NSSBE Annual Report 2021-2022

Annual Report North Suburban Synagogue Beth El 2021-2022

RABBI

RABBI MICHAEL SCHWAB

“Hazak, Hazak V’Nithazek” — This is the phrase we chant when we finish a book of the Torah. These words express how much Judaism and Torah have the ability to strengthen us and provide us with the tools to strengthen each other. As we finish another Jewish year and prepare for the upcoming one, we look back with gratitude and appreciation for how our Beth El community has strengthened us and allowed us to strengthen one another.

Due to the dedication of our incredible lay leaders, generous donors and compassionate members — who care so much about our membership, the greater Chicago community and the broader world — we were able to have a robust year filled with music, spirituality, learning and celebration. We were there for each other during the difficult times as well. Hazak and our Social Action Committee continue to reach out to our most vulnerable members in our community to provide emotional support, drop off food, run errands, pick up medicine and provide guidance to those who need it most. And we were there for each other as we experienced the horrific violence in our community on July 4th. We gathered that very evening on Zoom for a special minyan, gathered in person the next day for a comforting and meaningful healing service, provided counseling and resources to those who wanted, provided small group processing sessions, assisted the city in their efforts to support the community, hosted a blood drive on behalf of the victims and dedicated words of Torah on Shabbat to help us navigate this traumatic experience. This is the power of community, and I am grateful to be the rabbi for a congregation that demonstrates such compassion through dedicated action.

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I also salute our incredible staff who never stops working and continually finds the time and energy to help Beth El remain strong and vibrant through every twist and turn of life. They are wonderful people and talented

professionals who are devoted to our community. We are all very excited to be planning for an incredible upcoming year and we hope many more of you will feel comfortable returning to Beth El in person in the upcoming weeks and during the holidays. As I have written before, my vision for Beth El is for our synagogue to help make Judaism come alive for our members so they can find meaning in its rituals, be inspired by its values and find joy in its celebrations. We want Beth El to be a second home for all of our members — a warm and joyous community where Jewish tradition meets contemporary life. Whether you are younger or older, are an empty nester or have a house full of kids, are new or have been here for years, we are striving to make Beth El the home for Jewish families on the North Shore.

This year we will build on the accomplishments of the last year, which include fantastic concerts, a wonderful Israel trip (there is another this Winter Break), vibrant in-person Shabbat services, joyous family programs, incredible school programs, our unprecedented Team Torah Reading Challenge and our moving Mitzvah 613 initiative, during which we each can write a letter in our new Torah. We look forward to returning to more wonderful joyous Friday night services, like Rinat Shabbat and Shabbat on the Lake. We are inspired to continue our inclusion work and to partner with the local community in helping others. And we are excited to continue to use the new tools we have acquired during the pandemic to offer a wider array of virtual programming that will also allow us to better include those who are not able to be with us in person.

I believe that Beth El has served our members with excellence this past year.

I remain so proud to be the Senior Rabbi of such a wonderful community.

We have persevered and shined through challenging times and I am so excited to accompany you into a bright and wonderful future!

*Rabbi Schwab occupies the Vernon H. Kurtz Senior Rabbinic Chair.

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PRESIDENT

STUART HOCHWERT NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL PRESIDENT

“It all comes to this: The simplest way to be happy is to do good.” – Helen Keller Dear Congregants, Last year we were busy getting our vaccines and it looked like COVID would subside, and we could get back to our regular routines. We made plans to reopen Beth El and return to ‘normal,’ only to confront variant after variant.

And so, the phrase ‘hybrid’ entered our frequent conversations. We were excited to see many in-person at the High Holidays in 2021 and delighted to offer Livestream as an option. This year we will once again be in-person with a Livestream option. And while we had to modify some programs and plans throughout 2021-2022, I am so proud of our Clergy, Staff and Lay Leaders working so hard to execute so many wonderful programs and services.

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We have so much to make us Beth El Proud. I hope you will take the time to read about all we have accomplished this past year at Beth El. Here are just a few highlights from our schools and programs: • Cohen Religious School – Enrollment grew this past year as we resumed in-person learning.

• HAZAK – now cares for over three hundred members. This group of amazing volunteers delivers meals, calls to offer a friendly voice and transports to Beth El, shopping, and doctors’ visits.

• Lifelong Learning – 25 students (ages 37-91) participated in two Adult Cantillation classes, and most have read Torah this year.

• Men’s Club – continues to offer dinners, soft ball leagues, programs, a blood drive and have committed to $10,000 in support for the Illinois Holocaust Museum.

• Sisterhood – as it approaches its 75th anniversary, continues to offer educational, cultural, social action and social programs and runs our synagogue gift shop. They have supported The Ark Chicago for 32 years.

• Social Action Committee – Delivered almost two hundred baskets of food to those less fortunate, exceeding the goal of 175.

• Steinberg Preschool – Enrollment grew this past year as we resumed inperson learning.

• Team Torah – more than 150 unique individuals have read Torah this past year, exceeding our goal of one hundred.

• Young Family Programming – Jeans and Jammies this year brought in over fifty families to each event.

As I have said before, we have been and will continue to be thoughtful, proactive and careful with in-person activities. If you have not returned inperson yet, let me encourage you to do so. Whenever you are ready, we are excited to welcome you back to Beth El. Whether it is Shabbat Services, Minyan, High Holidays or more. Come on down!

And while our fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, an annual report letter could not be complete without acknowledging the tragedy in Highland Park on July 4th. We remember those who lost their lives and pray for those who were injured physically and for those who have been traumatized. Beth El can arrange for counseling in-person or by Zoom. Please contact our clergy or office anytime for more information.

I was honored and humbled a year ago to have been elected to serve a twoyear term as the President of the Board of Directors for North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. My wife Barbara and I have been members of Beth El for over 25 years and our family has been blessed with the extraordinary talents of our clergy, staff, and lay leaders.

Helen Keller said, ‘do good.’ And doing good is what Beth El does so well. 365 days per year we offer programs and services that help us heal, help us mourn, inspire us, help us fulfill mitzvot, laugh, help others, and build community.

May we go from strength to strength.

Stuart Hochwert President, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El president@nssbethel.org

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FACILITIES

FACILITY UPDATES Jeff Baden, Executive Director Over the past few months, we have been busy working to improve the facility for our membership and visitors to enjoy. Over spring break, we completed a renovation of the second floor of the Price mansion. All classrooms, offices and hallways have been freshly painted and recarpeted and are now suitable for adult education classes and meetings as well as our Cohen Religious School and Sokol Hebrew High School classes. In addition, we now have three new mobile computer carts on the second floor that can be used for Zoom meetings as well as educational classes.

Behind the synagogue, you will see that we have installed a new tent overlooking the lake that is 20 feet longer that the tent we rented last year. We will now be able to accommodate services, events, and weddings of over 200 participants. We have also put down a flooring system under the tent that drains quickly, so that it can be used even after a heavy rain. The tent has lighting and even a built-in sound system. Also in the backyard, you will notice that we have done some extensive work on the bluff to stabilize the hillside. An added benefit of doing this work, is that we have a much-improved view of the lake!

This summer, we will be adding new lighting in the Field Family Sanctuary designed to brighten up the Bimah for evening services and programs. The lighting will also make our Livestream broadcasts appear much clearer.

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DEVELOPMENT

Bonim/Builders Our largest annual donors, the income from the following three categories of our Bonim/Builders this year surpassed our annual budgeted goal and brought in nearly $400,000 of additional income to our operating budget. Their gifts encompass their Kol Nidre Appeal gifts and also, $1,500 of their donation is allocated to our Chesed Dues Campaign. We are most grateful to the following Bonim donors: RABBI’S CIRCLE ($25,000) Nina & Arnold Harris Penny & Jeffrey Hecktman Jan Gaines & Andy Kenoe

Karen & Mitchell Kopin Andrea & Kenneth Saffir Lynn & Skip Schrayer

Karyn & William Silverstein Tina & Joseph Wolf

Cheryl & Carey Cooper Barbara & Lawrence Field

Rochelle & Leonard Foxman

Cynthia & Joel Hirsch Barbara & Stuart Hochwert Ann Dee & Edward Holland Wendy & Daniel Kahn Karen & Michael Kesner Julie & Colman Kraff Barbara & David Lansing Janice & David Lasky Dawn & Steven Lavin Andrea & Benjamin Leshem Terri & Michael Lipsitz Jacqueline & Michael Melinger

Michelle Gooze-Miller & Adam Miller Marcie & Brad Pickard Karen & Richard Reisin Lisa & Jeff Rosenkranz Sara & Michael Sher Karen & Hal Sider Kathry & Josh Silvers Linda & Adrian Winick Sheri & Sherwin Zuckerman

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE ($18,000) Lisa & Jeffrey Aronin Gail & Andrew Brown B’YACHAD ($10,000) Anonymous Leslie & Greg Apter Eve & Richard Biller Joan & William Brodsky Sandra & Phillip Cooper Maryl & Medwin Dayan Ellen & Philip Glass Judy & Ari Golson Marilyn Hirsch & Gary Gordon Dr. Lisa Newman & Dr. David Gross

