KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL FROM THE RABBI S DESK. April 2014 Nisan Volume 44 Number 7. Inside:

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1 KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL C O N G R E G AT I O N April 2014 Nisan 5774 Volume 44 Number 7 FROM THE RABBI S DESK O n Rosh hashanah this past year, I talked about the name of our congregation, and I focused in on the West of KAM Isaiah Israel. The initials at the beginning of our name stand for Kehilat Anshei Ma-arav The Congregation of the People of the West. I talked about how we, sitting at the Third Coast in the middle of our country, could still consider ourselves to be exploring the West. I then suggested that we should consider ourselves to be explorers of a spiritual West, a place of bold experiment where the old rules did not hold sway. What are the qualities of this spiritual West? As the collective people of this West, we all have our part in defining it, and what this West is for some may not be what it is for others. But I would humbly suggest a few elements to tie this West together into one: The spiritual West is moving forward, exploring new ideas, sampling new visions, opening new frontiers in music, in worship, in education, in social justice. Rabbi Frederick H. Reeves The spiritual West is being optimistic about the future, knowing that although we freeves@kamii.org are not in a perfect world, we are working to improve it and some day we will get there. The spiritual West is having knowledge of the past but not be bound by it. The spiritual West is questing towards developing a spiritual understanding of our place in the physical world, growing an understanding between our actions and the effects, both spiritual and physical, of those actions. The spiritual West is being a person of purpose. In a number of my bulletin articles and sermons over the past half year, I have explored some aspects of our new spiritual West. But one of the key characteristics of this exploration is that I cannot do it by myself. Yes, I could make castles in the sky and imagine all kinds of ideal Jewish environments. Those imaginings will not bring us closer to realizing the vibrant community which is KAM Isaiah Israel if they remain one sided. Therefore, I want to hear from you. The members of our community are smart, capable, and interesting. Together we are exploring this West, so we should share our thoughts and experiments with one another. We will be starting a monthly bulletin column written by a member of our congregation. The contributions can be essays, but they could also be artwork, poems, or any form of exploration printable in the bulletin. Here are some questions to help you think about what you would want to explore or how you would define the spiritual West. What are the areas with which you are struggling in your life? Does Judaism speak to those areas? When have you found Judaism relevant to your life? When have you wanted to find some kind of relevance and did not find it in Judaism? Do the categories of religious thought that you learned when you were younger still apply to your life, or are there other ideas that seem more relevant? Is there a way that we can engage other systems of thought to enrich our Judaism, or will that end up only watering it down and making it less real? I look forward to sharing what we create, discussing it, and making meaning in the lives of the members of our community together. Inside: Spring Benefit; Perelmuter Oneg...2 Cantorial Search Committee; Weinstein; Song of Songs...3 Seder Plate Hunger Myths; Seder Matching...5 Cook s Corner...6 Adult Education; Yom HaShoah Program...7 Religious School & Nursery School...8 Purim Photos...9 In the Family; Johnny s Seeds...10 In the Community...11 Cantor Eskenasy ; Reasons to Celebrate...12 Tribute Funds; Donations; Zichronam...13 Worship Schedule...14 April Calendar...15 May Calendar...16 Click on any article or page number to jump to that page.

2 PERELMUTER ONEG Please join us for our 2014 Spring Benefit, welcoming a long-awaited spring with fabulous food and music. Saturday, April 26 Vick Hall, KAM Isaiah Israel 6:30 PM - Cocktails and Raffle - Dinner and Jazz Enjoy locally sourced treats from home-grown talent: Dinner designed by chef, Jared Wentwort, from the new Hyde Park restaurant, The Promontory. Jazz interpreted by internationally acclaimed singer and Kenwood graduate, Tammy McCann, and her quartet. Engaging look at the history of Chicago s South Side Jazz with Judith Stein, co-founder of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and Richard Steele of WBEZ. We hope you join us for this fun-filled evening. Please reserve your spot on our website, by April 21. On Friday, April 11 KAM Isaiah Israel will honor Nancy Perelmuter on the occasion of her birthday. Please join us for a Shabbat service of prayer, poetry, and music. 6:00 PM - Family 6:30 PM - Congregational Dinner Dinner is $5 per person; RSVP at kamii.org/rsvp or by Wednesday, April 9. - Following Shabbat services, the Perelmuter Committee, will host a joyous oneg Shabbat as we honor Nancy s continued commitment to our community. 2

