Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership | spertus.edu
December 2017–March 2018
News & Events
CRITICAL
CONVERSATIONS
Episode 1 Can We Talk? Inspired by Judaism’s embrace of passionate civil discourse, former Governors Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) and Mike Huckabee (R-AR) debate topics from gun rights to immigration reform | P6
A partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community Spertus Institute offers dynamic learning opportunities, rooted in Jewish wisdom and culture and open to all. Graduate programs and workshops train future leaders and engage individuals in exploration of Jewish life. Public programs include films, speakers, seminars, and concerts—at the Institute’s Michigan Avenue facility, in the Chicago suburbs, and online.
#610at10
Photo by Kendall McCaugherty © Hedrich Blessing
Happy tenth birthday to the iconic, award-winning, environmentally sustainable Spertus Institute building! Although it seems like yesterday, it has been ten years since Spertus Institute opened its new facility at 610 S. Michigan Avenue, unveiling its faceted window into the world of Jewish learning. This year we are celebrating in partnership with our colleagues and friends at Krueck + Sexton Architects, who are responsible for the building’s innovative design. Visit spertus.edu/610at10 for interviews with the architects and a gallery of photography and video (including our daredevil window-cleaners in action and Venue SIX10 events)!
Do you have photos of 610 that you’d like to share? Tag them #610at10 on your favorite social media and we’ll take it from there.
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.
Learning
Contents News Letter from Spertus President and CEO Dr. Hal M. Lewis | P4 Innovation and Collaboration Awards | P5
Leadership
Jim Joseph Foundation Grant | P5 Jewish Community Networking Night | P5 Building Bridges Between Israeli and North American Communities | P13 The Impact of Spertus Students and Alumni | P19 Jewish Learning for Adults | P21
Arts & Culture
Center for Jewish Leadership Annual Center for Jewish Leadership Symposium | 7 Certificate in Jewish Leadership | P15 Grant Writing Workshop | P15 Lay Leadership Academy | P17
Degree Programs MA in Jewish Professional Studies | P11
News
Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies | P12 Masters and Doctoral Programs in Jewish Studies | P20
Programs and Events Critical Conversations | P9 One Book | One Community | P23 Ground Level Arts Lab | Outside Inside: Exploring Boundaries and Otherness | P26 Ground Level Arts Lab | Todros Geller: Strange Worlds | P27 Ground Level Arts Lab | Ellen Rothenberg | P29
Resources
The Happiness Prayer | P25
Sunday Cinema | P31
Sponsorship, Support, and Membership Giving Tuesday | P32
Events
Send a Tribute | P32 Membership | P33
Calendar |
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Discount parking is available for $8 at Grant Park South Garage, 325 S. Michigan Avenue. The discount is good for 12 hours with Spertus validation. Beyond 12 hours, regular rates apply.
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Discount Parking
What do gender inequity and political incivility have in common? Letter from Dr. Hal M. Lewis What do gender inequity in the workplace and incivility in the political arena have in common? For starters, both are plaguing our society at unprecedented rates. And because both are having a particularly deleterious effect on the American Jewish community, Spertus has a special responsibility to shine a light on each of them. Inspired by our motto, Let there be light (from the opening chapter of the Torah), we will, over the next several months, focus first on the challenges of women in the nonprofit workplace and second, on the importance of maintaining robust political discourse without demonizing the “other side.” Dr. Hal M. Lewis
On Sunday, December 3, our Center for Jewish Leadership’s Annual Symposium will feature two of this country’s leading experts on closing the gender gap at work. While the speakers will concentrate on what nonprofit board members, donors, and professionals can do to achieve the equity our communal organizations purport to embrace, their presentations will have much broader resonance and will speak to corporate leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists as well. Despite the progress that has been made within some Jewish organizations over the years, when it comes to the challenges of Ending the Gender Gap and Achieving The Power of Workplace Equity those who lead our communal institutions still have a great deal more to accomplish. (See page 7.) On Sunday, March 18, Spertus will launch the first chapter in a multi-year lecture series called Critical Conversations. This program is inspired by Judaism’s historic commitment to the marriage of robust debate and civil discourse. For our inaugural lecture, we will welcome two former governors representing dramatically different political perspectives to discuss some of the “hot issues” of our time: gun control, immigration, climate control, and the like. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) and Mike Huckabee (R-AK) will join award-winning journalist Frank Sesno for a session entitled, Can We Talk? The goal of this series is not to score political points or to convince anyone to change beliefs. Rather, our hope is that, in the best of classical Jewish tradition, we can learn to listen to and learn from one another, even when we disagree profoundly. (See page 9.) Both of these programs represent the kind of cutting-edge work that has become Spertus Institute’s signature over the years. We anticipate that each will attract considerable interest. I encourage you to sign up for both as soon as possible. Warmly,
Dr. Hal M. Lewis President and CEO Spertus Institute
Learning Leadership Arts & Culture
Innovation and Collaboration Awards Applications are now open for Spertus Institute’s fourth annual Innovation and Collaboration Awards, recognizing projects that reach across institutions to serve the greater Chicago Jewish community. Apply by March 1, 2018. Visit spertus.edu/collaboration for details.
