Spertus Institute News and Events Spring 2016

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership | spertus.edu

March – August 2016

News & Events Meet a new generation of Jewish leaders P4

2-for-1 coupon for select programs P3

Expressions of Jewish Culture Spertus brings three renowned Jewish art experts to Evanston P15

Brundibar Revisited Chicago film premiere of a story that must be told P19

A partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community.

Spertus Institute offers dynamic learning opportunities, rooted in Jewish wisdom and culture and open to all. Graduate programs and workshops train future leaders and engage individuals in exploration of Jewish life.

Public programs include films, speakers, seminars, and concerts—at the Institute’s Michigan Avenue facility, in the Chicago suburbs, and online.

Program Scholarships Thanks to the foresight and philanthropy of many individuals over many years, scholarships are available for people who want to participate in select Spertus public programs. Call 312.322.1743 for details.

If you are interested in providing scholarship support, we welcome your generosity. Please contact our Development Office at 312.322.1758.

We Love to Hear From You To reach Spertus, visit spertus.edu, email us at info@spertus.edu, or call our general line at 312.322.1700. Our box office line is open Sunday–Thursday, 10 am-4 pm at 312.322.1773.

Follow Spertus on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to get exclusive updates, invites, and discounts.

Discount Parking A selection of discount parking options are available.

For details, check the Spertus website at spertus.edu/visit

Accessibility Spertus welcomes all visitors and is committed to making its facilities and programs accessible to people with special needs. Elevator access is available to all areas of the building. Please let the box office know of any special needs or requests when you purchase program tickets.

Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.

Cover image: Film still from Brudibar Revisited.

See page 19.

Learning

Contents News Launching a New Generation of Jewish Leaders P5 One Book | One Community Thank You P7

Leadership

Interview with Artist Dimitri Pavlotsky P23 Asher Library Resources P26 Trustee Profile: Bruce Hecktman P29

Professional Development from the Center for Jewish Leadership Community Mentoring P9

Arts & Culture

Jewish Community Networking Night P9 Certificate in Jewish Leadership P10 Master Classes and Workshops P11

Degree Programs Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies P10 Masters and Doctoral Programs in Jewish Studies P13

News

Programs and Events Cultivating Sacred Moments | Vital Resources for Clergy and Chaplains P6 Spertus in the Suburbs | Expressions of Jewish Culture P15 Spring Concert | Sephardic Journey P17 Film Premiere | Brundibar Revisited P19

Resources

Film, Television, and the American Jewish Story P21 Collection Highlights P25 Greater Chicago Jewish Festival P31

Sponsorship, Support, and Membership Calendar

P28

P30

Events

Spertus Institute Spring/Summer 2016 Two-for-One Program Coupon

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A number of programs in this publication are marked with this 2-for-1 icon. When you register online for these programs you will be able to bring a friend or colleague for free, as our gift to you.

Meet a New Generation

Supported by a generous grant from the Crown Family.

Pictured above, back row, left to right: Dr. Barry Chazan, Founding MAJPS Director, Spertus Institute Dr. Dean P. Bell, Provost and Vice President, Spertus Institute Matthew David Rissien, Director of Youth Activities, Congregation Beth Shalom Rachel Roth, Chief Operating Officer, American Conference of Cantors Daniel Cohen, JD Candidate, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Scott Frankel, Producer, Video & Communications, The iCenter Deborah Lust Zaluda, US Director, Puzzle Israel Sarah Elizabeth Cort, Summer Camps Director, YMCA Camp Echo Jim Rosenberg, Chief of Staff, JUF/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Front row, left to right: Dr. Hal M. Lewis, President and CEO, Spertus Institute Deborah L. Shub, Assistant Director, Leadership Development, JUF/Jewish Federation Tara Lynn Seymour, Marketing and Communications Manager, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School Brittany Abramowicz, Community Educator, Chicago Teen Engagement Initiative, JUF/Jewish Federation Alison Terkel, Goldman Bridge Fellow, ACCESS, AJC Chicago Melissa Green Walny, Director of Operations & Development Manager, UChicago Hillel Tal Rosen, Director of the Center for Jewish Leadership, Spertus Institute

Learning

of Jewish Leaders

Leadership Arts & Culture News

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies Program

Resources

On December 13, Spertus proudly awarded graduate degrees to a cohort of new leaders. These graduates do impressive work at organizations reflecting the depth and diversity of our community. The graduation address was delivered

by Jim Rosenberg, Chief of Staff at the JUF/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. He shared practices that have helped him approach his work in the Jewish community and do his part to make the world a better place.

