Founded in 2001 December 2019/January 2020 Shalom from Rabbi Adam Chalom “Time and Space” As some of you know, I live near the site that was formerly Congregation Bnai Torah in Highland Park. After the congregation closed, it has sat there vacant for many years. As of this writing, the demolition has begun. In a few months, new arrivals to the area will not know what used to be there, just as many people driving on Deerfield Road just west of I-94 only see an apartment complex. They cannot imagine the Congregation Beth Or building that was there for 40 years, a site of Humanistic Jewish celebration and memory for most of its lifespan. Time moves on, and so do we; time has no memory, but we do. This is likely the last Shofar column I will be writing in our offices in Lincolnshire, which we have occupied since 2006. Most of our members have no idea where the Kol Hadash offices have been, unless they have come to an adult education class or a Steering Committee meeting, or met with me for a wedding or a funeral or just to talk. Most of the time, it has been our administrator Jeremy and I, and all the High Holiday services and Sunday School supplies, and our congregational library (yes, we have a small congregational library), and our shabbat services, and our files and files and files. Our space is not been fully defined by our things, of course. What makes a house a home is more than clothes and dishes. There are also the phone calls and the emails, the sermons written and the ceremonies created, the emotions felt and the memories made. The art on the walls, the view from the window, even the annual luncheon hosted by the office building where we see all of the other businesses that work in their own worlds the rest of the year. My next Shofar column will likely be written in our new offices in the North Shore Unitarian Church, where we held our classes and Shabbats and High Holidays for the last several years. This will put our behind-the-scenes office space and committee meetings with our public events and programs, and it will certainly simplify administrative work to organize everything. Still, transitions are worth noting, and I have no doubt that this next stage in our congregational life will be an important step forward. In the future, if you drive by the corner of Olde Half Day Road and Milwaukee Avenue, maybe you’ll remember that once upon a time, there was a space in the office building behind the Walgreen’s that was the home of Kol Hadash. We do not need an historical plaque if we remember to remember.
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Founded in 2001 December 2019/January 2020
Shalom from Rabbi Adam Chalom “Time and Space”
As some of you know, I live near the site that was formerly
Congregation Bnai Torah in Highland Park. After the congregation closed, it has sat there vacant for many years. As
of this writing, the demolition has begun. In a few months, new
arrivals to the area will not know what used to be there, just as
many people driving on Deerfield Road just west of I-94 only see
an apartment complex. They cannot imagine the Congregation Beth Or building that was there for 40 years, a site of
Humanistic Jewish celebration and memory for most of its
lifespan. Time moves on, and so do we; time has no memory,
but we do.
This is likely the last Shofar column I will be writing in our offices in Lincolnshire, which we have
occupied since 2006. Most of our members have no idea where the Kol Hadash offices have been,
unless they have come to an adult education class or a Steering Committee meeting, or met with me for a wedding or a funeral or just to talk. Most of the time, it has been our administrator
Jeremy and I, and all the High Holiday services and Sunday School supplies, and our
congregational library (yes, we have a small congregational library), and our shabbat services,
and our files and files and files.
Our space is not been fully defined by our things, of course. What makes a house a home is more
than clothes and dishes. There are also the phone calls and the emails, the sermons written and the ceremonies created, the emotions felt and the memories made. The art on the walls, the
view from the window, even the annual luncheon hosted by the office building where we see all
of the other businesses that work in their own worlds the rest of the year.
My next Shofar column will likely be written in our new offices in the North Shore Unitarian
Church, where we held our classes and Shabbats and High Holidays for the last several years. This
will put our behind-the-scenes office space and committee meetings with our public events and
programs, and it will certainly simplify administrative work to organize everything. Still, transitions are worth noting, and I have no doubt that this next stage in our congregational life
will be an important step forward.
In the future, if you drive by the corner of Olde Half Day Road and Milwaukee Avenue, maybe
you’ll remember that once upon a time, there was a space in the office building behind the
Walgreen’s that was the home of Kol Hadash. We do not need an historical plaque if we
remember to remember.