News
Spertus Receives Jim Joseph Foundation Grant One of eleven organizations selected to offer leadership development for Jewish educators
Events
Savee th ! Date
Resources
The San Francisco-based Jim Joseph Foundation announced a $23.7 million cumulative investment to address two critical areas in Jewish education: Educator Professional Development and Leadership Development in Jewish Education. Spertus Institute is pleased and proud to be included among the organizations selected in the second of these categories. The multi-year investment will support Spertus Institute’s new Certificate in Jewish Leadership for senior-level Jewish educators. The Jim Joseph Foundation fosters compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews in the United States.
Jewish Community Networking Night Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 5:30 pm
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This year’s special guest is Deborah Grayson Riegel, a contributor to The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and BusinessWeek. An expert in cognitive, behavioral, and social psychology, she teaches professionals to communicate effectively. Visit spertus.edu/networking for details.
Ending the Gender Gap Achieving the Power of Workplace Equity Sunday, December 3 at 2 pm
This presentation is for corporate executives, nonprofit professionals, funders, volunteers, and students, as well as anyone who cares about breaking down barriers to solve the tough challenges of today.
Sponsors
$18 | $10 for Spertus members $8 for students and Spertus alumni Advance tickets recommended. Purchase your tickets online at spertus.edu. For ticket questions, call 312.322.1773.
(Viki & Tom Rivkin)
Site Sponsor
Learning
Supported by a generous grant from the Crown Family
Leadership Arts & Culture
Justice and equality are core Jewish values. Yet only a minority of our workplaces have policies and practices that foster equity in leadership and create opportunities for all employees to realize their potential. Statistics show that many Jewish organizations—where women are 80% of the workforce—lack parity in leadership, retain a genderdriven salary gap, and judge leadership behavior differently for men and women. We are missing opportunities to recruit and retain talent. And by not creating environments that support worklife balance, we are not reflecting the needs of women or men.
News
Discover the advantages of value-aligned workplace policies from Social Change Strategist Shifra Bronznick in a Spertus Institute Center for Jewish Leadership program. Learn to champion, craft, and implement policies that bring value to employees and the organizations, businesses, and communities they serve. Bronznick will be joined by Gender Policy Expert Anne Weisberg.
Resources Events
Shifra Bronznick has led the charge for gender equity in the Jewish community, launching the organization Advancing Women Professionals in response to the gap between the number of women in top positions and the percentage of women employees. Repeatedly on the Forward’s list of 50 most influential Jews, Bronznick has consulted for American Jewish World Service, Catalyst, the White House Project, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation. She is coauthor of Leveling the Playing Field and is currently designing a philanthropic curriculum for Women Moving Millions, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Anne Weisberg is Director of the Women’s Initiative at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. She teaches at the NYU-Stern School of Business and is coauthor of the Harvard Business book that coined the phrase “corporate lattice.”
CRITICAL
Jennifer Granholm (D-MI)
In these fractious and deeply partisan times, are we even capable of holding critical conversations on the challenges we face? In a major new program series, Spertus Institute brings together notable thought leaders with opposing viewpoints, for moderated debates inspired by Judaism’s embrace of passionate civil discourse. Join us for the inaugural event, when two of our nation’s most articulate and impassioned leaders engage in spirited debate, live on the Spertus stage.
