CU Jewish Weekly Announcements
Friday, January 15, 2021
Candlelighting 1/15 at 4:34 pm • Shabbat ends 1/16 at 5:37 pm
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Save a Child’s Heart by Faye L. Lesht, CUJF Allocations Committee Member |
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I am honored to report on Save a Child's Heart (SACH). Prior to serving on the CUJF Allocations Committee, I did not know about this organization. Learning about SACH was a revelation. With CUJF funding, we pay to save the life of a child born with one or more heart defects. This is something most of us could not do on our own. Together we help SACH save a life.
SACH does not discriminate based on religion or country of origin, saving the lives of children from all over the world, mostly from undeveloped areas who, without the surgery, would die. SACH also saves Israeli children. In fact, the surgeries take place in Israel and children from other countries travel with a parent or guardian to Israel to spend at a month in Israel for pre-operative, surgery, and post-operative care.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regards Save a Child’s Heart as the "Jewel in the Crown of Diplomatic Relations."
As noted by Rabbi David Litwack, SACH’s U.S. Executive Director, “No other Israeli organization shows the humanitarian side of Israel better than SACH, which generates the most positive stories about Israel year in and year out in the global media.”
SACH’s new Israeli Children’s Hospital, the Wolfson Medical Center, will serve 10% of Israel’s children and house the Middle East’s first international pediatric cardiac care center.
During the 2019-2020 allocation cycle, CUJF donated $7500 to the organization. In essence, CUJF’s funds pay for one cardiac surgery. The entire process includes pre-op care, travel expenses (if necessary), and post-op care costing $15,000. The SACH organization budget is just under $3 million.
SACH was founded in 1996. CUJF has been a SACH donor since 2013. SACH has served between 250 and 400 children annually for the last 10 years.
Save a Child’s Heart has transformed pediatric cardiac care in developing countries. More recently, they train cardiac surgeons and medical teams from developing countries so that children can be operated on in their home country, saving many more children's lives.
The COVID-19 pandemic shut SACH down for a couple months in spring 2020. Sadly, several children died due to lack of care during that time. SACH is now back to full operation.
Words cannot convey the impact of SACH on these sick children, their parents, and the societies from which they come. CUJF should be proud of our support of SACH. Please look at this short video for more of a glimpse into this remarkable organization.
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Jewish Summer Camps 2021
Jewish summer camp is a wonderful social and educational opportunity for our Champaign-Urbana students.
Why send your child to overnight summer camp?
Camp is fun and educational! There are many activities like arts and crafts, sports, music, outdoor adventure, hiking, and more! Campers learn new skills and gain new interests.
Jewish summer camp helps campers to strengthen their own Jewish identity and helps them to feel part of the larger Jewish community. Campers make friendships that can last a lifetime. This connection to their Jewish identity not only benefits the campers and their families, but is important to the community at large. A child with a memorable Jewish camp experience is more likely to grow into an adult who values their Jewish heritage, supports Jewish causes, and takes on leadership roles in their communities.
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Illini Chabad Upcoming Course:
Journey of the Soul
February 3 - March 10
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Who hasn’t wondered what happens when we die? We know what happens to the body. But what happens to the soul at birth and again at death? Is there really a “better” place after this one? Do our loved ones continue to connect with us? Can I relate to an afterlife if I’m not spiritual?
At once practical and powerful, reflective and relatable, Journey of the Soul teaches a Jewish perspective on life that begins before birth and lasts well after a person’s passing. It’s a journey we all take, and it’s yours to explore this winter.
We thank the CUJF for their financial partnership in making this possible!
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Concert Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, January 16
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On Saturday evening, January 16, at 7:00 pm CT, Sinai Temple will join with several other congregations throughout North America to offer a live-streamed concert with the musical group The Afro-Semitic Experience. The Afro-Semitic Experience is a band of African-American and Jewish-American musicians who are dedicated to preserving, promoting and expanding the cultural and musical heritage of the Jewish and African Diaspora. The January 16 concert will honor and celebrate the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The group is planning a thoughtfully curated program that includes music from the Civil Rights era, Dr. King's favorite gospel songs and original songs centered around the themes of peace, unity and community.
