2009 was an amazing year for all of us at Oak Park Temple. We filled the house more times this past year than I can remember! From the Annual Meeting where we voted to accept the Rabbi Search Committee’s recommendation to hire Rabbi Weiss to the dinner honoring Rabbi Gerson, and then Rabbi Weiss’ installation, we all gathered in record numbers. In between those events there were so many other dinners and occasions to pray and celebrate together that I can’t even try to list them all. But, I do want to thank everyone who participated in them, both the volunteers and participants who made them so successful.
Now, we need to sustain the enthusiasm that was generated by the events of last year. New in 2010 will be the Derech Eretz Leadership Development Program. We always need new leaders and this is a great way for everyone to learn more about how OPT works. There will be presentations by many of our members and others from the Jewish community. Please check out our ever-improving website to get more information about this program.
Another chance for us to “pack the house” again is this month at the Silent Auction. On January 23 the Community Hall will be transformed for “How Sweet It Is” featuring a multitude of desserts, auction items and music. What a great way to start the new year surrounded by your Temple family.
Don’t forget that our 2010 Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 31. Although we don’t have anything monumental to vote on this year, our new Board members still need to be voted in and your attendance is always appreciated.
As always, think about attending just one more service, participating in one more class, or joining in one more committee than you did last year. You won’t regret it.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
For those of yo who missed my Kol Nidre message
To quote a famous 20th century sage, Dorothy of Kansas, “there’s no place like home”. But what is home? Is it where we sleep at night? Is it where our parents and siblings congregate, the place where we revert to old roles and behaviors? Is it the place our ancestors left, to find their way to someplace else? Is it “an assembling place for the wise”, to quote the Pirket Avot”? Is it the place where we feel safest and most comfortable? The correct answer is yours to choose.
We take care of this place, our “home”. We try to keep it clean, safe and comfortable. We make it a haven from the outside world. We fill it with things that we need, things that make us happy, things that remind us of other people and of places we have been. We collect, we TRY to discard. We take care of the people in our homes. We try to keep them out of trouble, and we try to help them when trouble comes along. Home is where we try to listen to and hear our important people, where we hope that we can be heard. Home is noisy and quiet, busy and calm, soothing and disturbing. Sometimes home is all of these things at once.
And, as members of THIS PARTICULAR community, we hopefully have 2 homes. One we will be leaving for shortly and one here at Oak Park Temple. Hopefully, this is NOT a place where we do too much sleeping. But it IS a place where we spend time, where we can learn and do, where we can be with our parents and children and friends, where seniors and infants can sit side by side. Hopefully, EVERYBODY can be comfortable here.
We need YOUR help to keep this place as a home for all of us now, and for generations to come. Like any home, this one has its issues. The acoustics are awful, the boiler may give out at any moment, and the front doors need replacing. Please keep these things in mind when you pick up your Yom Kippur Appeal Envelope out in the Rotunda. If you are a guest or very new member and there is no envelope with your name on it, please take a blank one. I encourage you to give as generously as you can. If you want to keep this home heated and cooled, staffed and clean, offering amazing programming for both children and adults, and you want us to be able to continue with our flexible dues model, which allows those unable to afford the target dues, to be able to maintain their membership, then please share what you can. Our home here is not as new as it used to be and it is in need of constant repair. Please remember that your dues only cover so much, we count on the funds we collect during this Yom Kippur appeal to keep the roof over our heads from flying off and not onto one of Dorothy’s munchkin land friends.
So, I’d like to conclude by saying “Welcome home” to those of you who are joining us for the first time. And welcome home to those of you who are joining us for the hundredth time. And welcome home to those of you who we haven’t seen since last spring, and to those of you who we haven’t seen for even longer. Welcome home to the regulars and to the sometimes-ers among you. Welcome home to our founders and to our newest members. Welcome home to you who work and teach here.
I’m really glad that you’re all here.
