September 2017
Elul 5777
Monthly E-Newsletter
High Holidays 5778

High Holiday tickets for JRC members will start arriving in your mail next week! Did you remember to renew your membership? Don't delay, contact Jill Persin at jpersin@jrc-evanston.org to make sure you get your tickets. It's not too late to purchase tickets for friends and extended family or order prayer books. All the information for High Holidays can be found on our website.
“Chai Holiday” tickets are back at JRC! For the second year in a row we are offering $18 High Holiday tickets to Young Adults ages 35 and under, and college students (as always) are free.

Join us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services that are accessible, modern, and egalitarian with a focus on spirituality, intellectual curiosity, and social justice. There are lots of fun meet-ups for Young Adults throughout the season including an art/drawing meditation, break-the-fast potluck, and cocktails with the rabbi in the JRC sukkah. 
Weekly Community Events
Erev Shabbat Service: Fridays at 7:00pm 
Torah Study: Saturdays at 9:00am starting September 9
Shabbat Minyan and Oneg: Saturdays at 10:00am
Ma'ariv Evening Service: Tuesdays from 7:00-7:30pm 
Religious School Tefillah: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-4:30pm 
Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays at 7:45pm
Tot Shabbat: Fridays from 9:45am-10:00am
September Events
Friday September 1
Erev Shabbat Service 7:00pm
Welcome Cantor Howard Friedland back to the bimah after his summer sabbatical.

Saturday September 2
Benjamin Kaplan-Block Bar Mitzvah 10:00am
The entire JRC community is invited to celebrate with Benjamin Kaplan-Block and his family as he is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. A special aliyah will be given to members of the JRC community. 

Sunday September 3
JRC Garden Days 9:00am
Help care for JRC’s sustainable landscape by working on the garden together. Bring your garden gloves and wear a sun hat.

Monday September 4
Labor Day: JRC Office Closed

Tuesday September 5
First full day of Early Childhood for Eytzim - Trees (4's class) 9:00am

Wednesday September 6
First full day of Early Childhood for Nitzanim - Buds (3's class)9:30am

Feminist Torah Study 12:30pm
This monthly daytime Torah study group taught by Rabbi Rachel Weiss looks at the weekly parshah through a feminist lens. Bring your lunch or snacks, your favorite Torah commentary, and yourself!

Israeli Film Night: A Tale of Love and Darkness 7:00pm
Natalie Portman stars, writes, and directs this story of Amos Oz’s youth, set against the backdrop of the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel. The film details the young man’s relationship with his mother and his beginning as a writer, while looking at what happens when stories we tell become the stories we live. 

Thursday September 7
First full day of Early Childhood for Shorashim - Roots (2's class) 9:30am

Saturday September 9
Sophie Freedland Bat Mitzvah 10:00am
The entire JRC community is invited to celebrate with Sophie Freedland and her family as she is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. A special aliyah will be given to members of the JRC community. 

Buy-in: Beef Tenderloin Dinner, Dominoes and Havdalah (Not at JRC) 6:00pm

Sunday, September 10 
President's Breakfast 9:00am
First Day of Religious School and Family Ed Day 9:30am 
First Day of Taste of JRC

Tuesday September 12
First afternoon of Religious School for 3rd-6th grades
First evening of Religious School for 7th-8th grades

Wednesday September 13
Play Bridge! 7:00pm

Board of Directors Meeting 7:30pm

Thursday September 14
First afternoon of Religious School for 3rd-6th grades

Saturday September 16
Jaclyn McNelis Bat Mitzvah 10:00am
The entire JRC community is invited to celebrate with Jaclyn McNelis and her family as she is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. A special aliyah will be given to members of the JRC community. 

Selichot: A service for forgiveness
Class 8:00pm
Service 9:00pm

Sunday September 17
BUY IN: Champagne Brunch and Chicago River Walking Tour (Not at JRC)

Unless otherwise noted, all High Holiday Services are held at First United Methodist Church in Downtown Evanston.
Wednesday September 20
Erev Rosh Hashanah 8:00pm

Thursday September 21
Rosh Hashanah Day I 9:30am

Friday September 22
Rosh Hashanah Day II at JRC 9:30am

Wednesday September 27
Play Bridge! 7:00pm

Friday September 29
Kol Nidre 6:30pm

Saturday September 30
Yom Kippur 9:30am
First Day of Religious School and Family Ed-Day
Sunday, September 10
It's the first Sunday of Religious School at JRC! Parents and kids are invited to join us for a community building day of crafts, discussion, and learning to kick off the school year. The theme of the start of the year is  Hachnasat Orchim,  the Jewish value of hospitality and welcoming. Come help us make that warm and welcoming atmosphere a reality! 

This all-school Family Ed Day is the first of its kind at JRC - be on the lookout for other days throughout the year when students and grown-ups can learn Jewishly, create, and discover ideas together. 

9:00am President's Breakfast 
9:30am Programming Begins
  • Welcome
  • Parents and students visit teachers 
  • Students learn in the classrooms while parents have a special session with Rabbi Weiss 
  • Everyone comes together for songs and a community art project 
12:00pm Goodbye!  
Did you know? If you buy High Holiday tickets and decide to join JRC by November 1, the cost of your tickets will be credited towards your membership. Contact Jill Persin at jpersin@jrc-evanston.org to learn more!
Selichot: A Service for Forgiveness
Saturday, September 16
8:00pm Class
9:00pm Service

It's traditional to recite the first confession of sins,  selichot , in the dark. Join us by candlelight as we open our ears and hearts to the High Holiday music. Engage in communal and personal reflection. We'll raise up the good of the last year to bring with us, and prepare to confess the wrongdoings for which we ask forgiveness. Anonymously, we'll record our  chataim  (sins), to be read in our Yom Kippur service.
Fall Birding Outing
Sunday, October 15
7:30am-9:30am

Join JRC members to explore the bird life of a nearby forest preserve at Skokie Lagoons. We’ll be looking at migrating waterfowl, waterbirds and late migrant landbirds, and with a little luck might see an eagle or osprey. This is a great trip for people new to birding since many of the birds are big and easy to see! 

