Jan_Feb 2018 Kol Beth El Newsletter by Abby Silver Lasky

Kol Beth El T E V E T- A DA R 5 7 7 8

JAN/FEB 2018

NSSBE: More Accessible, Welcoming and Inclusive

By Rabbi Michael Schwab and The Accessibility and Inclusion Committee

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Shabbat Schedule....................2 President’s Corner...................3 Teacher Spotlight.....................4 Informal Education..................5 Sisterhood.................................6 Gift Shop...................................7 Men’s Club................................8 Hazzan Tisser ...........................9 History Corner..........................9 Youth Community....................10 Education..................................11 Communications......................11 Social Action.............................12 Todah Rabbah..........................13 January Calendar......................19 February Calendar...................20 Development ...........................21 Events at a Glance....................22 All in the Beth El Family...........24

In the Torah portion, Netzavim, the Torah depicts a covenantal moment with the generation of Israelites who are about to enter the Promised Land. Carefully and explicitly, naming various segments of society, it shares that every member of our people was to be present for that moment, every member of society was to be included equally in the covenant. And this ancient Jewish value is just as important today as it was then. That is precisely why I want to dedicate my column this month to an article written by NSS Beth El’s Accessibility and Inclusion Committee: February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month. Beth El has been dedicated to becoming a more accessible and inclusive community for close to a decade. Currently, the NSSBE Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion is a robust group of thirteen congregants and four staff members, co-chaired by Audra Kaplan and Rachel Ferber. Their mission is to help Beth El become a more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive community, by sensitizing the synagogue membership to the needs of congregants with differing abilities and by reducing barriers that exist to each member’s participation. Our philosophy is to consider every aspect of our community – physical facilities, education programs, tefillah, social acitivities and the attitudes of congregants and lay leaders – to create a comprehensive blueprint for change to allow people with disabilities and their families to participate comfortably and fully at Beth El. Our religious schools were the first places to be made more inclusive and accessible to students with disabilities. The Cal and

Lana Eisenberg Halomdim Program created a resource room to support children with learning differences and/or social challenges. It offers shadow teachers, 1-to-1 instruction and summer tutoring. In addition, we employ an education specialist to support our initiatives. The Cohen Religious School and Sokol Hebrew High School teachers are trained to accommodate and facilitate learning for all students and there is a system in place to support B’nei Mitzvah students who need additional assitance or different teaching styles to prepare them for their B’nei Mitzvah. Beth El collaborated with Cantor Steven Stoehr of Congregation Beth Shalom, who had recently started HUGS (Healthy, Understanding, Growing, Spaces), to help expand HUGS, with the goal of providing ritual programming for children and adults with special needs and their families. HUGS now includes 13 north suburban Conservative and Reform congregations and hosts services and programs throughout the year. In 2015, Rabbi Schwab became the chair of JUF’s Synagogue Federation Commission. He established Accessibility and Inclusion continued on page 7

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 1

Sunday through Thursday Evenings 7:30 pm Sunday and Legal Holiday Mornings, 8:45 am Rosh Hodesh Mornings, 7:00 am Services are conducted by: Rabbi Vernon H. Kurtz Rabbi Michael Schwab Hazzan Benjamin A. Tisser

Every Shabbat 10:45 B’Yachad Family Service Services for families with children 1st grade and younger 11:00 am Junior Congregation Services for students in 2nd - 6th grade

January 6

Parashat Shemot Torah: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6 – 28:13; 29:22 – 29:23

January 13

February

Monday through Friday Mornings, 7:15 am

See calendars on pages 19-20 for times.

January

Daily Service

Shabbat Schedule

Parashat Va’era Birchat HaHodesh Torah: Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25 – 29:21

January 20

Parashat Bo Torah: Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13 – 46:28

January 27

Parashat Beshalach Shabbat Shira Torah: Exodus 13:17 – 17:16 Haftarah: Judges 4:4 – 5:31

February 3

Parashat Yitro Torah: Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1 – 7:6; 9:5 – 9:6

February 10

Parashat Mishpatim Shabbat Shekalim Birchat HaHodesh Torah: Exodus 21:1 – 24:18 Maftir: Exodus 30:11 - 16 Haftarah: II Kings 12:1 – 12:17

February 17

Parashat Terumah Torah: Exodus 25:1 – 27:19 Haftarah: I Kings 5:26 – 6:13

February 24

Parashat Tetzaveh Shabbat Zachor Torah: Exodus 27:20 – 30:10 Haftarah: I Samuel 15:2 – 15:34 Maftir: Deuteronomy 25:17 – 19

Recent Happenings at Beth El

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson

Lego Jerusalem Event 2 |

Grandparents and Special Friends Shabbat

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Thanksgiving Mitzvah Project

Spertus Author Event with Renee Rosen

Keeper of the Flame Dinner

President’s Corner

By Richard Zelin, NSS Beth El President

he synagogue’s 70th anniversary celebrations are off to a wonderful start. On October 22, more than 350 Beth El members attended our 70th Anniversary Kick-Off Event. Participants enjoyed a buffet lunch and were entertained by a professional juggler and DJ. Everyone who attended the event received a free t-shirt, and posed for a group photo in the Field Sanctuary. On November 4 we welcomed acclaimed Israeli artist Bat Ella as we celebrated 70 Years of Israeli Song. Over the course of the evening we sang, danced, laughed, reminisced, and schepped nachas from children of our Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School. This first concert was a wonderful way to kick off the programming year! Looking ahead, on the weekend of January 19-20 we will, for our third year, host a major A Cappella concert. This year, we are pleased to partner with the Cantors Assembly in presenting the finalist concert and awards ceremony of Ilu FInu: The Jewish Collegiate A Cappella Songwriting Competition, co-chaired by Hazzan Tisser. We hope to see you at this exciting event; purchase your tickets at http://ilufinu.bpt.me, or call Ana in the synagogue office. To close, I would like to welcome two new members of Beth El’s staff:

Hanukkah Party

Beth B

Artists Beit Midrash Opening

Beth B

Judy Berkeley joined us in September as our new Director of Development. Judy comes to us with vast development experience in the Jewish community, including the United Jewish Communities, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and Am Shalom Synagogue in Glencoe. Judy received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and a double Master’s Degree in Jewish Communal Services and Social Work from Hebrew Union College and the University of Southern California. Judy grew up in Glencoe, where she now resides with her husband Stephen and four children; Benjamin (14), Becca (12), Joseph (9) and Matty (8). Abby Lasky joined us in October as our new Director of Communications. Abby’s background is in graphic design and digital communications. Prior to working at Beth El, Abby handled all of the print and communications for a small private school in Northbrook. Previous to that position, she had her own freelance graphic design business. Abby received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and also attended University of Wisconsin in Madison. Abby grew up in Farmington, Michigan, and now lives in Northbrook with her husband Ed and three children, Daniel (20), Samantha (17) and Jenna (17). We are delighted to have them as part of the team and look forward to their valuable contributions.

70th Kick-off Event

Afternoon @ the Movies

Bat Ella Concert

Celebrating 70 years at Beth El JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 3

Spotlight

Stacy Daybook, Winner of The Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Award By Abby Lasky, Director of Communications

he Cohen Religious School is blessed to have Stacy Daybook as our Eisenberg Halomdim coordinator. Our Halomdim Program has been thoughtfully designed to add additional flexibility and support for students who may need additional help, or who may wish to have more enrichment and an expanded learning opportunity. Beth El is thrilled that she has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Hartman Foundation Educator of the Year Award. She could not be more deserving. Stacy was born and raised in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. The youngest of five children, her parents instilled in her a love of family, friends, and Torah. Everyone took care of each other in her close-knit neighborhood. Her family was known for taking in stray dogs and cats, taking neighbors to doctors appointments, helping them with child care, cooking, grocery shopping, etc. These core values of her childhood shaped the type of teacher she would became. From a very young age, Stacy knew she wanted to be a teacher. Her older brother Steven had significant special needs. She remembers often helping him with school work and protecting him from the cruel treatment of bullies. Another factor that drove her to teach was her niece. Stacy recalls, “I was eleven years old when my niece, Sari was born. She

was profoundly hearing impaired. It became my personal mission to care for her and teach her.” She received her education at Northeastern Illinois University with a double major in Elementary and Special Education. While earning her degree, she taught pre-school at the JCC. She is also a certified American Sign Language interpreter. Most recently, she earned a degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and works part time as a behavior therapist. Stacy was nominated for the Hartman Foundation Educator of the Year by her principal and several parents at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School where she also works. The Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago established the Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Awards, which recognize outstanding educators in the ATT system. In a culmination of a thorough evaluation process, one award of $18,000 and two awards of $6,000 each are presented to

outstanding and innovative education professionals at the ATT’s annual banquet. When asked what she did when she found out that she had won the top award, she replied: “I honestly didn’t expect to win! The foundation awards three winners out of hundreds and hundreds of teachers, so when I was told I won first place, I literally almost passed out! It was incredible! I just started crying and saying ‘Oh my goodness,’ over and over again. Then reality set in and I said, ‘Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, what am I going to wear to the award banquet!’” Stacy received her award on November 19th. We are so proud to be able to have her share her teaching gifts with our students here at Beth El.

70th Youth Community Reunion

Bar Mitzvah Congratulations!

Zachary Katznelson, For the whole story, see Youth Community on page 10! 4 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

son of Ronit and Ian Katznelson Shabbat, February 24

Informal Education

Technology Changes, But Values Stay the Same

By Ali Drumm, Director of Informal Education

he other day my first grader lost his first tooth. He had mixed emotions because he actually lost it, and wasn’t able to show it off to us properly. (I think that’s what he was worried about.) Then unexpectedly he asked my husband, “Can you take a picture and post it on Facebook?” Wow. I would have told you with absolute certainty that my son didn’t yet understand social media or anything about it. I think I can’t really say that now. Our children are truly digital natives, growing up creating and sharing as well as consuming digital content. They are “part of the content-on-demand, everyone-is-a-producer” generation. Even my first grader, who records himself and his friends on an app that emails videos out to all the parents in his class. But as author Devorah Heitner says, we don’t want to confuse digital proficiency with digital citizenship. The Jewish values of showing respect for everyone, life balance, good relationships and good reputation, remain regardless of changing technology or whether we are in

the digital world or face-to-face. In pursuit of offering parents a toolbox to continue to be mentors to their children regardless of their own digital proficiency in the latest app or program, we offer a mini-course called Raising Good Digital Citizens. Through three free events this winter, we will tackle the topic through a screening of the documentary Screenagers, reading Heitner’s book Screenwise, and sharing together in our open-to-all Jewish Parenting Havurah. We know that to truly engage on this topic we will need to have many sessions with our children and their parents, as well as for children in a peer environment. We begin with this frame because we want to give adults the skills to approach their family environment. Please turn to pages 22 -23 for more details about these upcoming programs.

Celebrating Jewish Books

By Rachel Kamin, Gray Cultural and Learning Center Director

or the past several years, Library Journal, the most trusted and respected publication for the general library community, has asked me to contribute an article in celebration of Jewish Book Month. This year, in honor of Israel’s 70th birthday, I focused on Israeli fiction recently translated into English. Below is an excerpt from the article about new novels by the “first wave” of Israeli writers. Go to http://reviews.libraryjournal.com and search “Israel in Fiction” to read the entire article. Modern Hebrew literature was first developed in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but by the 1930s, its center had shifted to the Jewish community in Palestine. These three authors of recently published novels especially helped to shape Israeli literary identity: Aharon Appelfeld, Amos Oz, and A.B. Yehoshua.

