1710 S Highland Ave
1710 S Highland Ave. | Lombard, Il 60148 | Ph: 630.627.3912 | Fax: 630.627.9123 | [email protected]
Shabbat Services:
Calendar:
Shabbat Shelach Friday June 15, 2012 7:30 PM Family Shabbat Service Rabbi Cosnowsky will tell a story Oneg Host: Wiseman Family
Wednesday June 13 7:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting
Saturday June 16, 2012 9:30 AM Torah Study with Ashley Rose & Jordy Trafimow 10:30 AM Morning Service Bar Mitzvah: Jared Wiseman
Sunday June 17 5:00 PM PADS 6:30 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting
Shabbat Korach Friday June 22, 2012 8:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service Rabbi Cosnowsky will discuss, “You Are Not Special.” Oneg Host: Waxler Family Saturday June 23, 2012 9:30 AM Torah Study with Ashley Rose & Jordy Trafimow 10:30 AM Morning Service Bat Mitzvah: Samantha Wexler
Thursday May 31 BUILDING CLOSED
Monday June 18 9:30 AM Bus to OSRUI Tuesday June 19 7:30 PM Board of Directors Meeting 7:30 PM Adult Choir Rehearsal Wednesday June 20 7:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting 7:00 PM Membership Committee Meeting Thursday June 21 Building Closed
* Childcare is available during Friday evening services in our Nursery Services of Special Interest:
Friday July 6, 2012 6:30 PM Kabbalat Service Friday August 10, 2012 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat
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June 13, 2012
Sunday June 24 5:00 PM PADS 6:30 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting Monday June 25 7:00 PM Ways & Means Committee Meeting Tuesday June 26 Sisterhood Goes Out to Dinner 7:00 PM Planned Giving Committee Meeting Wednesday June 13 7:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting
Thank You from Rachel Wood It is hard to put in words how amazing and overjoyed I was with the outpouring of gratitude the congregation showed me for my years of preparing students for their b'nai mitzvah. I'd like to thank everyone who sent me words of reflection, congratulations, and for the wonderful trip to Israel. I was in absolute awe seeing all of the former students on the bima reciting the Aliyah together. I regret that I didn't have a chance to speak with everyone individually. A special thanks to Ellen Mandel and her committee for organizing the activities that culminated with being honored at Shabbat services. B'shalom Rachel Wood
2012-2013 Membership & Religious School Information On June 15th, the office will be sending out the 2012-2013 Membership Commitment Forms and Religious School Registration Packets. These will only be sent to those members who have completed their current year financial commitment. If you have any questions please call or email either Carol Meyer or Michele Miller.
Worship Message from Rabbi Cosnowsky Some may wonder, "What do you during summer vacation, Rabbi?" Certainly not sit by the pool reading the latest trashy novel. No, anyone with twins does not sit anywhere at any time, especially not by the pool. And reading a novel? What is that again? However, I do look for opportunities to do various mitzvot during the summer, and this summer is no exception. As many of you know, each summer I get obsessed with bicycle riding. It’s harder to do with the twins these days, but they are almost big enough to fit in the trailer I have behind my bike. This summer, I was hoping to take them on some mitzvah adventures on my bicycle. But I may have to wait until they get a little bigger. In the meantime, I’ve been teaching Jacob, my 8-year-old, about Maimonides' 8 Levels of Charity. They are, in case you don’t remember: The first rung: The one who gives to the poor unwillingly. The second rung: The one who gives gladly. The third rung: The person who gives after being asked. The fourth rung: The person who gives before being asked. The fifth rung: The one who gives and does not know the recipient, but the recipient knows the benefactor. The sixth rung: The one who knows the recipient, but the recipient does not know the benefactor. The seventh rung: The one who gives, but neither the recipient nor the giver know each other. The highest level: The one who teaches a person a way of making a living, whether this is by training him to work, giving him a loan, finding him a job or making it possible for him not to have to beg for a living. At the end of the month, I will be riding my bicycle in the National MS Society’s MS 150 in DeKalb, Illinois. I will be joining the Cyclomaniacs team as we ride along the streets and roads for many long miles. I have long wished to join this bicycle team, but never was in the proper shape. I’m not sure I am now, but at least I’ll show up and hope for the best! Although there were many diseases I could have chosen to raise money
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for, this one is dear to my heart because it affects a large variety of my friends and their families. I will be unable to ride the first day of the ride because of Shabbat, but I will be tackling the second day. Hopefully this is the start of a lifetime of doing mitzvot with my bicycle. My son asked where this fell on Maimonides' ladder. A fine question! And one which I guess has many answers. I’d like to add a rung somewhere on his ladder to say that whoever facilitates the generation of money to help find a cure for any disease has made a good start in healing the world and helping others live lives of health and purpose. May we continue in our efforts to find a cure for the diseases that afflict our friends and loved ones. I’ll keep you posted on my progress as I begin my adventures on my bicycle. I wonder if they’ll ever have a “bike up the Hancock…”??
