E-News
8 Adar II 5765/March 18, 2005

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Chicagoland Jewish High School receives largest gift in school's history

We are delighted to announce that Chicagoland Jewish High School (CJHS) has just received a $1.5 million challenge gift, the largest single gift in the history of the school.

This commitment, made by Stewart and Jennifer Flink, is to encourage both new and increased giving for our new high school facility. Any commitments for that purpose (multi-year pledges and gifts) made by June 15, 2005 will be matched dollar for dollar by the challenge.

The Flinks' gift comes at a very exciting time for our four-year-old day school. Enrollment is building each year and our school is nearly out of the space needed to accommodate students, faculty and administrative staff.

As you may know, CJHS is still in a very preliminary stage of fundraising for the new building and ongoing operating costs. We have already received commitments from Board members, parents and other community friends totaling more than $4.5 million. The Flinks' leadership gift gives an immediate boost to the effort.

"First and foremost, we are making this gift because we believe passionately in Jewish day school education and the vital role that Chicagoland Jewish High School plays in educating the next generation of Jewish leaders," says Stewart Flink. In addition, the challenge focuses our own giving, and the community's, to enable us to quickly reach $8 million in commitments-or about half the cost of our new facility," he adds.

Flink, President of the CJHS Board, is Managing Member of Crestview Capital Partners, LLC in Northbrook. "Once we reach that level of support, CJHS will qualify for bond financing to complete construction of the school in 2006-2007," he adds. "The plan for the new building will accommodate more than 200 students in Phase 1, and ultimately, more than 400 students."

A 7.3-acre block of land has already been located and purchased by the school leadership at Lake Cook Road and Pine Street in Deerfield. The site is within one mile of the Northbrook campus of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago, the largest Schechter school in the nation with 1,100 students. In November, the Deerfield Village Board voted to approve the CJHS Final Site Development Plan.

"There may never be another opportunity in our lifetime to leave such a profound legacy for our Jewish community," says Flink. "We have a growing network of benefactors who are deeply committed to securing the future of our educational institution for today's and tomorrow's children. We have already met with many key stakeholders in the community who value Jewish education. We will do this…we will make this dream happen."

"If you look at national trends, there is a growing demand for Jewish high schools such as CJHS," adds Jennifer Flink. "Major metropolitan areas including New York, Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta, just to name a few, all have multiple and diverse Jewish high schools. With CJHS, Chicago has joined this trend. It is clear from the number of students currently enrolled at the school and the increasing interest among families in the Chicago area, that CJHS is filling a need here that hasn't currently been met. Chicago is ready for this challenge."

Stewart and Jennifer also have a very personal reason for wanting to get the building off the ground. Their eldest daughter Mollie was one of the first five graduates of CJHS last year. She is currently spending a year in Israel before heading to New York to attend the Joint Program at Columbia University/Jewish Theological Seminary. They also have two daughters and a nephew currently at the school, and a son at the Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook. The Flinks plan to name the sanctuary of the new building after Jennifer's brother, James (Jimmy) Caplan, who died tragically in a fire while in medical school.

We express our deepest appreciation to the Flinks for their leadership and generosity. If you are considering a gift or pledge to the school in response to the challenge, please contact the Development Office at 847-470-6700 or email Director of Development Michael Rubin at mrubin@chicagojhs.com.

CJHS parent details experiences in Argentina

The Spanish IV AP class is studying the "Dirty War" in Argentina and Chile during the 70's and 80's. Alicia Gejman, mother of CJHS student Ron Gejman, was the guest lecturer in the class on Friday, March 18, answering students' prepared questions in Spanish and giving her own personal account of living in Argentina during the aftermath of the military junta's takeover in 1976.

Debate team meets

The debate team completed its first actual debate on March 17. "I am extremely proud of our debaters as they have come along way from our first practices," said Academic Dean Bruce Scher. "Their cases are becoming more complex and better organized." Scheduling competition is in the works.

