lincolnwood jewish congregation a.g. beth israel...

2017 Issue 1

Dear Congregants, I share with you an edited version of an article that I wrote that appeared in a recent edition of The Chicago Jewish News. If you haven’t done so already, I urge you to read this message. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. If you are in-town over the winter, I look forward to seeing you at Shul. Wishing you all a warm, healthy, and peaceful winter,Rabbi James M. Gordon, J.D._______________________________________________________________

PC 5777In many ways, Israel is ahead of the times. During my junior year of college, spent at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, I used to enjoy going out with friends to watch movies in Israeli theatres. I did not particularly care for the commercials that were shown prior to the featured film. I couldn’t understand why they did this in Israel, while in the US this was something unheard of at that time (late 1970s).

Lincolnwood Jewish CongregationA.G. Beth Israel

BULLETIN

January/February 2017Table of ContentsRabbi ’s Message 1, 4, 6President’s Perspective 2Announcements 3Jan.-Feb. Calendar 8 Adult Ed. Classes 9Schedule of Services 10-11Sisterhood 12-13Winter movie nights 14-15

Asst. Rabbi: James Gordon

Rabbi Emeritus: Joel Lehrfield

LJCAGBI BulletinJan./Feb. 2017, Issue No. 1.

Published bi-monthlyexcept for holidays (6-7 issues per year)

Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation A.G. Beth Israel, 7117 North Craw-ford Ave., Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712

Phone: 847-676-0491

www.ljcagbi.org

Rabbi Gordon’s Message

Continued on page 4

As I look out the window, I see trees, bushes and grassy areas covered with snow. And so, winter begins, which means it is time for all of us who will be remaining in the city for much of the win-ter to at least try to embrace the season. For our Shul, that means trying extra hard to make daily minyan, since our pool of attendees is reduced. It also means that there will be only one Shabbat service, with a mechitzah. There are those of us who prefer men and women sitting together, as has been our custom for many years. However, with our reduced attendance during the winter months, it is imperative that we come together in one service, so that we can begin on time. Indeed, in addition to the halachic reasons for davening with a mechitzah, when our congregation is together there is a spirit and a feeling of community. We have Kiddush together, without one group waiting for the other. As is our custom, multiple services are scheduled to resume after Pesach. Although many of our members are away for at least part of the winter, there are several programs that take place over the winter. Please note especially Movie Night, and our Tu’B’Shevat Seder. Of course, there is daily minyan and our Shabbat services, followed by Kiddush. Join us if you can.

Hoping to see you this winter,Larry Miller

President’s Perspective

Your presence is greatly needed: please attend

Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation A.G. Beth Israel, our Shul, has always main-tained daily minyanim for Shachrit and for Mincha/Maariv (or just Maariv during the winter months). During the past months it has become increasingly difficult to guarantee that 10 men will be present for davening. Your help is urgently needed to ensure that a full minyan is present for everyone, especially those who have Yahrzeit or are in their year of mourning. Please attend whenever you are able.--Thank you.

AnnouncementsMAZEL TOV

{ Mazel tov to Rabbi Joel & Chavie Leh-rfield on the birth of a granddaughter, and to Dovid & Alana Lehrfield on the birth of their daughter.

{ Mazel tov to Harriet & Charles Snyder on the birth of a great grandson, Zachary, born to their granddaughter Kaleigh Politt.

{ Mazel tov to Dr. Marc & Eileen Feder on the birth of a granddaughter, born to Jordan & Rachel Feder of Tel Aviv. The baby’s name is Livia Chaya.

{ Mazel tov to Liz Panitch on graduating with a Masters of Art in Museum Studies from John Hopkins University.

Correction:Helaine’ Ellenby’s granddaughter Jennifer (daughter of Alan & Susan Ellenby) is en-gaged to David Savitt, great nephew of Helen Rosenberg.

SPEEDY RECOVERY

R Myron MoscovitchR Angel NewmanR Mike RothmanR Mort Zelickman

CONDOLENCES

v Dorothy Bermanv Dr. Lawrence Fogelsonv Ilene Friedmanv Robert Elster (brother of Larry Elster)v Alan Kramer (father of Edie Light)

Thanks to everyone who helped“take down” the Sukkah!

Many heartfelt thanks to the gentlemen who helped me take down and store the new sukkah. Without their help, it would still be up in the parking lot.

