April 2015 - Congregation Solel

Nisan/Iyyar 5775
April 2015
PAT H F I N D E R
What Harry Poer Taught Me About An"-semi"sm
Inside this issue:
CantorGlikin’s
Remarks
2
FromOurPresident
3
Contributions
14
Calendar
15
I havebeenreadingtheHarryPotter
booksalongsidemyseven-year-olddaughter.Byfarthemostintriguingcharacteris
Voldemort,otherwiseknownas“He-WhoMust-Not-Be-Named.”
WhenI/irstheardthatdescription,I
thoughtofthewaysJewsreferenceGod.
WhenreferringtoGodoutsideofprayer,
manytraditionalJewssay“Hashem”
whichmeans“thename.”Itisawayof
callinguponGodwithoutsayingGod’s
name.
God’snameistoomysteriousandpowerfulforhumanbeingstosay.Inother
words,Godistheonewhomustnotbe
named.
Yet,followingthetragediesunfoldingin
Europeandrefusalofmanyinourpolitical
leadershipandculturetoconfrontit,I
thinkanewunderstandingisnecessary.
ThethreatofIslamicfundamentalism–
morespeci/ically,thehatredofJewsand
othersdrivenbyradicalterroristsclaiming
thebannerofIslam–hasbecometheglobal
forcesomanyrefusetoname.
Atarecentconference,PresidentObama
decidednottonamethisproblem.Irespecthisdesirenottoin/lamereligious
tensions,andheisrighttotreadcarefully.
Yet,wecannotsolveaproblemifwedo
notnameandde/ineit.Theproblemsare
manifold,butinparticular,theantisemitismgeneratedbyradicalIslamis
particularlydisturbing.Ifwedonotname
it,wecannot/ightiteffectively.Why?
1. We lose clarity on the source of the
hatred:Twentyyearsago,theFar
RightinEuropecarriedthebannerof
anti-semitism.TheNationalFrontin
ParisandNeo-NazisinGermanydesecratedcemeteries,minimizedtheHolocaustandassaultedelderlyJews.
TodayJewsfacethegravestthreatsinArabneighborhoods.Arecentreportinthe
(Continued on page 7)
Cantor Glikin’s Desk — On the Mystery of Music
Thinkaboutthelasttimeyouattendedasynagogueservice.Nomatterwhatservice,when,orwhere,Iwouldbet
thatmusicplayedanintegralpartofthatworshipexperience.Whenthinkingaboutworship,thepresenceofmusic
isalmosttakenforgrantedbecauseitiswidelyaccepted
thatmusichelpsustoexpresstheinexpressibleandilluminatestruthsandessencesthatcanbefelt,butonlyapproximatelyverbalized.Musicsimilarlyhelpsustobemoved
emotionallyandspirituallyoutsideofworship.Itdeepens
andmakesmoremeaningfulourexperienceswhetherwe
aredoingyoga,meditating,orwatchingamovie.
JewishphilosopherMartinBuber(1878-1965)differentiatedbetweenwhathetermed“I-It”and“I-Thou”relationships.“I-It”momentscanberoughlycharacterizedas
transactionalinteractions,suchastheinteractionone
wouldhavewiththeclerkatthestorewhilepurchasinga
gallonofmilk.Thesemomentsarenecessaryandcaneven
bepleasant,buttheyaretransactional.Bycontrast,“IThou”arethekindsofencountersinwhichwefeeldeeply
connectedtoanotherpersonandtheirexperience,when
wecan“lookintotheirsoul”andsensetheirdeepest
truths.Thesemomentsallowustoexperienceholiness.It
ispreciselybecauseoftheinadequacyoflanguageindescribingan“I-Thou”experience,suggestsBuber,thatall
culturesconsidermusicindispensable.
Inotherwords,musicplaysanessentialroleinhelpingus
toaccessthefulldepthofthehumanexperienceandtoget
aglimpseoftheDivine.Theutilizationofmusicinachievingamysticalstate-astateinwhichyouarefullyawareof
yourconnectiontosomethinggreaterintheworld-iswell
-documentedwithinourtradition.PerhapsthemostimportantBiblicalsourcefortheclaimofmusic’smystical
powerscomesfromthebookofKingsrelatedtotheprophetElisha:“Andwhentheminstrelplayed,thespiritofGod
cameupon[Elisha]”(IIKings3:15.)Thisversesuggests
thatinthecourseofthemusicalinteraction,thelistener’s
soulistransformedbythe“spiritofGod.”
Keepinginmindthepowerofmusictoaffectthesoul,I
inviteyoutore/lectonthewaysinwhichyoucanprepare
yourselftoperceivemusicasanexperiencethatispregnantwithpotentialforaholyencounter.Howcanyoubest
openyourheartsoastobereadyshouldaglimpseofthe
Divinerevealitselfthroughamusicalencounter?Ialso
inviteyoutochallengeyourselftointentionallyinviteGod
intoyourmusicalinteractions,whetherinworshiporina
secularcontext.Itispossiblethatnothingwillhappen.
Thenagain,itisalsopossiblethat,liketheprophetElisha,
youmayhave“thespiritofGodcomeupon”you,atruly
awesomeexperience,whichisworthtryingfor.
-CantorVickyGlikin
Pathfinder
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust)
Commemoration
Sunday, April 19, 2015
7:00 pm
The crically acclaimed special liturgy
compiled by Cantor Glikin will be
accompanied by piano, cello, violin, and a
quartet of singers. We will hear tesmony
from Margot Walton, a survivor and Solel
congregant. The ceremony will honor all
those who perished during the Shoah
(Holocaust), those who survived against all
odds, and those who risked their lives for
the sake of others. As one community we
will remember, honor, heal, and re-commit
ourselves to fighng for human dignity in
our world. Please join us for this moving
and spiritual commemoraon appropriate
for adults and children in 4th grade and
older.
