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Volume 17, Number 9 FOUNDED IN 2001 March 2018 • Adar/Nissan 5778 .
Shalom from Rabbi Chalom Being Traditional
by Rabbi Adam Chalom ([email protected])
I sometimes wonder if people really know what “tradition” means. They say they want a “traditional” Jewish wedding, or they say in their family’s Jewish life they “keep the traditions” — but they never mean that they follow the kosher dietary laws or avoid turning on lights or using money on Shabbat. (After all, Jews that do that are unlikely to come to ME for their celebrations!) By “tradition” they usually mean the episodic traditions of Hanukkah and Passover, or they are looking for the visible symbols of a Jewish wedding like a huppah [canopy], sharing wine, and breaking a glass. I respond by clarifying that in some cases there IS no one tradition; for example, Ashkenazi/East European Jews often
name babies after deceased relatives while Mizrahi/Middle Eastern Jews name after living ones. And in the 21st Century, traditions are not carved in stone. If BOTH the groom and the bride want to break a glass at the end of the wedding, they can! Of course, I understand what they really mean when they are asking for a “traditional” ceremony. They don’t want women separated from men or long passages in Hebrew they don’t understand or believe. What they want is the endorsement of Judaism. They want their ceremony to feel authentic, to be accepted by their Jewish family and friends. Whether or not it fits their lifestyle or agrees with their personal beliefs is not the question; whether it “feels Jewish” is the point. The genius, and the challenge, of Humanistic Judaism is to strive for both — to feel authentically Jewish and to live with the courage of our convictions. There are times it is easy to do both, like experiencing a Klezmer music concert or learning something new about Jewish history. And there are times it is more challenging, particularly when more religious family members have very definite opinions or when our Humanistic beliefs push for changes in our Jewish inheritance. It can feel easier to fall back on “this is what Jews do and say,” and accept what is conventional. But I’ve found in my life, and part of my job is encouraging others to discover, that living out Jewish integrity can make experiences meaningful in new ways. Sharing a Lea Goldberg poem about memory at a funeral is not the same as reciting the traditional kaddish; it is moving, differently. And that’s the real goal of these ceremonies and celebrations — to be moving, to open ourselves to emotional experience and connection. Sometimes tradition does it, and sometimes creativity is more effective. Our privilege is to be able to use both.
The Shofar The Monthly Newsletter of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation
Affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism 175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
847/383-5184 • [email protected] • www.KolHadash.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday — 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
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View from the Chair by Steering Committee Chair Susan Addelson ([email protected])
Dear Kol Hadash Family, In this column I’m continuing my “behind the scenes” look at the committees, clubs and volunteer efforts that keep the congregation healthy, vibrant and engaging.
Part 1: Music Our choir sounds so professional! Music Director Ellen Apley and Rabbi Chalom have a magic touch when it comes to matching music to message. For me, the choir is especially moving and meaningful, a highlight of our High Holidays. I could listen to them all the time.
And guess what? We can. Check out choir videos on our website (https://kolhadash.com/content/choir or https://kolhadash.com/ content/high-holidays ) and on our YouTube channel (https://preview.tinyurl.com/kolhadash-yt). BONUS: You can hear them live at our Choir Concert on Sunday, June 24. (More about that below.)
Part 2: Money Did you know that most Jewish congregations, regardless of size, cannot cover their yearly costs with dues alone? And Sunday School fees typically cover less than half of a congregation’s investment in children. Kol Hadash is no exception. Like most congregations, we rely on donations to fill the gap. So kudos to our Development Committee, headed by David Hirsch, for embracing a “no guilt” approach to asking. In addition to the High Holiday and annual appeals, the committee looks to event sponsorships, tributes, gifts, designated named funds, and our annual FUNdraiser to fill the gap. Thank you for your additional support of congregation to support the activities that are most important to you and your family. This year’s FUNdraiser will be a Choir Concert followed by dinner. This is one fundraising appeal that will appeal to everyone. Bring your sing-along voice! This concert is dedicated to the memory of Lois Wolens, a longtime member, our pianist for many years, and one of the sweetest women I have ever known. The concert will be late afternoon on Sunday, June 24 at the North Shore Unitarian Church, followed by a dinner at Buca di Bebbo. Come for the concert only or concert-and-dinner.