We take care of this place, our “home”. We try to keep it clean, safe and comfortable. We make it a haven from the outside world. We fill it with things that we need, things that make us happy, things that remind us of other people and of places we have been. We collect, we TRY to discard. We take care of the people in our homes. We try to keep them out of trouble, and we try to help them when trouble comes along. Home is where we try to listen to and hear our important people, where we hope that we can be heard. Home is noisy and quiet, busy and calm, soothing and disturbing. Sometimes home is all of these things at once.
And, as members of THIS PARTICULAR community, we hopefully have 2 homes. One we will be leaving for shortly and one here at Oak Park Temple. Hopefully, this is NOT a place where we do too much sleeping. But it IS a place where we spend time, where we can learn and do, where we can be with our parents and children and friends, where seniors and infants can sit side by side. Hopefully, EVERYBODY can be comfortable here.
We need YOUR help to keep this place as a home for all of us now, and for generations to come. Like any home, this one has its issues. The acoustics are awful, the boiler may give out at any moment, and the front doors need replacing. Please keep these things in mind when you pick up your Yom Kippur Appeal Envelope out in the Rotunda. If you are a guest or very new member and there is no envelope with your name on it, please take a blank one. I encourage you to give as generously as you can. If you want to keep this home heated and cooled, staffed and clean, offering amazing programming for both children and adults, and you want us to be able to continue with our flexible dues model, which allows those unable to afford the target dues, to be able to maintain their membership, then please share what you can. Our home here is not as new as it used to be and it is in need of constant repair. Please remember that your dues only cover so much, we count on the funds we collect during this Yom Kippur appeal to keep the roof over our heads from flying off and not onto one of Dorothy’s munchkin land friends.
So, I’d like to conclude by saying “Welcome home” to those of you who are joining us for the first time. And welcome home to those of you who are joining us for the hundredth time. And welcome home to those of you who we haven’t seen since last spring, and to those of you who we haven’t seen for even longer. Welcome home to the regulars and to the sometimes-ers among you. Welcome home to our founders and to our newest members. Welcome home to you who work and teach here.
I’m really glad that you’re all here.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
This space is usually reserved for my thoughts on either what has recently happened at Temple or an invitation to an upcoming event. This month, I have a plea. Please help us fill the gap left by the death of our friend Jean Wood. If you have ever attended a Friday night Shabbat Service, or come during the High Holidays, you would have met Jean. She was almost always there. She handed out prayer books and service announcements. She greeted you and asked how you were doing. She watched out for visitors and pointed them out for attention. She watched the door for latecomers and she sat in the rotunda but knew where we were in the service so that she could open the doors just before we were ready to exit.
Jean was our friend. For those of us who attended services somewhat regularly, she knew everything about our families, including the names of our pets. She kept up to date on our children’s educations and social lives, she was truly interested in knowing us and she cared deeply about each of us. And the only reason she was here was because she wanted to be with us.
If you didn’t know her well, you probably didn’t even know that she was not Jewish. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, and acted as a greeter there too. She became part of our congregation when she began ushering with her dear friend Marsha Pollay, and when Marsha passed away, Jean just continued on, because it was what she did on Friday nights. She didn’t drive and when she couldn’t get a ride, she walked here, no matter what the weather, she just knew we needed her, and she was right.
As president of this congregation, I know will never be able to replace her, but I now need your help. I have previously asked the members of the Board to volunteer as Friday night greeters and Saturday morning ushers, and many have stepped up, but there are lots of openings still available. The jobs are easy. On Friday nights all you have to do is hand out books and say “hello,” letting everyone know they are welcome. On Saturdays, it much the same, but we also ask that the ushers watch for things that might be disruptive to the service, such as cameras being used, texting being done and “inappropriate” behavior by young and old alike. The Cantor and Rabbi would be happy to explain the job more fully, but it really is something any of us can do.
This is a great way to be involved in our congregation and do a mitzvah at the same time. Please contact me (slevr@aol.com) if you are interested.
The hole left in our congregation and in our hearts by Jean’s passing will never be filled, but the example of her charity and love can always be followed.
May her memory be a blessing.
B’shalom,
Lauren
Jean was our friend. For those of us who attended services somewhat regularly, she knew everything about our families, including the names of our pets. She kept up to date on our children’s educations and social lives, she was truly interested in knowing us and she cared deeply about each of us. And the only reason she was here was because she wanted to be with us.