Jim Rosenberg’s Three Lessons on Leadership Habits matter, even if no one notices.

Principles and values form the bedrock of good decisions.

Events

How you treat others—and how they feel—is more important than anything else.

Support Spertus

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In the Community For Clergy & Chaplains Cultivating Sacred Moments Wednesday, May 4 at 5:30 pm Spertus Institute is pleased to offer a special presentation by Dr. Kenneth Pargament, Recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Dr. Pargament will explore how moments of sacred connection can be cultivated for the good of congregations and communities.

This program is for clergy and chaplains of all religious denominations.

Interested members of the general public are also welcome. $10 | $8 for students | $8 for Spertus members and alumni Call 312.322.1773 or buy tickets online at spertus.edu/tickets

Greater Chicago Jewish Festival Sunday, June 5 from 11 am to 6 pm

This year, Spertus Institute is proudly sponsoring the Festival’s Organization Fair.

We’ll provide a platform of support for community organizations at the Festival, just as we provide a platform of education, resources, and professional development for those who work with local Jewish organizations. Working the Festival? Stop by our hospitality tent for refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there! For more about this year’s Festival, see page 31.

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Learning

On the 7th floor of Spertus institute, see a series of works by eccentric Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

This piece (detail) is titled Slow Train Under the Sun.

Leadership Arts & Culture

One Book | One Community 2015 News

A Backpack, A Bear, and Insights About Refugees

Resources

A warm shout out to everyone who joined us and to all who read, recommended, and discussed this year’s book!

Missed the talk?

Download the audio at spertus.edu/LevAudio

Events

Capping 2015’s One Book | One Community, author Lev Golinkin spoke in Highland Park and at Spertus, sharing his family’s experiences as refugees from the Soviet Union. His heartfelt talk touched the audience as he reminded us to not let history repeat itself.

Thank you for helping spread the word Media Sponsor | JUF News Synagogue Sponsor | North Suburban Synagogue Beth El

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The Russian Division of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago

Supported by a generous grant from the Crown Family.

Sponsored by: John & Joan Gilchrist Executive Directors-Investments

A mentor is the best antianxiety treatment on earth. 窶認orbes

Learning

Community Mentoring

Leadership

The Community Mentoring Project connects current and future Jewish organizational leaders, fostering professional growth and sharing knowledge and expertise.

Be paired with a seasoned professional from outside your organization for one-on-one mentoring sessions. Participation is free. Space is limited. Available to those in paid positions with Chicago-area institutions that serve the Jewish community.

Application deadline is March 18, 2016.

Apply online at spertus.edu/CommunityMentoring

Arts & Culture

Jewish Community Networking Night Thursday, April 14 at 5:30 pm Once a year, Spertus Institute hosts a gathering for the professionals and volunteers who serve Jewish Chicago.

This special evening provides an opportunity to network with colleagues from other organizations, celebrate successes, and learn new ways to advance careers in the Jewish communal world.

News

Do you work in, for, or with a Jewish organization?

This event is for you!

Resources Events

This year, enjoy an opportunity to hear from Caren Yanis, President, Crown Family Philanthropies, who will be joined

by Gali Cooks Executive Director of Leading Edge, an alliance focused on building excellence in Jewish leadership. They will build a case for why every Jewish organization should be a great place to work. They will share real-world steps that came be taken in organizations of all shapes and sizes, by staff members anywhere on the org chart.

Innovation and Collaboration Awards will be announced for projects with creative concepts that reach across institutions to serve the greater Chicago Jewish community.

This event is part of the Great Jewish Places to Work initiative.

These free offerings are possible by a generous grant to the Center for Jewish Leadership from the Crown Family. We are grateful for their support.

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Advance reservations required by April 11.

Register online at spertus.edu/Community

Supported by a generous grant from the Crown Family.