The Man Who Never Stopped Sleeping by Aharon Appelfeld A survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, Appelfeld has built a body of work that examines the tragedy of the Holocaust and its effects on the Jewish experience. His newest work tells the story of a young survivor who travels from a refugee camp to a kibbutz in Haifa, to begin a new life.

Judas by Amos Oz Oz is an iconic cultural figure and one of the most celebrated writers in Israel; his work has been published in more than 40 languages. Short-listed for the 2017 Man Booker International Prize, this novel follows a young man who falls in love with a troubled woman and uncovers her family’s tragic and traitorous role in the founding of Israel. The Extra by A.B. Yehoshua One of Israel’s preeminent writers continues to reflect on Jewish identity in Israel as well as the changing makeup of the Israeli family. After the death of her father, Noga returns from the Netherlands to Jerusalem, where she finds work playing roles as an extra and is forced to confront her ex-husband. All of these books, as well as previous works by these authors, are available in our Maxwell Abbell Library. E-mail rkamin@nssbethel.org or call 847/926-7902 to reserve a copy. Please turn to pages 22 -23 to learn about upcoming programs from the Gray Cultural and Learning center.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 5

Sisterhood

Sisterhood’s Spring Conference, Supporting Our Troops and More Rachel Ferber, Mary Ellen Bowers-Goldsmith, and Karen Weiss, Sisterhood Co-Presidents

Shalom and Happy 2018!

his year Women’s League for Conservative Judaism celebrates its hundredth anniversary, sharing the Torah Fund theme, Mah Tovu - how goodly are your tents . . . O Israel! I hope these are the first words that come to our minds when we recall the many women who read Torah, chanted Haftorah, and led prayers on Sisterhood Shabbat on November 18, and whenever we enter Beth El, particularly this year as we celebrate our congregation’s 70th anniversary.

Sunday, April 22 - 24

Central Great Lakes Region’s Spring Conference It is a great honor for our Sisterhood to host Spring Conference this year. In addition to celebrating the Valued Volunteers of the Central Great Lakes Region during dinner on Sunday night, April 22, we will also install our new Region Officers and Board of Directors on Monday night, April 23. We hope many of our Sisterhood members will help us with planning the conference as well as attending it. Attendance is free!

On behalf of NS Beth El Sisterhood and Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, we want to thank the following congregants for their recent gifts to Torah Fund.

To volunteer to help with Spring Conference, contact Rachel Ferber at (847) 835-6201 or rachel.ferber@att.net.

Beth Footlik, Allene Frost, Linda

Purim 5778 is February 28

The spirit of “sisterhood” and the mission of Women’s League enhance the lives of each of our members.

Mah Tovu, how goodly, that we celebrate Beth El’s and the State of Israel’s 70th anniversaries. Mah Tovu, how goodly that we begin this celebratory year together, sharing and enhancing the lives of all Conservative/Masorti Jewish women throughout North America.

Elinor Bayliss, Joan Behrmann, Mary Ellen Bowers, Adrienne Eckerling, Judy Falk, Rachel Ferber, Ruth Fischer, Lori Flignor, Gottlieb, Marla Hand, Marilyn Hirsch, Joyce Joseph, Barbara Kahn, Joyce Kamen, Rachel Kamin, Karen Kesner, Ellen Lavin, Marsha Levin, Marilyn Lewis, Cara Madansky, Mira Mendlovitz, Judith Miller,

Mah Tovu, how goodly, that we are celebrating the contributions and impact of our Sisterhood. Mah Tovu, how goodly, that 2018 is Women’s League’s 100th year anniversary.

TODAH RABBAH

Darlene Nast, James Nyeste, Selena Pestine, Fran Rabinowitz, Extend the mitzvah of Mishloach Manot to our US Jewish soldiers here and worldwide. In lieu of sending Mishloach Manot to a loved one, friends or members of our Beth El community, purchase a Purim Card and help support the purchase of Mishloach Manot for a US Jewish soldier through KosherTroops.com. Sisterhood will send an acknowledgement of your donation to those you choose to honor. Options: Single cards: $5 each; Beth El Clergy and Staff Groups - $18 for 1 Group; $30 for 2; $45 for 3; $54 for 4. Look for order forms in the Beth El office, sanctuary lobby and Gift Shop. If you have any questions, contact Mary Ellen Bowers at (847) 910-1080 or eyerishmar@comcast.net.

Karen Reisin, Richard Schlosberg, Pam Schlosberg, Leah Toby Schwartz, Caryn Sedloff, Timna Sheffey, Sandy Starkman, Ruth Stern, Sandra Strauss, Merle Tovian, Karen Weiss, Judith Weiss, and Alex Wolf. Your generosity really makes a positive difference to the Jewish adults studying to become the future rabbis, cantors, educators, and scholars who will serve as the gifted leaders and innovators of the Conservative movement. Thank you again for your support.

All are invited to attend the Sisterhood Board meeting on Tuesday, February 6 in the Natkin Seminar Room at 7:00pm. 6 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Creating Opportunities: Our Commitment to Hiddur Mitzvah Pam Schlosberg, Sulie Holt, and Diane Levin, Gift Shop Co-chairs

s your resource for beautiful Judaica and gifts, the Gift Shop is filled with opportunities for revitalizing and sustaining traditions in your home and community. We wrap every mitzvah opportunity in the spirit of hiddur mitzvah, which literally means,“the beatification of a mitzvah.” The concept of hiddur mitzvah challenges us to not simply follow a mitzvah’s directive with proficiency, but to raise the bar and perform the mitzvah with intention, purpose, and thoughtfulness. There are instructions for fulfilling the mitzvah; for example we are told when to light Shabbat candles and how to light the menorah at Hanukkah. Hiddur mitzvah encourages us to be aware of the beauty surrounding the mitzvah as well. What we do, and how we do it is important. We at the Gift Shop are always ready to help you enhance each traditional mitzvah. Perhaps you can look at your mezuzah case. It holds and protects the small parchment scroll with the verses of the Sh’ma. Affixed to our doorposts it

mezuzah case in our Gift Shop comes with a kosher mezuzah. This means that the mezuzah (k’laf) is hand-lettered on parchment by a highly skilled and qualified scribe. The shape of the letters, their spacing, and even the small crowns that adorn the top of the letters meet precise and very detailed specifications.

stands as a silent witness to our lives and a visual reminder that this is a Jewish home. It’s a beautiful tradition whose origin is traced to a passage found twice in the Torah: “And you shall write them on the doorposts of thy house and upon thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:20). We have a wide array of mezuzah cases for you to see: magnificent hand-polished stone cases; delicate metal work designs; graceful Rosenthal pieces; richly color-infused works by Emanuel; and whimsical sports-focused cases. Every

If even one letter of a mezuzah is missing, cracked, or imperfectly written, the mezuzah is not valid. So when inserted into the mezuzah case, the scroll isn’t permanently sealed. This enables you to inspect the scroll twice in seven years for any damage. If you need to replace a scroll, we have kosher replacements! We invite you to stop by and see our mezuzah cases and unique Judaica. Hours: Sundays – 9:00AM to 1:00PM; Tuesdays – 10:00AM to 12:00PM. By appointment: Sulie Holt - (847) 5583389; Diane Levin (847) 571-5629; or Pam Schlosberg - ( 847) 433-754.

Inclusion Continued from page 1 for People with Disabilities as the main goal of the commission. Using a grant from JUF to perform an assessment of the status of inclusion in Chicagoland synagogues, a year-long training program was initiated with eight congregations to support and enhance their work in their own synagogues regarding accessibility and inclusion. Members of Beth El’s Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion participated in this training. Our committee continues to work with Tammy Bessar, a JCFS consultant who specializes in providing services to people with disabilities.

Midrash has a ramp up to the bimah, designated space for wheelchairs, and a wheelchair accessible reader’s table and ark. Through our Hazak Senior Life group, we have a program to provide rides to our events for those who don’t drive and we offer valet parking at major events and during the High Holidays.

The Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion is highly focused on the accessibility of our facilities. We are proud to report that our main entrances and hallways are ADA compliant and we have ADA compliant restrooms and a gender-neutral bathroom. The Sager Beit

We are also keenly aware of where we need to improve accessibility within our building and are excited that physical accessibility is one of the pillars of Beth El’s VISION 70: The 70th Anniversary Campaign. Building an ADA compliant ramp to access the bimah in the Field

Family Sanctuary is our first priority, followed by ADA compliant access to the Sokol Hebrew High School, the Zell and the Youth Lounge. To raise awareness of the Committee’s work and goals, there will be a congregational meeting on February 11, 2018 from 10:30am – 12 Noon in the Blumberg auditorium. Please come and meet the members of the Committee, learn more about what we are currently working on and tell us what barriers may exist to your participation. Light refreshments and babysitting will be available. This is an ongoing journey of discovery and response to become more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 7

Men’s Club

A Perfect Toast to Our Beloved Rabbi Kurtz By MIra Temkin

t was a combination “Roast” and “Toast” as the North Suburban Synagogue Beth El Men’s Club came together to honor Rabbi Vernon Kurtz on Sunday, December 3 at their annual “Keeper of the Flame” dinner. Attended by more than 250 congregants and friends, everyone enjoyed a fabulous dairy dinner, with thanks to Avram Pachter and the Circle of Life Catering. Aaron Krumbein lauded Rabbi Kurtz with a huge gift basket of his favorite ketchup and potato chips, while other members gave tribute to the rabbi’s many numerous contributions to the Men’s Club. Among the speakers were Richard Zelin (NSS Beth

Men’s Club Softball Team Let’s Play 2! Calling All Softball Players

ant to get in the game and be a part of a fun fraternal and charitable activity? The NSS Beth El Men’s Club plays in the Synagogue Men’s Clubs 12 inch softball league with gloves.

El President) Marc Richards (Men’s Club President), Rob Freeman, Hazzan Tisser, Rabbi Schwab, Andy Brown, Bryna Kurtz and Chairman of the Event, Darryl Temkin, who also presented Rabbi Kurtz with the award. Ron

Goldberg serenaded Rabbi Kurtz with new verses of the original “Beth El Blues,” leaving the crowd laughing. It was a fun, memorable and perfect toast to our beloved Rabbi Kurtz and in celebration of the synagogue’s 70th year celebration.

During last year’s season, Beth El had 2 teams in the league playing against 10 other area synagogue men’s club teams. This year we are seeking more new players. There are a total of 10 games played on Sundays between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm in late April into early August. Be prepared for a competitive league, and be available to play for most

of the season. You must be a member of Men’s Club, or be willing to join - all are welcome. If you are interested, please contact Michael Salberg at (847) 831-0581 or mbsalberg@sbcglobal.net. Please turn to pages 22 -23 for more details about additional Men’s Club programs.

