jrc News Join Us for an Evening of Music:

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1 Fall Elul Tishri Heshvan Kisle v jewish reconstructionist congregation jrc News Volume 4 Number 3 Join Us for an Evening of Music: JRC s First Concert Sponsored by the David Gassel Music Fund Saturday, October 29, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10 for JRC members, $20 for non-members in advance and $25 for everyone at the door. Register online at We are excited to announce our first concert sponsored by the David Gassel Music Fund. The concert, featuring Cantor Linda Hirschhorn of California, will include the JRC adult and youth choirs. Cantor Hirschhorn will also lead Shabbat services on Friday, October 28. Linda Hirschhorn is a singer-songwriter, cantor, chorus director, and storyteller. She has been performing for Jewish audiences since the age of 15. A graduate of a New York yeshiva, she studied and lived in Israel for two years. She has received extensive musical training in New York, Jerusalem and California. In addition to regular concert and club appearances, Linda has performed at numerous colleges, (Continued on page 10) Rabbinical Commentary Brant Rosen I was recently asked why there is no kneeling/prostration in Jewish tradition. I explained that Jews traditionally prostrate themselves only once a year on the High Holidays. But it s an interesting question that I ve never really stopped to ponder: why is prostration so relatively rare in Judaism as opposed to Islamic or Christian tradition? Kneeling and prostration are actually quite common in the Torah (where it is not at all uncommon for major characters to tend to fall on their faces before God) but it was never universally embraced as a regular practice by rabbinical authorities. With the notable exception of Maimonides, most medieval Jewish authorities discouraged regular kneeling/prostration during the Middle Ages most likely in order to differentiate Judaism from Christianity and Islam. While bowing from the knees is common in Ashkenazic Jewish tradition (i.e., in the daily Amidah or Aleinu prayers) kneeling or full prostration occurs only during Rosh Hashanah Musaf and Yom Kippur Avodah services and then only among more observant Jews. With the current growth of Jewish yoga, it s somewhat inevitable that we re now witnessing prostration being reconsidered in new ways. (Just a cursory web search, for instance, reveals the work of Daniel Gigi, who seems to have developed (Continued on page 14) Rabbi Rosen can be reached through the JRC office: In case of emergency, he can be reached at home: where an answering machine will record your message if he is out. address: rabbi@jrc-evanston.org. IN THIS ISSUE A note from our cantor 2 gavel in hand high holidays 4 September 11 walk and talk 4 Adult education 5 One jewish evanston shabbat program 5 religious school 7 youth group 7 Photos: early childhood program 8 kvell korner 9 contributions 11, 12, 13 thank yous 13 new members 13 library news 14 jrc information 14 funeral plan 14 Affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

2 2 Weary of singing alone in the shower? Join the JRC choir! Contact Danny Wallenberg at for more information. A Note from Our Cantor Howard Friedland What a great summer! Ours was packed full to the brim, as was yours, I m sure. Our daughter, Hannah Mira, was in Israel for a month on the JRF No ar Hadash trip. Our son, Ben, was at Camp JRF. Now that he s home, he sleeps at our house every two or three nights. He camps out at friends homes the other nights. When he does sleep at home, we wake up to find two or three additional bodies on the floor. We re buying a lot of milk these days. As I m writing, we are embarking on a trip to Michigan with two other families. We re all staying in one house. Like I said, we re buying a lot of milk these days. I spent a week in July at Camp JRF, our national camp in the Poconos. This was my third time as part of the faculty, and I cannot speak highly enough about Camp JRF. My own kids have flourished there for several years, which pleases me to no end. But more than that, I love seeing how many young women and men who grew up at JRC are now actively involved in running the camp, as counselors, unit heads, and even as the camp director. Rabbi Isaac Saposnik was a madrich in our religious school! I ll really be promoting Camp JRF this year. We have several campers from JRC, but we need to have more. Any camping experience is great for young people. I believe Jewish camps are especially good for instilling Jewish identity and commitment. Both Brant and I are products of Jewish camp and youth groups. A summer at camp is a gift a parent or grandparent can give their kids that will last a lifetime. The value of having one national camp is that our kids meet other Reconstructionist Jews from all over the country. The hope is that, while their friendships are strengthened, so is the future of our movement. Registration for next summer will begin THIS FALL. Places fill up quickly! I m also excited about our first concert sponsored by the David Gassel Music Fund. The concert, which features Cantor Linda Hirschhorn, will be held Saturday night, October 29, and will also include the JRC adult and youth choirs. I have been hoping to bring Linda here for quite some time. I finally have the opportunity because of the generous donation from the estate of the late David Gassel, who was a longtime JRC member. David earmarked this donation for musical events, and in June, JRC was able to use money from the fund to commission a new Shabbat evening service, composed by JRC member Billy Kaplan and accompanied by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. The Linda Hirschhorn concert will serve as a benefit to keep the fund going. I would also encourage you to keep the David Gassel Music Fund in mind with your contributions to JRC. Finally, it s time to JOIN THE CHOIR! We know you ve been singing Ayn Keloheinu in the shower, waiting for a public forum. Our adult choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:45 9:30 pm. Our youth and family choir rehearses on Sunday mornings at 10:45 am. You ll have fun, meet new people, and perform at services and events during the year. Contact Danny Wallenberg at My best wishes for a good and healthy new year. Try something you haven t tried. Learn something you haven t learned. Teach something. Help someone. And love those around you.