Howard Gillman Gary Goodman Joel Mazor Aaron Shafter Thank you, Henry Kalter

The Rabbi’s Study—continued from page 1

On rare occasion I saw a commercial that left a lasting impression. One such advertisement was for an international company that manufactures stereo and other sound equipment. It depicted a Chasidic Jew who - contrary to his communi-ty’s norms - enjoyed listening and dancing to (G-Rated) rock n’roll music. He gave in to his Yetzer HaRa (Evil Inclination) and purchased a sophisticated stereo system. The end of the commercial showed this man in his dira (apartment) beaming from ear to ear, and joyously dancing to rock music blasting from his stereo. The commercial ended with the voice-over: “Mah yagidu HaSh’khenim?”—[“(But) what will the neighbors say?”] Like this conflicted devout, well-intended caricature, oftentimes, Americans in gen-eral, and American Jews in particular, instead of simply doing the right thing, are overly-concerned with the anticipated reaction of their neighbors. They do not want to offend their overly-sensitive neighbors. This is especially true regarding positions towards Israel. Too many American Jews, who claim to be HUGE supporters of Israel, sim-ply either refuse to speak out against inane decisions by elected officials (e.g., the Iran Nuclear Agreement) or UN officials (e.g., that the Jews have no historical connection to Israel), or worse yet, openly support these positions. [By the way: “UN” is an acronym for “United Nations against Israel”]. Do I believe that these “well-intended” people really believe that these positions are truly in the best interests of Israel and the Jewish people? Absolutely not; rather, they base their response strictly on the answer to the question:” Mah yagidu HaSh’kheinim?—“(But) what will the neighbors say?” Instead of doing the right thing, they do what they perceive to be “Politically Correct,” or “PC” for short. Inspired by the Torah portions Lekh L’kha-Toldot (Genesis 12:1-50:26), which dis-cuss Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel & Leah, I propose a new definition of “PC”: “Patriarchally Correct.” Instead of doing that which – we think – will not offend our neighbors, we must do that which is correct. Instead of following the lead of our neighbors, which many times, is contrary to the best interests of the welfare of Israel and the Jewish people, we should follow the lead of our Patriarchs (and Matriarchs). The Book of Genesis is replete with examples of actions taken by our Patriarchs and Matriarchs which, many times, were contrary to the accepted norms of their neighbors. According to the Midrash, Abraham most famously, destroyed the inventory of his en-trepreneurial father Terach who manufactured, distributed and sold pagan idols. Sara insisted that Abraham’s son Ishmael and his mother Hagar be banished from their home, because Ishmael was a terrible, immoral influence upon Isaac. After consulting with the Almighty, Abraham followed through on Sara’s recommendation. In Parashat Toldot we read about another bold Politically Incorrect action in world history—when Rebecca

Continued on page 6

LINCOLNWOOD JEWISH CONGREGATION A.G. BETH ISRAEL

Eighth Annual Tu BiSh’vat Seder

February 11, 2017/Parashat B’Shalach-Shira during Kiddush (@ about 11:45 a.m.)

Add meaning and joy to your celebration of Tu BiSh’vat by participating in our Eighth Annual Seder. Modeled after the Tu BiSh’vat Seder created in the sixteenth century by the Kabbalists, this modernized ceremony celebrates the Rosh Hashana of Trees (Rosh HaShana 1:1) and the special produce of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8). Please join us and participate in this most enjoyable & inspirational program which is open to both LJC AGBI members & non-members and will be held at LJC AGBI, 7117 N. Crawford in Lincolnwood. Although this program is complimentary, please RSVP to the synagogue office @ (847) 676-0491. The special Tu BiSh’vat fruits are sponsored by Rabbi & Marilyn Gordon and Family in commemoration of the Yahrtzeits of our beloved sisters and aunts - Rita Newman Cohen – z”l & Sharon Gordon Abrams - - z”l.

convinced Jacob that it was in the best interests of the Jewish People, if he, and not his older twin brother Esau, served as the successor to Isaac as the Third Patriarch. Rebecca then successfully masterminded and facilitated this overwhelmingly risky maneuver. Today we are confronted by many issues critical to the future of Israel and the Jewish people. For each of the following, I pose the questions: What is the Politically Correct response and what is the Patriarchally Correct answer?