Critical Conversations is made possible by the support of a generous donor.
CONVERSATIONS
Learning
Mike Huckabee (R-AR)
Leadership Arts & Culture News Resources
Former Governors Jennifer Granholm and Mike Huckabee debate hot-button issues from gun rights to immigration reform.
Episode 1: Can We Talk? Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 4:30 pm
Events
Moderated by Frank Sesno, former CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Director of The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs.
Purchase your tickets at spertus.edu/conversation
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Tickets $36. All seats are reserved. Doors open at 4 pm. VIP tickets for $100 include a reception with the speakers.
Supported by a generous grant from the Crown Family
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Learning
MA in Jewish Professional Studies Now accepting applications for: Regional Midwest Cohort Preferred admission deadline March 1 | Classes begin April 22, 2018 Cross-Canada Cohort
Leadership
Begins Summer 2018 Chicago Cohort Begins August 2018
Arts & Culture
Spertus Institute’s Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies (MAJPS) is a world-class, career-boosting Jewish educational program serving Jewish communal professionals in the US, Canada, and Israel. The program advances both the professional skills and Jewish knowledge of those working for and with the Jewish community. More than 75% of students report a promotion or higher-level job change within one year of graduation.
What accounts for MAJPS success? News
Non-traditional program geared toward busy, working adults Emphasis on learning that is relevant to students’ careers Distinguished faculty Professional mentoring as a component of the program Can be completed in just over two years
spertus.edu/majps Resources
To see if the program will help advance your goals, contact: Anita Silvert, Director of Enrollment asilvert@spertus.edu 312.322.1707
Events
Fellowships Available Do you work at least 15 hours per week serving the Jewish community? If so, you may be eligible for a Midcareer Fellowship, made possible with the generous support of an outside donor. Qualified applicants can receive a tuition reduction of 65% for US students, 45% for Canadian students.
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Supported by a generous grant from the Crown Family
Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies For Jewish communal executives with 12+ years professional experience. Now accepting applications for the next cohort, which begins June 3, 2018. Taught by some of the best faculty working today, the Executive MAJPS combines seminars and online courses with executive coaching and a personalized capstone project. Participants learn to leverage opportunity, inspire excellence in staff and trustees, and lead through times of change. Designed for busy professionals, the program can be completed in just 12 months, because your experience can count as the equivalent of one year of graduate credit. Arms Jewish leaders with executive knowledge and skills Fosters a culture of executive
development essential for Jewish community growth
Focuses on leadership evaluation and development in areas that are vital in the 21st century Provides a community of practice through
a cohort of senior-level professionals
Fellowships cover 65% for qualified applicants accepted by March 26, 2018
spertus.edu/executive
Learning Leadership
Israeli Students Complete Spertus Leadership Programs
Arts & Culture
Program builds critical bridges between Israeli and North American communities This fall in Tel Aviv, Spertus Institute proudly presented its MA in Jewish Professional Studies and Certificate in Jewish Professional Studies to accomplished nonprofit professionals who live and work in Israel. These graduates are the first Israeli cohort in our 93-year history. Through their participation, they are uniquely prepared to build critical ties between their Israeli constituents and Jewish communities in North America.
News
The graduates have been learning together for two years, creating a community of best practice devoted to dynamic leadership. They have invested significant energy in understanding issues of identity, diversity, and demographics in Israel and North America, helping them confront the new realities that face Jews worldwide, including increasing polarization and rising antisemitism.
Resources
In his commencement address, Spertus President Dr. Hal M. Lewis said, “We believe that those of us who toil in the vineyards of Jewish life share common challenges and a collective fate. We embrace similar passions, mutual dreams, and shared aspirations. Despite our differences, we believe that what we have in common, what binds us together, is not our Israeli-ness or our American-ness, but our Jewish-ness.” Read the full remarks at spertus.edu/news
Events
Pictured above, back row left to right: Omer Tulchinsky of Hagal Sheli | Sveta Blekher of Israel Experts | Yoni Kott of Institutional Partner Shorashim | Lana Zilberman Soloway of Da’at Educational Expeditions | Yulie Khromchenco of The Institute for Democratic Education | Yotam Tron, Program Partner from The Institute for Democratic Education | Shany Katzev of Taglit-Birthright Israel | Rotem Yehoshua of The Jewish Agency for Israel | Doron Sherf of Ironi Daled High School.
