of us “an attitude of
gratitude,” and the good things that
come with it.
Am Shalom is a proud sponsor of the 2014 Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema!
Monday, November 3rd, @ 6:00 p.m.
Join us at the AMC Northbrook Theatre on
as we host a screening of Guy Nattiv and Erez Tadmor’s Comedy-Drama:
Please purchase tickets through AMC Theatres or Fandango.com.
4
FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT
BARBARA BREAKSTONE
On Yom Kippur, I was asked to speak about the “state of the temple.”
On Yom Kippur we take stock of ourselves, and we can take stock of the
temple. Well, the state of the temple is just fine, in fact more than just
fine – we are in great shape – we have incredible clergy, an amazing
executive director and staff, and a
wonderful, caring, active, committed
congregation. We have all of you. We
have meaningful, beautiful, moving
services and other spiritual activities
and lots of other programs all week,
every week. Unlike many other
congregations, fortunately our
membership is stable. We are in sound
financial condition,
The state of the temple is stronger if
you are here. This year’s theme,
“Strengthening Ourselves and Each
Other” is our starting point. We can
strengthen ourselves by going to
services, to programs, to yoga, on trips,
Am Shalom
Women’s
Spirituality Group
meets Saturday,
November 8th at 11:30 a.m.
Register online at amshalom.com
by helping with the many social action
events, by looking at the calendar and
choosing a new thing to do. Go to two
more events this year than you did last
year – try something new – and if you
like it, go to even more. You will learn
about new things and strengthen
yourself in ways you never dreamed.
Doing this at Am Shalom – no better
way to go. This year, I am going to get
to those Monday night movies and to a
new grandparenting program.
Of course we have to be there in order
to be there for each other – in the good
times and the bad. Being in this
community and creating relationships,
that to me is central to Judaism. Studies
have shown that being in a community,
having friends, literally contributes to a
longer life – be part of the Am Shalom
community – maybe it will help with
your Book of Life.
I love that we have started the New
Year 5775 – it’s a palindrome, it’s
symmetrical – it won’t happen for 110
more years – that makes this a pretty
special year – forwards or backwards,
early service or late service, Friday night
services or Saturday Torah study, new
member of long time Am Shalom
member – I hope for a year of health,
happiness and peace for all of us.
Women, Our “Other” Bible Heroes
with Buddy Schreiber
Tuesday, November 11th @ 10-11:00 a.m.
We all know the stories of
male Bible heroes, but what
about the women? Learn the
courageous deeds and
contributions of the women
of the Bible. Join Master
Teacher Buddy Schreiber for
a stimulating discussion.
Register online at amshalom.com.
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5
PHYLLIS A. SOMMER
FROM THE DESK OF RABBI
DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING
Books to Read in 5775
November 13, 2014
The Family by David Laskin
(See page 8 for details.)
December 11, 2014
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard
Street
January 14, 2015
Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca
Kanner
February 12, 2015
Jacob’s Oath by Martin Fletcher
March 25, 2015
A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara
Horn
April 22, 2015
Homesick by Eshkol Nevo
May 21, 2015
The Golem and the Jinni by
Helene Wecker
Movies to See in 5775
November 3, 2014
Magic Men
(See page 4 for details.)
December 1, 2014
Zaytoun
January 5, 2015
Hannah Arendt
February 2, 2015
Campfire
March 2, 2015
Fill the Void
April 6, 2015
Turn Left at the End of the World
May 4, 2015
Lost Islands
6
I am so overjoyed to be writing this article, my first as the Director of
Congregational Learning at Am Shalom. Part of this work is to continue
my direct involvement in our Adult Learning programs at Am Shalom,
and I hope you’ll all find something meaningful in which to participate.
I am always so excited to put together
our Adult Learning programs at Am
Shalom. We are reading books together
and watching movies, there are groups
studying Jewish texts and learning
Hebrew, discussing current events and
debating ethical dilemmas. I’m so
excited that Dr. Maurice Pickard will be
leading a lunchtime discussion about
medical ethics. I think that his expertise
as a bioethicist will make this an
invaluable and fascinating conversation
about ethical conflicts in medical
decision-making. (November 13 and 20,
from 12-1pm, at Am Shalom). Also,
make sure to mark your calendar for the
weekend of December 5-6, when Dr.