• What should our position be regarding moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? Should we be concerned with the opinion of the anti-Israel world? Or should we remind ourselves that ever since Israel gained statehood in 1948, Jerusalem has been a part of our Homeland’s geographic boundaries and has been and remains Israel’s capital? Also please don’t forget that Israel’s neighbors historically have tried to annihilate or evict the Jewish People from Israel. • How should we address the continuing threat from Iran to destroy Israel through the use of nuclear weapons? Should we be concerned what our neigh-bors say or should we do that which is truly in Israel’s best interests?• Should we concede to Israel’s neighbors’ demands that we surrender some or all of the West Bank? Or, should we put such a decision in its proper per-spective and do only that which is best for Israel’s security and identity as a Jewish state?

In addition to showing commercials before a featured film, medical discoveries, and high tech inventions, Israel is also light years ahead of the rest of the world in realizing that, if we want to ensure the survival of our Jewish homeland and people, we do not have the luxury of always being Politically Correct. If we truly are interested in preserving the existence of Israel we must always do that which is Patriarchally Correct, even if it is not always Politically Correct. So, the next time someone challenges you to “do the right thing” and asks you the question: “Mah yagidu HaSh’khenim—(But) what will the neighbors say?,” simply respond: “Who cares?”

Or, better yet, just blast your stereo and start dancing with joy.

Rabbi James M. Gordon, J.D.

The Rabbi’s Study—continued from page 4

Yasher Koach to the 2016 Lox Box Team

We would like to thank the following members and businesses that worked on and/or contributed to the success of this year’s Lox Box: DonorsThe Private Bank Tel Aviv Pizza Chicago Jewish News Republic Bank Bank Financial Dr. Adam J. Cohen

1st Advantage Mortgage (Paul Kramer) Bank of America Rob Chimberoff Danny’s Liquors Jeff Kovit Video Productions Dr. David Marcus

Saturday Night PackersJoel & Nicole Mazor Marcia & Paul Kramer Mitchell Sandler Larry Miller Regine Meisel

Rob Chimberoff Marsha Weitzman Edie & Jeff Light Aaron Shafter Myron Moscovitch

4:30 AM Sunday Packers Rob Chimberoff Steve Kramer (and Bagel pickup) Mitchell Sandler

Drivers and RunnersYaakov Baylis Claire Gillman & Howard Gillman Henry Kalter Aaron Shafter Jeffrey Liebling Howard Lapping & Arlene Lapping Max Panitch

Marcia & Paul Kramer Joel & Nicole Mazor Mitchell Dayan Larry Brown Dr. David Marcus, Caleb & Eyal Gutstein Aaron Goldman Stuart & Adina Kalman

Ira Lefkowitz

Chairman 2016 Lox Box Committee

January/February Calendar 2017Sunday, January 1st New Years Day/ 8th day of Chanukah Saturday, January 7th Movie NightSunday, January 8th Fast of the 10th of TevesMonday, January 16th Martin Luther King DaySaturday, January 28th Rosh Chodesh ShevatSaturday, February 4th Movie NightSaturday, February 11th Tu B’Shevat SederSunday, February 12th Lincoln’s BirthdayWednesday, February 15th Board of Director’s MeetingMonday, February 20th Washington’s BirthdaySunday, February 26th Rosh Chodesh Adar Day 1Monday, February 27th Rosh Chodesh Adar Day 2

Rummage Sale Thanks Our annual rummage sale was a wonderful success due, as usual, to our wonder-ful workers in shul! Whether by donating “stuff”, putting out “stuff”, or by coming on Sunday to help sell “stuff” and otherwise help keep an eye on things, it really does take a village to get everything done. Our volunteers include: Carolyn Greenstein, Ceil Klein, Marcia and Paul Kramer, Estelle Kriv, Jeffrey Light, Larry Miller, Paulette Rafalson, Harriet Snyder, Marsha Weitzman, and me, Jocelyn Verson. Of course, a very special thanks to Richard and Yadviga and their friends, without whom we could nor have done anything! Also, Sue and Chave, in the office, were a great help! Thanks again to everyone for making this event a very interesting and education-al time! See you next year!

Jocelyn VersonRummage Chairman

Current and on-going classes at LJCAGBI*

LJC AGBI classes have “Open Enrollment”—feel free to attend any class at any time. The more often you attend, the more wisdom you will gain.