3 CANTORIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE The Cantorial Search Committee is overjoyed to report that, on Sunday, March 16, Cantor David Berger was enthusiastically and unanimously approved by the Board as our new cantor! He was unanimously recommended to the Board after a four-month search. Cantor Berger comes to us from Congregation Tikvat Jacob Beth Torah in Manhattan Beach, California, where he has been the cantor for five years. A 2007 graduate of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, he previously served as the cantor at Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in New York City. Cantor Berger has roots in the Chicago area and Illinois, growing up in Buffalo Grove and attending the University of Illinois, where he received a B.A. in Religious Studies. He received a M.A. in Jewish Philosophy from the Jewish Theological Seminary before attending HUC. Cantor Berger will be joined by his husband D ror Chankin-Gould, who will soon be ordained as a rabbi after studying in L.A. during Cantor Berger s most recent employment, and their one-and-a-half-year old son Matan. Cantor Berger has wide-ranging yet deep, musical interests and knowledge, a great love of teaching, and a beautiful voice. He also has creative recipes he s served dishes based on the ten plagues! We are excited to introduce him to the synagogue and join him in prayer and song. The committee spent many long meetings writing a job posting, developing interview questions, and screening candidates. We received 12 applications, interviewed 10 candidates by Skype, and brought in three finalists for on-site visits. The quality of the applicant pool was quite impressive, which made the process both harder and more rewarding than expected. We look forward to introducing Cantor Berger to our community! Respectfully, Amy Gelman and Bruce Meyer KAMII Cantorial Search Committee Co-Chairs Shir HaShirim Cantorial Search Committee John Kerpel Julie Volchenboum Susan Bass Marcus Pejman Yousefsedah Richard Miller Robert Nevel ex officio Sonja Seglin Rabbi Frederick Reeves ex officio Regina Umanskiy Tal Rosen ex officio WEINSTEIN WEEKEND The Jacob J. Weinstein Committee sponsored a scholar-in-residence weekend with Dr. Jonathan Boyarin of Cornell University on February 28 and March 2. On Friday night, Dr. Boyarin discussed the history of Jewish families using examples from the Bible and ancient times to the modern era, showing that Jewish families have changed throughout history in response to specific cultures and social pressures. On Sunday morning, KAM Isaiah Israel member Leora Auslander and Dr. Boyarin discussed current challenges for Jewish families, including interfaith marriage and families making time in their lives for Judaism. KAM Isaiah Israel members participated in lively, in-depth table discussions about how our congregation can meet our families needs. Suggestions emerged about intergenerational programs and conversations, policies and practices regarding interfaith families, hosting conversations with non-jewish family members, and finding ways for more congregants to get to know each other. Dr. Boyarin responded to these table discussions, ultimately recommending that we continue the conversation. The Weinstein Committee looks forward to working with Rabbi Reeves and others to use the weekend s outcomes to enrich our community. mixiyd xiy APRIL 18: SONG OF SONGS SERVICE We sing it at weddings, we sing it in Israel, we dance to it, we sing it at camp, but what is so special about the Song of Songs? What about it sparks creativity and heightens emotions? Friday, April 18 we will celebrate spring and the Song of Songs, traditionally chanted during Passover. We will look at the popularity of the beautiful love poetry of the Song of Songs together with Cantor Eskenasy, our adult choir, Rabbi Reeves, Lauren Miller, flautist Susan Levitin, and pianist Gerry Rizzer. at 3

4 SEDER PLATE The traditional seder plate design follows the layout of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the 16th century Kabbalist. In Kabbalah, a non-rational approach to religion, there were ten emanations of the Divine. If you include the seder plate, there are ten objects here. Of course, the orange throws off the count. Since nothing rhymes with orange, there is neither rhyme nor reason to this non-traditional layout. The roasted egg is a reminder of the daily offering in the Temple in Jerusalem. This roasted shankbone is a reminder of the lamb that was offered as the Passover in Jerusalem. The bitter herb which reminds us of the bitterness of slavery often horseradish. Three pieces of matzah The green herb, usually parsley, which we dip in salt water. It represents the renewal of spring and redemption. Susannah Heschel introduced the non-traditional custom of putting an orange on the seder plate to represent the inclusion of lesbians and gay men within Jewish life. 4 A mixture of wine, apples, nuts and cinnamon. It reminds us of the mortar used by our ancestors to build the cities of Pitom and Raamses. Romaine lettuce was the rabbis preference for the bitter herb, but horseradish became more popular. Now, most seder plates have space for both.

