All posts by Leslie Cook

Purim, Religious School, Uncategorized

Religious School News Week of February 26, 2019

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Last Friday, many of our religious school families enjoyed welcoming in Shabbat at MCJC with wonderful conversation, prayer and food. Thank you to all who came!

In the Classroom: On Sunday, the K-1 class began learning about Purim. Grades 2-3 started to wrap up their Shabbat unit. In addition, grade 3 is learning about Jewish kings, most recently King David. Grades 4-7 did some genealogy and continued making games for the Purim carnival. Hebrew studies continue for all.

This week: Wednesday, February 27 – Religious School for grades 3-7.  Sunday, March 3 – Religious School for all grades.

Upcoming Special Events

Sunday, March 17 – PURIM FUN
9:30 am -12:00 pm – Please join us for a Family Purim Celebration. We are looking for parent volunteers who can assist with carnival activities. Please email us at school@mcjconline.org if you are interested.

Wednesday, March 20 – Megillah Shpiel Night. The fun starts at 5:00 pm.

The MCJC Purim Shpiel is back by popular demand.  We come together to enjoy a pizza dinner from 5:00 – 6:00 pm followed by a Wizard of Oz Shpiel.  This will be in place of Religious School.

Important Request: If you plan to attend the pizza dinner from 5:00 – 6:00 pm and/or can bring some Hamantaschen, please RSVP to school@mcjconline.org and let us know your plan. Hope to see you there!

Snacks:  Also, if you have not done so already, please bring in snacks for the second half of the year.  They can be bulk, or if you prefer, cash donations are acceptable.

Absence:  Last but not least, if your child will be absent, please email school@mcjconline.org or text 847-373-3186.

Happenings

Upcoming at MCJC Week of February 26, 2019

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For more information about any of these listings, please visit our website, either the provided links or the MCJC Calendar at mcjconline.org/events.

Wednesday, February 27
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School

Friday, March 1
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner (If you can bring veggie or dairy food to share, please let us know what you’ll bring at kiddush@mcjconline.org)

Saturday, March 2
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, March 3
9:30 am: Religious School
11:00 am: Adult Education

Wednesday, March 6
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School

Friday, March 8
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner (If you can bring veggie or dairy food to share, please let us know what you’ll bring at kiddush@mcjconline.org)

Saturday, March 9
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion
Extended Kiddush following morning service to include light fare, Zemirot, Talmud Torah (If you can bring veggie or dairy food to share, please let us know what you’ll bring at kiddush@mcjconline.org)

Sunday, March 10
9:30 am: Religious School
11:00 am: Adult Education
1:30 pm: Charles Troy Comes to MCJC with Acclaimed “The Creation of West Side Story” Show. Time to get your tickets! This is an MCJC event you don’t want to miss! Light refreshments follow the show, and free babysitting is available — but you must RSVP here or call the office at 815-455-1810. Read all about this wonderful event. 

Wednesday, March 13
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School
6:00 pm: Ritual Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 14
7:00 pm: MCJC Book Club – Discussing The Cloister by James Carroll

Friday, March 15
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner (If you can bring veggie or dairy food to share, please let us know what you’ll bring at kiddush@mcjconline.org)

Saturday, March 16
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

STILL TO COME IN MARCH . . . PURIM!

SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Religious School Purim Program

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 
5:00 pm:  Purim Dinner
6:00 pm: Megillah Reading/Purim Shpiel -Wizard of Oz theme (wear a costume, and shake, rattle, & roll that gragger)

MARCH 1-17
The Chicago Jewish Film Festival

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

FOR APRIL . . . SAVE THESE DATES!

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 – MCJC Passover Seder (details to follow)

SUNDAY, APRIL 28
MCJC will travel out to Spring Grove on Sunday, April 28, 2019 after Religious School.  Please join our entire synagogue to see McHenry County’s only Holocaust Memorial. Storyteller Jim May will meet us there to share the story of Holocaust survivor Lisa Derman, at the beautiful monument created by Jim and MCJC member Nancy Deborah Wicker, with Hebrew written by Max Gimpel, father of Al Gimpel.

Religious School

Religious School News Week of February 20, 2019

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Be happy – it’s Adar. And Purim is coming to MCJC with a Wizard of Oz theme. Read all about it. And in the meantime . . .

We’re still looking . . .

The MCJC Board is restructuring and reinvigorating the Religious School Education Committee. We are looking for a Committee Chair as well as members. Interested parties email president@mcjconline.org.

The MCJC Religious School still needs Substitutes for Sundays, 9:30 am – 12 noon, and Wednesdays, 4:30 – 6:00 pm, all grades. If interested, please email school@mcjconline.org.

It was great seeing so many students despite the snowy weather.