Adult & Family Services Message from Our President This past winter I had the pleasure of hearing Robert Putnam speak at Elmhurst College. Robert Putnam is a professor of Public Policy at Harvard studying American religious behavior and author most recently of American Grace. He spoke about recent trends in American religious life. One point he made is that American involvement with organized religion has been decreasing in recent years. More young Americans, of all religions and denominations, are choosing not to participate in congregational life. We Jews, although not immune from this trend, are likely to recognize the necessity of supporting our religious organizations. My family lives in Elmhurst, and sometimes it seems that there is a church on every corner of our town. I know many of you live in similar environments. Our non-Jewish friends have many choices of where to worship. We, on the other hand, know that if we do not do the work of supporting Jewish life in DuPage County, no one else will. It is up to us to sustain and nurture our spiritual home. We support our congregation and, in turn, it nurtures us. When I use the term spiritual home, I use the word "home" intentionally. Congregation Etz Chaim is not only our spiritual and religious home, but our physical home as well. In our own homes, our roofs, windows, carpets, and air conditioners age and at some point need repair or replacement. My family just finished remodeling a bathroom that dated back to the 1950s (I'm happy to report that there is no more mustard yellow tile in our house!), and I think a new roof is in our near future. In the same way, our communal home needs our continuing care and attention. Yesterday you all received a letter from me providing detailed information about our aging HVAC system and the need to start saving money to replace our rooftop HVAC units within the next few years. Within the next week you will be receiving your membership packets. Please consider making a donation to our building maintenance fund when you send in your commitment forms so that we can afford to care for our communal home in a responsible way.
Sisterhood News The Sisterhood of Etz Chaim is hosting a Wine, Cheese and Game Night, see flyer. The Sisterhood Dinner will be going to Tuesday, June 26th at Shinto Japanese Steakhouse on Tuesday June 26th, see flyer.
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Saturday, July 28th at 7:00 PM Sisterhood Hosts Wine, Cheese and Game Night The Sisterhood of Etz Chaim is hosting Wine, Cheese & Game Night, Saturday, July 28th at 7:00 PM Please join us for a fun-filled friendly evening of good food, good company and a variety of table games. Circle the date and plan to join us. Bring along a wine, cheese or dessert and any games you would like to play. The cost is only $3.00 per person to cover soft drinks and paper goods. Sign up forms can be found in the synagogue lobby or fill out the sheet below and return it to the synagogue office along with your payment by Tuesday, July 24th. You can also sign up by emailing MerleErlich (mrserlich@comcast,net)
Wine, Cheese & Game Night Reservation Form Name________________________________________________ Number Attending______________________________________ Amount enclosed ($3.00 per person)________________________ I/We will bring: _________Wine
_________Cheese(or) _________Dessert
I/We are willing to help with ___________set up ___________clean up Email address: ________________________________
Sisterhood Dinner Bunch, Hibachi Style Tuesday Evening, June 26th 7:00 PM Shinto Japanese Steakhouse 504 North Route 59, Naperville (630-637-8899) (when heading south on 59, make a left on Aurora Rd.-- Then a quick right behind gas station) $12 Tuesday Night Special! Steak or Chicken Hibachi Dinner (soup, salad & rice) RESERVATIONS DEFINITELY NEEDED BY 6/24 SO WE CAN FILL TABLES! RSVP to Merle Erlich: [email protected] (carpools are being set up)
DuPage United June 2012 Update DuPage United and Amy Lawless Ayala, lead organizer of DU, were awarded the United Methodist Bishop's award for Ecumenical and Interfaith work on Friday June 8th at the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Accepting the award were Amy Lawless Ayala with her son Isaac, Maria Ibarra Lorense and her son Andres of Downers Grove Friends Society, Father John of St. Mary’s West Chicago, Martha Sobie of Faith Lutheran, Glen Ellyn, Chris Pierson of UMCNIC, Mary Hason of Congregation Etz Chaim, Lombard, Mohamed Qadeer of Islamic Center Naperville with presenter Rev.Amos Oladipo, CCUIC Chair. DuPage United is having a fundraising campaign in June and July. Harriet Rose and Mary Hason are the co-chairs of the Funding Our Future campaign which has a goal of $50,000. There are two parts to the campaign: individual donations and an adbook, which will be given to the 600 attending the 2012 DuPage United Delegate Assembly in October. The adbook will also be available at the 26 member institutions and will be given out at events throughout the year. At this year’s delegate assembly we will celebrate a decade of achievements. Congregation Etz Chaim was a member at the founding assembly of DuPage United in 2002.
Connections Team- Conversations with Members May 2012 In May Rabbi Cosnowsky sent letters to the 91 members who have joined Etz Chaim in the last three years inviting them to meet with a member of the Connections Team of our Social Action Committee. At these half hour meetings, members will talk of their passions and concerns with the goal of finding common ground to work together and to add value to our congregation and community. This is a way to share interests and give a greater sense of belonging. Barbara Margolis will be calling those who have received the letters, to arrange a meeting with the member and a Connections Team member. If others would like an opportunity to participate please contact Barbara. It has been about three years since we last had these conversations at Etz Chaim. The conversations are called one on ones. These are the building blocks of community organizing. Our community organization, DuPage United, uses them to build relationships within institutions, among institutions and the greater community.
More Social Action News Recycle- Help the Social Action Committee recycle, raise funds and reduce pollution. Please save your used printer and toner cartridges from home, work and school. Have any unused cartridges for equipment you no longer own? We'll recycle those too. A collection bin will be located in the synagogue lobby.