If you didn’t know her well, you probably didn’t even know that she was not Jewish. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, and acted as a greeter there too. She became part of our congregation when she began ushering with her dear friend Marsha Pollay, and when Marsha passed away, Jean just continued on, because it was what she did on Friday nights. She didn’t drive and when she couldn’t get a ride, she walked here, no matter what the weather, she just knew we needed her, and she was right.
As president of this congregation, I know will never be able to replace her, but I now need your help. I have previously asked the members of the Board to volunteer as Friday night greeters and Saturday morning ushers, and many have stepped up, but there are lots of openings still available. The jobs are easy. On Friday nights all you have to do is hand out books and say “hello,” letting everyone know they are welcome. On Saturdays, it much the same, but we also ask that the ushers watch for things that might be disruptive to the service, such as cameras being used, texting being done and “inappropriate” behavior by young and old alike. The Cantor and Rabbi would be happy to explain the job more fully, but it really is something any of us can do.
This is a great way to be involved in our congregation and do a mitzvah at the same time. Please contact me (slevr@aol.com) if you are interested.
The hole left in our congregation and in our hearts by Jean’s passing will never be filled, but the example of her charity and love can always be followed.
May her memory be a blessing.
B’shalom,
Lauren
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Movies
Last Thursday night a couple of dozen Oak Parkers met up in conference room 1 and watched "Someone to Run With" a really interesting Israeli movie presented by our Adult Education Committee. Two more Israeli movies will be shown this summer. You won't be wasting your time if you join us!
JOIN ADULT ED FOR POPCORN, COFFEE AND CAKE AND DISCUSSION
WALK ON WATER
Thursday, July 23, 2009 7p
This enthralling award-winning film by internationally-acclaimed director Eytan Fox explores the motives, strengths, and, ultimately, the humanity of an Israeli assassin sent to rectify a wrong committed five decades earlier. Excellent performances, intelligent script, and quiet tension will draw you into this thoughtful and emotionally nuanced movie. In English, with a few subtitled scenes in Hebrew and German. --Bret Fetzer
HILL HALFON DOESN’T ANSWER
Thursday, August 27, 2009 7p
Hill Halfon is a good-hearted satire movie about the IDF which tells the story of an Israeli reserve company.. Set in the Sinai on the border of Israel and Egypt, this riotous tale of mischief and mishaps features Israel's top comic trio Hagashash (Poli, Shaika and Gavri), Tuvia Tzafir and many other acclaimed Israeli comedy stars.
JOIN ADULT ED FOR POPCORN, COFFEE AND CAKE AND DISCUSSION
WALK ON WATER
Thursday, July 23, 2009 7p
This enthralling award-winning film by internationally-acclaimed director Eytan Fox explores the motives, strengths, and, ultimately, the humanity of an Israeli assassin sent to rectify a wrong committed five decades earlier. Excellent performances, intelligent script, and quiet tension will draw you into this thoughtful and emotionally nuanced movie. In English, with a few subtitled scenes in Hebrew and German. --Bret Fetzer
HILL HALFON DOESN’T ANSWER
Thursday, August 27, 2009 7p
Hill Halfon is a good-hearted satire movie about the IDF which tells the story of an Israeli reserve company.. Set in the Sinai on the border of Israel and Egypt, this riotous tale of mischief and mishaps features Israel's top comic trio Hagashash (Poli, Shaika and Gavri), Tuvia Tzafir and many other acclaimed Israeli comedy stars.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Black tie event
Last night was the Black Tie Farwell to Rabbi Gerson. It was a wonderful evening. A great view of the "fire" on Michigan Ave started the event. Everyone looked great all dressed up, and the heartfelt speech made by Hank Stein was the highlight of the night. Good food, good folks, good conversation.... what else can you want?
Make sure and join us on July 31 when Rabbi Gerson leads his last serivce, which will be preceeded by a Middle Eastern Dinner.
