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Weekly News
July 5, 2023 / 16th of Tamuz, 5783
Parashat Pinchas: Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
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Depending on your email provider, long messages like our newsletter sometimes get cut off. If that happens, you'll see a message at the end that says something like:
Message Clipped: View The Entire Message. Be sure to click the link to view the whole newsletter.
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10 More Days to Lock-In Last Year's Rates for Kehillah, JRC's Religious School for Tots Through Teens
Our 2023-2024 membership commitment form is open. Renew by July 15 and enroll in Kehillah to lock-in last year's school rates!
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If you've been considering membership and feel that now is the time, email Micky. She is happy to help set up your account so you can have access to our commitment form. mbaer@jrctogether.org.
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Tot Shabbat, Learn About Kehillah, and Meet Our New Education Director, Lauren Reeves!
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Shabbat Littles at the Lakefront
Friday, July 7
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Elliot Park, (Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton St) Evanston
Shabbat Littles at the Lakefront, led by Cantor Howard Friedland is a nature-filled Shabbat experience for 0-5 year olds and their grownups. Join us for this joyful mix of liturgy and fun! Wear your comfy clothes, get on the ground to sing and dance. This week we are excited to welcome JRC's new Education Director, Lauren Reeves.
JRC's Shabbat celebration is perfect for those who call JRC home and for those seeking a Jewish community.
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Explore Kehillah, JRC's Learning Community for Tots - Teens!
Friday, July 7
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Pizza Picnic Provided by JRC!
Elliot Park, (Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton St) Evanston
Kehillah, JRC's Reconstructionist learning community for tots through teens, provides engaging and meaningful educational opportunities and experiences for students of all ages, and encourages curiosity and exploration to keep Judaism relevant and alive.
Kids and their families are invited to experience the joy of Kehillah, with a creative program exploring one aspect of Shabbat.
On July 7, children can make their own beeswax candles to use at home on Shabbat. Geared towards children ages 5-13 and their grownups. A knowledgable Kehillah teacher will be available to share information and answer questions about Kehillah, JRC's Learning Community for Tots - Teens.
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Our Lakefront Shabbat service will follow the programs listed above from 7-8pm. All are welcome. No registration necessary for any lakefront program.
Elliot Park, (Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton Street) Evanston
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Lakefront Shabbat with Cantor Howard and Leah Shoshana
Friday, July 7
Bring a picnic dinner from 6-7 pm
Enjoy Shabbat service and singing from 7-8 pm
Elliot Park, (Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton Street) Evanston
Join Cantor Howard Friedland and JRC Song Leader, Leah Shoshana for a peaceful evening filled with joy and song! This week, our D'var Torah Teacher will be JRC Member, Andrew Segall. Our relaxed, camp-like service is a lovely, welcoming space for both long-time members and those who are exploring our community for the first time, so invite your friends! Bring your blankets and chairs before services and enjoy a picnic dinner.
Services will be livestreamed on the JRC Facebook Page for those preferring to join us virtually.
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Upcoming Lakefront Shabbat Dates:
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Friday, July 14
Bringing Camp to the Lakefront
6pm - 7pm: Picnic Dinner
7pm - 8pm: Service Leaders and D'var Torah Teachers, Camp Havaya Alum
Friday, July 21
Lakefront Shabbat
6pm - 7pm: Picnic Dinner
7pm - 8pm: Service led by Cantor Howard Friedland and Rebecca Lapat with D'var Torah Teacher, Debi Lewis
Friday, July 28
Jammin at the Lakefront
6pm - 7pm: Picnic Dinner
7pm - 8pm: Service led by Cantor Howard Friedland and Jammin with JRC Members with D'var Torah Teacher, Kim Moldofsky
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Multi-Access Lay-Led Minyan
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Multi-Access Shabbat Shaharit Minyan with Potluck Oneg
Saturday, July 8
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
At JRC and via Zoom
Potluck Oneg to follow service on JRC patio or ECC, weather depending
Join the JRC Minyan in-person or remotely for Shabbat Shaharit (morning services) this Saturday. This service lasts about 90 minutes and includes the opportunity for Mourners' Kaddish and Healing Prayers as well as chat time after the service. We are so very excited to connect those in the room with those on Zoom for our interactive multi-access Shabbat Minyan. Carol Friedman and Darlene Grossman will co-lead the service and Linda Mathias-Kaskel will be the Zoom Gabbai.
The roles of Torah Reader and D'var Giver are still needed for this week's Shabbat Minyan. Sign up for a role here.
