All posts by MCJC Leslie

Torah Study

Healthy Leadership Transition

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Shoftim

Please join us for Shabbat worship and Torah study, 9:30 am.

The Torah gives us a model for a healthy transition of leadership in the narrative of Moses and Joshua. That all transitions must start with an ending.

THE TROPE

Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 – Click here.
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12 – Click here.

This week our readings and Torah discussion focus on:

Torah:

  1. Deut. 16: 18-22, p. 1088
  2. Deut. 17: 1-7, p. 1089
  3. Deut. 17: 8-13, p. 1090

Haftarah:

Isaiah 51:12-52:12 (4th Haftarah d’Nechamtah, of Consolation), p. 1108

Happenings

Upcoming at MCJC Week of August 14

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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, August 15
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom CANCELLED

Friday, August 17
4:30 pm: Faculty Meeting
5:00 – 8:00 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Picnic Dinner at the Wonder Lake National Champion Water Ski Team Show.

  • 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Dinner & Social
  • 6:00 – 6:30 pm: Shabbat Candles, Kiddush, Shabbat Songs
  • 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team Performs

Saturday, August 18
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, August 19
8:00 am: Board Meeting
8:00 am: Maintenance Committee Clean-Up Day (also, see Committee Announcements below)
11:00 am: Fox Valley Religious School Faculty Training

Wednesday, August 22
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 24
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday, August 25
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, August 26
Religious School Opening Day | OPEN HOUSE | Community Picnic

Wednesday, August 29
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom CANCELLED

Friday, August 31
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday September 1
5:00 pm: Selichot Service and Discussion with Havdala (see below for more information)

SAVE THE DATES
Sept. 9: Rosh Hashana – Erev
Sept. 10: Rosh Hashana – 1st Day
Sept. 11: Rosh Hashana – 2nd Day
Sept. 18: Kol Nidre
Sept. 19: Yom Kippur
Sept. 23: Sukkot – Erev
Sept. 24: Sukkot – 1st Day
Sept. 25: Sukkot – 2nd Day
Oct. 1: Shemini Atzeret
Oct. 2: Simchat Torah

Caring Community, Social Action

MCHENRY COUNTY CROP HUNGER WALK

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Help “End Hunger One Step At A Time.” Join your MCJC friends and family and participate in the 2018 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk, scheduled for September 30, 2018.

The MCJC Social Action Committee is partnering with the MCJC Religious School in this year’s McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk.

The Walk is scheduled for 1:00 pm Sunday, September 30 at the First Methodist Church, 236 W. Crystal Lake Avenue in Crystal Lake. There are two walks: one is a four-mile walk, and the other is a one-mile family fun walk. There will be family activities along the one-mile route and at the church after the walk. Beverages and snacks will be provided.

25% of the money raised from the McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk will go to designated local food pantries and 75% of the proceeds raised benefit hunger, clean water, and emergency relief worldwide.

Members of the MCJC community who would like to participate in this community service project should plan to attend an organization meeting at MCJC on Sunday, August 26. Watch your next E-Announcements for the time.

Participation in this event involves not only walking the day of the event but also raising money by obtaining donation pledges from friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.

If you have questions about participating in the McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk, please contact Bruce Weiss via email, socialaction@mcjconline.org, or via phone, 815-338-2721. You can also contact Davina Kelly 847-659-8285.

Caring Community, Social Action

MCJC “ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY” AND “ADOPT-A-TRAIL” PROGRAMS

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From April 1 until the first snowfall, MCJC is responsible for picking up litter twice a month along Ridgefield Road, from  Country Club Road to U.S. Route 14, and along the U.S. Route bike trail between Ridgefield Road and Lucas Road.

Usually three to four five-gallon cans of litter are picked up along Ridgefield Road, and about one five-gallon can is picked up along the bike trail.

Bruce Weiss is looking for volunteers to help him with this community service project. If you are able to help, please contact Bruce at either 815-338- 2721 or socialaction@mcjconline.org.

Happenings, Social Groups

“Let’s Have Fun Together,” MCJC! Friday, August 17, 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Wonder Lake Beach

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SPECIAL MCJC SHABBAT PROGRAM 
PICNIC – SHABBAT CELEBRATION – WATER SKI SHOW

Plan to join your MCJC family for a special Shabbat program featuring a picnic,  a celebration of Shabbat,  and a water ski show.

The entire MCJC community and their friends are invited to gather at 5:00 pm on Friday, August 17, at the Main Beach in Wonder Lake located at Hancock Drive and East Lake Shore Drive. Come early so it’s easier to find parking.

Bring your chairs and a picnic dinner to enjoy.

  • From 5:00 to 6:00 pm, we’ll enjoy dinner together and visiting with one another in fellowship.
  • From 6:00 to 6:30 pm, we will light Shabbat candles,  say Kiddush, and sing some Shabbat songs.
  • From 7:00 to 8:00 pm we’ll enjoy the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team perform its highly entertaining show.

The crowd attending the Water Ski Show begins to build in earnest on the hillside overlooking Wonder Lake Beach between 6:30 and 7:00 pm.  During that time the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team begins to get ready for its show and plays show music.

The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team performs between 7:00 and 8:00 pm.   The audience faces the western sky during the show.  If it is sunny,  having a sun visor or hat will make it a bit easier to see the show.

This is a free admission event, but the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team members walk through the audience during a  5-minute intermission in the show to collect donations.

This MCJC event is weather dependent.  If we have  rain or thunderstorms that evening, we will cancel the event. You may check for cancelation in the Express Announcements on the MCJC website in the upper right corner.