Jonathan Cohen of the Hebrew Union
College will be with us for a really
wonderful learning experience. Dr.
Cohen is a teacher of Talmud and
Ethics and I know that his presentation
will be thought-provoking and
enlightening. And don’t forget to mark
your calendar for the Chicago Festival
of Israeli Cinema, kicking off our own
Monday Night at the Movies with
Magic Men at the Northbrook Court
AMC theater on November 3rd. (The
full list of our movies and books for the
year are available over on the side of
this column, and also on our website,
www.amshalom.com – you don’t have
to attend all of the sessions in order to
be involved!)
There are so many opportunities to
learn and grow at Am Shalom. I’m also
very interested to hear from you. What
do you want to learn? What topics tickle
your fancy? And I will put out the
following challenge: Gather a group of 5
Am Shalom friends together, and I will
come and teach a class on the topic of
your choice – in your living room or at
the temple – design your own learning!
I hope that all of these possibilities will
help you to find a space to learn
something new in this upcoming year.
In addition to Adult Learning, I am
settling into an expanded role in the
Religious and Hebrew Schools. I look
forward to sharing more of my thoughts
on these roles with you in the future.
You’ll also continue to see me on the
bima and in the classrooms as the year
gets underway in full swing.
And please, come and visit me in my
new office as I’m getting settled! I’m
right next to Judi Berliner, near the
entrance to our school wing. I look
forward to seeing you!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Phyllis
FROM THE DESK OF DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
JUDI BERLINER
Each year I look forward to the fall season. Fall is truly is a new year for
me personally. A new school year begins, as well as a new year on the
Hebrew calendar. It is wonderful to see all the teachers and the students
return and watch the building come to life again after a quiet summer.
There is excitement as we anticipate the coming of the Jewish High
Holy Days. It is a warm and
comfortable feeling when I worship
with my community and welcome the
Jewish New Year.
This year, for the first time in my life, I
was not home for Rosh Hashanah. A
few days before Rosh Hashanah, my
daughter, Dena, called to tell me that
she needed me to be with her in
Oregon. After giving birth at the end of
August to her first child, she and her
husband needed some help.
Even though I had been there 3 weeks
earlier, I knew that she must really have
needed me there when she offered to
buy my plane ticket. With a refrigerator
filled with a Rosh Hashanah feast
waiting to be cooked, I left Glencoe and
headed west to Medford, Oregon.
I arrived in Medford two days before
Rosh Hashanah. While I was so happy
to be with my daughter, my son-in-law
and my new granddaughter, I was
wondering what Rosh Hashanah would
be like this year. Dena informed me as
soon as I arrived that she had a ticket
for me to attend services at her Temple.
I must admit I was relieved knowing I
had a place to go for the holiday. Even
better, I would be there with my
daughter and her family.
The next big change from my usual
Rosh Hashanah was that there would be
no brisket or chicken soup this year. I
was celebrating the New Year in a
vegetarian household. But together we
made a delicious Rosh Hashanah meal
just as wonderful and satisfying as any
other year.
On Rosh Hashanah we attended
Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland,
Oregon. In many ways it was the same
as being home at Am Shalom, and in
many ways it was different. There was a
different Machzor but the prayers were
the same! The melodies were also the
same. Even though I was a thousand
miles from Glencoe I felt at home. Sure,
I was not in my own community, but I
was still part of a Jewish community,
and I felt accepted and comfortable.
While there were not as many people
attending as at Am Shalom, there was
still a full house.
As I sat there, it occurred to me why
being affiliated with a synagogue and
taking on the responsibility to ensure
that all Jewish children have the
opportunity to receive a Jewish
education is so important. Here I was,
far away from home on a major Jewish
holiday, and enjoying everything the
holiday has to offer. I saw children in
that congregation able to follow along
in the service, and knew that if they
came to Am Shalom, they too would
feel part of our community. The prayers
would not seem strange to them if they
were at Am Shalom, the melodies
would be familiar, and the joy of the
holiday would be experienced.
