McHenry County Jewish Congregation

ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

To Benefit The Lisa Derman Holocaust Memorial, “Storytelling on the Square,” and Illinois Storytelling, Inc., a non-profit Educational Corporation

STAGE LEFT ON THE WOODSTOCK SQUARE

SATURDAY, DEC 21   7:00 – 9:00 pm

The Lisa Derman Holocaust Memorial has many connections to MCJC. Conceived by Jim May of the Illinois Storytelling, Inc. and a good friend of MCJC, this is the only Holocaust memorial in McHenry County.

The beautiful bronze bas relief was created by MCJC’s own Nancy Wicker, and Al Gimpel’s dad, Max, created the Hebrew inscription. Many synagogue members contributed financially to help realize the dedication of the memorial, and Leo Schlosberg oversaw the engineering aspect. The memorial is in Spring Grove Park, site of Mrs. Derman’s final speaking engagement. She succumbed to a heart attack as she was concluding her remarks of caring and love for all.

A Holocaust survivor who spoke regularly at Ellen Levy’s middle school in Buffalo Grove, Lisa Derman testified in Springfield to help pass the Illinois mandate to teach students about the Holocaust. As President of the Illinois Holocaust Museum, she helped to build the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.

This summer, a meditation bench is going to be installed at the monument.  This welcome addition to the site will enable visitors to relax and enjoy the beauty and meaning of this only Holocaust memorial in McHenry County.

Please consider attending this heartwarming evening On the Square at Stage Left, attached to the Opera House.

PROGRAM

Jim May–emcee, and “Child’s Christmas in Wales”
Ed Collin–a Winter Solstice Story
Carol Kerman–a story from the Jewish Tradition
Rich Tobiasz–the real story of “The Night Before…”

No cover, but your donations will keep storytelling alive in Woodstock and Illinois.

Mail in donation to: Illinois Storytelling, Inc., P.O. Box 1022, Woodstock, IL 60098. You will receive a receipt for taxes.

Stage Left Café is located on the historic Woodstock Square, 125 Van Buren St., Woodstock, IL 60098.

For more info and weather updates, contact Jim May at jimmaystories@gmail.com, 815-382-5264.

Sponsored by Illinois Storytelling, Inc. and the Woodstock Opera House.

The goal of  MCJC’s “Let’s Have Fun Together” initiative is to build community through entertaining and fun programs and activities.

Check out our next “Let’s Have Fun Together” event:

Sunday, February 2, 2:00 pm at MCJC

BARRY BRADFORD PROGRAM
“Looking Back Ahead:
2019 in Review – Predictions for 2020″

Enjoy a highly entertaining overview of the year 2019, and a “crystal ball” predictive look at what to expect in 2020 . . . this is Barry Bradford’s most anticipated show each year, and the perfect entertainment experience to start off 2020!

Barry Bradford is a Chicago-based, award-winning motivational speaker, historian, and author.

Tickets: $5/pp by phone (815-455-1810), online at mcjconline.org/event/barry-bradford/, or cash or check at the door.

Refreshments and a social immediately follows the presentation. Child care is provided. Please bring a guest or two to enjoy with you.

Questions: Bruce Weiss at funtogether@mcjconline.org (815-338-2721)

Thirty-nine people attended the December eighth MCJC “Let’s Have Fun Together” Program: Charles Troy’s presentation, “Irving Berlin: The Ultimate Jewish Immigrant.”

The show was highly entertaining and informative, and the audience learned the fascinating story of how a five year old Russian immigrant boy by the name Israel Isidore Baline grew up to become Irving Berlin, one of the greatest songwriters in American history.

The presentation focused on Irving’s Berlin’s life between 1893 and 1925 and featured twenty-five songs that Irving Berlin wrote between 1907 and 1925. Each of the songs sung during the show was wonderful, and two of them were  show stoppers: “Alexander’s Rag Time Band,” sung by Max Morath and “Cohen Owes Me Ninety-seven Dollars,” sung by William Cantor.

Special thanks to Bruce Weiss, Co-Chairman of the MCJC “Let’s Have Fun Together” Committee, for organizing this event and for covering the promotional costs of the show and the cost of printing the show’s tickets and programs.

Special thanks to Burl and Annette Cohn for “people-ing” Will Call. Special thanks to Trish Atwater for being the show’s usher. Special thanks to the following people for providing refreshments and for setting up the refreshment social that took place immediately following the presentation: Ellen Morton,  Trish Atwater, Burl and Annette Cohn, Bruce and Marian Weiss, and  Ilene Kaye. Special thanks to the Communications Committee for all their work promoting the event. And lastly special, special thanks to Gene Lindow for setting up the audio visual equipment that is needed to actually do the show.

The show realized a $240 profit for MCJC after paying Charles Troy’s fee of $300. Thanks everyone for joining us. Hope to see you at our next event!