3 3 Gavel in Hand Freddi Greenberg, President This is my first newsletter as JRC s president. I want to begin by thanking Josh Karsh, our immediate past president, for his leadership during the last two years. I also want to thank the members of last year s Board of Directors, both those who are continuing on the Board and those who are leaving. Last, but not least, welcome to this year s new Board members. Serving on the Board takes time and effort. JRC is fortunate to have so many members who offer their energy and ideas by serving on the Board, on committees and task forces, and by volunteering at JRC in other ways. I look forward to working with all of you during the upcoming year. As I write, it appears that the August hot spell has ended. This means summer is almost over, and we can look forward to the High Holidays and to the new year. Over the summer, the JRC Board has considered some items that will come to fruition in the new year. These include: Play Yard The Board has approved an initial design of a new play yard to be located outside at the rear of the building. We will review a revised design and a budget for the project in late August. Hopefully, the Board will have approved the play yard project by the time you read this. We look forward to seeing the youngest JRC ers enjoying their new outdoor space! Youth Lounge In August, the Board will review the budget and, hopefully, approve furniture and décor for our youth lounge. Our goal is for the youth lounge to provide a comfortable, inviting place for youth programming (Youth programming is a high priorty!) and for members of our youth group to just hang out. It will be a multipurpose room as well, for other JRC groups and activities, such as the Bridge group. Planning JRC s Future A task force convened earlier this year has begun work toward a new strategic plan for JRC. The task force has begun its work and you will hear more about the strategic planning process in the new year. Planning JRC s Financial Development Activities A Development Committee has been formed. The committee is looking at the way in which JRC conducts its fundraising activities and is considering how those activities should be conducted in the future. In closing, I want to extend my wishes to all of you for a happy and healthy year as we enter Shana Tovah! JRC Website Have you noticed that our website has changed? Our new site is similar, but not the same, to the old one. You ll still be able to find all the same information and in the same order as before. What isn t apparent, however, is that this is only the first phase of our new website; we look forward to introducing you to new features and functions throughout the coming year. We hope you ll ultimately be pleased with the final result, and patient, as we all learn more about how to make JRC s website an interactive, online home base for our community. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at webmaster@jrc-evanston.org, and you ll hear from our executive director Sharon Diaz, assistant director, Jill Persin or web volunteer extraordinaire Jim Ridker. JRC is fortunate to have so many members who offer their energy and ideas... Something new: The green magen david at the end of each newsletter article is now interactive. Click on it to return to the newsletter s first page. Why go back to the first page? Because from there, by clicking on a page number in the index list, you re redirected to the next article you choose to read.

4 4 High Holidays 5772 Believe it or not, the High Holidays are almost upon us! In addition to our worship services, there will be special programming for young children and teens, discussion groups and open mic for adults, and more. All of this is made possible year after year through the efforts of over 150 congregational volunteers, a true reflection of our unique and vibrant community. With this in mind, please review this year s High Holiday Volunteer Sign-Up Form. Consider checking-off our new initiative High Holiday Meal Hosting, allowing JRC members to open their homes and share a holiday meal with fellow congregants. (Note that there will not be a Break-the-Fast at the church this year following the Yom Kippur service.) Also new this year is a new format for the Memorial/Yizkor Book Form that gives you the opportunity to list the names of your loved ones as in past years and/or to share your memories or a personal message about a loved one. Click the hyperlink above to submit names and information. Finally, don t forget to order High Holiday prayer books and/or purchase tickets. Tickets and more specific information about the holidays will be mailed to you in September. Membership Renewal Please get your JRC Membership Renewal Dues Form and payment in to the office in order to get on our High Holiday ticket register. If you have any questions or if you haven t received a High Holiday packet, please contact Tom Samuels, Membership & Program Coordinator at the JRC office. PeaceAble Cities: Evanston - 9/11 Walk and Talk Transforming Our Community Through Dialogue Continue the quest for peace in our community. Walk and Talk with other Evanston residents on this 10th anniversary of the tragic acts of violence that changed our nation and the world. Community Partners: 1st. Advantage Mortgage Beth Emet Chicago Area Peace Action Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association Community of One Dar-us-Sunnah Masjid and Community Center Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Evanston Human Relations Commission Evanston Interfaith Action Evanston Police Chaplain/Clergy Team Evanston Restorative Justice Family Focus Friends Meeting of Evanston (Quakers) Great Harvest Bread Co. Hemenway United Methodist Church Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Lake Street Church MOMS Saving Our Sons Moran Center Mosaic Experience North Shore Coalition for Peace, Justice & Environment Northwestern University Graphic Design: Raul Amezquita - amezquitadesign@live.com Printing Services Provided By: Specialty Print Communications - specialtyprintcomm.com WHEN: Sunday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m. WHERE: Begin at Dar-us-Sunnah Masjid and Community Center at 2045 Brown Avenue, walk together to the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston at 303 Dodge Avenue. For more information see: or call Strollers and wheelchairs welcome. No bicycles, please! September 11 Walk and Talk: Join Us as We Walk for Peace On September 11, Evanston will be hosting a Walk and Talk event to help create a new we, an Evanston we all belong to, contribute to, and care about. JRC is proud to help host and sponsor this event. PeaceAble Cities Evanston St. Luke s Episcopal Church St. Mark s Episcopal Church St. Mathew s Episcopal Church St. Nicholas Catholic Church Tannenbaum Chabad House Unitarian Church of Evanston Unity Church on the North Shore Vineyard Christian Fellowship Women Out Walking YMCA Y.O.U. A city that walks together and talks together is on the path to peace, to living together with respect, understanding, and without violence. While it will be the 10th anniversary of acts of violence that took thousands of lives, we invite all of Evanston to come together with the belief that peace is possible, beginning here in our own city. We will begin our walk at 2 pm at the Dar-us-sunnah Masjid and Community Center at 2045 Brown Ave. and walk to JRC. The goal of this walk is not to raise money, make political statements nor to protest. We will join people of diverse religions and ethnicity from all our neighborhoods and simply walk and talk and remember those whose lives were lost a decade ago. We look forward to a large number of participants from JRC. We hope that you will join us. It is about a 2¼ mile walk. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. We also need numerous volunteers to provide various services (and JRC tours) for the expected 500 1,000 people who will come to JRC at the end of the walk. If you can help, please or call Ray Grossman at raygg@mac.com or

5 5 Fall Adult Education Opportunities Tom Samuels, Membership & Program Coordinator This fall is chock-full of inspiring adult educational opportunities. Our programs are designed around various personal schedules from families with young children to retirees. The common thread is our members thirst for knowledge and for strengthening their sense of community. To start with, a new Adult B nai Mitzvah group is starting this September. The program is designed for JRC members who want to enrich their Jewish life, are interested in a meaningful Jewish learning experience, and who want to expand their connection to the JRC community. The group will meet Sunday mornings during Religious School s early session, and explore Jewish topics ranging from Mindful Jewish Learning, Jewish Life Cycles and Judaism and the Body: the locus between pleasure and religious thinking. In addition to grappling together with text-based materials, you will be part of a fun and informal learning experience, including Friday night dinners at each other s homes and at the synagogue. For more information and to sign up for our Adult B nai Mitzvah program, contact Tom Samuels, JRC s Membership & Program Coordinator. JRC s Adult Lecture Series also starts up in September. Learn with Northwestern Professor Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern about Rosh Hashanah through examining original texts (both Jewish and non-jewish), Rabbinic commentaries and historians as well as others who grappled and continue to grapple with reconciling the holidays original intentions with popular traditions. Ultimately, the classes will work toward a better understanding of how we can relate as individuals and as a community to the Jewish calendar. Rabbi Rosen s popular Saturday morning God Talk series resumes in October. Last year the class explored Jewish mystical conceptions of God through the study of Kabbalah, as well as some challenging God-constructs, such as a God that gets angry and punishes humanity with impunity. Join the Rabbi right after Shabbat morning services for this invigorating series. In November, learn with Northwestern Professor Kenneth Seeskin how Jesus teachings emerged out of and attempted to transform Jewish tradition. This series, A Jew Looks at Jesus, asks where exactly did the break between Judaism and Christianity occur? What motivated this break? In addition to passages from the Torah and Prophets, the class will examine the gospels of Matthew and John as well as some of the letters of Paul. For more information and to sign up for our Adult Lecture Series, contact Tom Samuels, JRC s Membership & Program Coordinator. One Jewish Evanston Shabbat Program On September 10, join Evanston s Jewish community for a community Shabbat morning experience at Beth Emet. Members of JRC, Beth Emet, the Lomdim Chavurah, and Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University/Evanston Orthodox Minyan will come together to pray, learn and, of course, eat together. The program will launch One Jewish Evanston, a new initiative co-sponsored by the Chicago Board of Rabbis and The Mordecai M. Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood to promote a shared commitment to the unity of the Jewish people. Different denominational Shabbat services will be offered, and participants will be welcome to attend any one or more of each. Following services, the entire group will come together for a kiddush lunch. After lunch, there will be engaging text-based learning classes with a focus on spiritual preparation for the High Holidays. Registration is required and the cost is $10 per person ($5 for children under 12). Child care will be available. For more information and to register, contact Ruth Wenger at: jamman@pipeline.com Professor Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern, Rabbi Brant Rosen, Professor Kenneth Seeskin

6 Religious School Terri Bernsohn, Director Shanah Tova! We re on the cusp of a new year and I am very excited about an initiative we have planned for religious school families this coming fall. We are launching a Shabbat Chavurah that will blend Jewish ritual and 21st century technology to explore Shabbat. Shabbat Chavurah will have two components: an inperson monthly Shabbat gathering and regular use of social media between sessions, to expand upon or supplement conversations started in person. We applied and were accepted into the first cohort of Darim s Social Media Bootcamp for Educators. (If you are interested in participating in the boot camp, which includes webinars and coached projects and will require 5 10 hours per month, let me know.) Shabbat Chavurah families commit to attending all (or most) of the in-person sessions from September through May. Parents also need to commit to use social media at least 3 or 4 times each month, in order to continue and enrich the conversations we begin on Shabbat. Examples would be something as basic as a Facebook shout-out about an upcoming event relevant to Jewish families, or perhaps an ongoing book discussion of Heshchel s The Sabbath, or a blog about what happens in a family when we try powering off the laptop and cell phone for 24 hours. JRC s Youth Group Welcomes a New Leader Chantal Blaustein, our 5th Grade teacher at JRC for the past 10 years, now has the fun privilege of being the new Youth Advisor for JRC. I am looking forward to an amazing and exciting year with your kids. We have already had a couple of very successful programs, including sushi night and improv night. Our next event for 7th graders and older will be a barbecue at 9th grader Sam Frolichstein-Appel s house on Sunday, August 28, from 4 to 6 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends, eat great food and play old-fashioned messy and wet games. For our younger kids in 5th, 6th and 7th grades we will have a glow in the dark Pump It Up party in Glenview on Saturday, September 24, starting at 7 pm. We are looking forward to seeing your kids at these upcoming events. Chantal has three boys, ages 3, 8 and 11. She is originally from France, but became an American citizen a few years ago and has been in the states for about 20 We ll meet on the second Shabbat of each month sometimes Friday night, sometimes Saturday. As of this writing, the schedule is being finalized. Our first official gathering will be on Friday evening, September 9. We ll share a potluck dinner and then continue into the 7 pm Family Shabbat service. The spirit of Shabbat Chavurah is all about community and for those who join to make it their own. To help achieve this goal, we have provided just enough structure for you to plan with enough freedom to let you create, explore and discover what Shabbat Chavurah will mean for you. We don t yet know about all the forms of social media we will learn over the year, and we don t know how a regular Shabbat practice will alter our families. It s an experiment. Personally, I have hopes and expectations for what the outcomes will be: an infusion of more Shabbat into our families, whether at JRC or at home; deepened relationships between participants; and a cohort of congregants who become familiar and comfortable with social media and use it to launch or augment other initiatives at JRC in the future. But let s see what happens. As we return to school and welcome new families into our community, I wish you and your loved ones a good and sweet new year. I m happy and honored to be continuing this journey with you. years. She went to Bradley University where she majored in psychology and religious studies. She then attended the University of Chicago for a Masters in Social Work. As if that weren t enough, Chantal also enrolled in a twoyear program with the Florence Melton Mini School (a Jewish teacher training program) and went to their two week seminar in Israel. In addition to teaching the 5th graders at JRC, she spent three years teaching ancient and modern Jewish texts to 9th and 10th graders with the Florence Melton Communiteen program. More information on these and future events to follow, contact Chantal at youthgroup@jrc-evanston.org 7

7 8 Early Childhood Program Summer 2011 Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder. Eberhard Arnold

8 9 Kvell Korner To kvell (or shep naches) means to be proud of. This column is devoted to letting our community know about the wonderful things happening in the lives of JRC members. Daniel Shapiro, son of Elizabeth and Michael Shapiro and brother of Carolyn Shapiro, was sworn in by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the US Ambassador to Israel in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on July 8. Dan has regularly traveled to Israel and worked closely with then-us Middle East envoy George Mitchell to try to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He first began working with Obama in 2007 when he coordinated Jewish outreach and advised his presidential campaign on Middle East issues. Dan speaks fluent Hebrew and has been a major point man for the US Jewish community in the White House, as well as with Israeli and Palestinian officials. JRC s own Kunal Pujara recently won a Highland Park Golden Apple Award for his dedication to excellence in teaching. The Highland Park High School Golden Apple Award honors teachers each year in a program supported by the school and sponsored by the Highland Park Community Foundation under an agreement with the mid-west Gold Apple Foundation, which created and sponsors the award on a national basis. Jon Marshall has published a new book through Northwestern University Press, Watergate s Legacy and the Press: The Investigative Impulse. With a foreword by Bob Woodward, it recounts the exposé of the Watergate conspiracy. Jon is a senior lecturer in the journalism program at Northwestern University s Medill School. The sons and daughter-in-law of Robin and David Channon have recently acquired new jobs: Ben is working at McCloud Pest Control, Mary is working at Walgreens corporate headquarters and Aaron (recent grad of University of Missouri, BJ cum laude in journalism and BA in film studies), is working as a magazine designer for Inside Columbia in Columbia, Missouri. Mazel tov to Sam Zofkie, son of Julia Talbot and Bob Zofkie, for his winning poem in The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) 16th annual Student Voices Contest. This educational program encourages and rewards young people for using their creativity to raise awareness about gun violence. Isaac Bloom, son of Jan Yourist and Jake Bloom, is in Japan as a participant in JET, the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program. He will be teaching English for a full year to middle school and elementary school children in Satsumasendai in Kagoshima. Michael and Rhoda Kamin proudly announce the May 12 birth of their first grandchild, Henry Benesch Swan, son of Chris and Carrie Swan of Chicago. Sally Brown-Winter and Jeff Winter have a new granddaughter Shoshana Aliza Winter, born June 21, Parents are Rabbi Josh and Liz Winter. JRC s administrative assistant, Bonnie Stone Stern, and her husband, Larry Stern, welcomed their granddaughter, Leah Nicole Rubens, into the world on July 12, Proud parents are Sheri and Jason Rubens. Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images North America If you have any kvell-able information, Bonnie Stone Stern at BStern@jrc-evanston.org, fax: , or call: Remember, keep on kvelling!

9 10 Hirshhorn concert (Continued from page 1) synagogues, conferences, festivals and rallies both alone as a soloist as well as with Vocolot, her women s a cappella vocal group. She has recorded seven albums of original compositions. About the David Gassel Music Fund JRC member David Gassel died in One of his lifelong passions was music, and he was greatly respected as a talented guitarist. Songs should give wings to our prayers, songs should give color to our grief and joy, songs should express the depths of our greatest yearnings. In his will, David generously bequeathed this JRC fund in order to live on in his community through music. We hope that we honor David s memory on behalf of his family and friends with this concert, and, with your support, many more to come. If you would like to make a donation to the David Gassel Music Fund, please contact the JRC office. Linda has long been at the forefront of contemporary Jewish music as both a composer and a performer. Her melodies and rhythms are truly original and always intellectually and spiritually deepening. Linda s music reflects the wide historical experiences of the Jewish people: from contemporary life in Israel and America to the lives of both her immediate ancestors of the past century as well as those from biblical and early rabbinic times. For more information on Linda, check out her website at

10 11 Tzedakah is a central mitzvah of Judaism, humanizing both the donor and the recipient. JRC has established a series of tzedakah funds in response to members interests, aiming to serve three functions: To support the congregation. All are welcome to membership, to worship, to our school even those unable to pay full dues. Your contributions make this possible. To support important extra-budgetary activities. Most importantly, to provide a convenient and meaningful way for JRC members and others to fulfill the traditional obligation of tzedakah as we honor, commemorate, and express gratitude. Rabbi Brant Rosen and Hallie Rosen Cantor Howard Friedland and Terry Parisoli Joshua Karsh, past President, and Carolyn Shapiro Mazel Tov to our June B nai Mitzvah and their families: Maya Fagen, Aliza Dorevitch, Naomi Honig Condolences to: Michael Dorf and his family on the death of his mother, Margaret Dorf Darlene and Ray Grossman and their family on the death of their nephew, Jeremy Kramer Benjamin Berk and his family on the death of his grandfather, Sidney West Kirsten D Aurelio and her family on the death of her grandmother, Madalena Covelli DePasquale Robert Nachman and his family on the death of his brother, James Nachman Judy Pollock and her family on the death of her mother, Josephine Calderone Frederickson Sharon Glaser and her family on the death of her father, David Moskowitz Emily Harris and her family on the death of her uncle, Howard Goodkind Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Dahn and David Gandell In memory of David s sister, Ruth Gandell Gideon Joyce and David Dean Condolences to Leo Gideon and his family on the death of his wife, Ruth Gideon Jodi Gassel and Kendra Beard With appreciation to Rabbi Rosen for officiating their wedding Sue Levine and Leon Fink In memory of Sue s father, Harry Levine Nina and Elliott Goldstein In memory of Nina s mother, Ruth White Pat Lane and Peter Silverman In memory of Pat s father, Forrest Lane In memory of Peter s sister, Laurel Silverman Betty Van Leuven and Larry Goldberg Mazel tov to Sally Brown-Winter and Jeff Winter on the birth of their granddaughter, Shoshana Mazel tov to Roberta and Howard Schachter on the birth of their granddaughter, Maya Happy birthday to Cindi Gordon Happy birthday to Phyllis Kravitz Maury Collins and Michael Dorf In appreciation of Rabbi Rosen s support and friendship after the death of Michael s mother, Margaret Dorf Cantor s Discretionary Fund In memory of Cantor Friedland s mother and our friend, Ruth Friedland Carol Brook and Thomas Corfman Simcha Frank The Lasky-Goldman Family Ilene Lebovitz Margie Morrison Zivin and Mark Zivin Dahn and David Gandell In memory of David s sister, Ruth Gandell Gideon Beth Lange and Bill Martin In honor of Jim Ridker on his special birthday Suzie and Gershon Berkson In memory of Suzie s much-loved father, Israel Sirque Raphael Maury Collins and Michael Dorf In appreciation of Cantor Friedland s support and friendship after the death of Michael s mother, Margaret Dorf General Fund Marilee and Matthew Cole Condolences to Leo, Michael, and Myles Gideon on the loss of their wonderful wife and mother, Ruth Gideon Chuck and Maxine Lange In loving memory of Anna Lange, mother of Chuck Lange and grandmother of Alex and Eleanor Martin and Beth and Robert Lange, on her Yahrzeit Jo Perlson In honor of Phyllis Kravitz on her birthday Connie and Bob Stern In honor of Ariel Hasak-Lowy on becoming a Bat Mitzvah Margie Morrison Zivin and Mark Zivin Condolences to Judith Warschausky Childrey and Family on the death of Sidney Warschausky, father of Judith Michael and Rhoda Kamin In honor of Neal and Alan Rubin for their JRF recognition David and Barbara Pinzur Bill and Gail Neiman In honor of Margie and Mark Zivin s 60th birthdays Tina and Gonzalo Escobar In celebration of the aufruf for Chalo Escobar and Corey Wallace Judy and Byron Pollock In honor of Neal and Alan Rubin for their JRF recognition

11 12 Barbara Goodman and Seth, Ian, and Mia Weinberger Mazel Tov to Hallie Rosen on her 50th birthday Bernard Rose Mazel Tov to Eric Rose on his graduation Maya Fagen Thank you to Rabbi Brant and Hallie, Cantor Howard and Terri, and Josh and Carolyn Karsh for their donation in honor of her Bat Mitzvah Maxine and Chuck Lange In loving memory of Charles Lange, father of Chuck Lange and grandfather of Beth and Robert Lange, on his Yahrzeit Erica Karp-Crawford and Wylie Crawford Tzedakah cans Geoffrey and Judy Gluck In recognition of Julie Cutter s successful triathlon and Allie and David s participation in the Race Against Hate Vickie and Irv Korey Condolences to the Gideon family on the death of Ruth Gideon Condolences to Darlene and Ray Grossman on the death of their nephew, Jeremy Kramer Mazel Tov to Neal and Alan Rubin on being JRF honorees In honor of Isaac Moldofsky becoming a Bar Mitzvah In honor of Rhoda and Michael Kamin becoming grandparents Mazel Tov to Randi and Sandy Barr in honor of Taylor s wedding Mazel Tov to Linda and Mark Blumenthal in honor of Mike s graduate degree Mazel Tov to Lynda and Shel Rosen in honor of Mike s graduation In honor of Adam Resnick and Michelle Christensen on their upcoming wedding Barbara and David Pinzur In honor of the birthday of Michael Frank Accessibility & Inclusion Fund Anne Goldberg In loving memory of Bess Goldberg, mother of Anne Goldberg, on her Yahrzeit In loving memory of Fruma Goldberg, sister of Anne Goldberg, on her Yahrzeit Art/Design Fund The Orlove Family Mazel Tov for a special birthday milestone for Sarah Orlove Early Childhood Education Fund Beth Lange and Bill Martin Congratulations to Alex Martin and his JRC preschool friends Rachel Blechman, Sonia Pollock, and Jesse Siegel on their graduation from ETHS Mollie Bass and Ben Swartzendruber In honor of the birth of Maddie Sindelar, daughter of Annie and Robert Sindelar Foundation Fund Lisa Pildes and Michael Sehr Mazel Tov to Joan Dumser on becoming a Bat Mitzvah Jane Perrin and Steven Fox In loving memory of Bea Hantman, Barry Fox, and Sumner Fox, on their Yahrzeits The Stephen Perkins Family In loving memory of Edward and Sylvia Eisen, father and mother of Stephen Perkins, on their Yahrzeits Landscape Fund William Stein In loving memory of Herman Stein, father of William Stein, on his Yahrzeit Religious School Fund Karen Rosen, Nancy Hirsch, and Robyn Hurtig In honor of Bruce Braverman for his dedication in teaching them Hebrew Ruth Gilbert In loving memory of Selma Ross, mother of Ruth Gilbert, on her Yahrzeit Sidney and Leota Hirsch Memorial Fund (Library) Kim and Brad Moldofsky Naomi and Dan Feldman Marcie Weiss Refuah Sheleymah to Ruth Gilbert Condolences to the Gideon family on the death of Ruth Gideon Condolences to Josh Mark and family on the death of his father, Joseph Mark Terri Bernsohn Charlene and Howard Gelber In loving memory of Irene Gelber, mother of Howard Gelber, on her Yahrzeit Naomi and Dan Feldman In loving memory of Esther Bellinson, mother of Naomi Feldman, on her Yahrzeit In loving memory of Chester Feldman, brother of Dan Feldman, on his Yahrzeit Janet Wishinsky In loving memory of Irving Slavin, grandfather of Fran Landt and Jan Wishinsky, on his Yahrzeit In loving memory of Jehiel Wishinsky, grandfather of Fran Landt and Jan Wishinsky, on his Yahrzeit In loving memory of Gertrude Wishinsky, grandmother of Fran Landt and Jan Wishinsky, on her Yahrzeit

12 13 Maria Tolpin and Bill and Daniel Hirsch To honor religious school teacher Miriam Bromberg and assistant Eleanor Martin for giving Daniel a very positive beginning experience Charlene and Howard Gelber Condolences to Darlene and Ray Grossman on the death of their nephew, Jeremy Kramer In loving memory of Irene Gelber, mother of Howard Gelber, on her Yahrzeit Linda and Bruce Kaskel In honor of Joan Dumser becoming a Bat Mitzvah Susan and Bill Siebers Mel and Boris Furman Condolences to Darlene and Ray Grossman on the death of their nephew, Jeremy Kramer Condolences to Judith Childrey on the death of her father, Sidney Warschausky In loving memory of Nora B. Furman, mother of Boris Furman, on her Yahrzeit Terri Ginsberg Bernsohn In honor of Joan Dumser becoming a Bat Mitzvah Boris and Mel Furman In honor of Joan Dumser becoming a Bat Mitzvah Todah Rabah to Joan Dumser and Alan Rudin In loving memory of Ralph Tann, grandfather of Boris Furman, on his Yahrzeit In loving memory of beloved JRC member Dale Good, on the occasion of his Yahrzeit Bonnie Stone Stern and Larry Stern In honor of the birth of their new granddaughter, Leah Nicole Rubens Naomi and Dan Feldman Condolences to Robert Nachman on the death of his brother, James Nachman Social Action Food Fund Danielle and Jon Loevy In loving memory of Jane Perkins, mother of Ann Perkins Sharyn and Edward Reiff In honor of Joan Dumser becoming a Bat Mitzvah Tina and Gonzalo Escobar Refuah Sheleymah for Carter Copeland Social Action Food Fund (Soup Kitchen) Adult B nai Mitzvah Group Condolences to Josh Mark on the death of his father, Joseph Mark Barb Goodman and Seth Weinberger Condolences to Bob Nachman on the death of his brother, James Nachman Social Action HIV/AIDS Jacki and Shelly Kimel Condolences to Kirsten D Aurelio on the death of her grandmother, Madalena Covelli DePasquale Tina and Gonzalo Escobar Refuah Sheleymah for Alan Wertheimer and Marv Chait Social Action Israel Lisa Pildes and Michael Sehr Condolences to Kirsten D Aurelio and her family on the death of her grandmother, Madalena Covelli DePasquale Social Action Kehillah Terri Ginsberg Bernsohn Condolences to Kirsten D Aurelio on the death of her grandmother, Madalena Covelli DePasquale Thank You to: Shabbat Oneg Hosts: Sandra Sheinin and Alexander Feller, JRC s Religious School Staff, Irv Kaplan, Susan and David Forte, Bonnie and Ron Silverman, Robin Eisen Perkins and Steve Perkins, Liz Pleshette & Josh Teweles, Judith and Gary Childrey, Harriet and Hank Conroe, Robyn and Elliot Hurtig, Patty and Alan Rubin, Sheri Young and David Greenwald, Heidi and Rich Katz, Susie and Jon Brooke, JRC s Early Childhood summer camp families Shabbat Minyan Oneg Hosts: Sally Brown-Winter and Jeff Winter, Peg and Steve Romm, The Blechman Family, The Adult B nai Mitzvah Class of 5770, Lou Weiss, The Escobar Family, Anne Goldberg, Darlene and Ray Grossman, Debra Crestoni, The Friedman Family, Larry Goldberg, Rebecca Rubin, Eda Warren, Ruth Wenger and Jonathan Markowitz Welcome New Members! Marat Fleytlikh Nancy Zwick and Joel Straus Byron Yaffe Donna and Mitchell Yates Alyse Freilich and Andrew Schulkin Leslie and Adam Levin Pam Cytrynbaum Geraldine and John Macsai David Sheffer Paula Kamen and David Beazley Joe Alter and Kandie Berridge Irving Kaplan Ann & Seth Lichter Kefira and Murat Philippe

13 14 JRC STAFF rabbi Brant Rosen x2223 cantor Howard Friedland x2232 president Freddi Greenberg executive director Sharon Díaz x2224 asst. executive director Jill Persin x2222 early childhood director Bonnie Silverman x2227 religious school director Terri Bernsohn x2225 Membership & Program coordinator Tom Samuels x2229 youth group advisor Chantal Blaustein Librarianr Eva Eisenstein x2255 administrative assistant Bonnie Stone Stern x2220 Bookkeeper x2221 JRC ESSENTIALS office hours Monday Thursday 9 am 5 pm Friday 9 am 1 pm phone fax website JRC NEWSLETTER editor Robyn Hurtig x2226 next issue s deadline November 15 submissions articles to Robyn Hurtig at rhurtig@jrc-evanston.org Library News Eva Eisenstein, Librarian Where the door is always open, and you are always welcome! WHERE: 2nd floor east. Look for the colorful welcome sign. WHAT: The heart of the lifelong learning spirit of JRC. A small, 3,000 volume, but comprehensive Judaica library for children, teens, and adults; from Bible commentary to biography, history to humor, fiction to philosophy (Jewish of course), and much more. A friendly, casual space to study, to read, to work, and to meet other members. The library operates on the honor system, and is open whenever the building is open. WHO: 1. You, your children, your parents, your grandchildren. 2. Your Judaica librarian, Eva Eisenstein, who can guide you through the library offerings, and who makes sure the library is the best possible small Judaica library. WHY: Because every synagogue should have a library for those who have a zest for knowing more about our Jewish world in any or all of its facets. Librarian hours (these have changed): Tuesday & Thursday, 3 pm 6:30 pm Sunday, 8:30am 1 pm Phone: x eeisenstein@jrc-evanston.org Rabbinical Commentary (Continued from page 1) an extensive synthesis of yoga and Jewish mysticism, including a technique he calls the 13 Point Prostration. ) I still remember well that two years ago, during JRC s observance of the once-in-twenty-eight-years celebration of Birkat Hachamah, we held a wonderful service that combined sunrise meditations, yoga sun salutations and traditional Jewish prayers. Cantor Howard and I perform the High Holiday service prostrations ourselves (but for obvious reasons we never really know how many congregants follow our example). For myself, I find something enormously powerful about the physicality of bowing down to the floor. It is truly the most universally humbling of gestures a simple yet profound way to empty one s ego and acknowledge the presence in the universe of a power greater than oneself. Whether or not you choose to go all the way down this year, I look forward, as always, to spending this season with you. May it be a sweet and renewing new year for us all. JRC Funeral Plan The purpose of the JRC Funeral plan is to simplify the process and reduce both the cost and stress of making funeral arrangements when a loved one dies. Administrator: Chicago Jewish Funerals, Ltd., 195 North Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, 60089; or toll free At your time of loss, call them at any hour of the day. Rabbi Rosen will be contacted immediately, or you may also call him directly. A detailed funeral guide is available from the JRC office.