Helped me reach a personal understanding of what it means to lead Jewishly. — Joshua Donner, Executive Director, Shapira Foundation

Leadership Opportunities for Those Working for and with Jewish Organizations Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies (MAJPS) Designed to advance the professional skills and Jewish knowledge of those working for (or seeking to work for) the Jewish community. Offers courses in classical and contemporary Jewish knowledge combined with essential professional training and a program-long mentorship. Can be completed in two years and three months. Fellowships for those beginning the program with June seminar. More at spertus.edu/MAJPS

Executive Masters in Jewish Professional Studies (Executive MAJPS) New program launched for those in senior positions at Jewish organizations.

Seminars, classes, and executive coaching are tailored to the needs of those with 12+ years experience working in the Jewish community. Can be completed in one year. For a limited time, fellowships reduce program costs by 70%. Begins in June. More at spertus.edu/executive

Certificate in Jewish Leadership Presented through a Northwestern University/Spertus Institute partnership, this four-module-long program is for professionals and lay leaders working for and with Jewish organizations. Through lectures and group work led by Northwestern and Spertus faculty, participants learn to manage change and cultivate their own leadership styles. Begins in November. More at spertus.edu/certificate

Rather talk?

Contact Director of Enrollment Stacey Flint, who will meet you to discuss your goals and share how Spertus leadership programs can accelerate your career or empower your staff. Reach her at sflint@spertus.edu or 312.322.1707.

Spertus Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

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Learning

Four-Session Master Class Call 312.322.1773 or register online at spertus.edu/tickets $199 | $169 for Spertus members, students, and alumni

Leadership

Personal Branding Wednesdays at 6 pm March 16–April 13 (No class March 23 in observance of Purim)

Arts & Culture

You’ve invested a lot of time in your career and organization.

How are you presenting yourself and your company? During this master class with Susan Caplan, you will learn to tell your story, polish your professional brand, and discover resources to help you meet your professional goals.

News

Susan Caplan is a skilled marketing strategist and adjunct instructor at Columbia College School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

She works with schools, businesses, and organizations to help them gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Single-Day Workshops Resources

Open to all. $149 | $129 for Spertus members, students, and alumni. Call 312.322.1773 or register online at spertus.edu/tickets

Grantwriting Wednesday, April 13 from 9 am to 4 pm

Events

This workshop is for beginning and aspiring grant writers. Taught

by Noah Temaner Jenkins, who has helped nonprofits raise more than $10 million, it will cover the basics of writing grant proposals— from conducting research to submission of your proposal.

Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations In this introductory workshop, taught by Certified Fundraising Executive Dr. Laura Mannion, participants will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement an organizational fundraising plan.

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Thursday, May 12 from 9 am to 4 pm

You’re invited to explore our graduate programs in

Jewish Studies

Both the administration and professors show true interest in me as a student. I hope to continue to a Doctorate in Jewish Studies.

— Master’s Student Sean Emslie

The Prophet Isaiah by Raphael, 1512

Learning

Degree Offerings

Leadership

Master of Arts in Jewish Studies Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies Doctor of Jewish Studies Designed for students who seek to explore the breadth of the Jewish experience through advanced scholarship.

Arts & Culture

Courses are offered at our Chicago campus at twice-yearly seminars, as well as through several types of distance learning formats.

Distinguished faculty Outstanding curricula and resources Opportunities to pursue individual interests Nondenominational environment open to all Flexible start dates

News

At Spertus, we embrace the idea that the wisdom of Jewish thought and the richness of Jewish history inspire Jewish society and Judaism today.

Our programs encourage intellectual and spiritual reflection in the service of students’ personal, professional, and communal advancement.

WebConferencing Course for New Students

Begins Wednesday, April 6 Taught by Rabbi Dr. Peter Knobel, Senior Rabbi of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois, and immediate past president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Resources

Introduction to Jewish Studies

Onsite Seminars Events

Spring | Sunday–Thursday, March 6–10 Summer | Sunday–Thursday, July 10–14 Seminars offer an exciting range of courses that meet requirements in each of the masters and doctoral programs.

Spertus Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Find out more at spertus.edu/JewishStudies Or contact Stacey Flint, Director of Enrollment Management, at sflint@spertus.edu.

