Executive Director's Weekly Email

This Shabbat has been designated as Jewish Genetic Shabbat. The "Jewish" genetic disorders are a group of conditions that are more common among Jews of Central and Eastern European descent. Although these disorders can occur in the general population, they do so at a significantly higher frequency in the Ashkenazi population. Every person of Ashkenazi descent has a one in five chance of being a carrier for a Jewish genetic disorder. Some of these disorders are Tay-Sachs, Familial Dysautonomia, Cananvan, Gaucher, Bloom's syndrome and Torsion Dystonia. Sephardic disorders also exist. While these conditions vary in severity and age of onset, most of the Jewish genetic disorders are debilitating, and some are fatal. Many of the disorders lack effective treatment options at this time.

Being a carrier for a particular disorder does not effect one's life at all; a carrier is a healthy person who carries a genetic mutation for one of these disorders, which may be passed to his or her offspring. If two people are carriers of the same disease-causing mutation, with each pregnancy there is a one in four chance of having an affected child.

The Jewish legal literature tells us one should not bring a child into the world when it is known that they may not live long and will suffer horribly from a very young age. Death is not the end result for all Jewish genetic disorders: some disorders allow one to live a relatively normal life. Ultimately we must remember that knowledge is power, and the more information that we are able to give people, the healthier and happier our communities will be.

This is the mission of the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders, which has provided education and programming to the Jewish, professional and general communities since 1999. The Center works to empower community members to seek out information and prevention strategies for Jewish genetic disorders and hereditary cancers. You can learn more about how the Center raises awareness, including through education, screening and prevention programs, an information and referral help line, and advocacy, atwww.jewishgenetics.org

The most important thing for all of us is to be educated and act on that knowledge to ensure that these preventable diseases are, in fact, prevented. Rabbi Newman Kamin

The Cantor's Concert is this Sunday. We do still have some tickets left, but they are going fast.  Don't miss out on this entertaining afternoon.  We start at 2:00 p.m. with a delightful reception and silent auction.  The concert is at 3:00 p.m. and then we'll finish up the silent auction and have dessert and coffee.  Please note that this event is a benefit for our congregation.  All proceeds will go to Am Yisrael. Click here to order tickets.

Please note: you don't have to be present to participate in the silent auction.  You can bid by proxy.  Simply send in your minimum and maximum bid(s) and what items you'd like to bid on.  The list of items was sent earlier... and please note that any errors in grammar, punctuation etc are fully my responsibility and should not reflect on the donor or the quality of the gift.  I apologize for all errors.

We've been told that there is a little confusion about the raffle. We apologize for that, and want to clarify.  We are raffling off 6 reserved seats during the High Holy Days, but we are NOT selling tickets to High Holy Days for our members and we are not assigning seats.  Our High Holy Day ticket policy is exactly the same as it was last year regarding purchasing tickets for GUESTS, but our members do not have to purchase tickets for themselves.  The raffle, however, is for the opportunity to have us reserve 6 seats for the winner.   Raffle tickets are $18 each, $50 for 3.  The drawing will be held following the Cantor's Concert.  Please contact me directly if you have any questions. 

Women's Mitzvah Group started at Am Yisrael almost ten years ago and in the past decade, it has grown to include so much more than performing mitzvot. With that in mind, the group has changed its name to reflect the full range of activities. All women of Am Yisrael are welcome to join The Women's League of Am Yisrael, women of all ages and stages. 

From Nathan Friedman, one of our students:

"For my mitzvah project, I am making welcome bags for the children who are clients of Family Promise.  The children and their families stay at local synagogues and churches for several months while they are working to get their lives back on track.  I am collecting new and/or gently used board games, puzzles, activity/coloring books and small toys.  Family Promise is a great program because it helps transitional families and their children."  Items may be left in the box marked for Family Promise in our school lobby. 

In these trying economic times, the Ark is in great need of food on an ongoing basis. We can help by bringing the following food items to the synagogue which will be delivered to the Ark:  cold cereals, oatmeal, rice, canned fruit,canned soups and gefilte fish. All items must be kosher.
We will continue to collect food for the Ark and the Northfield food pantries for as long as it is required. Please bring food to the synagogue as often as you are able, and in any amount.  No donation is too small. All donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

As a mitzvah project one of our students, Zack Piell, is collecting new and lightly worn shoes to give to the Share Your Soles Foundation so they can deliver them to people in need in third world countries. If you have any shoes that you and your family no longer need or use, please bring them to Am Yisrael any time before May 1 and deposit them in the Share Your Soles Box at the synagogue.

In anticipation of the Tikkun Olam Fair on October 28th the Tikkun Olam Committee has formulated the idea of knitting/crocheting hats for IDF soldiers, and children and adults who are cancer patients.  Instead of doing the actual knitting only on October 28th they thought it would be fun to begin this project this spring and into the summer.  Beginning knitters as well as more experienced ones are invited.  Please e-mail  Lynn Denenberg if you are interested and whether you would prefer to meet in the daytime or in the evening, and which day (s) work for you!  This promises to be a enjoyable Tikkun Olam adventure.  We hope to begin sometime in May.