Men’s Club 2018 Man and Youth of the Year By Marc Richards, Men’s Club President

he NSS Beth El Men’s Club is inviting the entire congregation to the Man of the Year and Youth of the Year dinner award ceremony for the Midwest Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs on Sunday, March 11, 2018. Dinner starts at 4:30pm, at Congregation Beth Shalom, Northbrook. Please come and help celebrate the winners from the Beth El community, and those from other Men’s Clubs in the Chicago area. Registration for the dinner ($36 by Feb. 28) and information for placing a tribute ad in the program book can be found here: https://midwestregionfjmc.myshopify.com (Note: a portion of the tribute ad revenue goes to support NSSBE youth services.) Our Man of the Year awardee is Richard Small. Rick has been an unflinching supporter and un-

8 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

sung hero of the Men’s Club for many years, and is currently serving in two officer positions as Corresponding Secretary and Financial Secretary. Rick is a retired U.S. Army Colonel. He and his wife, Janice, are proud parents of five boys, four of whom have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Rick presently serves as Commissioner for Jewish Scouting for the local Boy Scout council. He serves on the Executive Board of Maot Chitim. Our Youth of the Year awardee is Emma Halfin. Emma is currently President of BEANS USY, and has cochaired two Chicago USY regional conventions. Last summer, Emma went on the USY Israel Pilgrimage and Poland Seminar. Emma is a graduate of Beth El’s Sokol Hebrew High School and is a senior at Highland Park High School where she enjoys participating in the theatre program.

Notes from Hazzan Tisser

write this article just hours before boarding a plane to Israel with my family. As I am packing my suitcase and writing this article, my brain is otherwise occupied with all of the happenings at the synagogue. Last night I was privileged to participate in a wonderful Men’s Club dinner honoring Rabbi Kurtz as the Keeper of the Flame — it was a wonderful event that brought generations of our community together, and I therefore leave to Israel with a very full heart and neshama. In the world of music, I am still hearing from those of you who attended how much fun our Israel@70 concert with Bat Ella was last month – I certainly had a great time! Over the next few months, music will play a major role in our community. We will kick off 2018 with our 3rd Annual A Cappella weekend, but in a very special format. This year I am cochair of the Cantors Assembly’s Ilu Finu: The Jewish Collegiate A Cappella Songwriting Competition, and Beth El will host the Finalist Concert and Awards Ceremony.

We invited all 43 of the Jewish Collegiate A Cappella groups to submit their new, exciting compositions set to text from the Shabbat Liturgy with the intention of publishing a book of their music in 2019. We will be premiering this new music, as well as some commissions, and other fun surprises, at the concert…and we’ll be giving away over $10,000 in cash prizes, with AUDIENCE LIVE VOTING! – DON’T MISS OUT! Around the same time we will open an exhibit in the Gamze Gallery of the Rissman Kol Ami Collection celebrating 70 Years of Music and Hazzanim at NSS Beth El, which I hope you will take the opportunity to explore. Did you know we have played host to such greats as Jan Peerce, Richard Tucker and Safam?! A few weeks later we welcome Mati Lazar, Founder and Director of the Zamir Choral Foundation in New York, as our scholar-in-residence for our ShabbaTONE, as well as guest conductor for our choir. Now I know what you’re thinking…and yes, the professional choir will join me for a VERY special musaf, but YOU ALL will

be part of the choir and Mati will teach us how to sing together in some very exciting ways! All of that, and it’s only the end of February! On a personal note, I am privileged to represent our congregation, our movement and the Executive Council of the Cantors Assembly when I travel to Nice, France, at the end of January as a scholar-in-residence and guest Hazzan for the Masorti synagogue in that community. It is a very interesting community of about 300 mostly-Sephardic families, and I am tasked with teaching them about creating engaging and impactful worship services and programs. I hope to represent our community well, and to bring back a report of what I have learned. I am so privileged to be part of such a vibrant synagogue community, to work with such wonderful colleagues, and to serve such a diverse community. My family joins me in wishing you and your families a happy and healthy 2018 – may it be a year of much joy and celebration for us all!

Beth El History Corner By Mort Steinberg, Beth El Historian

n November 27, 1955 Beth El held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new “community center,” which eventually would be dedicated as the Blumberg Auditorium in honor of Harold and Ruby Blumberg. This project was the second phase of the 1951 development plan for Beth El designed by architect and congregant Isadore Braun. The auditorium was eventually completed in 1957, after a temporary halt in construction due to a lack of funds. If you have photographs or artifacts from Beth El’s past, we would be glad to place them in our growing synagogue archives. Contact Rachel Kamin at rkamin@nssbethel.org or 847/926-7902.

Pictured standing in the first row are Max Rubinstein, President Ed Glazier, Max Goldberg, Judy Perlman (representing the Sunday School), Allan Gelman, Harold Blumberg, Joe Young (for the Hebrew School), Rabbi Philip Lipis and Al Joseph. In the front are Scotty Fohrman (for the Nursery School) and educational director Harry Hershman. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 9

Youth Community

Reliving Youth Group Moments By Tovah Goodman, Youth Community Director

am the third generation of a small synagogue in Pasadena, CA. I grew up with the Gabbai as my mother, making the synagogue my second home. I can recall the many long days and nights hanging out with my friends in the alcove in front of the bathrooms which became our “kid only” escape, while the adults schmoozed. During this time, I didn’t understand the meaning of a community where my peers and I felt like we belonged. Later, when I was a sophomore in High School, our synagogue started a USY chapter. Finally, we had not only a space to go and be ourselves, but friends that celebrated their Jewishness together. The first time I went to International Convention, I remember looking around the room and seeing thousands of teens singing the same prayers together with such spirit, it made me find a new love for services. Even today, the

friendships and memories I built in USY have grown so profoundly that my best friend and I are standing up in each other’s weddings in 2018. This feeling of community, belonging, and celebration, was replicated in the atmosphere at the 70th Youth Community Reunion at Beth El on Saturday, November 25th. Looking back at old pictures, telling stories about bowling leagues, shabbatons and dances really brought everyone together. The generational stories were brought together with the talent of Madison Hahamy who filmed our alumni retelling their favorite memories. We even raised money for Tikun Olam with our current USYers selling old and new regalia and a quick collection of Tzedakah to rescue the spontaneously kidnapped Rabbi Kurtz. It was truly a magical experience!

What’s happening in the NSS Beth El Youth Community?

To keep up to date with dates and times view our online calendar at www.tinyurl.com/BEANScalendar1718

Upcoming events and reminders: Friday, January 12 6:00pm

Day School Dinner Grades K-12

Monday, January 15 9:00am - 3:00pm

American Ninja Warrior Day Off Program Grades 2-6

10 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Sunday, January 21 1:00 - 4:00pm

Kadima Winter Adventure Grades 6-8

Saturday, January 27 6:00 - 11:00 pm

February 11-14

Grades 9-12

Grades 8-12

Second City

Hamentashen Baking

Education

Pre-School Students “Rock” with Kindness By Karee Bilsky, Pre-School Director

he children in the Paul S. & Sylvia Steinberg Pre-School extended their learning of the holidays of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah by exploring the Jewish values of mitzvot (commandments), tzedakah (charitable giving), and chesed (acts of loving kindness).

an all school bake sale, the four-year-old students earned enough money to visit the Jewel in Highland Park to shop for Thanksgiving food items. The students then traveled to Tri-Con Child Care Center to deliver their Thanksgiving meals to three Tri-Con families. The children beamed with pride as they saw first-hand the power of community, tzedakah and mitzvot.

Our three-year-old children began exploring the idea of kindness through a nationwide initiative called the “Kindness Rock Project.” Its goals are to inspire others through randomly placed rocks, and to recruit every person who stumbled upon it to join in the pursuit of inspiring others through random acts of kindness. Our three-year-olds painted rocks in their classrooms, and shared them with each other in an effort to be kind. We extended this project at our Grandparents’ Shabbat where we asked our special guests to decorate rocks that we will use to create a permanent piece in honor of NSS Beth El’s 70th celebration.

Children explored the holiday of Hanukkah through sensory and science experiments involving light and oil. Many children spoke about the idea of sharing the holiday with family and donating toys they receive to children who may not receive them during the holiday season. There is nothing greater than knowing that we are instilling Jewish values, and helping to raise the next generation of menches!

Sign-up Today! Registration is now underway at the Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Pre-School for the 2018-2019 school year and for our 8-week Summer Camp! Pre-School begins with Parent/ Toddler and Transition classes for children 17 months old and continues through 4-year-old Pre-Kindergarten.

While it is often difficult for children to understand the concept of giving, our four-year-old students have a deep understanding of what it truly means to complete mitzvot and provide for those that are in need. After baking yummy treats and hosting

For information and to arrange a tour, please contact our Director, Karee Bilsky at (847) 432-2830.

Let’s Connect!

By Abby Lasky, Director of Communications

n an average day, do you find you never quite get enough time to finish an article or a book you wanted to read? Are there so many emails in your inbox that you simply can’t keep up? And did you just spend a half hour looking at your Facebook feed, when you really only meant to wish someone Happy Birthday? Chances are, you have information overload, and your pain is real!

all” when it comes to how each person likes to receive information, I think that if communications are timely, relevant, convenient, and concise, it can make life a lot easier!

of yet, the new website will have easier, more responsive navigation, a syncable calendar, event registration, and detailed information about upcoming programming and events.

Hopefully you have noticed the new format of the Kol Beth El Weekly email. In it, you will be able to identify upcoming events at a glance, and have direct links to registration and contact information.

Finally, you may have noticed more color in the printed Kol Beth El. I tightened up the page count a bit, and am trying some new looks for the calendars.

I’m hoping I can help! My name is Abby Lasky, and I am the new Director of Communications at Beth El. While I do believe there is no “one size fits

Additionally, I have been working closely with the Communications Committee on our new synagogue website. While we don’t have a launch date as

I hope that in the coming months I will be meeting many of you and hearing directly about your interests and concerns in regards to communications. Email me at alasky@nssbethel.org.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 11

Social Action

Social Action in Action by Mary Channon, Social Action Chair

Updates

Family - to - Family Thanksgiving Mitzvah Project

o all the families and individuals who created Thanksgiving meal baskets for families at Glenwood School in Waukegan – THANK YOU for all the generosity and kindness you showed at our event on November 19th. Together we delivered 116 complete Thanksgiving meals to families in the community!

9 am - Noon Every year, more than 200 families take part in a day of service helping those in need throughout our community. Join your fellow congregants again this year in one of the many social action projects being offered at Beth El and in the surrounding community. Everyone is welcome! Projects available for both individuals and families.

• Make a blanket for children in need with Project Linus

• Make brown bag meals for the homeless

• NEW - Create house-warming gift baskets for newly housed homeless

• Create a care package to support the U.S. troops who serve our country

• Bring your dog to Brentwood and bring joy to seniors

• Write letters of love and encouragement to women with breast cancer

• Cradles to Crayons: off-site OR on-site project

Pre-registration required. For more information about the projects and to register, visit www.nssbethel.org or go directly to this link: https://tinyurl.com/yccoejg6 Want to help coordinate a Mitzvah Day project? Have questions? Contact Mary Channon at (847) 7229142 or mary.channon@yahoo.com We will also be collecting food for the Moraine Township Food Pantry and children’s books for Bernie’s Book Bank. Sponsored by the Social Action Committee Be a mensch… Do a mitzvah!

12 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Additional thanks go to members of the Social Action committee who helped run this event: Fran Pine, Amy Zisook, Honey Bronson, Janice Aronoff, Beth Olderman, Paulette Margulies, and Dina Lissoos. Thanks for all your hard work!

Coat and Toy Collection

The Social Action Committee collected gently-used winter coats and new Chanukah toys for several weeks. Thanks to those volunteers who helped sort the donations…Janice Aronoff, Elise Frost, Roberta Goldman, Heidi Patzik, Judy Kaufman, Renee Klein, Fran Pine, Dina Lissoos, Alex and Mira Wolf. Two carloads of coats and new toys were dropped off at the Chicago Chesed Fund in Lincolnwood.

Current Opportunities JUF Uptown Café

Volunteers needed to serve dinner to neighborhood needy. Ages 12+ January 23, February 20, March 20, April 17 Contact Rocky Rubinoff at rochelle.rubinoff@gmail.com.