Israeli graduates not pictured: Ela Hatzav of Taglit-Birthright Israel | Nimrod Ran of Taglit-Birthright Israel | Keren Siksik of Beit Midrash Elul. Two students who began their studies with Spertus Institute’s Canadian Cohort but who currently live in Israel also received their degrees: Stella Beili of The Jewish Agency for Israel | Rebecca Woods Baum of Appleseeds Academy, Tel Aviv.
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Front row left to right: Nadav Savaia of the Union for Reform Judaism | Lior Chacham of Shorashim | Tal Rosen, Director of Spertus Institute’s Center for Jewish Leadership | Dr. Hal M. Lewis, Spertus Institute President and CEO | Dr. Dean P. Bell, Spertus Institute Provost and VP.
Visit spertus.edu/profiles to find out the latest accomplishments of Spertus students and alumni around the world
Learning
For Staff and Trustees of Jewish Organizations Sponsored by Northwestern University and Spertus Institute
Certificate in Jewish Leadership Hybrid teaching model allows worldwide participation
Leadership
Presented through a combination of onsite seminars (at the Spertus Institute campus in Chicago) and online content. Courses are taught by senior Northwestern University and Spertus Institute faculty.
Arts & Culture
The cohort-based curriculum provides for peer learning and networking. The program includes leadership skills assessment and mentoring with established Jewish community leaders. Participants learn to articulate and achieve goals, inspire excellence, and lead through times of change. Cost for entire program (including Assessment and Mentor Match) is $2,500. Discount available for qualified employees of Jewish organizations. Does not include travel or accommodations.
Next cohort begins Fall 2018. spertus.edu/certificate
News
Grant Writing Workshop Thursday, February 22 from 9 am to 4 pm
Resources
$149 | $129 for Spertus members, students, and alumni Price includes morning coffee and kosher lunch Register online at spertus.edu. Join expert fundraiser, educator, and Spertus alumna Judy Gadiel for a one-day-only opportunity to elevate your grant writing prowess. Gain an overview of today’s grants landscape. Learn to reap value from research, fine-tune your writing and budget preparation, and manage the grant writing process with a project timeline and checklist. Guided small group sessions provide individual feedback on your projects and proposals.
Events
Judy Gadiel is a senior consultant and team leader at Giving Tree Associates. She has worked with nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years, building considerable expertise in grant writing, foundation relations, major gifts, and board development. Funder perspective will be provided by Julie Wilen, Executive Director, Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation.
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Community
Learning
For Presidents, Board Members, and Committee Leaders of Jewish Organizations
Lay Leadership Academy The Guide for Perplexed Trustees: An Expert Road Map to the Changing American Jewish Landscape
Leadership
Sunday, February 4 from 1 to 4 pm (Will end promptly with plenty of time for you to be wherever you need to be for the Super Bowl) $49 | $39 for Spertus members and alumni Reserve your spot online at spertus.edu
Arts & Culture
On a board or committee of a Jewish organization? Thinking about joining one? The Lay Leadership Academy will give you the grounding you need to serve in a time of rapid changes in the Jewish world. Spend an afternoon with Dr. Leonard Saxe, one of the leading scholars on the state of Jewish communal life in North America. Learn about the challenges that Jewish organizations face today and the obstacles and opportunities that lie ahead.
News
Come away with a toolkit of constructive, feasible ways that you—as a volunteer leader—can use to ensure growth and success for the organizations you love. The afternoon will include a presentation and choice of two out of three breakout sessions: Top-Notch Teamwork: Lay-Professional Relations Show Me The Money: Fundraising and Financials
Dr. Leonard Saxe is the Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and Social Policy at Brandeis University, where he directs the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute. Saxe is a social psychologist who leads research on Jewish identity, education, and sociodemography. He has been a Fulbright Professor at the University of Haifa, a science fellow for the United States Congress, and received the American Psychological Association’s Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions in the Public Interest.