Learning

Expressions 0f Jewish Culture Evanston Art Center At their new location 1717 Central Street, Evanston

Leadership

Spertus Institute brings three renowned Jewish art experts to Evanston to share how Judaism and Jewish culture have been expressed through the arts.

Take all three sessions for $75 | $60 for Spertus members $40 for students and Spertus alumni

Arts & Culture

Single sessions are $30 | $25 for Spertus members $18 for students and Spertus alumni Call 312.322.1773 or buy tickets online at spertus.edu/tickets

Jewish Manuscript Illumination

News

Thursday, March 17 at 6:30 pm Dr. Marc Michael Epstein, Director of Jewish Studies at Vassar College and former Director of the Hebrew Books and Manuscripts Division of Sotheby’s, leads a journey through the luxurious world of handcrafted Jewish books.

Resources

American Synagogues and Jewish Identity Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 pm Dr. Samuel Gruber, a renowned art historian and architecture preservationist who teaches in the Jewish Studies Program at Syracuse University, explores the evolving form and meaning of the American synagogue.

Events

The Case of the Missing Kiddush Cup Thursday, March 31 at 6:30 pm

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Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit, who directs two pioneering graduate programs in Jewish culture and the arts at George Washington University, investigates why a Kiddush cup, a seder plate, or a souvenir from Israel mattered years ago and continue to matter today.

Sephardic Journey Sunday, April 17 at 2 pm Husband and wife musicians Eugenia Moliner, flute, and Denis Azabagic, guitar, are dedicated soloists and chamber musicians. As the internationally acclaimed Cavatina Duo, they have performed in major venues around the world— from the Ravinia Festival here at home to the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

For their new Cedille Records CD, they commissioned new compositions inspired

by Sephardic music from the Jews of Spain.

For this Spring Spertus Concert, they will perform these works joined by special guests DesirĂŠe Ruhstrat and David Cunliffe of the Lincoln Trio.

The musicians will be signing CDs following the performance.

Reserved seating. $18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for students and Spertus alumni Call 312.322.1773 or buy tickets online at spertus.edu/tickets The musical program will include new pieces based on traditional Sephardic melodies as well as a work based on The Tumblers, a short story by award-winning writer Nathan Englander.

This project was born of profound personal discovery for Eugenia Moliner (who is from Spain) and Denis Azabagic (from Bosnia), when both found out as adults that their families descended from Spanish Jews.

Brookdale Lake Shore Drive Senior Living Solutions is the Silver Performance Sponsor of this event.

Learning

Critical Acclaim for Cavatina Duo This “flute-and-guitar duo… is generally considered to be the best of them” — New York Magazine

Leadership

They worked a kind of magic with their instruments… the collaborative powers of this couple are extraordinary — Chicago Sun-Times News

Arts & Culture News Resources Events

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Guest Performers Desirée Ruhstrat, violin, and David Cunliffe, cello, have performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and in Europe, Asia, and South America.

Nominated for the Prix Europa

Chicago Premiere

BRUNDIBAR Revisited

Directed by Douglas Wolfsperger.

90 minutes. German with English subtitles.

This program is made possible with support from the Bernard and Rochelle Zell Center for Holocaust Studies at Spertus Institute.

Thursday, May 5 at 7 pm In observance of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)

This story has to be heard Anne Frank Center, Berlin

The children’s opera Brundibar was performed more than 50 times in 1943 and 1944 by Jewish children imprisoned at Theresienstadt. These performances were abused by the Nazis as propaganda, yet for those in the camp, Brundibar’s simple story came to symbolize hope for the victory of good over evil.

News

Stay for a post-show discussion with Dr. Kenneth Pargament, a leading figure on the study of religion and resilience. In his research, writing, and clinical practice, he focuses on the ways trauma impacts people psychologically, socially, and physically—and on the ways spirituality can help.

Arts & Culture

In this deeply moving new film, Brundibar is selected for a Berlin-based theater group of young people who A film that goes live on the fringes of society. Members straight to the soul travel to Theresienstadt to learn about the extreme conditions under which the Schwabische Zeitung opera debuted, accompanied by Greta Klingsberg, one of the few survivors of the original cast. She takes the young actors on a journey back in time, forcing them to rethink their attitudes about German history and about themselves.