Click here to see the monthly bulletin. 

Click here to listen to Cantor Simon's Adon Olam challenge melodies.

Click here to submit your suggestion for a new melody for Adon Olam.  Please - email submissions only!  You are also invited to use this same link to send the Cantor your reviews of the various versions of Adon Olam.   

Shabbat Shalom.

Nancy

Nancy Holab Nevins

Executive Director

WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF AM YISRAEL:

Upcoming events:

Wed. May 23 - 7:30 p.m. Beading night

The WL meets monthly September through June.  Programs are always timely and interesting.  For more information contact Deanna Jacobsondnajacobson@gmail.com  or Deede Wittenstein ddwittenstein@yahoo.com.

back to top 

LIBRARY NEWS 

 back to top                                              

IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY 

Members of Am Yisrael have been invited to receive reduced admission to the newest exhibition at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, entitled "Ours to Fight For: American Jews in the Second World War", which is open to the public through June 17. This in-depth exhibition examines how the war was experienced both on and off the battlefield by Jewish men and women who served in America's Armed Forces. The voices of soldiers and sailors, airmen and marines drive this exhibition, engaging visitors and allowing them to make connections with the experiences of soldiers 60 years ago to those of troops serving today. The exhibition concludes with a Wall of Honor featuring photographs of nearly 400 local World War II service people.  To receive the reduced admission, 

By Judy Dvorak Gray and Marla N Gamoran

Though not many of us can take a year off to "eat, pray and love" like Elizabeth Gilbert, there is another way that we can bring about growth and change in our lives and impact others. And we can do it in Israel where the opportunity for Jewish learning abounds and the societal needs can benefit from the skills, expertise, and lay leadership experience of North American Jews.

Volunteer & Study, co-sponsored by the Conservative Yeshiva of United Synagogue and Skilled Volunteers for Israel (SVFI), comprises a half-day of study at the Yeshiva and a half day of volunteering with an Israeli non-profit organization in Jerusalem. The program is open to college students and adults of all learning levels and religious backgrounds who want to enrich their knowledge and contribute their experience and skills to Israeli society. The program will run for two sessions: Session I takes place from July 1 to 19, 2012; Session II -July 22 to August 9, 2012. Participants may sign up for either one or both summer sessions.

Founded in 1995, the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem offers skills for studying traditional texts in an egalitarian Jewish community, taught by a learned and supportive faculty. Learning is lishma, for its own sake, without exams or papers.   Volunteer & Study students will choose either morning or afternoon study at the Conservative Yeshiva. Morning classes include Hebrew Ulpan or Talmud studies. The afternoon courses include Rabbinic Texts, Tanach (Bible), Tefillah (prayer) and Halacha (Jewish law). Participants will also be involved in events and activities with other Conservative Yeshiva students, including special learning days, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Friday night dinners.

Volunteer & Study provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in learning about the Jewish traditions of Tikun Olam (repairing the world) and Gemilut Chasidim (acts of loving kindness) while simultaneously applying their personal and professional knowledge through skilled volunteering. The program integrates meaningful community service with study; enriching the learning experience and modeling civic responsibility .

Each participant will choose a volunteer position in one of four tracks: Education, Environment, Caring for the Community or Organization Development which includes social media, marketing and resource development. The Skilled Volunteers for Israel staff will match the volunteer to a non-profit organization in Jerusalem, depending on each participant's interests, skills, professional experience and availability. Orientation and preparation for the volunteer's assignment, as well as on-site support throughout the experience, will be provided by Skilled Volunteers for Israel. Volunteeringprovides a unique opportunity to form personal relationships with the staff and population served by the organization and to build professional relationships with Israeli colleagues.

Volunteer & Study participants will return with a richer knowledge of Judaism and a deeper understanding of Israeli society, more committed to our heritage and connected to the people and future of the Jewish state.

Visit Israel to eat and pray. But also come to study and give. The love part will follow.

For more information about Volunteer & Study, contact Rabbi Gail Diamond at the Conservative Yeshiva(www.ConservativeYeshiva.org), tel: +972-2-622-3116or Skilled Volunteers for Israel(www.skillvolunteerisrael.org), tel: USA 1-608-469-0458, Israel  052-3817163.

Judy Dvorak Gray is a member of the Masorti Movement in Israel and is the Israel Coordinator for Skilled Volunteers for Israel. Marla N Gamoran is Director for Skilled Volunteers for Israel.

In response to the economic downturn, JUF has launched J-HELP, a special initiative to increase community agencies' capacity to provide basic human services particularly to newly unemployed middle class families and individuals.  The website is www.juf.org/jhelp

 
The USCJ website is especially helpful when you are traveling and looking for a synagogue.  Visit the website: USCJ.org