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January 14, 2015
Shabbat Services:
Message from Rabbi Bob
Introduction to Bible
Shabbat Va’era
Friday January 16, 2015
8:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service
Brotherhood/Sisterhood Shabbat
Oneg Hosts: Members of the Brotherhood &
Sisterhood.
Saturday January 17, 2015
9:30 AM Torah Study with Ashley Rose & Jordie
Trafimow
Shabbat Bo
Friday January 23, 2015
7:30 PM Shabbat Evening Service with the Life Tree
Ramblers
Oneg Hosts: Members of the Life Tree Ramblers
Saturday January 24, 2015
9:30 AM Torah Study with Ashley Rose & Jordie
Trafimow
This spring I will again teach an
Introduction to Bible course at Elmhurst
College. We will explore the Biblical texts
using scholarly, literary and traditional approaches. We
will look at what these texts meant to the original
authors, what they have meant throughout the centuries
and what they mean today. The course will meet on
Wednesday evenings at Elmhurst College from 6:30 to
9:30 PM beginning February 4.
Some of the texts we will read together will be
completely new for everybody. We will also explore
texts very familiar in a brand new way.
We will look at questions like: Why are there two stories
of creation in Genesis? Why does Deuteronomy contain
commandments not found in other books of the Torah?
Why does God speak to “Moses and Aaron” in Leviticus
but to “Moses” elsewhere? Using investigative tools we
will determine who wrote the books of the Bible and
why.
Most Jews know very little about Christian scripture.
This course will also provide entry into that world. We
will read the four Gospels and seven of Paul’s Epistles.
Elmhurst College is affiliated with the United Church of
Christ. The fact that one can take Introduction to Bible
at a church affiliated college and learn about the
Gospels from a rabbi says a great deal of the state of
inter-faith relations in America.
If you would like to know more about this class please
contact me via email.
Childcare is available on Friday nights
during services in our nursery
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Message from Our President
Je Suis Charlie
Tot Shabbat Services ~ 6:30 PM
February 6
March 6
April 10
May 1
June 12
Shabbat Family Service ~ 7:30 PM
January 30
February 20
March 27
April 17
May 22
June 19
SHABBAT CHAVERIM
Our next Shabbat Chaverim is THIS Friday morning,
January 16 at 10:00 AM. This program is for young
children and a parent/guardian.
Carrie Barrera will guide the group in a simple Jewish
themed craft, often related to a holiday. These have
included making edible Torahs out of pretzel sticks and
fruit roll ups, colorful bookmarks with stick-on stars of
David, delicious hamentashen, Hebrew alphabet
snowflakes, dried orange slice pendants, and matzoh
s’mores, to name a few.
Cindy Michelassi will tell a story relevant to the
parsha of the week or current holiday and leads
everyone in song. Some involve a little dancing, and
others offer each child the opportunity to keep time
with one of a variety of percussion instruments.
The program will end with an oneg. Everyone blesses
the candles, juice and challah. Following blessings a
variety of tasty snacks and conversation are enjoyed
around the table.
Yes I am jumping on the bandwagon. No, this is not an original
essay. However, it is important that this gets said again and
again and again and again.
When two thugs murdered twelve people at Charlie Hebdo for
speaking their minds it was a crime against all of us. The
preamble to the United Nations’ Charter states that one of its goals is ”to reaffirm
faith in fundamental human rights” and “to promote social progress and better
standards of life in larger freedom”.
Freedom is a fundamental human right, especially freedom of speech. The first
amendment to the United States Constitution “prohibits the making of any law…
abridging the freedom of speech or of the press…” It is freedom that allows
humanity to grow. It is the freedom of expression that allows us to move forward
on social progress. It is freedom of the press that checks the power of institutions
from limiting and eradicating our freedoms. Charlie Hebdo was helping to ensure
our freedoms.
We need everyone to speak up against the behavior of those that would oppress
us. Right now there are many thugs in this world that want to remove our
freedoms because they believe that our way of life is wrong and their way of life
is the only true way to live. Many of these thugs want to kill all of us.