When the students at Am Shalom
mature and eventually leave for college,
I know they will be able to attend
Shabbat services and Jewish holiday
observances in other places and still feel
part of the Jewish community. While
many children and parents view
becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah as a
goal, the teachers and clergy staff at Am
Shalom know that Jewish education
serves a more important purpose. We
want every child to grow up to be
literate Jews. Becoming a Bar or Bat
Mitzvah is a major life cycle event, but
in Judaism it is equally important that
our children grow up to embrace all
Judaism has to offer. No matter where
we go, we should all be able to go
anywhere in the world and connect
with our Jewish community and feel
that we belong.
I am so grateful that my parents gave
me the gift of a Jewish education and a
love for Jewish culture and observance.
In our school, it is our responsibility to
ensure that your children are given the
knowledge and ability to participate in
any temple service or Jewish
community wherever they find
themselves, yet still feel as if they are
home.
My observance of Rosh Hashanah was
not at home in Glencoe this year, but it
was still meaningful. I learned
something from this experience. The
Hebrew term Klal Yisrael comes to
mind. When we are part of the Jewish
community, despite any differences we
might have, we still have many things in
common. We are Klal Yisrael, a Jewish
community.
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AM SHALOM
LIBRARY NEWS
The Am Shalom Book Club resumes in
November. Rabbi Sommer has chosen a
diverse group of titles that are sure to
spark an interesting discussion. If you can
be free at 9:45 on a weekday morning,
plan on joining us. Most of the titles are
available at local libraries and there are
extra copies to borrow at Am Shalom’s
front desk in addition to our library’s
copy on the New Book Rack by the library
windows.
The first meeting is November 13th.
We’ll be discussing The Family by David
Laskin. The book is a memoir of Laskin’s
family going back to
1835 with the birth of
Mr. Laskin's ancestors in
the Pale of Settlement on
Russia's western edge. It
ends in the second
decade of the 21st
century with 101
descendants in America,
32 in Israel and only a few gravestones left
in Europe.
Laskin’s great-great-great grandfather,
Shimon Dov Hakohen, was a Torah scribe
whose wife kept a small store in the shtetl
to help support the family that grew to
have five sons and a daughter. Among
their grandchildren is, Itel, a diminutive
woman who leaves for America and
becomes the millionaire entrepreneur who
founds the Maidenform company. Other
cousins in America begin A. Cohen and
Sons, a housewares firm. Two of Itel’s
cousins, Chaim and Sonia, leave for
Palestine in 1924 and 1932 fueled with
Zionist fervor to become halutzim –
farming pioneers who would reclaim ‘The
Land’ through labor. Some remain in the
Pale as their land becomes a piece of the
world repeatedly traded and conquered by
Russia, Poland and Germany. Their
stories, told through letters and family
memories, are reason enough to read the
book.
This is an ambitious project, but Laskin
relates the history of the times with the
experiences of his family to make an
8
“Book Club Begins” by Doris Gould
interesting memoir. The author dedicates
The Family to his Israeli cousin, Benny
Kahanovitz, who saved a collection of 281
Yiddish family letters that bring the
narrative to life. The Family is the Spertus
Museum ‘One Book : One Community’
selection for this year.
In December we’ll meet on the 11th to
discuss Susan Gilman’s novel, The Ice
Cream Queen of Orchard Street. This is
the tale of how Malka Treynovsky
Bialystoker becomes Lillian Marie Dinello
Dunkle and in the process builds an ice
cream empire and loses two families. As a
child in a New York tenement, Malka’s
mother tells her, “Malka, that mouth of
yours is going to get you in trouble” – and
what a mouth it is. The story is told in
first person and her voice has chutzpah
and grit. As a child, Malka is injured in a
collision with a horse drawn cart. Her
mother, penniless and trying to support
three other children without the help of a
husband, abandons her at the hospital. It
is the driver of the cart, Salvatore Dinello,
who takes her home to be raised with his
family. Mr. Dinello is an ice cream
vendor, and he and his wife save Malka
and in the process teach her a lot about ice
cream and bookkeeping. Our heroine is
abrasive and flawed in many ways, but I
found myself rooting for
her and hoping she would
rise above her problems.
