CJHS E-News: Men's Basketball Team Wins Three Games in Three Days

The 2005-2006 men's basketball team continues to have an outstanding season, with victories this week over Cristo Rey, Yeshiva, and Universal. Recent highlights include an amazing 37 points by Brian Pogrund against Universal, despite being frequently double-teamed, as well as steady performances by Michael Brunwasser and Matthew Silverman. The men's record is an impressive 11-4. They are an exciting team to watch and we hope that you will come out and support us in our remaining games. The next game is Sunday, February 5 at 3:30 against Yeshiva. The game will be played at Hillel Torah.

Large Portion of Student Body Attends Local AIPAC Event

Thirty CJHS students attended AIPAC's Midwest Regional Conference on January 29. They heard from top-notch speakers and attended a variety of breakout sessions specializing in the current situation of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Twelve members of the House of Representatives attended along with Senator Dick Durbin. The students then attended a concert given by Hadag Nachash, Israel's leading hip-hop/rap group. CJHS received special recognition due to its high involvement in recruiting and planning of the event. Senior Jacob Shapiro had the privilege of presenting an award to retiring congressman Henry Hyde.

Yasher koach to all of our students, parents, and faculty members who attended, and Kol Hakavod to Jacob Shapiro, Jason Wiznitzer, Aaron Magid, Brian Pogrund, and Aliza Stein, who were among the high school co-chairs for the event.

Three Students Attend NAAJHS Shabbaton

Yael Schwartz, Rosie Kiken, and Sofi Petchersky represented CJHS last week at the Continental Shabbaton of the North American Association of Jewish High Schools (NAAJHS) in Los Angeles. The Shabbaton, which was attended by 80 students from 16 Jewish high schools across North America, focused on chesed and tikkun olam. All participants took part in several chesed projects throughout their five days in Los Angeles. As leaders in our Va'ad Tikkun Olam, Yael, Rosie, and Sofi had the opportunity to share the breadth and depth of chesed opportunities available at CJHS. Thanks to Ms. Musin for staffing this Shabbaton and traveling with our students.

Second Annual Ski Trip a Success!

On Monday, while teachers graded exams and students enjoyed a day of Semester Break, over forty students and faculty members took to the slopes for the second annual Va'ad-sponsored ski trip. Following spirited davening for Rosh Chodesh Shevat, students and faculty headed to Wilmot Mountain for a day of skiing. Although it was not snowing in Chicago, somehow the snow was falling in Wisconsin. After several enjoyable hours at Wilmot, everyone headed south to cheer the men's basketball team on to victory over Universal High School. A special thanks to Rabbi Goldberg, Mr. Gross, Ms. Musin, and CJHS parent Mrs. Sara Coven for chaperoning the ski trip, and to Va'ad members Sandy Johnston, Rachel Braun, and Matthew Silverman for planning the event.

Tu B'Shevat is Coming on February 13!

CJHS is having a tree-planting competition among each of the grades and the staff in the building. Please contact Rabbi Fryer (847-423-5962 or RabbiFryer@chicagojhs.com) to find out how to purchase trees in Israel from the Jewish National Fund, and make sure to specify to which grade you would like to attribute the tree.

The Parent Organization is sponsoring a Tu B'Shevat Seder on Saturday, February 11 at 7:15 p.m. Join other CJHS parents for a light dairy dinner and desserts. The program will take place at the home of Mark and Sandy Levin, 1939 Lewis Lane in Highland Park. Please RSVP to Sandy Levin at levusgro@aol.com by February 4.

Special Lunch and Learn for Parent and Staff Communities Begins Wednesday, February 8

Dr. David Zisenwine, the United Synagogue Scholar-in-Residence, will be teaching at CJHS on three Wednesdays--February 8, 15, and 22--from 12:15-1:30 p.m. in the Social Hall. During these sessions, Dr. Zisenwine will explore the development of Jewish identities. Dr. Zisenwine is currently a professor at Tel Aviv University, specializing in Jewish education, Jewish identity issues and Biblical literature.

The sessions are open to parents and members of our extended community. Cost for the sessions is $18 (or $6 per session), which includes lunch. Please respond to RabbiFryer@chicagojhs.com if you are able to attend. The RSVP deadline for the February 8 session is 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 6.

Note Change of Date: Eleventh Grade College Program to be held on February 22

Attention eleventh graders and parents: Come to an imperative and informative college information session at 7:00 p.m. on February 22 at the school. Learn about standardized testing, college visits, analyzing transcripts, utilizing technology for research, financial aid and more during this important evening.