We would like to honor all within our
congrega"on who have personal connec"ons
to the Shoah. Please contact the office at
(847) 433-3555 or soleloffice@solel.org to have
your name or the name of someone in your
family included in the program and recognized
if:
•
•
•
•
•
•
you have rela"ves who perished in the Shoah
you or someone in your family survived the
Shoah against all odds
you or someone in your family risked their life
for the sake of others
you or someone in your family par"cipated in
the libera"on of concentra"on camps
you or someone in your family
fought against the Nazi aggression
you have dedicated your "me
and resources to educa"ng
about the Shoah
Page 2
From Our President —
RonWolfson,whovisitedCongregationSolellastyear,
haswrittenabookentitledRelationalJudaism(2013).
Ithaspromptedmetore/lectontherangeofactivities
–allofthemvolunteer–thatIregardasrepresenting
thehealthypulsesustainingoursynagogue.Inanutshell,whatfollowsisaboutpeoplewhocollectivelyand
collaborativelynourishourvibrantReformJewish
community.
Equallyimportant–thisistheessenceofRelational
Judaism–ascongregantsinteractwithcongregants
inevitablytheyformnewrelationshipsthatoftenresult
inlong-lastingbondsoffriendship.
Whatfollowsshouldnotberegardedasencyclopedic.
Rather,pleaseregarditasasampling.
Choir–Ourtalentedandcommittedcongregants,virtuallyfromthebeginningofoursynagogue’shistory,
havevolunteeredtosinginourchoir.Althoughmystatisticmaynotbeprecise,thesevolunteersrehearse
someeighteentimes–twiceaweekinsomeinstances
–inpreparationforRoshHashanaandYomKippur.
House–Thissmallcommitteebringsinvaluableexpertise,businessandarchitectural,onmattersminorand
large.ItoperateshandinhandwithourExecutiveDirector.Whenourmajorrenovationprojectwasinprocesstwoyearsago,thetempoofcommitteeactivity
heightened.
FinanceandEndowmentCommittees–Thesetwo
committees,obviously,arecloselyrelatedbutwork
apartfromoneanother.TheFinanceCommitteeadvisesourvicepresident//inanceinformulatingandoverseeingourannualoperatingbudget.Duringthe/irst
quarterofeachcalendaryearthiscommitteemeetson
multipleSundaymorningstocalculate,deliberate,and
plan.TheEndowmentCommitteeischargedwithreviewingandsafeguardingthecongregation’sendowmentfund.Bothcommitteesarecomprisedofcongregantswhothoughtfullybringtoustheirexpertisein
the/ieldof/inancialservices.
ReligiousSchoolCommittee–Thisdedicatedcoreof
congregants,withtheirchildrenenrolledinourschool,
workcloselywiththevicepresident/religiousschool
aswellasthedirector.Theytakeonsmall-scaleand
not-so-smallresponsibilitiesthatenhancehowour
schoolfunctions.Indeed,beforeCongregationSolelexisted,afreestandingReligiousSchooloperatedfortwo
years(1955-1957),overseenbythisverycommittee.
Pathfinder
ShivaCommittee–Acorpsofnearlytwentycongregantsvolunteeredlastyear,attheinitiativeofourvice
president/worship,toassumeresponsibilityforvisitingthehomesofcongregantswhohavesufferedthe
lossofalovedone.Inadditiontoleadingaminyan,this
committeeoffersconsolation.Thinkofitasextendinga
helpinghandtofellowcongregants.Remarkablythis
committee–agenuinemitzvah–wasorganizedspontaneouslyinlessthanamonthduring2014andalreadyhascomfortednumerousfamilies.
BloodDriveCommittee–ForaslongasIcanrecall
ourcongregationhasconductedtwice-a-yearblood
drives.LifeSource,thebloodbankwhomwepartner
with,reportsthatourcongregationrankshighinits
numberofdonors.Dedicatedcongregantsareresponsibleforthedemandingtaskofadministeringour
blooddrive.Ournextblooddriveison
Sunday,May10at8:30am-12:30pm.Pleasegive!
FineArtsCommittee–Thisrecentlyrejuvenatedcommitteehasorganized–quickly–aseriesofwonderful
exhibitionsinourlakesidelounge.Severalcongregants
havesharedtheirartistictalentsandthereisanambitiousscheduleaheadfortheremainderof2015.Watch
forfutureannouncements.
HumanNeedsCommittee–Ithinkthissigni/icant
committeeextendsbacktothefoundingofourcongregationsin1957.Discreetlyanddevotedly,thecongregantswhoserveapprovethedistributionoffundsto
congregantsandorganizationsinneed.WhenyouearmarkyourcontributiontotheHumanNeedsFund–
perhapsinmemoryofalovedoneorincelebrationofa
simcha–itsustainsitsongoingactivities.
Grade-levelShabbatDinners–Families,frequently
withgrandparents,gathertogetherpriortotheeveningShabbatworshipservice.Icanimaginethatfriendshipsareformedontheseoccasions.Then,theservice
takesplace.Forthe/ifthgradeservice,extrachairs
wererequiredforthechapel.Whateverthegradelevel,
ourkinderarewellpreparedfortheirtimeonthebima.Parentsandgrandparents,understandably,kvell.
Don’tbelieveforamoment,claimsthatfamiliesdon’t
maketimeforReligiousSchool.Theprayersandrituals
beingabsorbedwillserveouryoungsters–andtheir
ownoffsprings-foralifetime.
MitzvahCommittee–ThisisalongstandingSoleltradition.Thecommittee’sfunctionsincludetransporting
(Continued on page 13)
Page 3
Rabbi Moffic Discusses
His New Book
Please join us on
Sunday, May 17 at 10:30 AM
in the Chapel for an insightful discussion
with Rabbi Moffic on his new book
What Every Christian Needs to Know about
Passover: What It Means and Why It
Matters (available on www.amazon.com).