We must speak out and we must act. Martin Niemöller, a prominent German
Protestant pastor during the reign of the Nazi’s, said it best,
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
It is imperative that we teach our children the importance of freedom of speech,
of freedom of religion and of freedom of the press. These three freedoms allow
us to live meaningful lives.
The journalists at Charlie Hebdo were leading meaningful lives; they were doing
what we all want to do. They were living their lives as best as they saw fit and
were expressing themselves as they wished. No one had to read their magazine,
no one had to listen to their pontifications, but many chose to do so. They were
living their most fundamental human right of self-expression and they did not
deserve to die for this.
I am proud of our congregation for teaching our children about freedom, about
right vs wrong, and about what it means to be an American and a Jew. All the
volunteer teachers here at Etz Chaim are doing a very noble service and I thank
them for it.
ִ ‫יהְִננְנ‬here I am.
Je suis Charlie.
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2015 MAH JONGG CARD ORDER
JOIN OUR CHAVURAH AND BECOME A
CHAI MITZVAH
Our tradition tells us that an integrated Jewish life involves
study, ritual and social action. Explore all of these on your
terms, with your personal interests through a new adult
education initiative called Chai Mitzvah. You will participate
in a monthly learning group with a specially designed
curriculum that focuses on real life, relevant issues. You will
also choose an individual study topic that is personally
interesting to you, adopt a new ritual or deepen an existing
practice, and engage in a social action activity in your
community. Then, at the end of the nine-month program,
you can celebrate your journey!
It's time to order your Mah Jongg card for 2015!
Sisterhood will once again be placing the Mah Jongg card
order for the synagogue. The congregation receives a
donation for each card that we order, so please ask your
maj buddies to order through us. Last year, we received
over $250 from the National Mah Jongg League for our
order. Cards will be mailed directly to you, to the address
that you designate on your order. If you are ordering for
multiple people, please be sure to list each person's name
and address. The prices are the same as last year: $8.00
for a small print card and $9.00 for the large print card.
Group meets monthly for nine months. Our first meeting is
scheduled for Sunday January 25, 2015 at 12:30 PM in the
library. Ongoing dates will be chosen at that time by the
group. Cost to participate is $18.
The deadline is Friday, January 23. Please make out your
check to CEC Sisterhood and mail the order to Etz Chaim
or place your order in the Sisterhood box in the work
room. Please make sure you mark the envelope
Sisterhood mah jongg card. The 2015 cards will be sent
by the National Mah Jongg League, to the addresses you
designate, around
April 1.
To become a Chai Mitzvah, or for more information,
contact Alice Heinz or Susanna Perrett.
Go to the Chai Mitzvah website (www.chaimitzvah.org) to
learn more.
Program is supported by the Lifelong Learning Committee.
Fridays 12:00 PM:
February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 6, 13, 20, 27
April 10, 17
Each week I share with the class a verse from the Book of Jonah, excerpts from the medieval commentaries to that verse
and other relevant texts. You need no prior knowledge to be part of this group. This is a study group not a course. You do
not need to attend every session to participate. We read selections from the Book of Jonah and explore what they have to
teach us concerning how we lead and understand our lives. The Book of Jonah raises key questions about the purpose of
our lives, including: Who am I? Why are we here? What is evil? For many years I have devoted my January study leave to
understanding the Book of Jonah. I am pleased to have the opportunity to share what I have learned with the members of
our community.
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Part 2 of 4
Just Do It: Korean Zen in America
Please join us on Tuesday, January 27 from 7:30-9:00 PM in the Social Hall. We are
delighted to welcome Mary McKenzie, who will share with us the history of
Buddhism, its three main schools, Zen and her own tradition, and the integration of
some Buddhist practices into American culture. She also will discuss the strong
bonds between American Buddhist practice and Judaism.
Margaret McKenzie has been a member of the Kwan Um
School of Zen, a Korean school of Zen Buddhism, for more
than 20 years. She is a Senior Dharma Teacher and
currently the abbot of the local Zen community. Margaret is
a licensed clinical social worker and has worked with
individuals and families for the past 40 years. She currently
works with caregivers of people with dementia and other
issues of aging, and supervises social work interns at the
People's Resource Center in Wheaton.
“I deeply appreciate the view that Zen Practice has given to
my practice of social work.”
For more information, or to RSVP, please go to [email protected], or
phone the synagogue office, 630.627.3912.
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MAH JONGG
Mah Jongg is being played on Monday
afternoons in the synagogue library at 1:00
PM. Mary Jo Wolsky is the contact person
for this group.
PINOCHLE
You can RSVP at http://doodle.com/
yg4wxyiakg39wit6 for the dates you are
available. You may also contact Merle Erlich.
Monday night pinochle 7:00 PM is now
being held at the home of the Bogolubs
in Willowbrook.
Tuesday afternoon pinochle 1:00 PM is
played at the synagogue.
Please call Harve Bogolub for more
information.
SNOW DAY SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION
If we need to close for some unforeseen reason, not due to bad weather, we will contact you via phone. If we
need to cancel school because of bad weather we will do three things.
 Send an email blast by 7:30 AM on a Sunday and by 2:00 PM on a Wednesday.
 Post it on the home page of our Etz Chaim webpage.
 Post it on the Etz Chaim facebook page. Like us on Facebook.
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The Connections Team and the Membership Committee are spear-heading an ongoing initiative to expand our Chavurah offerings,
and you are invited to consider being a part of one. Some have been going on for many years, some started this summer, and others
are forming now. The participation form is located on the Etz Chaim website, in the Newsletter and in the synagogue Lobby.
Chavurot at Etz Chaim are small groups of members who come together to share Jewish and/or secular experiences -from learning,
to worship to social or cultural or even community volunteerism. Chavurot can be groups of people who live in the same
neighborhood or groups with children of similar ages or groups with similar interests.
Over 40 congregant families have indicated interest. The establishment of Chavurah groups is an ongoing endeavor of the
Membership Committee and Connections Team. Find the Chavurah interest form on the Etz Chaim website at https://
congetzchaim.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_documents/chavurah_form_2.pdf or in the synagogue Lobby.
Contact Merle Erlich with questions.
TZEDAKAH BOX IN THE LOBBY
DECEMBER – FEBRUARY 2015
HELP THE HEALTH WAGON KEEP ROLLING!
The Health Wagon is a nonprofit organization providing mobile health services to the medically underserved in Southwest Virginia.
Many people in this area are the working poor. They can't afford Obama Care, but are not eligible for Medicaid. A Winnebego gets
driven through the mountains to provide medical care to many because they lack adequate and reliable transportation to get to a health
care facility.
The Health Wagon's staff consists of two full time certified family nurse practitioners, one registered nurse, two licensed practical
nurses, a Director of Operations, a Director of Development, Data Systems Coordinator, and an Administrative Assistant.
Every Dollar donated to the Health Wagon is approximately $100 reaped in health care benefits.
The Health Wagon provides:
Acute Disease Management
Chronic Disease Management
Low Cost Lab Services
Immunization Programs
Dental and Eye Clinics
Cardiac Specialty Clinics
Health Teaching Components
Women's Health Care
Community Health Fairs
And much, much more.....
As Reform Jews, we have an obligation of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) through tzedakah (charity). Please show your support by
making a generous donation today!
