INSIDE THIS ISSUE Rabbi Averbach’s Revelations ................ 2 President’s Message/Welcome Rabbi Ferratier ....................................... 3 Stoehr Aufruf ............................................. 4 Daniel Silva ................................................. 5 SIVAN /TAMMUZ 5779 | JUNE/JULY 2019 • VOLUME 72 ISSUE 42 Q&A/CBS Staff........................................... 6 Helene Hoffman Concert ....................... 7 RABBI MELMAN’S MINUTES Shavuot/Shabbat at CBS .......................... 8 B’nai Mitzvah .............................................. 9 The summer is a Thousand Oaks, CA, and if you are ever Religious School ...................................... 10 time of transition. in the Los Angeles area, make sure you Youth ......................................................... 11 As a child, I was stop by and say shalom to them. FUNdraising/CBS de Mayo………...12-13 excited to finish With Rabbi Averbach’s departure we Sisterhood ................................................. 14 one grade in welcome Rabbi Warner Ferratier and Men’s Club/Young Family Chavurot .. 15 school, look for- his husband Luis. We are incredibly ex- Adult Education/Programming............. 16 ward to overnight cited to welcome them into our family Services Under The Sky ........................ 17 camp, and look and our home. Cantor Stoehr and I Social Action/Book Chats ..................... 18 forward to starting a new chapter of my look forward to creating a new dynamic Keruv Korner .......................................... 19 life at summer’s end. with Rabbi Ferratier and are excited Birthdays/Anniversaries ................... 20-21 Four years ago, I transitioned physi- about the Torah he will teach and the Candle Lighting & Service Times ........ 22 cally from one office to another and families’ lives of which he will become a Milestones ................................................. 23 changed roles to become the spiritual part. Rabbi Ferratier brings with him Donations ........................................... 24-25 head of our Beth Shalom family. In addi- tremendous experience and knowledge Yahrzeits ............................................. 26-27 tion, we had the immense privilege and and I know we will all benefit from hav- See What’s Happening @ CBS….28-29 pleasure to welcome into our commu- ing him as a part of our clergy. I hope Ads ........................................................ 30-31 nity Rabbi Ari, Vanessa and Paige Aver- you will all join me in warmly Live Streaming ......................................... 32 bach. Over the last four years, while welcoming Rabbi Ferratier and Luis and Rabbi Averbach has grown in his rabbin- if you have not yet had the chance to Rabbi ................................................... Aaron Melman ate, his family has grown as well and we meet them, I hope you will take ad- Cantor .................................................. Steven Stoehr had the good fortune to fall in love with vantage of the opportunity to do so. Assistant Rabbi ..................................... Ari Averbach Shai and Isaiah. This year, we also transition from one Executive Director ............................ Michael Garlin We have been blessed with having synagogue president to the next. We Director of Jewish Life & Learning ................................................. Leann Blue Rabbi Averbach as are appreciative for everything that Director of Education .......................... Stacy Ybarra part of our Debbie Solomon has done for our con- Ritual Director ............. Cantor Raquel P. Gershon community. The gregation over the last two years and Director of Youth relationships he we welcome Tanya Solomon (no rela- & Young Family Engagement ……… Eric Golberg has made, the fam- tion – although I suppose we all go back Controller ......................................... Susan Karlinsky ilies he has served, and the Torah he to Adam and Eve) and look forward to President ......................................... Debbie Solomon has taught will not be forgotten. The all that Tanya will “bring to the table” Sisterhood President ..........................Leatte Gelfeld wisdom he has brought to our clergy to help lead us forward. Men’s Club President ................................. Dan Sher USY President .............................. Rebecca Jacobson team has allowed us to serve the mem- I hope that as we transition from one Rabbi Emeritus .......................................Carl Wolkin bers of our congregation extremely synagogue year to the next, we will all Shalom Designer/Ediitor ............. Deanne Friedman well and we will miss his voice. take time to decompress, enjoy the We have a tradition that we don’t say warmth of summer, and look forward shalom, goodbye, when someone leaves. to another year of learning, growing, We say l’hitraot, see you soon. We are and sharing together as a family. SHALOM INFO Shalom is published monthly by sad to lose the Averbachs but no doubt Congregation Beth Shalom, their family is grateful to have them 3433 