Part 3: Events Well-planned events don’t happen without, well, a lot of planning. Our ad-hoc event planning committee handles it all — from invitations to decorations to recap. Last year they thought through every detail of the Klezmer concert. We are lucky to have such talented people who step up when the need arises. Let me know if you want to pitch in and help out in planning this special event. You are welcome to join any committee at any time. Don’t feel like you need to wait. The right time to join in all the fun is right now. If these efforts don’t match your interests, reach out to me and together we’ll find a good fit for you. Shalom, Sue
Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation Staff, Officers and Committee Chairs
Rabbi Adam Chalom, [email protected]
Youth Education Director Dawn Friedman, [email protected]
Music Director Ellen Apley, [email protected]
Executive Assistant Jeremy Owens, [email protected]
Officers
Steering Committee Chair Susan Addelson, [email protected]
Steering Committee Vice-Chair Mike Lippitz, [email protected]
Treasurer Ilya Talman, [email protected]
Secretary Marla Davishoff, [email protected]
Committee Chairs & Other Volunteers
Book Club Stacey Max, [email protected]
Development Committee David Hirsch, [email protected]
Finance Committee Ilya Talman, [email protected]
Helping Hands Tamar Schwartz, [email protected]
IT Committee Bill Brook, [email protected]
Membership Committee Sheila Sebor, [email protected]
Movie Group Leora Hatchwell & Susan Addelson, [email protected]
Shofar Editor Mark Friedman, [email protected]
String Theory (Knitting Club) Victoria Ratnaswamy, [email protected]
Theatre Club Mark Friedman, [email protected]
Values in Action Committee Lynn Miller, [email protected]
Winers (wine group) Mike Lippitz, [email protected]
Youth Education Committee Ilana Shaffer, [email protected]
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The Kol Hadash Steering Committee meets once a month, usually on the first Thursday, 7:30 PM, at the Kol Hadash office upstairs conference room. Check the calendar in this Shofar or on our website to confirm this month’s date. Members are welcome to attend Steering Committee meetings. Contact the SC chair for information. The Shofar newsletter is published monthly and is mailed to all members. An electronic version is available at www.kolhadash.com. If you would like to contribute content to the Shofar, contact Mark Friedman.
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This Month’s Events at Kol Hadash Family Shabbat Dinner & Service Led by 4th/5th Grades Friday, March 2: Dinner 6:30, Service 7:30 PM • North Shore Unitarian Church Join our 4th/5th Grade students and their teacher, Mark Friedman, as they explore family identity and immigration through their student-created Shabbat service and their Family Heirloom Museum. Join us for Shabbat dinner before the service; register online at https://tinyurl.com/KH-4-5-dinner18 Adult Education/Jewish History: Ashkenazic Jewry Tuesday, March 6, 7:30 PM • North Shore Unitarian Church In the Middle Ages, many Jews were invited to leave Western Europe and move east. They came, but they brought their language with them and created a thriving thousand-year culture in Yiddish. And if they suffered under Christendom, they also sang and studied and laughed.
String Theory Thursday, March 8, 7:30 PM at Kol Hadash Office • Sunday, March 11, 10:00 AM at Deerfield High School Kol Hadash knitters gather to knit (and learn how to knit), and chat, and have fun! All skill levels, including absolute beginners, welcome! Questions? Contact Victoria Ratnaswamy ([email protected])
Shabbat Service: The True Believer Friday, March 9, 7:30 PM • North Shore Unitarian Church In an era of extreme partisanship, media bubbles and accusations of “fake news,” Eric Hoffer’s 1951 book The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements has never been more timely. How do we ensure that our own strong beliefs do not become a barrier to learning from other perspectives? And how can we encourage others to open their minds to new ideas?
Movie Club: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Saturday, March 10, 4:00 PM • North Shore Unitarian Church Enter a world of pure imagination and celebrate SHJ 2018 Humanist of the Year Gene Wilder with a free screening of Wilder’s most treasured film! Open to all — especially families with children! See the enclosed flyer for details.
Adult Education/Jewish History: Kabbalah and Hasidism Tuesday, March 13, 7:30 PM • North Shore Unitarian Church Jewish mysticism was a minority movement, yet it influenced major rabbis and significant Jewish communities. From its excesses under the “mystical messiah” Shabbetai Zvi, Kabbalah made a comeback in the pietistic movement called Hasidism, whose descendants we still see in the Jewish world today.
Book Club: My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 PM • Home of Joyce Hirsch This month the KH Book Club discusses the memoir of one of the seminal figures in the women’s rights movement. All are welcome at Book Club! Questions? Contact Stacey Max ([email protected])
Winers: March Madness! Saturday, March 17, 7:30 PM • Home of Andrea & Mark Friedlander Join us for the Winers’ 6th Annual "March Madness" wine competition. This will be an NCAA-style tournament, pitting wines in tongue-to-tongue, single-elimination match-ups. Who will emerge as champion this year? All are welcome! RSVP to Mike Lippitz ([email protected]). (You do not have to drink wine or enter the tournament in order to attend.)
Adult Education/Jewish History: Enlightenment and Emancipation Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 PM • North Shore Unitarian Church In the early modern period, the two most transformative experiences for Jews were the Enlightenment’s challenges to tradition and the unprecedented opportunities to participate as citizens in Western nations that were presented to Jews. The American and French Revolutions opened new doors but also offered new challenges — to Jews and to Judaism.
Community Passover Seder Saturday, March 31
Seatings at 3:30 & 6:30 PM Bluegrass Restaurant, Highland Park
Your family and friends are welcome to celebrate with us.
Reserve your place today! See the enclosed flyer for details and RSVP form.
www.kolhadash.com
Celebrate Purim
AT Kol Hadash!
Sunday, March 4 at Deerfield High School
10:30 AM Purim Service & Songs
Costume Parade
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Activities, Fun, Snacks
Community Service Project
This year, we have a new format that includes favorite Purim activities, including
Photo Booth! Face Painting! Megillah Reading…WITH NOISE MAKERS!)
Plus, we have many new activities . . .