The Passover celebration holds so much
meaning for Jews, but members of other
faiths are beginning to grasp its depth and
significance.
Lessons for all faiths will be discussed, as
well as how Jews and Christians can work
together to honor the holiday.
Religious School
Committee Hosting
Two Special Events:
Sunday, May 3
11:30 am 12:00 pm
Honoring Geoff Prass
Please join us for a special
program to honor Geoff
Prass for his service to the
congregation, and to
allow our congregants,
young and old, an
opportunity to extend their
thanks for all he has done
in the Religious
School. Parents and
congregants are encouraged to join the
Religious School students for this event.
Friday, May 8
7:30 pm
Honoring the Religious School
Teachers
Please join us for this lovely opportunity to
honor our teachers and their commitment to
educating our children and the difference
they make in the lives of our students.
The Congregation will host a special Shabbat
service honoring our wonderful Religious
School teachers, The service will be followed
by a festive Oneg.
Pathfinder
Page 4
Solel’s Just Congrega"ons, LCU Work to Combat Gun Violence
CongregationSolelmemberMetaLevinrepresented
SolelanditsJustCongregation’sworktocombatgun
violenceduringaMarch2LakeCountyUnited(LCU)
meetingwithLakeCountySheriffMarkCurran,UndersheriffRaymondRoseandfourothertopstaffmembers.
BecauseofSolel’sresearchintogunviolence,itwas
addedtotheLCUagenda,whichalsoincludedconcerns
abouthandlinginmateswithmentalillness,aswellas
immigration.MetawasoneofsevenLCUrepresentativesatthemeeting.
CongregationSolelhasbeenanLCUmembersince
2007andhasbeenactiveonissuesthataffectpeople
inLakeCountyrangingfromeducationtoagingwith
dignity.WealsohavebeenapartofLCU’scollaborationwithsisterorganizationsinCook,DuPageandWill
countiesandthroughouttheChicagometropolitanarea.
TheSheriffandUndersheriffdiscussedthegunviolenceproblem,notingthattheyhadlearnedaboutthe
“smartgun”conceptduringIllinoisSheriff’sAssociationandIllinoisChiefsofPolicemeetings.Smartguns
usebiometricsorelectronicstoinsurethatnoone,but
thegun’sowner,can/irethem.Thereisanationwide
pushtoencouragelawenforcement,whichbuysan
estimated15percentofthegunssoldintheUnited
States,tomovetowardincludingsmartgunsintheir
arsenalsbyaskingvendorstoprovidethem.
SheriffCurranandUndersheriffRoseagreedtoconsiderthat,aswellastoattendorsendarepresentativeto
anupcomingsmartgundemonstrationbyaGerman
gunmanufacturer.IfnotforSolel’sJustCongregations
relationshipwithLCU,thisissuemightnothavebeena
partofthediscussion.Itwillcontinuetobeonthe
agendaforfuturemeetings.
Muchofthemeetingwastakenupwithaccesstocare
forthementallyill,manyofwhomendupincounty
jails.Oncereleased,however,theyoftenstoptaking
prescribedmedicationandendupbackinjailforone
reasonoranother.Inmateswithadiagnosedmental
illnessgetaprescriptionfor10days’worthoftheir
medication,aswellasanappointmentwithamental
healthspecialistattheLakeCountyHealthDepartment
whentheyarereleased,butthereisnofollowupto
ensurethattheycontinuetotakethedrugsormeet
withcounselors.
Accesstomentalhealthcarewasoneofthebiggest
issuesraisedbylastyear’sLCU-LakeCountyHealth
Pathfinder
DepartmentjointAccesstoHealthcaresurvey,inwhich
Solelparticipated.LCUwasinvitedtosendarepresentativetotheSheriff’sMentalIllnessCommittee.
LCUrepresentativespraisedSheriffCurranforsigning
anamicusbriefinaUSSupremeCourtcaseregarding
immigration.Hewasoneofanumberoflawenforcementprofessionalsnationallytosignthebrief.LCU
representativesfromWaukegan’sGaryGrafCenter
(housedatMostBlessedTrinityChurch)askedhim
aboutprocedureswhenSheriff’sdeputieshavecontact
withundocumentedresidentsandagreedtofuture
meetingstodiscusstheissue.
Solel’sJustCongregationsinitiativecontinuestobean
activeparticipantinLCU.Formoreinformation,contactMetaL.Levinatmeta.levin@comcast.net.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015
Join us for a celebration in honor of
Rabbi Evan Moffic’s five years of service to
Congregation Solel
Shabbat Service
7:00 PM
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS BY:
The Solel Choir and Cantor Vicky Glikin
Original musical composition by Phil Orem
Past presidents of Solel
Recent graduates of Solel’s Religious School
Join us for a celebratory Oneg Shabbat
Page 5
Connuum Theater Presents
Paris Time
A play by Steven Peterson
Featured by the Chicago Jewish Play Reading Fes val, a
series of eight contemporary Jewish plays, read by professional actors in eight loca ons around the Chicago
area.
Sunday, April 12
at Congrega on Solel
Solel's acclaimed, second annual
birdwatching event will take place under
the skilled leadership of Donnie Dann,
on Monday May 11 at 7:00 am.
The group will meet at Fort Sherdan.
Come and let your spirit soar with the
birds!
Check in: 6:30 pm / Performance: 7:00 pm
Discussion led by Rabbi Ari Moffic &
Kosher refreshments following the show.
To see the full schedule of plays and to buy ckets:
Buy online: con nuumtheater.org
Order by phone: 800-838-3006 ext. 1
Please R.S.V.P. to Michelle Raz in the
office at soleloffice@solel.org.