(1) Sh’nayim Mik’ra v’Echad Targum v’Rashi (Monday-Thursday 6:45 pm). Instructor: Rabbi Gordon. This “mini-course” will examine the verses in the first Aliya of the Parashat HaShavua (Weekly Torah Portion) along with Targum Onkelos and select Rashi commentaries.

(2) Sh’nayim Mik’ra v’Echad Targum v’Rashi —Shabbat Edition (30 minutes prior to Mincha on select Shabbatot).

(3) Hebrew Level II (Mondays at 7:15-8:00 pm) Instructor: Rabbi Gordon. For those with a basic level of competency in Hebrew reading who would like to feel more comfortable davening (reading/understanding) from the Siddur and learning traditional Jewish texts. Before each holiday, we study the relevant liturgy.

*Please call the Shul office as these times may be subject to change.

Schedule for Daily/ShabbatServices/Candlelighting

January 2017/5777 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 S: 8:30am M/M: 4:10pm

2 S: 6:45am RGS: 3:45pm M/M: 4:10pm

3 S: 7:00am RGS: 6:45pm M: 7:00pm (Maariv only)



6 S: 7:00am M/M: 4:15pm Candle Lighting: 4:15pm

7 S: 9:00am M/M: 3:55pm Shabbat Ends: 5:19pm

8 Fast of the 10th of Teves begins: 6:06am S: 8:30am M/M: 4:00pm Fast Ends: 5:20pm







15 S: 8:30am M/M: 4:25pm






21 S:9:00am M/M: 4:10pm Shabbat Ends: 5:35pm

22 S: 8:30am M/M: 4:30pm







29 S: 8:30am M/M: 4:40pm



RGS: Rabbi Gordon’s Shiur

Schedule for Daily/ShabbatServices/Candlelighting

February 2017/5777 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday





5 S: 8:30am M/M: 4:50pm





10 S: 7:00am M/M: 5:00pm Candle Lighting: 4:58Pm


12 S: 8:30am M/M: 5:00pm

13 S:6:45am RGS: 6:45pm M: 7:00pm (Maariv only)




17 S:7:00am M/M: 5:05pm Candle Lighting: 5:07pm


19 S: 8:30am M/M: 5:05pm







26 S: 8:00am M/M: 5:15pm

27 S: 6:30am RGS: 6:45pm M: 7:00pm ( Maariv only)


From the Catering Department

Are smells a thing of the past? I hope not. To this day when one of my kids or grandkids come in the house they usually guess what’s cooking or baking & will holler out, yeah, choco-late chip cookies. The other day I opened the kitchen door and a delightful smell of either a bar-beque or maybe a deep fried turkey, but the smell was delicious. You don’t get that with “carry-out”. I always loved the smell when I was near the Maurice Lenell Cookie Co. or the Salerno cookie bakery. The only cooking smell I don’t like is gefilte fish. But this brings up a point. Smells remind us of so much, maybe a long gone grandma’s chal-lah or mom’s latkes. It reminds us of happier times when we were young(er) and thinner, and of those who did the cooking & baking. Did you ever make hot chocolate from scratch? You know, dark cocoa & scalded milk plus sugar. Now everything’s in a package. I used to have great big latke parties and the smell of the oil would carry for blocks & last for weeks. When I grew up, every Jewish family had dairy meals on Tuesdays & Thursday. Saturday nights were lox & smoked fish & bagels. We shopped in the local grocery store & fruit store. All Jewish homes had the same canned goods on their shelves...Heinz baked beans, Heinz spa-ghetti, Heinz soups, King Oscar Sardines, Pillar Rock Salmon. There were no hechshers (cer-tification) at that time. The bakery & butcher shops had signs in the window that told you they were kosher. And all the butcher shops had sawdust on the floor. Talk about a dying business. I know that the best part of the “old days” is that we were all young, but sometimes, just re-membering brings a smile. I’m sure we all remember our parents or grandparents saying, “when I was a kid we didn’t have...” Well, are you saying it now? Boy, time sure has a way of creeping up on us. Sort of like looking in the mirror & seeing your mother (or father). When did this happen? Let’s have a laugh:

A burglar breaks into a house. He starts shining his flashlight looking for valuables. Nice things catch his eye but as he reaches out he hears “G-d is watching you.” He looks for the speaker & seeing no one he starts reaching again and he hears “G-d is watching you.” He sees a parrot & asks “who are you?” The parrot answers, “Moses.” The burglar asks, “who would name a parrot Moses?” and he laughs. “I dunno,” Moses answers. “The same guy who named the Rottweiller King David, I guess.”