Events
Photo by Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images
Resources
Keeping Your Organization Out of Trouble: Legal Matters and Insurance
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Farthest Distance Traveled to a Spertus Seminar
9238
MILES from Australia
Supreme Court Justices who have presented at Spertus
JUSTICES
Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Elena Kagan Grads promoted in 1 year
75%
Age of youngest student
22 89 Age of oldest student
Amount needed to fund 1 student scholarship
$6,500
Learning
Spertus Students and Alumni in Numbers Alums who head organizations
1924 States where students live
Glass panes on building
Countries where students live
Resources
737
News
(Just shy of the 800+ nonprofits where students and alums are changing the world) Events
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Arts & Culture
41
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Leadership
Year Spertus 1st enrolled students
* that we know of
Support Spertus
Students who met their spouse at Spertus*
Visit the Spertus website for webconferencing and online courses
Jewish Studies Advanced Scholarship Contemporary Approach spertus.edu/learn Jewish Studies Graduate Programs at Spertus Institute are for students who seek to explore the breadth of the Jewish experience through advanced scholarship. Taught by distinguished faculty, courses are offered at our downtown Chicago campus during twice-yearly seminars and through a selection of distance learning formats. We embrace the idea that the wisdom of Jewish thought and the richness of Jewish experiences inform Jewish society and Judaism today. Our programs encourage intellectual and spiritual reflection. Our Master’s and Doctoral students grapple with Jewish ideas in the service of their personal, professional, and communal advancement.
Onsite Jewish Studies Seminars Seminars offer dedicated time for our students to advance their studies, learn with skilled and accomplished faculty, and engage with colleagues from around the world. During seminars, courses are offered that meet program requirements for students in Jewish Studies Master’s and Doctoral programs. 2018 Seminar Dates | Sunday–Thursday, March 11–15 Sunday–Thursday, July 8–12 To learn about opportunities and admission requirements, contact Director of Enrollment Anita Silvert at asilvert@spertus.edu or 312.322.1707.
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Learning Leadership
For professionals and volunteers involved with designing, implementing, or teaching Jewish educational programs for adults
Arts & Culture
Israel: Many Voices. Back row from left: Dr. Dean P. Bell, Bruce Ogron, Dan Tatar, Michael Simon, and Scott Whitehair. Front row: Gili Sherman, Dina Elenbogen, Debi Lewis, Sarah Leibov, and Shaily Hakimian. Photo by Dan Rest.
Adult Jewish Learning Resource Conference News
Tuesday, January 23 from 9:30 am to 4 pm Spertus proudly spearheads the Chicago Adult Jewish Learning Initiative with funding from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Resources
Among the group’s recent activities, this summer’s sold-out community-wide event, Israel: Many Voices, brought participants from 30+ local organizations together to hear personal stories of Israel performed on stage. View videos at spertus.edu/storytelling This January, the Adult Jewish Learning Initiative will present an allday Resource Conference for professionals and community lay leaders who work to present adult Jewish programming to our community.
Events
The conference will feature a presentation by Dr. Stephen Brookfield, one of the leading figures in adult learning. Over lunch there will be moderated panel discussions with presenters from around the country. Breakout sessions will address program recruitment, sustainability, and evaluation, with a special workshop component to help participants apply theory to practice and develop collaborative projects. For registration, visit spertus.edu. For information, contact Beth Schenker, Assistant Dean for Jewish Studies, at bschenker@spertus.edu.
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Look for the launch of GPS for Jewish Learning —a new resource for community events and adult education content—in 2018.
One Book | One Community 2017 Join the celebration of Jewish Book Month with discussions and events across Chicago’s Jewish community—all focused around this year’s book. Spertus Institute proudly spearheads this initiative.
“Fast paced and impeccably researched... Kept me reading long into the night.” —KRISTINA MCMORRIS, bestselling author of The Edge of Lost
Learning
Windy City Blues
Leadership
In this year’s book, a small crew of fictional characters encounter the real lives of musical icons Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James, and Chuck Berry, along with Leonard and Phil Chess of historic Chess Records. Throughout, blues music provides the backbeat for Jewish immigrant life on Maxwell Street, the unregulated early days of the recording business, and the fight for racial and religious equity. Published by Penguin Random House/ Berkley. Available in paperback, e-book, audio, and large print.