We are also grateful to the following members of our Double Dues and Sustainers categories of our Bonim annual donors that add over $20,000 of income into our annual operating budget: DOUBLE DUES ($7,200) Laura & James Schallman SUSTAINERS ($5,000)

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Cheryl & Ted Banks Jacqueline & Harvey Barnett Lois & Donald Chudacoff Kim & Eric Ephraim Nancy & Maury Fertig Nina & Mark Gaines

Selma Hoffman Sari & Mitch Kovitz Roberta & Jeffrey Kwall Francine & Mark Levy Karyn Lutz Marla Hand & James Nyeste

Susan & Marc Sacks Dawn Sidney & Gordon Schwartz Dr. David Wasserman Deborah & Adam Winick

DEVELOPMENT Ellen & Robert Doppelt Adrienne & Sanford z"l Eckerling Elise & Ira Frost Hilary & Allan Greenberg The Hecktman Family Jennifer & Josh Herz Ann Dee & Edward Holland Ruth & Malvin Kaufman and Family Sandra & Jacob Kiferbaum

We thank our most generous donors to our Vision 70 Campaign who helped us raise almost $6,000,000 to establish the Senior Rabbinic Chair in honor of Vernon H. Kurtz, the Physical Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Fund and the The Family Engagement Fund and Center.

Amudim – Pillars $1,000,000 The Zell Family Foundation Malachim – Angels $750,000 Given lovingly in honor of the memory of Eli & Dina Field by their grandchildren Machzikim – Leaders $250,000 Philip & Ellen Glass, Brad & Martha Glass Lynn & Skip Schrayer Shagririm – Ambassadors $100,000 Jeffrey & Lisa Aronin Eve & Richard Biller Cheryl & Carey Cooper and Family Barbara & Lawrence Field, Cynthia & Joseph Kaplan and Family Rochelle & Leonard Foxman Arnie & Nina Harris Barbara & Stuart Hochwert Kopin Family Tzedakah Fund Richard & Karen Reisin Karyn & Bill Silverstein The Winick Families Tina & Joseph Wolf Giborim – Heroes $50,000 Leslie & Greg Apter William & Joan Brodsky Calvin & Lana Eisenberg Nancy & Maury Fertig & Family Julia & Mark Gerstein Steve & Janice Hefter Family Foundation The Hochberg Family Dr. Colman & Julie Kraff Karen & Michael Kesner Mitchell & Sari Kovitz The Small/Mattenson Family Lori Stark & David Shapiro Karen B. Weiss Bonim – Builders $25,000 Wendy & Steve Abrams Ted & Cheryl Banks Harvey & Jackie Barnett Harriet Bernbaum Lenore & Melvin Blum Gail & Andrew Brown Lois & Donald Chudacoff Gordon & Carol Derman & Family

Bonim – Builders $25,000 Rabbi Vernon & Bryna Kurtz Lavin Foundation Andrea & Benjamin Leshem Gigi A. Cohen & Michael A. Levin and Family Mark S. & Francine Levy Karyn & Michael z"l Lutz Nissah Mattenson z"l The Nathan/Dorfman Families Myrna & Herb Natkin David Gross & Lisa Newman Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter Lisa & Jeff Rosenkranz Mally & Alan z"l Rutkoff Pamela & Richard Schlosberg Renee Hirsch & David Schwartz Phyllis & Sidney z"l Shalowitz Fran & Jonathan Sherman Marvin & Sara Siegel Margaret & Alan Silberman Miriam & Morton Steinberg Sheri & Sherwin Zuckerman $18,000–$24,999 Becky & Dan Blumenthal Marcie & Brad Pickard $10,000–$17,999 Keith & Barbara Bank and Family Annette & Gerald Blumberg Gail & Brian Boorstein Mr. & Mrs. Donald Chudacoff Phyllis Fischel & Family Michael & Joyce Fox Nina & Mark Gaines Jodi & David Gimbel Marilyn Hirsch & Gary Gordon Robin & Chuck Kafenshtok Louis & Barbara Kahn In memory of Howard Gordon Kaplan

by Kaplan Family Diane, Stephen, Amy and Allison Levin Michael & Terri Lipsitz Betsey & Dale Pinkert Jay B. Prystowsky & Renee L. Solomon Lori & Richard Rabinowitz Lya & Louis Rosenblum Howard & Lynne Schechter Susan & Lawrence Silberman Cheryl & Keith Weitzman Marc & Brenda Wilkow Richard Zelin & Judith Hirsch-Zelin $5,000–$9,999 Lynn & Arthur Cohen Linda & Wayne Goldstein Gwen & Scott Heyman Barbara & David Hoffman Rebecca & Brian Jacobson Estate of Aaron & Irma Kesner Arielle & Victor Levitan Erica & Zachary Lindon Jackie & Michael Melinger

Naomi Wexler & Greg Pestine Amy Zisook & David Rosen Rabbi Michael & Erica Schwab Ronnie Jo Sokol Rodney & Marilyn Slutzky Judy & Michael Smith Marianne K. & Stuart K. Taussig $1,000–$4,999 Anonymous Anonymous Jeffrey & Janice Aronoff Rabbi Ilana & Jeff Baden Judy & Stephen Berkeley and Family Sara & Greg Block Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Center Kim & Eric Ephraim Wendi & Michael Ezgur Judy & Gerry Farby The Fishbaum Family Rabbi Alex & Laura Freedman Lynn & Michael Froy Joan & Burton Grant Jared & Jordana Greenberg Ron & Eileen Goldberg Jeffrey, Stacy, Sawyer & Ellie Goldsmith Ellen & Larry Goldstein Steve & Debbie Graham Dr. Robert & Maxine Greenstein Todd & Melissa Halperin Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Jacobs JoAnn & Martin Jacobson Pearl & Joel Kagan and Family Gerry Kaplan Sharon & Allan Koltin Elizabeth Shapiro Kopin & Benjamin Kopin Professors Jeffrey & Roberta Kwall Wendy & Bill Lipsman Paulette & Ed Margulies Doris Mirman Wendy & Daniel Kahn James Nyeste & Marla Hand Sheila B. Olshansky Jane Pickus Marc & Devorah Richards The Ripes Family Betty Rozenfield Irene & Gary Savine Dawn Sidney & Gordon Schwartz Gloria Brooks Shapiro Alvin Shulman In memory of Rabbi Mordecai and Maxine Simon Judith & William Siskel In honor of Sam, our children and our Family David & Jenna Smiley Debby & Dale Strauss Mira & Darryl Temkin Irvina & Sherwyn Warren Up to $1,000 Ruth Belzer JoAnne Blumberg Andrea Goldstein Joan & Tom Green Gail Scully & Randall Iden Eliezer Krumbein Gerald Lapins z"l Abby & Edward Lasky Abe & Tziporah Rotbart Frances & Steve Shapiro Edith & Amos Turner Bruce Werner Larry Weiner

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EDUCATION STRUCTURE Ali Drumm, Director of Congregational Learning

Our new educational staffing structure has proved to be effective and supportive of partnerships in education throughout North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. Partnering our Gertrude Lederman Family Continuing Education department and the Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural Learning Center under the leadership of our Director of Lifelong Learning, Rachel Kamin, has been a boon to the work of adult engagement in our community.

Our Director of Youth and Family Engagement, Sarah Topal, has worked to build new partnerships with our Director of the Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School, Anna Besser, to bring holiday experiences to our Youth Community. Our Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Preschool thrives under the leadership of Kory Goldenberg and her team. Regular Education staff meetings under the guidance of our Director of Congregational Learning, Ali Drumm, contributed to growing partnership between all education departments, and we look forward to the future of education at Beth El. 10

JEWISH TEEN PROJECT Our Miriam and Bernard H. Sokol Hebrew High School’s Jewish Teen Project had 23 students this year and met for 19 sessions of learning and growth. Our social action project in December send over $650 worth of winter clothing to the Chicago Chesed Fund and 13 students met to socialize and shop for the items and felt great about their experiences. For next year we are participating in Hadar’s Maimonides Moot Court Competition and hopefully travelling to compete during spring break.

CHILDREN'S HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES Under the leadership of Debbie Fox, we were able to connect with our families: • 22 teachers and 26 teen leaders helped to make our services engaging for all ages • Registration was back up to pre-pandemic levels, especially taking into consideration our very popular outdoor Preschool Family Service and Outdoor Junior Congregation Family Service led by Hazzan Barbara Barnett and a team of talented educators.

• The new Family Service Mahzor that Hazzan Barnett produced guided our families on their High Holiday experiences • We continue to evaluate how to safely offer High Holiday programming, but look forward to continuing to offer outdoor services in the new backyard tent 11

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

JACK & MILDRED COHEN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Anna Besser, Director of the Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School At the Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School we are dedicated to meeting the educational, religious and social needs of our community. This year was a transitional year back into the classrooms. With 168 learners ranging from Ganon to Zayin, we worked on rebuilding classroom community, creating socialization opportunities and began addressing the diverse student learning needs while implementing COVID protocols to protect our school community.