Please call Sharna Marcus, College Counseling Associate, to RSVP by February 15 at 847-324-3733.

AP Exams to be Administered at CJHS May 1-12

Juniors and seniors have received detailed information about the Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams, which will be administered at CJHS during the first two weeks of May. As outlined in the materials, March 24 is the deadline for submitting registration forms, along with the exam fee of $82 per exam, made payable to CJHS. Because the AP Exams are administered nationwide, dates and times for exams are fixed, and there are no make-up dates. Accordingly, students should avoid scheduling appointments, etc. that conflict with listed test dates and times.

CJHS Hosts ACT on Three Sundays in 2006

The first of three ACT Exams will be given at CJHS on Feb. 12. Arrive at the school at 7:45 a.m. Bring sharpened pencils and an ACT approved calculator.

Students may register for the April 9, and June 11 tests on paper or via the Web. The regular registration deadline for the February 12 test has passed; students may register until January 20 by paying a late fee of $18 in addition to the basic fee of $29 (ACT only) or $43 (ACT plus Writing). Paper registration materials are available in the College Counseling office.

Register online for the ACT.

CJHS Announces Calendar for the 5767 (2006-07) School Year

Next year's calendar is taking shape. Some important dates are listed below. More details will follow as plans are confirmed and our calendar is coordinated with partner institutions.

August 17--New Teacher Orientation
August 21, 22, 24--Staff Development
August 23--Student Orientation
August 28--First Day of School
September 4--School Closed--Labor Day
September 22--School Closed--Erev Rosh Hashanah
October 2--School Closed--Yom Kippur
October 6--School Closed--Erev Succot
October 13--School Closed--Hoshanah Rabbah
November 23-24--School Closed--Thanksgiving
December 25-29--No Classes--Winter Recess
January 1-5--No Classes--Winter Recess
January 15--School Closed--MLK Day
January 16-19--Fall Exams
January 22--No Classes--Semester Break
February 19--School Closed--Presidents' Day
April 2-13--School Closed--Passover Recess
May 22--Noon Dismissal--Erev Shavuot
May 23-24--School Closed--Shavuot
May 28--School Closed--Memorial Day
May 30--Graduation
June 4-8--Spring Exams
June 11-14--Staff Development

Moriah Art Fair

Moriah Congregation is once again hosting its All-Judaic Art & Jewelry Fair over the weekend of February 18-20, 2006. The show's hours are Saturday evening, 8:00 -11:30 p.m., Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Admission for the three-day show is $10 per person. Parking and free shuttle buses are available at Northbrook Court behind the LaSalle Bank, on the lower level east of Neiman Marcus. A very limited number of special needs spaces will be available on Sunday and Monday in the Moriah parking lot.

This year for the very first time we will be offering a Gift Registry. Will you become b'nai mitzvah in the next year? Will you graduate from high school or college? Do you have a special birthday or anniversary? If so, this is the place for you. Come by on Friday, February 17 from 2:00-3:45 p.m. to register in advance, or you may also register throughout the show. Please stop by our Gift Registry table to find out where your friends and family have registered!

For more information, call the Moriah office at 847-948-5340 or click on the link below.

More Art Fair Information...

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

Our condolences to Rabbi Ruven and Adina Barkan on the loss of Adina's grandmother, Florence Alexander, who died on Friday, January 20. The burial was on Monday, January 23 in Los Angeles.

Religious Life at CJHS

Yasher koach to Sofi Petchersky and Hannah Rosenbaum for presenting at the Jewish Educators Assembly's (JEA) mitzvah program for sixth graders from Conservative religious schools throughout the Chicagoland area about mitzvah projects that they can incorporate into their Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations.

Yasher koach to Richard Kahn, Eli Miller, Hannah Rosenbaum, Danny Silver, Nat Sufrin, Seth Berkman, Yael Kiken, David Weltman, Rachel Binstock, Brian Pogrund, and Jennifer Feldman for leading Tefillah, and to Rabbi Fryer, Richard Kahn and Sandy Johnston for reading Torah.

Yasher koach to Rosie Kiken, Yael Schwartz, and Sofi Petchersky for presenting at Tefillah about the Tikkun Olam projects at the NAAJHS conference they attended.

Read the parashah, haftorah, and JTS commentaries online.

This week's parashah is Bo.

Candlelighting is at 4:50 today. Shabbat shalom!

Read a parashah commentary from the UJ.