Zoom Link:
Meeting ID: 880 5387 3162
Password: 183672
Call-In: 312-626-6799 (Chicago)
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Join Your JRC Community at July Festivals Beginning this Weekend!
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Square Roots Festival
Saturday, July 8 & Sunday, July 9
Noon - 5:00 pm
Lincoln Square
4400-4560 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Square Roots brings together the best of Lincoln Square, Chicago, and beyond, with live music, family fun, local restaurants, and vendors, and the best craft beer showcase of any Chicago street fest.
JRC is participating with an activity station in the Kid Zone at Square Roots. Children can decorate their own bookmarks with watercolors and Jewish inspired quotes about the value of reading. Hope to see you there!
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Evanston Pride LGBTQIA+ Community Picnic
Saturday, July 29
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ridgeville Park
Ridge Avenue and South Blvd, Evanston
Evanston Pride helps amplify LGBTQIA+ voices, and educate the broader Evanston community on LGBTQIA+ issues and needs.
JRC will have a table to celebrate Evanston’s LGBTQIA+ community, and invite community members to learn about JRC. Our table will include a cool craft station where children can decorate their own bookmarks with watercolors and Jewish inspired quotes about the value of reading.
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JRC Book Group: Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Sunday, July 9
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Location provided upon sending RSVP
Join the engaging conversation with your JRC community! JRC’s Book Group meets on the second Sunday of every month over Zoom. All are welcome!
Please RSVP to receive the address of the book group's meeting place to Jill Berkeley.
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Early Childhood Playgroup
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Meet New Friends this Summer!
Saturday, July 15
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
JRC Early Childhood Center
Beat the heat outside and join other families with kiddos ages 0 - Kindergarten for a summer playgroup. Stop by JRC's Early Childhood Center anytime between 10:00 am and noon to take advantage of all the cool climbing equipment and fun toys. All are invited and welcome! Please contact Beth Kaskel with any questions.
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The Joint Israel Commission of Reconstructing Judaism Presents: What's Happening in Israel with Rabbi Amy Klein
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Learn About Israel's Situation On-the-Ground
Sunday, July 23
12:00 pm
Via Zoom
The Joint Israel Commission of Reconstructing Judaism is offering an important online opportunity for people across our movement to hear from Rabbi Amy Klein, a Reconstructionist Rabbi who has lived and worked in Israel for many years. A former chair of Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel, Rabbi Klein is the co-coordinator of the Upper Galilee/Golan/Kinneret region for the ongoing protest movement in defense of Israeli democracy.
Learn about Rabbi Amy’s involvement on-the-ground in various movements for a democratic Israel and for human rights for Palestinians and Israelis alike. A moderated Q&A will follow the program.
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Erev Tisha b'Av Service with Cantor Howard Friedland
Wednesday, July 26
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
JRC Small Sanctuary and via Zoom
Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, marks a historic and contemporary destruction of home, community and society. Our text is Lamentations, which cries in the voice of the bereft, "how could this happen?"
Join Cantor Howard Friedland as we gather at night to let ourselves feel the mournful feelings of our time. Using the voices of Lamentations, we sing together.
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What Would You Like to Learn About with JRC?
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The Dream & Plan Team Wants to Hear From You!
We need YOUR ideas to help shape JRC programs that are interesting, fun, introspective or even esoteric!
Everything is on the table! What do you want to learn about? Ideas could center around learning and spirituality, such as study of Jewish texts or learning more about Reconstructing Judaism and the prayers the we use. Or maybe something reflective and practical, such as a series on managing grief and loss. How about something more social like learning or teaching how to bake a yummy Jewish dish? Or even a fun game night once a month!?
We want to hear from you! Please email your ideas ideas to Marie Davidson.
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Kehillah is Different! Find Out Why...
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Register by July 15 and Lock-In Last Year's Kehillah Rates
Saturday mornings at JRC combine observance, learning, and community. While our Pre-K through 6th graders have regularly scheduled learning, our 7th graders can be found attending the Brit Mitzvah services of their peers along with congregants of all ages. Kehillah supports learners of all abilities in cultivating joy, curiosity, and resilience through exploration of sacred practices and values. Our Shabbat-based program is infused with a joyful spirit, allowing us to experience Shabbat together as a multi-generational community.
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Kehillah Early Childhood Programming
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We are committed to offering year-long opportunities for families with young children to forge connections and build community. Programs include weekly Adult-Tot classes (on weekdays and Shabbat), 3 – 5 year old drop-off Kehillah class, Littles at the Lakefront, Tot-Shabbat, plus intergenerational and family programs that bring Jewish stories to life through immersive theater and imaginative play.
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Creative High Holiday Planning: Join the Team!
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High Holiday Planning
As Rabbi Rachel is on sabbatical, JRC members will create and plan many of the elements of High Holidays that we love: the English creative readings, poetry, and reflections. If you are interested in helping to choose poetry or other elements that enhance our liturgy and complement our prayers, we need you! Have a favorite reading? Bring it!
Email Marie Davidson to join the team, which will gather over the summer to give input and find inspiration from writers, thinkers, and poets that move us and enhance our Days of Awe.
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Hands of Peace In Need of Host Families
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Host a Teen. Change a Life.
Chicago Summer Program
July 12-31, 2023
Hands of Peace, a program JRC has long supported, is in need of a few more host families to welcome our Israeli and Palestinian participants coming to engage in a peace building program.
Hands of Peace is a nonprofit organization that empowers American, Israeli, and
Palestinian youth to become agents of change. With more than 750 alumni worldwide,
participants learn conflict resolution skills, engage in professionally-facilitated dialogue
sessions, and build deep connections with fellow participants and their host families.
Host Families play an essential role during our three-week, dialogue-based Summer
Program. Apply to be a Host Family and provide a safe home-away-from-home for
our American, Israeli and Palestinian participants or staff!
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Summer Buy-In Party Blitz!
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JRC's Buy-In Parties, hosted by fellow JRC members, serve a dual purpose. Not only are they fun ways to connect with (or meet!) other members in a small group setting, doing fun activities, they are an extension of Gala, raising much needed funds for our congregation. There is still space in the party below. Join the fun!
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Friday, July 21
7:00 pm
Enjoy a summer dinner outdoors (or indoors, weather depending) on the Engelhardt/Stern deck. We'll host Shabbat dinner and welcome guests to taste the delights of vegetarian, vegan and fish dishes, and a seasonal dessert.
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Saturday, July 22
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Come to the Gratch's backyard and bring an indoor plant/s to swap for new ones. If you don't have any indoor plants, but would like one, you can come and learn some indoor plant care techniques from the expert (Joel--the trial and error expert) and take a new plant home. Iced tea, iced coffee, cold beverages and nibbles will be served
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Sunday, July 23
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Come hang out for an afternoon of music in the Moldofsky's garage. Brad will provide chords and lyrics on a big screen, and Joel will supply the snacks and beverages. Bring your instrument and/or voice and have fun making music together.
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We would love to share photos and details about the lovely memories made in community at JRC Buy-In Parties! Send your photos and a short description of your experience to JRC's Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Alison Stolberg.
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JRC Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
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With thoughtful consideration of the varied needs of our community, the unremitting complexity in the science, and our desire to help the maximum number of people feel welcome in our space, JRC has adopted a mask-optional protocol, while honoring requests for accommodations including required masking at specific events.
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If you need an accommodation to fully participate please contact JRC Executive Director, Micky Baer at mbaer@jrctogether.org or on her cell: 847-409-1432.
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Wednesday, July 5
Thursday, July 6
Via Zoom or Possibly in-person at JRC- Check calendar for updated information
Zoom Link:
Meeting ID: 897 8977 3296
Passcode: 405397
Call In: 312-626-6799 US (Chicago)
JRC Main Sanctuary
Friday, July 7
Elliot Park, Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton Street, Evanston
Elliot Park, Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton Street, Evanston
Elliot Park, Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton Street, Evanston
Elliot Park, Lakeshore Blvd at Hamilton Street, Evanston
Saturday, July 8
JRC Small Sanctuary and via Zoom
Lincoln Square, 4400-4560 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Sunday, July 9
Please RSVP to receive the address of the book group's meeting place to Jill Berkeley: jbb652@comcast.net.
Lincoln Square, 4400-4560 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Monday, July 10
Tuesday, July 11
Via Zoom
Wednesday, July 12
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JRC is a diverse, participatory, and sacred community dedicated to a daring, deeply-rooted Judaism.
JRC relies on fundraising to support 20% of our operating budget.
Please consider a donation today.
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The weekly announcements feature events hosted at or sponsored by JRC, approximately two weeks in advance or less. Announcements are sent out on Wednesdays and items to add should be submitted no later than 5pm Monday.
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Jewish
Reconstructionist Congregation
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