Every time she explains to
the reader, “I never meant
that, I was just being a
weisenheimer” I felt
myself sighing, “Oy,
Malka, your mouth!” I
don’t want to tell you too
much and spoil the story for you, but I
promise you’ll find it yummy.
Wednesday, January 21st we’ll be talking
about Sinners and the Sea. In this biblical
fiction Rebecca Kanner follows in the
footsteps of Anita Diamant to bring life to
a neglected woman from Torah. In this
case it is the woman who is only referred
to as “his wife” in the story of Noah. The
author states on her website that she
didn’t start out to write a
novel, but she was caught
up in the idea of the
woman who lived with a
“500 year old man
everyone thinks is crazy,
a host of vulgar sinners
and a world on the verge
of destruction … for me,
this material was irresistible.” I haven’t
read this book yet, but from reviews I
understand that Kanner goes full tilt at
populating and naming the people of the
story. She throws in a hairy mammoth for
animal interest and details the depravity
of the village and the extent to which
Noah’s wife must go to protect her sons.
Her tale is meant to make us wonder
about the nature of virtue, and to question
our desire for acceptance from an
imperfect, even sinful, world. It’s best not
to expect this type of book to be scholarly
research; I think we should just enjoy the
story. I’ll be content if she didn’t get as far
afield from the text as Darren Aronofsky
did in the Russell Crowe movie.
This is just a sampling of the new titles
available in the library. We welcome new
readers and new library volunteers. We
are appreciative of all those who
contribute to our library. Many thanks.
A Summer at Camp Makes
a Great Hanukkah Gift!
Give your child or grandchild a gift that will
last a lifetime … a summer at URJ Olin-SangRuby Union Institute. OSRUI combines
creative and innovative Jewish experiences
will all the fun of summer camp and offers
sessions for campers entering 2nd – 12th
grades. Gift Certificates are available in any
denomination, starting at $18. For more
information about OSRUI programs, see their
website: www.osrui.org or contact them at
[email protected] or 847-509-0990.
(Continued from page 3)
served
more recently as Synagogue
3000’s consultant on
liturgical arts at HUC-JIR in
New York, and continues to
supervise rabbinic and
cantorial students in creating
worship collaboratively at
the College-Institute.
Yale and has performed at
some of the most celebrated
concert halls in the country,
including Carnegie Hall,
Lincoln Center, Tanglewood,
and perhaps most
memorably, four different
performances at the White
House.
A frequent artist-inresidence in congregations
across the country, Merri has
also served as a music
consultant to a number of
congregations, exploring
with the clergy team ways to
enhance the worship in their
congregation. She had the
honor of singing with
Debbie Friedman, z”l, in
Carnegie Hall and has
performed and lead music
programs for HUC-JIR, the
URJ, the Wexner Heritage
Foundation, JFNA Lions of
Judah, the Women’s League
for Conservative Judaism,
and Jewish Women’s
Archives, among others.
Merri holds an MA in
Teaching, a BFA in Music
Education, and a Certificate
in Music Therapy. Merri
edited R’fuah Sh’leimah:
Songs of Healing. Her
recordings include Nefesh:
Songs for the Soul, a CD for
S2K, and NFTY in Harmony,
an album with an
accompanying songbook of
original choral
arrangements. She has
written on “Music, Prayer
and Sacred Community,”
and on the educational value
of youth choirs.
Elana has recorded two
albums of original music, has
appeared on NPR’s
Soundcheck, as well as on
PBS’ Finding Your Roots.
Elana accompanies some of
the leading voices in
contemporary Jewish music,
including Dan Nichols, Julie
Silver, and Debbie Friedman,
z”l. Elana has served on the
faculty of HUC-JIR, teaching
guitar at the Debbie
Friedman School of Sacred
Music and playing in the
house band at Central
Synagogue for the past 8
years.
Raised on equal parts
Mozart, Mingus and
Mitchell, Elana Arian, is a
busy multi-instrumentalist,
singer/songwriter, and
recording artist. She studied
conducting and violin, jazz
guitar, and songwriting at
We look forward to seeing
you on Shabbat, November
7th at 6:30pm as we sing,
recount, and remember the
music and life of this special
soul.
Jewish Music
Heritage
Shabbat
Bring strength to your soul with some amazing music!
