Advertise in the CBS Newsletter Monthly Ad rates Contact Sue Prousa Size Monthly [email protected] Half Page $72 or 630-961-1818 Quarter page $36 Please send payment made out to Eighth page $18 Congregation Beth Shalom to: Congregation Beth Shalom (Attention Newsletter Editor) 772 W. 5th Avenue Naperville, IL 60563 Staff Rabbi Marc Rudolph - [email protected] Cantor Hasha Musha Perman - [email protected] Education and Early Learning Director: Barbara Bernstein- [email protected] Facilities and Office Manager: Sue Prousa – [email protected] Secretary: Dorothy Battle – [email protected] Custodial support: Maureen Brown Inside this issue From the editor .............................................................................................................. 4 From The Desk Of The Rabbi ..................................................................................... 5 Genetic Education and Screening Program .............................................................. 6 It’s time to start planning for sukkot! ........................................................................... 6 New Early Learning Center Director .......................................................................... 6 A note from our cantor ............................................................................................... 10 Religious School News .............................................................................................. 13 JUF Right Start Grant ................................................................................................. 14 Darshei Shalom (formerly DSP) Greeter Program Needs Volunteers ................ 14 Letter from Jēkabpils .................................................................................................. 14 Mazel Tov to Alex Morris ........................................................................................... 14 In the Wink of an Eye ................................................................................................. 15 B’nai mitzvah projects ................................................................................................ 17 Chai Lights August Event .......................................................................................... 17 Join Hadassah and come hear local author Luis Alberto Urrea ........................... 18 Renewal of Spirit ......................................................................................................... 19 Notice to members from CBS Cemetery Committee ............................................. 19 Library news ................................................................................................................ 20 Israeli Dance Group .................................................................................................... 21 ParnossahWorksChicago: A New Employment Website for Personalized Job Assistance ............................................................................................................ 22 Ongoing Programs and Activities ............................................................................. 23 CBS Communication Guidelines and Deadlines .................................................... 25 Calendar of Key Events in August ............................................................................ 26 Donations ..................................................................................................................... 27 Make a Donation ......................................................................................................... 28 In Memory .................................................................................................................... 29 Board of Directors and Committees ......................................................................... 30 From the editor August is back to school month. Time to re-focus on reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. It’s important to remember that learning about the world and being an active participant in our world are two different things. A lot of book knowledge doesn’t help repair the world unless it is put to use. I was recently reminded of this at a workshop I was conducting on using data. The workshop was for a Catholic health system in Colorado. They start all meetings with a reflection. My host chose the following poem to put the day’s learning about data into context: Before a Calculator Lord, help me to remember that behind Each number there is a face and Precious life that is seeking our assistance. As my fingers spread over these numbers and symbols I pray, May the burdens of poverty and illness be subtracted, May healing be added to health care, May the divisions among us be few, And may the grace of God be multiplied In all our endeavors. Amen -Rene Campagna This month’s Kehilat kaKodesh focused on balancing knowledge with good deeds. May what we learn be instrumental in our efforts to repair our world. Brad Kolar, Editor Kehilat haKadosh, August, 2014 4 From The Desk Of The found out the hard way that we are what we do, not just what we Rabbi think.” Fulgham thus provides us with another reason why “study” Some Thoughts on Learning and precedes “doing” in the Torah. The purpose of study is to put ones Doing knowledge into practice, to transfer our thoughts into actions for This month’s Kehilat kaKodesh our benefit and the benefit of others. In Pirke Avot, Rabbi Ishmael focused on balancing knowledge with privileges those who study in order to do, over those who study in good deeds. Maimonides writes order to teach. “One who learns Torah in order to teach, is not about the connection between given the opportunity to learn or to teach,” says Rabbi Ishmael. achieving knowledge and doing good deeds in his Mishne Torah. He “One who learns in order to do is given the opportunity to learn, to cites the verse in our parasha this week (Deut. 5:1) which enjoins us teach, to observe and to do.” to “study them [the mitzvoth] and keep them in order to do them”. Maimonides is attentive to the order of the words in this verse. He notes that here, as in other places in scripture, the word “study” always precedes the word “do”. The order is always to “study and do” never “do and study”. Here the Torah is teaching us an important lesson, according to the RamBam. Knowledge of what is expected of us, the mitzvoth, should lead us to proper behavior in the world. Proper behavior, however, does not necessarily lead to greater knowledge. One should never say, “Now that I am educated and have committed my life to the ways of Torah, I no longer need to study.” There is always more to learn. “An ignoramus cannot be a righteous person,” say the sages. Thirty five years ago Robert Fulghum published a book that became an international best-seller. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Fulghum notes that all of the basic knowledge we need in life – how to get along with one another, how to stay healthy and flourish in the world, that life is to be cherished, for it is limited – one learns in kindergarten. “Once we are told about these things,” writes Fulgham, reflecting later in life on this insight, “we soon discover we are taking a lab course. We are going to be asked to try and practice these precepts every day. Knowledge is meaningful only if it is reflected in action. The human race has Kehilat haKadosh, August, 2014 5 Genetic Education and Screening Program New Early Learning Center Director The Center for Jewish Genetics is offering an education, counseling Please welcome Peggy Kolar as and subsidized carrier screening program via live webinar, from the the new Director of the convenience of your own home! Through the Center’s new Congregation Beth Shalom Early webinar format, you will have two opportunities a month to Learning Center. Peggy brings to participate in the program. The Center is proud to offer an the CBS ELC many years of expanded panel of more than nineteen disorders, including Tay- experience as a teacher at the Sachs disease, Gaucher disease and Cystic Fibrosis. Pre-registration ELC. Her passion for teaching our is required and will take about five minutes; please visit preschoolers will translate into www.jewishgenetics.org/register to sign up and learn more. continuing the growth of our program through increased marketing and outreach efforts, and continual improvement to our It is especially important for couples who are planning on having curriculum, training and communication. Peggy plans to continue children to educate themselves about genetic testing and its the mission of the ELC in bringing a play-based education with benefits. Jewish content to our community. Welcome Peg in this new role! It’s time to start planning for sukkot! A big "todah rabah"-- thank you to Barbara Bernstein, who worked as ELC Director in the transition this past year. Barbara returns to We will again be offering for sale her full-time position, leading our school age children's program as branches for your home our CBS Education Director. This year a preschool Sunday school succah. The cost is $18 per bundle class is offered to CBS member families, and enrollment is still open and it takes approximately 2 to 3 for that. bundles to cover a standard succah. The deadline for ordering We look forward to a great year for our families at the ELC and in branches is August 10. CBS' Religious School. Enjoy the rest of your summer. We are also offering the sale of lulav and etrogs. The cost for the set