If you have questions regarding this special MCJC Friday Shabbat event, please email diamonds@mcjconline.org or call Bruce Weiss (815-338-2721)  or Burl Cohn (847-777-8119).

Caring Community, Social Action

Corners of Our Field Food Drive 5779

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As is our custom at MCJC, the High Holy Days will mark the start of our “Corners of Our Fields” food drive in conjunction with Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

This year we will collect food for McHenry High School and personal care items for the Old Firehouse Assistance Center in Woodstock. The “Food for Thought” program at McHenry High School is “providing hope and dignity to children by discreetly supplying additional food to students in need.”

Please pick up grocery bags as you leave services on Rosh Hashanah, and return the bag(s) on or shortly after Yom Kippur.

These community agencies will be grateful for all donations. Below are typical items the pantry would appreciate. Please check to be sure items are not near expiration dates.  A list of highest need items will be stapled to the grocery bag, and we’ll update that list, if necessary, in the weekly E-Announcements.

Toddah rabbah for your donations.

Items Needed for MCHS’s Food for Thought Program:

  • Canned chicken, tuna, or salmon
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned soup
  • Peanut butter
  • Hot or cold cereals
  • Health snacks (ex. granola bars)
  • Grains (ex. pasta or rice)

In a separate bag, please:

Personal Care Products for the Old Firehouse Assistance Center:

  • Shampoo
  • Liquid Soap
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorants
  • Shaving Supplies
  • Feminine Hygiene Products
  • Toilet Paper & Paper Towels
  • Laundry Care Items

For additional information, feel free to visit the websites:

http://mchsactivities.wixsite.com/foodforthoughtmchs and

www.facebook.com/OldFirehouseAssistanceCenter

Torah Study

Torah: Actualizing the Awe of Heaven

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Re’eh

Please join us for Shabbat worship and Torah study, 9:30 am.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said that human beings come to God through both motivations: “A man totally unconcerned with his self is dead. But a man exclusively concerned with his self is a beast.” Human beings naturally engage in this world through  both our reflective and transitive selves, from both our ego-driven as well as our selfless-inspired souls. Our challenge is to overcome ego-centrism and selfishness and to actualize the Awe of Heaven. “The greatest beauty,” wrote Rabbi Heschel, “grows at the greatest distance from the ego.”

THE TROPE

Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17 – Click here.
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11 – 55:5 – Click here.
Special Reading Shabbat Rosh Chodesh: Numbers 28:9-15

This week our readings and Torah discussion focus on:

Torah:

  1. Deut. 11: 26-32, p. 1061
  2. Deut. 12: 1-7,  p. 1062
  3. Deut. 12: 8-10, p. 1063

Haftarah:

Isaiah 54:11-55:5, p. 1085

Happenings

Upcoming at MCJC Week of August 7

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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, August 8
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 10
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday, August 11
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, August 12
10:00 am – 12:00 noon: B’nai Mitzvah Families Meet & Greet at MCJC

Wednesday, August 15
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 17
4:30 pm: Faculty Meeting
5:00 – 8:00 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck Picnic Dinner at the Wonder Lake National Champion Water Ski Team Show.
5:00 – 6:00 pm: Dinner & Social
6:00 – 6:30 pm: Shabbat Candles, Kiddush, Shabbat Songs
7:00 – 8:00 pm: Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team Performs

Saturday, August 18
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, August 19
8:00 am: Board Meeting
8:00 am: Maintenance Committee Clean-Up Day (also, see Committee Announcements below)
11:00 am: Fox Valley Religious School Faculty Training

Wednesday, August 22
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 24
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday, August 25
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, August 26
Religious School Opening Day | OPEN HOUSE | Community Picnic
9:15 am – 12:30 pm: OPEN HOUSE – tour the building, meet members, teachers, and Rabbi Tom, enjoy a community picnic.
9:15 am – 11:30 am: Religious School Opening Day
(SEE 2018-2019 SCHOOL SCHEDULE HERE).
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Opening Day Picnic

Wednesday, August 29
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom CANCELLED

Friday, August 31
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday September 1
5:00 pm: Selichot Service and Discussion with Havdala (see below for more information)

SAVE THE DATES
Sept. 9: Rosh Hashana – Erev
Sept. 10: Rosh Hashana – 1st Day
Sept. 11: Rosh Hashana – 2nd Day
Sept. 18: Kol Nidre
Sept. 19: Yom Kippur
Sept. 23: Sukkot – Erev
Sept. 24: Sukkot – 1st Day
Sept. 25: Sukkot – 2nd Day
Oct. 1: Shemini Atzeret
Oct. 2: Simchat Torah

Happenings

Upcoming at MCJC Week of July 31

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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, August 1
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 3
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday, August 4
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Wednesday, August 8
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 10
6:30 pm: Community Shabbat Potluck

Saturday, August 11
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion

Sunday, August 12
10:00 am – 12:00 noon: B’nai Mitzvah Families Meet & Greet at MCJC

Wednesday, August 15
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom

Friday, August 17
4:30 pm: Faculty Meeting

SAVE THE DATES
Friday, August 17
6:30 – 8:00 pm: Special Shabbat Picnic at Wonder Lake Water Ski Show
Community Shabbat Potluck Picnic Dinner at the Wonder Lake National Champion Water Ski Team Show. We’ll light Shabbat candles, say Kiddush, and sing some Shabbat songs around 6:30 pm. The show is from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Sunday, August 26
9:30 am – 12:30 pm: McHenry County Jewish Congregation OPEN HOUSE – tour the building, meet members, teachers, and Rabbi Tom, enjoy a community picnic.
9:15 am – 11:30 am: Religious School Opening Day
(SEE 2018-2019 SCHOOL SCHEDULE HERE).
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Opening Day Picnic