Friday, November 7
@ 6:30 p.m.
featuring the music of
Debbie Friedman
kwwz
with
Merri Lovinger Arian
and the
Eliana Arian
Am Shalom Adult Choir
Watch the KOL for details on upcoming
Jewish Music Heritage Shabbat programming:
Friday, January 30 and Friday, May 8
KOL
9
Unique an
nd creativ
ve vendors ffor
or
all of your
r gift-giving needs!
S nd
Su
day, No
Nov
vember
b r 16 ~ 9:30-3:00
Am Shalom ~ 840 Vernon Ave. Glencoe
Delicate Creations
And Ever
rything Nice
/LVD¶V%RXWLTXH
(WDOD\D·V Ex
Exotic
ti
M
Mandel
Brooit
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Que Posh-A!
The Am Shalom Chanukah Bazaar is provided as a benefit to our congregants. Am Shalom does not guarantee any of the offered products or services.
2 THANKSGIVING MITZVAH OPPORTUNITIES!
Winthrop Harbor Community-Wide
Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Thanksgiving Day, November 27
Schlader Building, Winthrop Harbor Village Park
2700 9th Street, Winthrop Harbor, Illinois
Donate some goodies, then help prepare goody bags! Hang around and help with dinner. Contact
Ed Litke at [email protected] for details, or just watch for our special Mitzvah Opportunities
KOLbytes!
Bethlehem Healing Temple
Thanksgiving Meal
Saturday, November 22
12 South Oakley, Chicago, Illinois
Specific food and warm clothing items needed. Volunteer opportunities to serve the meal are limited
due to space, and first priority for volunteer assignments will be given to those who are also
contributing to the meal. Contact Nina Schroeder at [email protected] for details, or
just watch for our special Mitzvah Opportunities KOLbytes!
Glencoe Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, November 23 @ 7:00 p.m.
Northshore United Methodist Church - 213 Hazel, Glencoe
Am Shalom joins with other Glencoe Houses of Worship to give thanks! Please bring your donations of nonperishable food items to benefit the New Trier Township Food Pantry.
OUR SHUL’S COOKING FOOLS!
Am Shalom Young Adults Program
Get in the picture on November 21st!
12
Bowling for Change
Friday, November 21st at 8:00 pm
at the
10PIN Bowling Lounge
330 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
Want to start the New Year off right?!
Then come join the Am Shalom Young Adults as we celebrate
Shabbat with bowling, dinner, drinks, and a good deed!
We are going to be bowling in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation...
So come help us conquer childhood cancers! We will be collecting $1 for every
strike and gutterball that you bowl (with a $20 max). We also have a very
generous donor who has offered to match whatever funds we raise. It is sure
to be a fun night with great people AND you get to do a little tzedakah!
This event is FREE and is open to all Am Shalom Young Adults and friends.
RSVP by Monday, November 17th,
to the Am Shalom Young Adults Facebook group.
Questions? Contact Rabbi Pam Mandel at
[email protected].
KOL
13
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
GIFTS is supported by a generous grant from the Breakthrough Fund, an Innovation of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Chicago, in partnership with Grandparents for Social Action and InterfaithFamily/Chicago.
Medical Ethics: What
You Should Know
About Medical
Decision-Making
Library Book Discussion
Led by Maurice Pickard, M.D.
Internist and Bioethicist, previously Fellow University
of Chicago McClean Institute of Clinical
Medical Ethics
Dr. Pickard will explore what everyone should know about ethical conflicts
in medical decision making. The cultural shift from paternalism to patient
autonomy in conjunction with the rapid growth in technology has led to
tensions where there often is no "right answer."
This will be an engaging and interesting discussion!
Bring your own lunch! We'll provide a dessert!
November 13 and 20, 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
14
Thursday,
November 13
at 9:45 a.m.
WE REMEMBER ...