American expatriates in current-day Paris live the dream
life - un l the synagogues burn once again. When
Debbie, the Jewish wife, tries to protect a French Jewish
employee at her gen le husband Charlie’s company,
both Charlie’s career and the couple’s marriage are jeopardized.
Hosted by Congrega"on Solel &
Interfaithfamily.com
an engaging and spirited service
featuring fresh and familiar melodies.
Join us on May 1 at 7:30 pm for an
evening of song and inspiration,
accompanied by Solel's own
instrumentalists and singers.
It's Shabbat....Let's Sing!
Pathfinder
Page 6
Rabbi Moffic
(Continued from page 1)
Huf/ingtonPostdetailedthejourneyofaJewishjournalistthroughanArabneighborhoodinParis.Hewas
spiton,followed,andinsulted.Ayoungchildeven
wonderedaloudifhewouldbekilled.
2.Welettheproblemfester: It was not always bad
for Jews in Europe. After the horrors of the Holocaust, many countries fostered stronger interfaith
relations and tried to eliminate the hateful rhetoric
that so often emanated from the Church. As late as
the 1990s, France had few anti-semitic incidents.
Since 2000 violent acts toward Jews have increased
/ive-fold. Last year more than 55% of violent acts of
racism in France were perpetuated against Jews, who
make up less than one percent of the population.
What happens if we continue to ignore it?
3.WeletthemajorityofMuslimssuffer: I have no
doubt most Arabs in Europe desire to live peacefully
with their Jewish neighbors. I have no doubt, however, that they live in fear. The most hateful voices are
also the loudest. And they also, sadly, emanate from
mosques.
Just like some ultra-right wing Orthodox settlers in
Israel can impede progress there, so hateful clerics
can shape the culture of Arab communities in Europe. The problem is not lack of jobs or social mobility. It is the hijacking of a religion, and we cannot stop
it unless we name it.
-RabbiEvanMof'ic
Lunch & Learn with at Solel
April 7 & 21 at noon
Downtown Lunch & Learn with
Rabbi Moffic
April 8 at noon
Our OneBook Solel selec"on for this
Spring is David Laskin’s
The Family
Three Journeys into the Heart of the
Tweneth Century.
In tracing the roots of his family,
Laskin captures the epic sweep of
the twen eth century. A century
and a half ago, a Torah scribe and
his wife raised six children in a
Jewish enclave at the western
fringe of the Russian empire. The
torrent of history took the
scribe’s family down three very
different roads. One branch immigrated to America and founded the fabulously
successful Maidenform Bra Company; another
went to Pales ne in the 1920s as pioneers and
par cipated in the conten ous birth of the state
of Israel; the third branch remained in Europe
and suffered the onslaught of the Nazi occupaon.
We hearly recommend that you read
this book before David Laskin’s visit.
Save the dates!
Join Rabbi Evan Mof/ic for these special
classes as he re/lects on events of both
Jewish and broader public interest.
OneBook Solel is par"cularly excited that Mr.
Laskin will be with us on Thursday, April 23 at
7:30 p.m. to offer insights into his and his
family’s Journeys.
Future Downtown L&L Dates:
May 6
June 3
On Sunday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. Rachel Kamin
will facilitate the book discussion.
Pathfinder
Page 7
Introducing Ashley Plotnick, Solel’s New Director of
Congrega"onal Learning
CongregationSoleltookakeysteplastmonthforits
ReligiousSchool,withtheappointmentofAshleyPlotnicktoserveinitsnewpositionasDirectorofCongregationalLearning.SheassumesherdutiesonJuly1,
2015.
“Ourschoolisaplacekidsandtheirfamilieswantto
be,”RabbiEvanMof/icsaid.“WebelieveinJudaismof
theheart,soulandmindandAshleyPlotnickistheidealpersontocarrythatvisionforward.Wearelucky
andexcitedtohaveherjoinourcommunity.”
AshleycomestoSolelwithbroadeducationalandadministrativeskills,aswellasexperiencethatuniquely
prepareshertotakeonthischallenge.Forthelast/ive
yearsshehasbeentheHebrewSchoolprincipalatCongregationBJBEinDeer/ield,whereshealsoservedas
AssistantEducationDirector,taughtclassesandserved
asaspiritualdirector.
Aftertakinganundergraduatedegree,withhonors,
fromIndianaUniversity(majorinJewishStudiesand
minorinHebrew),Plotnickcontinuedhereducation.
SheearnedgraduatedegreesinJewishStudies,EducationandSocialWork.Aswell,Plotnickhasexperience
workingwithpeople,rangingfrominfantstotheelderly.Herbackgroundalsoincludesstudiesinrabbinical
schoolandspiritualcounseling.
“Shehasagenuine,caringpersonalityforlearnersof
allagesandtypes,”RossErlebacher,co-chairofthe
searchcommitteeandapastVicePresidentforLifelonglearning,said.“Shewillhelpustoexploremore
waystoimproveandre-thinkoureducationalpractices
atSolel.”SusanKaden,VicePresidentfortheReligious
School,servedasthecommittee’sco-chair.
“WebelievethatAshleyPlotnickwillbeathoughtful
anddynamicmemberofCongregationSolel’ssenior
staff,takingonasigni/icantroleasweenvisionthefutureoflearninginourReligiousSchool,”saidSusan
Kaden.“Oursearchcommittee,”Susanadded,“learned
thatsheisempatheticaswellassensitivetotheneeds
ofalllearners.Shepossessesawell-documentedskill
setforcommunicatingwithourparentsandourteachers.”
Thesearchcommittee--formedlatein2014--alsoincludedKathyKeyser,ArtKessler,SharaLieberman,Jeff
Schrimmer,CarolSchweidel,LisaWassermanandBill
Zucker.Ex-of/iciomembersincludedLauraFrisch,who
grewupatSolel,isateacherintheReligiousSchool
andacongregant;AllanLitwack,Solel’sExecutiveDirector;JoshLowitz,ExecutiveVicePresident;Rabbi
EvanMof/icandCantorVickyGlikin.Inre-thinkingthe
congregation’sReligiousSchool,committeemembers
identi/iedthecriticalskillsandexperiencerequiredfor
thepositionofDirectorofCongregationalLife.