Take a Bite Out of Hunger

Providing breakfast and snack options to children at our local Highland Park schools. Please continue to drop off donations of KELLOGG’S brand NUTRIGRAIN BARS to the large container near the synagogue office entrance. IMPORTANT! WE NEED ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS to support this very important program. Can you help? This is an ongoing program with various ways available to support it no matter what type of commitment you can make. Please contact Mary at mary.channon@yahoo.com or (847)722-9142 for details on ways you can help. Thank you!

Todah Rabbah

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS:

Rabbi Kurtz Discretionary Fund In honor of Bernard Kramer and Jill Weinberg’s new grandson Brian and Gail Boorstein In honor of David Shapiro for his Hatan Torah honor on Simchat Torah - Jack and Barbara Blumberg - Earl and Tamara Norman - Karen Weiss In honor of Ken Levin’s 80th birthday Harris and Sharon Goldenberg In honor of Marla Hand receiving the honor of Kol HaNe’Arim at Simchat Torah Jack and Barbara Blumberg In honor of my mother Hazel Rubin’s 100th birthday - Edward and Paulette Margulies In honor of Rabbi Kurtz being named as Keeper of the Flame – Joseph and Susan Ament In honor of Rabbi Kurtz for his honor of Hatan Bereshit at Simchat Torah - Jack and Barbara Blumberg - Robert and Beth Footlik - Leonard and Rochelle Foxman - Jeffrey, Stacy, Sawyer and Ellie Goldsmith In honor of Rachel becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz David and Jenna Smiley In honor of Scarlett’s baby naming and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz Dennis and Amy Pessis In honor of Sydney and Talia Newman’s B’not Mitzvah and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz – Daniel and Jennifer Newman

In memory of Allegra Rousso - Sherwin and Odette Rubinstein

In memory of John Ferns, beloved brother Ronald and Eileen Goldberg

In memory of Arlene Feiger, beloved wife and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz Harry Feiger

In memory of Joseph Wexler, beloved father - Paul and Eileen Goldstein

In memory of Arthur Gladstone, beloved father and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz Alyssa Gladstone and Family In memory of Arthur Gladstone, beloved father of Alyssa Gladstone - Gerald and Adrienne Lasin In memory of Beatrice Dolin, beloved mother and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz Michael Dolin and Family In memory of Celia Katz, beloved mother Mildred Lidov In memory of Dina Field, beloved mother Phillip and Sandra Cooper In memory of Dr. Bertha Wexler Goldstein, beloved mother - Paul and Eileen Goldstein In memory of Dr. Lester D. Kaplin, beloved father - Alan and Marcia Kaplin In memory of Edith H. and Sidney Weiss, beloved parents - Karen Weiss In memory of Edmund Mizel, beloved brother - Gerald and Liora Mizel In memory of Eleanor Goldstein, beloved mother - Phyllis Fischel In memory of Esther Gladstone, beloved mother - Avram and Kerana Kraft In memory of Esther Lamb, beloved sister and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz - Bruce and Audrey Silver

In memory of Joyce Levin and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz - Susan Novosad and The Levin Family In memory of Joyce Levin, beloved mother of Steven Levin - Paul and Michelle Pessis In memory of Judith Weiner, beloved wife of Lawrence Weiner - Lee and Marlene Rubenstein In memory of Louis Bloom, beloved father Irwin and Linda Magad In memory of Louis Klein, beloved father Joel Klein In memory of Maurice Levy, beloved brother and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz Morton Levy and Family In memory of Max Katz, beloved father Mildred Lidov In memory of Miriam Rothen Faust, beloved mother and grandmother - Annette Feller and Family In memory of Miriam Rozencwajg, beloved mother of Jacqueline Melinger Brian and Gail Boorstein In memory of Muriel Kushner, beloved mother - Mark and Susan Pollack In memory of Myra L. Kramer, beloved wife Lionel Kramer In memory of Myra Rubenstein Weis, beloved sister - Paul and Eileen Goldstein

In memory of Evelyn Pomerantz, beloved sister - Daniel Nast Jr. and Dolly Nast

In memory of Paul Goldberg, beloved brother - Richard and Lila Kohn

In memory of Florence Kohn, beloved mother - Richard and Lila Kohn

In memory of Phillip Mizel, beloved father Gerald and Liora Mizel

In memory of Gloria Narrod, beloved mother of Steven Narrod - Jamie and Matt Pestine

In memory of Randall Horwitz, beloved father - Jori and Leah Brajer

In memory of Goldie Vishny, beloved mother Bernard and Elaine Reisin In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Michael and Naoma Cahr - Karen Weiss

In memory of Reuben and Reba Katz, beloved parents and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz - Martin and Deborah Stern

In memory of Harry Goodman, beloved father - Paul and Michelle Pessis

In memory of Roslyn Greenfield, beloved mother - Ira and Barbara Berger

In memory of Harry Reisin, beloved father Bernard and Elaine Reisin

In memory of Roslyn Greenfield, beloved wife - Milton Greenfield

In memory of Harry Schessel, beloved father Dr. Jesse Schessel

In memory of Sallie Leaf, beloved mother of Marc Leaf - Brian and Gail Boorstein

In honor of the marriage of Debbie Sherman to Oren Rasowsky - Karen Weiss

In memory of Howard Lidov, beloved husband - Mildred Lidov

In memory of Serene Sommer, beloved mother - Adrienne Garland

In memory of Abraham “Dobby” Dobkin, beloved grandfather - Jori and Leah Brajer

In memory of Irving Greenfield, beloved brother - Milton Greenfield

In memory of Shirley Nyeste, beloved mother - James Nyeste and Marla Hand

In memory of Abraham Shanes, beloved father - Samuel and Irene Shanes

In memory of Irwin Wygodny, Alan Miller and Ernest Smolen - Gerald Frank

In memory of Tillie L. Shanes, beloved mother - Samuel and Irene Shanes

In memory of Alan Miller, beloved husband Judith Miller

In memory of Jennifer Pestine, beloved wife of Greg Pestine - Josh and Ilene Leavitt

In memory of William J. Howard, beloved husband - Dolly Nast

In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of my grandson Benjamin Witzel - Marcia Witzel In honor of the birth of Frank Louis Kolmin, our third roommate - Cherylanne and Steve Kolmin In honor of the birth of our granddaughter Skylar Evelyn Schneider - Alan and Susan Resnick In honor of the marriage of Ayal Tovian to Deborah Shub - Karen Weiss In honor of the marriage of Bernard and Shirley Bornstein’s son Mitchell to Alison Johnson - Adrienne Eckerling In honor of the marriage of Debbie and Oren Rasowsky and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz - Berny and Carol Rasowsky - Jonathan and Francine Sherman

In memory of Robert Bernstein, beloved husband of Mindy Bernstein - Harris and Sharon Goldenberg

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 13

Todah Rabbah

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS:

With appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz - David and Dena Cooperman - Gabriella Cooperman With appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz for the baby naming of our first grandchild, Levi Feinstein, daughter of Matt and Carli Feinstein - Steven and Linda Feinstein With appreciation to Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz - Sally Aaron

Rabbi Schwab Discretionary Fund In honor of Noah Lamar’s Bris and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Rodney and Marilyn Slutzky In honor of our grandson Graham Schallman’s conversion and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - James and Laura Schallman

In memory of Helen Graham, beloved mother H. Steven and Deborah Graham In memory of Helen Siegel, beloved mother and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab for his support - Dov and Eileen Kahana In memory of Herbert Franklyn Horwich, beloved father of Penny Keeshin and Jill Bernstein - Earl and Rochelle Rubinoff In memory of J. Mitchell Friedman, beloved father - Gloria Zieve In memory of Judith Weiner, beloved wife of Lawrence Weiner - Lee and Marlene Rubenstein In memory of Leonard Zieve, beloved husband - Gloria Zieve In memory of Ludwig Hofman, beloved father Gary and Debbie Lindon

In honor of our wedding and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Alexander and Mira Wolf

In memory of Mae Olshansky, beloved motherin-law - Sheila Olshansky

In honor of Rabbi Michael and Erica Schwab Mel and Sandy Wasserman

In memory of Martie Graham, beloved father H. Steven and Deborah Graham

In honor of Rachael becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab Mitchel Zacks and Laura Hodes-Zacks

In memory of Martin Spieler, beloved husband - Anita Spieler

In honor of Rachel becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab David and Jenna Smiley In honor of Rachel Smiley, daughter of Jenna and David Smiley, on becoming a Bat Mitzvah - Stephen and Judy Smiley In honor of Sydney and Talia Newman’s B’not Mitzvah and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab – Daniel and Jennifer Newman In honor of the marriage of Oren and Debbie Rasowsky and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Berny and Carol Rasowsky In memory of all those lost in the hurricanes Bernard and Fran Alpert In memory of Anita Brenner, beloved sister Leonard and Rochelle Foxman In memory of Beatrice Dolin and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab for attending her Shiva - Michael and Jannet Dolin In memory of Bernard R. Abels, beloved father - Roger and Ronnie Wilk In memory of Blanche Levy, beloved mother Judith Miller In memory of Dr. Zayne Wilk, beloved brother Roger and Ronnie Wilk In memory of Elaine Ordower, beloved sister Adrian and Linda Winick In memory of Elizabeth Glick, beloved mother H. Steven and Deborah Graham In memory of Emmanuel Rich, beloved father Sheila Olshansky In memory of Ernest Smolen, beloved father and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab – Renee and Elliot Roth In memory of Gene Igolka, beloved father Ellen and Steven Lasin 14 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

In memory of Maurice Olshansky, beloved father-in-law - Sheila Olshansky In memory of Miriam Rozencwajg, beloved mother and grandmother and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Michael and Jacqueline Melinger and Family In memory of Nathan Goldstein, beloved father - Paul and Eileen Goldstein In memory of Otto Hammel, beloved father Melvin and Hedy Sered In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Steve and Wendy Abrams - Marc and Jacalyn Birnbaum - Marcia and Michael Bender - The Bendat-Appell Family - Judy Berkeley - Annette and Jerry Blumberg - Jack and Barbara Blumberg - Andrew and Gail Brown - Gerald and Rita Buckman - Adrienne Eckerling - Steven and Linda Feinstein - Robert and Beth Footlik - Leon and Leslie Fox - Rochelle and Leonard Foxman - Amy, Craig, Ben and Sammy Gerstein - Marla and Larry Gilbert and Family - Mary Ellen and Larry Goldsmith - Mindy and Jeff Gordon - Neil and Rachel Greenbaum - Gail and Bruce Greenspahn - Robert and Maxine Greenstein - Lori and Dan Gross and Family - Gwen, Scott, Jordan and Dana Heyman - Barbara and Stuart Hochwert - Pearl and Joel Kagan and Family - Gerry Kaplan

