All posts by MCJC Leslie

Entertainment

Charles Troy Returns to MCJC With A New Show!

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On a return visit to MCJC this December

CHARLES TROY PRESENTS
“IRVING BERLIN: THE ULTIMATE JEWISH IMMIGRANT”

Sunday, December 8, 2019
1:30 PM at MCJC

The MCJC “Let’s Have Fun Together” Committee is pleased to announce that Charles Troy will present his highly acclaimed ninety-minute multimedia show, “Irving Berlin: The Ultimate Jewish Immigrant” at  MCJC on Sunday, December 8, at 1:30 pm.

Mr. Troy is a musical theater historian who has developed more than fifty multimedia presentations on musical theater. His shows are informative, highly entertaining, and have been embraced by audiences nationwide. Mr. Troy is a genius at his craft and is to musical theater storytelling what Babe Ruth was to baseball: simply the best. Mr. Troy is based in Chicago, and does a show the first Wednesday of every month at the Skokie Theater.

If you were at the last Charles Troy presentation on West Side Story, we know you’ll want to return for more. If you missed that one, be sure to save the date, Sunday, December 8, for an unforgettable afternoon.

MCJC tickets are $15 each. Watch your October 1, 2019 e-nouncements for ticket purchasing information.

High Holy Days, High Holy Days 2019, Social Action

Corners of Our Fields Reminder

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As is our custom at MCJC, the 5780 High Holy Days mark the start of our “Corners of Our Fields” food drive in conjunction with Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

This year we are collecting 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.”

If you haven’t already, please pick up grocery bags in the foyer, and return the bag(s) on or shortly after Yom Kippur. These community agencies will be grateful for all donations. 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-nouncements.

Toddah Rabbah for your donations.

Announcements

Legacy Planning . . . Please Consider MCJC With A Gift From Your Estate

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Be a part of McHenry County Jewish Congregation for generations to come. When you create a Jewish legacy by gifting from your estate, you can help ensure that McHenry County provides a Jewish home into the future. L’Dor v’Dor . . .

Please find some verbiage below that can be crafted into your estate planning.

I give to the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, at 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012, the sum of _____________, to be used for its general purposes.

I give to the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, at 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012, the sum of _____________. I request that this gift be used to _______________________________.

I give to the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, at 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012, in memory of _____________ my deceased _____________, the sum of _____________, to be used by that Congregation for its general purposes.

I give to the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, at 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012, a sum equal to ______ percent of my residuary estate, to be used by that Congregation for its general purposes.

Sukkot

Bring Your Family To Help Your MCJC Family Build a Sukkah!

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On Sunday, September 29, MCJCers will gather at 9:00 am, or whenever you can come during the morning, for our Annual Sukkah Raising. In past years, it has been great fun to have everyone out doing their share to make this holiday special.

Not only is it fun to build our sukkah, it’s an important part of your children’s Jewish experience. More than books and lessons, these are the memories that will stay with them forever, as they actively participate in creating a Jewish experience with their family and community.

Our own MCJC Maintenance Men, Steve Boress and Dale Morton, will show you everything you need to know and will have the supplies ready. The Purvins will provide coffee and donuts.

Although we’ll be thrilled if you just stop in to help out, it would also be great to let Dale Morton know you can come so we can plan how to use everyone most effectively – building@mcjconline.org.

Follow up a great Mitzvah Morning with a wonderful Mitzvah Afternoon. The McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk, in which MCJC is participating with 12 local churches, begins around 1:15 pm. Last year we raised $636! Think we can top that this year? If you’d like more information or want to volunteer to participate in the CROP Hunger Walk, contact Bruce Weiss at socialaction@mcjconline.org or Davina Kelly at school@mcjconline.org.

Bnai Mitzvah

Meet the B’nai Mitzvah

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On Saturday, November 2, MCJC and the Purvin family will be doubly blessed when Hunter (הִלֵּל) and Miles (מֶלֶך) become B’nai Mitzvah.

The boys have been fixtures at MCJC for the past five years, and in that time they have learned Hebrew, Judaica, how to lead Shabbat services, and so much more.  They even brought Yarmulkes, Dreidels, and a Torah to Lundahl Middle School in Crystal Lake to share their love of Judaism with their classmates.

Like most twins, they have completely divergent interests. Hunter enjoys more of the dichotomy of construction (building with LEGOs and destroying with NERF Guns), while Miles is more often found in the kitchen in pursuit of his goal, to become Master Chef Junior, or as an actor on stage performing in various musicals.

Parents Jill and Andy could not be more proud of the two young men in their quests for higher learning. They eagerly anticipate the date when Hunter and Miles share their vision of their Parshah, Noah’s Ark.  Please enjoy the irony of twins reciting the liturgy of “Noah’s Ark.”

Torah Study

Torah: Ki Tavo

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

KI TAVO

THE TROPE

Please note: These trope links connect to the beginning of the whole Torah portion / Haftarah. Find a specific reading with the drop-down box at the top, right of the page, and/or by using chapter and verse.

Torah: Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8 – Click here.

Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1 – 60:22 — Click here.

* * *

Another good Torah “helper” is Pocket Torah, available in the Apple App store. Pocket Torah Trope teaches “Trope Phrases,” and Pocket Torah teaches portions.

Upcoming

Upcoming at MCJC Week of September 17, 2019

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

Wednesday, September 18
2:00 pm: Learn with Rabbi Tom (Part II – Preparing for the High Holy Days) at Panera, Crystal Lake
4:30 pm: Religious School for grades 4-7
6:15 pm: Ritual Committee Meeting

Friday, September 20
6:30:  Friday Night Shabbat at Rabbi Tom’s Table. Please visit our website at mcjconline.org, the upper right column, for a beautiful video celebrating Shabbat. Check out our Video Gallery for the entire series!

