INSIDE THIS ISSUE Ticket Pick-Up/Yom Beth Shalom......... 2 President’s Message .................................. 3 Cantor’s Notes .......................................... 4 Services Under the Sky ............................ 5 Religious School ......................................... 6 B’nai Mitzvah/Young Family ................ 7-8 CBS U/ Adult Education/Programming ........ 8-9 Sisterhood .......................................... 10-11 Men’s Club ............................................... 12 Library ....................................................... 13 Social Action ............................................ 14 CBS Happenings ............................... 15-17 See What’s Happening @ CBS ........... 18 Birthdays & Anniversaries .................... 19 Calendar ............................................. 20-21 Milestones ................................................ 22 Yahrzeits ................................................... 23 Donations ........................................... 24-25 Ads ....................................................... 26-27 Candle Lighting & Service Times ........ 28
Head Rabbi ......................................... Aaron Melman Senior Cantor ..................................... Steven Stoehr Rabbi .................................................. David Chapman Rabbi Emeritus....................................... Carl Wolkin Executive Director ............................Michael Garlin Director of Jewish Life and Learning .............................................. Leann Blue Director of Communications ....Deanne Friedman Controller ......................................... Susan Karlinsky Director of Education .......................... Stacy Ybarra President ................................................. Bob Spector Sisterhood President ..................... Jackie Zelkowtiz Men’s Club Co-Presidents.... Dr. Andrew Wagner & Steven Lessman USY President ......................................... Dylan Adler Shalom Designer/Editor...............Deanne Friedman
SHALOM INFO Shalom is published monthly by Congregation Beth Shalom, 3433 Walters, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-3298 for the exclusive use of its members and staff. All material contained herein is the property of Congregation Beth Shalom.
AUGUST 2022• VOLUME 103 ISSUE 73
AV/ELUL 5782 | AUGUST 2022| VOLUME 103 ISSUE 73
RABBI MELMAN’S MINUTES Many will remember, and most have seen, the iconic poster of Uncle Sam pointing his finger forward with the caption, “I Want You,” used to recruit for World War I. The message might have been about the Army however, I have that same image in mind when it comes to Congregation Beth Shalom. I Want You…Here! I recognize that not everyone is comfortable coming back in the building yet and I hope and pray that it will change soon. Many have a sense of longing for being in the building, being here in person, and I want to encourage everyone to come on in! We have followed protocols and made it as safe as possible to attend services, classes, and other programs. All that is missing is more people. I am thrilled to look out and see the 50-60 wonderful congregants who are here on Shabbat. I love that we have a minyan most mornings and evenings during the week. But I won’t lie. I long for the days when we had 125-150 congregants in the Kamensky Sanctuary on Shabbatot, even when there are no B’nai Mitzvah. I miss the days when we sat in one of the social halls or the Winter Garden and shared Torah and text with 30 or more people. I hope that Rabbi Melman
as we enter a new synagogue year and approach a new Jewish year, those who have been uncomfortable up to this point will see that discomfort ease or let us know ways that we can help in that effort. To make an obvious statement, the world has changed in the past two and a half years and so too has our synagogue. We have shared constantly the need to adapt and change and see a new path forward. Yes, change is hard, but it is necessary. When people or institutions don’t adapt and grow, we get stagnant and stale. We become irrelevant, and nobody wants that. There is much work to be done as we continue to define what a new and changing synagogue world looks like. It is an opportunity for Congregation Beth Shalom to redefine who we are, what we do and what our community represents. I am not talking about major change, I am referring to making sure that we adapt, within the parameters of Conservative Judaism, to meet the needs of each and every member of Beth Shalom. In order to determine what your needs are, I am going to host a series of listening groups over the next several months – think of them as a town hall. These groups will be organized by different age demographics and will be designed for me to hear what is on your mind. I want to know what we, as a community, and I, as your Rabbi, can do for you to truly make this a Jewish home for you. More information will follow so please keep an eye out. Hearing from you truly matters to me. My hope is to take our great congregation and make it even better – and I need you to make that happen! I look forward to seeing you over the coming months, sharing and learning together.