Solel‘sboardofdirectors,overseveralmonths,also
exploredthoroughlythefuturedirectionofourReligiousSchool.“Itisinthegreatspiritofourcongregationthatwecouldhavethisopen,ongoingdialog,”said
MichaelEbner,presidentofCongregationSolel.
“AshleyPlotnick’sappointmentrepresentsasigni/icant
benchmarkonthepathtowardprogressivechangein
ourReligiousSchool.”
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make the Women's Seder a tremendous
success! 90 women gathered together to celebrate, sing, dance, and stand up for domes"c
workers' rights. We are especially grateful to our lay leaders who helped to make the seder
a success:
Susan Altfeld, Andi Bogot, Ellen Diamond, Marcia Denberg, Phyllis Dolinko, Darryl Ebner,
Judy Eichner, Karen Finerman, Susan Fireside, Laura Frisch, Claire Golan, Judith Golden,
Elaine Haney, Anne Kleinerman, Nancy Kullman, Marliss Levin, Meta Levin, Marilyn Meyers,
Diane Resnick, Beth Sanchez, Gay Sigel, Cheryl Sussman, Sue Ulman
Pathfinder
Page 8
Pray ’n Play
Saturday, April 11
10:30 am
This isn’t your
ordinary Tot Shabbat!
Join other families with children 0-5 years
of age for a fun, interactive “Gymboree-style” Shabbat
program, featuring music, maracas, puppets, &
parachutes.
Followed by a complimentary bagel brunch and
playtime.
Older siblings are welcome to attend!
Come, sing, play, make friends!!
Saturday Mornings
10:30 am
May 9
Jewish Theater at Congregation Solel:
Ringing True, by Rebecca Joy Fletcher
Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 pm
Rebecca Joy Fletcher is a touring Jewish theater artist and
educator. She's done it again: created a provocative,
magical, and arresting new work of Jewish theater! Come
experience her show Ringing True first-hand, in this
in-progress presentation. The show is a mash-up, a mostly
true story of spiritual awakening involving a mysterious
Roma with a man's wedding ring, four rabbis from the
Talmud, and an anarchist lawyer on the streets of Paris.
With live, wonderfully eclectic music by longtime Chicago
musician Stuart Rosenberg and performed by a live band.
Come explore questions of blessings and cons, making big
choices, and the hidden connections between all things.
Defending against the
Anti-Israel Movement
on Campus
Be Prepared, Find your Voice
WHEN: April 14, 7:30 pm—8:30 pm
WHERE: Congregation B’nai Tikvah
1558 Wilmot Rd, Deerfield, IL 60015
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
High School Teens & Parents
MORE INFO:
Solel.org/SupportingIsraelonCampus
Solel Blood Drive
Sunday, May 10, 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Before the summer, do a mitzvah by saving a life
and participate in Solel’s blood drive! Nationwide,
someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
When you participate in the blood drive, you will
have the opportunity to join your fellow congregant donors for bagels and cream cheese, home
baked goodies and shmoozing.
Appointments can be made by contacting:
Diane Resnick at dnrphd@gmail.com or
(847) 926-8510.
This program is FREE to our community thanks to a
generous grant by the Wexner Foundation, and in
conjunction with Anshe Emet synagogue.
http://www.rebeccajoyfletcher.com/perfect/
Pathfinder
Page 9
Is Parkinson’s Disease Hereditary?
AsamemberoftheJewishcommunityinChicago,I’m
alwaysinterestedtolearnaswellastoshareideasand
opportunitiesthataffectusandourfamilies.Forexample,didyouknowthatabout10%ofallcasesofParkinson’sdisease(PD)aregeneticandthattheLRRK2gene
inparticularisthemostcommonknowngeneticcontributortoParkinson’sdiseaseknowntodate?Didyou
alsoknowthataLRRK2genemutationisfoundamong
15-20%ofParkinson’sdiseasepatientsofAshkenazi
Jewishancestry?
Whilethisnewsmaysurpriseyou,thereareseveral
importantfactsyoushouldknow.WhilehavingamutationintheLRRK2genecanincreaseyourchanceofdevelopingParkinson’sdisease,manypeoplewiththe
mutationwillnotgoontodevelopthedisease.The
LRRK2geneisthesubjectofintenseinvestigationby
Parkinson’sdiseaseresearchersaroundtheworldbecauseofitspotentialtoleadtomedicalbreakthroughs
forallpeoplewithPD,notjustthosewithagenetic
form.Further,thereareopportunitiesforpeopleinthe
Jewishcommunitytogetinvolvedinresearchthat
couldmakeadifferenceformillionsofpatientsworldwide.
Infact,overthepastdecade,studiesofthegeneticsof
Parkinson’sdiseasehaverevolutionizedthepursuitof
a“disease-modifyingtreatments”–medicationsand
interventionsthatcanpotentiallysloworstoptheprogressionofPD.Todate,nodisease-modifyingtreatmenthasbeendiscovered.Thiskindoftreatmentisthe
singlegreatestneedofParkinson’sdiseasepatients
today.Forthisreason,familiesofAshkenaziJewish
heritagethatcarryaLRRK2mutationhaveavitalrole
inresearch.
Onestudyinparticular,theParkinson’sProgression
MarkersInitiative(or,PPMIforshort)isseekingtounderstandwhytheLRRK2genecansometimesleadto
Parkinson’sdisease.PPMIisthelandmarkstudyofThe
MichaelJ.FoxFoundationforParkinson’sResearchand
istakingplaceat32clinicalsitesworldwide.Thegoal
ofPPMIistoidentifyindicatorsofPDprogressionthat
willultimatelyenableearlyandaccuratedetectionand
potentiallyhelpidentifynewandbettertreatmentsfor
futuregenerationsofpeoplewithParkinson’sdisease.