IF YOU ARE A JOBSEEKER, CAREER CHANGER,
PROFESSIONAL, DOWNSIZED OR
MATURE WORKER
JEN (Jewish Employment Network) under JVS Career Moves can help you :
Plan a career path, Tune you up for that Important Interview
Revamp your Resume, Teach you how to Network succcesfully
Submit you to positions listed with JVS by our employer partners
For information about our services call JVS Career Moves at 1-855-463-6587
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COUNTRY MUSIC FUNRAISER RECAP
On Saturday evening, January 11 Andie Jennings and Jane Hawthorn (Rabbi and Jane Cosnowsky) rocked the house
(sanctuary) with music and banter which highlighted their years of singing and songwriting in Nashville, Tennessee, 20 years
ago. Guitarists Bruce Miller, Jen Gesinski and Josh Miller, drummer Brian Collins, keyboardist Bobby Schiff, and Life Tree
Ramblers Cindy Michelassi, Sue Leftwich and Terry Shapiro provided musical
back-up, while Roberto Michelassi performed his usual magic with sound.
While a few well-known songs given personal spin by Jennings and Hawthorn brought loud applause, it was the many original
pieces that brought additional cheers and led to two standing ovations. Most audience members were drawn to the concert
already familiar with Rabbi Cosnowskys creative songwriting skills, beautiful voice and mischievous sense of humor, but it was
the revelation of Jane’s talent as a writer of moving lyrics, her clear, passionate voice and sense of humor equally playful that
thrilled one and all.
As for the social hall, the Lifelong Learning Committee organizing team turned it into the Etz Chaim version of a Nashville cafe,
where the more than 200 audience members enjoyed snacks, beverages and conversation prior to the concert and during
intermission. Volunteers from outside as well as inside the LLC made the event run smoothly. Ticket sales surpassed
expectations. In addition, sponsorships, donations and a split-the-pot raffle helped us more than double our goal for the Sophie
and Jack Edwards Scholar-in-Residence Fund.
Needless to say, the evening was a total success and a labor of love from start to finish.
*More pictures can be found on the website
Submitted by
Barbara Turner
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The congregation offers its
condolences to…
Kaddish January 16 – 17
01/11 Lillian Greenspan
01/11 Shlomo Kessler
01/11 Adrienne Warshawsky
01/12 Miriam Cohen
01/12 Louis Nadler
01/12 Sherry Vinnick
01/13 Diane Baruch
01/13 Farla Hoffer
01/13 Hyman Linda
01/13 Celia Neimark
01/14 Philip Bolton
01/14 Helen East
01/14 Oscar Gardner
01/14 Philip Gintzler
01/14 Helen Nicolopulos
01/15 Benjamin Weininger
01/16 Ruth Blumenstein
01/16 Harry Heftman
01/16 Mary Safer
01/16 Robert Stamm
01/17 Ted Elsberg
01/17 Lori Goldman
01/17 Thelma Taub
Kaddish January 23 – 24
01/18 Felipe Chejfec
01/18 Sam Steinberg
01/19 Shayne Kroll
01/20 Otto Armin
01/20 Norman Becker
01/20 Helene Bogolub
01/20 Cheryl Corriveau
01/20 Joseph Herschander
01/20 Sam Merkovitz
01/20 Manuel Ostroff
01/20 Arthur Samuels
01/20 Bernard Yellin
01/21 Harriet Kaluzna
01/21 Suzanne Kaufman
01/21 Heather McTaggart
01/21 Willard Meiller
01/21 William Orenstein
01/22 Pearl Cera
01/22 John Gumpman
01/22 Sharon Hirsch
01/23 Adele Bearman
01/23 Celia Feinstein
01/23 Dorothy Hugenberg
01/23 Hershal Layne
01/23 Charles Mays
01/23 Goldye Mendelssohn
01/23 Albert Neimark
01/23 Miriam Stein
01/24 Eleanor Barrett
01/24 Harry Burstein
Kaddish January 30 – 31
01/25 Walter Beck
01/25 Ida Leviton
01/25 Besse Schneider
01/26 Majorie Layne
01/26 Kurt Salomon
01/26 Diana Seres
01/26 Joseph Singer
01/26 Jack Sommerfeld
01/26 Beatrice Zoll
01/28 Minerva Balon
01/28 Rose Burke
01/28 Zina Carpenter
01/28 Wilma Dalzell
01/28 Jack Kaplan
01/29 Anne Ross
01/29 Solomon Rubinson
01/29 Ida Stein
01/30 Frances Fisher
Ann Mehrman and her family
on the death of her mother,
Marie Caulfield.