Bon Appetit (and a happy new year 2017)Shirley Derdiger

SISTERHOOD HELPS BUILD

Do you have a personal announcement, simcha, thanks, congratulations or yahrtziet that you would like to share with your Shul family? Consider putting your words to work with Sisterhood Helps Build. Contact the Shul office or drop your message in the Sisterhood folder in the Shul office. Donations are $5 for your personal message.

{ In honor of the marriage of my grand-daughter, Lainie Gilford and Jacob Ettinger. Many thanks to my Shul family for all the calls, contributions and good wishes in honor of this wonderful occasion. Fondly, Bobbie Fink

{ A special “thanks” to our Synagogue family and friends, for all the good wishes on the birth of our new granddaughter, Livia Chaya. Marc & Eileen Feder

{ We wish to offer my most sincere thanks to Rabbi Gordon for everything he did for us and for my mother, Susan E. Rhine, after she was admitted to hospice in early September. On September 21, my family was told she only had a few days remaining. Rabbi Gordon answered halachic questions I had for him and offered to visit her, but the following day we heard that she had only hours left. Rabbi Gordon, without being asked, dropped everything and rushed to the nursing home in Highland Park where my family had already congregated. Rabbi Gordon arrived only minutes after she passed. Literally at the worst part of the worst day in our lives, he brought comfort by reading Tehillim with us by her side. He assisted further by sitting with us in the waiting room where he went over the laws and customs of levaya, shiva, and sheloshim. He offered to conduct the service at Shalom Memorial and performed a moving ceremony. The entire Rhine family wants to thank Rabbi Gordon for being there at the exact right times with the proper measures of experience, leadership, and comfort. We also wish to thank the members of LJCAGBI for the two shiva trays and many meaningful visits throughout that week. Thank you. Adam and Karen Rhine

Please get your articles in for the Shul Bulletin

If you have a program, announcement or event, please send your electronic submissions to the editor at [email protected] or submit a hard copy to the Shul office before the deadline (March/April issue—Sunday, February 5, 2017). Please call the Shul office at 847-676-0491 for further details.


Presents a Screening of:

Woman In Gold (film synopsis), “Sixty years after fleeing Vienna, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), an elderly Jewish woman, attempts to reclaim family possessions that were seized by the Nazis. Among them is a famous portrait of Maria's beloved Aunt Adele: Gustave Klimt's "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." With the help of young lawyer Randy Schoeberg (Ryan Reynolds), Maria embarks upon a lengthy legal battle to recover this painting and several others, but it will not be easy, for Austria considers them national treasures.”—https://www.google.com/#q=golden+woman+movie

Saturday, January 7, 2017 @ 7:00 p.m. (Followed by a discussion)

Please join us at this thought-provoking, complimentary program—open to LJCAGBI members and non-members—which will be held at LJCAGBI, 7117 N. Crawford in Lincolnwood. Please RSVP to the synagogue office: (847) 676-0491 or to Rabbi Gordon at [email protected].

Movie Nights at LJCAGBI—all winter long!


Presents a Screening of:

Aftermath (film synopsis), “Two brothers uncover a dark secret that forces them to confront the history of their family, their village and their nation. A tense and gripping thriller inspired by actual events, Aftermath caused controversy in its native Poland due to its present-day reckoning with a dark period in that country’s history. ” —from the DVD Case Cover

Saturday, February 4, 2017 @ 7:30 p.m. (Followed by a discussion)

Please join us at this thought-provoking, complimentary program—open to LJCAGBI members and non-members—which will be held at LJCAGBI, 7117 N. Crawford in Lincolnwood. Please RSVP to the synagogue office: (847) 676-0491 or to Rabbi Gordon at [email protected].

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSkokie, IllinoisPermit No. 189

Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation7117 N. Crawford AvenueLincolnwood, IL 60712

FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED

POSTMASTER: Dated MaterialPlease deliver by December 30, 2016

Join your LJCAGBI friends and family for a special

Chanukah Shabbat Kiddush*

Saturday, December 31

Join us for davening, followed by Kiddush lunch with

Chanukah treats, games & zimerot for the whole family.

Celebrate the end of 2016 by celebrating Chanukah with LJCAGBI

RSVP to the Shul office to ensure that there is enough for everyone!

*Sponsors are welcome

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