Make sure and join us on July 31 when Rabbi Gerson leads his last serivce, which will be preceeded by a Middle Eastern Dinner.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Those of you who didn't attend the Shavout Program last night really missed something. Rob Gardner and Sheila Essig cooked up a fantastic dinner. Eli's donated cheesecake and we got to hear from our seniors. What a wonderful evening!
In 2 weeks we will have the first of two events celebrating Rabbi Gerson’s 30 years at Oak Park Temple. The first will be a black tie optional dinner taking place at Club International at the Drake Hotel on June 14. Your invitation should have arrived in mid-May. In addition, there will be a congregational dinner preceding services on July 31. Please consider attending at least one of these events marking Rabbi Gerson’s transition to the position of Rabbi Emeritus.
In 2 weeks we will have the first of two events celebrating Rabbi Gerson’s 30 years at Oak Park Temple. The first will be a black tie optional dinner taking place at Club International at the Drake Hotel on June 14. Your invitation should have arrived in mid-May. In addition, there will be a congregational dinner preceding services on July 31. Please consider attending at least one of these events marking Rabbi Gerson’s transition to the position of Rabbi Emeritus.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sisterhood Shabbat
Once a year on a Friday night around Mother’s Day, our Sisterhood participates in services. This service is a departure from our regular reading from Mishkan Tifilah and while I’ve attended it before, it meant more to me this year than others. The readings themselves are lovely, but it was the voices of the women of our congregation, many of them of the “older generation”, ’ that really made this a special evening for me. Thank you Kathy for putting this together. Please consider attending this annual event next year, you won’t be sorry if you do.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Scheidt Seminar
I am just back from Atlanta where I attended the Scheidt Seminar for Temple Presidents. It was an amazing weekend where I got to meet 95 Temple Presidents from North America. If you see me around the Temple or around town ask me about it. I've now got fundraising, and community building ideas for the next few years.
I look forward to speaking to all of you.
Lauren
I look forward to speaking to all of you.
Lauren
Thursday, April 16, 2009
It’s Spring!!!
As I sit here writing, the sun is shining and I want to be outside more than anything. After this historically wretched Winter, we deserve a long and beautiful Spring, don’t you think?
As has become the norm, life at OPT has been busy. If you’ve been in on a Sunday you may have noticed that every room is in use. So many things are going on that we can’t even accommodate a single new meeting or event before 12 noon on any Sunday!
The Bagel Boys are still keeping us all fed, even during Passover, when they morphed into Matzo Men for the week. Also feeding us lately was the Social Action Committee who sponsored a wonderful chometz-free brunch on April 12, when they welcomed Congressman Danny Davis. Thank you to all of you who worked so hard to get that program put together and made us such a wonderful meal. Sisterhood and their Women’s Seder was another success both food and spirit-wise as was the Congregational Seder. We sang, and eat and had fun at both of these events due to the wonderful women who donated their time and talents.
Coming up this month is the Walk With Israel on Sunday May 3. We will be meeting at Scoville Park and walking thru beautiful Oak Park. In order to get us ready for this event, there will be an Israeli dinner on Friday May 1st preceding services.
As a mother of one of your Kabbalat Torah students, I’d like to invite all of you to the service on Friday May 15 when all of our 10th graders will be chanting Torah and participating in the service. There will be a special oneg following this service sponsored by the families of the students. In a day and age when there are so many distractions it’s wonderful to see these dedicated teenagers who have completed their formal Jewish education.
Our last busy Sunday of the year will be May 17. On this day there will be a Sisterhood bake sale, a Bagel Boys picnic and an OPTY car wash. So make sure you bring your appetites and dirty cars that day.
Something New! On Thursday May 29 we will be celebrating Shavout with a dairy dinner and study of the Book of Ruth. More information will be available through the list serve, on the website and in the mail, once details are firmed up.
On a final note, I know that you all received the Pesach Appeal letter last month with an explanation of our financial woes. In an effort to save money on custodial fees, we will be closing the building on Tuesday evenings from now on, and also on Sundays during the months of June and July.
Enjoy the Spring and keep events at OPT on your calendar as you plan this month and the months to come.
