CJHS men's and women's basketball teams played hard throughout the week. The men's team followed up difficult losses at Universal on Sunday with wins on Tuesday night at Cristo Rey. Yasher koach to senior Brian Pogrund, who stepped in to coach the junior varsity team to a comeback victory in overtime. The game is sure to go down in CJHS history! On Wednesday, the teams lost to Ida Crown, but the games were close every step of the way.

Come support the CJHS men's basketball teams this Saturday night when they play Roycemore at home. It's Senior Night, and each senior men's basketball player will be honored. The junior varsity game begins at 7:30 p.m., and the varsity will play at 9:00 p.m. at Joy of the Game in Deerfield.

The CJHS women's basketball team began its week with a tough loss at Ida Crown but showed its true colors with a commanding 37-11 win over Waldorf. On Monday, the team will travel to Elgin to play Willows Academy in the IHSA state tournament — a first for CJHS! The Lady Tigers also have games next Wednesday at Northtown Academy and next Thursday against St. Viator at home. Senior Night for women will be on Thursday.

CJHS has begun the registration process for spring athletics. The lineup includes men's and women's soccer, men's tennis, coed ultimate Frisbee, and men's golf. CJHS athletes should see the athletic board or Mr. Cohen to sign up or for more information.

Do you have old shoes that are collecting dust? The Va'ad Tikkun Olam has begun a shoe drive, which will run through February 15. Students are collecting shoes for needy children and adults. The shoes will be distributed through Share Your Soles. Please make sure your donated shoes are gently worn or new, clean, and can withstand heavy wear. For more information, contact Arianna Rozen, or Rachel Binstock.

We are pleased to welcome Victor Abecassis and Miriam Merens to the sophomore class. Both students transferred at the beginning of the new semester. We are proud to have you and your families in our CJHS community.

CJHS welcomes Matan Ring who recently joined the faculty. Mr. Ring has extensive experience as a solo and ensemble dancer and dance teacher and is currently pursuing a double degree in Communications Studies and Dance at Northwestern University. Among his teaching experiences, he has taught Israeli dancing and served as choreographer at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. A native Israeli, Mr. Ring served as First Sergeant in the IDF, commanding a reconnaissance team on the Israel-Lebanon border. At CJHS, he will teach dance and choreograph school musical productions.

Rabbi Fryer's tenth grade Humash class recently began an in-depth study of the book of Leviticus. To help illustrate the detailed process of the sacrificial system, students were instructed to design creative guidebooks and manuals for how to properly offer a korban (sacrifice) to God. Sophomore Tova Goldberg's Korbanot for Dummies is an example of the creativity sparked by this assignment.

College Planning Night for Juniors
The CJHS College Counseling Department will hold a college planning meeting for all junior and parents on Tuesday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. (This replaces the meeting originally scheduled for March 12.) Each junior will receive a copy of his or her cumulative transcript along with information on how to begin building a college list based on academic record and personal preferences. During the evening, Mr. Scher, Director of College Counseling, will interpret PSAT scores and will discuss the ACT, SAT I, and SAT Subject tests. Each family will also receive a copy of Less Stress, More Success: A New Approach to Guiding your Teen Through College Admissions and Beyond. Co-authored by MIT Dean of Admissions Marilee Jones, this new book explores ways parents can help their children reduce the anxiety surrounding college admissions and strengthen the parent-child bond in the process.

AP Exams
Registration is underway for AP Exams, which will be administered at CJHS during the weeks of May 7 and May 14. Information about the AP program and specific tests can be found at www.collegeboard.com. Registration forms and exam fees ($83 per exam) are due by March 16.

Sunday ACT Tests to be at Held at CJHS
Most colleges require applicants to submit scores from either the SAT I or the ACT. So that CJHS students can avoid testing on Shabbat, CJHS is offering the ACT on three Sundays this year: February 11, April 15, and June 10. Students who are registering for a non-Saturday test date must do so on paper rather than online and must also submit a letter verifying that their religious beliefs prohibit Saturday testing. Rabbi Goldberg has prepared a personalized letter for each student. These letters and paper registration materials are available in the College Counseling office.

The regular registration deadline for the April test is March 9. The registration deadline for the February test has passed, but if you did not register you can try to test standby. Standby testing is permitted for an additional $39 fee and only if there are enough seats, materials, and staff remaining after admission of all registered students. If you plan to try to test standby, click here to find out what you must do.

This week, the list of cast members for Into the Woods was announced. Students can still sign up to work on the show's technical crew (including set design, costuming, makeup, and stage crew); see Ms. Robinson for more information.

Mark your calendars now for CJHS's Spring Musical, Into the Woods, which will be performed on March 25 and 26 at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park.

Kol Hakavod to Elli Cohn, Lea Sarris, Esther Lowe, and to Ms. Musin, for volunteering at Café ARK on January 31.

Last weekend, several CJHS students attended the Sixth Grade Shabbaton at the Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in Northbrook. Eli Miller, Matthew Silverman, Sofi Petchersky, Lindsay Seidenberg, Josh Warshawsky, Jacob Stoehr, and Lilli Flink helped to plan and implement the programming. Staffing these Shabbatonim is part of an ongoing effort by CJHS and CHUSY Region USY to reach out to the larger community.