A Q&A session with the band will follow the concert.
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Sinai Temple Adult Education 2021
Monday at 10:00 am and Thursday at 12:00 pm
For the week of January 18, we will have no class on Monday due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. On Thursday, January 21, we will explore Dr. King's "Letters from a Birmingham Jail."
We maintain an archive of all Adult Education sessions for those who are unable to attend them live. They can be found by clicking here:
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Hope and Dignity:
Ray Spooner’s End of Life Story
By Rae Spooner
January 28, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM CT
"My husband, Ray, who died from ALS in 2016, exemplified how to live while dying. Ray was first diagnosed with ALS in December 2014. At an early appointment with his neurologist, he knew what was on his bucket list. His list included a Bar Mitzvah, spending more time with family, and a bike ride across the United States to raise money and build awareness for ALS. In fact, my husband’s story made national headlines in October of 2015 when he set out to ride across the nation from San Diego, CA, to St. Augustine, FL.
My husband kicked off the 3,095-mile cycling trip by dipping the rear wheel of his bike into the Pacific Ocean on October 18, 2015. Unfortunately, Ray fell on the fifth day of his journey and could not continue his ride due to multiple injuries. Through his blog (Rayslittleride.com), he encouraged people around the world to complete the miles he was unable to ride. People took up the call by donating enough ridden miles to “go to the moon” and raised over $57,000 for research for a cure of ALS. Back home, in hospice, we planned for Ray’s last day. We were able to invite family to say goodbye and express their love for Ray. The hospice team kept Ray comfortable at home in his last moments of life and ensured he had the calm death he hoped for. Ray died peacefully on August 8, 2016, surrounded by his family. Ray’s story helps us all to think about issues that we will face at the end of our lives. Ray allowed me and our family to face the challenges of a terminal illness with grace and acceptance. Ray taught all of us how to live while dying.
Faced with the prospect of our own mortality because of COVID-19, this is a good time to revisit Ray’s story. Please join me in watching a short documentary about Ray’s life and death."
Rae Spooner is a retired special education teacher from who lives in Urbana, Illinois, and continues to tell Ray’s story.
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Social Justice Film Series
The films stream in groups of 3 over the following days:
January 17-19 & January 24-February 6
This January, the JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival is back with our second virtual Social Justice Film Series. Our kickoff to 2021 is comprised of six highly compelling films, most with pre-recorded Q&As available following the film to view at your leisure. This series focuses on antisemitism, human rights, the Holocaust, and issues impacting people who are differently abled to explore, educate, inform and ignite important conversation.
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Free Chair Yoga Class
RESTORE: Chair Yoga and Mindfulness with Robin
Robin is a certified Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga instructor and has practiced and studied a variety of styles of yoga for 40 years. She also participated in the UI Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy course. She has a passion for promoting health and wellness and teaches chair yoga throughout the CU area.
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You are invited to the upcoming exercise program hosted by CJE SeniorLife
Otago® is a once-a-week online exercise program designed for those age 60 and older that meets for 8-weeks!
The overall goals of the program are:
- to help you improve and/or maintain your mobility and independence
- reduce the chance of falling
- socialize with other people interested in doing the same
Starting on January 4th, classes will be offered online via Zoom or telephone on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You can choose to attend 1, 2, or all 3 days! Each class will meet from 2:00-2:30pm.
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Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation seeks to represent a variety of views and opinions on subjects of interest to the extremely diverse and well-educated community of which it is a part. The events announced and the views presented do not necessarily represent the opinion of CUJF, its officers, board, or members of the Champaign-Urbana Jewish community.
Your support helps us continue our mission to serve the Jewish Community! Please send donations and land mail to CUJF's mailing address: Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, 503 E. John St., Champaign, IL 61820.
To be removed from the CUJF Jewish Community Announcement email list, click on the unsubscribe link below or send your request to [email protected] or 217.367.9872
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. . . and remember - together we do extraordinary things! |
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