Today,PPMIneedsvolunteerstoparticipateinthe
study.
Pathfinder
Weareseekingindividualswhomeeteitherofthefollowingcriteria:
•
PeoplewithPDwhoareofAshkenaziJewish
ancestry
•
PeoplewithoutPDwhoarerelatedtosomeonewithPDANDwhoareofAshkenaziJewish
ancestry
BecausePPMIisanobservationalstudy,participants
donottakeanyexperimentaldrugorplacebo.Individualswhomeeteitheroftheabovecriteriamaybeeligibletoreceivegeneticcounselingandtestingatnocost,
andmayqualifytoparticipateinPPMI.Findouthow
youcangetinvolvedbyvisitingwww.michaeljfox.org/
ppmigeneticsorcalling(888)830-6299.
StudyingthegeneticsofParkinson’sdiseasecouldrevolutionizethedevelopmentofnewtreatmentsforpatientsworldwide.FamilieswhocarrytheLRRK2gene
playauniqueroleinpursuitofacure.Ihopeyou’lltake
thisuniqueopportunitytojoinforceswithJewishfamiliesworldwidewhoarecommittedtospeedingscienti/icprogressthatcantouchcountlesslives.
-DianeBreslow
dbreslow11@icloud.com
SAVE THE DATE
Film: The Long Way Home
Tuesday, April 21- 6:30 pm
Page 10
Mazel Tov to Olivia Figura on her Bat Mitzvah!
OliviaFigura,daughterofJodyFigura,willbecomeaBatMitzvahonApril25,2015.Sheisa7thgraderatBannockburnSchoolinBannockburn.Olivia’sfavoritehobbiesaredancingandvolunteeringatBernie’sBookBank.
Olivia'sTorahportionisTazriah-M’tzorah,fromtheBookofLeviticus.Olivia’sMitzvahprojectwashelpingtocollectchildren’sbooksforBernie’sBookBank.FromherMitzvahprojectOlivialearnedthatalotofkidsdon’thave
books,anditwasreallynicetogivetoandhelpkidswhodon’thavemuch.ThemostimportantlessonOlivia
learnedfromtheexperienceofbecomingaBatMitzvahisthatat/irstitseemsoverwhelmingbutintheendit
getseasier.ThegreatestchallengeshefacedinpreparingforherceremonywaspracticingandlearningherTorahportionandHaftarah.
Mazel Tov to Adele Lowitz on her Bat Mitzvah!
AdeleLowitz,daughterofRickiandJosh,willbecomeaBatMitzvahonApril18,
2015.Sheisa7thgraderatFrancisW.ParkerSchoolinChicago.Adelesingsinthe
ChicagoChildren’sChoirandisactiveinModelUN.Adele'sTorahportionis
Sh’minifromtheBookofLeviticus.FromherTorahportionAdelelearnedthatalthoughtherulesintheTorahmaybedif/iculttofollowattimes,allofthemgoback
toonetheme,gettinghumanstoahealthy,happyexistence.ForherMitzvahproject,AdeleisvolunteeringattheNorthAvenueDayNurseryandislearningthat
notallkidsareasfortunateasweare,butweareallalike.Themostimportant
lessonAdelelearnedfromtheexperienceofbecomingaBatMitzvahisthatalthoughshewillnotchangeovernight,shehasmanynewresponsibilities.The
greatestchallengeshefacedinpreparingforherservicewasmakingsenseofa
dif/icultTorahportion.
Pathfinder
Page 11
Pathfinder
Page 12
From Our President
(Continued from page 3)
congregantswhodonotdrivetoappointmentsorto
oursynagogue.Italsoministerstocongregantsenduringmedicalchallengesandthelike. TorahStudyandtheMinyan–EveryShabbatmorning,fromourgenesis,congregantsassemble.Some
studyTorahwithourclergy.Othersdaveninourlayledminyan.Inallofthiscongregantslearnfromone
another,and–equallyasimportant–theycometo
knowoneanother,formingheartfeltrelationshipsthat
insomeinstancesspanthebetterpartofanadultlifetime.
OneBookOneSolel–Weliveinanerawherecontemplativereadingisde-valued.ButItrustyouarenotsurprisedthatmanyinourcongregationsswimtheother
way.Thankstothedeliberationsofourindustrious
committee,thisyear’schoiceisDavidLaskin’sThe
Family(availableinpaperboundedition).Mr.Laskinwill
speakatCongregationSolelonThursday,April23at
7:30pm(noreservationsrequiredandFREEtoall
wishingtoattend.)Inviteyourneighbors,co-workers,
etc.ThenonSunday,April26at1:00pmtherewillbea
professionallymoderateddiscussionofMr.Laskin’s
book.
Corpsofushers–YoumayknowthatseatingisoccasionallyahotbuttonduringtheHighHolidays.The
congregationhasbeenservedbyloyalcongregants
graciouslyvolunteeringyearafteryear.Ourushers
sel/lesslyattendtospecial-needsseating,latearrivals
whoobjecttosittingintheout/ield,andmore.Theloyalushers–knowntomanyreaders–enableallofusto
achieveourdigni/iedandprayerfultone.
Membership–TheMembershipCommitteepursuesa
wide-rangingsetofinitiatives,especiallyduringthe
summertime“shopping”period.Relyingonsocialmedia,itreachesouttoprospectivecongregants,inviting
themtoattendworshipservicesandparticipatein
family-friendlysocialevents(e.g.,apoolparty,ChocolateShabbat,andthemuch-lovedend-of-summergreat
Solelcookout).Overthepasttwoyearsmorethan/ifty
householdshavebecomecongregantsthankstothis
greateffort.
CollegeCommittee–Ahandfulofhighly-motivated
congregants,alsoreliantonsocialmedia,maintaina
connectionwithourstudentsenrolledincollegeor
graduateschool.Atvaryingintervals–likethisweekas
Passoverapproaches–thestudentsreceivedwonderfulmessagesfromRabbiMof/icandCantorGlikin
(playingaguitarandinvitingtherecipientstojoinher
Pathfinder
insingingalong).Noneofthiswouldhappenwithout
thededicationofourcongregantswhodevotethemselvestomakingthishappen.
SocialJustice–Thiscongregationisblessedbyits
multi-generationalcorpsofdedicated,self-directed
congregants.This,too,hasverydeeproots.MostreadersofthePathfinderandShavu’onknowthatourcongregationengagesinanongoingandverysigni/icant
outreachroleinDeer/ield,HighlandPark,Highwood,
NorthChicago,andWaukegan.Yourcongregationdistinguishesitself–justasitdidduringthetumultofthe
1960s–because(toquoteDavidBrooks)–wecount
ourselvesaspresentyearafteryear,decadeafterdecade.WhenRev.MartinLutherKing,Jr.andRabbiAbrahamJoshuaHeschelmarchedinSelmaduringMarchof
1965,ourcongregantswerecountedamongthosepresentalongwithourRabbiArnoldJacobWolf.Andwhen
Dr.KingacceptedRabbiWolf’sinvitationtospeakat
CongregationSolel,hispresenceinourpulpitonJune
30,1966tacitlyacknowledgedourpresenceinSelma.
Ourdoorisopen.Yourpresenceinourcongregational
lifeiswarmlyencouraged.
-MichaelEbner
(847)275-7441
president@solel.org
Updating Your Solel Calendar with
Future Events in 2015
Sunday, May 3 at 11:30 am-12:00 pm: Religious
School program honoring Geoff Prass
Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 pm: Jewish
Theater with Rebecca Joy Fletcher
Friday, May 8 at 7:30 pm: Shabbat Service
honoring the Religious School teachers
Sunday, May 10 at 8:30 am-12:30 pm: Blood
Drive
Monday, May 11 at 7:00 am: Bird
Watching at Fort Sheridan
Friday, May 15 at 5:00 pm: Annual
Meeting & Dinner
Sunday, May 17 at 10:30 am: Rabbi
Moffic Book Discussion
Monday, May 18 at 7:00 pm: Rosh
Chodesh Sivan Celebration for Women
Sunday, June 14 at 4:00 pm: Kol Zimrah
Concert
Page 13
Thank You For Your Contribu"ons
Cantor’s Discre"onary Fund
Tribute Fund (con"nued)
SharonandMikeStein,inmemoryofAlisaBarskaya
Donald and Alice Schindel, inmemoryofHarry
Schindel
FredandBrendaTurner,inmemoryofAnneTurner
BarbaraVolin,inmemoryofNathanKarzen
JoanWeinberg,inhonorofMichaelWeinberg’s90 th
birthday
LaurenceandDeborahWilneff,inmemoryofJerome
Wilneff
JanandJerryWolf,inmemoryofHugoWolf
Capital Campaign
GailandLewSegal,inhonorofHaroldChizewer's75 th
birthday
Children’s Garden
PhyllisLoeff,inhonorofRabbiMof/ic's/iveyear
anniversaryinSolel'spulpitandinmemoryofAlisaBarskaya
andAlexHilkevich
MarilynandGaryMeyers,inhonorofRabbiMof/ic's
anniversaryinSolel'spulpit
As of March 30, 2015
Condolences to…
EmilyWallaceandherson,Kevin,onthepassingof
theirmotherandgrandmother,GladysKane
Educa"on Fund
SheldonandJackiChizewer,inhonorofHaroldChizewer's
75thbirthday
LindaCohen,inmemoryofGladysKane
Human Needs Fund
MichaelandDarrylEbner,inhonorofRabbiMof/ic's/ive
yearanniversaryinthepulpitofCongregationSolel
SueEllenKrause,incelebrationofJoanneBernstein's
birthday
NancyKullman,inmemoryofGladysKane
RoyandJanetLipner,inmemoryofGladysKane
SharonandMikeStein,inhonorofJoanGoldberg
Stock Transfers to
Congrega"on Solel
(New Loca"on)
Music Fund
LarryandSusanMason,inhonorofEdieSchwartz'sBat
Mitzvah
In order to make stock transfers from your
accounts to Congrega on Solel, the congrega on
works with Mesirow Financial, Inc.
Tribute Fund
GershenandSallyAbraham,inmemoryofSylviaAbraham
LawrenceandCarolAdelman,inmemoryofArthur
Adelman
HaroldandLindaChizewer,inhonorofHaroldChizewer's
birthday
HarveyandEllenCohen,inmemoryofAbrahamandLeah
Cohen
DianeGordon,inmemoryofHarryMednick
BruceandLaurenKaden,inmemoryofElsieKaden
DavidandArlineKallick,inmemoryofEstherandJack
Chizewer
JackandBetsyKarp,inmemoryofSeymourHolleb
JudyandGaryLeven,inmemoryofRichardMayer
JoelandAmyNeuman,inhonorofWarrenandJoanEagle's
anniversary
ToddyRichman,inmemoryofHugoMelvoin
JaniceRoss,inmemoryofSanfordRose
Pathfinder
Please Note: This is a NEW loca"on for giLing
stocks to Congrega"on Solel:
Mesirow Financial, Inc.
DTC# 0226
F/B/O NFS Account#WMP-002738
Congrega"on Solel
As always, your contribu ons to Congrega on Solel
are tax deduc ble to the extent allowed by law.
If there are any ques ons, please call Allan
Litwack, Execu ve Director, at (847) 433-3555,
ext 225.Thank you for your con nued support.
Page 14
4:15 pm Religious
School
6:30pmCon/irmation
7:00pmJust
Congregations
7:30pmSupporting
IsraelonCampus
21
12:00pmLunch&
Learn
4:15pmReligious
School
6:30pmFilm:TheLong
WayHome
7:00pmJewishWar
Veterans
13
9:30 am CurrentEvents
11:00amCurrentEvents
20
9:30 am CurrentEvents
11:00amCurrentEvents
27
12
9:00 amYouthChoir
Rehearsal
9:45amReligious
School
7:00pmTheaterat
Solel:ParisTime
19
9:15amExecutive
CommitteeMeeting
9:45amReligious
School
10:15amBoard
Meeting
7:00pmYomHashoah
Service
26
9:00amYouthChoir
9:30amCurrentEvents
Rehearsal
11:00amCurrentEvents
9:45amReligious
7:30pmChoirRehearsal
School
10:00amChallah
Baking
1:00pmOneBookBook
Discussion
14
7:00pmChoirRehearsal
NoReligiousSchool
4:15pmReligious
School
6:30pmCon/irmation
28
12:00pmLunch&
Learn
4:15pmReligious
School
6:30pmCon/irmation
7
6
5
Tue
Mon
Sun
10:00 am Joyce
Schrager'sShortStories
29
10:00amJoyce
Schrager'sShortStories
22YomHazikaron
10:00amJoyce
Schrager'sShortStories
15
10:00amJoyce
Schrager'sShortStories
12:00pmDowntown
Lunch&Learn
7:30pmReligious
SchoolCommittee
Meeting
8
30
7:30pmOneBook
DiscussionwithDavid
Laskin
23 YomHa’atzmaut
16 YomHashoah
9
2
1
10:00amJoyce
Schrager'sShortStories
Thu
Wed
April 2015
9:15 am TorahStudy
10:30 amOlivia
FiguraBatMitzvah
10:35 amMorning
Minyan
25
9:15amTorahStudy
10:30amAdele
LowitzBatMitzvah
10:35amMorning
Minyan
18
9:15amTorahStudy
10:30amPray‘n
Play
10:35amMorning
Minyan
11
9:15 am TorahStudy
10:35 am Morning
Minyan
4Pesach
Sat
3……….………..….…...…..........7:00pm
10…….……….…….……….……..7:08pm
17…....…...……..……....….…..…..7:15pm
24…….……………………...……...7:23pm
KindleShabbatCandles
atdinneroratthefollowingtimes(CDT):
7:30pmShabbat
EveningServicewith
GuestSpeakerErica
Friedlandfrom
AVODAH
24
6:30 pm3rdGrade
Dinner
7:30 pm3rdGrade
SiyyumHasefer
ShabbatService
17
10:30amYizkor
ServiceatLakeside
7:00pmRabbi
Mof/ic’s5th
AnniversaryatSolel
Celebration
10 Of>iceClosed
4:30pmMincha
TorahService
3FirstSeder
Fri
Shabbat Services Schedule
Friday, April 3
MinchaTorahService…..…………………….…...............4:30pm
Friday, April 17
3rdGradeDinner……………………………………..……....6:30pm
3rdGradeSiyyumHaseferShabbatService…….....7:30pm
Ki Tisa, Exod. 30:11-34:35
Saturday, April 4
TorahStudy…………………………………………………….9:15am
MorningMinyan…………………………….…..………….10:35am
Friday, April 10
YizkorServiceatLakeside……………………………..10:30am
RabbiMof/ic’s5thAnniversary&Service……….....7:00pm
Vayak’heil-P’kudei, Exod. 35:1-40:38
Saturday, April 11
TorahStudy……………………….………….....……...……....9:15am
Pray‘nPlay…………………………………………………....10:30am
MorningMinyan……………………………………………..10:35am
Vayikra, Lev. 1:1-5:26
Saturday, April 18
TorahStudy……………………………………...….………....9:15am
AdeleLowitzBatMitzvah…………………...………….10:30am
MorningMinyan………………………….….…...………...10:35am
Friday, April 24
ShabbatEveningServicewithGuestSpeakerErica
FriedlandfromAVODAH………………..……………...….6:15pm
Tzav, Lev. 6:1-8:36
Saturday, April 25
TorahStudy……………………………………….…..….….....9:15am
OliviaFiguraBatMitzvah………………………………..10:30am
MorningMinyan…………..……………….……….……....10:35am
Want to inquire more deeply into a passage after the Shabbat
service? Find the weekly parashot and commentaries at these links:
WeeklyD’var:http://urj.org/learning/torah/
or
http://www.reformjudaism.org/
ParashotSummaries:http://urj.org/learning/torah/summaries/
Many Paths. One Community
We are a spiritual home that engages our members and community in prayer,learning,andthepursuitof
socialjustice. We prize inclusiveness, innovation, and involvement inour programs, life cycle events,and
leadership.Everyonewhowalksintoourbuildingshouldfeelinspired,uplifted,andconnected.
Path/inder
1301ClaveyRoad•HighlandPark,IL60035
Phone:(847)433-3555•Fax:(847)433-3573
Rabbi’sStudy:(847)433-3708
ReligiousSchool:(847)433-3417
Email:solelof/ice@solel.org
Website:www.solel.org
Rabbi:RabbiEvanMof/ic(emof/ic@solel.org)
Cantor:CantorVickyGlikin(vglikin@solel.org)
ExecutiveDirector:AllanLitwack(allan@solel.org)
DirectorofEducation:GeoffreyPrass(geoff@solel.org)
President:MichaelEbner(president@solel.org)
RabbiEmeritus:RabbiDovTaylor(rabbit@solel.org)
PathinderDeadlineforSubmissions:
ThenextPathfinderwillbepublishedMay2015.
April15,2015
inorderforittoappearintheAprilPathfinder.