INSIDE THIS ISSUE Rabbi Melman’s Minutes ......................... 2 President’s Message ................................. 3 President’s Brunch ................................... 4 SIVAN/TAMMUZ 5781| JUNE/JULY 2021| VOLUME 92 ISSUE 62 CBS Happenings ....................................... 5 Religious School ................................... 6-8 Youth/Young Family Programming/ B’nai Mitzvah ......................................... 9 CBS U/ Adult Education/Programming .... 10-11 Sisterhood ......................................... 12-14 Men’s Club ............................................... 15 Keruv ........................................................ 16 Social Action ........................................... 17 Shabbat Mornings ................................... 18 Candle Lighting and Service Times ..... 19 Calendar ............................................. 20-21 Birthdays and Anniversaries .......... 22-23 Milestones ................................................ 24 CBS Highlights ........................................ 25 Donations .......................................... 26-27 Yahrzeits ............................................ 28-29 Ads ...................................................... 30-31 Graduation Shabbat ............................... 32 Rabbi ..................................................... Aaron Melman Senior Cantor ...................................... Steven Stoehr Assistant Rabbi .............................. Warner Ferratier Rabbi Emeritus ........................................ Carl Wolkin Executive Director ........................... Susan Karlinsky Director of Jewish Life and Learning ............................................... Leann Blue Director of Education ........................... Stacy Ybarra Director of Youth and Young Family Engagement……..Eric Golberg President ............................................. Tanya Solomon Sisterhood President .................... Robyn Rosengard Please join us in celebration as we honor Men’s Club President ........................... Steven Elisco USY President .................................... Ryan Eisenstadt Tanya and David Solomon Shalom Designer/Editor ............... Deanne Friedman Sunday, July 11th SHALOM INFO 11:00 AM Brunch Shalom is published monthly by Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Beth Shalom 3433 Walters, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-3298 for the exclusive use of its members and staff. All material contained herein is the property of Congregation Beth Shalom. Reservations Required See Page 4 for details JUNE/JULY 2021• VOLUME 92 ISSUE 62 RABBI MELMAN’S MINUTES Rabbi Melman I look back over the last year and wonder at times how we made it. The truth is, I don’t spend all that much time dwelling on what wasn’t and instead, focus my energies on what was! Those times when I do wonder how we made it to this point quickly fade when I realize what we have been able to accomplish as a community, as a family. The classes taught, the programming offered, the online and in-person gatherings, and the beginning of the return to greater normalcy with people in the Kamensky Sanctuary. Anyone that was in shul on Shabbat HaGadol and over Pesach will tell you how great it felt to be back – to be home. For me, it was incredibly emotional and moving, for at our core as a synagogue, we are a house of worship. Yes, people come for all sorts of reasons and I love that, but we must keep in mind that being together at sacred times in sacred spaces is at the heart of what we do and who we are. What is truly amazing is that even though we weren’t in person, and many still are not, we connected with each other through our online platforms via Live Stream, Zoom during the weekdays, and Facebook Live for our Havdalah at Home. We know connecting online is not quite the same – thank God we have had the technology to stay connected and see each other. Please know that we understand that not everyone is comfortable coming back in person at this point. We hope that anxiety will ease as we continue to move forward and ultimately beyond the pandemic. We will continue to abide by the State of Illinois protocols, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the CDC, and our COVID-19 Medical Task Force. I must take this time to thank the members of the Task Force – Dr. David Hakimian, Dr. Ari Jaffe, Dr. Alan Shapiro, and Dr. Lee Shulman, all who are also members of Congregation Beth Shalom. Their help and guidance has been invaluable. Ultimately, we want to have more people back in person – as many as our limitations on numbers will allow. We want more Jews in the pews! We want everyone to have that feeling of “being home”, as many have already felt. Summer will bring more opportunities for in-person outdoor events and services and we want to