The Congregation extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of:
Daniel Dunkleman, uncle of Ruth
(Charlie) Harter
Richard Alan Mandel, father of Brad
(Rabbi Pam) Mandel; grandfather
of Sadie & Naomi
Lonna Beth Nystrom, daughter of
Robert Berman
Marilyn Malkov Stein, sister of Idair
(Ron) Taradash
Elaine Dann, mother of Susan Taylor;
grandmother of Brian (Katie)
Taylor
Larry Glazer, uncle of Adam (Denise)
Hoeflich
Barbara Ohler Weber, mother of Fred
(Diane) Weber
Harold Uhrman, father of Tracie
(Larry) Kugler
Howard E. Glickman, father of Lauren
Rosen
Margaret Leavitt, mother of Dr.
William (Lori) Leavitt
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 ...
The Congregation extends a hearty “Mazel Tov!” to the following:
Weddings
Parker Eiseman, son of Kimberly
Eiseman Feld & Dr. Michael Feld,
married Susan Gilman on Saturday,
October 11
Ashley Zisook, daughter of Ricky & Lili
Ann Zisook, married Neal Snitz on
Saturday, October 11, in Indio,
California
B’nai Mitzvah
Max Kleinman, son of Paul & Pamela
Kleinmann, on becoming a Bar Mitzvah
on November 1
Eliana Silverman, daughter of Michael
& Jill Silverman, on becoming a Bat
Mitzvah on November 1
Jackson Goldman, son of Cary &
Danielle Goldman, on becoming a Bar
Mitzvah on November 8
David Sommer, son of Rabbi Michael
& Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, on becoming
a Bar Mitzvah on November 15
Julia Tropp, daughter of David &
Donna Tropp, on becoming a Bat
Mitzvah on November 29
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.
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.
Youth Group
Events in
NOVEMBER
Rishonim/Gesher
(Grades 2-4, 5-6)
Pump It UP!
Sunday, November 9 @
5:30-7:15 p.m.
$20 per person. 1 hour & 20
minutes of JUMP TIME!
Pizza dinner included. Contact
[email protected]
to sign up.
Notice: all dates are subject to change.
Other upcoming Youth Group events to be
announced. Contact Matthew Altman
([email protected]) if you have
any questions or any really good ideas!
“Release your inner mustard!”
KOL
15
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.
DOWNTOWNERS
with Rabbi Steve
Meet on the first Thursday of each month for a thoughtful discussion
over lunch, headed by Rabbi Lowenstein, in the Chicago Loop.
Email [email protected] to register.
Meeting Schedule: 1st Thursdays of the month, November 6,
December 4, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7. All meetings are at
12 noon.during Religious School.
16
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.
WE LOVE TORAH!
at Am Shalom
KOL
17
WITH APPRECIATION
We thank the following for the gift of their
The Abrams Family
Ava Eppley
Julie Abt
David Estes
Olivia Allen
Miriam Estes
Jeffrey and Diane
Susan Frank
Arnold
Steve Gold
Benjamin Bakal
Talah Goldfarb
The Beck Family
James and Ann
David and Lisa Bercu
Goodman
Nancy Berg
Alex Gordon
Linda Block
Paul and Judi Gordon
Michael Blum and
Samantha Gordon
Ruth Goodman Blum
William and Doris
Lewis and Ellin
Gould
Blumenthal
Mort and Roda
Robert Boiko
Greenberg
Rob and Leslie Bond
Bruce Hall and Sunny
Helen Boris
Joy Langton
Barbara Breakstone
The Harris Family
Nick and Mary Lou
Ruth Harter
Brown
Marlene Iglitzen
Mark and Jean
Richard and Nettie
Burnstine
Isenberg
Jeanne Diamond
Marissa Kalman
Marilyn Elrod
Gregg Kalman
Steven Elrod
The Kalt Family
time and talents for our Am Shalom High Holy Days Services
James and Nancy
Greg and Melissa
Adam Slavin
Kaplan
Miller
Eric Slavin
Charles and Shelley
Pamela Miller
Kyle Slavin
Kiven
Sylvia Myintoo