Hands-on Fun for kids• Hamentashen Making – Make the treats on-site, take home, bake and enjoy! • Make-Your-Own Crown — A bejeweled craft activity!
For older kids AND ADULTS —• Purim Trivia Challenge — Answer questions about the craziest Jewish holiday! • Hamantashen Bake-Off — Invent a hamentashen variation and bring in a batch for a tasting party! Feta & artichoke hamentashen? Red velvet? Burrata? Let your imagination run wild! (Email us for recipe suggestions and allergy restrictions.)
For everyone and every age… kids AND ADULTS —• Costume Parade & Contest — Prizes for the winners . . . adults too! • Community Service Activity — Following the Purim tradition of mishloakh manot, (giving food to others), we will assemble bag lunches for a local PADS shelter.
All are welcome! Invite your friends!
We suggest a donation of $15, $20 or $25 per family to cover expenses. Donations are welcome at the door or online at https://tinyurl.com/KH-Donations.
Questions? Contact Dawn Friedman ([email protected])
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From the Youth Education Director by Dawn Friedman ([email protected], 847-997-8931)
They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb; that may refer to the weather, but this March at Kol Hadash’s Sunday School, it’s more like a whirlwind! We start the month with our 4th/5th Grades Shabbat Dinner & Service on March 2, then our all-new Purim celebration on the 4th, celebrate Passover together on the 18th, and send our teens off to the annual HuJews Teen Conclave in Philadelphia March 23-25. Whew! We’re mixing up our Purim celebration this year; instead of the usual carnival, we’ll have a variety of activities for all ages, including our first-ever hamantaschen bake-off! All congregants are invited to join us. Volunteers are definitely needed for both the Purim celebration and the school Passover seder; please signup on our pages on SignupGenius.com (details under Family Events). Kol Hadash has been sending groups to the HuJews Teen Conclave,
sponsored by the Society for Humanistic Judaism, for many years. This vital program brings together Humanistic teens from across North America for a weekend of learning, schmoozing, site-seeing, and community service. Your donations to the Youth Group Fund support Youth Group programs all year. There is no fee to families to participate in Youth Group. Thank you for supporting this much-needed program to strengthen our teens’ connection to our Humanistic Jewish community. Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays)! Dawn Friedman This Month’s Sunday School Schedule: March 4, 11, 18, 25 Regular School Schedule: 9:30–11:30 AM • 7th Grade Mitzvah Class: 11:45 AM-12:45 PM
§ March 4: Early Hebrew/Mitzvah Classes, 9:00; Purim Service & Celebration, 10:30–12:00 Snack: Hamantaschen (Gluten-free available)
§ March 11: Daylight Savings Time Ends (set clocks ahead 1 hour Saturday night); No 6th grade class; Confirmation field trip to Hindu Mandir, 8:45–12:45; Staff Meeting, 11:30–12:30 Snack: Bagels (Pirates Booty available)
§ March 18: EARLY Hebrew Class 9AM; School Passover Seder, 10:30–11:30 No Snack (Seder)
§ March 25: regular classes
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
SUNDAY SCHOOL SPRING BREAK Please note that there will be no Sunday School or Hebrew/Mitzvah classes on April 1 and 8. Our regular school schedule will resume on Sunday, April 15.
Sunday School Events & News Family Shabbat Dinner & Service Led by 4th-5th Grade Class: Friday, March 2 North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield Join our 4th/5th Grade students and their teacher, Mark Friedman, as they explore family identity and immigration through their student-created Shabbat service and their Family Heirloom Museum. Join us for a complete Max & Benny’s Shabbat dinner before the service; register online at https://tinyurl.com/KH-4-5-dinner18
IMPORTANT! Sunday School Food Restrictions
Please note that food brought to Sunday School may not contain any peanuts, tree nuts (including almonds), or sesame seeds, due to severe allergies among our students. This includes lunches brought to Sunday School and Mitzvah Class, as well as any foods brought to meetings or events at DHS. We cannot allow snacks from home due to other student allergies. Thank you for your cooperation!
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Purim Celebration •Sunday, March 4Purim Service 10:30 AM; Celebration 11:00AM–12:00 PM
Deerfield High School After regular classes (9:30-10:30 AM), we’ll kick off Purim with Rabbi Adam leading an all-ages Purim Service with an abbreviated reading of the Purim megillah (scroll of Esther), including the debut of new pages in our students’ original illustrated
megillah. Next, we’ll have a Costume Parade to the cafeteria. Everyone — adults included! — is encouraged to dress up! The fun then continues with . . . Photo Booth Face Painting HamAntaschen-Making
craft Activities Purim Trivia Prizes for all Adults and children are also welcome to join us for a terrific Community Service activity — making bag lunches for local PADS shelters (following the Purim tradition of mishloakh manot, giving food to others).
