MCJC Genizah Ceremony 
Sunday, June 22, 10:00 AM
MCJC will be holding a Genizah ceremony at the McHenry County Jewish Cemetery in Woodstock to respectfully bury prayer books and other items containing God's name in Hebrew that the congregation is no longer using.   Members of MCJC community are invited to bring to the Genizah ceremony personal Jewish items that contain God's name in Hebrew that may be damaged or are no longer in use such as Sabbath and High Holiday prayer books, tefillin, torah scrolls, Passover haggadots, and mezuzah scrolls.   All items must be placed in a bag.   Please come and experience this sacred burial ceremony.  

The McHenry County Jewish Cemetery is on the western edge of the Oakland Cemetery which is located on Jackson Street 1.1 miles to the west of the Woodstock City Square.   Once you reach the edge of the Oakland Cemetery continue for an additional 0.1 mile until you come to Cemetery Road.   Make a right hand turn onto Cemetery Road then take the first left followed by a quick right turn that will lead you to the site of the McHenry County Jewish Cemetery.

Woodstock Drive-Thru Food Pantry

 Monday, June 9

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Volunteers need to arrive at the drive-thru food pantry by 3:00 pm.   The pantry is open from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and is located in the parking lot across from Woodstock High School on South Street (501 W. South Street, Woodstock).For more information you can reach Bruce Weiss at office@mcjconline.org.

We Would Never by Tova Mirvis

THURSDAY, June 5, 7:00 PM ON ZOOM and In Person

When Hailey Gelman becomes a suspect in her ex-husband's murder following a bitter custody battle, her tight-knit Jewish family must confront their own dark loyalties and the lengths they will go to protect each other.

ZOOM WITH THE AUTHOR ON MONDAY, MAY 19 AT 8:00 PM.

Here is the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81743460356?pwd=VG5uSTV3NWJKbm5iZW5vVE9TOVJxUT09

Meeting ID: 817 4346 0356
Passcode: mcjc861

Woodstock Drive-Thru Food Pantry

 Monday, April 14

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Volunteers need to arrive at the drive-thru food pantry by 3:00 pm.   The pantry is open from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and is located in the parking lot across from Woodstock High School on South Street (501 W. South Street, Woodstock).For more information you can reach Bruce Weiss at office@mcjconline.org.

MCJC Second Night Community Passover Seder

Led by Rabbi Gordon
 Sunday, April 13,
5:30 pm
Cost: $10/person & Children 12 and above; $25/family.
Please RSVP by April 2nd, 2025 To: by filling out this form or email office@mcjconline.org Or call 815 455-1810

(An early RSVP allows us to gauge how much food to prepare)

 
 Thursday, March 13, 6:30 pm. 
Festivities will include our annual Megillah reading, our creative skit, several new songs, and Goldschlager, Hot Dogs, and Hamantashen. Please RSVP with your choice of hotdog or vegan hotdog to office@mcjconline.org

Woodstock Drive-Thru Food Pantry

 Monday, March 10

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Volunteers need to arrive at the drive-thru food pantry by 3:00 pm.   The pantry is open from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and is located in the parking lot across from Woodstock High School on South Street (501 W. South Street, Woodstock).For more information you can reach Bruce Weiss at office@mcjconline.org.

Your Presence Is Mandatory  by Sasha Vasilyuk 

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 7:00 PM ON ZOOM

In 2007 Ukraine, after Yefim Shulman, beloved husband, grandfather and World War II veteran, passes away, his widow Nina finds a letter to the KGB in his briefcase that reveals his lifelong secret, which forces them to reassess the man they thought they knew and the country he defended.

Here is the Zoom link for both discussions:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81743460356?pwd=VG5uSTV3NWJKbm5iZW5vVE9TOVJxUT09
Meeting ID: 817 4346 0356
Passcode: mcjc8617

The Book Club will continue in May 2025 with an in-person discussion.
Participants are encouraged to make a minimum annual donation of $50 to help support the Book Club. Go to www.mcjconline.org to donate. Indicate in the “additional information” box indicate that your contribution is for the MCJC Book Club.