Leadership

An important and exceptional documentary Berliner Ratschlag Für Demokratie

Learning

Brundibar Revisited

Resources

Members of the youth theater company at Schaubühne Berlin preparing for their performance of Brundibar.

Events

Greta Klingsberg (far left) was deported to Theresienstadt at age thirteen. Suddenly all alone, music helped her to momentarily escape the terrible reality of the camp. About performing in Brundibar, she said, “I was always afraid of the unknown, but when standing on stage, I could enter a totally different world.” After liberation, Greta immigrated to Jerusalem and studied voice at the Jerusalem Conservatoire. She is responsible for the translation of the Brundibar libretto into Hebrew.

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$18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for students and Spertus alumni Call 312.322.1773 or buy tickets online at spertus.edu/tickets

This is the Spertus Institute 2016 Alex and Klara Tulsky Presentation on the Jewish Future.

Images, clockwise from top: Knocked Up, This Is Where I Leave You, Homeland, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.

Learning Leadership

Film, Television, and the American Jewish Story Sunday, May 22 at 2 pm

Arts & Culture News Resources

As American Jewish writers, directors, and producers have become increasingly comfortable with their heritage, an unprecedented number of television shows and movies spotlight Jewish protagonists, experiences, and challenges. Join Dr. Eric Goldman for an exploration of the evolving social, political, and cultural situation of American Jews, seen through the lens of film and TV. Dr. Goldman will be discussing the films and shows pictured here—and many more.

Events

Dr. Eric Goldman is Adjunct Professor of Cinema at Yeshiva University, founder of Ergo Media, and author, most recently, of American Jewish Story through the Cinema. In 2014, he joined Robert Osborne on the Turner Classic Movies television network to co-host the monthlong series, The Projected Image: The Jewish Experience on Film.

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$18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for students and Spertus alumni Call 312.322.1773 or buy tickets online at spertus.edu/tickets

Midwest Jewish Artists Lab The Midwest Jewish Artists Lab is supported by a grant from the Covenant Foundation.

An interview with artist Dimitri Pavlotsky This past summer, Spertus Institute announced the Chicago launch of the Midwest Jewish Artists Lab. Spertus believes arts and culture are critical components of a vibrant Jewish community. The Lab addresses the need to broaden the impact of the arts in Jewish life, helping foster community and inspire new work.

Assistant Editor Joanna Rothenberg interviewed participating artist Dimitri Pavlotsky, who originally hails from Moscow and now lives in Logan Square.

Learning

Applications are now being accepted for the second Chicago cohort of the Midwest Artists Lab. Information at spertus.edu/lab JR: How did you hear about the Midwest Artists Lab and what are you finding useful about the program?

DP: I discovered it by accident. I’ve always felt I’ve had more energy than the average person and I wanted to share it. At first I was hesitatant to film myself, worrying it would be inhibiting, but instead it was the opposite—I became more disciplined because every move was captured.

The energy doesn’t just come from my hands but from my entire body.

New work by Dimitri Pavlotsky and the other artists participating in the Chicago cohort of the Midwest Artists Lab will go on display at Spertus this fall.

Events

To learn more about the project, read the full version of this interview, and see a video of Dimitri at work, visit spertus.edu/lab

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By the time I arrived here, I was already shaped by the Soviets. My education there was great [Dimitri studied at the Moscow School of Architecture] but I didn’t realize how deprived I was as a child by not practicing Judaism. Here it’s quite a different atmosphere. I decide; not some system already in place.

JR: Recently you added a performance element to your work, filming yourself as you paint. Where did this come from?

Resources

Soviets are wary of any establishment that claims to want to help shape our ideology. On the other hand, this institution [Spertus] wants to help. In Moscow, we didn’t practice anything—especially Judaism. I remember coming home from school once and saw a box of matzo on the table. In retrospect, I realize it was probably Passover but back then I had no idea.

DP: It’s a painting based off a work from the 19th century by Orest Kiprensky. In the original painting, the man was drawn with smooth skin and looked quite relaxed…I thought the earlier work didn’t properly represent current life. Life is filled with anguish so I went with jerky moves and compulsive strokes.

News

DP: Being Soviet is my character.

I immigrated to the United States in 1989 when I was 26 years old.