1. Do you eat challah on Shabbat?
2. Do you enjoy baked goods like pumpkin chocolate chip bread, oatmeal raisin cookies, and fudge brownies?
3. Would you like to help support the Va'ad and make social events less expensive?

Ordering from Breadsmith is quick and easy. Simply complete an order form and place in Geoff Levin's box or e-mail your order to geoff847@juno.com before lunch on Wednesday on any week. The baked goods will be distributed on Friday morning at school. Baked goods include various types of challah, breads, and desserts. All baked goods are certified kosher pareve and are freshly baked at Breadsmith of Skokie on the morning of delivery.

Students--Don't forget that forms and checks for JNF trees are due to Rabbi Fryer by next Friday, February 9.

Next week's E-News will cover Tu B'Shevat celebrations at school.

Students, faculty, and staff were decked out in Chicago Bears jerseys, hats, and other gear on Friday, in celebration and anticipation of Super Bowl XLI. Thank you to Va'ad Vogue for organizing this theme day. Go Bears!

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of two loved ones:

David Holtzblatt, father of Ellen Holtzblatt and grandfather of Maya and Hana Hobscheid. The funeral took place on Monday. Maya and her family are still sitting shiva and will receive visitors on Saturday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 5239 Suffield Court in Skokie. Minyan will be at 7:30 p.m.

Blanche Silverman Brenner, mother of Sharon Sarris and grandmother of Lea, 10th grade student. The funeral is taking place on Friday in Pardes Channah, Israel. Lea and her family will be sitting shiva and receiving visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Shiva is at Sharon and Andrew's home, 4201 Greenwood in Skokie. Contributions in Blanche's memory may be made to the JUF's Israel Emergency Campaign.

Hamakom Yinachem Etchem B'toch Sha'ar Avalei Tziyon V'Yerushalayim.
May God's presence comfort the Holtzblatt, Hobscheid, and Sarris families among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

The Jewish Theological Seminar presents the Dina and Eli Field Family Endowed Lecture, featuring Chancellor-Elect Arnold Eisen's introductory address to the Chicago Jewish Community. The lecture will take place on Thursday, March 8, 2007, at 8:00 p.m. at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park.

This week, Hannah Miller, Seth Berkman, Rachel Braun, Richard Kahn, Rena Forester, Eli Miller, Elli Cohn, and Avi Coven led tefillah. Mrs. Eliaser and David Weltman read Torah. Eli Miller gave a summary of this week’s parashah.

It’s lighter outside, so mincha has returned to 4:30 p.m. at CJHS, except on Thursdays, when mincha will take place at 2:45 p.m. during advisory. The community is welcome to join us at mincha.

Learn about USY Summer Programs
On Super Sunday, February 4, students and their parents are invited to a USY on Wheels Information Session from 11:00 am to noon, followed by a USY Israel Pilgrimage Information Session from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the CHUSY Regional Office, 601 Skokie Blvd., Suite 402, in Northbrook. Please RSVP to (847) 714-9130. Detailed program information is available on the USY website.

Design the Israel Solidarity Day T-Shirt
Design the t-shirt everyone will wear—submit your entry today for the Israel Solidarity Day T-shirt Contest. Learn more at http://www.juf.org/pdf/isd_tshirt.pdf.

Melava Malka at Spertus
Spertus warmly invites Chicago families to a Melava Malka (farewell to the Sabbath queen) on Saturday, February 3, 2007 from 6:01–8:30 p.m. This free event for individuals of all ages will feature a song-filled Havdalah led by Ruth Seidner, Music Director at Emanuel Congregation, followed by a spectacular performance by Chicago Chamber Musicians' award-winning ensemble-in-residence, Quintet Attacca. The evening will also include crafts programs led by museum educators, Sand Art Creations with Gloria Katz, food, games, movies, and more. The program is made possible by the generosity of Larry (CJHS Vice President) and Sheila Gerber. For reservations, call Anne Bustamante at 312.322.1729 or email abustamante@spertus.edu.

Natan Sharansky to Speak at Moriah
Moriah Congregation presents An Evening with Natan Sharansky on Sunday, February 11, at 5:00 p.m. Natan Sharansky is perhaps the most famous of all the tens of thousands of refuseniks who sought to leave the Soviet Union and were persecuted and imprisoned for their efforts. He was also a major figure in the international human rights movement and is today an important political and social leader in Israel. General admission is $36. Call the Moriah office at 847-948-5340 or click here to order your tickets.

Women's Seder at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
Rabbi Heather Altman will lead a Women's Pesach Seder on March 7 at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. The evening will be spent conversing, singing, eating, and learning about what happened long ago on our ancient journey to freedom from Egypt. For more information, contact Merle Tovian, Continuing Education Director, via email or at 847-432-8903 x262, or RSVP online.

This week's parashah is Beshallach. Read the parashah, haftarah, and a JTS commentary online.

Candlelighting is at 4:49 p.m. today. Shabbat Shalom!