Woodstock Drive-Thru Food Pantry

 Monday, February 10

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Volunteers need to arrive at the drive-thru food pantry by 3:00 pm.   The pantry is open from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and is located in the parking lot across from Woodstock High School on South Street (501 W. South Street, Woodstock). For more information you can reach Bruce Weiss at events@mcjconline.org.

Songs for the Brokenhearted  by Ayelet Tsabari 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 7:00 PM ON ZOOM

In 1995, a young Israeli-American returns to Israel for her mother’s funeral and finds herself on an unexpected path that leads to shocking truths about her Yemini family, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about her parents, her heritage and her own future.

Here is the Zoom link for both discussions:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81743460356?pwd=VG5uSTV3NWJKbm5iZW5vVE9TOVJxUT09
Meeting ID: 817 4346 0356
Passcode: mcjc8617

The Book Club will continue in May 2025 with an in-person discussion.
Participants are encouraged to make a minimum annual donation of $50 to help support the Book Club. Go to www.mcjconline.org to donate. Indicate in the “additional information” box indicate that your contribution is for the MCJC Book Club.

Woodstock Drive-Thru Food Pantry

 Monday, January 13

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Volunteers need to arrive at the drive-thru food pantry by 3:00 pm.   The pantry is open from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and is located in the parking lot across from Woodstock High School on South Street (501 W. South Street, Woodstock).For more information you can reach Bruce Weiss at office@mcjconline.org.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Tree of Life UUC! On December 31, 2024, we gather for a night of music and games before we ring in the New Year. The event starts at 4:00 pm, with a "midnight" ball drop at 6 pm (London time), and closes at 6:30 pm. This year's theme is "Decades." We encourage you to dress from your favorite decade! Bring a small bite appetizer or dessert to share. We will have punch and sparkling apple juice. Wine, champagne, and beer will be available at the bar (for a cash donation). Children are welcome, although no childcare will be provided. Have a neon fanny pack, boombox, or mirrorball in the basement? How about a strand of fake pearls, a pink scarf from the 50s, or a toy cigar? Nostalgic items wanted on loan to decorate our event. Contact Lora Cantele or Beth Hoover if you have anything to share. PLEASE RSVP for this event by emailing Lora.Cantele@gmail.com.

What we need from you:

• RSVP for the event 

• sign up to bring a food item

• sign up to be contacted if they have a nostalgic item to share as a prop/decoration

• volunteers for clean up

Eat delicious latkes, made from scratch, fried up MCJC style, and heated in our new oven. Play dreidel!  Light candles!  Sing your favorite Chanukah songs!  Create your own edible dreidel!  Exchange White Elephant "gifts"!
 
You can bring a menorah to light, and we'll also have extra menorahs and candles.  We'll have pennies for the dreidel game, but feel free to bring a bag if you save them too!
 
Something new for fun....we'll have a White Elephant gift exchange.  Find something in your possession (don't spend any money!), that you no longer want, but think that somebody else would enjoy!  Please bring it nicely wrapped to the party.  Each person should bring a gift if they choose to participate, so if you're coming as a "couple", you would each bring your own gift.  We'll likely do a fun swap/steal game!

Latke making volunteers are being sought to assist Dale starting around 2pm. If you able to help please contact Dale directly. 

If you're looking for a good dining, good fellowship experience, come and enjoy the  2024 MCJC Christmas Chinese Dinner.  
 
This annual dinner is scheduled for 4:30 pm on Tuesday December 24th at The Chop Suey Hut 218 N. Throop Street in Woodstock.   MCJC needs to give the restaurant a "head count"  of how many people from MCJC to plan for.

Kindly RSVP to MCJC "Let's Get Together" chairperson Bruce Weiss at events@mcjconline.org no later than Friday December 20th.
 

Rabbi Gordon will participate along with an MCJC shofar blower TBA.

JOIN ZOOM HERE

In honor of the 85th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz", acclaimed musical theater historian Charles will perform his highly entertaining and brilliantly-crafted show "The Creation of The Wizard of Oz". The presentation combines original graphics, audio tracks, video clips, and a scripted narrative. A dessert social will take place immediately following the program. The Tree of Life community will be extended an invitation to come and enjoy the day's activities.

Kindly RSVP to events@mcjconline.org.