Homecoming 5 Kislev, 5774
This Week at CJHS
November 8, 2013
Men's Basketball Takes 4th in Memphis
Cooper Invitational Upset Open House HaOlam Shelanu AIPAC Delegates Spirit Week Save the Date Alumni in the News Parents in the News USCJ Scholar in Residence STAND UPdate Alumni Trivia A Taste of Torah It's a real homecoming week for our men's basketball team, returning from the Cooper Invitational tournament in Memphis finishing as 4th place in the first tier. Shmuel Meir Perl reports from
Save the Date Friday, Nov. 15 Saturday, Nov. 16 All-School Shabbaton in the City Sunday, Nov. 17Wednesday, Nov. 20 Panim Trip (juniors) Monday, Nov. 18 PLAN Test (sophomores) Friday, Nov. 22 No Classes: Professional Day Wednesday, Nov. 27 1:15 Dismissal
Memphis, "With star guard Josh Newlander out with an injury, the rest of the Tigers needed to pick up the slack, and Hillel Schwartz answered the call with a drive and a layup to give the Tigers an early lead." Despite a steller performance by all the players, CJ lost 61-50 in the semifinals Saturday night to the North Shore Hebrew Academy Stars of Great Neck. Sunday's face-off with the Ramaz Rams of Manhattan fared much the same. "CJHS started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run behind Josh Silverman and Avidan Halivni. Hillel Schwartz converted on a three point play to cut the lead to thirteen. With four minutes remaining in the fourth, a Josh Silverman three cut the lead to thirteen, but a wide open layup by Ramaz player Bennet Epstein sealed the game and a third place finish for the Rams. The final score was 76-60 Ramaz, and the high scorer for CJ was Josh Silverman with 14."
Open House
Thursday, Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Break: No School Friday, Nov. 29 Thanksgiving Break: No School
P.O. Corner The CJHS Parent Organization also invites you to contribute to our annual Faculty and Staff Hanukkah Gift Fund Checks must be received by Thursday, November 21, but are welcome sooner. Suggested contribution is $18 per student, though any amount is greatly appreciated! Please send cash or check made out to "CJHS PO" to the CJHS main office in an envelope labeled: CJHS PO Hanukkah Fund with your student(s) name(s). Contact AnneMcDonagh@comcast.net. Interested in getting involved in the PO? Drop us a note at po@cjhs.org. The P.O. is pleased to offer the gift card "Gelt" program. This program is designed to help families earn money toward their children's junior year Panim program and/or the Senior Israel Experience. Faculty and staff can also buy Gelt to support programs provided for the school by the P.O. By buying things you ordinarily purchase anyway, you can earn money which will be credited to your family or class for designated school trips. Contact Sheri Sandrof at ssandrof@cjhs.org or call her at 847.324.3723.
CJHS welcomed 50 families on Sunday for its newly revamped Open House. They came from 19 different schools throughout the suburbs and Chicago. This diverse group of families was treated to an interactive and informative program which kicked off with a pizza lunch and Students Activity Fair showcasing the many exciting and diverse co-curricular opportunities offered at CJHS. A special message from our travelling basketball team was filmed and shared with our guests at the end of the Activities Fair. Parents and students were treated to separate programs during the next portion of the afternoon. Parents participated in small group question and answer sessions, while their sons and daughters were part of a panel discussion which addressed the most commonly asked questions by incoming students. Current CJHS faculty, parents and students, as well as alumni shared their expertise and enthusiasm to ensure both programs were successful.
Community News and Events Thanksgiving Catering from a CJHS Alum Too busy to cook this year? Let chef Avram Pachter ('06) of Highland Park cater your family feast. Circle of Life catering operates out of North Suburban Beth El in Highland Park. Click here for his full menu and order forms.
MILITARY VETERANS: Meet the Jewish War Veterans of the USA North Shore Post 29 is among the Midwest's most active. It is important the broad community know of Jewish US military service. We provide absorbing presentations and discussions on military and Jewish topics, and opportunity to share service lessons and assist veterans. Americans who are vets from other military forces are welcome as associates. We have monthly gatherings, a speakers' bureau, many other activities. Contact 847.579.0740 or email maz439@gmail.com JWVpost29@yahoo.com.
College Visits CJHS is pleased to welcome representatives from the following schools this season:
College Date Michigan State 11/11/13 University 3:30 PM Virginia 11/12/13 Commonwealth 10:52 University AM Harvard 11/14/13 University 3:30 PM Midreshet Ein 12/2/13
Parents and children joined together for the final formal part of the afternoon, the classroom visits. Every subject area was introduced by a teacher and highlighted by current students who shared their personal memories from each class. Prospective families left not only with this year's trademark hooded CJHS sweatshirt, but also with a greater understanding of what makes Chicagoland Jewish High School so special. Many thanks to our parent ambassador committee, administration and faculty for helping to highlight the numerous accomplishments of our school. A special thanks to our students who were the real stars of the day. It was their energy, creativity, and commitment to CJHS that best communicated what is so unique about our school. Applications are arriving daily--don't delay in getting yours in! Any applications received on or before December 16 will qualify for a $500 discount. Click here to begin the process.
2013-2014 Student Newspaper
Cross country is awesome; standardized tests less so. What's the deal
Hanatziv 3:30 PM Yeshivat Maale 12/2/13 Gilboa 3:30 PM
with super-extended tefillah, and what's up with the wifi? HaOlam Shelanu, the CJHS newspaper, is up and running! Head on over to http://www.haolamshelanu.org/ for the first edition of the fall news!
AIPAC Sponsor Breakfast What's better than a birthday celebration with friends? Celebrate your student's birthday or other milestone with a special breakfast at CJHS. For a donation of $180 (10x chai), bagels, cream cheese, and orange juice will be served to everyone.
An announcement will be made in Tefillah and in the dining hall, and the occasion will also be listed in our weekly E-News and on the school announcement board. If you have any questions, please call 847.324.3713 or email idrazin@cjhs.org. Order forms are available online here.
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Lunch Menu 2013-2014 Dates
Welcome back from Washington D.C. to all our student lobbyists! Seniors Talia Canter, Ariel Efergan, Joe Kupferberg, Carly Rubin, Alana Spellman, Ari Spellman, and Marci Steinberg joined Rabbi Silver to represent CJHS at this past week's AIPAC convention, along with sophomore Matt Duhlberg, junior Larry Bender representing USY, and freshman Jonathan Liss representing BBYO. Rabbi Silver reports, "While CJHS has often had individuals go to the Schusterman High School Summit, this is the first year that we sent a delegation to the conference. We had the privilege of joining 400 students from across the country to learn the tools of lobbying for Israel and participating in the democratic process. The highlight was most certainly sitting in Representative Brad Schneider's office, seeing our students speak with such passion about their connection to the State of Israel."
Spirit Week
:: 847.470.6700
Is it true that Kleider machen Leute--that clothes maketh the man? Apparently so with CJHS Spirit Week, as hippies, Lady Liberties, and weirdos in ugly sweaters mixed with Pajama Day and Tiger Pride for yet another awesome costumed week. Tiger pride could be felt throughout the hallways and was especially roaring at our all-school pep rally on Thursday after school. We came together to recognize the accomplishments of our fall sports teams and wish good luck to our basketball teams as we head into the winter season. A grade level pie eating contest was the highlight of the afternoon, with each grade being represented by a faithful teacher willing to plunge into a bowl of whip cream to take home the title. The big homecoming dance will take place this Saturday night 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. Go Tigers!
Save the Date
Featuring the annual tug-of-war competition and game entertainment Saturday evening, November 30, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. There will be a suggested $10 donation at the door. Each entrance donation will include a free travel mug from the Roar Store! To play in the Alumni Basketball Game, sign up here. For any other questions, contact Tara Seymour at 847.423.5489.
Alumni in the News Yasher koach to Aaron Magid ('06) for his recent article in the Jewish Forward. Aaron takes on the U.N. Human Rights Council's partisan bias. Read all about it here.