Our Purim Celebration is open to ALL — school families and adult members of all ages, with or without kids! We suggest a donation of $15, $20 or $25 per family to cover expenses. Donations are welcome at the door or online at https://tinyurl.com/KH-Donations. Volunteers are needed to help set up, supervise activity tables, clean up, deliver lunches to PADS, and to take food donations to a local food pantry. Sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/KH-signup-purim18
Adults, Teens, Kids who love to cook! Enter our first-ever Purim
HamAntaschen Bake-Off! We’re looking for traditional as well as creative hamantaschen recipes — spinach & feta, anyone? Bring your best hamantaschen creations to our celebration and let our students be the judge! For ideas, try these websites: www.joyofkosher.com/2017/02/top-ten-hamantash-recipes www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/15-mouthwatering-hamantaschen-recipes-for-purim. (No nuts or sesame products: see allergy note on page 4.)
School Passover Seder Sunday, March 18, 10:30-11:30 AM • Deerfield High School
Get a headstart on Passover with our all-ages Sunday School seder; all congregants are welcome to join us at DHS. RSVP to Dawn Friedman so we set a place for you (students do not need to RSVP). Also, please consider bringing gently used household items to donate to the Shore collection being held at our seder. See the enclosed flyer for information Volunteers are needed to shop, shlep, boil eggs (or buy them!), setup, serve, and cleanup. We use SignupGenius.com for volunteer sign-up for Sunday School
events; visit our Passover signup to volunteer: https://tinyurl.com/KH-signup-passover18. If you prefer to make a donation to help cover our expenses, instead of or in addition to shopping for items we need, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/KH-Donations Thank you!
Have a Matzah Ball! Passover Storytimes for Young Children Saturday, March 24, 3:00–3:30 PM Tuesday, March 27, 11:00–11:30 AM The Book Bin Barnes & Noble 1151 Church Street, Northbrook 726 North Waukegan Road, Deerfield
Come learn about Passover with stories, songs, and activities especially for children ages 0-2 (older children welcome) led by Rabbi Adam Chalom and Education Director Dawn Friedman. Get to know other families! These programs are funded by a grant from jBaby Chicago, a program of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Register here: http://www.juf.org/jbabychicago/jewishholidays101.aspx Full schedule of jBaby classes here: http://www.juf.org/jbabychicago/partnerClassesList.aspx.
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Tu B’Shevat Seder at Sunday School Thank you to the great volunteers who helped with our Tu B’Shevat Seder on January 28: Ellen Apley, Ken Burk, Jason Harris, Bobby Jacobs, Karen Juneau, Neal Katz & Nancy Soren, Lisa Landsman, Sara & Bill Race, Victoria Ratnaswamy, Abby Sayegh, Mimi Saks, Rachel Samlan, Lisa Kane Weaver, and volunteer coordinator Ilana Shaffer. Many thanks also to Tu B’Shevat Seder Event Sponsors Ellen & Mitch Apley, Karen & Chris Jackson, Sara & Bill Race and Victoria Ratnaswamy.
Grades 1-3 Shabbat Service Mazel tov to our 1st/2nd/3rd Grade students on the wonderful Shabbat service they led for the congregation on January 19. Thanks to the class teachers, Irene Chase and Robin Kacyn, and aide Skylar Max.
Space is limited … reserve early. Reservation deadline is March 20. Reserve online! Visit http://tinyurl.com/khseder2018 and complete your reservation today.
OR Complete and mail the reservation form below. ------------------------------Clip here and return the form below with your payment------------------------------
PLEASE: List the names of your guests on the back of the reply form.
Reservation for: ___ Seating 1 (begins 3:30 PM) ___ Seating 2 (begins 6:30 PM)
Number of seats Cost per seat Total
____ Adult members & children ages 13+ $52 $___________
____ Adult non-members (guests; members’ relatives age 25+) $65 $___________
____ Children ages 6-12 (members and non-members) $30 $___________
____ Children ages 3-6 (members and non-members) $15 $___________ (Children under 3: no charge)
Additional Sponsorship Donation (see below) $___________
Total Payment Enclosed $___________
Reservation deadline is March 20; please add late fee of $5 per adult for reservations postmarked after March 20.
Name: __________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________ E-mail ________________________________
Make checks payable to Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation. Mail this form with your payment to: Kol Hadash, 175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Please consider adding a tax-deductible donation to support this and other special programs. Donors will be listed as co-sponsors in the Shofar newsletter. THANK YOU!
$20 Afikomen Sponsor • $50 Thank the Organizers • $100 Be Amazing! • www.tinyurl.com/KHsponsor www.KolHadash.com
Seder 2018
Why Is Our Seder Different from Other Seders?
1. We celebrate the values and symbols we cherish with words we believe (and understand).
2. We know that freedom comes from human empathy and action. Even if historically we were never “slaves in Egypt,” we can still learn the same lesson!
3. We have great food, fellowship and fun WITHOUT dirty dishes! 4. We start dinner at a reasonable time!
Second Night of Passover: Saturday, March 31 TWO SEATINGS THIS YEAR!
First Seating: 3:30 PM Seder Begins • 4:30 PM Meal Begins Second Seating: 6:30 PM Seder Begins • 7:30 PM Meal Begins
Bluegrass Restaurant 1636 Old Deerfield Road, Highland Park
www.KolHadash.com
Help us help others in need! This spring, Kol Hadash will be holding a drive to collect gently used goods for the Shore Community Services.