B’shalom
Lauren Levrant
As I sit here writing, the sun is shining and I want to be outside more than anything. After this historically wretched Winter, we deserve a long and beautiful Spring, don’t you think?
As has become the norm, life at OPT has been busy. If you’ve been in on a Sunday you may have noticed that every room is in use. So many things are going on that we can’t even accommodate a single new meeting or event before 12 noon on any Sunday!
The Bagel Boys are still keeping us all fed, even during Passover, when they morphed into Matzo Men for the week. Also feeding us lately was the Social Action Committee who sponsored a wonderful chometz-free brunch on April 12, when they welcomed Congressman Danny Davis. Thank you to all of you who worked so hard to get that program put together and made us such a wonderful meal. Sisterhood and their Women’s Seder was another success both food and spirit-wise as was the Congregational Seder. We sang, and eat and had fun at both of these events due to the wonderful women who donated their time and talents.
Coming up this month is the Walk With Israel on Sunday May 3. We will be meeting at Scoville Park and walking thru beautiful Oak Park. In order to get us ready for this event, there will be an Israeli dinner on Friday May 1st preceding services.
As a mother of one of your Kabbalat Torah students, I’d like to invite all of you to the service on Friday May 15 when all of our 10th graders will be chanting Torah and participating in the service. There will be a special oneg following this service sponsored by the families of the students. In a day and age when there are so many distractions it’s wonderful to see these dedicated teenagers who have completed their formal Jewish education.
Our last busy Sunday of the year will be May 17. On this day there will be a Sisterhood bake sale, a Bagel Boys picnic and an OPTY car wash. So make sure you bring your appetites and dirty cars that day.
Something New! On Thursday May 29 we will be celebrating Shavout with a dairy dinner and study of the Book of Ruth. More information will be available through the list serve, on the website and in the mail, once details are firmed up.
On a final note, I know that you all received the Pesach Appeal letter last month with an explanation of our financial woes. In an effort to save money on custodial fees, we will be closing the building on Tuesday evenings from now on, and also on Sundays during the months of June and July.
Enjoy the Spring and keep events at OPT on your calendar as you plan this month and the months to come.
B’shalom
Lauren Levrant
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
First I want to thank everyone who took part in our Warm Hearts Warm Kids fundraiser last Saturday. It was an eamazing evening. Great food, great wine, great people. If you missed it, make sure you don't miss any future events, like this Friday night, when Tsimmes will be playing at services. The last time they played at a family service it was terrific and I am sure that this time it will be no different, so eat an early dinner and come to OPT at 8:00 to welcome in Shabbat.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I hope you were all as excited as I was on Sunday January 25. Our Community Hall was true to its name, a place for “community”. Close to 400 people packed in, ate bagels and voted unanimously to extend an invitation to Rabbi Max Weiss to be our next rabbi. Who would have thought that so many Jews could agree on anything? At that amazing event, we also voted in our new Board of Directors, and awarded very deserving congregants with honors. Thank you all for attending this meeting. I can expect to see such a great turnout at all future events, right? I would also like to thank each of you who helped on this momentous day. Your contributions did not go unnoticed.
Coming up this month is the Annual Retreat at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI. As of this writing there were still a few rooms left, so you’ll need to hurray and find out if any remain if you are still interested in attending but never got around to signing up. It promises to be a fun filled weekend, and don’t forget that it will probably be the last time you can catch Rabbi Gerson leading services in a sweatshirt and slippers!
Speaking of last times with Rabbi Gerson, please mark your calendars for the two events taking place to honor our beloved Rabbi’s retirement. On Sunday June 14 there will be a formal, fundraiser in Rabbi Gerson’s honor taking place at the International Club at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Ron and Jan Broida and the Endowment Committee are coordinating this evening. Watch your mailboxes for invitations.
On July 31, Rabbi Gerson will be officiating for the last time at a Friday night service as our senior (only) rabbi. (Of course we expect to see him after that, but by then he will be our “Rabbi Emeritus”.) As with any good Jewish event, this occasion has to be celebrated with food! So, plan on attending services that evening, and join us for dinner before hand. I’ll keep you posted on the details as they develop, so watch this column and the one I keep updated on the Website.