CRS and Youth collaborated on holiday-based programs such as “Tishrei-Fest” and “It Would Have Been Enough.” For Tishrei-Fest, 2nd-7th Graders learned about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah through age-appropriate stations such as what it means to miss the mark, building a kosher LEGO sukkot, creating a skit for modern-day Ushpizin, making an edible Torah and more. For “It Would Have Been Enough” the 2nd-7th Graders came together to make matzah, do a plague taste-testing, collaborate on building a basket that would float (with limited materials), played jeopardy and enjoyed the always-popular Chocolate Seder! We look forward to more collaborations in the coming year to engage the CRS and Day School communities together. Our students participated in grade-specific Shabbat experiences led by Hazzan Barnett and the CRS teachers. Kol HaKavod to our students for leading Shabbat services and for reading Torah this year. Our Sixth grade class continues to participate in the international competition a family-roots project, My Family Story.

Our students got more involved with Social Action. We created Thanksgiving-themed projects that were added to each family’s basket as part of the synagogue-wide Thanksgiving Mitzvah program. CRS then teamed up with Families Helping Families to do a winter-clothing drive, create weekend fun kits and assemble journal kits for families in need as part of the annual Beth El Mitzvah Day. To bring our school community together, we held in-person and zoom events. We began the year with our annual Ice-Cream Social, gathered virtually for the annual Challah Bake and came back together to close out the year with our End of Year Bash.

Thank you to our incredible teaching staff for successfully navigating this school year. We can’t wait for next year!

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PRE-SCHOOL

THE PAUL S. & SYLVIA STEINBERG PRESCHOOL Kory Goldenberg, Director of the Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Preschool

The 2021-2022 school year at the Paul S. & Sylvia Steinberg Preschool was a success!

We sought to provide a safe environment in which children could grow and play, learn and build community. And, with the help of the incredible Medical Task Force at Beth El, we were able to navigate the daily roller-coaster of COVID-19 by putting new systems in place. We are grateful to have partnered with the Medical Task Force, our pre-school teachers and our pre-school families to work toward this common goal of safety.

Although COVID-19 continued to challenge us, our school got back to the business of providing a meaningful Jewish early childhood education to the children in our preschool.

The teachers provided provocations to inspire curiosity and encouraged the children to explore. And the children came to school each day ready to play, to socialize and to learn.

As a program rooted in Jewish values, some of our favorite moments in the pre-school included celebrating the holidays with the Beth El Clergy. Each week, our children brought in Shabbat with Rabbi Schwab, Rabbi Freedman and Hazzan Sandler and our 3’s & 4’s began each week with Havdallah with Hazzan Sandler. We were thrilled to have had Rabbi Freedman take time with each child to read Torah on Simchat Torah and watch the children stand in awe as Rabbi Schwab lead a beautiful Bedikat Chametz ceremony this Pesach.

With four 2’s classes this coming Fall, our school is growing and we are excited to welcome our newest Steinberg Preschool families.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION Rachel Kamin, Director of Lifelong Learning GERTRUDE LEDERMAN FAMILY CONTINUING EDUCATION Under the leadership of Rachel Kamin, Director of Lifelong Learning and Marcie Eskin, Librarian/Education Coordinator with support from Sandy Starkman and the Continuing Education Committee, participation in adult education at NSS Beth El continues to climb.

Over 425 lifelong learners have engaged with our regular continuing education and Sisterhood Torah Fund classes, as well as through special programs and events with guest speakers, scholars, and teachers like Sara Efrat Efron, David Goldenberg, Gil Hoffman, Rabbi Adina Lewittes, Rebecca Minkus-Lieberman, Dan Schwartz, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, and others.

From Hebrew, prayer and Jewish text to Jewish news and modern Jewish thinkers, plus online learning opportunities through Melton, ScholarStream, and the Schechter Institute, a vast array of education opportunities were offered this year in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings, both in-person, on Zoom, an in a hybrid format.

Of the 25 students (ages 37-91) who participated in Hazzan Barbara Barnett’s two Adult Cantillation classes in the fall and winter, 21 have read Torah, or are scheduled to read, during Shabbat, weekday, and/or holiday services at Beth El. 14 students also participated in the Advanced Torah Tropes & Tricks class with Phil Barnett this winter. These classes, in partnership with the Team Torah initiative, have encouraged more congregants to become Torah readers and engage with Tefilot in a new way.

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JOSEPH AND MAE GRAY CULTURAL & LEARNING CENTER Rachel Kamin received the 2021 Fanny Goldstein Merit Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries in recognition of her loyal and ongoing contributions to the profession of Jewish librarianship. Additionally, our library was selected by the Association of Jewish Libraries to be featured as one of the first seven institutions on the Donna and Richard Harris Jewish Libraries, Archives, and Collections Around the World Portal highlighting the breadth, depth, beauty, and history of Judaica collections all over the world. We are one of only two synagogues included.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Over 100 people participated in the uber-popular Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club, discussing new Jewish literature with Rachel Kamin and meeting award-winning authors like Rachel Beanland, Dan Grunfeld, Joshua Henkin, Yaniv Iczkovits and his translator Orr Scharff, Lori Banov Kaufmann, and Riva Lehrer both on Zoom and in-person. Book Club members joined with Cohen Religious School and day school students, parents, and grandparents for the All-of-a-Kind Family Book Club with historian Alexandra Dunietz and Jo Taylor Marshall, author Sydney Taylor’s daughter. As one Schechter parent wrote after the program: “I’ve been meaning to email up to tell you how much we enjoyed the family book club. I read the book aloud and the boys were eager to finish it... I learned so much at the actual event — I had never heard of the book and didn’t even realize it was autobiographical until the historical lecture. A winning experience!”

Rachel Kamin and Marcie Eskin conducted 115 Library visits with the Cohen Religious School students (grades Pre-K–7th) and 62 storytimes for the Steinberg Preschool classes during the 2021-2022 school year. We received the following e-feedback from parents: “My daughter brought the funniest book home from Beth El today, Bubbe and Bart’s Matzah Ball Mayhem by Bonnie Grubman. She read it to me in the car on the way home from Hebrew School. She described the funny illustrations, she analyzed the plot, she asked about new vocabulary. It really is a great book but the experience is 100 times better. Thank you for working with the Gimmel class today and for making learning come to life.”

“Library is Tyler’s favorite part of the week at preschool! He told everyone in our extended family about library during our Seder!”

The 2022 Used Book Sale was a smashing success bringing in over $1800 (the 2nd highest Used Book Sale ever!) We donated 60+ boxes of books to Open Books, a Chicago-based nonprofit social venture that provides literacy experiences for tens of thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and the creative capitalization of books. We also contributed children’s books to the Gratitude Generation project as part of Mitzvah Day. 25 volunteers helped set-up, staff, and close-down the Book Sale.

Over 250 new books were added to the library collection this year. The total holdings are 21,741 volumes, making NSS Beth El one of the largest Judaic libraries in the state!

RISSMAN KOL AMI MUSEUM COLLECTION Four exhibits were on display in our museum gallery this year: Ancient Echoes: The Art of Dikla Laor and the Antiquities Collection of Fran and Bernie Alpert, Art @ the Heart of Social Justice: An Artist Beit Midrash Exhibition, Sabbath Lights, and Out of the Narrows: Art from a New Haggadah by the Jewish Artists Collective Chicago.

The Sabbath Lights exhibit featured lamps, candlesticks, candelabras, and other artwork from our collection as well as items on loan from Beth El members Ellen and Donald Lavin. All of the 3-year-old and 4-year-old Steinberg preschool classes, as well as all of the Cohen Religious School classes (Ganon-Zayin), visited the exhibit to read the book Under the Sabbath Lamp by Michael Herman which tells the story of a judenstern that is almost identical to the one from our collection.

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YOUTH

YOUTH DEPARTMENT Sarah Topal, Director of Youth and Family Engagement Under the leadership of Rebecca Jacobson, the Youth Community at Beth El continued to create memorable programs throughout the year. From holiday celebrations, fundraising programs, and social events, this year was full of incredible activities and new friendships.

Our BEANS USY 2021-2022 Executive Board included President Rose Miller, Membership/ Kadima VP Ari Jacobson, Communications VP Mia Feinberg, Freshman Representatives Lorelai Lindon and David Pickard, and our past President and CHUSY President Nathan Spellberg.

We saw a return of in-person programs and brought back some BEANS USY Favorite events: • Over 20 teens joined for the dessert hop around downtown Chicago • More than 10 new teens joined for programs ranging from Escape Rooms to bowling For our 2nd-8th graders we saw growth in the number of kids participating in events, created opportunities to collaborate with the Cohen Religious School as well as the larger Chicago Jewish community and have created a strong cohort of kids who are eager to get involved in the upcoming year.

FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN Under the leadership of Amy Yaffe and Marty Wasserman, we were able to offer large scale programming of all types: • Backyard Picnic-families joined together at the beginning of the school year to enjoy dinner and welcome in Shabbat as a group out in the backyard • Sukkot Jeans and Jammies and Countdown to Summer Jeans and Jammies-over 40 families joined each program in person as we celebrated Shabbat under the tent and handed out giveaways, snacks and fostered new friendships.

• We created special bags for Tu B’Shevat, collaborated with the Steinberg Preschool on programs and welcomed in new families.

Tot Shabbat continued throughout the year (moving indoors when the weather grew colder) and continued to see new families get involved and begin to attend regularly.

We grew our Tot Shabbat leading staff, with Ellie Goldsmith continuing to lead as well as Randi Heichman and Addysen Gross. We also began to reach out and provide meals to families with new babies as a touchpoint to welcome their little one into the community and form new relationships.

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CIRCLE OF LIFE CATERING

Laura Frankel, Chef, Director of Hospitality and Catering Highlights from 2021–2022: • We began in person events this year with boxed dinners, individually wrapped foods and "tapas style" portions in mini containers.

• Daniela Magnifico has been added to the team. Daniela will be giving tours to potential clients for events. She will be aiding in event planning, keeping track of food cost allocation and client contact.

• We added back in-person kiddush after TO-GO kiddush was employed. In-person kiddush has been successful with small containers of food being served. This measure helps prevent clusters of people at a buffet. People can just grab what they want and step away from the table.

It has been one of my goals and passions to start GREEN initiatives at Beth El and to that end have done the following: • We have paper cups that are made from recycled paper that is non-bleached. Previously we used foam and plastic.

• Non-bleached parchment paper is used to cook on, as bleach paper gives off-gasses into the food and into the water system during manufacturing.

• We recycle cans, glass and cardboard in the kitchen and we have just added blue recycling bins to be used in the Blumberg for any plastic bottles and paper.

• I have eliminated soybean oil from the kitchen as it is a GMO product and not good for the congregants. Extra virgin olive oil tastes better and is a cleaner product.

• We use bio-based cleaners for the floor and surfaces in the kitchen and have eliminated all harsh chemicals.

• Almost all Shabbat meals are either biodegradable or recyclable, including the plastic covers that go on the aluminum foil containers. Some of the packaging materials used are made with sugar cane and have starch lids that are biodegradable.

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HAZZAN

SETTING THE BAR FOR HOLIDAYS AND MUSIC PROGRAMMING Hazzan Jacob Sandler This was my first year as Hazzan at Beth El and we accomplished a lot of exciting things.

One of my unique strengths is being a “Ruach Generator” and I felt like four holidays really stood out when it comes to fun, lively programming. Simchat Torah we were able to pivot as Covid made its Delta variant comeback, and had a well-attended, joyful set of Hakafot in the parking lot. There was ice cream, dancing, singing and so many children running around. After all the intensity of High Holidays, I believe we provided a much needed release and a great time was had by all. Chanukah was also a huge hit as we welcomed Six13 for two exceptional concerts! The family concert was engaging, interactive and impressive, while the adult-focused community concert was greatly entertaining as well. Purim after 2 years of Covid, felt like a return to almost normal. With the help of fellow newbie and cinematographer-extraordinaire Daniela Magnifico, Beth El joined the ranks of Netflix and Hulu with our own streaming platform. The first ‘spiel’ in years was intentionally covidflexible, and brought together regulars, adults, teens, and staff to create surprisingly professional quality videos and some top notch humor. Then Yom HaAtzma’ut brought another amazing sense of celebration as we ate, schmoozed, sang and danced all in a tight 90 minutes. It was a whirlwind, a workout and I saw a lot of smiles (and smiling eyes) on my way to minyan that evening.

In addition to Six13, the Music Committee was able to bring in Israeli Superstar Achinoam Nini AKA NOA. She was fabulous, and despite the challenges of advertising during the Omicron resurgence of Covid, we managed to have a decent sized crowd. Noa noted our incredible hospitality and warmth which is a testament to Beth El and our amazing team of lay leaders who set up her and her musical collaborator Gil Dor’s dressing rooms, took care of their meals, and ensured that she and Gil had all they needed to put on the excellent show we got to enjoy. It was a great year for music and holidays.

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RITUAL

RITUAL HIGHLIGHTS Hazzan Barbara Barnett, Ritual Director Spiritually engaging all our members through embracing rituals, participating in worship and drawing closer to Torah are key to creating a rich and meaningful religious life at NSS Beth El. Collaborative efforts between ritual and formal and informal education have given families with elementary school children, as well as adults, opportunities to continue to ritually engage and grow spiritually. These efforts have new initiatives this past year: Team Torah and the Team Torah 100 Reader Challenge The Baal Korei Institute was re-imagined and rebranded as Team Torah with the goal of engaging as many teens and adults (and Junior Congregation children) in reading Torah as possible and providing training, coaching and classes for those who want to improve their skills or learn the art of chanting Torah.

Team Torah set out a lofty goal of finding 100 unique Torah readers to chant Torah at least one time over the year 5782. Each time a person read Torah for the first time during the year, that person received a specially designed Team Torah frosted cookie, and the name added to the “tote board” outside the sanctuary.

Team Torah’s goal of 100 readers was met in January. A new goal of 120 was set and that was reached in April! Now the sky’s the limit (and there’s still time to get in on the cookies for 5782!) Among the nearly 150 NSS Beth El members who have read Torah through the month of May, we’ve had more than 100 adults and more than 40 teenagers! The program has been so successful that the plan is to continue during 5783 with a new challenge.

Part of the initiative was to train more adult Torah readers, and to that end, the synagogue offered two series of adult Torah reading classes (and an “advanced class” as well). The classes produced more than 15 new Torah readers (and some who’ve read, but not for decades).

Intergenerational High Holiday Services In collaboration with the Education team, we held intergenerational family High Holiday services for families with children in second through sixth grade. Services were held for both mornings of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur Ne’ilah. The services were held outside under the tent with each serving as many as 160 We created a brand new machzor that is both comprehensive and inviting for adults and children of all ages.

Likrat Shabbat Again, in collaboration with the Education team, we initiated a brand new Friday night service, Likrat Shabbat, held monthly it is meant for families with children of all ages, but targeted at the families of 2nd through 6th grade.

Daily Minyan Daily minyan has slowly been moving back to its in-person format (but always with a Zoom option) in its beautiful setting in the Sager Beit Midrash. The Zoom format for our daily minyan continues to be a strong community for those days we are exclusively on Zoom and a great comfort and connection for those who “tune in” to the our in-person days.

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HAZAK

HAZAK HAZAK Caring Community Continues to Support Members The HAZAK Caring Community continued to support members throughout the year in various ways. While many were able to get out and do for themselves, our volunteers still made calls to provide friendship and make sure that members were aware of all that was going on in our Beth El Community.

HAZAK continued to provide Shabbat Dinners, delivered by our friendly volunteers as well as meals for Rosh Hashanah, Break the Fast, Thanksgiving and Pesach. Gift bags were delivered to members residing in Senior Living Communities for Hanukkah, Purim and Pesach. Their holidays were definitely made more special knowing that Beth El was thinking of them.

A Zoom Bingo was offered and some of our Senior Members participated. A few even had grandchildren participating with them. Linda Clark and Mary Ellen Bowers called the Bingo and distributed prizes to the winners!

When members had a higher need, services were provided. The Social Service Agency, Faith In Action, and CJE were brought in to provide additional support for a few of our members. Meal Trains were set up for members recuperating from hospitalizations or procedures and the generous Beth El Community signed up to deliver meals and drive people to appointments.

Our Bikkur Cholim Committee made sure to send Refuah Shlemah cards when alerted that a member was ill. The caring clergy made calls, visited members in the hospital, nursing facilities and their homes. HAZAK also arranged a visiting schedule for a member while in Rehab.

HAZAK is so appreciative to have been left a Ner Tamid Legacy Gift by the Leonard and Diane Sherman Family Foundation. This will be used to provide even more support and programming in the coming year. Various members continue to make donations to the HAZAK Fund, allowing the HAZAK Caring Community to carry on these much needed and appreciated services throughout the year.

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MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT Judy Berkeley, Membership and Development Director

MEMBERSHIP We welcome the following 42 new members and their families to our Beth El community!