encourage everyone to attend as their comfort level allows. As we look ahead, we have already begun to plan for the High Holidays. Once again, things will be different. The most important detail is that we will be able to be back in-person in some way. While things may still change, we are planning on having services at both the main sanctuary at CBS as well as Wood Oaks. We hope to have two shifts for many of the services to allow for continued safety precautions while at the same time being able to accommodate all those who wish to attend in-person to be able to do so. We will maintain our online live streaming presence with updated cameras and a new sound system. This will offer those at home an even better viewing quality and will also allow us to run multiple services online at the same time. We promise more details shortly. Whether online or in-person, we will continue to connect and reconnect and maintain the excellence that we have all come to expect from Congregation Beth Shalom. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer and hope that you will be back at CBS in-person soon. 2 CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM • NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS • 847-498-4100 • WWW.BETHSHALOMNB.ORG FROM THE CONGREGATION PRESIDENT Tanya Solomon Serving as president of I would like to congratulate those who are joining or Congregation Beth Shalom has taking a new position on the Executive Board: been a true honor. I think back to Dr. Bob Spector when I first joined Beth Shalom. Susan Lampert My husband David and I were Randy Samborn “synagogue shopping”, trying to Bill Shulman find somewhere that felt comforta- Robyn Rosengard ble for both of us. We attended Suzy Hakimian services at CBS and were greeted Seth Schrank warmly by congregants and clergy Linda Foster alike. That is when we knew that this would be our home- it is so Howard Freidin true when we say that we are a large congregation with a small Jackie Zelkowitz feel. Dr. Andy Wagner When we sat in Harvey Gold’s office and signed in as Steve Lessman new members, he asked us what our vision of the future would be. I responded that I was hoping to become just a bit involved I would like to thank those who are leaving the Board once our kids were older. At that time, Matt was 2 and a half and for all your years of service: Mollie was a newborn. Harvey predicted that eventually I would Dan Sher become president. David and I both laughed, left the office, and Beth Sher went home, not expecting anything to come of that prediction. Myra Holman Little did we know. Dr. Rachel Laven This past year and a half has not been what any of us Jill Olefsky expected when I became president. The challenges we faced to Norm Padnos maintain our essential nature as a close and caring congregation Fern Roseman during this time have been immense. But I am proud to say that Steve Warshawsky we all pitched in together to make it work and to prepare for the Dr. Steven Zaacks Harry Zoberman resumption of normality soon. I cannot thank my family enough for their patience, understanding and cooperation over the past And I would like to thank those who are continuing their two years. I am continually amazed at the efforts of all the clergy, service on either the Board or Executive Board: staff, and lay leaders I have been fortunate enough to work with Howard Sigal during my term. I will have more to say about our clergy and staff Raymond Rokni in July, but for now I am focusing on our lay leaders. Marjorie Maxwell I would like to congratulate those who are joining (new Cheryl Braude and returning members) the Board of Trustees and I look Judy Balter forward to working with you: Rick Dissen Ari Footlik Harold Dembo Diana Lewis Jim Donenberg Karyn Liss Steven Elisco Bret Maxwell Hillary Elkins Wes Nissen Annie Goldman Neil Rosengard Ellen Grossman Jill Roter Joanna Kaplan Brad Shaps Andy Lebovitz Laura Shulman Roz Mokhtarian Jay Silver Leslie Rogoff Sara Weinstein Amy Offenbach Edna Schrank Being a lay leader here at CBS is a challenge. It requires Dr. Alan Shapiro commitment, patience, and time. While this work is not always Dan Sher easy, it is always extremely rewarding. The time and effort each Charlotte Stern of you devotes for the good of our CBS family is worth every Adam Weinstock effort and every minute. We could not live our mission together Alyssa Weisbach without your energy, ideas, and drive. Alan Zelkowitz Shalom and thank you to everyone, Tanya JUNE/JULY 2021• VOLUME 92 ISSUE 62 3 PRESIDENT’S BRUNCH 4 CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM • NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS • 847-498-4100 • WWW.BETHSHALOMNB.ORG CBS HAPPENINGS In-person Shabbat and Holiday Services Congregation Beth Shalom is open for most IN-PERSON Shabbat morning and holiday worship services.