Speaking of the Web. A Facebook group for Oak Park Temple is in the works, so watch your emails for an invitation to join. It should be a fun and easy way to keep up to date with the goings on at Temple.
Hopefully by the next time I write this column it will be warm!
B’shalom,
Lauren Levrant
Coming up this month is the Annual Retreat at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI. As of this writing there were still a few rooms left, so you’ll need to hurray and find out if any remain if you are still interested in attending but never got around to signing up. It promises to be a fun filled weekend, and don’t forget that it will probably be the last time you can catch Rabbi Gerson leading services in a sweatshirt and slippers!
Speaking of last times with Rabbi Gerson, please mark your calendars for the two events taking place to honor our beloved Rabbi’s retirement. On Sunday June 14 there will be a formal, fundraiser in Rabbi Gerson’s honor taking place at the International Club at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Ron and Jan Broida and the Endowment Committee are coordinating this evening. Watch your mailboxes for invitations.
On July 31, Rabbi Gerson will be officiating for the last time at a Friday night service as our senior (only) rabbi. (Of course we expect to see him after that, but by then he will be our “Rabbi Emeritus”.) As with any good Jewish event, this occasion has to be celebrated with food! So, plan on attending services that evening, and join us for dinner before hand. I’ll keep you posted on the details as they develop, so watch this column and the one I keep updated on the Website.
Speaking of the Web. A Facebook group for Oak Park Temple is in the works, so watch your emails for an invitation to join. It should be a fun and easy way to keep up to date with the goings on at Temple.
Hopefully by the next time I write this column it will be warm!
B’shalom,
Lauren Levrant
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Now we begin
Congratulations to us!
We did it! We got over 370 Jews to agree to something!
Sunday was amazing. We all packed into the Community Hall, ate bagels and voted unanimously to have Max Weiss be our next rabbi. We installed a new Board, voted, presented reports, gave & accepted awards all in less than 1 hour and 45 minutes. I think that must be a record.
Now back to life as usual at Oak Park Temple.
We'll be keeping you posted with updates on the transition, so stay tuned.
Lauren
We did it! We got over 370 Jews to agree to something!
Sunday was amazing. We all packed into the Community Hall, ate bagels and voted unanimously to have Max Weiss be our next rabbi. We installed a new Board, voted, presented reports, gave & accepted awards all in less than 1 hour and 45 minutes. I think that must be a record.
Now back to life as usual at Oak Park Temple.
We'll be keeping you posted with updates on the transition, so stay tuned.
Lauren
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The New Year at Oak Park Temple started off with a bang! In just one weekend we had the amazing Oy Vey Cabaret, a visit by Rabbi Weiss, and a cooking lesson by Laura Frankl sponsored by the Adult Ed. Committee.
I’d like to take a moment and thank everyone who worked on the Cabaret. This was an event not to miss and I hope it gets repeated again, and again.
Then there was the “visit”. As of the writing of this message, the Board of Directors has voted to recommend Rabbi Max Weiss to the congregation as the next rabbi of OPT. This concludes the work of the Rabbi Search Committee. I hope all of you on the committee feel all the gratitude that we in the congregation wish to express for the many hours you gave in order to find the “right” person to fill the void being left by Rabbi Gerson’s retirement. We all know that you on the committee wholeheartedly dedicated yourselves to this endeavor. Selfishly, I hope that you will continue on giving of yourselves to our congregation. Please think about what you would like to be involved with in the future, and just let me know. (That doesn’t leave the rest of the congregation off the hook. You all need to figure out what you’d like to do, too, and volunteer!)
Coming up this month will be a wine tasting fundraiser. Watch your mailboxes for more information about this event.
Finally, for the many of you who came to the temple on January 11 to meet Rabbi Weiss, things are going on every Sunday, Friday night, and Saturday morning too. Don’t be strangers. Join us whenever you can.