CJHS plans for Purim

Get ready for Purim on March 25. Come dressed for the costume contest. Prepare you Open-Mic Shpiels. Save your appetite for the festive seudah. Bring your edible groggers -macaroni and other shakable food to use as groggers/noisemakers. Food will be donated to the food pantry. The festivities begin with Tefillot at 8 a.m. will include Kriat HaMegillah, the reading of the book of Esther.

Immediately following Tefillah, at around 9:30, there will be a seudah, a festive meal for breakfast. During breakfast, students and faculty will present Purim shpiels, humorous skits. The faculty performs a shpiel that lightly pokes fun at the school. If you are interested in doing a shpiel, please sign up with Ron Ben Joseph.

Classes will resume at 10:45 a.m. Since Purim is on Friday, the service project that CJHS usually doed on the day of Purim will take place on Monday afternoon, March 28. There will be classes during the first three periods. The students will embark on their service projects at 11:15 a.m. The freshmen and sophomores will pack food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The juniors and seniors will engage in a multi-step program to understand the challenges of poverty: dialogue with a group of homeless people, shop at Jewel on a limited budget, and donate food to the Northfield Food Pantry. Looking forward to a joyous holiday!

Students celebrate Pi Day

Students celebrated Pi day from March 14-15 by participating in a Pi Day scavenger hunt. For a completed scavenger hunt students received pie at lunch. The winner of the hunt was junior Daniel Bier. Congratulations!

Volunteer at CJHS

Chicagoland Jewish High School is always seeking parent volunteers to help in our school community. If you have any spare time and would like to support our school in a very special way, please contact Mr. Scher at 847-324-3709. We look forward to welcoming new parents to our Volunteer Program.

The Purim Skance

Every year, the Va'ad holds a Purim dance for its students. This year, the social committee has decided to add a little twist to the customary Purim dance. On March 26, CJHS will host an on-ice dance with a great DJ and cosmic lighting - thus, a Skance. The Skance is from 8 to 10:30 p.m., and located at the Northbrook Park District Sportscenter in Northbrook, IL. It costs $15 if you bring a can of food to donate, and $18 if you don't bring a can. CJHS is officially inviting CHUSY region to the Skance, and any other youth group member (or friend) is welcome! Tickets will be bought at the door, but please RSVP to the social committee with your name and the number of people you are bringing with you. If you have any questions, or would like to RSVP, please send an e-mail to CJHSskance@yahoo.com.

Support the Va'ad: buy your Challah from Breadsmith through CJHS

Welcome to the new and improved Va'ad Breadsmith Order Form! Have your son or daughter give the Breadsmith form and money to Geoff Levin, Va'ad Treasurer, on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the desired Friday delivery. Your challot and other selections will be delivered to the school on the Friday after the order is placed (or the Thursday after, if there is no school on Friday that week.) Save yourselves a trip to the store and help support the CJHS Va'ad at the same time. All of the profit from your Challah orders goes directly to the Va'ad. If you need an order form, please email Geoff Levin at geoff847@juno.com.

CJHS Baseball T-shirts are available!

Show your CJHS school spirit! If you would like to purchase a CJHS Baseball Tee, bring in $15 cash or check written out to CJHS and turn it in to any Va'ad member. Sizes small through extra large are available for purchase.

USPC Weekly Trivia Question

Where did U.S. Senate recently approve to possibility drill for oil?

To read the answer click here.

This question has been brought to you by secretary of the U.S. Politics Club Ari Berkowicz. To learn more about the USPC see Ari or President of the Club Nat Sufrin.

Annual 'Friend Raising Event' features Israel Consul General

The Third Annual "Friend Raising" Event on March 27 is fast approaching! Join us for a very special evening of celebrating our accomplishments and looking to the bright future of our school. Israel Consul General Moshe Ram is the honored guest speaker, and a number of our talented students will provide musical entertainment.

Sandy and Mark Levin are graciously hosting the event in their Highland Park home. This is the school's main fundraising event. Thanks to the generosity of underwriters who have assumed all event expenses, all gifts benefit the school and are tax-deductible. Proceeds will support school operations, and especially scholarships, so critical to providing an outstanding education to all academically qualified students, regardless of ability to pay.