Shore’s mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through education, residential, vocational and related programs provided with community integrated supports and services. For more information, visit https://shoreservices.org/ Kol Hadash’s Values in Action volunteers invite congregants to bring gently used clothing, accessories and books to our designated collection events. Please bring donated items in plastic bags. These items will be donated to the Second Time Around Thrift and Gift Shop. The thrift shop is located in Skokie and benefits the residents of the Shore residential facility.
Bring your donations to:
Sunday School Passover Seder March 18, 10:30 AM
Deerfield High School
Kol Hadash Community Seder Saturday, March 31
Bluegrass Restaurant
Thank you!
Holiday Storytimes for Young Children
Come learnaboutPassoverwithstories, songs,andactivitiesespecially forchildrenages0-2;older childrenwelcome! Rabbi Adam Chalom and Education Director Dawn Friedman of KolHadashHumanisticCongregation leadthesestorytimesessions.Gettoknowotherfamilies inyourcommunity!ResourcesforcelebratingPassoverinyourhomewillbeprovided.
Saturday,March243:00-3:30PMTheBookBin
1151ChurchStreet,Northbrook
Tuesday,March2711:00-11:30AM
DeerfieldBarnes&Noble728NorthWaukeganRoad
KolHadashHumanisticCongregationisawelcoming,thinkingcommunityofHumanistswhocelebrateJewishtraditionstogetherwithopenmindsandhearts.Interfaith/interculturalandLGBTfamiliesareverywelcome.Visitusatwww.KolHadash.com.
[email protected]://www.juf.org/jbabychicago/jewishholidays101.aspx
This program is made possible by a grantfromjBabyChicago,aprogramoftheJewishFederationofMetropolitanChicago.
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Values in Action For information about community service activities being planned by our Values in Action Committee, contact Lynn Miller ([email protected]) Here are some highlights of what’s in store in the first half of 2018! Watch the Weekly E-mail and future Shofars for details on these activities. Shore Collection at KH Seders: March 18 & 31 Doing some spring cleaning? We will be collecting gently used clothing, accessories and books for the Second Time Around Thrift and Gift Store located in Skokie. This store supports Shore, an organization that provides programs for people with developmental disabilities. Bring your items in large plastic bags to the Sunday School Passover Seder on March 18 or the KH Community Passover Seder on March 31. A Safe Place EmpoweRun 5K: May 5 On May 5, join Team Kol Hadash as we run or walk in support of A Safe Place at Independence Grove in Libertyville. Start time is 9:00. Early registration is $35 for adults and $15 per child. A Safe Place is the only organization in Lake County solely focused on domestic violence services. Vernon Township Mental Health Fair: May 19 Contact us if you want to join with other KH Values in Action volunteers in planning the first-ever Mental Health Fair in Vernon Township. Then come to the fair and meet the top organizations in the area that serve people with mental health issues. The fair will be May 19, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, Community Service Center, 2900 N. Main Tree, Buffalo Grove. Soup Kitchen Volunteering: June 14 We will be preparing dinner, setting up, cleaning up and visiting with approximately 30-80 guests, individuals experiencing homelessness or hunger at the St. James Parish in Highwood. KH volunteers are needed!
Fun with the Winers! The Winers (no, not whiners) warmed up a cold January evening in the beautiful home of Sarah and Gerald Beatty. What could be better than sipping some wine, snacking, and hanging out with KH friends? All are welcome at the next Winers gathering; you don’t have to drink to enjoy time with the Winers! Our annual Final Four wine challenge, Saturday, March 17, at the home of Andrea & Mark Friedlander. RSVP to Mike Lippitz ([email protected]).
Family Movie Club!
See the original classic film
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring
GENE WILDER
The Society for Humanistic Judaism has named Gene Wilder as the 2017-2018 Humanistic Jewish Role Model. Wilder worked to make the world a better place via his acting, writing and directing, which brought joy and laughter to the world. He also founded various cancer programs and support communities in honor of his wife, Gilda Radner, who died from cancer at a young age.
RSVP to Leora Hatchwell ([email protected] or 847-331-6291)
SATURDAY, MARCH 10 NOTE DATE HAS CHANGED
4:00-6:00 PM
ALL are welcome! FREE of charge!