- Karen and Michael Kesner - Colman and Julie Kraff - Sherwin and Marlene Konik - Myrna Kopin - Lisa Alter Krule - Ellen and Steven Lasin - Gerald and Adrienne Lasin - Ellen Lavin - The Lederer Family - Diane and Stephen Levin - Marcy and Kenneth Levin - Edward and Paulette Margulies - Yael Mirelman and Pere Berkowitz - Lois Moss - Debbi and Ira Rosenberg - Ruth Lion and David Rosenbloom - Richard and Barbara Rosenfield - Betty Rozenfeld - Earl and Rochelle Rubinoff - Pam and Richard Schlosberg - Debbie and Marty Schwartz - Keith and Marci Shapiro and Family - Samuel and Irene Shanes - Timna and Steve Sheffey - Michael and Sara Sher - The Skurie Family - Ronnie Jo Sokol - Sheldon Solow and Shelley Kreiter Solow -S andy Starkman, Larry Pachter, Avram, Uri and Hollen - Jay and Mindy Sterns - Yvette and David Stone and Family - Bobbie and Len Tenner - Howard Turner - Bob and Millie Weber - Linda and Adrian Winick - Richard Zelin and Judith Hirsch-Zelin - Lauri and Bruce Zessar In memory of Reuben and Reba Katz, beloved parents and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Martin and Deborah Stern In memory of Robert Bernstein, beloved husband and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Mindy Bernstein and Family In memory of Rose and Louis Berman, beloved mother and father - Leon and Leslie Fox In memory of Sallie Leaf, beloved mother and grandmother, and with appreciation to Rabbi Schwab - Marc and Sharon Leaf and Family In memory of Sam Lazarus, beloved father Philip and Carol Lazarus In memory of Sandra Patack, beloved sister Arthur and Lynn Cohen In memory of Sheldon Garland, beloved husband - Adrienne Garland In memory of Sy Sterns, beloved father Jay and Mindy Sterns In memory of Trudy Westheimer, beloved aunt - Gary and Debbie Lindon In memory of Zelig Sered, beloved father Melvin and Hedy Sered

Todah Rabbah

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS:

With appreciation to Larry Pachter for the Beit Midrash Minyan Aliyah - Mira Mendlovitz

Ba’al Korei Fund

With appreciation to Rabbi Schwab Sally Aaron

In honor of David Shapiro receiving the Hatan Torah honor at Simchat Torah - Jeffrey, Stacy, Sawyer and Ellie Goldsmith

With appreciation to Rabbi Schwab for the baby naming of our first grandchild, Levi Feinstein, daughter of Matt and Carli Feinstein - Steven and Linda Feinstein

In memory of Marvin Goldsmith, beloved father and grandfather - Jeffrey, Stacy, Sawyer and Ellie Goldsmith

With appreciation to Sandy Starkman for the Yom Kippur Gabbai honor - Alexander Wolf

In memory of Sidney Lincoln, beloved grandfather and great-grandfather - Jeffrey, Stacy, Sawyer and Ellie Goldsmith

Hazzan’s Discretionary Fund

With appreciation for all of Mark Stadler’s help Mel and Sandy Wasserman

In honor of Betsy Katz’s special birthday Bobbie and Len Tenner In honor of Noah Lamar’s Bris and with appreciation to Hazzan Tisser - Rodney and Marilyn Slutzky

Ben and Marion Drachler Israel Scholarship Endowment Fund

Earl Linch Memorial Holocaust Education Endowment Fund With appreciation - The Linch Family

Edward S. Frank Israel Study Memorial Endowment Fund In honor of Betsy Katz’s special birthday Gerry Kaplan In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Edward and Paulette Margulies In memory of Irving Rabinowitz, beloved father - Joel and Frances Rabinowitz In memory of Mrs. Seymour Rotyman – Joel and Frances Rabinowitz

In honor of Sydney and Talia Newman’s B’not Mitzvah and with appreciation to Hazzan Tisser- Daniel and Jennifer Newman

In memory of Bella Drachler Tesler, beloved sister - Ferne Avery - A. Michael and Nancy Drachler

In honor of our wedding and with appreciation to Hazzan Tisser - Alexander and Mira Wolf

In memory of Earl Julian Adams, beloved father - A. Michael and Nancy Drachler

In memory of Sylvia Wilder, beloved sister – Joel and Frances Rabinowitz

In honor of Rachael becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Hazzan Tisser Mitchel Zacks and Laura Hodes-Zacks

Cal and Lana Eisenberg Halomdim Program Endowment Fund

Fertig Campus Visit Endowment Fund

In memory of Isadore Eisenberg, beloved father - Calvin and Lana Eisenberg

In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Nancy and Maury Fertig

In honor of Rachel becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Hazzan Tisser David and Jenna Smiley In memory of Ben-Ami Cooperman, beloved son - David and Dena Cooperman In memory of Ethel Baker, beloved mother Leonard and Roberta Tenner In memory of J. Harry Kulakofsky, beloved father - Ruth Belzer

In memory of Jerome Yonnie Cohen, beloved father - Calvin and Lana Eisenberg

In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab – Frances and Joel Rabinowitz

In memory of Mary Cohen, beloved mother Calvin and Lana Eisenberg

General Israel Scholarship Endowment Fund

Camp Ramah General Scholarship Endowment Fund

In honor of our daughter Dr. Lisa Jones’ marriage to Dan Jones - Dr. David and Rabbi Ora Schnitzer

In memory of Magda and Sheldon Fox, beloved mother and father - Leon and Leslie Fox

In honor of David Shapiro receiving the Hatan Torah honor on Simchat Torah - Barry and Gayle Shapiro

In memory of Millard S. Oscherwitz, beloved father - Wayne and Linda Goldstein

Capital Improvement Fund

In memory of Sidney Feitelberg, beloved brother - Philip and Doreen Feitelberg

In memory of Abraham Mioni, beloved fatherin-law - Joan Holland

In honor of David Shapiro, Marla Hand and Rabbi Vernon Kurtz for their Simchat Torah honors - Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter

In memory of Sidney Miller, beloved father-inlaw - Judith Miller

In memory of Albert Levin, beloved father Marcy and Kenneth Levin

In memory of Charles Schwartz, beloved husband of Toby Schwartz - Bob and Millie Weber

With appreciation to Hazzan Tisser for the baby naming of our first grandchild, Levi Feinstein, daughter of Matt and Carli Feinstein - Steven and Linda Feinstein

In memory of Charles English, beloved father Elliot and Anne Rossen

With appreciation to Ken and Andrea Saffir for the High Holiday generosity - Steve and Wendy Abrams

Adolph M. and Lottye Jacobson Israel Scholarship Endowment Fund In honor of my Aliyah - Harvey and Ellen Jacobson

Ann and Jack Weinberg Holocaust Memorial Education Endowment Fund In honor of Maury and Sandy Raizes for spending Rosh Hashanah with us Sherri Regester In memory of Jack Weinberg, beloved father and Zaide - Joel and Pearl Kagan and Family

In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern and beloved father of David Stern -Kevin Green and The Green Weitzman Group In memory of Lavina Baron Friedman, beloved mother - Marcy and Kenneth Levin In memory of Martin Holland, beloved brotherin-law - Joan Holland In memory of Marvin Holland, beloved husband - Joan Holland In memory of Sol Holland, beloved brother-inlaw - Joan Holland In memory of Stephen Nyeste, beloved father James Nyeste and Marla Hand

Gertrude and Morris Lederman Continuing Education Endowment Fund

With appreciation to Sandy Starkman for being the Ketubah witness for our wedding Alexander and Mira Wolf

Jack and Mildred Cohen Religious School Fund In honor of Felissa Kreindler - Sharon and Elliot Burns In honor of Rabbi Vernon Kurtz, Marla Hand and David Shapiro for their Simchat Torah honors - Richard and Pamela Schlosberg In honor of Rachel becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Mark Stadler David and Jenna Smiley

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 15

Todah Rabbah

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS:

In honor of Rachel becoming a Bat Mitzvah and with appreciation to Stacy Daybook David and Jenna Smiley In honor of Rose Miller, daughter of Alan Miller and Michelle Gooze Miller, on becoming a Bat Mitzvah - Tracey and Anton Hendler In memory of Gertrude Sher, beloved grandmother - Michael and Sara Sher In memory of Jack M. Cohen, beloved father-inlaw - Howard Hirschfield In memory of Joyce Levin, beloved mother of Steven Levin - Alan and Mally Rutkoff In memory of Lois Hirschfield, beloved wife of Howard Hirschfield, beloved mother of David Hirschfield, beloved grandmother of Jack Hirschfield and beloved sister of Benjamin Cohen - Hugh and Arlene Block - James Carlson - Bruce and Lisa Cohen - Roselle and Glenn Kammerman - Marcy and Kenneth Levin - Bruce and Terri Mason - Esther Nusinow - Sue Quinlan - Maurice and Sandra Raizes - Fran Roston - Alan and Mally Rutkoff - Renee and Lorry Salasche - Richard and Pamela Schlosberg - Carol and Carl Spielman - Bob and Diane Witt In memory of Lois Hirschfield, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz, Rabbi Schwab and Hazzan Tisser - The Hirschfield Family In memory of Martin Meyerson, beloved father - David and Pamela Hirschfield

In honor of Dr. Casey Steinhardt’s 90th birthday - Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter

In memory of Bernard C. Kurtz, beloved father - Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz

In honor of Marla Hand’s Kol HaNe’Arim honor at Simchat Torah - Andrew and Gail Brown

In memory of Frank Gula, beloved uncle Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz

In honor of Rabbi Vernon Kurtz’s Hatan Bereshit honor at Simchat Torah - Andrew and Gail Brown

In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved parents of Sharon Schwab and beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz

In memory of Bee Greenstein, beloved grandmother - Steven and Marci Friedman In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Bob and Millie Weber In memory of Max Stark, beloved father Natalie Weinstein In memory of Myndel and Samuel Rubin, beloved parents - Stuart and Marlene Senescu In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Harry Feiger In memory of Ruth Gray Banks, beloved mother - Theodore and Cheryl Banks In memory of Selma Farby, beloved mother of Gerry Farby - Harry Feiger In memory of Shulamit Kahana, beloved mother - Dov and Eileen Kahana In memory of Sylvia Feinberg, beloved mother - Michael and Susan Millenson With appreciation for Afternoon at the Movies informative program of “Body and Soul” Rona Wolf

Judith A. Heyman Memorial Israel Scholarship Endowment Fund In memory of Anne Shapira, beloved grandmother and great-grandmother - Missy and Allan Malmed

With appreciation to Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz - Richard and Sharon Schwab

Maxwell Abbell Library Fund in honor of Marla Hand’s Kol Ne’Arim honor at Simchat Torah - Steven and Frances Shapiro In honor of Sophia Rosenberg, daughter of Bonnie and Eric Rosenberg, on becoming a Bat Mitzvah - Ludmilla Coven In memory of Abe Mattenson, beloved fatherin-law - Nissah Mattenson In memory of Alfred Stern, beloved brother Arnold and Hilda Reingold In memory of Avra Shoshana Tovian, beloved daughter of Merle and Steve Tovian - Sandy Starkman, Larry Pachter, Avram, Uri and Hollen In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Z. Samuel and Judith Bernstein - Gayle and Gideon Shavit In memory of Lois Hirschfield, beloved wife of Howard Hirschfield, beloved mother of David Hirschfield, beloved grandmother of Jack Hirschfield and beloved sister of Benjamin Cohen - Melvin and Roselynn Roseman In memory of Rabbi Abraham Joseph Mesch, beloved father - Nissah Mattenson In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Nissah Mattenson

In memory of Mildred Cohen, beloved motherin-law - Howard Hirschfield

Kopin Family Fund for Children’s T’filot Education Endowment Fund

In memory of Miriam Rozencwajg, beloved mother of Jacqueline Melinger - Tracey and Anton Hendler

In memory of Albert Kopin, beloved husband of Myrna Kopin - Larry Pachter and Sandy Starkman