Ken Smith
Ally Kleinmann
Deanna Neil
Fred and Sheryl
El Kogan
Sylvia Neil
Socoloff
Robert and Arona
Jodi Newmark and
Yael Sommer
Landsman
Daniel Newmark
The Sosler Family
Mitchell and Katherine
Rex Paster
Toni Stavrakova
Lederer
Sanford and Jodi Perl
The Stone Family
Carly Levin
Noah Plotkin
Lauren Strelsin
Gerry and Laurie Levin
Sam Powers
Mark Tilton
Haley Levin
Zach Powers
Judy Vass
Sidney Lewensohn
Jack and Susan Rabin
Ann Wenger
Stephen Libbin
Michael Ries
The Wilhelmsen Family
Mark and Karen
Mitch Rogatz
Lori and Ella Worth
Loewenstein
David Rosenstein
Dennis and Geena
Mitchell Loveman
Ted Schwartz
Zaslavsky
Larry Magill
Ted Schaffner
Jim Zechman
James and Nancy
Jennifer Friedman
The Zieserl Family
Marcus
Shaffer
Allen Markowicz
Chloe Sherman
Paul Meister
David Sherman
Rex Merdinger
Rachel Silvers
Caroline Meyer
John and Sharon Sklar
WITH APPRECIATION
We thank the following for their generous contributions to Am Shalom
In Memory of Frances K. Alpert
In Memory of Marcy and Mike
Patty and Mike Cohen
Raftenberg and Ruth and Marvin
Judy and Gary Guten
Miller
Stanley and Mary Beth Adelman
Jean and Mort Schur
Mimi Grossman
Donna and Jerry Goldman
In Memory of Elaine Bronstein
Barbara Lindstrom
Mitchell Berg
James Smith
Terry Schimek
Yvonne Chan
Jordan and Susan Yarett
Eric Goodison and Lisa Mazure
In Memory of Norma Gordon
Abby and Mark Lewensohn
In Memory of Joy Levin
Doris Notarius
In Memory of Jack Michlin
Lorraine Brotman
In Memory of Rochelle Wolff
Ginny and Bob Coplan
18
Arona and Bob Landsman
Abby and Mark Lewensohn
Karen and Fred Abel
Marilyn Elrod
Sarah, Scott and Harry Hirsch
Joan Pines
Laura and David Kreiger
In Memory of Jimmy Davis
Laurie and Gerry Levin
Doris and Bill Gould
Leslie and David Storch
In Honor of Michael Marcus’s marriage
Fanchon and Bruce Simons
In Memory of Greg Eveloff
Joanne and Bernie Harris
In Honor of Ken Shonfeld
Nancy and Rob Berg and Family
In Memory of Benn Davis
Doris and Bill Gould
Leslie and David Storch
In Honor of Stacy, David, Jordyn and
Evan Pritsker
Myron Goldstin
In Memory of Sylvia Leibowitz Rotter,
Leo Leibowitz, Betty and Abraham
Lipman, and Vivian Lipman
Robert and Bette Lipman
In Memory of Richard Alan Mandel
Allison and Eric Kahn
Arianna and Stephen Goutman
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.
Am
m Shalom
COOK
O BOOK
ORDER
— ALL PRO CE
ED S B EN EF I T—
tes against Childhood
t Athle
Can
wes
cer
d
i
M
1 Cookboo
ok = $25.00
5 copies or more in one order = $22.00 each
e
Send in this flyer
yer & your check to the Am Shalom offfice;
fice;
we’ll email you
u when your cookbook order arrives!
ORDE
RDER FO
ORM!
ORM!
Cookbooks will be available for pick up at Am
A Shalom during
specific times. We will notify purchasers via email with exact times
and dates. Thankk you for your cooperation. Questions?
uestions?
Please contact Be
ecky Cameron at cameron_be
[email protected].
Number of copies: (circle) 1
2
5
10
other:
I’d also like to add
dd a special donation in memory of Sam Sommer
and all of the childr
ildren we’ve lost to childhood cancer.
$18
$36
6
Am Sha
lom
in tiime
for
Chanuk
ah!
Other: ______
Name
Address
Home Phone
e
Cell Phone
Email Address
e s
Cookb
books @ $
$
Additional D
Donation: ...........................
........ $
Total of Pre
e-O
Ord
der: ...............................
........ $
Please make ccheck payable to: AM
M SHALOM
840 Vernon
Vernon A
Avenue,
ven
nue, Glencoe, IL 60022 8
847-835-4800
In memo, please
e add: COOKBOOK
Send in this form and your checck to the Am Shalom
m Offfice
fice today!