5 8 MYTHS ABOUT HUNGER IN AMERICA FROM MAZON On Passover, we recite the words, Let all who are hungry come and eat. What do we know about the hungry? Myth 1: Hunger exists because there is not enough food Reality: Abundance, not scarcity, best describes the world s food supply. Enough wheat, rice, and other grains are produced globally to provide every human being with 3,500 calories a day. Hunger persists in this country because of an absence of political will to solve the problem. Myth 2: It s better for local charities to feed people, not the government. Reality: Charitable organizations were not designed to feed their entire community; they were created to solve temporary or emergency situations. Most are open only a few days a week or a few hours of each day. They are largely volunteer run and primarily distribute food donated from within their communities. Myth 3: Government programs enable lazy people to live well on society s dime. Reality: The average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) benefit equates to roughly $1.40 per person per meal, and the money often runs out before the month ends. SNAP is designed to ensure that people receive the sustenance they need so they can contribute back to society and get off these programs. Myth 4: Hunger is only a big city problem Reality: People often envision a city when thinking about where people are going hungry. But these challenges afflict suburban, rural, and remote areas too, where alleviating hunger can be much harder, due to fewer needed resources and lack of sufficient transportation infrastructure to support food distribution. Myth 5: You can t be overweight and be food insecure Reality: A growing body of research shows a correlation between obesity and hunger. Often, what little food people can afford is unhealthy, processed, and of low nutritional value. There is far more limited access to healthy and affordable foods in their communities and reduced opportunities for physical activity. Myth 6: People on SNAP just need to get a job Reality: SNAP provides a vital lifeline so that people and their families can eat while they search for work. In fact, this program is designed to expand and contract in relation to unemployment. 40% of households receiving SNAP benefits have at least one working person. Myth 7: SNAP is rife with waste, fraud, and abuse Reality: Ongoing improvements to regulate the SNAP program have kept fraud and abuse under 2% through rigorous quality control systems. The majority of SNAP recipients follow the rules because they desperately need help ensuring their family has food to eat. Myth 8: Hunger can be a positive motivator - Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-MO) Reality: Hungry people would rather not be hungry and may try to do everything they can to avoid it. But it also hinders their ability to take such action, such as decreased productivity. Chronic hunger impacts children s physical development and their ability to learn. Having a substantial population of hungry people impedes our economic prosperity. Source: MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger From the time of Abraham and Sarah, Jews have welcomed guests into their homes, and as Passover approaches, KAM Isaiah Israel can help you find a seder match! Take advantage of our seder matchmaking service by letting the office know if you need a place or if you have an extra place. SEDER MATCHING Please contact the synagogue office at kamii@kamii.org or to let us know you d like to host or be hosted and any other relevant details. And thank you, in advance, for your gracious hospitality to fellow congregants. If you have an extra space at your Passover table: We hope you ll consider hosting congregants who might not otherwise have a seder to attend. Thank you for your gracious hospitality! If you need a place to celebrate Passover: Please let us know if you need a place and if you have any special dietary requirements, e.g., vegan, in recovery, etc. Passover dates: Monday, April 14 Tuesday, April 15 Monday, April 21 First Seder Office closed Festival service, Second Seder Last day of Passover, Office closed Festival service, 5

6 KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL COOK S CORNER A feature highlighting favorite recipes of our members, from a collection either recently submitted or from our First You Eat cookbook, issued over 30 years ago. If you have a recipe to share, please submit it to Lauren Reeves at laurendreeves@gmail.com. Both space and seasonality will determine recipes featured. Flourless Chocolate Cake (from Le Francais) from Linda Hanessian Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours Ingredients: 14 oz. bittersweet baking chocolate 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 ¾ sticks) 1 ¼ c. sugar, divided 10 egg yolks, beaten 10 egg whites 2 tablespoons orange liqueur 1 tablespoon vanilla Directions: 1. Heat oven to 250 degrees. Heat chocolate and butter on top of a double boiler until melted, stirring occasionally. Stir in ¾ cup sugar. Continue stirring until the sugar is almost dissolved. 2. Beat eggs yolks in a separate bowl. Add the melted chocolate mixture, a little at a time, to the yolks until well combined beating constantly. Continue adding chocolate until chocolate mixture and yolks are fully combined. 3. Return chocolate and egg mixture to the double boiler and heat, stirring until slightly thickened. 4. In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites until medium soft peaks form. With beaters still running, add remaining ½ cup sugar, beating until mixture holds stiff peaks. 5. Off the heat, stir vanilla and orange liqueur into chocolate mixture, mixing well. With a rubber scraper, fold egg whites carefully into the chocolate. Coconut Macaroons (adapted from Cook s Illustrated) from Lauren Reeves Ingredients: 14 oz. flaked, sweetened coconut 1 ½ c. sugar 1/3 c. + 1 tablespoon egg whites (from about 3 large eggs) ½ teaspoon almond extract Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. 2. Put coconut in food processor fitted with the chopping blade and process 1 minute. Add sugar and process 15 more seconds. Add egg whites and almond extract and process 1 minute until paste resembles mushy snow. Scrape sides of the food processor bowl with a spatula and process until a stiff but cohesive paste forms, like marzipan or pasta dough. If mixture is crumbly or dry, add drops of water until a proper consistency is reached. 3. Form cookies on parchment-lined cookie sheets (2 teaspoons per cookie). Drop cookies from a spoon, roll between your palms, or use a cookie scoop. 4. Bake for minutes, switching cookie sheet positions midway through baking, until golden brown. Do not overbake. Leave on parchment until cooled. 5. Store in an airtight container for approximately 4 days or freeze up to 1 month. 6. Spoon mixture into a 12 springform pan that has been buttered and dusted with matzo cake meal. Bake 2 hours at 250 degrees. Let cool to room temperature, then chill. 6