Joan Balon and Ronni Markwell and their family
on the death of their husband and father,
Morton Balon.
Kaddish List February 6 – 7
02/1 Hatzkel Frumkin
02/1 Marvin Sirota
02/2 Betty Dunn
02/2 Herbert Hoffman
02/2 Fred Mitnick
02/2 Annette Primack
02/3 Ann Berland
02/3 Emily Dubiel
02/3 John Dubiel
02/3 Paul Solomon
02/4 Gerald Benson
02/4 Mary Scott
02/4 Alvin Silver
02/5 Fannie Etzkowitz
02/5 Anne Hagan
02/5 Abe Paskin
02/6 Sol Kaplan
02/6 Ben Margolis
02/7 Marvin Cooperman
02/7 Jennie Mandel
02/7 Jim Mann
02/7 Libby Weinstein
Jim Gentile and his family
on the death of his sister,
Barbara Van Beek.
Judy Stein and her family
on the death of her father,
Hymen Rosen.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Or Tzedek Teen Institute for Social Justice 2015
Go to: https://jcua.or g/sslpage.aspx?pid=661&er id=589483&tr id=aee4e981-4acf-425e-8e1a-95c17552118c
Pushing the Envelope Farm
Go to: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=09b9e8f7efd51e3bac2578b10&id=1d1a07e7b0&e=1579f2d21d
NFTY Convention 2015
Go to: http://view.mail.r j.or g/?
j=fe9915767760057d7d&m=fe8c1570726d077a7d&ls=fe28137173640d7a771675&l=fef716787d6006&s=fe3015707d650575721574&j
b=ffcf14&ju=fe581776746003747111&r=0
AIPAC 2015
Go to: https://congetzchaim.or g/sites/default/files/uploaded_documents/aipac_2015.pdf
Indiana University Incoming Freshman Jewish Studies Scholarship
Go to: https://congetzchaim.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_documents/2015-16_incoming_freshman_scholarship_blue_4pgr_2.pdf
PADS Volunteer Training
Go to: http://dupagepads.org/solutions/volunteer/
Taglit Birthright Israel
Go to: http://www.gokesher.org/
Upcoming Programs at Spertus
Go to: http://spertus.edu/programs-events/all
Jewish Healing Network of Chicago
Go to: http://www.jcfs.org/jhnc
Jewish Child and Family Services
Go to: http://www.jcfs.org/
Jewish Employment Network
Go to: http://congetzchaim.org/Jewish_Employment_Network
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NFTY - EIE
Spend a semester
at the NFTY-EIE
High School in
Israel and take
your own!
Why just look at pictures in your history textbook?
Earn High School Credit.
Apply for the Spring or the Fall semester.
Live in the picturesque Judean Hills on Kibbutz Tzuba.
Discover your Jewish past as you live the Jewish present
Learn to converse in modern Hebrew.
Climb Masada, swim in the Dead Sea, hike from Sea to Sea, explore and camp out in the Negev.
Travel to Poland for a week to continue your study of Modern Jewish History.
Make new NFTY friends and build a strong Reform Community.
For more information please contact
Stacy Chassen
Director of Admissions (212) 650-4073
A NOTE FROM THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE: WHERE TO DONATE BOOKS
Etz Chaim is fortunate to have a vibrant and vital library. Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated corps of volunteers and
the generous contributions of the congregation to the Robert Glass Memorial Library Fund,
the library collection grows and is kept up-to-date.
If you have books that you no longer wish to keep as part of your library, please consider
donating them to your public library or to SCARCE - School and Community Assistance for
Recycling & Composting Education (www.bookrescue.org), located at 799 Roosevelt Rd.,
Bldg. 2, Suite 108, Glen Ellyn.