Parents in the News Congratulations to CJHS parent Linda Wyetzner, who appeared on CBS News on Monday night representing her legal client, a whistle blower against a major pharmaceutical company. Watch the interview and read all about it here.
Alumni Trivia Hello, nurse! Which of our esteemed alumni has just returned to Chicago to work as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital?
Fall Art Show
Ms. Marla Snyder's studio art class presents their latest exhibit: Texting: A Study of Texture.
Thursday, November 14 4:30-6:30 p.m. Congregation Am Yisrael 4 Happ Rd., Northfield
USCJ Scholar in Residence CJHS and USCJ are delighted to welcome the dean of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem: Rabbi Joel Levy "Keeping Shabbat in the Desert: A Wilderness Story that Reveals Hidden Layers in the Theory and Practice of Shabbat" Thursday, November 21, 2013 7:00- 8:30 p.m. CJHS students and faculty will also be invited to hear Rabbi Levy in a special lunch-and learn on November 14 entitled, "An Eye for an Eye and Tooth for a Tooth - the Rabbinic Insistence on the Power to Thoroughly Re-read Difficult Texts."
STAND UPdate Shira Harris reports, "After an uprising of about two years, the Congolese M23 rebels surrendered on Tuesday November 5. The rebels announced a ceasefire and their plans to disarm and demobilize troops. The group's chairman, Bertrand Bisimwa, said that M23 had decided 'to pursue by purely political means the search for solutions to the root causes which led to its creation.' Mr. Bisimwa also explained that 'Commanders are requested to prepare the troops for the process of
disarmament, demobilization and social reintegration.' While there are several other armed groups in that area, the surrender of the M23 rebels provides hope for the surrounding areas with powerful rebel groups."
Alumni Trivia Rosie Kiken ('09) finished the four-year nursing program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has snagged one of the rare openings at St. Francis Hospital of Chicago. Rosie lives in the city and enjoys biking to work. Good for you, Rosie! Sponsored Breakfast Happy birthday to Hannah Given. Many thanks to her family for sponsoring bagels.
A Taste of Torah: Vayetze
I did not know it!"
Our parasha opens with angels setting the stage. Yaakov settles down for a rest and dreams about a ladder that reaches the heavens, with angels rising and descending on it. But as amazing as the event itself--one of the favorite Biblical scenes for painters of all eras--is Yaakov's response to it. We read in 28:16: Vayikatz Yaakov mishnato vayomer achen yesh Adonai bamakom hazeh vaanochi lo yadati. Then Yaakov leapt from his sleep! He then said, "Surely God is in this place and
The exclamation marks express the utter astonishment that Yaakov has upon awaking and understanding that God is physically present in that space. Rashi adds that Yaakov is even a bit embarrassed. After all, he settled down for a nap with God present!
But Yaakov's comment goes further than this, as well. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's central thesis about the Bible, that God is "in search of man" speaks loudly in this verse. Throughout the Torah, we continually find God in search of humanity, craving a relationship, engaging individuals and communities in a covenantal bond. God appears in various forms. Here in a dream. Elsewhere by a voice. As a pillar of fire in the night. And as a bush that is burning, but not consumed. For our modern purposes, Rabbi Heschel puts this in the context of conditioning ourselves to the world around us: There are two types of thinking; one that deals with concepts and one that deals with situations... Conceptual thinking is an act of reasoning; situational thinking involves an inner experience... Conceptual thinking is adequate when we are engaged in an effort to enhance our knowledge about the world. Situational thinking is necessary when we are engaged in an effort to understand issues on which we stake our very existence (God in Search of Man, 5). At its best, a life of mitzvot conditions individuals to this situational thinking about God's presence in the world. But also, this mode of encountering the world should be accompanied by a certain modesty, where we are unafraid to say that we are not clear about God's presence. Because there will be these times, as well. May Yaakov's encounter with God at Beit El serve as a model for all of us. --Rav Beit Sefer Zach Silver
Shabbat Shalom Candlelighting tonight will be at 4:20 p.m. Shabbat Shalom!