B’shalom
Lauren
I’d like to take a moment and thank everyone who worked on the Cabaret. This was an event not to miss and I hope it gets repeated again, and again.
Then there was the “visit”. As of the writing of this message, the Board of Directors has voted to recommend Rabbi Max Weiss to the congregation as the next rabbi of OPT. This concludes the work of the Rabbi Search Committee. I hope all of you on the committee feel all the gratitude that we in the congregation wish to express for the many hours you gave in order to find the “right” person to fill the void being left by Rabbi Gerson’s retirement. We all know that you on the committee wholeheartedly dedicated yourselves to this endeavor. Selfishly, I hope that you will continue on giving of yourselves to our congregation. Please think about what you would like to be involved with in the future, and just let me know. (That doesn’t leave the rest of the congregation off the hook. You all need to figure out what you’d like to do, too, and volunteer!)
Coming up this month will be a wine tasting fundraiser. Watch your mailboxes for more information about this event.
Finally, for the many of you who came to the temple on January 11 to meet Rabbi Weiss, things are going on every Sunday, Friday night, and Saturday morning too. Don’t be strangers. Join us whenever you can.
B’shalom
Lauren
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy (secular) New Year!
My family is once again spread out over the continent, Peter in Lompoc, California, Valerie in Baltimore, Maryland and the rest of us here in Oak Park. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the whole clan together (along with my mother from New York City) for a week in a warmer clime.
Now that the Holidays are over, I hope you are all rested and ready to participate in the many events that our zealous volunteers have been preparing for your education and enjoyment. I hope you are all reading the Messenger and the emails that go out weekly (and sometimes more frequently), but if not, there are many events that I think you need to be aware of.
On this Saturday, January 10th the Chevre Chidur Mitzvah will be presenting the Oy Vey Caberet. If you’ve never been to one of these, you’re missing something. Many of our talented congregants will be performing, and many others will be showing their artistic creations. There is a $16 dollar entry fee that includes dinner! Where can you get a deal like that?
The very next day, you can meet the candidate for our new rabbi, and then learn about Jewish Foods Around the World.
And there is more…
On Sunday January 18th, we join with West Suburban Temple for the annual Israel Bonds Brunch at 10:15. Following that Rabbi David Nelson of ARZA will be speaking about the Reform movement and its support of Israel during this time of crisis. A light lunch will be served, and the program is free of charge.
More free food…. Join us at 10:15 on January 25th to vote in the new board and possibly a new rabbi. Your attendance is very important as we need a quorum to proceed with our candidate.
There will be lots more in the future, too.
Keep open February 21st for a special event being sponsored by the Membership Committee. This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Watch your mail for details.
Look for me to say hello at any of these events, and let me know what you want to see on this blog.
Stay warm, busy and happy,
Lauren
Now that the Holidays are over, I hope you are all rested and ready to participate in the many events that our zealous volunteers have been preparing for your education and enjoyment. I hope you are all reading the Messenger and the emails that go out weekly (and sometimes more frequently), but if not, there are many events that I think you need to be aware of.
On this Saturday, January 10th the Chevre Chidur Mitzvah will be presenting the Oy Vey Caberet. If you’ve never been to one of these, you’re missing something. Many of our talented congregants will be performing, and many others will be showing their artistic creations. There is a $16 dollar entry fee that includes dinner! Where can you get a deal like that?
The very next day, you can meet the candidate for our new rabbi, and then learn about Jewish Foods Around the World.
And there is more…
On Sunday January 18th, we join with West Suburban Temple for the annual Israel Bonds Brunch at 10:15. Following that Rabbi David Nelson of ARZA will be speaking about the Reform movement and its support of Israel during this time of crisis. A light lunch will be served, and the program is free of charge.
More free food…. Join us at 10:15 on January 25th to vote in the new board and possibly a new rabbi. Your attendance is very important as we need a quorum to proceed with our candidate.
There will be lots more in the future, too.
Keep open February 21st for a special event being sponsored by the Membership Committee. This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Watch your mail for details.
Look for me to say hello at any of these events, and let me know what you want to see on this blog.
Stay warm, busy and happy,
Lauren
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