Meet at the Erickson Woods parking lot (north side of Willow Road immediately east of the Edens Expressway). 

There are a limited number of spots, so sign up in advance. Let us know if you need to borrow binoculars.
Save the Date for the Fall Social
JRC Early Childhood Center 5th Annual Fall Social
Saturday, October 28, 2017
5:00 - 8:00pm
  • Join us for an evening of fun and fundraising with congregants, preschool families and alumni benefiting the Early Childhood Center's Scholarship Fund.
  • Enjoy beer and cider tastings featuring local breweries and nosh on small bites from some of the area's favorite restaurants.
  • Babysitting for children ages 1+ including a pizza dinner in the ECC Classrooms is included in the ticket price.
  • Check out our silent auction for amazing experiences and try your luck at winning a fantastic raffle prize. 
National Reconstructionist Events
Save the Date for the Reconstructionist Convention 
November 15-18, 2018
Philadelphia, PA 

Join with other Reconstructionists to sing, pray, learn, eat and be together.
Strengthen our networks and deepen our connections. Celebrate the movement and 50 years of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Stay tuned for more information including plans for a JRC delegation!  Save the date .
Reconstructionist teachings call on us to engage with Israel in a mature and loving, complex and honest way. Israel Experts has put together an itinerary for a Reconstructionist trip designed to go beneath the surface, engaging Israel with special attention to its sub-cultures, arts, politics, and geography. The itinerary aims to inform and inspire by embracing the complexities, questions, concerns, debates, and discussions that are part of Israeli society.
ShulCloud: Our new database system
In September, the JRC office will be switching to our new CRM system, ShulCloud. It will have really great new features including member logins, an online directory, online bill pay, forms and registrations, and so much more!

While we learn the new system, please be patient in case of technical difficulties. We will notify you how to access the new online directory soon!
Spotlight on Ritual Practices
Torah Reading
Who we are? The newly reconstituted Ritual Practices Advisory Committee consists of 30+ JRC members representing the diversity of the congregation overall, who meet with the clergy on a quarterly basis to review, recommend and develop JRC’s Jewish ritual practices. Our vision is that all ritual practices at JRC reflect our Reconstructionist values and beliefs so as to engage the community in celebration of every aspect of Jewish life, enhancing our connection with each other through shared sacred experiences.

What’s our goal? Ensure that Shabbat and holiday practices are relevant to and expressive of the diverse JRC community, and to generate ideas for new initiatives that broaden and enhance opportunities for spiritual practice.

How can you participate? Come be a part of spiritual life at JRC! Holiday celebrations, weekly Shabbat Minyan, Feminist Torah Study, and a new series of programs once a month on Erev Shabbat. For questions contact Committee chair Nancy Zwick.
B'nai Mitzvah Profiles
Benji Kaplan-Block
September 2, 2017

What are your hobbies? I like soccer, tennis, reading, and playing with my dog Romeo.
What is your tzedakah project? Junior volunteer program at the Evanston Animal Shelter.
What's the most interesting thing you have ever learned about Judaism? There are a lot of famous Jewish actors, like Daniel Radcliffe and Harrison Ford.
Sophie Freedland
September 9, 2017

What are your hobbies?  My hobbies are writing my own books and drawing or doodling.
What is your tzedakah project? My tzedakah project is volunteering for Tree House (a cat rescue) and donating to them.
What's the most interesting thing you have ever learned about Judaism? One thing I find interesting is all the old synagogues in the city.
Jaclyn McNelis 
September 16, 2017

Tell us about yourself!  I'm a 7th grader at McCracken and I am the youngest of 3 siblings. I play flute in Symphonic band, and I like to sing and act. I am currently obsessed with Doctor Who (I just finished season 10) and my favorite Doctor is the 11th doctor (Matt Smith). I also learned to ride the unicycle at Circus Camp
What is your tzedakah project? My tzedakah project is raising money to donate Kuranda dog beds and supplies to the Evanston Animal Shelter.
What's the most interesting thing you have ever learned about Judaism? The most interesting thing to me about Judaism is that the Jews were kicked out of so many countries and no one would accept them.
Kvell Korner
To kvell (or shep naches ) means to express pride. This column is devoted to letting our community know about the wonderful things happening in the lives of JRC members. If you or your loved ones have something to celebrate, send an email to Nina Litoff at nlitoff@jrc-evanston.org.

Mazel Tov To:
Carolyn Shapiro for receiving a 2017 Abner Mikva Award from the Chicago Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society. The award recognizes attorneys who have advanced the American Constitution Society's progressive mission.

Becca Sperling for passing her test to become Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Ernesto and Carmen Vega on the birth of their first child, Logan. 

Rebecca and Louis Lapat and the whole Green-Lapat family on the birth of their new baby, Nora Davielle.

Rich and Heidi Katz on the birth of their grandchild, Emmett Harvey Turner.
Donations
Thank you for your generosity 

Tzedakah is a central mitzvah of Judaism, humanizing both the donor and the recipient. JRC has established a series of tzedakah funds in response to members' interests, aiming to serve three functions: 
  • To support the congregation. All are welcome to membership, to worship, to our school-even those unable to pay full dues. Your contributions make this possible.
  • To support important extra-budgetary activities.
  • Most importantly, to provide a convenient and meaningful way for JRC members and others to fulfill the traditional obligation of tzedakah as we honor, commemorate, and express gratitude.
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation