December 1, 2022

7 Kislev, 5783

L’Dor V’dor – Help us be here for the Next Generation

As a nonprofit organization, Chicago Loop Synagogue relies on donations year after year to keep our organization going. Our ultra-low annual dues only support a portion of our budget each year, and even though we raise additional funds thru our High Holiday appeal, fundraising concerts, and other donation requests, it is still not enough for us to accomplish our goals. As the end of the calendar year approaches, many of us start to think about financial and tax planning.

There are several ways you can support Chicago Loop Synagogue right now, and they can be used to pay dues, your High Holiday pledge, or make a general donation. Please ask your financial advisors if any of these options are good for your personal situation.

• Gift of Appreciated Stock - If you own shares of a company that has appreciated in value, you may benefit from donating the appreciated shares to Chicago Loop Synagogue. We sell the shares upon receipt and you do not have to pay any capital gains tax on these shares.

• Donor Advised Fund -Take advantage of tax benefits by establishing a Donor Advised Fund through organizations such as the Jewish United Fund (JUF)/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America among many others. Once your fund is established, you can ask your fund manager to donate to Chicago Loop Synagogue. This is a great way to engage family members of all ages in your philanthropy goals.

• IRA Required Minimum Distributions - You may be able to lower your annual taxable income by making Chicago Loop Synagogue the charitable recipient of your Required Minimum Distribution. Ask your tax advisor if you qualify and direct your retirement fund manager to make the distribution payable to Chicago Loop Synagogue.

• Planned Giving -You can name Chicago Loop Synagogue as a beneficiary on your Retirement account or Life Insurance policy. Please consider a percentage share of the account to support us.

• Bequests - Take time to update your will and trusts and consider adding Chicago Loop Synagogue as a beneficiary. Leaving a legacy at Chicago Loop Synagogue could reduce your family’s tax burden. There may be other tax benefits too, depending on your personal situation.

• Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust - These are tax-advantaged ways to continue to earn income on your investments during your lifetime and to benefit Chicago Loop Synagogue once you are gone. These complex documents require legal and tax advice.

We are committed to educating and encouraging our congregants to give now and in the future, so we can be here to support the next generation of Judaism in downtown Chicago.

Need additional information? Call your tax or legal advisor, call the synagogue office at (312) 346-7370 or click here.

For flight assistance, please click here.

Our itinerary can be found by clicking here.

To read more about the trip or to reserve your spot, click here.

Egalitarian Minyan and Chanukah Party!

Friday, December 23, 2022

6:00 PM

Join us as we put the spirit in spiritual with our Egalitarian Shabbat service featuring joy, energy and soul. The Egalitarian Minyan will be at 6 PM (hybrid on Zoom and live in person),

A Shabbat Chanukah party will follow. We will have dinner, latkes, entertainment and more.

Cost is $36 to attend.

More information to come.

To RSVP, please click here.

Downtown during the week? 

Join our Shacharit Minyanim!

Shacharit services are at 8:05 AM Monday through Friday (7:45 for Rosh Chodesh) and 9:30 AM on Saturday. If you want to daven in our world-famous sanctuary, inspired by our beautiful three-story stained-glass window, please join us!

RSVPs required; visitors must show identification when registering.



Masks are optional.

For those who are driving, due to construction there is no parking in front of our building on Clark Street, so please allow extra time to arrive. If street parking isn’t available elsewhere, remember that we have discounted parking at the Washington-Madison-Wells Garage at 172 W. Madison.

For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Next Week's Service Schedule

Reservations required for all services

Yahrzeits

Click here for yahrzeits being observed in the month of Kislev.

Need Chanukah Candles or a Menorah?

If you need a menorah or Chanukah Candles, we can handle that for you. We have candles available for $5 a box and menorahs for $10 each.

To make a purchase or if you have any questions, please contact our office at (312) 346-7370 or click here.

Vilt ir Lernen Yiddish is back and ready for you to join us!

Weekly Classes

Beginners Class with Congregation Beth Shalom Wednesdays at 12:00 PM - Next Class - Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Advanced Class at 1:00 PM on Thursdays - Next Class - Thursday, December 1, 2022

The cost for the new semester (8 classes) is $100. Click here to register.

Instructor: Eyshe Beirich - A third-year graduate student in the University of Chicago majoring in Germanic Studies and Jewish Studies, Beirich intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Yiddish Studies—extending an academic path that began two years ago as a journey of familial discovery. Join us as we explore Yiddish together!

To learn more about Eyshe, click here.

A new semester has begun. 

 

Class requirements: 

·        Attend class regularly

·        Practice a little bit of Yiddish each day (light homework)

If you have any questions, please contact Cary Wolovick by clicking here.

To RSVP, click here.

The Discussion

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

5:30 PM

Express yourself in “The Discussion,” a lay-led zoom group that will examine an article and critique it.

We will discuss the article from Tablet Magazine: "Inventing the Crypto King: How the media created the myth of Sam Bankman-Fried" by Ashley Rindberg.

To read the article, click here.

To RSVP, click here.

Synagogue Members Only - Notice of Annual Meeting of General Membership

The Annual Meeting of the Members of the Chicago Loop Synagogue will be held on Zoom on

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

6:00 PM

The term of office for the following Directors will expire on December 31, 2021, and the following will stand for election for the term of 3 years - January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025:

Herbert Berg

Gary Wigoda

Additional nominations may be made by written petition signed by no less than 100 members of the congregation who are in good standing. A petition for additional nominations must be filed with the Recording Secretary prior to the date of the election.

To RSVP, click here.

Brunch and Learn with Renan Sugarman

Sunday, December 18, 2022

11:00 AM

Enjoy your Sunday morning lox, bagel and coffee virtually with Renan Sugarman via Zoom as he goes over the Torah portion of the week and other texts.

Classes meet one Sunday per month at 11 AM.

To RSVP, please click here.

Book Club Meeting - People Love Dead Jews by

Dara Horn

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

5:30 PM - Online via Zoom

Zoom link will be provided to those who register.

Please RSVP by emailing [email protected]. 

Wik-Tea – The Israeli Legislative Elections

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

5:30 PM

Have you ever found yourself looking at Wikipedia for hours on end? Ever find an article you want to talk about with someone? Now here is your chance! Join our new discussion group, Wik-Tea and chat with us!

Our next article will be the "2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup Bids."

To read the article, click here.

To RSVP, click here.

Egalitarian Minyan and Chanukah Party!

Friday, December 23, 2022

6:00 PM