CJHS celebrates Purim

Celebrating Purim at CJHS includes dressing up. It includes reading megillah. It includes the fun of Purim shpiels and the tastes of good food. But it also means tikuun olam. It means packing two tons of food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. It means simulating the experience of buying food for a family of four on a $40 a week budget and then donating it to Northfield's food pantry. It means having fun while caring for others. It's what CJHS is about.

Freshmen Josh Warshawsky and Seth Berkman pose on Purim.

Friendraiser generates $110,000 towards scholarships

Nearly 200 friends of Chicagoland Jewish High School gathered together on Sunday, March 27th for our third annual "Friend Raising" Evening. The warmth felt at the event reflects our wonderful network of supporters, all committed to providing an excellent Jewish education to our children. Guests enjoyed socializing during the reception, with musical entertainment by the CJHS Chamber Ensemble. The ensemble, led by Arnold Sklar, includes Rebecca Hartz, Richard Kahn, Rosie Kiken and Nat Sufrin.

The program featured remarks by Stewart Flink, President; Roslyn Stein, Head of School; and Israeli Deputy Consul General Dr. Andy David, who graciously stepped in as honored speaker due to a loss in Consul General Moshe Ram's family.

Additionally, diners were treated to selections from the CJHS musical "Broadway Rocks." Students performing were Leore Avidar, Lilli Flink, Yael Kiken, Abby Landis, Lindsay Seidenberg, Matthew Silverman, and Aliza Stein. The major philanthropic event of the year raised nearly $110,000, which will directly benefit the CJHS Scholarship Fund. Close to $250,000 in scholarships was committed this year alone, as 38% of our students receive at least partial scholarship assistance. Philanthropic gifts allow us to provide an exceptional integrated Jewish and secular education to all academically qualified students, regardless of ability to pay. Many thanks to our underwriters, hosts, and supporters of the event. The celebration of our past, present and future is well-deserved!

Carver meets Buber

It was nothing less than sublime: while sitting outside in the bright sun on the first real spring day of the year at faux-wood picnic tables tucked between the trailers, the seniors and I had quite a moment. We had been discussing "Cathedral," a short story by American writer Raymond Carver. In it, a man of limited thinking and expression meets and ultimately communes with an old (male) friend of his wife's who happens to be blind. I had been firing away questions, trying to elicit meaning from the symbol of the cathedral that the two characters draw together as the sighted man tries to explain what a cathedral is; I was trying to pull depth from a discussion that touched upon but hadn't really explained the relationship among the characters and the narrator's eventual transformation.

Out of nowhere, a student who had remained silent during the discussion looked up with a revelation: Buber's philosophy could explain the story--the narrator was now becoming involved in an "I-Thou" relationship, whereas previously, he had been accustomed to "I-It" relationships. There were groans form the rest of the class--"I can't believe you're bringing Modern Jewish Thought into this!"--but they didn't last long. Perhaps tying in an idea from their Judaic curriculum seemed too cliche for their lives initially, but as the student continued explaining and supporting her point, the rest of the class grew quiet. She further explained that this form of integration was exactly the goal of CJHS. I couldn't have agreed more, or have planned such a welcomed turn of discussion. It was, as we teachers like to say, a true teaching moment.
-Susan Dickman, English Teacher

CJHS faculty attend conferences

Head of School Mrs. Stein, Director of Religious Life Rabbi Goldberg, Rabbi in Residence Rabbi Barkan, Bible Teacher Rabbi Dickman and Talmud teacher Ms. Jacobson Maisels attended "A Modern Jewish Commentary on the Book of Psalms" held at Northwestern University from March 20-21.

English teachers Ms. Dickman and Mr. Blumenthal attended the A.P. English workshops held at DePaul University.

Life after CJHS Senior Transition Night

Seniors and their parents are cordially invited to "Moving on...Strategies for Success in College" featuring speakers Bruce Scher, Director of College Counseling and Leemor Dotan, Koach, Midwest Regional Director. This event will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5th at at CJHS. Topics that will be discussed included departure, roommates, time, money management, personal and campus safety, stress management, academic success, Jewish Life on Campus, and letting go.

CJHS Israel Experience Planning Meeting

Juniors and parents, please join us on Wednesday, April 6th at 7:30 P.M. for the next planning meeting for our pilot Israel experience. We have some exciting, positive developments to share with you and want to discuss the next steps of the planning process. R.S.V.P. to Rabbi Goldberg at RabbiGoldberg@ChicagoJHS.com.

Attend an IFYC event

The IFYC partnership will meet for the National Day of Service on Sunday April 10th. We will begin our day by stocking the Northfield Food Pantry at 2:30. Afterwards a representative from each religion will present about prayer in their community. For more information please contact Josh Freeman or Vicky Neiman.

Maot Chitim

Please join us on April 11th for Maot Chitim packaging 7-9 p.m. at 6001 West Oakton. RSVP to Sofi Petchersky.

Engineering Fair

The school of Engineering will be holding the Engineering Majors Fair on Friday, April 15th. This program is open to all high school students who are interested in engineering so that they can gain a better understanding of the many different fields in engineering. To register, http://eib.ec.uiuc.edu/emf/index.html REGISTER BY APRIL 8, 2005.

Summer Camp from July 10-16, 2005, Exploring Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Through hands-on activities and demonstrations students will design, build, and fly model gliders and rockets, fly on-board a small aircraft and learn about navigation, aerodynamics, aircraft design and much more. This program is open to high school students. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 30, 2005. www.ae.uiuc.edu/IAI

CJHS Announces Calendar for the 5766 (2005-06) 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.

8/22/05 New Faculty Orientation
8/23-26/05 Staff Development
8/24/05 New and Returning Student Orientation
8/29/05 1st Day of Class
9/5/05 Labor Day - School Closed
10/3/05 Erev Rosh Hashanah - School Closed
10/4-5/05 Rosh Hashanah - School Closed
10/12/05 Erev Yom Kippur - School Closed
10/13/05 Yom Kippur - School Closed
10/17/05 Erev Sukkot - Noon Dismissal
10/18-19/05 Sukkot - School Closed
10/24/05 Hoshanah Rabbah - Noon Dismissal
10/25-26/05 Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah - School Closed
11/18/05 CHUSYfest/Professional Day - No Classes
11/24-25/05 Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
12/4/05 CJHS Senior Israel Experience Begins
12/19-23/05 Winter Break - No Classes
12/26-30/05 Winter Break - School Closed
1/2/06 Winter Break - School Closed
1/3/06 Classes Resume
1/16/06 Martin Luther King Day - School Closed - IFYC National Day of Service
1/23-27/06 Exam Week
1/30/06 Semester Break - No Classes
2/20/06 Presidents Day - School Closed
4/10/06 Pesach Vacation - No Classes
4/11-14/06 Pesach Vacation - School Closed
4/17-21/06 Pesach Vacation - School Closed
4/24/06 Classes Resume
5/26/06 Last Day of Class for Seniors
5/29/06 Memorial Day - School Closed
6/7-9/06 Exam Week
6/12-13/06 Exam Week
6/14-16/06 Staff Development

Yasher Koach

Daveners: David Weltman., Lilly Flink, Brian Pogrund, Avram Pachter, Benji Derman, Ari Gore, Avi Coven, Abby Landis, Aaron Magid, Nat Sufrin, Shayna Flink

Torah Reader: Josh Warshawsky

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 5:50 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