In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Kim and Eric Ephraim

In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Karen and Mitch Kopin

In memory of Sylvia Levinson, beloved mother - David and Pamela Hirschfield

With appreciation to Jeff and Beth Kopin for their gracious hospitality - Sandy Starkman

Mindy and Jeffrey Gordon and Family Unrestricted Endowment Fund

Kurtz Family Youth Endowment Fund

In honor of Larry and Abby Block’s 60th wedding anniversary - Jonathan and Francine Sherman

With appreciation - Donald Ephraim Family

Jean T. and Morton Bernstein Camp Ramah Endowment Fund In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Morton and Miriam Steinberg

Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural and Learning Center Fund In honor of David Shapiro’s Hatan Torah honor at Simchat Torah - Andrew and Gail Brown 16 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

In honor of Alan Birnbaum’s special birthday Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz In honor of Bryna Kurtz’s special birthday Harris and Sharon Goldenberg In honor of Rabbi Kurtz being named Keeper of the Flame - Donald and Lois Chudacoff In honor of the baby-naming of Esme, and with appreciation to Rabbi Kurtz - Michelle and Dan White

In memory of Rose Reingold, beloved mother Arnold and Hilda Reingold In memory of Selma Stern, beloved mother Arnold and Hilda Reingold

Minyan Service Fund In honor of the marriage of my granddaughter Gabrielle to Brent Nye - Marcia Lerner In memory of Albert Gersowsky, beloved father - Barry Gersowsky In memory of Alex Turner, beloved father Amos and Edith Turner In memory of Allen Weber, beloved son Bob and Millie Weber

Todah Rabbah

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS:

In memory of Arthur J. Ramek, beloved brother - Joyce Pollack In memory of Charles Schwartz, beloved husband and father - Toby Schwartz, Ellen and Robert

Music Fund In honor of the engagement of Eliza Brown, daughter of Andrew and Gail Brown, to Danya Lagos - Steve and Wendy Abrams

In memory of Estelle Weitzman, beloved mother - Keith and Cheryl Weitzman

In honor of the marriage of Fran and John Sherman’s daughter Deborah to Oren Rasowsky - Lawrence and Abby Block

In memory of Harold Goldenberg, beloved father - Bruce and Gail Greenspahn

In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Lawrence and Abby Block

In memory of Harold Stern, beloved father of Pamela Stern Braun and beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Alison Bloom

In memory of Herbert Franklyn Horwich, beloved father of Jill Bernstein and Penny Keeshin - Lawrence and Abby Block

In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Patricia Shapiro

NSS Beth El Camp Scholarship Fund

In memory of Harry Archie Dolansky, beloved father, and beloved grandfather of Melanie Michael - Sanford and Glenda Mason

With appreciation to Mort and Miriam Steinberg for their hospitality during the High Holidays - Aaron Zipursky

In memory of Joseph I. Lipsman, beloved father - William and Wendy Lipsman In memory of Joseph Nathan, beloved father Fred and Phyllis Nathan In memory of Joyce and Marvin Juron, our beloved cousins and beloved parents of Reena Schiffman - David and Charlene Sales In memory of Judith Harrison Leonard, beloved sister - Harriet Bernbaum In memory of Keren-Or Bernbaum, beloved daughter - Harriet Bernbaum In memory of Marvin Juron, beloved father of Victoria Bloom and Reena Schiffman Janet and David Goldstein In memory of Mollie Schwartz, beloved mother-in-law - Toby Schwartz In memory of Morris Frydman, beloved husband - June Back Frydman In memory of Morris Hertz, beloved father Sonja Shiner In memory of N. Arthur Rubinoff, beloved father - Earl and Rochelle Rubinoff In memory of Rosalyn Mason, beloved mother and grandmother - Sanford and Glenda Mason In memory of Ruth Dolansky, beloved mother and grandmother - Sanford and Glenda Mason In memory of Sol Lerner, beloved husband, father and grandfather - Marcia Lerner and Family In memory of Solomon E. Harrison, beloved father - Harriet Bernbaum In memory of Terry Milton, beloved wife of Lewis Milton and beloved sister of Beth Footlik and Cindy Socianu - Marvin and Sara Siegel In memory of Walter Levy, beloved father Marvin and Renee Bearak In memory of William Schwartz, beloved father-in-law - Toby Schwartz With appreciation - Miriam and Bruce Pomeranz

NSS Beth El General Camp Scholarship Endowment Fund In honor of Rachael Zacks, daughter of Mitchel and Laura Hodes-Zacks, on becoming a Bat Mitzvah - Jori, Leah and Zachary Brajer

NSS Beth El Special Gifts Fund In honor of Linda Feinstein’s 65th birthday - Judy Glotzer - Belle and Sol Weinstein In memory of Adelyne Jaffe, beloved mother of Francine Pine and beloved grandmother of Allison, Madeline and Marni Pine - Karen Preece In memory of Arthur and Hortense Rubinoff, beloved parents - William and Ellen Dupuy In memory of Beverly Grey, beloved mother Jordan and Beth Grey In memory of Harold Stern, beloved husband of Barbara Stern - Susan Dickman - Patrick and Susanne Fletcher - Nancy Shapiro In memory of Harold Stern, beloved uncle and beloved husband of Barbara Stern Marsha Levin In memory of Harry Rubinoff, beloved brother - William and Ellen Dupuy In memory of Herbert Franklyn Horwich, beloved father of Jill Bernstein and Penny Keeshin - Scott and Maureen Chaikin - Allen and Lenore Deutch Singer In memory of Ida and Irving Wenger, beloved mother and father - Marvin Wenger In memory of Jack Harris Shapiro, beloved husband - Yaira Shapiro In memory of Julius Citro, beloved step-father Sherry Kantar In memory of Leonard Weitz, beloved brotherin-law - William and Ellen Dupuy

In memory of Milbert Fein, beloved father Sherry Kantar In memory of Min Holtzman, beloved grandmother - Barry and Terri Wallach In memory of Morris Gordon, beloved grandfather - Barry and Terri Wallach In memory of our loved ones at Yizkor - Shael and Myrna Siegel In memory of Ralph Eiseman, beloved father Jordan and Beth Grey In memory of Roberta “Bobbie” Eiseman, beloved mother - Jordan and Beth Grey In memory of Sallie Leaf, beloved mother of Marc Leaf - Bruce and Terri Mason With appreciation to JoAnne Blumberg for the Sheva berachot at our wedding - Alexander and Mira Wolf

Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Pre-School Fund In honor of the birth of Ava Nussbaum’s grandson - Steinberg Pre-School Staff In honor of the birth of Jill Sejzer’s granddaughter, Naomi - Steinberg Pre-School Staff

Prayer Book Fund In honor of Betsy and Michael Katz on the occasion of their special birthdays - Shoshana Friedman In honor of Betty Ann Levin, mother and grandmother - Gigi Cohen, Michael Levin and Family In honor of David Hoffman on the occasion of his special birthdays – Shoshana Friedman In honor of David Shapiro for his Hatan Torah honor at Simchat Torah - Brad and Marcie Pickard - Steven and Frances Shapiro In honor of our granddaughters, Elana and Sophia Gottlieb - Leon and Linda Gottlieb In honor of Pearl and Joel Kagan - Ronald and Paula Domsky In honor of Rabbi Vernon Kurtz’s Hatan Bereshit honor at Simchat Torah - Steven and Frances Shapiro In honor of Sherwyn and Irvina Warren - Ruth Belzer In honor of the baby naming of our granddaughter, Scarlett Pessis - Dennis and Amy Pessis In honor of the marriage of Ayal Tovian to Deborah Shub - Alan and Mally Rutkoff In memory of Aileen Wolleman, beloved sister - Robert and Sharon Abrams In memory of Alfred Feller, beloved husband, father and grandfather - Annette Feller In memory of Betty Hamilton, beloved wife Bertram Hamilton

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 17

Todah Rabbah

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS:

In memory of David Cohen, beloved father and grandfather - Gigi Cohen, Michael Levin and Family In memory of Doris and Harold Hymen, beloved parents, grandparents and great-grandparents - Darryl and Mira Temkin and Family In memory of Dr. Jacob Louis Levin, beloved father and grandfather - Gigi Cohen, Michael Levin and Family In memory of Esther and Norman Zoberman, beloved mother and father - Alan and Mally Rutkoff In memory of Esther Lamb, beloved sister Bruce and Audrey Silver In memory of Gertrude Karp, beloved sister Alice Gross In memory of Harriet and Roy Rutkoff, beloved mother and father - Alan and Mally Rutkoff In memory of Herbert Gross, beloved husband - Alice Gross In memory of Howard Wittenberg, beloved husband - Iris Wittenberg In memory of Isaac and Rose Feitelberg, beloved parents - Philip and Doreen Feitelberg In memory of Jack Frost, beloved father - Ira and Elise Frost In memory of Jack Frost, beloved husband Allene Frost

In memory of the beloved members of our Shabbat Torah Study Group, Harold Stern, Alan Miller, Judy Domsky and Sunnie Mitchell - Ronald and Paula Domsky - Shoshana Friedman - Richard and Lois Janger - Edward and Paulette Margulies - Judith Miller - Alan Mitchell - Barbara Stern - Gloria Taussig - Leonard and Roberta Tenner - Stephen and Carol Weiss In memory of Zena Cohen, beloved mother and grandmother - Gigi Cohen, Michael Levin and Family With appreciation to Andrew and Gail Brown for their hospitality at Yom Kippur Beverly Saeks With appreciation - Jenny Schoenfeld - Leonard and Rochelle Foxman -B enjamin, Andrea, Bradley, Jack David and Daniel Leshem

Pushke/Tzedakah Fund In honor of Rachel Smiley, daughter of Jenna and David Smiley, on becoming a Bat Mitzvah - Paul and Michelle Pessis

In memory of Lewis Katz, beloved brother of Michael Katz - Marvin and Sara Siegel

Rabbi Irving and Amy Frankel Lecture Endowment Fund

In memory of Mabelle Schero, beloved grandmother - Ira and Elise Frost

In honor of Arnold and Hilda Reingold’s 65th wedding anniversary - Betty Rozenfeld

In memory of Mabelle Schero, beloved mother - Allene Frost

In honor of the birth of Arnold and Hilda Reingold’s great-granddaughter - Betty Rozenfeld

In memory of Martin Melinger, beloved father Jacqueline and Michael Melinger In memory of Marvin Margolis, beloved father - Cheryl and Keith Weitzman In memory of Rabbi Morris and Minnie Sklar, beloved grandparents of Rabbi Michael Schwab - Richard and June Gross - David and Barbara Lansing and Family - Marvin and Sara Siegel In memory of Ruth Scheinman and Millie Brickman, beloved grandmothers - David and Barbara Lansing and Family In memory of Sam and Frieda Trushinsky and Abraham and Bertha Greenstein, our beloved parents -Robert and Maxine Greenstein In memory of Samuel and Myndel Rubin, beloved parents - Stuart and Marlene Senescu In memory of Sarah and Harry Bichunsky, beloved parents - Philip and Doreen Feitelberg In memory of Shirley Scheinman, beloved mother - David and Barbara Lansing and Family

18 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Ritual Refurbishment Endowment Fund In memory of Minnie Levenson, beloved mother - Jack and Barbara Blumberg In memory of Pearl Blumberg, beloved mother - Jack and Barbara Blumberg With appreciation for my Levi Aliyah on the second day of Rosh Hashanah and with appreciation to Pearl Kagan - Bob and Millie Weber