Pre-order your cookbooks at the Chanukah Bazaar and receive a cool preview of some of our favorite
recipes including a very special latke recipe from Rabbi Steve – just in time for Chanukah! These
cookbooks will be THE Chanukah gift of the season! Created in memory of Sam Sommer, all proceeds
will benefit MACC, Midwest Atheletes against Childhood Cancer.
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
Change Service Requested
TOT
SHABBAT
November, 2014
KOL
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Skokie, IL 60077
Permit No. 269
Volume 43, Number 2
Noah and his animals are coming for
Friday, November 7
Come join us at 4:45 p.m. and meet the animals at
our PETTING ZOO and stay for our
MUSICAL SERVICE at 5:15 p.m.
from all of us here at Am Shalom!
NOVEMBER 2014
Our calendar is always available online at www.amshalom.com. Now! Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/amshalomglencoe
MONDAY
SUNDAY
2
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
10:00am GIFTS Program
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
9
3
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
7:00pm Am Shalom hosts the Israeli
Film Festival: Magic Men @
Northbrook AMC Theatre
10
TUESDAY
4
9:30am Adult B’nai Mitzvah
class
11
8:30am Youth Jam Band
9:00am Ruach Choir
9:30am Men’s Chavurah
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
1:00pm Joyce Schrager adult education
class
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
9:30am Adult B’nai Mitzvah
class
10:00am Class: Women,
Our “Other” Bible Heroes
8:30am Youth Jam Band
9:00am Board Breakfast & Retreat
9:00am Fanchon Simons Helping
the Homeless
9:00am Ruach Choir
9:30am Chanukah Bazaar
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
9:30am Adult B’nai Mitzvah
6:00pm URJ Program with Rabbi Steve class
Kaye
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
7:30pm Adult Choir rehearsal
17
18
9:30am Religious School (K-6)
11:30am Religious School (7-10)
7:00pm Glencoe Interfaith
Thanksgiving Service
1:00pm Joyce Schrager adult education
class
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:00pm Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
7:30pm Adult Choir rehearsal
16
23
30
Kislev 1
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Cheshvan/Kislev 5775
24
25
9:30am Adult B’nai Mitzvah
class
WEDNESDAY
5
3:30pm Drop-In
4:10pm Hebrew School
12
3:30pm Drop-In
4:10pm Hebrew School
19
1:00pm Laurie Marshall class
3:30pm Drop-In
4:10pm Hebrew School
26
NO HEBREW SCHOOL
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
6
12:00pm Downtowners
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
7:30pm Adult Choir rehearsal
13
9:45am Book Discussion - The
Family
12:00pm Medical Ethics Lunch &
Learn
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
20
10:00am Laurie Marshall class
12:00pm Medical Ethics Lunch &
Learn
5:45pm Almost Daily Minyan
27
OFFICE CLOSED
7
1
SATURDAY
9:00am Library Minyan
10:30am Max Kleinman Bar Mitzvah
4:30pm Eliana Silverman Bat Mitzvah
8
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
9:00am Library Minyan
9:30am New Member Shabbat Basket 10:30am Jackson Goldman Bar Mitzvah
Packing
11:30am Women’s Spirituality group
1:00pm Laurie Marshall class
2:00pm Kyle Levy Bar Mitzvah
5:15pm Noah’s Ark Tot Shabbat
4:30pm Adult Choir Workshop,
6:30pm Jewish Music Heritage
Havdalah and Nosh
Shabbat feat. music of Debbie
Friedman
Confirmation Retreat
14
15
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
6:30pm Shabbat Service Congregational celebration of David
Sommer’s Bar Mitzvah, with Josh
Nelson and Neshama Carlebach
9:00am Library Minyan
10:30am David Sommer Bar Mitzvah
21
22
9:00am Mahjong at Am Shalom
9:00am Library Minyan
6:30pm Shabbat Service w/ Ruach
Choir & Jam Band
8:00pm Young Adults Event: Bowling
for Change
28
OFFICE CLOSED
29
9:00am Library Minyan
10:30am Julia Tropp Bat Mitzvah
4:30pm Annabelle Lerrick Bat Mitzvah