Please do not bring books to the Etz Chaim library unless previous arrangements with the library chair have been
made. Thank you.
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PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES WHO SPONSOR ADVERTISEMENTS IN OUR BULLETIN
______________________________________________________________________________
Crowne Plaza
The newest Bar/Bat Mitzvah location in the Western Suburbs!
Weddings
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
Social Events
Banquet Facilities for 10 to 200
1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
mailto:www.cpglenellyn.com
Contact: Sara at [email protected] Phone: 630-629-6000 Ask for Sales
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We're the only classic Jewish delicatessen west of Chicago. Visit us
for overstuffed sandwiches, fresh baked bagels, honest-to-goodness
homemade soups, meats by the pound, fabulous desserts and traditional
Jewish foods. We cater, too!
1512 North Naper Boulevard, Naperville
(630) 245-7595
http://www.schmaltzdeli.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Celebrating your daughter or son's Mitzvah?
We can help decorate for any theme.
We also can create one-of-a-kind candle-lighting pieces.
Call to schedule an appointment to discuss how to make your Mitzvah the talk-of-the-town
518 S. Lake St.
Aurora, IL 60506
Phone - 630-892-4053
http://www.aballooncreation.com/
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Families need a safe and secure environment in which their emotional needs are promoted and their
financial needs are protected. This can be accomplished through their congregation supporting a provider
whose primary concern is the family. Chesed v'Emet is just such a resource - personally representing
congregations by serving only its members and their families. This individual approach provides the
distinctive value of combining the support of personalized attention to savings."
For more information, call Chesed v'Emet: 847.577.0856
http://www.chesedvemet.com/
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Simon’s Restaurant & Bakery
We are a traditional American-Style restaurant that offers a large variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch &
dinner every day. Try one of our daily specials and homemade desserts from our bakery. Breakfast is
served all day at Simon's. A family owned & operated restaurant located in Villa Park since 1986.
Open 7 Days a Week 6:00 AM to Midnight
2 West Roosevelt Road
Villa Park, Illinois
Phone: (630) 530-0200
Fax: (630) 530-0267
http://www.simons-restaurant.com/
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Independent  Jewish Owned  Since 1997
The Way It Should Be
It should be, first and foremost, about service. It should be personalized and compassionate. It should be about
commitment. It should be from people who work and live right here, in our community. It should be about
having a service where you want it: chapel, synagogue, or graveside. It should be about being able to pre-plan
for your family. It should be about the way you want to mourn.
For immediate assistance with a death please call: 888.509.5011
http://www.chicagojewishfunerals.com/
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pinstripes features a distinctive entertainment and dining venue.
Celebrate “sophisticated fun” in our warm and inviting 45,000 square foot indoor/outdoor facility complete with
eighteen bowling lanes, six bocce courts, exceptional Italian-American bistro and wine cellar, outdoor patio and
fireplace and beautifully appointed event and party rooms that can accommodate groups from 20-600.
Contact us at [email protected]
_____________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________
Photography by Rick & Rich is Rick Sigel and Rich Dembinski.
Located in Northbrook, IL, their philosophy is to provide high quality photography at a reasonable cost to
consumers. Both have been involved in photography for many years and are deeply devoted to their craft.
Rick and Rich, along with the staff at Photography by Rick & Rich strive to capture the essence of your event
and provide you with an enjoyable remembrance.
http://www.imagesbyrickandrich.com/
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Ink Well
A Complete Print Service
Family Owned and Operated
Visit us for all your printing & copying needs
Wedding Invitations | Business Cards | Stationery Letterhead | Envelopes | Flyers Programs | Menus
School Programs | Newsletters | Booklets
Let us make your work easier!
Call today for a quote - 630.268.0050
Color Copies - Black & White Copies
Full Service Print Shop - Bindery & Faxing Services
Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM
119 E Roosevelt Rd. | Lombard, IL | 60146
Ph: 630.268.0050 | Fax: 630.268.0170 [email protected]
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