We are looking forward to just two more MCJC-sponsored PADS dinners for the 2018-2019 winter season: March 27 and April 24.
The dinners are 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1320 Dean Street in Woodstock. Those bringing food should plan to have it there by 6:00 pm. We decided to use paper goods, so servers no longer need to stay on to do dishes.
We appreciate those who help out so regularly with this important community service. If you would like to join the team as a food preparer or server, please contact me, Bruce Weiss, via socialaction@mcjconline.org.
Thanks for your help, and warm regards,
Bruce Weiss,
MCJC Social Action Chairperson
Wednesday, March 13
1:00 pm: Lunch and Learn– Dedicated to the memory of Ken Bailenson, z”l, son of MCJC founding member, Stew Bailenson.
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
Saturday, March 23
9:30 am: Grades 4-7 Special Shabbat – Shabbat Morning Services & Kiddush – 4th Grade Consecration
1:00 pm: Extended Kiddush follows the 4th-7th Grades’ Special Shabbat kiddush. It includes light fare, Zemirot, Talmud Torah (If you can bring veggie or dairy food to share, please let us know what you’ll bring via kiddush@mcjconline.org). We hope you’ll stay on for adult Torah study.
SPRING BREAK IS COMING! Sunday, March 24 through Sunday, March 31. No Religious School, Adult Education or Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Tom March 24, 27, or 31.
SAVE THESE APRIL 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.
SPRING BREAK IS COMING! Sunday, March 24 through Sunday, March 31. Stated another way, no Religious School March 24, 27, or 31.
In the Classroom: The K-1 and 2-3 classes welcomed special guests Ilene Kaye and Paula Eskoz, who taught Purim songs. The students’ singing and dancing were great! Grades 4 – 7 worked on their Jewish values film. Hebrew studies continued for all.
This week: Wednesday, March 13 – Religious school for grades 3 – 7.
Upcoming Special Events
PURIM 2019
Costumes are encouraged both days!
Sunday, March 17 – PURIM FUN
9:30 am – 12:00 pm – Please join us for a Family Purim Celebration. We will make Hamantaschen, put together blessing bags, make graggers, and have a great time with carnival games and hot dogs at our one-and-only MCJC Purim Carnival. Parents: Please plan to attend, especially for grades K-3. Carnival tickets are $1.00/10 tickets and lunch is free (donations always welcome).
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: We are running low on snacks! Please send in peanut free/nut free snacks. Snacks 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.
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.
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.
Saturday, February 23
9:30 am: Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Discussion Extended Kiddush following morning service to include light fare, Zemirot, Talmud Torah.
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.
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.
The great Medieval poet and and thinker, Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, asks Jews of all generations–past, present and future: Are we any different than all other peoples similarly rooted in ethnic and religious particularism, harboring tendencies toward demonizing the “other” in our midst?
The students from our MCJC school are selling Double Good Popcorn through the first week of December. Orders are due December 9.
The money raised in this fundraiser goes directly to MCJC School programming — and the student who sells the most popcorn will earn a pizza party for their class!
If you would like to purchase but don’t have a student connection, please use the link below to view the order form and print if needed.
There are three ways to submit your order to Dara:
Contact Dara Turnball via the MCJC phone (815-455-1810), and leave a message for Dara with your order.
Download and print the order form, fill it in, scan it and email it to Dara at president@mcjconline.org.
Send completed form via regular mail to the MCJC office (8617 Ridgefield Rd., Crystal Lake, IL 60012, Attn. Dara Turnball).
Hello MCJC! Many of you know me, some of you well, some of you not sowell, and some not at all, so I figured with my first newsletter article I would introduce myself.
I have lived in Woodstock my entire life (except for going to Chicago for college.) But it wasn’t until my adulthood that I found my Jewish home at MCJC. My mother raised my brothers and me as Jewish, but we celebrated all the other holidays with the larger family. So growing up, my spirituality was very eclectic to say the least; in fact when I visited Ireland, I fell in love with a castle that housed
nuns and told my mom I wanted to live there!
But when I started to read about Judaism and really understand the historic significance of things, I found my true spiritual home. I’m so glad I was able to share that with my two sons. Seth, my oldest, just had his Bar Mitzvah here at MCJC. It was a beautiful moment to watch him up there after all his hard work. I’m excited to see that same thing happen in a few years when my youngest, Eli, reads from the Torah.
MCJC is very blessed with passionate teachers who truly care for the children in our school, and it’s amazing to watch them all grow, learn, and question together. With programming running Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there is plenty of time for our youth to learn and grow their own Jewish identities, and I hope with the coming school year the process of Jewish education will become one that allows for that passion to thrive in our students.
Education is a great passion of mine; I think that we must all be life-long learners. I’ve been working in schools for the past five years. Before that I was with a marketing firm as the head of the video department. I’ve taken several different professional paths, but
each one taught me valuable skills and life lessons, which helped me to become who I am today. I just finished my Masters this May and am excited for the next step in my career.
I became a part of the MCJC board shortly after joining as a member. I think the idea of helping and giving back to organizations that do so much for you and your family is a key component to living a full life. Often times we are so rushed with today’s world and the need to achieve, we forget to calm ourselves and to really be present in the moment. Becoming a leader at MCJC was daunting, but the reward is amazing. I’ve learned a lot about myself as I’ve volunteered to help with various things throughout MCJC.
There is that old saying, “If not now, when? If not me, who?” I believe this to be very true. If we don’t make time now, then we won’t. If we don’t step up to the plate to be a part of our community, then who will? MCJC needs all of us working together to foster an open and caring place for our members and visitors. That being said, during the coming year there are going to be ample opportunities for you to step up to the plate and become a part of MCJC, and I encourage you to do so!
We are looking forward to just two more MCJC-sponsored PADS dinners for the 2018-2019 winter season: March 27 and April 24.