Stay Connected this Summer- Play Mah Jongg at Etz Chaim Monday evenings and/or Tuesday afternoons in July and August. Don't know how to play, come and learn.
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STAY CONNECTED THIS SUMMER!* PLAY MAH JONG AT ETZ CHAIM! MONDAY EVENINGS AND/OR TUESDAY AFTERNOONS IN JULY & AUGUST INSTRUCTIONAL TABLES BY RESERVATION FOR BEGINNERS & THOSE NEW TO THE GAME! MONDAY EVENINGS – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM - July 9th through August 27th Bring your own soft drink and join new friends and old in playing Mah Jong. July 9th July 16th July 23rd July 30th
August 6th August 13th August 20th August 27th
Please RSVP your attendance for July 9th to Merle Erlich Sign up sheets for remaining dates will be available that night, so bring your calendars! TUESDAY AFTERNOONS – 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM July 10th through August 28th 12:00 Noon Brown Bag Lunch Optional – Play begins at 12:30 Bring your own soft drinks! July 10th July 17th July 24rd July 31st
August 7th August 14th August 21st August 28th
Please RSVP your attendance for July 10th to Merle Erlich Sign up sheets for remaining dates will be available that afternoon, so bring your calendars! (Also, should there be interest, babysitting can be arranged.) INSTRUCTIONAL TABLES ON MONDAY EVENINGS & TUESDAY AFTERNOONS If you are interested in learning Mah Jong or if you are an infrequent or beginning player, volunteers will be available to instruct on Monday evenings or Tuesday afternoons during the above sessions. We ask that you reserve a place at these tables so that we can have enough instructors and materials for you. Please contact Merle Erlich. We look forward to growing our participation!! At the first sessions, we’ll have sign- up sheets and information on how to obtain a card *Sponsored by the Connections Team as part of the Etz Chaim Social Action Committee
School & Youth Activities Message from Anne On June 12th, 19 people left Chicago for Israel as part of the Family Trip 2012. I will try to blog as often as possible. We will be traveling around the whole country seeing as much as we can. We will swim, climb, hike, ride jeeps, float, repel and learn. If you would like to follow our adventures, read our blog that will be found on the home page of our website.
Did You Know Manna The Ways and Means Committee has a variety of Manna gift cards that can be purchased during the summer months. Go to http://www.congetzchaim.org/article.aspx?id=8589938131 for a list of cards available. If you are interested in purchasing any of these cards, please contact the synagogue office.
Publishing DateSummer E-Bulletin Schedule Please note our new summer E-Bulletin deadline and publishing dates: Deadline Date Monday July 9 Monday July 30 Monday August 13 Monday August 27
Publishing Date Wednesday July 11 Wednesday August 1 Wednesday August 15 Wednesday August 29
The congregation offers its condolences to..
Marv Wigder and his family on the death of his mother, Jean Wigder.
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Kaddish June 15 – 16 06/10 Jack Levy 06/10 Richard Sefman 06/10 Joanne Soyring 06/11 Rose Chejfec 06/11 Bess Leff 06/11 Nathan Rottersman 06/12 Lee Bernstein 06/12 Harry Marks 06/12 Al Spanjer 06/13 Ruth Base 06/13 Alice Dudman 06/13 William Hendel 06/14 Richard Freeman 06/14 Helen Greenberg 06/14 Abdul Razac 06/14 Edith Unger 06/15 Dona Dick 06/15 Ferdinand Fichman 06/15 Edna Schmitz 06/16 Bernard Rabens 06/16 Bob Root 06/16 Chana Rosen Kaddish June 29 – 30 06/24 Louis Oshansky 06/24 Murray Ritzner 06/24 Harriet Stoll 06/25 Shirley Brown 06/25 Margaret Liggett 06/25 Sandra Sterling 06/26 Jeannette Casper 06/26 Samuel Glass 06/26 Bernard Goldman 06/26 Lois Greenfield 06/26 Alfred Hirsch 06/26 Albert Katz 06/26 Sara Luner 06/27 Seymour Elowe 06/27 Ann Kailin 06/27 Meyer Triffler 06/28 Oscar Brachman 06/29 Shirley Herschander 06/29 Charles Kayser 06/29 Jack Schwartz 06/29 Julie Sorkin 06/30 Tess Goldstein 06/30 Annie Mandelbaum 06/30 Murray Paull 06/30 Elsie Siegel
Kaddish June 22 – 23 06/17 Marvin Ableman 06/17 Joel Lachs 06/17 Fannie Nicholas 06/17 Leonard Winston 06/18 Rose Dorsay 06/19 Irma Mannheimer 06/20 Bernard Kahn 06/21 Elmer Friedman 06/21 Arnold Goodman 06/21 Louis Lowy 06/22 Ralph Kaplan 06/22 Lillian Solomon 06/22 Sadie Wolochuk 06/23 George Lucks 06/23 Harry Moran 06/23 Zach Nicolopulos
Kaddish July 6 – 7 07/1 Florence Glass 07/1 Max Glass 07/1 Julius Miller 07/2 Burton Jacowitz 07/2 Harriet Shurrager 07/2 Nathan Wolochuk 07/3 Henrietta Lehman 07/3 Renee Tickman 07/5 Bernard Blumenstein 07/5 Morton Solomon 07/5 David Spanjer 07/6 Melvin Farber 07/7 Gary Handwerker