Arts & Culture
Renée Rosen is the bestselling author of Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface, as well as the young adult novel, Every Crooked Pot. She lives in Chicago and is at work on a novel about Helen Gurley Brown.
Visit spertus.edu/OneBook
Program info, tickets, and reservations Exclusive author interview Discussion questions and resources Playlist of music recorded at Chicago’s historic Chess Records
News
Events Books will be for sale and Renée Rosen will be signing books at all events.
North Shore Author Event
Thursday, November 30 at 7 pm
Resources
at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park Free.
West Suburban Author Event Tuesday, December 5 at 2 pm
at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard Free.
Chicago Author Event: Windy City Blues Finale Sunday, December 10 at 3 pm
Events
at Spertus Institute Live blues music by Sweet G and the Lovers Entertainment Band followed by Renée Rosen in conversation with Chicago Tribune Arts Critic Howard Reich. All tickets $10.
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JUF News is the Media Sponsor of One Book | One Community
Learning
The Happiness Prayer Thursday, January 18 at 7 pm at Temple Beth Israel 3601 W. Dempster, Skokie
Leadership
“Masterfully invokes ancient Jewish wisdom to help us find happiness in our modern world.” — Dr. Tal Ben Shahar, New York Times bestselling author of Being Happy
Arts & Culture
$18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for students and alumni Buy tickets online at spertus.edu. Ticket questions? Call 312.322.1773 Are Jews happy? Can Judaism make us happier? Join Rabbi Evan Moffic as he unpacks the connections between Judaism and positive psychology in his groundbreaking new book, The Happiness Prayer. Discover how Jewish practices and ideas form the core of the scientific area that examines what makes a happier and more meaningful life.
This program is the 2017 Norman Asher Memorial Lecture.
Events
Find more Jewish books at Spertus Institute’s Asher Library spertus.edu/library Hours
Resources
Books will be for sale and Rabbi Moffic will be signing books after the program.
News
Rabbi Evan Moffic is a guide to Jewish wisdom for people of all faiths. A graduate of Stanford University, he is the spiritual leader of Congregation Solel in Highland Park. He has been profiled in the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, The Forward, and Christianity Today, and appears regularly on Fox News and CNN. His latest book brings together Jewish wisdom and positive psychology to answer the question: What practices and experiences lead to a life of satisfaction and joy?
Sunday 12–4 pm Monday 10 am–6 pm Wednesday 10 am–4 pm
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Asher Library borrowing privileges are reserved for Spertus students and members. See membership details on page 33.
Julie Cowan, Circumstance and Astute, detail, 2017, Paper lithography, colored pencil, and pastel.
In the Ground Level Arts Lab New Works by Fellows of the Midwest Jewish Artists Lab
Outside Inside Exploring Boundaries and Otherness Through Sunday, December 31, 2017 See new works by the Midwest Jewish Artists Lab, twelve local artists who participated in a yearlong initiative of workshops, study, and critiques.
Artists Stewart Cherlin | Julie Cowan | Dorit Jordan Dotan | Gabrielle Egnater Peter N. Gray | Charlotte Hart | Alan Hobscheid | Suzanne Horwitz Sandra Perlow | Joyce Polance | Charles Rice | Pauline L. Silberman
Sunday, December 10 from 3 to 4 pm Tour Outside Inside: Exploring Boundaries and Otherness with artists Peter N. Gray, Pauline L. Silberman, and Joyce Polance as your guides. Free. No reservations required.
The Ground Level Arts Lab is made possible in part through the generous support of the Harry and Sadie Lasky and Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundations. The Midwest Jewish Artists Lab is generously supported by a grant from the Covenant Foundation.
Learning Leadership Arts & Culture
Todros Geller, South of Chicago, 1937, Wood engraving, 8 x 10 in. Gift of the College of Jewish Studies.
Coming Fall 2018 News
Todros Geller: Strange Worlds
Chicago artist Todros Geller was central to the history of modern American Jewish art. This exhibition will draw primarily from Spertus Institute’s collection—which includes extensive holdings of Geller’s paintings, prints, and works on paper as well as preparatory sketches, letters, books, postcards, articles, photographs, posters, and illustrations—to present the broad scope of Geller’s creative endeavors. More than 30 works in a range of mediums will be on view, the majority for the first time.