Saturday, September 21
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services and Torah Discussion
7:00 pm: Selichot Program at Cong. Kneseth Israel (330 Division St., Elgin)

Sunday, September 22
8:00 am: Clean-up Day (Set-up for High Holidays)
9:30 am: Religious School for all grades

Monday, September 23
6:00 pm: Communications Committee Meeting at Panera, Crystal Lake

Wednesday, September 25
2:00 pm: Learn with Rabbi Tom (Part III – Preparing for the High Holy Days) at Panera, Crystal Lake
4:30 pm: Religious School grades 4-7
6:30 pm: Learn with Rabbi Tom (Part III – Preparing for the High Holy Days) at Panera, Crystal Lake

Friday, September 27
Community Shabbat Service & 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, September 28
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, September 29
9:00 am: Sukkah Building – Join our own Maintenance Men for a fun and educational family event! Stop in any time during the morning to help out.
1:00 pm: MCJC Hunger Crop Walk – Make it a Mitzvah Day – Stay on from the Sukkah Building to join in the Walk.
7:00 pm: Erev Rosh HaShanah Service

Religious School

Religious School News Week of September 17, 2019

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On Sunday, our Religious School had a special treat to get us into the Rosh HaShanah spirit. Ellen and Dale Morton taught us about honey bees and how honey is harvested from them. Students helped separate the wax from the honey, and even got to taste some honey. Many thanks to the Mortons!

Our 2nd/3rd grade class also learned a new Hebrew letter, discussed why and how we celebrate Rosh HaShanah, and started making a cute craft. The 4th/5th graders continued to work on Hebrew reading fluency and Hebrew prayers. They also began to study Rosh HaShanah and made some sparkly shofar magnets. Our 6th/7th graders continued their Hebrew and prayer studies and began their Rosh HaShanah unit.

A big thank you to all the families who have already brought snacks in for the first half of the year! Also, thank you to those who have begun bringing in tzedakah money. Any spare change your children can bring in makes a huge difference. Last year’s tzedakah went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County.

Upcoming in September:
Wednesday, September 18 – Religious School for grades 4-7
Sunday, September 22 – Religious School for all grades
Wednesday, September 25 – Religious School for grades 4-7
Sunday, September 29 – No Religious School (Erev Rosh Hashanah)
McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk, 1:15-3:15 pm
Sukkah Building with the MCJC Maintenance Men, beginning at 9:00 am. Stop in with your family any time you can help out!

Even though there is no Religious School September 29, MCJC will still participate in the McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk from about 1:15 to 3:15 pm. If you are interested, please see Davina to sign up and obtain further information. Last year’s participants had a great time and raised $686.

Sunday, September 29 is a very big day at MCJC. In addition to the CROP Hunger Walk, a wonderful opportunity for families to share an important Mitzvah, it’s time to build our MCJC Sukkah. Sukkah-building is also a fun and educational event for families. Join our own MCJC Maintenance Men beginning at 9 am. Coffee and donuts will be provided!

Special Events Coming Up:
Sunday, October 6 – Special interfaith activity for all grades
Sunday, October 13 – Sukkot Celebration with Lulav & Etrog for children and adults, then PIZZA IN THE HUT
Sunday, October 20 – Simchat Torah Celebration for children and adults

Social Action

MCJC Crop Hunger Walk Team Forms

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MCJC will join 12 local churches to participate in the 2019 McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, September 29, 2019, from about 1:15 – 3:15 pm. The WALK distance is one mile. This MCJC undertaking is a partnership project of the MCJC Social Action Committee and the MCJC Religious School faculty and students.

​Twenty-five percent of the money raised from the McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk will go to designated local food pantries.  Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will be used by CWS/CROP to help develop programs that empower people in third world counties to meet their own food needs through agricultural training programs, by providing seeds and farm tools, and by helping to build wells and irrigation systems.

The 2018 MCJC CROP Hunger Walk Team raised $686. This year’s MCJC CROP Hunger Walk Team hopes to raise even more money. The following members of the MCJC community have stepped forward to participate in this year’s McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk: Davina/Jim/Sienna/Andrew Kelly, Dara & Seth Turnball, Brandon & Eli Pacyna, Jonah/Asher/London Markowitz, Carrie/Jason/Briella Bernstein, and Bruce Weiss.

If you would like to become an MCJC CROP Hunger Walk Team member, and if you would like to find out all the details related to participating in this important interfaith fundraising event, please contact either Bruce Weiss (815-338-2721) or Davina Kelly (847-659-8285).

We would also like to ask for the support of those in the MCJC community who cannot walk in this year’s McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk. The suggested donation of support is Chai ($18). Donation checks should be made payable to CWS/CROP and mailed to MCJC CROP Hunger WALK Team, c/o Bruce Weiss, 846 N. Madison Street, Woodstock, IL 60098-2833.

Donations can also be made online at crophungerwalk.org/mchenrycounty. Click “Donate,” click “Team,” write in “McHenry County Jewish Congregation,” fill in donation amount, enter your full name, enter your email, fill in payment information, and click on “Donate now.”

With much appreciation for your kind support of this important MCJC project,

Bruce Weiss, MCJC Social Action Chairperson
Davina Kelly, MCJC Religious School Faculty Member