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Announcements Household Goods Needed At Sharing Connections Furniture Bank HOUSEHOLD GOODS NEEDED AT SHARING CONNECTIONS FURNITURE BANK. Sharing Connections Furniture Bank, a nonprofit organization in Downers Grove, provides furniture and household items to low-income families. They currently have a critical need for cleaning supplies and unopened personal care items such as shampoo, deodorant, and conditioner. Silverware is also needed. If you can donate any of these items, please drop them off at the SCFB warehouse at 5111 Chase Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515. The warehouse is open to receive donations Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM until noon. Financial donations are also welcome. Their website, explains what other items are accepted
Jewish Federation Academic Scholarship Program Go to http://www.congetzchaim.org/uploadedFiles/congetzchaimorg/About_Us/News_and_Announcements/2012 -13IndianaIncomingfreshmenscholarships.pdf
JUF J-Help Discretionary Funds Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago is providing additional funds to rabbis to assist community members in need. Go to http://www.congetzchaim.org/uploadedFiles/congetzchaimorg/About_Us/News_and_Announcements/JUF %20J-Help%20Discretionary%20Funds%20Newsletter.pdf
Jewish Employment Network Job Seekers experience many hopes and challenges in the job market. If you have been recently downsized or are thinking of changing careers, the Jewish Employment Network offers numerous options to assist you with your career goals: career counseling, job search strategies, networking opportunities, and access to monthly round tables and support groups. For more information go to www.jvschicago.org or call Joyce Bogolub, JVS Career Counselor, at 630-889-0548
Jewish Vocational Services Go to http://www.jvschicago.org/
Jewish Healing Network of Chicago Go to http://www.jcfs.org/
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Parnossah Works Chicago: An Employment Website for Personalized Job Assistance FREE WEBSITE FOR EMPLOYERS Find the right match! Post detailed job openings to a wide audience! Receive pre-screened resumes! Log on to www.parnossahworkschicago.org, Parnossah Works Chicago Register online or call 312-673-3437
NFTY - EIE Spend a semester at the NFTY-EIE High School in Israel and take your own! Why just look at pictures in your history textbook? Earn High School Credit. Apply for the Spring or the Fall semester. Live in the picturesque Judean Hills on Kibbutz Tzuba. Discover your Jewish past as you live the Jewish present Learn to converse in modern Hebrew. Climb Masada, swim in the Dead Sea, hike from Sea to Sea, explore and camp out in the Negev. Travel to Poland for a week to continue your study of Modern Jewish History. Make new NFTY friends and build a strong Reform Community. For more information please contact Stacy Chassen Director of Admissions (212) 650-4073
A note from the Library Committee: Where to donate books Etz Chaim is fortunate to have a vibrant and vital library. Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated corps of volunteers and the generous contributions of the congregation to the Robert Glass Memorial Library Fund, the library collection grows and is kept up-to-date. If you have books that you no longer wish to keep as part of your library, please consider donating them to your public library or to SCARCE - School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education (www.bookrescue.org), located at 799 Roosevelt Rd., Bldg. 2, Suite 108, Glen Ellyn. Please do not bring books to the Etz Chaim library unless previous arrangements with the library chair have been made. Thank you.
Cell Phone Collection Benefits Family Shelter Services Are your old cell phones collecting dust? Donate your old cell phones to raise money to help fund programs for victims of domestic abuse at Family Shelter Services in Wheaton. The collection box is located between the gift shop and library. Contact Shari Katz with questions.
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Sponsor Spotlight Your ad could be here! Please call the office for more info. Business Sponsors
1512 North Naper Boulevard Naperville, Il. 60563 Schmaltz & Co. We're the only classic Jewish delicatessen west of Chicago. Visit us for overstuffed sandwiches, fresh baked bagels, honest-to-goodness homemade soups, meats by the pound, fabulous desserts and traditional Jewish foods. We cater, too! Located in Naperville (NE corner of Ogden and Naper) (630) 245-7595 www.schmaltzdeli.com
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A Balloon Creation
Celebrating your daughter or son's Mitzvah? We can help decorate for any theme. We also can create one-of-a-kind candle-lighting pieces. Call to schedule an appointment to discuss how to make your Mitzvah the talk-of-the-town! 2274 Cornell Ave Montgomery, IL 60538 Phone - 630-892-4053 www.aballooncreation.com
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The newest Bar/Bat Mitzvah location in the Western Suburbs!