Resources
Spertus Institute is pleased to announce its participation in Art Design Chicago, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art with presenting partner The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. As part of this exploration of Chicago’s art and design legacy, Spertus will present Todros Geller: Strange Worlds, opening Sepetember 6, 2018.
Events
Todros Geller: Strange Worlds is organized by Ionit Behar, Spertus Institute Curator of Collections, and Dr. Susan Weininger, Roosevelt University Professor Emerita of Art History.
Sunday 10 am – 5 pm | Monday – Wednesday 9 am – 5 pm Thursday 9 am – 6 pm | Friday 9 am – 3 pm Closed to the public on Saturdays and Jewish and secular holidays. Admission is free.
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Exhibition Hours
From Iraque, Photo from Kitty Groen Archive, ca. 1948–1953, Spertus Institute Collection.
Photo by Ellen Rothenberg at Tempelhof’s refugee camp, 2017.
Learning
ELLEN ROTHENBERG
Leadership
February 1 to April 22, 2018 In the Ground Level Arts Lab
Exhibition opening Thursday, February 1 from 5:30 to 8 pm
Arts & Culture
Free. No reservations required. Spertus Institute presents a new, commissioned, site-specific installation by Chicago-based artist Ellen Rothenberg.
News
Rothenberg prompts visitors to consider connections between past and contemporary issues of migration. The project is inspired by objects and documents Rothenberg uncovered in the Spertus collection—as well as research she pursued in Berlin at Germany’s largest refugee camp, housed in the monumental Tempelhof Airport, a disused site that was designed and built by the Nazis. Tempelhof’s building is a legally protected historic monument with strict regulations that dictate the physical forms of the interior camp spaces. No alterations can be made that will permanently affect the building, leaving the entire camp to exist in a permanently ephemeral state. Rothenberg critically approaches the temporality of this site referring to global issues of migration.
Resources
Ellen Rothenberg is an award-winning artist whose work has been presented in prestigious institutions across Europe and North America. Her installations and public projects often employ the iconography of social movements, using archival documents to examine the mechanisms underlying contemporary political engagement. Rothenberg teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she was recently appointed an inaugural Faculty Research Fellow of the Institute for Curatorial Research and Practice.
Events
This exhibition is organized by Ionit Behar, Spertus Institute’s Curator of Collections and Exhibitions.
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Visit spertus.edu for information on exhibition-related programs at Spertus and the Poetry Foundation.
Body and Soul Best Music Documentary, San Francisco Black Film Festival
Louis Armstrong
Mandala Beats Blends cool reggae rhythms with classic Indian beats. The music is reason enough to see it! — Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Yossi Fine
On the Banks of the Tigris Best Documentary, Baghdad International Film Festival
Majid Shokor
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Learning
Sunday Cinema Sundays in February Films about Jews and Music Premieres
Leadership
Each film will be introduced by a special guest and followed by a Q&A. $18 each | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for students and Spertus alumni Buy tickets online at spertus.edu
Body and Soul: An American Bridge
Photo by Kenneth Muhammad
Arts & Culture
Chicago Premiere | Sunday, February 11 at 2 pm Of all the cross-cultural encounters in American music, none is as complex as that between African Americans and American Jews. Teasing out the strands of this musical knot, director Robert Philipson explores the jazz standard Body and Soul, composed by Johnny Green and performed by artists from Louis Armstrong to Amy Winehouse.
News
Kicking off the series in style, special guest Orbert Davis, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, will share both his musical knowledge and his trumpet playing to “discuss” Body and Soul.
Mandala Beats Resources
Midwest Premiere | Sunday, February 18 at 2 pm Known as the Jimi Hendrix of bass guitar, Israeli Yossi Fine has made music with artists from across the globe. Learning of his grandmother’s Indian roots, he journeys to India to explore new sounds and collaborations. He discovers a world of Jewish music and performs with musicians including Shye Ben Tzur and Gil Ron Shama. Directed by Rebekah Reiko.