This year, $237,000 in scholarships was committed to deserving students. Gifts received by March 20 will be listed in the event program. If you have any questions regarding the event, please call CJHS at 847-470-6700.

Save the Date: Rosh Hodesh Celebration of Learning

Attend the Rosh Hodesh Celebration of Learning: 350 Years of Jewish Women in America with featured speaker Dr. Gail Twersky Reimer, Executive Director of the Jewish Women's Archive, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on April 3 at Nation Louis University, 2840 Sheridan Road in Evanston. The cost is $36, $18 for students. The event is hosted by Miriam's Path and the Jewish Women's Archive and CJHS. For more information contact Marcia Seltzer Tobias at 847-410-3900 or mstobias@cfje.org.

Save the Date: Parent Teacher Conferences

Spring parent teacher conferences will take place on April 4 from noon to 9 p.m. There will be no classes for students that day. Please call 847-423-5979 to reserve your conference times.

Professional Day - No Classes

CJHS faculty will hold a professional day on 4/8. No classes will meet that day. There will be classes on 4/15.

Save the Date: IFYC

The next IFYC event will be on April 10. Please RSVP to Vicky Neiman by April 5.

Summer Programs/Scholarship Info

The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem Summer Program Session I: July 3 - July 21 Session II: July 24 - August 11
An opportunity to study the classic texts of Judaism, including rabbinic literature, Bible, and Jewish thought. Classes are built on the traditional model of Chevruta, learning one-on-one with a partner, and Shiur, a seminar-style class. For more information, contact Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb or Rabbi Gail Diamond: e-mail yeshiva@uscj.org phone 972/622-3116 fax 972/624-6473 www.ConservativeYeshiva.org

Applications are now available for the Optimist Club of Deerfield Volunteer Service Award. The deadline is April 2, 2005. Students interested in applying for this scholarship should come to the College Counseling Office. Students can also visit the FASTWEB site at www.fastweb.com for additional scholarship options.

Sponsor the Yearbook and Prints

The yearbook staff is accepting sponsorships for the 2005/5765 edition of Yachad. All sponsors will be included in a sponsors book that is included with the yearbook. The sponsors book is a great opportunity to send a greeting from your family, advertise your business, honor CJHS's first full graduating class, etc. The deadline is May 2.

Full page @ $200
1/2 page @ $100
1/4 page @ $50
Business card @ $25

If you would like to sponsor either the back cover or front/back inside covers please contact us. We can accept photographs, business cards, and scanned jpeg images. Questions? Please contact us.
Business Manager: Jason Wiznitzer
Yearbook Advisor: Mr. Eric Zaff
E-mail: yachad@chicagojhs.com

The Prints, CJHS literary journal is offering a sponsorship option. To have your name listed in the back of the publication, give any amount and your name will be printed. Submit your cash or checks to publisher Garrett Jacobs. If you have any questions contact advisors Ms. Sharna Marcus or Mr. Jordan Blumenthal.

Thank you

Thank you to the Kanter family for sponsoring breakfast on March 14 in honor of Daniel's birthday on March 14. If you are interested in sponsoring breakfast, contact Alisa Waldman, PO Committee Chair at alewinwaldman@sbcglobal.net.

Yasher Koach

Daveners: Abby Landis, Benji Derman, Josh Warshawsky, Jacob Kanter, David Weltman, Shai Kamin,

Torah: Aaron Magid

D'var Torah: Sister Mary Ellen Coom from the American Jewish Committee, focus on Catholic-Jewish Education.

Has your email changed or will it be changing? If so, email smarcus@chicagojhs.com with your new address.

Shabbat Shalom! Candle lighting is at 5:43 p.m. Parshat hashavuah is available through the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Sharna Marcus
E-News Editor
History Teacher
College Counseling Associate
Prints and US Politics Club Adviser
Student Technology Services Coordinator
Chicagoland Jewish High School
7800 W. Lyons Street
Morton Grove, IL 60053
Phone: 847-324-3733
Fax: 847-324-3701
Email: smarcus@chicagojhs.com
Web: http://www.chicagojhs.com