My interest in my background subsided after the Cold War, but through my work with the Artists Lab it has perked back up.

JR: Tell me about your work, Young Gardener (shown left).

Arts & Culture

JR: Speaking of immigrants, we’ve focused our public programing over the last few months on the experience of Soviet Jews, and found for many that their Soviet background continued to inform their identity. Has that been true for you?

DP: My first large show was at the Chabad in Bucktown. I have also exhibited with the Chicago Artists Coalition and at Studio Oh!

Leadership

DP: I heard about it through Facebook. My friend saw it and correctly thought it was right up my alley. I have this need to be a part of a “tribe”—whether that be a tribe of artists, immigrants, or Jews. The Lab is exactly the niche I was looking for.

JR: Where have you exhibited?

Spice Containers (Besamim) from the Spertus Institute Collection.

Learn about them online.

Yiddish typewriter used by Chicago journalist Morris Indritz, Corona Typewriter Company, ca. 1920, Spertus Institute Collection.

Learn about it online.

In the vestibule, see this major work by Irving Petlin, who was raised in Wicker Park and now, still painting in his ninth decade, lives and works in Paris.

Learning Leadership Arts & Culture News

Collection Highlights Online

Resources

Highlights from Spertus Institute’s collection can now be viewed online—allowing you to explore treasures of Jewish art and material culture. Browse objects by themes, view them by category, or search by keyword. Take a closer look with high-resolution photography and multimedia clips.

This project is funded by a grant from the Spitz Foundation.

Visit collection.spertus.edu

On Display Events

While we prepare for the Midwest Jewish Artists Lab show coming this fall (see pages 22 and 23), a selection of art from the Spertus collection is on display in locations throughout our building. When you visit for programs, classes, or research, pick up a free self-guided tour to learn about the unique architecture of the Spertus building and about the artwork on view.

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Exhibits at Spertus Institute are supported in part by the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation.

Asher Library

Resources

Hours Sunday 12–4 pm Monday–Thursday 4–6:30 pm Closed Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish and secular holidays.

Check spertus.edu for new hours starting in July.

As a Spertus student or member, you can: Select books, DVDs, and CDs from the Asher Library’s online catalog and have them ready for pick-up at the Spertus front desk any time the building is open—no parking necessary!

We’ll also be happy to send them to you by mail (shipping fee required).

Have online access to vast digital libraries of classic Jewish texts: Bible, Talmud, Midrash, commentaries, ethics, and mysticism, many in English translation.

Access the full text of articles in over 8,700 journals covering liberal arts and sciences, education, and business, including many of the most important scholarly and popular publications on Jewish thought, history, and culture.

Request that a journal article or book chapter from the Library’s collection be scanned and sent to you.

Request an interlibrary loan for a book or article we don’t have.

Email resources@spertus.edu or call 312.322.1712 to avail yourself of these services, for help in navigating the online resources, or just to ask a question.

To become a Spertus member, vist donate.spertus.edu/membership Is there a book or film we are missing, or a service you would like to see?

Please tell us about it. We’d love to hear from you.

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Spertus Shop

Learning

Our year-end sale was so successful that it’s on again through Passover!

Chicago’s go-to place for all things Jewish Leadership

Order online at shop.spertus.edu or call toll-free 888.322.1740

Hours Thursday 10 am – 6 pm Friday 10 am – 3 pm Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

Your purchases support Spertus programs, helping foster Jewish culture and education. The Spertus Shop is endowed by George and Mae Bariff.

Passover 2016 begins at sundown on April 22 and runs through April 30.

Events at Spertus Institute are managed by Venue SIX10, selected a “Best Event Space 2015”

by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Resources

Planning a Party?

News

Mary Jureck Seder Plate, on sale for $187

Arts & Culture

Free ground shipping on orders over $100.

Stunning panoramic views.

Visit VenueSIX10.com or call 312.322.1725

Silver LEEDs certified, perfect for when you’re keeping it green.

Impeccable service and skilled on-site staff.

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Choose from a select group of Chicago’s finest caterers, with both kosher and non-kosher options.

Events

400-seat theater, state-of-the-art breakout rooms, and expansive open-floor-plan event spaces, all under one roof.