7 Sunday Lectures Sundays during Religious School, Noon Religious school time is not just a time for children there are learning opportunities for adults as well! Join us for one of these engaging presentations as we kick off our new season. Check kamii.org for more details. April 6 Nick Sandys, Producing Artistic Director, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Staging the Unstageable: The Lessons of Our Class Director Nick Sandys will discuss Staging the Unstageable: The Lessons of Our Class. The Polish play looks at the annihilation of the Jewish population of Jedwabne, Poland, in 1941, believed to be a Nazi atrocity for decades before the shocking truth was discovered. The Remy Bumppo Theatre performs the play from April 2 to May 11 at the Greenhouse Theater Center and features Linda Gillum and KAM Isaiah Israel member David Darlow. Our speaker has made the script available to our congregation as a PDF file. Alan Berger at alan@alansberger.com if you would like a copy. YOM HASHOAH PROGRAM April 20 Richard J. Miller, Alfred Newton Richards Professor of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Drugged: The Science and Culture Behind Psychotropic Drugs The Yom hashoah program of remembrance will take place Monday evening, April 28 at 7:00 PM at KAM Isaiah Israel. Each year, we revisit our memories of those who suffered and perished during the Shoah through a selection of readings and music. If you would like to help plan the program, the committee will meet April 7 at at KAM Isaiah Israel. You can also participate in the program as a reader or greeter. To do so, please call the KAMII office and leave your name and contact information. All Munch & Learn programs are Noon to 1:00 PM. Bring your own lunch and we ll provide dessert and snacks. Tuesday, April 8 Susan Bass Marcus Puppets Were the Boss of Me This session will offer a brief history of Susan Bass Marcus s work and some lively interaction with a few of her puppet creations. Susan Bass Marcus created professional puppets and puppetry programs for nearly 30 years even while working as Senior Educator at Spertus Museum from 1988 to She studied with the great Hans Schmidt in Chicago and still invents puppets as sculpture when she isn t working on her first novel. Tuesday, May 13 Grand Tour APRIL ADULT EDUCATION ADULT EDUCATION Hyde Park Munch & Learn Save the date for a potluck Munch & Learn that will include tours of the building, good company, and other activities. Check May s bulletin for more details. 1 Introduction to Judaism 7:00 PM Passover and Easter class 7:00 PM 6 Bledstein Bible Class Beginning Hebrew Sunday lecture 7 Advanced Hebrew 6:30 PM 8 Munch & Learn 12:00 PM 13 Bledstein Bible Class Beginning Hebrew 20 Bledstein Bible Class Beginning Hebrew Sunday lecture 18 Shabbat service 27 Bledstein Bible Class Beginning Hebrew 28 Yom hashoah program 7:00 PM Note: The Biblical Songs class series originally scheduled for May has been canceled. Stay tuned for other educational offerings at 7

8 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL & NURSERY SCHOOL The finale included hand puppets for the whole audience. The kids got the best seats in the house Marilyn demonstrated how you make puppets out of recycled materials A full house for Marilyn Price s Wonderfilled World of Puppets! The annual fundraiser for the Nursery and Religious Schools was a great success! We sold: 384 raffle tickets, 114 puppet show tickets, 80 slices of pizza, $350+ of baked goods, and raised a total of $2, for our schools! Congratulations to all of our raffle winners! The bake sale was a great success! This fundraiser could not have been possible without amazing volunteers. From selling tickets, to working the bake sale and serving pizza, and of course donating baked goods, our parents and teachers made the event a wonderful experience for all. EVENTS ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES 6 Religious School 11 Family Shabbat service Congregational dinner 12 Second Saturday 13 Religious School 20 Religious School 18 Shabbat service 26 Tot Shabbat service 27 Religious School Mitzvah Mall 8 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 4:30 PM 9:00 AM 11:30 AM Thank you to Lauren Raphael, Jenny Farver, Sharon Burgin, Diane Salk, Julie Volchenboum, Sisa Renie, Carol Robinson, Lainey Canevaro, Kevin Weinstein, Russ Herron, Nicholas Liebman, Julie Key, Grace Gleason, Laura Morgan, Mobina Siddiqui, Shanah Kimelman-Annes, and all of our talented bakers! Sarah Cort Director of Education scort@kamii.org

9 PURIM AT KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL Assembling mishloach manot The finished mishloach manot! Hamantaschen making kicked off our Purim event Staff costume contest Making hamantaschenshaped cards Megillah readings were interspersed throughout the spiel Groggers came out during the spiel Purim comes to life with Purim-themed Legos! Our Klezmer band KAM Isaiah Israel members enjoyed dancing to the Klezmer music KAM Isaiah Israel celebrated Purim Lego style on March 15! We made hamentaschen, shared a congregational dinner, enjoyed a hilarious Lego-themed Purim spiel complete with megillah chanting, and danced to the music of our Klezmer band. Our Religious School students had a blast celebrating Purim on March 16! We sang Purim classics like Chag Purim and Wicked Wicked Man as well as the new favorite from our Lego Purim Shpiel, Hey Jews. After our assembly, we had a special mishloach manot fair, where students made mishloach manot with homemade hamantaschen for friends, family, and Montgomery Place residents. The afternoon ended with a staff costume contest, where 5th & 6th grade teacher Eitan Amiel won by a landslide with his costume, Half Asleep! Young superheroes enjoy Klezmer music 9

10 IN THE FAMILY Akiba-Schechter Honors Rebecca Kirstein Our neighborhood Jewish day school, Akiba-Schechter, honored Rebecca Berenson Kirstein at its annual benefit dinner on March 23. Rebecca has played many roles at Akiba student, mother of students, board member, and preschool teacher. Both Akiba and KAM Isaiah Israel, where Rebecca was bat mitzvah and confirmed, will miss her when, at the end of the school year, she and sons Matthew and Jacob move to Cleveland to join their husband and father, Isaac Kirstein. Co-chairs of the Akiba benefit were Bob and Carla Goldberg. Carla is the director of the Akiba-Schechter preschool. Looking at Ukraine s Future Marvin Zonis published an op-ed in the March 5 Chicago Tribune, Plenty of Reasons for Ukraine s Grim Future. In his essay, he traces the 20th and 21st century history of Ukraine and makes some interesting points about Ukraine s economy and government. Marvin doesn t defend Russia s seizure of the Crimea but doesn t see favorable odds for its political and economic recovery. Marvin is a global political economist who is professor emeritus at the University of Chicago s Booth School of Business. Discussing Medical Matters on Public Radio In February and March, John Schumann, son-in-law of Grace Wolf, hosted a four-part original series, Medical Matters with John Schumann, M.D., a one-hour dialogue about health and health care, on KWGS, the public radio station in Tulsa. The shows featured guest interviews along with commentators. John is director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine in Tulsa. He writes the blog GlassHospital.com, which demystifies medicine and health care. Recent Authors of Particular Interest to Our Members Richard Miller, the chair of the KAMII Music Committee as well as a professor of pharmacology at Northwestern University, has recently published Drugged: The Science and Culture Behind Psychotropic Drugs. Publisher Oxford University Press says this book provides the everyday reader with a description of many commonly used drugs. It also addresses health concerns By Grace Wolf involving the use and abuse of psychotropic drugs and provides readers with both the scientific and cultural histories behind these drugs. Last December the Atlantic online published an excerpt from the book dealing with theories that religion developed as a product of psychotropic drug use. Networks of Rebellion: Explaining Insurgent Cohesion and Collapse is Paul Staniland s new book. Paul is an assistant professor of political science and co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago. The book studies how insurgent groups organize themselves, and why they differ in their ability to maintain internal cohesion and control. It uses comparative evidence from South and Southeast Asia to show how social networks are used and transformed for the purposes of insurgency. Seth Sanders, son of Jacqui Sanders, is co-editor of Ancient Jewish Sciences and the History of Knowledge in Second Temple Literature. NYU Press points out that, until very recently, the idea of ancient Jewish sciences would have been considered unacceptable. This book points them out in detail and posits a new field of research, the scientific activity evident in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Early Jewish Pseudepigrapha. The contributors evaluate new and older texts in relation to astronomy, astrology, and physiognomy, marking the first comprehensive attempt to account for scientific themes in Second Temple Judaism. An appreciation of these topics paves the way to a renewed understanding of the scientific fragments scattered throughout rabbinic literature. Newsworthy Sculptor Iris Goldstein participated in Renacer-Reborn: An Exhibit Within the Exhibit, which involved the work of residents of a domestic violence shelter collaborating with ARC Gallery members. The larger, multimedia exhibit was Fractured Yet Rising: An Exhibit on Violence Against Women, which was shown at ARC March Greeting a New Generation On February 14, Jim Bloom and Kristena Lucky-Bloom were delighted by the birth of a daughter, Lilia Elise. Lilia weighed in at 7 lb., 10 oz. Congratulations to the Bloom family! SEEDS FOR OUR GARDEN KAM Isaiah Israel thanks Johnny s Selected Seeds for their donation of seeds and Trellis Net to our garden. Johnny s Selected Seeds Charitable Giving Committee selected KAM Isaiah Israel as a recipient for a 2014 donation. You can learn more about the company at 10