Walters, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-3298 for the exclusive use of its members and staff. All material back home. We wish them all nothing contained herein is the property of but the best of luck at Etz Chaim in Congregation Beth Shalom. MAY 2019 • VOLUME 72 ISSUE 42 RABBI AVERBACH’S REVELATIONS Rabbi Averbach I remember a moment us do. The only thing I am certain of here is that I am during my interview weekend eternally grateful that this holy community took me in here, looking out the window and gave my career a start. on the north side of the I have loved teaching Torah here, whether in a Winter Garden, and spotting a class, from the pulpit, or in my office. I have had the shrub just outside. It had a great honor to stand with so many families under the plaque dedicated to the hard chuppah, to sit bedside with congregants who were work of Harvey Gold (z”l). It unwell, to cry with members of the community at registered as barely a passing moments of significant loss, to bestow Hebrew names glance, one of the countless things I was trying to take upon babies and to bless children for B’nai Mitzvah as in during that long weekend, until I met Harvey in they become recognized as adults in our community. person. He truly shaped this community over his 42 The idea that you would open up your homes, years of service as Executive Director. What an hon- your hearts, your arms to me and my family is no or to get to know him. Not long after I began my small thing, and I treasure every one of those work here, Harvey succumbed to his cancer, a real moments. Vanessa, Paige, Shai, and even Isaiah will blow to our CBS family, though every day I feel we always know the kindness of this community, and I are reminded of his presence in some way. hope those friendships continue, despite the distance. Last week, while looking out the window of There is a song lyric I heard recently that the Winter Garden yet again, I was amazed at how keeps ringing in my head: “If I leave you it doesn’t large the shrub had become, how it was still thriving, mean I love you any less. Keep me in your heart for a probably fifteen feet high. And I noticed a small bird’s while.” We will definitely keep all of you in our hearts. nest resting in the top branches, how beautiful and For those who would like to stay in contact poetic. Even when we are no longer here, we contin- with me, my email address will be ue to grow, our presence is still felt, and it still gives [email protected]. I hope to life and shelter to those in need. I can only hope that have many visitors out west! my legacy is a fraction of Harvey’s – one that contin- ues after I am gone, a foundation providing those in need with a safe place to build a future. Dr. Oliver Sacks (z”l) wrote the following in an article four years ago, and while the context is very different, I feel it rings true here as well. “I cannot pretend I am without fear. But my predominant feel- ing is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved.” I don’t know exactly what lies ahead for me – none of President’s Brunch In Honor of Debbie and Gary Solomon Sunday, June 23, 2019 11:00 am Brunch Congregation Beth Shalom Couvert $54 per person Raffle tickets available: 1 for $10 or 3 for $25 Kindly respond by June 3, 2019 2 Congregaon Beth Shalom • NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS • 847-498-4100 • WWW.BETHSHALOMNB.ORG FROM THE CONGREGATION PRESIDENT Debbie Solomon Out of all the things of my presidency, writing a bulletin article has been the most challenging. Writing is not my forte and I struggled with what to share. I wanted to be enlightening, yet give important information about Beth Shalom. So here I struggle with my last article and while I’m glad to be done, it also comes with a bittersweet feeling. This means my presidency is almost done. While it’s time for me to be done and refocus on other parts of my life, I will truly miss this job. It certainly isn’t always easy, but it is extremely rewarding. I enjoy being on the bimah on Shabbat and sharing special occasions with congregants. I enjoy seeing all the things that we accomplished, some very large and visible, and others small yet impactful, and know that we are making a difference in people’s lives. There is so much that goes on “behind the scenes” and all is done with our congregants needs in mind. I have enjoyed leading our CBS family alongside our clergy and staff. My Executive Board is filled with amazing leaders who have made me look good and my job easier. They are invaluable. The Past Presidents and Board of Trustees are both bodies in whom I trust to help lead our synagogue to bigger and better things. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead with all of you. This was a joint effort and I appreciate all that I learned from each and every one of you. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. Debbie A few words from our new CBS Assistant Rabbi, Warner Ferratier: “From the moment we set foot into CBS, we were able to sense the warm, family- style atmosphere.