In the Classroom:  The K-1 class learned some new Hebrew letters and worked with the 2nd-3rd graders on making decorations for the upcoming Family Shabbat. The 2nd-3rd grade class also continued working on their Shabbat Shalom scrapbooks. The 4th-7th graders worked with Rabbi Tom on Hebrew prayers, and began designing games for the Purim Carnival.

This week: Wednesday, February 20 – Religious School for grades 3-7.  Sunday, February 24 – Religious School for all grades.

Upcoming Special Events: 
Friday, February 22, 6 pm 
K-3 families will sponsor a veggie/dairy meal for our Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner. All are welcome!

Sunday, March 17 – PURIM FUN 
Please join us for a Family Purim Celebration. One of our many fun activities will be making Blessing Bags. Please continue to bring your donations! We are looking for these items:

alcohol wipes
band aids
bathing wipes
Chapstick
feminine hygiene products
floss
gloves
mints
multi-vitamins, chewable in unopened containers
peanut butter crackers
soft breakfast bars
socks, black best
toothbrushes
Zip-Loc bags – quart and gallon size

We are also looking for parent volunteers who can help run Purim Carnival activities.

Wednesday, March 20 – Megillah Shpiel Night. The fun starts at 5 pm with a pizza dinner.

The MCJC Purim Shpiel is back by popular demand.  We come together to enjoy a pizza dinner from 5-6 pm followed by a Wizard of Oz Shpiel.  This will be in place of Religious School.

Snacks:  Also, if you have not done so already, please bring in snacks for the second half of the year.  They can be bulk, or if you prefer, cash donations are acceptable.

Absence:  Last but not least, if your child will be absent, please email school@mcjconline.org or text 847-373-3186.

Happenings, Uncategorized

Upcoming at MCJC Week of February 20, 2019

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For more information about any of these listings, please visit our website, either the provided links or the MCJC Calendar at mcjconline.org/events.

Wednesday, February 20
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School
6:30 pm: Ritual Committee Meeting

Thursday, February 21
6:00 pm:  Communications Committee

Friday, February 22
6:30 pm: MCJC Religious School’s K-3 Sponsored Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner.

Saturday, February 23
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion
Extended Kiddush following morning service to include light fare, Zemirot, Talmud Torah.

Sunday, February 24
9:30 am: Religious School
11:00 am: Adult Education

Wednesday, February 27
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School

Friday, March 1
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner

Saturday, March 2
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, March 3
9:30 am: Religious School
11:00 am: Adult Education

AND THEN, FOR ADAR…PURIM!
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Religious School Purim Program

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 
5:00 pm:  Purim Dinner
6:00 pm: Megillah Reading/Purim Shpiel -Wizard of Oz theme (wear a costume, and shake, rattle, & roll that gragger)

SAVE THESE MARCH DATES!
Sunday, March 10: Charles Troy Comes to MCJC with Acclaimed “The Creation of West Side Story” Show. (Please note this date change).

This is an MCJC event you won’t want to miss! The show is followed with light refreshments, and free babysitting is available — but you must RSVP here or call the office at 815-455-1810.

Read all about this wonderful event. 

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
MARCH 1-17
The Chicago Jewish Film Festival

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 – MCJC Passover Seder

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

jim_may
Jim May, Storyteller & Author

MCJC travels out to Spring Grove on Sunday, April 28, 2019 after Religious School.  Please join our entire synagogue to see McHenry County’s only Holocaust Memorial. Storyteller Jim May will share the story of Holocaust survivor Lisa Derman, at the beautiful monument created by Jim and MCJC member Nancy Deborah Wicker, with Hebrew written by Max Gimpel, father of Al Gimpel.  Watch the e-nouncements for upcoming details.

Torah Study

Torah: Ki Tisa

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KI TISA

Please join us on Saturday morning at 9:30 for Shabbat worship and Torah study.

Challenging Holiness Assumptions
The story of the Golden Calf  can be understood through the prism of a key theological value of Rabbinic Judaism: that religion itself can become an object of idolatry.

Torah: Exodus 30:11 – 34:35 – Click here.
Haftarah: I Kings 18:1 – 18:39 – Click here.

Purim

What’s Up For Purim?

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By Paula Eskoz

SCHOOL PURIM PROGRAM
Sunday, March 17

Purim_gragger

Sunday, March 17, at our religious school
Is a Purim program that will surely be cool
For children AND adults, so please attend
Much appreciated if a “hand” you can lend

Yummy Hamantashen ready to bake
Creative, noisy Graggers for all to make
Blessing Bags to fill for the homeless at PADS
So we can help them be a little less sad

Dress in costumes if you like, you will be seen
Purim songs led by Rabbi Tom and Ilene
Second half of the morning is carnival games
Followed by lunch, you’ll be glad you came!