Mara & Joshua Berman

Sylvie Nemetz Burstein & Ben Burstein

Sara & Richard Brener

Ari Nemetz Harriet & Jeffrey Nemetz

and their children Peri, Kara, and Jesse and their child Reuben

Danielle Voloshin & Benjamin Bronner Nicole & David Brown and their children Beau, Jace, and Summer

Sarah Ford & Daniel Channon Wendy & Ben Chiswick and their child Maya

Terri & Darrien Cohen

and their children Joshua, Gabrielle, and Allyssa

Annie & Zach Edelheit Lael Edelstein Barbara Freeman Marni Futterman & Evan Meyers and their children Jordan and Naomi

and their children Shane and Stella

and their child Zoe

Megan Michael & Adam Patinkin Jody & Sanford Perl

and their children David, Hannah, and Lauren

Naomi & Matthew Pierce

and their children Mia, Micah, and Ella

Amy Rubinoff & Ricky Bortz Heidi Sachs & Richard Maletsky

and their children David, Max, and Hannah

Rory Breslin-Sani & Sepehr Sani and their children Tristan and Isabelle

Hillary & Michael Savitt Lexi & Brad Schneider

Allyson & Samuel Goldman

and their children Corey and Remi

and their child Sam Jacob

David & Susan Sherman

Ellie Goone & Jordan Bender Lindsey & Michael Gruby

and their children Adeline, Jacob, Eli, Gordie, and Ned

Samantha & Yonatan Silverman

and their children Benjamin and Jacob

and their children Elan and Noa

Randi Heichman

Julie Mednick-Simmons & Russell Simmons

Vered & Jeremy Kaufman

Ilana & Adam Spector

Catherine & Dan Kirsche

Julia Gekhter & Paul Tack (Anne) Ruth & Mitchell Taxy Margalit Tocher & Jordan Feiger

and her child Adam

and their children Julian, Jonah, and Coral and their children Cat Emmet and Ziva

Joshua Lerner

and his child Eliana

Dana Levin & Aaron Zell Susan Livingstone Emily & Scott Nasatir

and their children Daniel, Eli, and Talia

and their children Elliot, Harvey, and Maxwell

and their children Penelope, Julian, and Kaiden

Leslie Cohen & Ethan Zallik Maxine & Rommie Zats

and their children Levi and Auren

and their children Leo and Abner 29

MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT Judy Berkeley, Membership and Development Director “Torah is a gift from G-d and those who came before us.” – RABBI MICHAEL SCHWAB

MITZVAH 613 PROJECT Dear Friends, It is with joy that we invite you to share in a new endeavor for North Suburban Synagogue Beth El – the scribing of a new Torah scroll.

The final commandment or “mitzvah” in the Torah, number 613, is for every Jew to write a Torah. This past Yom Kippur, Rabbi Schwab explained, “Torah is ‘etz hayim hee’ - it is the tree of life for those who hold fast to it. Torah represents the foundation of our religious tradition. And, you can personally fulfill the last mitzvah in the Torah – to write a sefer Torah for yourself.”

Through this project, now called Mitzvah 613, the opportunity to carry out this mitzvah is open to all of our members. Reflecting the words of Maimonides, “Even if he participates in one letter, it is as if he had written the entire Torah,” the Mitzvah 613 project will bring us to the highest level of involvement we can achieve to enact this final mitzvah of the Torah.

NSS Beth El’s newest Torah scroll is being created in Israel with a professional Sofer - scribe - who will spend the next year writing the Torah for our community.

Once a Torah section is almost complete, the Sofer will come to our synagogue so that our members, along with their loved ones, can each share in the sacred moment when letters are set down on the parchment of Beth El’s newest Torah.

Our grand opening ceremony took place on Sunday, May 22, 2022, and our closing celebration will be one year later, on Sunday, May 21, 2023. In conjunction with

the completion of the Torah, we will celebrate Rabbi Schwab’s 18th year at Beth El, Rabbi Freedman’s fifth year, as well as Beth El and Israel’s 75th anniversaries.

Throughout the year to come, we will be learning and sharing meaningful experiences together that enhance our love for community and Torah.

Writing a Torah is a lasting legacy, the truest expression of L’Dor V’Dor – “from generation to generation” – as the Torah we create this year will physically be in the hands of future NSS Beth El generations. As members and supporters of this congregation, we invite you to participate in Mitzvah 613 by considering the variety of donor opportunities available. Whether your children and grandchildren donate $6.13 at the L’Dor V’Dor level, and/or you give as a Guardian or Visionary of the Torah, we welcome any and all of your family’s participation in this most exciting project in the life of NSS Beth El. For more information or questions about Mitzvah 613, contact Judy Berkeley, Membership & Development Director at (312) 720-0045 or mitzvah613@nssbethel. org. Proceeds from Mitzvah 613 will not only be used to fund the new Torah, but help us grow our Ritual Fund, and provide the dollars necessary to completely renovate and enhance our Education Wing. This will ensure that Beth El remains a thriving center of worship and community of lifelong learners for years to come.

With much appreciation and gratitude, Wendy & Steve Abrams Mitzvah 613 Project Co-chairs

Education Wing Capital Improvements Over the next several years, we plan to completely renovate our Education Wing by modernizing the classrooms, hallways, offices, and bathrooms. Each classroom will receive state-of-the-art technology including Smart Boards, computers, video conferencing and new furniture to enhance group learning and participation. Our goal is to ensure that our education wing remains an appealing and attractive place for children and adult learners of all ages and for generations to come.

Ritual Fund 30

The Ritual Fund will be used for Torah refurbishments and maintenance, as well as the purchase of various ritual items which are meaningful to the congregation. This includes items such as weekly siddurim, upgraded Yahrzeit boards, an Omer counter and page number boards for the Sager Beit Midrash, etc.

DEVELOPMENT

Thank you to our Mitzvah 613 Donors who have already pledged commitments in the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year: Visionary of the Torah $250,000 Andrea & Kenneth Saffir Chai Guardian of the Torah $180,000 Joan & William Brodsky Guardian of the Torah $100,000 Rochelle & Leanord Foxman Nina & Arnold Harris Dr. Laurie & Andrew Hochberg Ann Dee & Edward Holland Karen & William Silverstein Scholar of the Torah $36,000 – $99,999 Wendy & Steve Abrams Gail & Andrew Brown Cheryl & Carey Cooper Maryl & Medwin Dayan Barbara & Stuart Hochwert Julie & Colman Kraff Champion of the Torah $18,000 – $35,999 Mally Rutkoff Nina & Mark Gaines, Sarah & Matthew Gaines and Jill & David Friedman

Leader of the Torah $10,000 – $17,999 Nancy & Maury Fertig June Back Frydman Karen & Michael Kesner Leslie & Jonathan Kind Stephen Levin Helaine & Howard Resnick Harriet & Joey Resnick; Rachel & Ron Cooper Roberta & Leonard Tenner Matthew Zell Family Foundation Keeper of the Torah $5,000 – $9,999 Sam & Jayme Besser Annette & Gerald Blumberg Drs. Carol & Gordon Derman Calvin Eisenberg Kim & Eric Ephraim Judy & Gerald Farby Mindy & Jeffrey Gordon Marla & Terry Grossberg Lois Lourie & Michael Gurtman Gwen & Scott Heyman Ruth & Malvin Kaufman Roberta & Jeffrey Kwall Jane & Scott Lederman Gigi Cohen & Michael Levin Jackie & Michael Melinger Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter Renee Hirsch & David Schwartz Dawn Sidney & Gordon Schwartz Beth & Ben Shapiro Margaret & Alan Silberman Judy & Michael Smith Leslye & Brian Whittman

Friend of the Torah $613 – $4,999 Cheryl & Theodore Banks Barbara Berger Judy & Stephen Berkeley Leah & Jori Brajer Honey & Daniel Bronson Mary & Benjamin Channon Ellen & Yehuda and Joe Cohen Marla & Mark Cohen Elizabeth & David Copeland Jennifer & Dr. Todd Deutch Linda & Steven Feinstein Elise & Ira Frost Lynn & Michael Froy Leah & Dr. Adi Gidron Eileen & Ronald Goldberg Ellen & Larry Goldstein Gail & Bruce Greenspahn Marlene & Seth Halpern Suzanne & Donald Horwitz Carly & Jefford Humes Julie Isaacson Brenda & David Jackson Margorie & Jeffrey Jacobs Rebecca & Brian Jacobson Pearl & Joel Kagan Chuck Kahalnik Franci & Michael Kind Rachel Kraft Ellen & Aaron Krumbein Bryna & Rabbi Vernon Kurtz Barbara & David Lansing Sandra & Mark Levin Marcy & Kenneth Levin Bonnie Lipton Amanda & Golan Mor Barbara & Alan Newman Marla Hand & James Nyeste Jane Pickus Betsey & Dale Pinkert Devorah & Marc Richards Gloria Brooks-Shapiro Janice & Richard Small Stephanie & Michael Smerling Jenna & David Smiley Lawrence Weiner Judy & David Weiss Karen Weiss Judy Hirsch-Zelin & Richard Zelin L'Dor Va'Dor $6.13 – $612 Joyce Kamen & Ben Abraham Dana & Joshua Atlas Sharon & Paul Bilow Aliza Block Melissa & Phillip Block Elyse & Randall Block