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Dear fellow Kolhadashians, Thanks to an influx of new members and an increase in Sustaining Memberships, Kol Hadash continues to be financially healthy. Total dues pledges to date have reached $212,850, a slight increase compared to $208,740 last year at this time. Youth Education fees are off about 15% from last year. Of course, membership pledges and school fees have never covered the full cost of running the congregation, and this year will be no different. Thank you in advance for considering donations and sponsorships during the remainder of this fiscal year, so as to help us close our projected budget deficit. Donations to date are just a bit above last year, at $16,000.
As always, I’m happy to speak with you about our finances or any other topics that interest you. Write to me at [email protected]
Now that we’ve cleared High Holidays and all KH members (I hope) are written (metaphorically) in the Book of Life, I hope you feel ready to brave a Chicago winter—or head south for a few months! This winter will bring a big change for Kol Hadash, as we move our offices to the North Shore Unitarian Church. No longer are we a vagabond organization seeking hosts for our various activities. Come 2020, almost everything we do (except our Sunday School and social groups) will happen at the Church. We expect to have a nice, wooden nametag holder just outside the sanctuary, like the church members use today. We will participate in upgrades to the church space, such as security and perhaps improved sanctuary chairs and signage. When I wrote a few months ago that “the State of the Congregation is strong, with membership growing,” I did not know how the current congregational fiscal year (that began in July) would work out.
Happily, that forecast turned out to be correct, with nineteen new member households as of this writing, including five new school families. As Ilya Talman reports in the Finance Committee column in this issue, membership dollar pledges are also up, while expenses have been cut, which will help close our projected budget deficit. As always, please continue to share your Kol Hadash experience with people seeking opportunities to create and celebrate a meaningful Jewish life. And please feel free to sit in on any Kol Hadash committee—no commitment! All meetings appear on the Kol Hadash calendar online. Or feel free to contact me ([email protected]) or any Steering Committee member with your ideas and suggestions.
Progressive Dinner As advertised, the 60 participants at our Chicago-themed Progressive Dinner had an “L” of a good time. Congrats to Leora Hatchwell, who won the prize for most cleverly named appetizer for her bean dip entitled "Chicago Fire at the Millenium Bean Dip,” and to Mike Lippitz, who won the prize for the most cleverly named dessert with his s’mores pie entitled "Lake S’more Drive." A big thank you to all the people who made the evening possible: Appetizer hosts Alisa & Bruce Klein; dessert host Mike Lippitz; and dinner hosts Ellen & Mitch Apley, Andrea & Mark Friedlander,
Lori & Scott Gerberding, Rhonda & Robert Hart, Glynis & David Hirsch, Judith Pearlman, and Marsha & Mark Milstein. And a special thank you to the Progressive Dinner Committee for organizing the event: Sue Addelson, Andrea Friedlander, Leora Hatchwell, and Marsha Milstein.
Holiday Collection Many, many thanks to the Kol Hadash community for donating so generously as part of our High Holidays collection for A Safe Place, the local organization that provides services for victims of domestic violence. We collected many items on the Safe Place wish list — items that will help meet the most important daily needs of the women and children served by the organization.
Our next Values in Action event is Saturday, January 18 at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville.
Meet Judy and Steve Rosenzweig
Year joined: 2018
Judy and Steve Rosenzweig live in Buffalo Grove. Steve is a retired Spanish teacher and now substitute teaches. Judy, a former teacher and market research supervisor, volunteers at Highland Park Hospital. They enjoy travelling and have been to all 50 states in the US and many of foreign countries.
They are the proud parents of two adult daughters. One lives in Milwaukee with her husband and their two children. The other lives overseas with her husband and their two children.
Judy and Steve came to a Kol Hadash Passover Seder at Bluegrass. After spending time with other members, they decided it was a good fit for their needs.
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Adult Education
Celebrations
North Shore Unitarian Church 7:30-9:00 PM
Coming Soon!
Friday, December 6
Discussion Shabbat: Jacob the Trickster
In this week’s Torah Portion can reflect and illuminate some of our own challenges with family dynamics and honest dealing.
Friday, December 13
Music Shabbat: The December Dilemma
Today’s Jewish families approach the holidays of the winter solstice in many ways. What do you choose, and why?
Sunday, December 15 Family Hanukkah Celebration
Celebrate Hanukkah with a service & singing. Introducing the 1st Annual Dreidel Tournament! Enjoy lunch together, too!