11 By Grace Wolf Help Feed Needy Jews This Passover Because not everyone can afford to buy special Passover foods, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago was set up over 100 years ago to help provide holiday meals for the needy. Every Passover and Rosh Hashanah this volunteer organization delivers 5,000 packages of holiday food to feed 12,000 needy people. How you can help: 1. Help prepare and fill the packages of food on Sun., March 30 (volunteers at the warehouse must be at least 12 years) 2. Help deliver the packages in your own vehicle on Sunday, April 6, 8:00-11:00 AM (people of all ages are encouraged to participate in the deliveries) 3. Contribute money at Further information, including the warehouse address, is available at maotchitim.org or God Is Subject of Divinity School Conference On April 9-11, in the Swift Hall 3rd Floor Lecture Room, the University of Chicago Divinity School is presenting a conference on God: Theological Accounts and Ethical Possibilities. It will bring together theologians, philosophers, and religious ethicists to consider the question, What is the relationship between God and the good and the right? They will take into account factors like cultural and religious pluralism, hybrid theologies, and religiously-motivated violence. Keynote speakers include Michael Fishbane and David Tracy of the University of Chicago. For more information or to register, visit Lecture Addresses Little-Known Chapter of Holocaust History On Thursday, April 24, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Marianne Hirsch and Leo Spitzer will deliver the 2014 Gossett Lecture at the University of Chicago: Small Acts of Repair: The Unclaimed Legacy of Transnistria. They will look at the work and the reception of writers and artists who were deported to Transnistria, an area that was annexed by Romania during World War II and became a forgotten cemetery in which hundreds of thousands of Jews and political prisoners perished. Because much of the vibrant intellectual and artistic activity that took place in Transnistria s ghettos and camps largely fails to fit the paradigms of Holocaust art or literature, its artists from the wartime era remain little known. The lecture is free and open to the public. For further information, including the location of the lecture, contact Chicago Center for Jewish Studies at IN THE COMMUNITY This Month at Spertus On Sunday, April 6, at 2:00 p.m., Alisa Solomon of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism will speak on Fiddler s Fortunes: The Mighty Afterlife of a Broadway Musical. She will discuss where Fiddler on the Roof came from, where it has gone, and why it is still relevant today. At 5:30 that afternoon, Spertus is presenting a free screening of the MGM film: mandatory advance reservations for the film can be made on the Spertus website at spertus.edu. On Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m., Spertus is presenting a rare screening of Tevye, the 1939 non-musical film version of the Sholem Aleichem story that inspired Fiddler on the Roof. A post-screening discussion will be led by arts critic Andrew Patner. On Monday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m., art journalist David D Arcy will speak on Art Loot: An Unresolved Legacy. Mr. D Arcy has been investigating and writing about cultural property and art theft for more than 20 years. He will discuss recently discovered stockpiles of stolen art, place these new finds in the context of ongoing efforts, and examine the role of U.S. museums and the Jewish community. The cost for tckets for all the above events (except the free Fiddler screening) is $18, $10 for Spertus members, and $8 for students. You can buy tickets through the Spertus website or by calling When you re in the Loop, stop by Spertus and take a look at Collecting Local: 10 New Acquisitions, the new exhibit in the first-floor vestibule gallery. Running through Sunday, August 24, it features important new additions to Spertus s collection that reflect its commitment to preserving local Jewish art, artifacts, and the stories they tell. Admission is free. Spring Shapiro Lecture at CTU The thrice-yearly Shapiro lectures at Catholic Theological Union address theological issues of interest to both Jews and Christians. On Monday, April 7, 4:00 6:00 p.m., Charlotte Fonrobert, associate professor of religious studies at Stanford University, will speak on Women s Embodiment of the Sacred: Renegotiating the Boundaries of Judaism and Christianity. The lecture will take place at CTU, 5416 S. Cornell Avenue; admission is free, and complimentary parking is available in the CTU garage. bernardincenter@ctu.edu or call for more information. Please Share Your Stories Your fellow KAM Isaiah Israel members would enjoy reading about your doings and achievements. Please share news about yourself and your family. Just the information to me at wolf0047@earthlink.net, or leave a note in my folder in the synagogue office. 11