Lisa Bookstein & Ken Bloom Linda Clark Carole & Stanton Derdiger Doreen & Philip Feitelberg Laura & Rabbi Alex Freedman Marcy & Robert Freeman Allene Frost Jodi & David Gimbel Mary Ellen Bowers & Larry Goldsmith Stacy & Jeffrey Goldsmith Eileen & Paul Goldstein Stephanie & Jordan Goldstein Roberta & Robert Goodman Howard Gorin Felicia Gross Debby & Ron Hahamy Raye & Sheldon Isenberg Joyce Joseph Mary & Dr. Jerome Kaltman Joyce Kamen Marlene Kaplan Ellen & Mark Kardon Betsy & Michael Katz Nancy & Harold Krent Abby & Ed Lasky Janet & Larry Lederman Arlene Levin Susan & Michael Millenson Jodie & Mark Mosk Allison & Adam Nemirow Michelle & Josh Newman Romy Block & Adam Posner Renee Solomon & Jay Prystowsky Ronit & Daniel Ripes Vivian & Louis Rosen Debbi & Ira Rosenberg David Rosenberg Abe Rotbart Carol & Robert Ruderman Jennifer & Paul Schmidt Rabbi Ora & Dr. David Schnitzer Shira & Jeremy Schwartz Frances & Steven Shapiro Jan Ellen Shawgo Timna & Steven Sheffey Cindy Shekhtman Jodie & Mark Silberman Susan & Lawrence Silberman Judy & Stephen Smiley Ronnie Jo Sokol Madeleine & David Solomon Mira & Darryl Temkin Janice & Marvin Temple Rebecca & Noah Weininger Herman Wexler Ronnie & Roger Wilk Lesley & Jeremy Wynes

We are accepting gifts throughout the fiscal year 2022-2023. For more information on how to donate, get involved and sign up to participate, please contact Judy Berkeley, Membership & Development Director at 312-720-0045 or jberkeley@nssbethel.org or mitzvah613@nssbethel.org.

PROJECT CO-CHAIRS

Wendy & Steve Abrams CEREMONY CO-CHAIRS

Mally Rutkoff Jordana & Jared Greenberg EDUCATION CO-CHAIRS

Jenna & David Smiley Audra Kaplan & Alan Spellberg

FUNDRAISING CO-CHAIRS

Nina & Mark Gaines Jill & David Friedman Sarah & Matt Gaines

MARKETING CO-CHAIRS:

Ellen & Aaron Krumbein Irene Savine TORAH WRITING CO-CHAIRS:

Leah & Jori Brajer Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter

ADVISORS

Marla Grossberg VP RITUAL

Stuart Hochwert

PRESIDENT, NSS BETH EL

Jackie Melinger

VP DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING

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Annual Donors – Chesed Dues The Chesed Dues Program invites members to voluntarily contribute additional dues amounts in accordance with their means, to help others in need of financial assistance.

Participants who contribute $250 or more, are recognized on our Annual Donors board which hangs outside the sanctuary. The categories of participation are: Benefactor – over $1,500 Guarantor – $1,000 to $1,499 Donor – $750 to $999

Patron – $500 to $749 Sustainer – $250 to $499

We are pleased to report that we surpassed our Chesed dues budgetary goal this year of raising $100,000 by over 10% thanks to our generous 2021-2022 Chesed Dues Donors: Rabbi's Circle, President's Circle and B'Yachad annual memberships each include a contribution of $1,500 to Chesed Dues.

Please see page 8 for the complete listing of these donors.

Benefactor – Over $1,500 Wendy & Steven Abrams Benjamin Cohen Drs. Carol & Gordon Derman Lana & Calvin Eisenberg Nikki & Dan Newman Robyn Morgenstern & Dr. Sami Rosenblatt Rosenblatt Margaret & Alan Silberman Robin & David Small Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter Nadine & Dr. Melvin Woldenberg Guarantor – $1,000-$1,499 Sally Aaron Karen & Scott Bieber Harry Feiger Linda & Wayne Goldstein Mally Rutkoff Erica & Rabbi Michael Schwab Roberta & Len Tenner Donor – $750-$999 Jacqueline & Harvey Barnett Joyce & David Dlugie Mildred Lidov JoEllen & Robert Lidov

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Patron – $500-$749 Donna & Mark Chudacoff Paula & Ronald Domsky Donna & Martin Field Elise & Ira Frost Robin & Charles Kafenshtok Barbara & Louis Kahn Adrienne & Steven Naumann Rochelle & Earl Rubinoff Marilyn & Rodney Slutzky Jenna & Dr. David Smiley Cheryl & Keith Weitzman Deborah & Adam Winick

Sustainer – $250-$499 Rabbi Ilana & Jeffrey Baden Cheryl & Theodore Banks Judy & Stephen Berkeley Susan & Myron Block Lisa Bookstein & Ken Bloom Gloria Brooks-Shapiro Linda Clark Sara & Steve Coven Carole & Stanton Derdiger Kim & Eric Ephraim Linda & Steven Feinstein Nancy & Maury Fertig Beth & Robert Footlik Eileen & Ronald Goldberg Roberta & Robert Goldman Ellen & Larry Goldstein Gail & Bruce Greenspahn Marla & Terry Grossberg Dr. Joel Klein Myrna Kopin Rachel Kraft Adrienne & Gerald Lasin Sheldon Lavin Anne McDonagh & David Fishbaum Phyllis & Dr. Fred Nathan Debora & Michael Pinzur Sandra Raizes Devorah & Marc Richards Rebecca & Chad Richman Deborah & Ira Rosenberg Rabbi Ora & Dr. David Schnitzer Renee Hirsch & David Schwartz Francine & Jonathan Sherman James Stempel Marianne & Stuart Taussig Lawrence Weiner Carol & Stephen Weiss

Under $250 Miriam Ament Babs Balson Elyse & Randall Block Rabbi Burton Cohen Julie Dann & Bradley Schneider Judy & Gerald Farby Michael Feld Ruth Fischer Lynn & Michael Froy Raye & Sheldon Isenberg Eileen & Dov Kahana Peggy Kaz Mary & Dr. Jerome Kaltman Gerry Kaplan Allen Katz Eliezer Krumbein Ann Luban Tracy Madansky Richard Magid Katherine Mitzenmacher Barbara & Alan Newman Jack Richter Avrom Simon Craig Slaw Diane & Loren Weil

Kol Nidre Appeal Leviticus chapter 23 says in part: The Lord said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the Lord by fire.”

Since the destruction of the Temple, we no longer offer animal sacrifices. Instead we offer our sincere repentance; acts of loving kindness; and charitable gifts – Tzedakah. The second part of the commandment is to make an offering. A Kol Nidre gift to the synagogue is a wonderful offering which fulfills the mitzvah. No matter whether you give to fulfill the Mitzvah, or to give thanks for God’s blessings, or for reasons of your own, we are truly grateful.

We are pleased to report that we surpassed our budgeted goal of raising $150,000 from our Kol Nidre Appeal this year and raised nearly $200,000 thanks to our 2021-2022 Kol Nidre Appeal Donors: All Rabbi's Circle, President's Circle and B'Yachad annual memberships include a contribution to the Kol Nidre Appeal.

Please see page 8 for the complete listing of these donors.

$5,000 - $9,999 Hilary & Gidon Cohen Phyllis Fischel Rochelle & Leonard Foxman Laurie & Andrew Hochberg Dr. David Wasserman $1,000-$4,999 Wendy & Steven Abrams Frances Alpert Lenore Blum Gila Bronner & Dr. Craig Deligdish Ramona Choos Lois & Donald Chudacoff Gail Cooper Ellen & Robert Doppelt Donna & Martin Field Leah & Adi Dr Gidron Jodi & David Gimbel Nami & David Goldenberg June & Richard Gross Marla & Terry Grossberg Sheila & Joseph Gutman Marla Hand & James Nyeste Brenda & David Jackson Cynthia & Joseph Kaplan Ruth & Mal Kaufman Beth and Dr. Jeffrey Kopin Roberta & Jeffrey Kwall Suzanne & Dr. Mark Lampert Sheldon Lavin Felicia & Raphael Lerner Sandra & Mark Levin Cohen Gigi & Michael Levin Karyn Lutz Myrna & Herbert Natkin Hella & Eli Okman Sheila Olshansky

Drs. Leslie & Peter Oshin Alisa & Louis Paster Danielle & Jonathan Pearl Pamela & Barry Pearl Sheryl & Daniel Perlman Nicole & Steven Putzel Lori & Richard Rabinowitz Harriet & Joseph Resnick Robyn Morgenstern Rosenblatt & Dr. Sami Rosenblatt Richard Rosenfield Mally Rutkoff Drs. Rebecca & Loren Schechter Lloyd & Natalie Shefsky Heather & Benjamin Sher Marcy & Marc Simon Jenna & Dr. David Smiley Audra Kaplan & Alan Spellberg Melissa & Marc Spellman Howard Swibel Roberta & Leonard Tenner Brenda & Marc Wilkow Deborah & Adam Winick Nadine & Richard Woldenberg Amy & Jonathan Yaffe Michael Zaransky $500- $999 Sharon & Robert Abrams Mindy & Howard Bain Babs Balson Jacqueline & Harvey Barnett Renee & Marvin Bearak Nancy & Richard Becker Jacalyn & Marc Birnbaum Iris & Robert Center Donna & Mark Chudacoff Lynn & Arthur Cohen

Carole & Stanton Derdiger Drs. Carol & Gordon Derman Myra & Lawrence Dorf Francine & David Ephraim Ellen & Joel Erlichman Harry Feiger Linda & Steven Feinstein Rachel & Matt Field Nancy & Maury Fertig Elise & Ira Frost Skip Frost Mindy & Jeffrey Gordon Hilary & Allan Greenberg Gail & Bruce Greenspahn Marlene & Seth Halpern Sue & Larry Hochberg Barbara & David Hoffman Melanie & Brian Hoffman Suzanne & Donald Horwitz Marjorie & Dr. Jeffrey Jacobs Robin & Charles Kafenshtok Barbara & Louis Kahn Franci & Michael Kind Rachel Kraft Adrienne & Gerld Lasin Jane & Scott Lederman Sherry & Bradley Levin Samantha & Jeffrey Lichtman Nancy & Sheldon Mann Donalee & Norman Markus Robin & David Nankin Barbara & Alan Newman Nikki & Dan Newman Heidi & Shayle Patzik Jamie Glass-Pestine and Matthew Pestine Betsey & Dale Pinkert Natalie & Reid Poll

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Kol Nidre Appeal $500- $999 Susan & Mark Pollack Dr. Romy Block-Posner & Dr. Adam Posner Julie Dann & Brad Schneider Michelle & James Seidenberg Shelley Kreiter Solow & Sheldon Solow Harriett & Thomas Stiller Marianne & Stuart Taussig Danielle & Brian Weinstein Jennifer & Michael Wirth

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$499 and Under Sally Aaron Laurel & Barry Abramowicz Sally & Paul Arnold Janice & Jeffrey Estelle Asherton Melanie Axelrod Rabbi Ilana and Jeffrey Baden Cheryl & Theodore Banks Corrine & Laurence Baskin Julie & David Baum Elinor & Alvin Bayliss Sandra Becker Alex Behar Arlene Benjamin Karen & Dr. David Benson Barbara Berger Atalie Berger-Finer & Moshe Berger Judith & Z. Samuel Bernstein Adriane Bernstein Barbara & Nathan Birnberg Susan Birnberg Linda & Ronald Bliwas Sara & Gregory Block Phillip Block Abby & Lawrence Block Susan & Myron Block Elyse & Randall Block Lisa Bookstein & Ken Bloom Annette & Gerald Blumberg JoAnne Blumberg Benjamin Blumberg Paula Blumberg Leah & Jori Brajer Wendy & Nathan Braverman Even & Ronald Bremen Gloria Brooks-Shapiro Maureen & Scott Chaikin Jan & Brian Channon Ellen & Yehuda Cohen Marla & Mark Cohen Rabbi Burton Cohen Sue Cohen

Terri & Darien Cohen Elizabeth & David Copeland Judith & Arthur Coren Bruce Cowans Talia & Aryeh Derman Becky Levine & Benjamin Derman Yael Derman Karen & Robert Dishner Joyce & David Dlugie Roslyn Dobkin Judith & Steven Dolins Rachel & Dr. Marc Dorfman Reva Dreebin Aliza & Michael Drumm Lael Edelstein Lana & Calvin Eisenberg Kim & Eric Ephraim Judy & Gerald Farby Eve & Bradley Feinberg Drs. Ellyn & Michael Feinzimer Doreen & Philip Feitelberg Barbara & Michael Feldman Annette Feller Rachel & Leonard Ferber Nan & Dr. Marc Fine Bonie Sporn & Ben Fine Rochelle & Dr. James Fisch Ruth Fischer Judy & David Fivel Beth & Robert Footlik Deborah & Joseph Fox Nessia Frank Penina Frankel Marcy & Robert Freeman Barbara Friedman Jill & David Friedman Merle Friedman Bonnie & James Frisch Lynn & Michael Froy Nina & Mark Gaines Alan Gandelman Adrienne Garland Katherine & Larry Garland Iris & William Garmisa Ruth Geiderman Julia & Mark Gerstein Joyce & Melvyn Gerstein Amy & Craig Gerstein Sharon & William Gertz Phyllis Gimpel Leslie & Adam Glazer Susan & Steven Glover Eileen & Ronald Goldberg Sharon & Harris Goldenberg Renee & Eugene Goldfarb Roberta & Robert Goldman

Stacy & Jeffrey Goldsmith Linda & Wayne Goldstein Karyn Goldstein Ellen & Larry Goldstein Andrea Goldstein Stephanie & Dr. Jordan Goldstein Eileen & Paul Goldstein Nancy & Daniel Gooze Terri & Thomas Gordon Erin & Jonathan Gordon Barbara Gottesman Harriet & Armin Gottfried Linda & Leon Gottlieb Marjorie & Jonathan Graham Andrea & Joshua Graham Elizabeth Graham Joan & Burton Grant Avrum Gray Laura & Matthew Gray Joan & Thomas Green Jordana & Dr. Jared Greenberg Rachel & Jonathan Greenberg Marilyn & Samuel Greenberg Susan & David Greenberg Orna & Gary Greenman Maxine & Robert Greenstein Lori & Daniel Gross Alice Gross Elizabeth & Simon Halfin Adrienne & Marvin Heiman Dvora Heller Tracey & Anton Hendler Alye & Adam Hersh Gwen & Scott Heyman Pamela & David Hirschfield Michelle & Jack Hirschfield Racquel Hochwert Linda & Michael Hope Debra & Joel Hymen Julie Isaacson Raye & Sheldon Isenberg Fern Jacobson Dr. Rebecca & Brian Jacobson Joyce & Donald Joseph Robin & Marc Joseph Eileen & Dov Kahaha Mary & Dr. Jerome Kaltman Sharon Kaltman Krystyna & Arnold Kamen Joyce Kamen & Ben Abraham Sandi Kaplan Marlene Kaplan Gerry Kaplin Marcia & Alan Kaplin Ellen Solomon & Mark Kardon Dr. Betsy & Michael Katz

Kol Nidre Appeal Drs. Ronit & Ian Katznelson Laura & Scott Kaufman Wendy & Stephen Kaufman Merle & Dr. Gary Kaufman Judith Kaufman Leslie & Jonathan Kind Wendy Kleper Lila & Richard Kohn Marlene & Sherwin Konik Myrna Kopin Minde & Robert Korman Lionel Kramer Debra & Barry Kravitz Edythe & Mitchell Kreiter Nancy & Harold Krent Ellen & Aaron Krumbein Eliezer Krumbein Ruth Kupchick Linda & Dr. Stuart Kupfer Bryna & Rabbi Vernon Kurtz Phyllis & Philip Lapin Ellen & Steven Lasin Carol & Philip Lazarus Amy & James Lederer Janet & Larry Lederman Teri Leibowitz Hermine & Michael Leiderman Cathy Lemm Marcy & Kenneth Levin Sara Levin Betty Ann Levin Laurie & Robert Levin Arlene Levin Rhoda Levinson Nancy & Arnold Levinson Drs. Arielle & Victor Levitan Marilyn Lewis Annette Lidawer & Robert Rubin Mildred Lidov Laura & Mark Lieberman Wendy & William Lipsman Bonnie Lipton Barby & William Loeb Samantha Orbach & Jason Loeb Karen & Richard Long Daniel & Jacqueline Lotzoff Linda & Irwin Magad Rinna & Eric Maletsky Erika & Daniel Marder Susan Margolis Paulette & Edward Margulies Terri & Bruce Mason Sallye & David Mason Marline Massarik Alison Kamen & Michael McElwee Robynn & Keith Medansky

Susan & Michael Millenson Judith Miller Bonnie Barest & Gary Miller Susan & Robert Millner Laura & Michael Minkus Katherine Mitzenmacher Michael Mizel Lois Moss Ellen Multack Drina & Michael Nadler Sharon & Steven Narrod Adam & Debra Natenshon Abigail & Louis Natenshon Phyllis & Dr. Fred Nathan Adan & Allison Nemirow Michelle & Dr. Josh Newman Ronna & Stephen Nitekman Elaine & Jeffrey Oberlander Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter Shari Paset Arlene Pass Jane Pickus Francine & Jeffrey Pine Debora & Michael Pinzur Shayna & Dennis Plankar Barbara Pollack Susan & William Posternack Janice & Wayne Prepura Renee & Dr. Jay Prystowsky Frances & Joel Rabinowitz Debra Rade Sandra Raizes Pamela & John Redfield Caren & Martin Redish Sydelle & Robert Reich Hilda Reingold Basia & Joel Retsky Devorah & Marc Richards Rebecca & Chad Richman Jack Richer Ronit & Daniel Ripes Allyson & Mark Rose Amy Zisook & David Rosen Vivian & Louis Rosen Herbert Rosen Deborah & Ira Rosenberg Marissa & Dr. Jonathan Rosenberg Dr. Michael J. Rosenberg Dr. Michael S. Rosenberg Louis Rosenblum Anne & Elliot Rossen Marcia & Jeff Rubin Rochelle & Earl Rubinoff Carol & Dr. Robert Ruderman Rachel & Alan Russo Phyllis & Michael Sadoff