• • • •
Weddings Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Social Events Banquet Facilities for 10 to 200
1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 www.CrownePlaza.com/chi-glenellyn Contact: Kyra at [email protected] Phone: 630-629-6000 Ask for Sales
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The Ink Well A Complete Print Service Family Owned and Operated Visit us for all your printing & copying needs Wedding Invitations | Business Cards | Stationery Letterhead | Envelopes | Flyers Programs | Menus School Programs | Church Bulletins | Newsletters | Booklets Let us make your work easier! Call today for a quote - 630.268.0050 Color Copies - Black & White Copies Full Service Print Shop - Bindery & Faxing Services Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM 119 E Roosevelt Rd. | Lombard, IL | 60146 Ph: 630.268.0050 | Fax: 630.268.0170 Email : [email protected]
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Shabbat Services:
Calendar:
Shabbat Shelach Friday June 15, 2012 7:30 PM Family Shabbat Service Rabbi Cosnowsky will tell a story Oneg Host: Wiseman Family
Wednesday June 13 7:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting
Saturday June 16, 2012 9:30 AM Torah Study with Ashley Rose & Jordy Trafimow 10:30 AM Morning Service Bar Mitzvah: Jared Wiseman
Sunday June 17 5:00 PM PADS 6:30 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting
Shabbat Korach Friday June 22, 2012 8:15 PM Shabbat Evening Service Rabbi Cosnowsky will discuss, “You Are Not Special.” Oneg Host: Waxler Family Saturday June 23, 2012 9:30 AM Torah Study with Ashley Rose & Jordy Trafimow 10:30 AM Morning Service Bat Mitzvah: Samantha Wexler
Thursday May 31 BUILDING CLOSED
Monday June 18 9:30 AM Bus to OSRUI Tuesday June 19 7:30 PM Board of Directors Meeting 7:30 PM Adult Choir Rehearsal Wednesday June 20 7:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting 7:00 PM Membership Committee Meeting Thursday June 21 Building Closed
* Childcare is available during Friday evening services in our Nursery Services of Special Interest:
Friday July 6, 2012 6:30 PM Kabbalat Service Friday August 10, 2012 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat
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June 13, 2012
Sunday June 24 5:00 PM PADS 6:30 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting Monday June 25 7:00 PM Ways & Means Committee Meeting Tuesday June 26 Sisterhood Goes Out to Dinner 7:00 PM Planned Giving Committee Meeting Wednesday June 13 7:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Meeting
Thank You from Rachel Wood It is hard to put in words how amazing and overjoyed I was with the outpouring of gratitude the congregation showed me for my years of preparing students for their b'nai mitzvah. I'd like to thank everyone who sent me words of reflection, congratulations, and for the wonderful trip to Israel. I was in absolute awe seeing all of the former students on the bima reciting the Aliyah together. I regret that I didn't have a chance to speak with everyone individually. A special thanks to Ellen Mandel and her committee for organizing the activities that culminated with being honored at Shabbat services. B'shalom Rachel Wood
2012-2013 Membership & Religious School Information On June 15th, the office will be sending out the 2012-2013 Membership Commitment Forms and Religious School Registration Packets. These will only be sent to those members who have completed their current year financial commitment. If you have any questions please call or email either Carol Meyer or Michele Miller.
Worship Message from Rabbi Cosnowsky Some may wonder, "What do you during summer vacation, Rabbi?" Certainly not sit by the pool reading the latest trashy novel. No, anyone with twins does not sit anywhere at any time, especially not by the pool. And reading a novel? What is that again? However, I do look for opportunities to do various mitzvot during the summer, and this summer is no exception. As many of you know, each summer I get obsessed with bicycle riding. It’s harder to do with the twins these days, but they are almost big enough to fit in the trailer I have behind my bike. This summer, I was hoping to take them on some mitzvah adventures on my bicycle. But I may have to wait until they get a little bigger. In the meantime, I’ve been teaching Jacob, my 8-year-old, about Maimonides' 8 Levels of Charity. They are, in case you don’t remember: The first rung: The one who gives to the poor unwillingly. The second rung: The one who gives gladly. The third rung: The person who gives after being asked. The fourth rung: The person who gives before being asked. The fifth rung: The one who gives and does not know the recipient, but the recipient knows the benefactor. The sixth rung: The one who knows the recipient, but the recipient does not know the benefactor. The seventh rung: The one who gives, but neither the recipient nor the giver know each other. The highest level: The one who teaches a person a way of making a living, whether this is by training him to work, giving him a loan, finding him a job or making it possible for him not to have to beg for a living. At the end of the month, I will be riding my bicycle in the National MS Society’s MS 150 in DeKalb, Illinois. I will be joining the Cyclomaniacs team as we ride along the streets and roads for many long miles. I have long wished to join this bicycle team, but never was in the proper shape. I’m not sure I am now, but at least I’ll show up and hope for the best! Although there were many diseases I could have chosen to raise money
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for, this one is dear to my heart because it affects a large variety of my friends and their families. I will be unable to ride the first day of the ride because of Shabbat, but I will be tackling the second day. Hopefully this is the start of a lifetime of doing mitzvot with my bicycle. My son asked where this fell on Maimonides' ladder. A fine question! And one which I guess has many answers. I’d like to add a rung somewhere on his ladder to say that whoever facilitates the generation of money to help find a cure for any disease has made a good start in healing the world and helping others live lives of health and purpose. May we continue in our efforts to find a cure for the diseases that afflict our friends and loved ones. I’ll keep you posted on my progress as I begin my adventures on my bicycle. I wonder if they’ll ever have a “bike up the Hancock…”??
