Start the New Year with a Mitzvah for the MCJC Community! Volunteer to coordinate the Rosh HaShanah Community Kiddush and Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast 5780!
The groundwork has been laid, but we need a special someone(s) to assure these food events bring a tasty and Sweet New Year to all. Please contact Elaine at fredturtle@comcast.net for the particulars.
“Rosh Hashana 5770”by Avital Pinnick is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Preparing for the High Holy Days: An Exploration of Ancient and Contemporary Jewish Wisdom
The High Holy Days have the power to enrich and transform our lives. We have an opportunity to become aware, deeply aware, of how fragile life is. We are given a chance to open our eyes to the beauty and wonder that surrounds us, to know we are all an intimate part of God’s creative powers.
Together, as a community, we celebrate our opportunity to bring the Divine into our lives. This is the High Holy Days – Festival of Life.
Please join Rabbi Tom in an exploration of themes of the High Holy Days and multi-layered meanings waiting to be discovered. Learn how to make these special days life-invigorating for yourself, your family, and your community.
All sessions meet at Panera Bread, 6000 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, Illinois. Each session is offered twice on Wednesdays, at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm, so you can choose whichever works best for you. Please note there is no evening session on Wednesday, September 18.
Sessions meet on these dates:
Wednesday, September 4
2:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Wednesday, September 11 – please note: 2 pm class is at MCJC
2:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Wednesday, September 18
2:00 pm ONLY
Wednesday, September 25
2:00 pm and 6:30 pm
These learning sessions are open to the public and free of charge. Please register with us at https://mcjconline.org/event/preparing-for-the-high-holy-days-an-exploration-of-ancient-contemporary-jewish-wisdom-part-ii/ (in the Calendar at mcjconline.org, on Sept. 11).
For more information about our Adult Education program at MCJC or other programs and services, please contact Rabbi Tom via rabbi@mcjconline.org or call the MCJC office and leave a message for him, 866-455-1810.
Selichot Service and Discussion with Havdalah
Saturday, September 21, 7:00 p.m. co-hosted by MCJC, at CKI (330 Division St., Elgin)
Erev Rosh HaShanah
Sunday, September 29, 7:00 p.m.
Rosh HaShanah—Day 1
Monday, September 30, 9:00 a.m.
Discussion Group, 9:15 a.m.
Children’s Service (ages 4-8) 10:15 a.m.
Tashlich Service 1:45 p.m.
Main Beach
300 Lakeshore Dr.
Crystal Lake, IL
Family Service with Tashlich 4:30 p.m.
Main Beach
300 Lakeshore Dr.
Crystal Lake, IL
Rosh HaShanah—Day 2
Tuesday, October 1, 9:00 a.m.
Kol Nidre
Tuesday, October 8, 7:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, October 9, 9:00 a.m.
Discussion Group, 9:15 a.m.
Children’s Service (ages 4-8) 10:15 a.m.
Mincha Service 5:00 p.m.
Neila Service 6:00 p.m.
Break-the-Fast 7:15 p.m.
Sukkot
Monday, October 14, 8:30 a.m.
Sukkot Morning Services with Lulav & Etrog
Yizkor
Saturday, October 19, 9:30 a.m.
Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion with Yizkor
Simchat Torah
Sunday, October 20, 9:15 a.m.
Simchat Torah Celebrations with Religious School and Pizza in the Hut
Rosh HaShanah & Yom Kippur Children’s Services
Monday, September 30 and
Wednesday, October 9 at 10:15 a.m.
Bring your family to our High Holy Day Children’s Services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, as well as on Yom Kippur. These are wonderfully engaging, musical and fun services, and geared to younger children ages 4 through 8.
Family Service with Tashlich
Monday, September 30 at 4:30 p.m.
MCJC will be hosting a musical, family-friendly, High
Holy Day service. We’ll share songs, stories, a shofar blowing Shofar-palooza, and much more. This program is open to the public, so bring friends and family, Jewish or not.
Break-the-Fast 2019 at MCJC
Wednesday, October 9 at 7:15 p.m.
Join the entire MCJC community at
Break-the Fast after Yom Kippur Services:
$10 per person, $5 per child, $30 max per family
To register, please contact the MCJC office at 815-455-1810 or office@mcjconline.org
You can also pay securely on our website, https://mcjconline.org/2019/08/high-holy-days-break-the-fast-reservations-non-member-tickets/
Simchat Torah
Sunday, October 20 at 9:15 a.m.
Simchat Torah is a joyous celebration when we end the last book
of the Torah and start again from the beginning.
Young and old, Dor v’Dor, generation-to generation,
we’ll sing and dance, together with the Torahs.
Please note that only members in good standing will be able to attend High Holy Day services free of charge. Payment for non-member tickets can be applied to a membership.
Contact Jen Finger, treasurer@mcjconline.org, as soon as possible if you are unsure of your standing.
Break-the-Fast ticket prices for members and non-members: $10 per person, $5 per child, $30 max per family
Payment information is below this schedule:
Wednesday, October 9 at 7:15 p.m. Join the entire MCJC community at Break-the Fast after Yom Kippur Services.
To register, please contact the MCJC office at 815-455-1810 or office@mcjconline.org. You may also mail us your request with your check, or you can pay with the payment button online (see below.)
If you mail us, please include your name, the number of people included in your request, your address, phone number, and email address in case of questions.
Your check should be made out to McHenry County Jewish Congregation (MCJC) and mailed to: MCJC, 8617 Ridgefield Rd., Crystal Lake, IL 60012.
You may also pay via credit card on our website using the button below or the Express High Holy Days Payment Button in the right column of every page of the site.
Please note this email that went out to our list last week:
Dear Fellow Congregants and Friends of MCJC:
If you submitted a form online for the New Year’s Card, Yizkor Booklet, Break-the-Fast or volunteering, please contact Elaine Steinberg via fredturtle@comcast.net as soon as possible to let her know your choices.
We had a glitch with the online form and would like to be certain we know of everyone who would like to be included.
In addition, if you meant to send in a form for any of these items but didn’t yet do it, please contact Elaine immediately via the same address, fredturtle@comcast.net.
Thank you,
The Communications Committee
___________________________________________________________________________
We extended our original August 15 deadline to September 5. Please take advantage of this extension to submit your names for the MCJC High Holy Day Greeting Card and for the Yizkor Book.
We can take non-member High Holy Day tickets and Break-the-Fast reservations and payments until September 15.
The MCJC High Holy Day Card offers an easy way to fulfill the long-standing tradition of offering New Year’s greetings to friends and family. If you would like to include your name/s in the card we send to members and friends, please complete the form below. This form also gives you the opportunity to provide names of loved ones for the Yizkor Booklet, to sign up for the Break-the-Fast, even to get non-member High Holy Day tickets.
Please note that we had a technical issue with our online form and had to remove it. You may click on and print the .pdf below and mail it in with your payment to: McHenry County Jewish Congregation, 8617 Ridgefield Rd., Crystal Lake, IL 60012.
If you prefer to pay online, you can still do that with the button below or in the right column of the site. Be sure to mail in your form, which will be paired with your online payment in the office.
https://mcjconline.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019_HH-Form_web.pdf
Day 1 Rosh Hashana – Asking the Big Questions
Looking Within: Renewal of our Relationships. How am I doing with friends, family, community, and work? Do I owe anyone an apology? Do I need to return a borrowed item? Can I mend a broken connection? Have I left a promise undone? Make a list.
Day 2 – More Looking: Self Care
Am I taking care of my physical body? Have I had doctor and dental check-ups? Have I listened to my body’s needs? Am I getting enough rest and quiet time? Am I caring for my changing challenges? Do I pay attention to my diet? How can I do better?
Day 3 – Much More Looking
Within What am I doing to grow spiritually? What new activity have I tried or re-introduced into my routine? Is there a comforting routine in my daily, weekly, or monthly schedule? Do I have someone in my circle to guide me? (If not, seek advice.)
Day 4 – Am I Angry?
Is there someone in my life that has hurt me? Have I retaliated? What is MY part? Can I forgive or start to forgive? Can I ask for forgiveness? Do I need help with this?
Day 5 – Am I Afraid?
Yes, I am human; we all have fears. What/who frightens me? Why am I fearful? Are they real or imagined fears? Are there things I do in my life to reduce those fears? Are my attempts to reduce those fears healthy?
Day 6 – Am I Honest?
Do I practice honesty with myself and with others? Do I justify “exceptions from the truth” to justify a perceived positive result? Am I more concerned with seeking approval than being truthful? Do I avoid making changes when I am not being honest with how I feel about a relationship, decision, or lifestyle?
Day 7 – Balance:
Where is the Joy, Love, and Play in my Life? Does my life have real fun space? Is it enough? Do I actively seek enriching experiences, entertainment, and generosity? Can I turn off my social media and electronic devices for a part of my day or week? Do I honor and spend time in nature? Do I listen? Can I say, “Not now”?
Day 8 – Patience:
Tell me Yes, Tell me No, But Please Don’t Tell me to Wait. Is time always a commodity, or can I slow down? Does my agenda supersede all others? Can I stay in the moment, or do I live in the past and future? How can I do better?
Day 9 – Hope and Gratitude:
Every Day is a New Beginning. We can start over any time. Prayer and meditation can take us to a place of unselfish and focused spiritual growth. Even something very, very small makes a difference. Am I willing to add just one tiny, new practice to my daily routine or more? Do I need help with this?
Day 10 – Service:
Giving Without Reward – the Greatest Gift of All. The path to peace and joy lies in the ability to do for others, when our motives are not self-serving. Even the smallest token or act of kindness is enough each day.
Taking Action – Smile. “Thank you.” An anonymous gift or gesture. A kind word to a stranger.