MEGILLAH SHPIEL NIGHT
Wednesday, March 20 

Big Night with lots of fun in the works . . . 

Come out, come out, wherever you are
MCJC friends from near and from far
Please join us March 20 for our Purim Shpiel
Returning this year, along with a small meal

From 5 until 6, we’ll be serving dinner
Then a Wizard of Oz Shpiel, should be a winner
At Haman’s name, shake a Gragger or two
Drink some Goldschlager, while you BOO

Please come in costume, it adds to the fun
There will be something for everyone
So come with the kiddies, the night won’t be late
More info to follow, we can hardly wait!


Our Pizza Dinner Is Followed by the Megillah Reading/Purim Shpiel

Wizard of Oz Theme – Wear a costume, and shake, rattle, & roll that gragger!  

March 20 is a very big night for the Religious School and our whole congregation!

The Megillah Reading and Purim Shpiel follows our 5:00 pm pizza dinner. The fun-filled reading in the MCJC tradition of Purim Shpiels begins at 6:00 pm and is not to be missed!

This year our Megillah Reading has a Wizard of Oz theme.  Costumes are welcome and encouraged!  

All these great activities make one great Purim evening celebration for the Religious School and our whole community. Come on out with the whole family. It’s a great time to bring friends to introduce them to our MCJC community.

P.S. If you would like to attend the pizza dinner or can bring Hamantaschen, please email school@mcjconline.org.

Announcements

Chicago Jewish Film Festival Coming Soon

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The 6th Annual JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival runs March 1 – 17 and features 43 films at venues across the city and suburbs: ArcLight Theaters in Glenview and Chicago; Cinemark Theatres in Deer Park and Evanston; the Music Box Theatre in Lakeview; and special screenings at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie and the Hotel at Midtown in Chicago.

This year, the festival includes a World Premiere, 12 Midwest Premieres and 4 Chicago Premieres, along with insightful talkbacks following many of the films, all totaling 96 screenings over the course of the three weekends.

The 2019 JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival is a celebration of strength and resilience, and in particular, a tribute to strong female protagonists whose experiences made a difference for their families and the world. Golda’s Balcony, a one-woman film about Israel’s fearless, first and only woman to serve as Prime Minister, is brought to life through the critically-acclaimed performance by Tovah Feldshuh. Grateful, a closer-to-home story about a 40-something mom and wife, Jenni Berebitsky, who has ALS, has left audiences laughing through tears and in awe of this brave and inspirational woman. The timely feature film, Working Woman, is a drama from Israel about an ambitious career woman who struggles to restore her dignity after receiving unwanted advances from her boss.

The JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival has grown from modest beginnings to engaging over 12,000 movie lovers in 2018. The 2019 festival is poised to reach even more people through the diverse selection of film and special events.

For more information, please visit the Film Festival website: https://jccfilmfest.jccchicago.org/films-2019/

Happenings

Upcoming at MCJC Week of February 12, 2019

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For more information about any of these listings, please visit our website, either the provided links or the MCJC Calendar at mcjconline.org/events.

Wednesday, February 13
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School

Friday, February 15
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner. 

Saturday, February 16
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, February 17
8:00 am: Board Meeting
9:30 am: Religious School
11:00 am: Adult Education

Wednesday, February 20
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn
4:30 pm: Religious School
6:30 pm: Ritual Committee Meeting

Wednesday, February 21
6:00 pm: Communication Committee Meeting

Friday, February 22
6:30 pm: MCJC Religious School’s K-3 Sponsored Community Shabbat Potluck Dinner.

Saturday, February 23
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion
Extended Kiddush following morning service to include light fare, Zemirot, Talmud Torah.

SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday, March 10: Charles Troy Comes to MCJC with Acclaimed “The Creation of West Side Story” Show. (Please note this date change).

This is an MCJC event you won’t want to miss! The show is followed with light refreshments, and free babysitting is available — but you must RSVP here or call the office at 815-455-1810.

Read all about this wonderful event. 

AND THEN, FOR ADAR…PURIM!
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Religious School Purim Program

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Megillah Shpiel Night

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
MARCH 1-17
The Chicago Jewish Film Festival

SUNDAY, APRIL 28
MCJC will travel out to Spring Grove on Sunday, April 28, 2019 after Religious School.  Please join our entire synagogue to see McHenry County’s only Holocaust Memorial. Storyteller Jim May will meet us there to share the story of Holocaust survivor Lisa Derman, at the beautiful monument created by Jim and MCJC member Nancy Deborah Wicker, with Hebrew written by Max Gimpel, father of Al Gimpel.  Watch the e-nouncements for upcoming details.