NORTH SHORE UNITARIAN CHURCH 2100 HALF DAY ROAD, DEERFIELD
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Meet Happy Stone & Rick Henriksen Most people can count on one finger, maybe two, the number of religions they have been. Rick Henriksen needs his entire hand! He started out as a Baptist, attending Baptist Sunday School. Then his family moved and he joined a Lutheran church. He later switched to a different denomination of Lutheran where he took catechism classes and was baptized and confirmed. He later married a Catholic woman, and after 25 years of marriage, he became a Catholic. He identified as a Catholic for 16 years, until eight years ago, when he and his wife Happy found Kol Hadash. Rick now identifies as a Humanistic Jew! Happy, on the other hand, was a lifelong Reform Jew. About 12 years ago, she took a trip to Cuba, and on a bus she met a woman from Detroit. The woman told her, “Something wonderful was going to happen in the Highland Park area,” explaining that her fantastic young rabbi was leaving the Birmingham Temple in suburban Detroit to join a new congregation in this area. A few
years later, when Happy was looking for something new, she saw an ad in the local paper for a Kol Hadash Meet the Rabbi event and remembered her conversation with the woman from Detroit. Happy and Rick attended the event and met Rabbi Chalom. At the time, Rick’s doubts about the stories underlying Christianity had been steadily growing. He listened to Rabbi Chalom’s description of Humanistic Judaism and thought, “That’s what I’m thinking!” Happy was attracted to Humanistic Judaism by its “accessibility, warmth, kindness, and ease.” They joined Kol Hadash in 2008. Today, Rick is a member of the Steering Committee, the Development Committee and the Choir. He also takes Rabbi Chalom’s adult education class every year. He says that even when the curriculum repeats, he learns something different. Although less involved, Happy says that Kol Hadash is still the right fit, and now that she is getting older, she is glad that she “has a rabbi on tap.” Rick and Happy have been married for 11 years and live in Highland Park. They met in an Adult Children of Alcoholics support group. Rick’s parents were alcoholics and Happy, who divorced after a 30-year marriage, was basically looking for a support group and company on a Saturday morning. Rick had taken a hiatus from the group, so they hadn’t seen each other in a while. When he came back to the group after his wife died, he announced that he wanted to get married again. According to Rick, “Happy’s ears perked up,” and he was very surprised when she asked him out on a date. They hit it off and were married about a year later. Rick lived most of his life in the Morton Grove/Niles area. He was trained in electronics at DeVry and the Navy on computers and spent his career fixing computers and printers. He enjoyed helping people get up and running with their equipment. Happy was raised on the South Side of Chicago and moved to Highland Park when she was 18. She has an education degree, but after her divorce, she went back to school and earned a Masters degree in social work. After happily working as a social worker in the Gurnee area for 12 years, she was disappointed to be told that she was “too old” and had to retire. In retirement, Happy has taken up abstract painting. Rick claims he has no hobbies, but Happy says that’s not true — “He fixes everything in sight.” They also both volunteer at Highland Park Hospital and receive tremendous satisfaction from helping people there. Rick has one son and daughter-in-law who live near St. Louis and a 13-year-old granddaughter. Happy has a daughter in San Francisco and three adult grandsons who moved to New York. She also has a son and daughter-in-law who live in the Prairie Crossing area of Grayslake, and an adult step-grandson who’s engaged to be married. Three things that few people at Kol Hadash know about Happy and Rick:
1. Their honeymoon was a cruise in Australia and New Zealand. 2. They’ve been in J. B. Pritzker’s house. 3. Happy bit her dog on the ear when she was 5 and it stopped the dog nipping her. Rick got bitten by a dog when he was 10 ̶ on the butt.
M e e t K o l H a da s h !
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Kol Hadash News & Announcements
KH Adults: This Year, Purim Is for You, Too! If you’re accustomed to skipping over the Sunday School pages, we suggest you read up on our all-new Purim celebration. This year, we’re inviting all KH adults to join the fun. Dress in a costume! Create a new hamentashen recipe. Lend a hand with our community service activity. It all happens the morning of March 4, and you are invited! See page 5 and the enclosed flyer for details.
Passover Reservations Now Open! Spring is around the corner, which means Passover is near! Reservations are open for our annual Community Passover Seder at Bluegrass Restaurant, the second night of Passover: Saturday, March 31. This year we will have two seatings! Look for the flyer in this Shofar for complete details.
RUN (or Walk) … and Support A Safe Place May 5! Ready for some exercise and a chance to help a great cause? Join Team Kol Hadash as we run or walk in support of A Safe Place at Independence Grove in Libertyville, May 5 at 9:00 AM. Early registration is $35 for adults and $15 per child. A Safe Place is the only organization in Lake County solely focused on domestic violence services. Questions? Contact communityservice@ KolHadash.com
FUNdraiser 2018: June 24 Choir Concert Save the date — the afternoon/evening of June 24 will be our annual FUNdraiser. This year, we will hold a fantastic concert by our own KH Choir, dedicated to the memory of our beloved longtime piano accompanist, Lois Wolens. Details to come in future Shofars.
Host an Oneg! Hosting an Oneg Shabbat is an easy way to help out and get involved in Kol Hadash. We have one available date for 2017-18: April 27. Contact David Hirsch ([email protected]) if you are interested. Thank You! • To Lynn & Elliot Miller for hosting the Oneg and to
Rick Bolnick for being our greeter at the February 16 Shabbat service.
• To Sue Addelson and Sheila Sebor for organizing the Havdallah Pot Luck Dinner on February 3.
Family News • Condolences to Susan Wauldron Jerris & Bruce
Jerris and Rabbi Adam and AJ Chalom on the recent death of Susan's father, Norman Wauldron (at age 100!).
• Mazel tov to Julia & Ricky Katz on the birth of their new grandson, Jonah.
This Month’s Yahrtzeits The following names will be read at the March 9 Shabbat service at the North Shore Unitarian Church. If there is a name missing or if you would like to have a name read at the service, please contact the Kol Hadash office (847-383-5184, [email protected]).