Barbara & Michael Salberg Sari Salinas Alison & Micah Sapoznick Ina & Morrie Schaffer Adrienne & Fred Schaye Reena Schiffman Lilach & Carl Schrag Renee Hirsch & David Schwartz Dawn Sidney & Gordon Schwartz Marsha & Michael Schwartz Shira & Jeremy Schwartz Marlene & Stuart Senescu Irene & Samuel Shanes Lori Stark & David Shapiro Patricia Shapiro Cindy Shekhtman Francine & Jonathan Sherman Debbie & Stuart Shiner Alvin Shulman Sara & Marvin Siegel Samantha & Nick Siegel Myrna & Shael Siegel Barbara Siegel & Joseph Friedman Susan & Lawrence Silberman Debbie Silver Lawrence Silverman Merle Simkin Edie & Alfred Simons Beth & Jorge Singman Judith & William Siskel Marilyn & Rodney Slutzky Jacqueline Schwartz & Charles Slutzky Sheila & Michael Small Stephanie & Michael Smerling Judy & Stephen Smiley Michelle Wasserman & David Smith Judy & Michael Smith Ronnie Jo Sokol Marlene & Cary Sokolec Susan & Elliot Solomon Judith & Harry Solomon Albert Speisman Joyce Chams-Spitz & James Spitz Miriam & Morton Steinberg Joyce Steinhardt Carol & James Stempel Mayer Stiebel Sandra & Benton Strauss Deborah & Dale Strauss Gail Taxy Mira & Darryl Temkin Janice & Marvin Temple Gail & Joel Tenner Nicole & Eugene Terry Lisa & Jeffrey Trotter

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Kol Nidre Appeal $499 and Under Howard Turner z"l Edith & Amos Turner Lisa & Todd Warren Tami & Reuben Warshawsky Jennifer & Martin Wasserman Andrea & Sandy Weber Millie Weber

Diane & Loren Weil Lawrence Weiner Eleanor Weininger Rebecca & Noah Weininger Marilyn Weinstein Marsha & Robert Weinstein Carol & Stephen Weiss Karen Weiss

Judith & Rabbi David Weiss Lynn Weitz Herman Wexler Jacqueline & David Wolle Pearl Zaid Frances Lee Zand & Pendri Shalem Judith Hirsch-Zelin & Richard Zelin

Ner Tamid Society N KI TO

DL

ET

N AL LY

‫תנ‬ ‫להעל ר תמיד‬ HE LAMP E T

ER

The North Suburban Synagogue Beth El Ner Tamid Society is a recognition society that honors those who have included North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in their wills or estate plans. The Ner Tamid — the Eternal Light – symbolizes the continuity of the Jewish people.

So too, Ner Tamid Society members leave a legacy for the future by providing for the financial security of the synagogue, the center of Jewish life. We are most grateful for our Ner Tamid Society members: Sally Aaron Wendy & Steven Abrams Frances Alpert Rabbi Ilana & Jeffrey Baden Jacqueline & Harvey Barnett Nancy & Richard Becker Karen & Scott Bieber Barbara Blumberg Annette & Gerald Blumberg JoAnne Blumberg Joan & William Brodsky Gail & Andrew Brown Ramona Choos Sara & Steve Coven Bruce Cowans Deborah Cowans Lana & Calvin Eisenberg Wendi & Michael Ezgur Nancy & Maury Fertig Ira & Elise Frost Nina & Mark Gaines Ellen & Phillip Glass Eileen & Ronald Goldberg 36

Stacy & Jeffrey Goldsmith Mary Ellen Bowers & Larry Goldsmith Gwen & Scott Heyman Cynthia & Joel Hirsch Barbara & Stuart Hochwert Helene & Herbert Isaacs Ellen & Harvey Jacobson Pearl & Joel Kagan Karen & Michael Kesner Beth & Dr. Jeffrey Kopin Roberta & Jeffrey Kwall Jane & Scott Lederman Gigi Cohen & Michael Levin Arielle & Victor Levitan Mildred Lidov Kathryn & Manny Marczak Michelle Gooze-Miller & Adam Miller Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter Amy Zisook & David Rosen Lisa & Jeff Rosenkranz Mally Rutkoff

Pamela & Richard Schlosberg Lynn & Skip Schrayer Erica & Rabbi Michael Schwab Phyllis Shalowitz Leonard Sherman Sara & Marvin Siegel Susan & Lawrence Silberman Rebecca & Gregg Simon Marilyn & Rodney Slutzky Mae Spitz Miriam & Morton Steinberg Mayer Stiebel Sandra & Benton Strauss Mira & Darryl Temkin Roberta & Leonard Tenner Millie Weber Karen Weiss Carol & Stephen Weiss Edward Weitz Roberta & Richard Wexler Jeffrey Wohlstadter Pendri Shalem & Frances Lee Zand Judith Hirsch-Zelin & Richard Zelin

FINANCIAL INFORMATION YEAR ENDING 6/30/2022

17% Fundraising

14% PPP/ERC

INCOME BREAKDOWN 6% Endowment

TOTAL INCOME $5,593,671 DUES $2,100,426 FUNDRAISING $956,791 PROGRAMS/EDUCATION $1,433,082 PPP/ERC $788,974

26% Programs/Education

38% Dues

EXPENSE BREAKDOWN

ENDOWMENT $314,398

12% Facility

TOTAL EXPENSES $4,622,986 CLERGY/ADMINISTRATION $2,064,357 EDUCATION PROGRAMS/ SERVICES $1,993,461 FACILITY $565,168 43% Education Programs/Services 45% Clergy/Administration

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The Executive Officers, Board of Trustees and Board of Directors, 2021-2022 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Stuart Hochwert President

Dana Atlas

Vice President Membership

Mary Channon

Vice President Education

Derek Faust

Financial Secretary

Mark Gaines

Vice President Administration

Marla Grossberg

Vice President Ritual

Michael Levin Secretary

Erica Lindon

Vice President Education

Jackie Melinger

Vice President Development & Fundraising

Brad Pickard Treasurer

Holly Reinsdorf

Vice President Programming

Gordon Schwartz Financial Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Melissa Block JoAnne Blumberg Stephanie Blumberg Leah Brajer Benjamin Channon Medwin Dayan Kim Ephraim Deborah Fox Robert Freeman Riffi Glick Dan Gross

Nami Goldenberg Jordana Greenberg Melissa Halperin Jack Hirschfield Sulie Holt Rebecca Jacobson Audra Kaplan Ellen Krumbein Linda Kupfer Ellen Lavin Larry Lederman

Michelle Leon Arielle Levitan Jacqueline Lotzof Jonathan Pearl Matthew Pestine Debra Rade Basia Retsky Ronit Ripes Irene Savine Pamela Schlosberg Steve Sheffey

Richard Small Jenna Smiley David Smith Sandy Starkman Marty Wasserman Rebecca Weininger Karen Weiss Tina Wolf Amy Yaffe Jonathan Yaffe

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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Ron Goldberg, Chair Steve Abrams Gerald Blumberg Andrew Brown Gerald Buckman Ramona Choos Benjamin Cohen Ruth Fischer Allene Frost

Caryn Garber Larry Goldstein Daniel Hoseman Herbert Isaacs Pearl Kagan Michael Katz Karen Kesner Jeffrey Kopin Eliezer Krumbein

Kenneth Levin Marilyn Lewis Larry Pachter Ira Rosenberg Lisa Rosenkranz Richard Schlosberg Lynn Schrayer Rodney Slutzky Mae Spitz

Sandy Starkman Morton Steinberg Darryl Temkin Leonard Tenner Lawrence Weiner Jeffrey Wohlstadter Richard Zelin

The Staff of NSS Beth El 2021-2022 Rabbi Michael Schwab Rabbi Alex Freedman Hazzan Jacob Sandler Jeff Baden

Executive Director

Hazzan Barbara Barnett Ritual Director

Anna Besser

Laura Frankel

Chef, Director of Hospitality and Catering

Kathy Stinson

Events and Operations Manager

Ana Igornov

Director of the Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School

Clergy Executive Assistant

Kory Goldenberg

Phyllis Levun–Agostino

Director of the Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Preschool

Aliza Drumm

Director of Congregational Learning

Sarah Topal

Director of Youth and Family Engagement

Rachel Kamin

Director of Lifelong Learning

Judy Berkeley

Director of Development and Membership

Abe Rotbart

Educational Assistant

Michele Friedland

Assistant Director of the Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Preschool

Daniela Magnifico

Administrative Assistant of Communications and Circle of Life

Rayna Forman

Administrative Assistant of the Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School

Marcie Eskin

Librarian/Education Coordinator

Elise Kline

Director of Finance

Office Administration/Communications Associate/Accounts Payable

Abby Lasky

John Patrascu

Director of Communications

Facilities Manager

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