Adult & Family Services Message from Our President This past winter I had the pleasure of hearing Robert Putnam speak at Elmhurst College. Robert Putnam is a professor of Public Policy at Harvard studying American religious behavior and author most recently of American Grace. He spoke about recent trends in American religious life. One point he made is that American involvement with organized religion has been decreasing in recent years. More young Americans, of all religions and denominations, are choosing not to participate in congregational life. We Jews, although not immune from this trend, are likely to recognize the necessity of supporting our religious organizations. My family lives in Elmhurst, and sometimes it seems that there is a church on every corner of our town. I know many of you live in similar environments. Our non-Jewish friends have many choices of where to worship. We, on the other hand, know that if we do not do the work of supporting Jewish life in DuPage County, no one else will. It is up to us to sustain and nurture our spiritual home. We support our congregation and, in turn, it nurtures us. When I use the term spiritual home, I use the word "home" intentionally. Congregation Etz Chaim is not only our spiritual and religious home, but our physical home as well. In our own homes, our roofs, windows, carpets, and air conditioners age and at some point need repair or replacement. My family just finished remodeling a bathroom that dated back to the 1950s (I'm happy to report that there is no more mustard yellow tile in our house!), and I think a new roof is in our near future. In the same way, our communal home needs our continuing care and attention. Yesterday you all received a letter from me providing detailed information about our aging HVAC system and the need to start saving money to replace our rooftop HVAC units within the next few years. Within the next week you will be receiving your membership packets. Please consider making a donation to our building maintenance fund when you send in your commitment forms so that we can afford to care for our communal home in a responsible way.
Sisterhood News The Sisterhood of Etz Chaim is hosting a Wine, Cheese and Game Night, see flyer. The Sisterhood Dinner will be going to Tuesday, June 26th at Shinto Japanese Steakhouse on Tuesday June 26th, see flyer.
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Saturday, July 28th at 7:00 PM Sisterhood Hosts Wine, Cheese and Game Night The Sisterhood of Etz Chaim is hosting Wine, Cheese & Game Night, Saturday, July 28th at 7:00 PM Please join us for a fun-filled friendly evening of good food, good company and a variety of table games. Circle the date and plan to join us. Bring along a wine, cheese or dessert and any games you would like to play. The cost is only $3.00 per person to cover soft drinks and paper goods. Sign up forms can be found in the synagogue lobby or fill out the sheet below and return it to the synagogue office along with your payment by Tuesday, July 24th. You can also sign up by emailing MerleErlich (mrserlich@comcast,net)
Wine, Cheese & Game Night Reservation Form Name________________________________________________ Number Attending______________________________________ Amount enclosed ($3.00 per person)________________________ I/We will bring: _________Wine
_________Cheese(or) _________Dessert
I/We are willing to help with ___________set up ___________clean up Email address: ________________________________
Sisterhood Dinner Bunch, Hibachi Style Tuesday Evening, June 26th 7:00 PM Shinto Japanese Steakhouse 504 North Route 59, Naperville (630-637-8899) (when heading south on 59, make a left on Aurora Rd.-- Then a quick right behind gas station) $12 Tuesday Night Special! Steak or Chicken Hibachi Dinner (soup, salad & rice) RESERVATIONS DEFINITELY NEEDED BY 6/24 SO WE CAN FILL TABLES! RSVP to Merle Erlich: [email protected] (carpools are being set up)
DuPage United June 2012 Update DuPage United and Amy Lawless Ayala, lead organizer of DU, were awarded the United Methodist Bishop's award for Ecumenical and Interfaith work on Friday June 8th at the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Accepting the award were Amy Lawless Ayala with her son Isaac, Maria Ibarra Lorense and her son Andres of Downers Grove Friends Society, Father John of St. Mary’s West Chicago, Martha Sobie of Faith Lutheran, Glen Ellyn, Chris Pierson of UMCNIC, Mary Hason of Congregation Etz Chaim, Lombard, Mohamed Qadeer of Islamic Center Naperville with presenter Rev.Amos Oladipo, CCUIC Chair. DuPage United is having a fundraising campaign in June and July. Harriet Rose and Mary Hason are the co-chairs of the Funding Our Future campaign which has a goal of $50,000. There are two parts to the campaign: individual donations and an adbook, which will be given to the 600 attending the 2012 DuPage United Delegate Assembly in October. The adbook will also be available at the 26 member institutions and will be given out at events throughout the year. At this year’s delegate assembly we will celebrate a decade of achievements. Congregation Etz Chaim was a member at the founding assembly of DuPage United in 2002.
Connections Team- Conversations with Members May 2012 In May Rabbi Cosnowsky sent letters to the 91 members who have joined Etz Chaim in the last three years inviting them to meet with a member of the Connections Team of our Social Action Committee. At these half hour meetings, members will talk of their passions and concerns with the goal of finding common ground to work together and to add value to our congregation and community. This is a way to share interests and give a greater sense of belonging. Barbara Margolis will be calling those who have received the letters, to arrange a meeting with the member and a Connections Team member. If others would like an opportunity to participate please contact Barbara. It has been about three years since we last had these conversations at Etz Chaim. The conversations are called one on ones. These are the building blocks of community organizing. Our community organization, DuPage United, uses them to build relationships within institutions, among institutions and the greater community.
More Social Action News Recycle- Help the Social Action Committee recycle, raise funds and reduce pollution. Please save your used printer and toner cartridges from home, work and school. Have any unused cartridges for equipment you no longer own? We'll recycle those too. A collection bin will be located in the synagogue lobby.
Stay Connected this Summer- Play Mah Jongg at Etz Chaim Monday evenings and/or Tuesday afternoons in July and August. Don't know how to play, come and learn.
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STAY CONNECTED THIS SUMMER!* PLAY MAH JONG AT ETZ CHAIM! MONDAY EVENINGS AND/OR TUESDAY AFTERNOONS IN JULY & AUGUST INSTRUCTIONAL TABLES BY RESERVATION FOR BEGINNERS & THOSE NEW TO THE GAME! MONDAY EVENINGS – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM - July 9th through August 27th Bring your own soft drink and join new friends and old in playing Mah Jong. July 9th July 16th July 23rd July 30th
August 6th August 13th August 20th August 27th
Please RSVP your attendance for July 9th to Merle Erlich Sign up sheets for remaining dates will be available that night, so bring your calendars! TUESDAY AFTERNOONS – 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM July 10th through August 28th 12:00 Noon Brown Bag Lunch Optional – Play begins at 12:30 Bring your own soft drinks! July 10th July 17th July 24rd July 31st
August 7th August 14th August 21st August 28th
Please RSVP your attendance for July 10th to Merle Erlich Sign up sheets for remaining dates will be available that afternoon, so bring your calendars! (Also, should there be interest, babysitting can be arranged.) INSTRUCTIONAL TABLES ON MONDAY EVENINGS & TUESDAY AFTERNOONS If you are interested in learning Mah Jong or if you are an infrequent or beginning player, volunteers will be available to instruct on Monday evenings or Tuesday afternoons during the above sessions. We ask that you reserve a place at these tables so that we can have enough instructors and materials for you. Please contact Merle Erlich. We look forward to growing our participation!! At the first sessions, we’ll have sign- up sheets and information on how to obtain a card *Sponsored by the Connections Team as part of the Etz Chaim Social Action Committee
School & Youth Activities Message from Anne On June 12th, 19 people left Chicago for Israel as part of the Family Trip 2012. I will try to blog as often as possible. We will be traveling around the whole country seeing as much as we can. We will swim, climb, hike, ride jeeps, float, repel and learn. If you would like to follow our adventures, read our blog that will be found on the home page of our website.
Did You Know Manna The Ways and Means Committee has a variety of Manna gift cards that can be purchased during the summer months. Go to http://www.congetzchaim.org/article.aspx?id=8589938131 for a list of cards available. If you are interested in purchasing any of these cards, please contact the synagogue office.
Publishing DateSummer E-Bulletin Schedule Please note our new summer E-Bulletin deadline and publishing dates: Deadline Date Monday July 9 Monday July 30 Monday August 13 Monday August 27
Publishing Date Wednesday July 11 Wednesday August 1 Wednesday August 15 Wednesday August 29
The congregation offers its condolences to..
Marv Wigder and his family on the death of his mother, Jean Wigder.
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Kaddish June 15 – 16 06/10 Jack Levy 06/10 Richard Sefman 06/10 Joanne Soyring 06/11 Rose Chejfec 06/11 Bess Leff 06/11 Nathan Rottersman 06/12 Lee Bernstein 06/12 Harry Marks 06/12 Al Spanjer 06/13 Ruth Base 06/13 Alice Dudman 06/13 William Hendel 06/14 Richard Freeman 06/14 Helen Greenberg 06/14 Abdul Razac 06/14 Edith Unger 06/15 Dona Dick 06/15 Ferdinand Fichman 06/15 Edna Schmitz 06/16 Bernard Rabens 06/16 Bob Root 06/16 Chana Rosen Kaddish June 29 – 30 06/24 Louis Oshansky 06/24 Murray Ritzner 06/24 Harriet Stoll 06/25 Shirley Brown 06/25 Margaret Liggett 06/25 Sandra Sterling 06/26 Jeannette Casper 06/26 Samuel Glass 06/26 Bernard Goldman 06/26 Lois Greenfield 06/26 Alfred Hirsch 06/26 Albert Katz 06/26 Sara Luner 06/27 Seymour Elowe 06/27 Ann Kailin 06/27 Meyer Triffler 06/28 Oscar Brachman 06/29 Shirley Herschander 06/29 Charles Kayser 06/29 Jack Schwartz 06/29 Julie Sorkin 06/30 Tess Goldstein 06/30 Annie Mandelbaum 06/30 Murray Paull 06/30 Elsie Siegel
Kaddish June 22 – 23 06/17 Marvin Ableman 06/17 Joel Lachs 06/17 Fannie Nicholas 06/17 Leonard Winston 06/18 Rose Dorsay 06/19 Irma Mannheimer 06/20 Bernard Kahn 06/21 Elmer Friedman 06/21 Arnold Goodman 06/21 Louis Lowy 06/22 Ralph Kaplan 06/22 Lillian Solomon 06/22 Sadie Wolochuk 06/23 George Lucks 06/23 Harry Moran 06/23 Zach Nicolopulos
Kaddish July 6 – 7 07/1 Florence Glass 07/1 Max Glass 07/1 Julius Miller 07/2 Burton Jacowitz 07/2 Harriet Shurrager 07/2 Nathan Wolochuk 07/3 Henrietta Lehman 07/3 Renee Tickman 07/5 Bernard Blumenstein 07/5 Morton Solomon 07/5 David Spanjer 07/6 Melvin Farber 07/7 Gary Handwerker
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Announcements Household Goods Needed At Sharing Connections Furniture Bank HOUSEHOLD GOODS NEEDED AT SHARING CONNECTIONS FURNITURE BANK. Sharing Connections Furniture Bank, a nonprofit organization in Downers Grove, provides furniture and household items to low-income families. They currently have a critical need for cleaning supplies and unopened personal care items such as shampoo, deodorant, and conditioner. Silverware is also needed. If you can donate any of these items, please drop them off at the SCFB warehouse at 5111 Chase Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515. The warehouse is open to receive donations Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM until noon. Financial donations are also welcome. Their website, explains what other items are accepted