12 Editor s Note Thank you all for your warm wishes as I take on the role of the KAM Isaiah Israel bulletin editor! I have big shoes to fill, and I d like to thank Phyllis Cohn for her dedication to our synagogue. My professional experience in communications, including editing newsletters, combined with the breadth and depth of our congregation will make for some great bulletins. While synagogue events, information, and our bulletin favorites will remain, you may see some changes over time. Look for opportunities to contribute to future issues to showcase our vibrant community, including Rabbi Reeves s message this month. There are two ways you can contribute already: 1. Take photos at KAM Isaiah Israel events! Pictures, especially those of high-quality and high-resolution, are a wonderful visual component to our congregation s communications. 2. Show the bulletin to your friends! Do you know someone who might be interested in an upcoming Sunday lecture? Maybe they d enjoy next month s family Shabbat? Send them the link! If you would like to contribute to the May bulletin, please send your submissions to me at laurendreeves@gmail.com by Monday, April 7. Lauren Reeves KAM Isaiah Israel bulletin editor SHABBAT SERVICE TO HONOR CANTOR ESKENASY Save the Date Friday, May 16, Our Kol Sasson will honor Cantor Miriam Eskenasy s 6 years with KAM Isaiah Israel. REASONS TO CELEBRATE While all birthdays and anniversaries are special, we list those on the decade or mid-decade as special. Birthdays over 85 years and anniversaries over 60 years are saluted each year. SPECIAL APRIL BIRTHDAYS Steven Sibener, April 3; Nancy Perelmuter, April 12; Samuel Golden, April 16; A.K. Allender, April 24; Bernard Greenberg, April 24; Peter Edgerton, April 27; Sarah-Anne Schumann, April 27 SPECIAL APRIL ANNIVERSARIES Vincent and Beverly Nathan, April 1, 55 years SPECIAL MAY BIRTHDAYS Margaret Johnson, May 1; Grace Newman, May 2; Barbara Greenberg, May 6; Melinda Deegan, May 12; Mark Greenwald, May 18; Debbie Wang, May 18; Amy Whitaker, May 19; Paul Berks, May 20; Ken Housinger, May 22; Ruth Geis, May 28 SPECIAL MAY ANNIVERSARIES Raymond and Helene Groban, May 6, 63 years; Harry and Jean Gottlieb, May 23, 72 years 12 12

13 Temple Operating Funds Discretionary Funds: Rabbi s Fund Cantor s Fund Landmark Preservation Fund Stolz-Levi Walter Jacobs Memorial Library Fund Music Enhancement Fund Prayer Book/Humash Fund Religious School Fund Nursery School Fund Kathrynn W. Rosenbluth Flower Fund Harold A. Rosenstein Temple Fund Blanche R. Stolz Scholarship Fund Jacob J. Weinstein Fund Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf Memorial Fund Youth Activities Fund Youth Group Israel Scholarship Fund Other Restricted Foundation Funds Blanche and Philip Brail Social Action Fund Julius J. Browdy Scholarship and Education Fund Agnes Davis Memorial Fund Ruth Diane Davis Scholarship Fund Maurice L. Heller Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund Gretel and Max Janowski Fund Babette and Irving H. Mann Educational Fund Necheles Scholarship Fund Rabbi Hayim Goren Perelmuter Fund Beatrice K. Schneiderman Social Action Fund Michael and Rebecca Schneiderman and Family Scholarship Fund Ezra Sensibar Fund Harvey Shapiro Memorial Scholarship Fund Esther Rosalie N. and Theodore Stone Chapel Fund William and Bernard Weinberg Scholarship Fund Other Donor Address I/We Contribute $ Date Acknowledge to Address In Honor of In Memory of Please make checks payable to: KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation 1100 East Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, IL Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. TRIBUTE FUNDS We thank all contributors for their generosity and support of our synagogue family. (Contributions received February 6 to March 5 are listed) General Fund The Estate of Lee Haupt Jay and Lorraine Jaffe Cecele Schwartz In Memory of Marlene Richman Roberta and Howard Siegel and Family Betty Winer Memorial Yahrzeits In Memory of My Dear Family Joyce Hilkevitch In Memory of Emma Fisher Shirley Fisher In Memory of Ben Margolin Sylvia and Victor Margolin In Memory of Albert A. Rosner Jonathan and Joy Rosner In Memory of Alice Schlessinger Nathan Schlessinger DONATIONS ZICHRONAM LIV RACHA May their memory be for a blessing We remember our member Max Allender, son of Jessica Allender, grandson of Skip and Suzanne Allender. dkxal mpexkif We send condolences to Howard Helsinger (Elizabeth) on the death of his mother, Muriel Helsinger. 13

14 WORSHIP REASONS TO SCHEDULE CELEBRATE Wednesday, April 2 Morning minyan... Friday, April 4 Shabbat service... Saturday, April 5 Shabbat service... Wednesday, April 9 Morning minyan... Friday, April 11 Montgomery Place service...4:45 PM Family Shabbat service...6:00 PM Congregational dinner...6:30 PM Shabbat service... Saturday, April 12 Shabbat service... Hyde Park Second Saturday...4:30 PM Tuesday, April 15 Office closed Passover festival service... Wednesday, April 16 Morning minyan... Friday, April 18 Song of Songs service... Saturday, April 19 Shabbat service... Monday, April 21 Office closed Passover festival service... Wednesday, April 23 Morning minyan... Friday, April 25 Montgomery Place service...4:45 PM Shabbat service... Saturday, April 26 Shabbat service... Wednesday, April 30 Morning minyan... is held every Shabbat morning at. Transportation to Shabbat evening services is always available. Please call the office. LEADERSHIP Robert Nevel President Alan Berger Vice President Amy Gelman Vice President Leslie Kay Vice President Leslie Stulberg Secretary Ronald Bauer Treasurer Daniel P. Mass Immediate Past President CLERGY Rabbi Frederick H. Reeves Cantor Miriam Eskenasy Cantor Deborah Bard Emerita STAFF Tal Rosen Executive Director Sarah Cort Director of Education Stewart Martin Administrative Assistant Abigail Allison Administrative Assistant Bulletin Designer Rebecca Bean Bookkeeper Lauren Reeves Volunteer Bulletin Editor KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL CONGREGATION FOUNDED IN E. Hyde Park Boulevard Chicago, IL Phone: Fax: kamii@kamii.org Website: 14 KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, 2014

15 APRIL 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Intro to Judaism 7:00 PM Passover and Easter Class 7:00 PM 5 Religious School Adult Education Sunday Lecture Religious School Adult Education 6 13 Advanced Hebrew 6:30 PM Board of Directors Meeting First Seder Hyde Park Munch & Learn 12:00 PM Intro to Judaism 7:00 PM 15 First Day of Passover Office Closed Festival Service Second Seder at Montgomery Place 4:45 PM Family 6:00 PM Congregational Shabbat Dinner 6:30 PM Hyde Park Second Saturday 4:30 PM Religious School Adult Education Religious School Adult Education Mitzvah Mall 11:30 AM Last Day of Passover Office Closed Festival Service 28 Community Yom HaShoah Program 7:00 PM at Montgomery Place 4:45 PM Tot 9:00 AM Spring Fundraiser 26

16 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Religious School Adult Education Sunday Lecture 4 5 Advanced Hebrew 6:30 PM Board of Directors Meeting MAY Family with Teacher Appreciation 6:00 PM Congregational Shabbat Dinner 6:30 PM 8 9 at Montgomery Place 4:45 PM Confirmation Shabbat Service 3 10 with Zev Goldberg s Bar Mitzvah Hyde Park Second Saturday 4:30 PM Religious School Adult Education 11 Advanced Hebrew 6:30 PM Hyde Park Munch & Learn 12:00 PM Kol Sasson honoring Cantor Eskenasy 17 Religious School Adult Education 18 Advanced Hebrew 6:30 PM at Montgomery Place 4:45 PM 24 Sunday Lecture 25 Office Closed Memorial Day