Sarah and Henry Stiebel Camp Ramah Endowment Fund In honor of Nate Small becoming an Eagle Scout - Mayer Stiebel and Cara Madansky-Stiebel In memory of Edward Yore, beloved father Mayer Stiebel and Cara Madansky-Stiebel

Sarah and Henry Stiebel Solomon Schechter Endowment Fund In honor of Rabbi Vernon Kurtz, David Shapiro and Marla Hand for their Simchat Torah

honors - Mayer Stiebel and Cara Madansky-Stiebel In honor of Richard and Janice Small’s 30th wedding anniversary - Mayer Stiebel and Cara Madansky-Stiebel In honor of Steve and Timna Sheffey - Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter In memory of Thelma Yore, beloved mother Mayer Stiebel and Cara Madansky-Stiebel

Sherman Family Camp Ramah Scholarship Endowment Fund In honor of David Shapiro’s Hatan Torah honor on Simchat Torah - Jonathan and Francine Sherman In honor of the marriage of Jonathan and Francine Sherman’s daughter Debbie to Oren Rasowsky – Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter

Social Action Fund In memory of Adelyne Jaffe, beloved mother of Francine Pine and beloved grandmother of Allison, Madeline and Marni Pine - Sue Cohen - Minde and Rob Korman - Edward and Paulette Margulies - Jacqueline Wolle In memory of Miriam Rozencwajg, beloved mother of Jacqueline Melinger - Jacqueline Wolle

Staff Recognition Fund In honor of Karen and Michael Kesner - Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter In honor of Lennie Kay and her 60 years of friendship - Iris Morgan - Linda Wallace With appreciation to Elise Kline and Lennie Kay for their dedication and hard work Robert and Beth Footlik

The Philip and Ellen Glass Program for Rabbis Discretionary Endowment Fund In honor of Phillp and Ellen Glass’ 60th wedding anniversary - Myrna Kopin

Youth Community Fund In honor of David Shapiro’s Hatan Torah honor on Simchat Torah - Rodney and Marilyn Slutzky In honor of Nathaniel Small’s Eagle Scout Award - Mary Ellen and Larry Goldsmith In honor of Rachael Zacks, daughter of Mitchel and Laura Hodes- Zacks, becoming a Bat Mitzvah - Stacy and Jeffrey Goldsmith In honor of the Tovian Auf Ruf Felissa Kreindler

January Events Calendar |Sunday

|Monday

|Tuesday

| Wednesday

10:00 am Screening of Screenagers

7:45 pm Communication Committee Meeting

|Friday

9:30 am Writer’s Beit Midrash 6:00 pm B’nai Mitzvah Orientation Meeting 7:00 pm Hartman Institute Class 7:45 pm Finance Committee

12:00 pm Study in the Loop

9:00 am

Youth Day Off Program

Board of Education Committee Meeting Ritual Committee Meeting

10:00 am Men’s Club Political Forum

4:29 pm Candle Lighting 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

8:00 pm

9:30 am Writer’s Beit Midrash 8:00 pm Membership Engagement Committee Meeting

3:00 pm Afternoon @ the movies

8:50 am

4:21pm Shabbat Services Candle Lighting 12:30 pm 6:15 pm Book Club 4:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Mincha/Ma’ariv Service 5:26 pm

Rosh Hodesh Shevat 7:45 pm Board of Directors 7:00 pm Meeting Morning Minyan

Martin Luther King Day

7:45 pm

|Saturday

7:45pm 4:13 pm 8:50 am Candle Lighting Executive Committee Shabbat Services Meeting 6:15 pm 4:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Mincha/Ma’ariv Service 5:18 pm Shabbat Ends

New Year’s Day 8:45 am Morning Minyan 7:30 pm Evening Minyan

|Thursday

Shabbat Ends 6:00pm Art After Dark Preschool Fundraiser 8:00 pm 8th Grade Induction

8:50 am

Shabbat Services 12:20 pm Men’s Club Deli Kiddush 4:15 pm Mincha/Ma’ariv 5:34 pm Shabbat Ends 7:30 pm Jewish Collegiate A Cappella Concert

4:38pm 8:50 am Shabbat Services Candle Lighting 6:15 pm 4:00 pm Religious School Havdalah Kabbalat Shabbat 4:30 pm Mincha/Ma’ariv Service 5:43 pm Shabbat Ends

10:00 am Men’s Club Political Forum 12:00 pm Family Book Club

7:45 pm House Committee Meeting

Tu B’Shevat 7:15 am Morning Minyan 7:30 pm Evening Minyan

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 19

February Events Calendar |Sunday

|Monday

|Tuesday

| Wednesday

|Thursday

|Friday

|Saturday

6:00 pm 9:00 am 8:50 am Used book Sale Pizza Party/Set Up Shabbat Services Begins Used Book Sale 4:30 pm Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:45pm 4:47pm Candle Lighting 5:51 pm Executive Committee 5:00 pm Shabbat Ends Meeting Jeans & Jammies 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

1 Super Bowl Sunday Used Book Sale Used Book Sale through February 11 8:30 am 7:45 pm Men’s Club World Board of Education Wide Wrap Committee Meeting 9:00 am Social Action Mitzvah Day

7:00 pm Sisterhood Board Meeting

9:00 am 7:45 pm Used book Sale Cultural and Final Sale Learning Center 10:30 am Committee Meeting Inclusion Town Hall Forum

5:30 pm Pre-School Shema PJ Party 7:45 pm Communication Committee Meeting

President’s Day 8:00 pm Ritual Committee Meeting

8:50 am 4:46pm Candle Lighting Shabbat Services 6:15 pm 12:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat ShabbaTONE Service 4:45 pm 6:15 pm Adult and Mincha/Ma’ariv Family Program6:01 pm ming ShabbaTONE Shabbat Ends Dinner

9:30 am Writer’s Beit Midrash 7:00 pm Hartman Institute Class

Rosh Hodesh Adar I 7:00 am Morning Minyan 12:00 pm Study in the Loop 7:45 pm Board of Directors Meeting

Rosh Hodesh Adar I 7:00 am Morning Minyan 5:05pm Candle Lighting 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

8:50 am Shabbat Services 5:00 pm Mincha/Ma’ariv 6:10 pm Shabbat Ends

9:30 am Writer’s Beit Midrash 8:00 pm Screenwise with Devorah Heitner

6:00 pm Men’s Club Caveman Dinner 7:45 pm Finance Committee Meeting

5:13pm 8:50 am Shabbat Services Candle Lighting 6:15 pm 8:50 am Bar Mitzvah Zachary Katznelson Kabbalat Shabbat 9:15 pm Beit Midrash Service Minyan

Fast of Esther/Erev Purim 7:15am Shacharit Service 5:30 pm Evening Minyan Megilla Reading 7:00 pm Family Megilla Reading 8:30 pm Purim Seudah

Purim 6:30am Shacharit Service 7:30 pm M’ariv

12:20 pm Men’s Club Deli Kiddush Club 5:00 pm Mincha/Ma’ariv 6:18 pm Shabbat Ends

7:45 pm Finance Committee Meeting 7:45 pm House Committee Meeting

20 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Development

Gamze Gallery Dedication By Judy Berkeley, Director of Development

n September 10, 2017, the congregation gathered for the dedication of the Gamze Gallery in memory of two very special congregants: Maurice and Hynda Gamze. The Gamze Gallery – the newly renovated space housing the Rissman Kol Ami Collection – is made possible by a very generous contribution to the synagogue from the estate of the Gamzes, a wonderful gift that will serve as a tribute to these beloved lifelong members of NSS Beth El for future generations. While raising their children here at Beth El, Maurice worked tirelessly with Karen Kesner as a member of the House Committee. Hynda attended Shabbat services regularly, and was a proud member of our choir. The dedication took place in conjunction with the opening of the exhibit, Sacred Space: Wrapped in Spirituality. The Gamze Gallery will also serve as a place for social gatherings, meetings and classes. Additional funds from this generous bequest were also used to create the “Gamze House Beautification Endowment Fund,” whose purpose is to help cover the cost of capital improvements to our building forever. Finally, a portion of the gift has been committed to support future music programs, something that would

have made Hynda especially proud. At the dedication, Lisa Weinberger said the following meaningful words about her beloved parents: “I can tell you that I’m warmed by the great stewardship of my parents’ gift by Beth El who took into account the personal values and passions of my parents and used the monies in ways that would have made them incredibly happy. My father, as an engineer, sat on the building committee which could utilize his expertise, and Beth El is using some of the funds for capital improvements. Both of my parents loved world and Jewish art and Beth El built the Gamze Gallery to house permanent art and traveling exhibits. Also, we were raised with the love of music (my mother sang in the choir), and some of their bequest is being used to fund special musical performances. My feelings are really heartfelt that NSS Beth El will allow my parents’ legacy to live on.” We hope that you, like the Gamzes, will consider including NSS Beth El in your estate plan. You will be providing for future generations, just as those who came before you have done. To make a donation, contact Judy Berkeley at (847) 432-8900 ext. 262 or jberkeley@nssbethel.org.

We thank the following members of NSS Beth El’s Ner Tamid Society, a recognition society that honors those who have included NSS Beth El in their wills or estate plans: Mrs. Sally Aaron Mr. & Mrs. Steve Abrams Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Alpert Jeffrey Baden Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Barnett Mr. & Mrs. Scott Bieber Leonard Birnbaum Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Blumberg Mr. & Mrs. Jack Blumberg JoAnne Blumberg Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Brown Ramona Choos Mr. & Mrs. Steve Coven Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Cowans Mr. & Mrs. Calvin Eisenberg Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ezgur Mr. & Mrs. Maury Fertig Mr. & Mrs. Ira Frost Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Goldberg Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Goldsmith Larry Goldsmith Mr. & Mrs. Scott Heyman Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Hochwert Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Isaacs Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Jacobson Mr. & Mrs. Richard Janger Mr. & Mrs. Joel Kagan Dr. & Mrs. Bernard Kaye Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kesner Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Kopin Mrs. Myrna Kopin Prof. & Prof. Jeffrey Kwall Mr. & Mrs. Fred Lane Mr. & Mrs. Scott Lederman Mr. Michael Levin & Ms. Gigi Cohen Dr. & Dr. Victor Levitan Mildred Lidov Mr. & Mrs. Manny Marczak Mr. Adam Miller & Ms. Michelle Gooze-Miller Mr. Larry Pachter & Ms. Sandy Starkman Mr. David Rosen & Mrs. Amy Zisook Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Rosenkranz Mr. & Mrs. Alan Rutkoff Mr. & Mrs. Richard Schlosberg Mr. & Mrs. Skip Schrayer Phyllis Shalowitz Leonard Sherman Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Silberman Mr. & Mrs. Gregg Simon Yadelle Sklare Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Slutzky Mr. & Mrs. Mark Spitz Mr. & Mrs. Morton Steinberg Mr. Mayer Stiebel & Ms. Cara Madansky-Stiebel Mr. & Mrs. Benton Strauss Mr. & Mrs. Darryl Temkin Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Tenner Howard Turner Mr. & Mrs. Bob Weber Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Weiss Edward Weitz Mr. & Mrs. Richard Wexler Dr. Frances Lee Zand & Mr. Pendri Shalem

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 21

January/February Events at a Glance Sunday January 7 10:00 am

Screenagers

Screening open to the community facilitated by Marcie Faust. Additional screening at 11:15am for the Sokol Hebrew High School Parents and Students. This film reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions as to how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance. Free copies of the book Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World to the first 50 RSVPs to the Screenagers program. __________________________________________

Wednesdays, January 10 & 24 and February 7 & 21 9:30am

Writer’s Beit Midrash

All fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, and essay writers (published or not yet published) are welcome for discussions, exercises, camaraderie, and critique. Contact Rachel Kamin at rkamin@nssbethel.org or (847) 926-7402 for more information. __________________________________________

Saturday, January 13 12:30pm

Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club We will discuss The First Love Story: Adam, Eve, and Us by Bruce Feiler, after Shabbat Kiddush. Rabbi Michael Schwab will join us to provide his insight and expertise. New members welcome! Copies of the book are available in the Abbell Library. Contact Rachel Kamin at rkamin@nssbethel.org or (847) 926-7902 for the complete book club calendar. A $54 annual donation to the Torah Fund Campaign is requested. __________________________________________

Saturdays, Jan. 20 & Feb. 24 12:20pm

Men’s Club Deli Kiddush

Join us for Kiddush in the Zell. Cost $12 per person, $25 per family. RSVP to Steve Coven at scoven@napcoltd.com. 22 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Saturday, January 20 7:30pm

Ilu Finu Finalist Concert & Awards Ceremony

A Project of the Cantors Assembly

PRESENT

Saturday January 20, 2018 7:30pm North Suburban Synagogue Beth El 1175 Sheridan Road Highland Park, IL 60035

Please join us for the FINALIST CONCERT & Ilu Finu Finalist Awards AWARDS CEREMONY Concert and Ceremony at 7:30 pm. Be sure to invite family and friends. The concert will feature four of America’s greatest Jewish collegiate A Capella groups. There will also be a Shabbat dinner on Friday January 19th, so please save the date. Buy tickets at http://ilufinu.bpt.me or purchase in the Beth El office from Ana Igornov or by calling (847) 432-8900. __________________________________________

The Jewish Collegiate A Cappella Songwriting Competition

EVENT SPONSORS

Ticket Prices:

Children (18 and under): Free Adults: $18 Reserved Seating: $54 Sponsorships starting at: $100

For more information and to purchase tickets: http://ilufinu.bpt.me

and over twenty Congregations from around the country!

847-432-8900 x221

Call Ana in the North Suburban Synagogue Beth El Office.

All proceeds from this program will benefit the Cantor's Assembly's Jewish A Cappella Initiative.

Sunday, January 21 Men’s Club Event 10:00am

Meet the Candidates Forum – Republican Candidates

Join us for a town hall style meeting where you will have the chance to hear and ask questions of the candidates running in the Republican primary elections. Contact Michael Salberg at mbsalberg@sbcglobal.net or (847) 831-0581 with questions. __________________________________________

Wednesday, January 24 Men’s Club Event 8:00pm

Hearing Men’s Voices

These confidential, informal discussions offer education about and insights into current, real-life issues facing men in today’s society. Free to the community, but space is limited. Each session is hosted at the home of one of our members. For more information, contact Barry Kravitz at Barry.Kravitz@hdrinc.com. __________________________________________

Thursday, January 25 3:00pm

Afternoon @ the Movies

Are we allowed to make jokes about the Holocaust? The Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center and

the Hazak Senior Life Committee will host an Afternoon @ the Movies featuring The Last Laugh, an outrageously funny and thought-provoking film, followed by a SKYPE conversation with the filmmaker Ferne Pearlstein. Open to the community, free of charge. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to Marcie Eskin at meskin@ nssbethel.org or (847) 926-7903. __________________________________________

Saturday, January 27 Men’s Club Event 7:30pm

Game Night

Bring your favorite board game or card game, bring your chaverim, bring your mishpachah and join the Men’s Club for a fun night. Light desserts and drinks provided for $10 donation. In the Blumberg Auditorium. Contact Jori Brajer – jbrajer@gmail.com to RSVP. __________________________________________

Sunday, January 28 Men’s Club Event

Meet the Candidates Forum – Democratic Candidates

Join us for a town hall style meeting where you will have the chance to hear and ask questions of the candidates running in the Democratic primary elections. Contact Michael Salberg at mbsalberg@sbcglobal.net or (847) 831-0581 with questions. __________________________________________

Sunday, January 28 12:00pm

Family Book Club

The Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club will co-host a special Inter-Generational Family Book Club with members of the Beth El Youth Community to discuss The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz, and SKYPE with the author! For 3rd-7th graders, and adult readers of all ages. Lunch will be served! For more information and to RSVP, contact Tovah Goodman at tgoodman@ nssbethel.org or (847) 432-2040. The first 15 Youth Community members to RSVP will receive a free copy!

Thursday, February 1 6:00pm

Sunday, February 4 Men’s Club Event

Join the members of the Cultural & Learning Center Committee, to help setup the book sale and have an exclusive opportunity to purchase books before the sale opens. Pizza will be served – please RSVP to Marcie Eskin at meskin@ nssbethel.org or (847) 926-7903. Bar/ Bat Mitzvah and high school student volunteers are welcome! __________________________________________

Join the Men’s Club and thousands of men around the world for the annual World Wide Wrap, sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. Don’t know or are a little rusty on your wrapping techniques? Come early for tefillin wrapping lessons. Loaners available. Minyan starts promptly at 8:45 AM. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Jori Brajer at jbrajer@gmail.com __________________________________________

Pre-Sale Pizza Party

Friday February 2 5:00 pm

Jeans and Jammies

Join us on for Jeans and Jammies in the Forest! We will enjoy a short kid-friendly Shabbat service together and then explore the Tu B’Shevat forest created by our Steinberg Pre-School in the Grossinger Brickman Activity Room. The evening will include PJ Library book give-aways and a special storytime as well as activities and a free children’s dinner. The evening will end by 6:15pm. Adults can come casually dressed, and kids can wear pajamas! RSVP to Ali Drumm at adrumm@nssbethel.org or call (847) 691-4905 __________________________________________

Friday, February 2 Sunday, February 11

Used Book Sale

We are now collecting used books for the annual sale. Bring in gently used books - secular and Judaic, adult and children’s - in a clearly marked box or bag, to the Kaye Reading Room of the Gray Cultural and Learning Center by February 1. Shop the Used Book Sale during regular synagogue hours, Friday, February 2-Sunday, February 11. All hardcovers $2; paperbacks $1. Cash and checks accepted. __________________________________________

Sunday, February 4 Social Action Event 9:00am

Mitzvah Day 2018

Join your fellow congregants again this year in one of the many social action projects being offered at Beth El and in the surrounding community. Have questions? Contact Mary Channon (847) 722-9142 mary.channon@yahoo.com

World Wide Wrap

Friday, February 9 Saturday February 10 All Synagogue Event

ShabbaTONE

On this special ShabbaTONE weekend we will host Mati Lazar, a conductor and interpreter of Jewish music who has elevated the standards of Jewish musical performance and educated audiences across North America, as well as The Bible Players, a Torah Comedy team based in New York City that are teaching Jewish values and sweeping the nation! Both will lead a variety of programs for adults and children throughout the weekend. _____________________________________

Saturday, February 10 Men’s Club Event

Windy City Bulls Family Outing

Bring the whole family to see the rising stars of the Windy City Bulls basketball team (the Bulls official NBA minor league team) as they take on the Canton Charge (minor league team of the Cavaliers) at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. Tickets are $15 each, parking is $10, and game time is 7:00 pm. For more information contact Jeff Leon at jeffaleon@aol.com. __________________________________________

Sunday, February 11 9:00am

Bargain Bag Sale

Shop the Used Book Sale from 9:00am - 12:0pm. Whatever you can fit into

a brown paper grocery bag is yours for only $5! Bags will be provided or bring your own. ______________________________

Sunday, February 11 10:30am

Beth El Accessibility and Inclusion Town Hall

Inclusion is a mindset, an attitude and a way of thinking that provides opportunities for full meaningful engagement, contributions and belonging for all members of our Community. Join us and share your ideas on how we can eliminate participation barriers. __________________________________________

Wednesday, February 21 7:45 p.m.

Screenwise

Presentation by author Devorah Heitner Dr. Devorah Heitner founded Raising Digital Natives to serve as a resource for organizations and families wishing to cultivate a culture of thoughtful digital citizenship. __________________________________________

Thursday, February 22 Men’s Club Event 6:30pm

Caveman Dinner

Please join us for our Annual Caveman Dinner Event featuring lots of meat (ribs, wings, hot dogs, etc), finger food, and napkins but no silverware. $40.00 for members ($45 for non-members) Geat scotch and other drinks. RSVP to event by February 13th, NSSBethelMensClub@gmail.com. __________________________________________

Saturday, February 24 8:00 pm

Jewish Parenting Havurah

Hosted at the home of Danielle and Jonathan Pearl. We will gather to process in small groups and discuss how to approach tech questions as a community. Don’t miss this social and educational opportunity to reflect on the triggers and challenges and personal success stories we have raising our kids to be good digital citizens. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL | 23

Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Highland Park, IL Permit No. 96

1175 Sheridan Road Highland Park, IL 60035

Itâ€™s All in the Beth El Family

Address service requested

Congratulations: Gail and Andrew Brown on the engagement of their daughter, Eliza to Danya Lagos Harry Feiger on the engagement of his granddaughter, Eliza Brown to Danya Lagos Linda and Steve Feinstein on the birth of their granddaughter, Tim and Sara Ravich on the birth of their daughter, Rachel Erin Ravich Julia and Mark Gerstein on the engagement of their daughter, Allison to Ryan Sherling Deborah and Steven Graham on the birth of their granddaughter, Jude Elizabeth Graham Marjorie and Jonathan Graham on the birth of their daughter, Jude Elizabeth Graham Robin and Mark Greenberger on the marriage of their daughter, Julia to Matthew Berk Laurie and Andrew Hochberg on the engagement of their son, Daniel to Jamie Levin Sue and Larry Hochberg on the engagement of their grandson, Daniel Hochberg to Jamie Levin Karen and Michael Kesner on the birth of their grandson, Royce Kesner Eliezer Krumbein on the birth of his great-grandson

24 |

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | KOL BETH EL

Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz on the birth of their granddaughter, Mia Faye Kaufman Sandra and Dr. Mark Levin on the engagement of their daughter, Jamie to Daniel Hochberg Alana and Harrison Matthew on the birth of their son Greg Pestine on the occasion of his 60th birthday Dr. Herbert Rosen on the birth of his great-grandson, Benjamin Daniel Noel Shael Siegel on the occasion of his 85th birthday

Lya Dym Rosenblum on the loss of her sister Ruth Dym Shapiro James Stempel on the loss of his father, Robert A. Stempel

In Memoriam: Eveida Gross Hazel Rubin

We Wish To Thank the Following Members, Guests and Groups for Sponsoring the Shabbat Kiddush Abby and Michael Carney

Janice and Richard Small on the occasion of their 30th wedding anniversary

Linda and Steve Feinstein

Barbara Stern on the birth of her great-grandson

Nikki and Dan Newman

Alexander Wolf and Mira Mendlovitz on their marriage

North Suburban Synagogue Beth El Menâ€™s Club

Robin and Mark Greenberger North Suburban Beth El Sisterhood

Condolences To:

Naomi Wexler and Greg Pestine

Gerry Farby on the loss of his mother, Selma Farby

Julianne Seely

Felicia Gross on the loss of her mother, Eveida Gross Paulette Margulies on the loss of her mother, Hazel Rubin Steven Narrod on the loss of his mother, Gloria Narrod Jamie Glass-Pestine on the loss of her mother, Jeannie Zimmerman

Dawn Sidney and Gordon Schwartz Myrna and Shael Siegel and family Deborah and Adam Winick