Midwest Premiere | Sunday, February 25 at 2 pm Can music transcend religion and politics? Meet Majid Shokor, an Iraqi-Australian from a Muslim background who discovers a hidden history—the Jewish role in Iraqi music. Shokor journeys to meet exiled Iraqi musicians and unite them in a concert at London’s Barbican Centre. Directed by Marsha Emerman.
Sunday Cinema is sponsored by the Wilkow Family. It is the 2018 Solomon Goldman Program Series.
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Photos courtesy Seventh Art Releasing
Events
On the Banks of the Tigris
Tribute Cards Our new beautifully designed tribute cards are a great way to celebrate a birthday, honor a graduate, acknowledge the passing of a loved one, or just say thank you. Please visit us at donate.spertus.edu to send a card or make a donation.
Support Spertus on November 28 for #GivingTuesday, a global social movement that encourages charitable giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Why support Spertus? Your gift funds scholarships for young leaders at Jewish organizations, enrichment through Jewish arts and culture, and opportunities for the study of Jewish life around the world.
Follow Spertus on Facebook and Twitter for #GivingTuesday news and updates.
Learning Leadership
Your membership fees directly support extraordinary programs, resources, and opportunities that foster a vibrant, dynamic, and enduring Jewish future. In exchange—you receive benefits, bragging rights, and our eternal gratitude!
Arts & Culture
Become a Member Benefits
Select discounts from Spertus partners
All benefits of Individual Membership, but for two people (Includes a second member card)
Associate $100 All benefits of Household Membership plus Online Recognition
SpertusNet $50 Library borrowing privileges and online access to the Feinberg eCollection
Resources
Discounts on tickets to performances, films, lectures, author events, and more Discounts on master classes and workshops Asher Library borrowing privileges and access to online resources Discount subscription to Moment, North America’s premier Jewish magazine 10% discount at JUDAICA.COM
Household $75 and Senior $50 (for those 65+)
News
Individual $60
This benefit is included with all Individual, Household, Senior, and Associate Memberships
Events
Join or Renew Today To join or renew online, click the Join link at spertus.edu To join or renew, contact Regina Rivers at membership@spertus.edu or 312.322.1777
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All memberships are for one year from time of payment. All memberships are 100% tax deductible.
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VENUESIX10.COM | 312.322.1725 610 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE | CHICAGO VenueSIX10
December 2017–March 2018
November
January
28 | Tuesday
1 | Monday
30 | Thursday 7 pm Author Event in Highland Park Renée Rosen P23
December Annual Leadership Symposium Ending the Gender Gap: Achieving the Power of Workplace Equity P7
5 | Tuesday 2 pm Author Event in Lombard Renée Rosen P23
10 | Sunday 3 pm 10 | Sunday 3 pm One Book Finale Live Music, Renée Rosen & Howard Reich P23
25 | Monday Spertus closed Christmas holiday
28 | Thursday 7 pm Author Event in Skokie Rabbi Evan Moffic P25
February
1 | Thursday 5:30 pm Exhibition Opening Ellen Rothenberg P29
4 | Sunday 1 pm Lay Leadership Academy P17
11 | Sunday 2 pm Sunday Cinema Body and Soul P31
18 | Sunday 2 pm Sunday Cinema Mandala Beats P31
22 | Thursday 9 am Grant Writing Workshop P15
25 | Sunday 2 pm Sunday Cinema On the Banks of the Tigris P31
Resources
Hanukkah Begins
Adult Jewish Learning Resource Conference P21
News
Artist-Led Tour Outside Inside P27
23 | Tuesday 9:30 am
Arts & Culture
3 | Sunday 2 pm
Spertus closed New Year’s Day
Leadership
Giving Tuesday P32
12 | Tuesday Sundown
Learning
Calendar
March Inaugural Critical Conversations Episode 1: Can We Talk? P9
Spertus welcomes all visitors and is committed to making its facilities and programs accessible to people with special needs. Elevator access is available to all areas of the building. Please let the box office know of any special needs or requests when you purchase program tickets.
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Accessibility
Events
18 | Sunday 4:30 pm
See page 31
3 film premieres in February, each with a special guest
Sunday Cinema
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