Jewish Federation Academic Scholarship Program Go to http://www.congetzchaim.org/uploadedFiles/congetzchaimorg/About_Us/News_and_Announcements/2012 -13IndianaIncomingfreshmenscholarships.pdf
JUF J-Help Discretionary Funds Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago is providing additional funds to rabbis to assist community members in need. Go to http://www.congetzchaim.org/uploadedFiles/congetzchaimorg/About_Us/News_and_Announcements/JUF %20J-Help%20Discretionary%20Funds%20Newsletter.pdf
Jewish Employment Network Job Seekers experience many hopes and challenges in the job market. If you have been recently downsized or are thinking of changing careers, the Jewish Employment Network offers numerous options to assist you with your career goals: career counseling, job search strategies, networking opportunities, and access to monthly round tables and support groups. For more information go to www.jvschicago.org or call Joyce Bogolub, JVS Career Counselor, at 630-889-0548
Jewish Vocational Services Go to http://www.jvschicago.org/
Jewish Healing Network of Chicago Go to http://www.jcfs.org/
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Parnossah Works Chicago: An Employment Website for Personalized Job Assistance FREE WEBSITE FOR EMPLOYERS Find the right match! Post detailed job openings to a wide audience! Receive pre-screened resumes! Log on to www.parnossahworkschicago.org, Parnossah Works Chicago Register online or call 312-673-3437
NFTY - EIE Spend a semester at the NFTY-EIE High School in Israel and take your own! Why just look at pictures in your history textbook? Earn High School Credit. Apply for the Spring or the Fall semester. Live in the picturesque Judean Hills on Kibbutz Tzuba. Discover your Jewish past as you live the Jewish present Learn to converse in modern Hebrew. Climb Masada, swim in the Dead Sea, hike from Sea to Sea, explore and camp out in the Negev. Travel to Poland for a week to continue your study of Modern Jewish History. Make new NFTY friends and build a strong Reform Community. For more information please contact Stacy Chassen Director of Admissions (212) 650-4073
A note from the Library Committee: Where to donate books Etz Chaim is fortunate to have a vibrant and vital library. Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated corps of volunteers and the generous contributions of the congregation to the Robert Glass Memorial Library Fund, the library collection grows and is kept up-to-date. If you have books that you no longer wish to keep as part of your library, please consider donating them to your public library or to SCARCE - School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education (www.bookrescue.org), located at 799 Roosevelt Rd., Bldg. 2, Suite 108, Glen Ellyn. Please do not bring books to the Etz Chaim library unless previous arrangements with the library chair have been made. Thank you.
Cell Phone Collection Benefits Family Shelter Services Are your old cell phones collecting dust? Donate your old cell phones to raise money to help fund programs for victims of domestic abuse at Family Shelter Services in Wheaton. The collection box is located between the gift shop and library. Contact Shari Katz with questions.
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Sponsor Spotlight Your ad could be here! Please call the office for more info. Business Sponsors
1512 North Naper Boulevard Naperville, Il. 60563 Schmaltz & Co. We're the only classic Jewish delicatessen west of Chicago. Visit us for overstuffed sandwiches, fresh baked bagels, honest-to-goodness homemade soups, meats by the pound, fabulous desserts and traditional Jewish foods. We cater, too! Located in Naperville (NE corner of Ogden and Naper) (630) 245-7595 www.schmaltzdeli.com
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A Balloon Creation
Celebrating your daughter or son's Mitzvah? We can help decorate for any theme. We also can create one-of-a-kind candle-lighting pieces. Call to schedule an appointment to discuss how to make your Mitzvah the talk-of-the-town! 2274 Cornell Ave Montgomery, IL 60538 Phone - 630-892-4053 www.aballooncreation.com
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The newest Bar/Bat Mitzvah location in the Western Suburbs!
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Weddings Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Social Events Banquet Facilities for 10 to 200
1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 www.CrownePlaza.com/chi-glenellyn Contact: Kyra at [email protected] Phone: 630-629-6000 Ask for Sales
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The Ink Well A Complete Print Service Family Owned and Operated Visit us for all your printing & copying needs Wedding Invitations | Business Cards | Stationery Letterhead | Envelopes | Flyers Programs | Menus School Programs | Church Bulletins | Newsletters | Booklets Let us make your work easier! Call today for a quote - 630.268.0050 Color Copies - Black & White Copies Full Service Print Shop - Bindery & Faxing Services Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM 119 E Roosevelt Rd. | Lombard, IL | 60146 Ph: 630.268.0050 | Fax: 630.268.0170 Email : [email protected]
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