INSIDE THIS ISSUE President’s Message.................................. 2 Hineynu ....................................................... 3 Cantor’s Notes.......................................... 4 Chanukah .................................................... 5 50th Anniversary ....................................... 5 Diversity Weekend .................................. 8 Israel in Depth ........................................... 9 Youth/Young Family Programming….10 B’nai Mitzvah ............................................ 11 School ........................................................ 12 Social Action ............................................ 13 CBS U/Adult Education ......................... 14 Programming/HAZAK ........................... 15 Sisterhood........................................... 16-17 Men’s Club ................................................ 18 Library........................................................ 19 Service Times ........................................... 20 CBS in the City ........................................ 21 Birthdays/Anniversaries ................... 22-23 Milestones ................................................. 24 Donations ........................................... 25-27 Yahrzeits ............................................. 28-29 Ads ........................................................ 30-31
Rabbi ................................................... Aaron Melman Cantor .................................................. Steven Stoehr Assistant Rabbi ..................................... Ari Averbach Executive Director ............................ Michael Garlin Director of Jewish Life & Learning ................................................. Leann Blue Director of Education .......................... Stacy Ybarra Ritual Director ............. Cantor Raquel P. Gershon Director of Youth Activities................ Matt Rissien Controller ......................................... Susan Karlinsky President ......................................... Debbie Solomon Sisterhood President..........................Leatte Gelfeld Men’s Club President ................................. Dan Sher USY President ................................ David Zelkowitz
Rabbi Emeritus .......................................Carl Wolkin Executive Director Emeritus .................................... Harvey Gold, FSA z’l Director of Education Emeritus ................... Rabbi Sander J. Mussman, RJE
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.
DECEMER 2017/JANUARY 2018 • VOLUME 57 ISSUE 27
RABBI MELMAN’S MINUTES I am a huge cycling fan. I know it may be hard to believe, but I did a little bit of racing when I was younger. I vividly remember my first metric century, a 100km ride I did with my dad when I was in my middle teens. Even more than riding, watching a bicycle race on TV or better yet, live, was always thrilling. My dad and I went to countless races and my dad, for a few years, helped organize a race through the Canadian Cycling Museum and Hall of Fame. I met my childhood racing heroes, Steve Bauer and Curt Harnett and watched them race while standing next to their families. Those names may not be familiar to those of you reading this but I had posters of them on my bedroom wall. Although my racing time is way in the rearview mirror, my love of cycling has not diminished one bit. The sport has certainly suffered over the years with drug and doping scandals but thankfully, I believe, has made a strong comeback. Each year I eagerly await the races known as the “Classics,” one day races like the ParisRoubaix, nicknamed the “Hell of the North.” And of course, nothing beats the Grand Tours, the Giro D’Italia, the Veulta Espania, and the most well-known, the Tour de France. These races are multi-stage races over a three-week period. If, by this point, you are asking yourself, why is the Rabbi giving us a cycling history lesson and what does that have to do with Judaism? You would be asking great questions. Not too long ago, it was announced that, for the first time in history, a Grand Tour will start outside of Europe. This year’s Giro D’Italia will make an historic start in Israel. In fact, the first stage will take place in Jerusalem. The second stage will run from Haifa to Tel Aviv and the third from Be’ersheva to Eilat. What’s more interesting is that this race always begins on a Saturday – but not this year. With the opening stage in the holy city of Jerusalem, out of respect for Shabbat, they will start one day early. I must tell you that when I first read this news I thought it was a joke. Why in the world, I thought, would a Grand Tour start in Israel? I mean, as a fan of the sport and as a Jew I love it,
DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018• VOLUME 57 ISSUE 27
but I didn’t get it. And then when I heard it was to start in Jerusalem and end at the Vatican I knew it was special. But there is another aspect of this special start that is important to know and understand. The opening stage will allow the race to pay homage to the great Italian cyclist, Gino Bartali, winner of the Giro four times and the Tour de France three times. Perhaps some of you have read the book Road to Valor, the story about his amazing life. In 2013, thirteen years after Bartali’s death, he was recognized by Yad Vashem as “Righteous Among the Nations.” Bartali earned respect for his work in helping Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazis during the time of the Italian Social Republic. It was revealed in December 2010 that Bartali had hidden a Jewish family in his cellar and, according to one of the survivors, by doing so, saved their lives. Bartali used his fame to carry messages and documents to the Italian Resistance. He cycled from Florence through Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche, sometimes traveling as far away as Rome, all the while wearing the racing jersey emblazoned with his name. Neither the Fascist police nor the German troops risked discontent by arresting him. Bartali had also used his fame to help. He would help by taking forged documents and needed photographs of those they were trying to save. Bartali used to leave Florence in the morning, pretending to train, ride to a convent in which the Jews were hiding, collect their photographs and ride back to those who could make forged documents. Bartali also used his position to learn about raids on safe houses. Bartali was eventually taken to Villa Triste in Florence. The SD and the Italian RSS questioned Bartali, threatening his life. Bartali simply answered, “I do what I feel [in my heart]”. Bartali continued working with the Assisi Underground. In 1943, he led Jewish refugees towards the Swiss Alps himself. He cycled, pulling a wagon with a secret compartment, telling patrols it was just part of his training. Bartali told his son Andrea only that “One does these things and then that's that”. The start of the 2018 Giro D’Italia will be incredibly special. It will be spectacular to watch the race start in Jerusalem, and it will be extraordinary for the race to honor an Italian racing hero who risked his life to save our brothers and sisters.