Dorothy Bernstein Joseph Bilotti Stuart Chase Bernard Cohn Bess Cohn Sylvia Cottle Bob Davis Lois Edwards Gussie Eichner Rose Fisher Gloria Inan Larry Jacobs Abe Kelner Rita Kramer Kathy Lederer George Leichenko Max Lubotsky Sam Merkin Betsy Olson Ida Rothenberg Nathan Sarasohn Leon Schwartz Frank Sebor Sol Simon Marsha Small Alberta Stambouly Harvey Wexler Harold Zlatnik
This Month’s Birthdays Judith Perlman March 3 Quincy Weaver March 8 Bill Gurolnick March 13 Kevin Gerberding March 14 Chris Jackson March 16 Joyce Goldman March 17 Ella Polonsky March 18 Jonah Hirsch March 20 Gabe Wexler March 24 Peggy Bartelstein March 24 Alexandra Brook March 24 Susan Chalom March 25 Laurie White March 29 Marcy Schumacker March 30 Ella Samlan March 31 Zachary Samlan March 31
This Month’s Anniversaries Happy Stone & Rick Henriksen March 6
Support Kol Hadash whenever you make a purchase at Amazon! Amazon Smile has the same product listings at the same prices as ordinary Amazon.com, except that 0.5% of Amazon Smile purchases are donated to your designated charity. Please consider shopping at Amazon Smile and designating Kol Hadash: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-4454948
Mar. 31 Community Passover Seder Apr. 1 & 8 Sunday School Spring Break Apr. 12 & 22 String Theory Apr. 28 Bat Mitzvah of Abby Crelman Apr. 29 Sunday School Grandparents/Special
Friends Day & Day of Action May 5 A Safe Place EmpoweRun 5K May 6 Last Day of Sunday School May 11 Confirmation Shabbat Service May 16 Book Club May 19 Vernon Township Mental Health Fair June 1 Bar Mitzvah of Noah Apley June 14 St. James Parish Soup Kitchen June 24 FUNdraiser: Choir Concert & Dinner
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Tributes, Donations & Gifts Kol Hadash offers several opportunities for donations:
Annual Appeal End-of-calendar-year donations to support Kol Hadash activities
Event Sponsorships Funding to support specific Kol Hadash events
Friedman Family Fund Restricted fund for bringing in external speakers and performers
General Fund General support for Kol Hadash operations & activities
Lippitz/Wagner Jewish Humanistic Ritual Fund Restricted fund supporting the development, dissemination and practice of Jewish humanistic rituals and music
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Funds available to the rabbi to allocate for charitable purposes
Tzedakah Fund Supports organized charitable activities in the name of Kol Hadash
Weiss Choir Fund Supports the High Holidays Choir; established by Kol Hadash founding members James & Minerva Weiss
Yom Kippur Memorial Remembrance donations during the High Holidays
Youth Group Fund Supports special activities for Kol Hadash teens
To donate to any of our funds, please make your check payable to “Kol Hadash” and send with instructions about the gift to: Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation, 175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. The congregation expresses its gratitude to the following individuals, whose donations were received as of the middle of last month
Marla & Craig Davishoff, in memory of Hilda Eisenberg
Happy Stone & Rick Henriksen, to the Weiss Choir Fund
Glynis & David Hirsch, in memory of Hilda Eisenberg Glynis & David Hirsch, in memory of Norman Wauldron
Susan Wagner & Mike Lippitz, to the Lippitz/Wagner Ritual Fund, in memory of Norman Wauldron
Rhita Lippitz, to the Lippitz/Wagner Ritual Fund, in honor of Mike Lippitz’s birthday
Riki Lippitz & John Schechter, to the Lippitz/Wagner Ritual Fund, in celebration of Mike Lippitz’s birthday Margaret Wittlinger & Ross Shepard, to the Weiss Choir Fund, in memory of Sharon Shepard & Lois Wolens
Margaret Wittlinger & Ross Shepard, to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, in memory of Edward Chalom
Nancy Sohn & Mike Simon, to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, in memory of Hilda Eisenberg
2017-18 Annual Fund for Kol Hadash
We thank the following members for their recent donations to the Annual Fund. Thank you all for your generosity and continued support of Kol Hadash!
Susan & Roger Addleson Boaz Blumovitz Marsha & Rick Bolnick Irene & Allan Dorfman Dale & Ronald Freeman Andrea & Mark Friedlander Irene Chase & Jeremy Gibson Joyce & William Goldman Peggy Bartelstein & Bill Gurolnick
Happy Stone & Rick Henriksen Glynis & David Hirsch Joyce & Richard Hirsch Julia & Richard Katz Hope Malis Leora Hatchwell & Tom McCune Lita Passen Tamar & Ron Schwartz Sheila & Ronald Sebor
Event Sponsorships Event sponsors’ donations help us keep admission fees low and allow us to make events accessible to all. We invite our members to sponsor upcoming events such as our Community Passover Seder (March 31). We thank the following members for their generous support of Kol Hadash programs.
Tu B’Shevat Seder Community Passover Seder (to date) Ellen & Mitch Apley Lynn & Elliot Miller Karen & Chris Jackson Sara & Bill Race Victoria Ratnaswamy
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Celebrate and Commemorate Through Kol Hadash
Fill out and mail the form below — or — donate online at www.KolHadash.com When choosing to make a contribution in honor or in memory of someone, consider a donation to Kol Hadash. Your generosity will support our programs, our school, and our future growth, and those you designate will receive a special acknowledgement of your gift on their behalf, in addition to your message being printed in the Shofar.
