We look forward to welcoming the Chicago Jewish community to our Groundbreaking Ceremony, which will be held, rain or shine, this Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the location of our new home in Deerfield. Everyone who attends this fun event will receive a free "I Dig CJHS" t-shirt, produced specifically for the Groundbreaking Ceremony. In addition, all those in attendance will have the opportunity to send their wishes on a pre-printed postcard to an IDF soldier. These postcards will be sent directly to Israel and included in special care packages that will be delivered to the soldiers.

While we cannot predict the weather, please note that the event will take place inside a tent on the parking lot in front of the site. Feel free to dress casually. There will be plenty of parking and security at the event.

The CJHS administration, faculty, and staff are proud to announce that seniors Sandy Johnston, Rachel Karp, and Geoffrey Levin have been named National Merit Semifinalists in the 2007 Merit Scholarship Competition. More than 1.4 million juniors in nearly 21,000 high schools entered the 2007 National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2005. The National Merit Scholarship Program recently named approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, and these students will now advance to the Finalist competition. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Our entire community congratulates these students and their families!

Over fifty students gathered on September 6 for Human Foosball, the first Va’ad-sponsored social event of the year. Human foosball is the life-size version of the popular table game. Students were connected to each other by towels, sweatshirts, and other articles of clothing, and moved only side-to-side with their teams while trying to kick soccer balls toward the goal zones on each end. The afternoon included fun competition, teamwork, and significant amounts of laughter. Kol hakavod to Rachel Braun and the rest of the Va'ad for planning this event, and many thanks to Mr. Scher, Ms. Gitlin, Dr. Auslander, Rabbi Dickman and Mr. Nessel (her new husband—mazal tov!), Ms. Musin, and Ms. Waxman for their assistance.

More than a dozen student organizations were represented at Thursday’s Student Activities Fair. Student leaders decorated their booths with posters, information sheets, and sign-up sheets. When the fair began, the room was buzzing! Students, faculty, and staff walked from booth to booth, learning about the wide array of opportunities available at CJHS.

The entire school community cheered on senior Sofi Petchersky, whose mother cut off nearly twelve inches of Sofi’s hair to be donated to Locks of Love. Sofi is the latest in a long line of CJHS students and faculty who have donated their hair to Locks of Love, a not-for-profit organization that provides recipients with a custom, vacuum-fitted hairpiece made entirely from donated human hair. The hairpieces are designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair. The organization, which began in 1997, has helped over 1400 children since its first year of operation.

The Student Activities Fair also featured a raffle for “priceless” items donated by various faculty members, such as a brown bag lunch made by Rabbi Goldberg, the opportunity to play one-on-one basketball with Rabbi Barkan, and more. Mazal tov to the raffle winners: Eli Miller, Sandy Johnston, Aliza Stein, Miranda Borkan, Karen Avidar, Max Abecassis, Rebecca Silverman, Jacob Stoehr, Galya Cohen, Joel Pachefsky, Ruthie Eisenberg, Lilli Flink, and Jacob Rabinowitz.

Individual and class portraits will be taken next Wednesday, September 13. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take individual portraits, and all students will take class portraits. Order form envelopes with package and pricing information were placed in students’ boxes on Friday, September 8. Don’t forget to dress nicely and bring in your order form envelope with money enclosed on Wednesday!

Fall sports are in full swing at CJHS, and more than 40 of our students are involved in CJHS sports teams! The cross-country team jump- started its season with a stellar showing in its first meet at the Niles West Invitational on Tuesday. Out of a competitive field of 15 teams, the men’s team placed third overall (winning a handsome trophy), and the women’s team placed fourth. The team competes again next Tuesday in the Lake Forest Invitational.

The women’s tennis team is practicing hard in preparation for its season opener against Glenbrook North next Tuesday. Under the expert guidance of Coach Finfer, this team is sure to have a successful season. The coed soccer team is also off to a great start. Team members are working on their skills and are scrimmaging in preparation for match play later this year. On Thursday, the soccer team got its first taste of its off-site home at Old Orchard Junior High School.

It’s hard to believe that it is almost time for basketball, but on Wednesday, September 13, prospective team members will participate in a “shoot-around” at the Hillel Torah gymnasium. The women’s team will play from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., while the men’s team will practice from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. We look forward to a great basketball season. If you like to dance, then the CJHS dance team is for you. In its second year, this talented group performs at basketball games and other events. Students are already signing up, so be certain to add your name to the list on Sofi Petchersky’s locker door. Practices are scheduled to begin in October.

Questions? Contact Mr. Tim Cohen, Athletic Director.

CJHS students will volunteer with Maot Chitim, on Monday night. Maot Chitim refers to the custom of gathering wheat to provide the poor with the makings of matzah for Passover, and Chicago's Maot Chitim organization delivers holiday food to the needy for both Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. Right now, volunteers are needed to pack chicken, eggs, gefilte fish, wine, cooking oil, tea, jelly, carrots, celery, onions, apples, candles, and challah into boxes that will be delivered by volunteers to the community next week.

CJHS students are volunteering on Monday night, September 11, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Maot Chitim warehouse, located at 7500 North Caldwell in Niles. Talk to Ruthie Eisenberg, Hannah Berkowicz, or Rabbi Barkan if you have questions.

Va’ad Israel, the Modern Language department, and the Fine Arts department are proud to bring a taste of Israel to CJHS. While the annual festival takes place over the next ten days throughout the city and suburbs, the festival is coming directly to CJHS. On September 11 and 12, students will view Summer Story, one of the films featured in the festival, during their Hebrew classes. Summer Story deals with the reality of Israeli youth in an extremely difficult political situation.

The festival continues on September 14, when guest speaker Ravit Turjeman, Director of Film and Theatre at the Israeli Office of Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, will come to CJHS to facilitate a discussion about Summer Story and share her knowledge of Israeli culture and film.

Thank you to the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest and Mrs. Donna Yates for their support and hard work, and to Mrs. Moskovich for working tirelessly to bring the film festival to CJHS.

The United States Politics Club is promoting voter registration by sending a birthday card to every CJHS student who turns eighteen during his/her senior year and then offering to register the student to vote.

For more information, contact Geoff Levin, USPC President, or Ms. Marcus.

This weekend, families across America will celebrate Grandparents Day. Our own CJHS family loves our grandparents, too! CJHS grandparents are in the unique position to pass on the traditions and love of learning, Judaism, and tzedakah. We would like to help our grandparents stay connected to their grandchildren’s experiences at our school. If you know of a CJHS grandparent who is not receiving e-news, or who would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact Ms. Musin with the grandparent’s name and email address.

Dr. Ted Schaffner, Interim Head of School, and Mrs. Lynn Wiznitzer, President of the CJHS Board of Directors, held a Town Hall Meeting with parents on Tuesday evening, September 5. Dr. Schaffner and Mrs. Wiznitzer described new programs, initiatives, sports, and activities at CJHS. They informed parents about the upcoming ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) accreditation visit and talked about new programs to care for students, such as Peer Helpers and developmental guidance for freshmen and sophomores. Dr. Alan Frankel, CJHS Treasurer, provided information about enrollment and the cost to educate each student at CJHS.

The CJHS Bike Club is sponsoring Bike Chai, an 18- mile ride on Sunday, September 17 to benefit Magen David Adom through pledges and direct donations. The ride will begin in Highwood at 2:00 p.m. and traverse through Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and the Great Lakes Naval Hospital before turning around and heading back to Highwood. If you are a biker, please join us and bring friends and family. Students, friends, family and staff are invited to participate in the ride, which should take two-and-a- half to three hours. Registration forms and waivers can be obtained from the Bike Club student chair, Esther Lowe, or from the club’s advisor, Dr. Gary Auslander.If you do not bike but would like to volunteer, please contact Dr. Auslander.

Talented CJHS students will have the chance to audition for the school’s first-ever CJHS Idol! Although Simon, Paula, and Randy are not able to serve as judges, it is sure to be an exciting event! Auditions will take place during lunch on the last two Tuesdays and Thursdays of September. Sign up for an audition slot on the Fine Arts bulletin board outside the TRC. The show will take place on November 19 and 20 at Beth Hillel Congregation B’nai Emunah in Wilmette. For more information, please speak to Mrs. Gail Gottlieb.

The Rothschilds To Be Performed
Northwest Suburban Jewish Congregation proudly presents The Rothschilds, an award-winning musical starring Bernie Dean. The musical will take place on Sunday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m. at NSJC, 7800 W. Lyons Street, Morton Grove. A $25 contribution is requested.

Mazal tov to Mrs. Shira Eliaser, Physics and Mathematics teacher, and her husband, Dr. Norman Eliaser, on the birth of their first child. Baby Girl Eliaser was born on Friday, September 8, 2006, at 2:11 a.m., weighing in at seven pounds and two ounces. The Simchat Bat (baby naming) will take place at CJHS during tefillah on Monday, September 18.

Yasher koach to Ms. Altman and Ms. Robinson, who won the pool. Their winnings have been spent on gifts for the baby.

Thank you to the Pogrund family for sponsoring breakfast on Tuesday, September 5, in honor of Brian’s 18th birthday.

If you would like to sponsor breakfast in honor of a student’s birthday (or any occasion), please contact Ms. Joan Waxman via email or by phone at 847-324- 3711. The students love the recognition, and the bagels are great, too!

This week, David Weltman read Torah. Eli Miller gave a summary of this week’s parashah, Ki Tavo.

Rea d the parashah, haftarah, and a JTS commentary online.

Candlelighting is at 6:56 p.m. today. Shabbat Shalom!

See you at the Groundbreaking!