Kol Hadash provides the main course, latkes, & dessert; families bring a potluck salad or side dish. There is a small fee for food.
Friday, January 10 Music Shabbat: The Year in Review
2019 has proven to be a momentous year. What does 2020 have in store for us? Don’t miss this fascinating look back and forward.
Friday, January 24
Discussion Shabbat: Jewish Views on Immigration
What balance do Jewish voices envision between having borders and welcoming the stranger?
Friday, January 31
Discussion Shabbat: Alternate Endings
Join Marla Davishoff to learn how we can integrate our humanistic values and beliefs to empower ourselves and our loved ones about alternative end of life options.
Winers Gathering Saturday, December 14, 7:00 PM
Join us! All are welcome! This month we’re at the home of
Sandra Schechner and William Brinkman in Palatine.
Children ages 2-6 with a grown up join Rabbi Adam Chalom and veteran preschool teacher Lynn Miller as they explore a Jewish holiday or cultural value along with interactive songs, books and hands-on activities. There is time for a snack and for the children and parents to socialize. At home resources will also be provided.
Parents Join Sunday School
Sunday, January 12
Open House & Sunday School Try-Out
9:30-11:30 AM We welcome non-members to join us—there is no expectation of a commitment by coming.
Class Showcase & Parents Meeting 9:30-10:45 AM
Parents are invited to an activity in their child’s classroom, join with other parents afterwards.
Family Education: Judaism & Humanism 101 10:45-11:30 AM
Become confident in your foundation of Jewish knowledge; deepen Jewish cultural literacy; learn (or re-learn) essential facts to understand and explain our combination of Judaism and Humanism.
Challah Making Class
Sunday, January 26, 9:30 AM
All are welcome to this free program!We’ll make challah together and you’ll bring yours home to bake. Please register on the website so we have enough supplies for everyone!
Hanukkah Celebration
Sunday, December 15 11:00 AM — 12:30 PM
Celebrate the holiday with a service & singing. Introducing the 1st Annual Dreidel Tournament! Enjoy lunch together, too!
Family Education: Jewish Food
February 23, 10:30-11:00 AM
Become familiar with Jewish food, the traditional dietary rules and more!
Taste of Kol Hadash
February 23, 11:00-11:30 AM
All members are invited to bring a memorable family recipe to share bite-size servings. It’s a delicious way to learn about each other’s traditions!
Hanukkah Tot Storytimes
Celebrate Jewish Holidays with stories & activities for children up to age 2 with a grownup.
Tuesday, December 17 Wednesday, December 18
Youth Education and Family Events: Contact Ilana Shaffer, [email protected], 773-209-8266
Marianne Lederer Theresa Levoy Ralph Marks Sadelle Miller Hy Muroff Alan Newman
Benjamin Niport Margie Parkinson Baruch Pinko Miriam Saponov Pinko Sophie Rothenberg Saul Shulman
Bill Brinkman Sheldon Brottman Helen Chase Richard Crane Joseph Eisenberg
Miriam Gurewitz Shepard Kass Harold Kirsner Ernest Linick Esther Linick
Ben Meisenberg Fannie Moses Marilyn Muroff Louis Rogovin Bobbye Sarasohn
William Sheck Sharon Shepard Bessie Shlensky Morris Shlensky Bertha Sonshine
Tributes Susan & Roger Addelson, in honor of Marsha & Rick Bolnick’s new granddaughter, General Fund Suzie Garfield, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Susan Braver & Joe Gulmi, General Fund Happy Stone & Rick Henriksen, General Fund Glynis & David Hirsch, In appreciation of Jeremy Owen's wonderful work on High Holidays and everything else Glynis & David Hirsch, In gratitude for the wonderful music, rehearsals, and joy that Ellen Apley brings to the choir and the congregation, General Fund Glynis & David Hirsch, in thanks for all Rabbi Adam does—and Happy Birthday, General Fund Glynis & David Hirsch, in memory of H. Reed Harris, General Fund Sally Rosen & Rich Kleinman, in support of the Sukkot Service & Dinner Lisa & Jon Landsman, in honor of Tate’s Bar Mitzvah, General Fund Margie Marcus, in honor of Andrea & Mark Friedlander and their generosity, General Fund
Progressive Dinner Sponsors: Susan & Roger Addelson, Faye Eisenberg, Andrea & Mark Friedlander, Joyce & William Goldman, Happy Stone & Rick Henriksen, Joyce & Rich Hirsch, Susan Wagner & Mike Lippitz, Dori Rosenbloom Mirman & Chet Mirman, Judith Perlman, Ilana & Marty Shaffer
Marshall Soren Gitel Sosewitz David Steiner Hortense Stichleer Fred Stichler Susan Styer Rose Wagner Isidor Wagner
Mary Spiegel Sol Spiegel Diane Teich Lois Wolens
Family News & Thank You • Mazel Tov to Marsha and Rick Bolnick on the birth of their new grandchild Dezy Shaw.
• Mazel Tov to Mike Lippitz and Sue Wagner (and to our FUNdraiser storyteller and new mom Robyn Kacyn) on the birth and baby naming of their newest granddaughter, Maria Rose Chapman Kacyn.
• Wishing Margie Marcus a swift and full recovery from recent medical treatment.
• Mazel Tov to the Landsman family for Tate’s Bar Mitzvah!
• Mazel Tov to the Kessler family for Evan’s Bar Mitzvah!
• Wishing Rick Bolnick ongoing positive news from medical treatment. • Thank you, recent oneg hosts: Sandra Schechner & William Brinkman, Emma Kowalenko & Tony Bilotti, Alisa &
Bruce Klein, Michelle Fishman, Leah Sosewitz & Helga Gruenbauer • Thank you, Maya Chalom, Karen and Lily Jackson, Sara, Bill, Whitney and Liam Race, and Elyse and Gabe Shaffer for
your help in setting up and cleaning up at our High Holiday Family Services.
• Thank you, Jim and Steven Jacobs for your skilled Shofar blowing at our Rosh Hashanah services.
• Thank you, Mark Friedman for your willingness and expertise as photographer for our family programs.
• Thank You, Lynn Miller for your energy & extra effort to make each Preschool Jewish Discovery class a special experience.
• Thank you, Ken and Laura Burk, Brandon Callahan, Mike Lippitz, Marty Shaffer, and Chad Solomon for constructing our congregational Sukkah and to Ken and Laura Burk, William Brinkman, Rabbi Adam Chalom, Rich Kleinman and Sandra Schechner with assistance from our Youth Group students for disassembling our Sukkah.
• Thank you, Ellen Apley, Sandra Aristodemo, Alex Brook, Maya Chalom, Karen Jackson, Stacey Max, Sally Rosen and Leah Sosewitz for setting up and cleaning up at our Sukkot dinner.
• Thank you, Youth Group students lead by Alec Ratnaswamy for preparing and running the craft activities at our Sukkot Service.
• Thank you, Ellen Apley, Alex Brook, Rachel Keating, Lisa Landsman, Liz Parent, Sara Race, Sally Rosen and Victoria Ratnaswamy for their participation at our September and November Youth Education Committee (YEC) meetings as this parent feedback strengthens our family programs.
The Congregation is invited
The Bat Mitzvah of Whitney Race
Daughter of Sara & Bill Race
Saturday, January 18, 10:30 am
North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield
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175 Olde Half Day Road Suite 123 Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Your Shofar awaits!
The Shofar The Newsletter of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation
Affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism 175 Olde Half Day Road, Suite 123, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Members choose financial commitment — Trial Memberships offered — Jewish and Interfaith families fully participate
We need YOU to cook for us! Open to ALL members!
(especially if you do not have children in Sunday School!)
Please join us at one of our most popular events — featuring everyone’s favorite activity: eating! ALL Kol Hadash members are invited to bring a memorable family recipe -- from any generation and from ANY culture -- to share with everyone. You will share the history of this cherished recipe while adults and children enjoy a small portion of your dish. A delicious way to learn about each other’s traditions! Recipes will be distributed so others can have a chance to make it, too. Recipes must be nut-free, please
F a m i l y E d u c a t i o n : J e w i s h F o o d 10:30-11:00 AM
Become familiar with traditional Jewish dietary rules; introduction to a variety of foods from Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi cultures; modern interpretation of Jewish foods.