Choose from the following tribute funds:
Y Kol Hadash General Fund — General support for Kol Hadash operations and activities
Y Kol Hadash Tzedakah Fund — Supports organized charitable activities in the name of Kol Hadash
Y Kol Hadash Youth Group Fund — Supports special activities for Kol Hadash teens
Y Friedman Family Fund — Restricted fund for bringing in external speakers and performers
Y Lippitz/Wagner Jewish Humanistic Ritual Fund — Restricted fund supporting the development, dissemination and practice of Jewish humanistic rituals and music
Y Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund — Funds available to the rabbi to allocate for charitable purposes
Y Weiss Choir Fund — Supports the High Holidays Choir; established by Kol Hadash founding members James & Minerva Weiss
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Enclosed please find $___________ for the ___________________________ Fund from: ________________________________________________________________________ Your Name ________________________________________________________________________ Your Address & Phone #
Message for Shofar/Acknowledgement letter: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
The Occasion (e.g., “in honor of” or “in memory of”) Please send acknowledgement to: Please print legibly and include complete address. Thank you! ________________________________________________________________________ Recipient’s Name ________________________________________________________________________ Recipient’s Address
Mail completed form and payment to: Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation, 175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Thank you for your generosity!
March 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
PURIM 1
Steering Committee Mtg., 7:30 PM @ KH Office
2 4th/5th Grade Shabbat Dinner & Service, 6:30 Dinner, 7:30 Service @ Unitarian Church
3
4
EARLY Hebrew/Mitzvah Class, 9AM Sunday School, 9:30 Purim Celebration, 10:30
5
6 Adult Education/Jewish History, Ashkenazic Jewry, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
7 Rabbi Chalom in the Community, Fiddler on the Roof: The Real Story (Pt. 2), 10:45 AM @ Northbrook Jewish Community Center Rabbi Chalom in the Community, The Future of Jewish Community, 2:00 PM @ Mather/Evanston
8 String Theory, 7:30 PM, Location TBA
9 Shabbat Service, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
10 Family Movie Club, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 4-6PM @ Unitarian Church
11 No 6th Grade Class Conf. Class Field Trip Depart DHS, 8:45 AM Sunday School, 9:30 String Theory, 10:00 Staff Mtg, 7th Grade Mitzvah, 11:30
12
13 Adult Education/Jewish History, Kabbalah & Hasidism, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
14 Rabbi Chalom in the Community, The Future of Jewish Community, 10 AM @ North Shore Comm. Ctr. Northfield Book Club, My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem, 7:30 @ Home of Joyce Hirsch
15 16
17 Winers, 7:30 PM @ Home of Andrea & Mark Friedlander
18 EARLY Hebrew/Mitzvah Class, 9AM Sunday School, 9:30 School Passover Seder & Community Service Collection, 10:30 7th Grade Mitzvah, 11:30
19
20
Adult Education/Jewish History, Enlightenment & Emancipation, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
21 Rabbi Chalom in the Community, The Future of Jewish Community, 10 AM @ North Shore Comm. Ctr. Northfield
22
23 HuJews Teen Conclave @ Philadelphia (3/23-3/25)
24 Passover Storytime, 3PM @ Book Bin Northbrook
25 Sunday School, 9:30 Staff Mtg., 7th Grade Mitzvah, 11:30
26 Rabbi Chalom Class, The Many Faces of Israel @ HP Senior Center, 10:30 AM
27 Passover Storytime, 11AM @ DF Barnes & Noble
28 29 PASSOVER: FIRST NIGHT 30 31 COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDER & Community Service Collection
Two Seatings: 3:30 PM & 6:30 PM
Bluegrass Restaurant
175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 847/383-5184 – www.KolHadash.com – [email protected]
April 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Spring Break
2 3 Adult Education/Jewish History, Modern Anti-Semitism, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
4 5 Steering Committee Mtg., 7:30 PM @ KH Office
6 Discussion Shabbat, Humanistic Faith, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
7
8
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Spring Break
9
10 Adult Education/Jewish History, Jewish Nationalism, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
11 YOM HASHOAH 12
String Theory, 7:30 PM, Location TBA
13
14
15 Sunday School, YEC Mtg, 9:30 Youth Group, 11:10 Staff Mtg, 7th Grade Mitzvah, 11:30
16
17 Adult Education/Jewish History, Holocaust, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
YOM HAZIKARON 18 YOM HAATZMA’UT 19 20 7th/8th Grade Shabbat Service, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
21
22 Sunday School, 9:30 String Theory, 10:00 7th Grade Mitzvah, 11:30
23
24
25
26
27 Shabbat Service, Israel at 70: Perils and Promise, 7:30 PM @ Unitarian Church
28 Bat Mitzvah of Abby Crelman, 10:30 AM @ Unitarian Church
29 Sunday School, Grandparents & Special Friends Day, 9:30 Taste of KH, 11:00 AM 7th Grade Mitzvah, 11:30
30
175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 847/383-5184 – www.KolHadash.com – [email protected]