When you support Spertus Institute, you foster vibrant Jewish communities and an enduring Jewish future!

Every Spertus Institute course, program, production, and presentation is made possible by charitable donations from individuals like you.

Memberships and contributions sustain Jewish learning and culture, cultivate community leadership, and foster the vitality of Jewish life.

Join, renew, or donate at donate.spertus.edu Members receive program and shop discounts and a range of other perks. See list of benefits online.

Call 312.322.1777 to discuss giving options or join or renew by phone.

Thank you to our growing list of sponsors and business partners.

You, too, can be on this list. Contact Ellen Hattenbach, Spertus Vice President of External Relations, at ehattenbach@spertus.edu to learn how.

Learning

Trustee Profile

Leadership

Jerry, Ruth, Bruce, and Barbie Hecktman on the Wilkow Family Terrace at Spertus Institute.

Spertus: Your parents have long been involved with Spertus. Do you remember your first contact?

Spertus: What made you want to be involved?

Events

Spertus: Tell me about your kids (because we want to be ready in 2036 or so when they are ready to serve on the Spertus Board).

BH: My daughter will soon be graduating from The Ohio State University, and my son is a sophomore at Washington University in St.Louis.

So yes, 2036 seems just about right.

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BH: Most importantly the Spertus mission, because the work Spertus does is an investment in the future of the Chicago Jewish community.

From a personal standpoint, my grandfather was a rabbi on the southwest side of Chicago from the 1930s to the 1970s. Knowing what he endured—the discrimination and antisemitism that he faced—made me realize how important it is to give back to the Jewish community.

BH: Trustees provide guidance and support, both financial and through their expertise. Those with business experience bring ideas and leadership skills from the corporate world and use them to ensure that a nonprofit like Spertus continuously incorporates best practices and strategies that enhance the ways it serves the community.

Resources

BH: I was among their guests at the opening of the new building in 2007. I was extremely impressed— with the building, of course, but even more so with the capability and energy of the organization.

Spertus: What is the role of a Trustee for an organization like Spertus, and why is it important for business leaders like yourself to share their expertise with mission-driven organizations?

News

We took this occasion to question Bruce about life, leadership, and his generous work on behalf of Spertus and the Jewish community.

Arts & Culture

Spertus Institute is very pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Hecktman as Treasurer of the Spertus Board of Trustees. Bruce, who in his day job is President of Millbrook Real Estate Company, brings impressive expertise to this important volunteer leadership position—particularly in finance and asset management. He also continues a proud family tradition for which Spertus is extremely grateful: He is a second generation Spertus Trustee, serving alongside his father, Jerry, as one of two father-son pairs on the Spertus board. (The other: Philip and Michael Spertus.)

Calendar March 2016

May 2016

Wednesday, March 16

Wednesday, May 4 5:30 pm Cultivating Sacred Moments P6

6 pm

Master Class Begins: Personal Branding P11

Thursday, March 17 6:30 pm Jewish Manuscript Illumination P15

Thursday, May 5

Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) 7 pm

Brundibar Revisted P19

Tuesday, March 22 6:30 pm American Synagogues and Jewish Identity P15

Thursday, May 12 9 am Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations P11

Thursday, March 31 6:30 pm The Case of the Missing Kiddush Cup P15

Sunday, May 22 2 pm Film, Television, and the American Jewish Story P21

April 2016

Sunday, May 29

Asher Library & Spertus Shop closed for the day

Wednesday, April 13 9 am Grantwriting Workshop P11

Monday, May 30

Spertus closed for Memorial Day

Sunday, April 17 2 pm Sephardic Journey P17

June 2016

Friday, April 22 3 pm Spertus closes for Erev Passover

Sunday, June 5

Greater Chicago Jewish Festival

Sunday, April 24

Spertus closed for Passover

Sunday, June 12

Spertus closed for Shavuot

Thursday, April 28 3 pm Spertus closes for Passover

Monday, June 13

Spertus closed for Shavuot

Friday, April 29

Spertus closed for Passover

July 2016 Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4

Spertus closed for Independence Day

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Spertus Institute brings three renowned Jewish art experts to Evanston for a series on Jewish culture.

Begins March 17.

See P15

Permit No. 7320 Chicago, Illinois

PAID

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage