CJHS has received a generous commitment of $250,000 towards the Campaign for Chicagoland Jewish High School. This gift, made by the Irwin Helford Family of California, is being made in memory of Eleanor Helford. In recognition of the family's gift, which will significantly help efforts to build the new school, the lobby in the new school building will be named in Eleanor's memory.

Hannah Helford, granddaughter of Mr. Helford, is a senior at CJHS.

Commitments from Board members and friends of the school total over $7.2 million. We are grateful to the Helford Family and all who have made their gifts and pledges.

Admissions department begins recruitment season

The First Recruitment Event for the Class of 2010 was held on Sept. 20, at the home of CJHS parents David and Lauren Silverman and CJHS student, Matthew, in Skokie. Close to 20 parents attended the Coffee and Questions program. They heard presentations from Roslyn Stein, Head of School, Rabbi Ruven Barkan, Rabbi-in-Residence and from CJHS students, Matthew Silverman and Aliza Stein. Parents were encourage to ask questions during the presentations and were invited to meet one-on-one with the various presenters over coffee and dessert.

Next opportunities to attend Informational Events are:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at the home of Mark and Sandy Levin in Highland Park, at 7:30pm

Monday, October 10 at the home of Stuart Kiken and Linda Forst in West Rogers Park, Chicago, at 7:30pm

Sunday, October 30 at Chicagoland Jewish High School, OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES. Program begins at 10am and ends at 12 noon.

RSVP to events by contacting Rachel Spiro, Director of Admissions, rspiro@chicagojhs.com, 847-324-3706.

Apply to CJHS.

CJHS receives recruitment support from PEJE

CJHS hosted PEJE Coach Jennifer Miller Cohan on Sept. 12. CJHS received a Pipeline Initiative Grant from PEJE (Partnership in Excellence in Jewish Education) to help increase enrollment from the various Jewish middle schools in the region. CJHS is fortunate to be working with Ms. Cohan who is an experienced Jewish Educator, having been Head of School of the Pardes Jewish High School in Cleveland, Principal of the Rashi Middle School in Boston and currently, Director of Marketing for the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland.

Thank you to Cindy Pogrund, Tami Warshawsky, Jennifer Flink, Wendy Kahn, Marci Dickman, Head of School at Solomon Schechter and Cynthia Lerner, Director of Enrollment for Solomon Schechter for taking the time to meet with Ms. Cohan and to begin working on recruitment and marketing strategies for the coming years.

What is PEJE?

Drama department announces cast of Little Shop of Horrors

Congratulations to the cast of 'Little Shop of Horrors.' Cast member include: Shayna Flink, Matthew Silverman, Yael Kiken, Abby Landis, Yoni Solomon, Seth Berkman, Avra Shapiro, Lilli Flink, Rachel Binstock, Rachel Karp, Vicki Neiman, Tova Goldberg, Josh Warshawsky, Naomi Goldberg, Geoff Levin, Hannah Rosenbaum and Yael Derman.

The play will be performed on Nov. 30 at the Morton Grove Civic Center.

News from the athletic department

Tennis

Congratulations to the women's tennis team for hard-fought matches this week against Glenbrook North and New Trier. The team plays its last two matches next week-- on Monday against Highland Park and on Wednesday against Lake Forest Academy. Both matches begin at 4:30. Come help Coach Finfer cheer on team members Lanie Abisdris, Shayna Flink, Lilli Flink, Karen Avidar, Ashley Silver, and Maddie Miller.

Basketball tryouts

The start of basketball season is finally here. CJHS' finest athletes begin tryouts next Tuesday at the North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Rd., Northbrook. Women's tryouts are from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; men's are 8 to 9:45 PM. Proper gym attire is required. We all look forward to a great season this year.

CJHS hosts tennis round robin

Fourteen people competed in the first annual Student/Adult Tennis Doubles Round-Robin at Highland Park's Centennial Park on September 18.

Congratulations to winning team Shayna and Stewart Flink and to second-place finishers Avram Pachter and Noreen Ocana. A specical award-- the Spirit Award-- was presented to partners David Weltman and Rabbi Dickman for their "spirited" play.

CJHS begins fashion club

Freshman Yael Derman with sponsor Rabbi Fryer have inaugurated the CJHS fashion club. Look for clash day on Sept. 29.

IFYC sets agenda

The CJHS representatives to the Interfaith Youth Core Counsel, Vicky Neiman, Yoni Solomon, Rachel Karp and Maya Hobscheid will explore the issue of genocide and plan two events with student leaders from the Muslim Educational Center and Loyola Academy. Look for more details in the coming weeks.

Learn more about the Interfaith Youth Core

Students and faculty member participate in Maot Chitim

Yasher Koach to Ruth Eisenberg, Matthew Silverman, Aaron Magid, Lanie Abisdris, Yael Kiken, Linda Levin, Nat Sufrin and Rabbi Barkan who helped pack boxes with goodies to send to people in need for Rosh Hashanah. Yasher Koach to Nat Sufrin for coordinating CJHS' efforts in coordiation with Maot Chitim.

What is Maot Chitim?

Thank you!

Thank you to Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter who sponsored breakfast on Sept. 23 in honor of their son Avram's 18th birthday.

If you would like to sponsor breakfast for a special occasion, please contact Joan Waxman at jwaxman@chicagojhs.com.

US Politics Club Trivia Question

Who did President Bush nominate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to replace Chief Justice William Rehnquist?

Click here for the answer.

College visits

Notify Ms. Marcus, smarcus@chicagojhs.com, 24 hours before the college visit if you would like to attend.

9:45 a.m. Sept. 26 Northwestern University
2:20 p.m. Sept. 26 Michigan State
9 a.m. Sept. 29 DePaul University
12:30 p.m. Sept. 29 Skidmore College
1:30 p.m. Sept. 29 Columbia University
9 a.m. Oct. 6 University of Denver
9:45 a.m. Oct. 6 Penn State University
10:30 Oct. 6 Purdue University
12:45Oct. 6 University of Minnesota
1:30Oct. 7 Brown University
9 a.m.Oct. 10 University of Kansas
2:20 p.m. Oct. 10 Ohio State University
9 a.m. Oct. 11 Amherst College
3 p.m. Oct. 11 Lehigh University
7:30 a.m. Oct. 20 NYU
9 a.m. Oct. 21 Illinois State University
10:26Oct. 24 Barnard College
9:45 a.m. Oct. 27 Washington University of St. Louis
12:30 p.m.Oct. 27Bradley University
1:30 p.m.Oct. 28Brandeis University
2:15 p.m. Nov. 2 Northern Illinois University
1:30 p.m. Nov. 3 McGill University
10:45 a.m. Nov. 16 Elmhurst College

Look at Michigan State University.

Yasher Koach

Daveners: Lilli Flink, Vanessa Youshai, Benji Derman, Josh Warshawsky, Linda Levin, Eli Miller, Jasob Wiznitzer, Avram Pachter and Abby Landis led services this week.

Torah: David Weltman read Torah.

A special yasher koach to Chazzan Steve Stoehr from Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook for his D'var Torah on Selichot.

Shabbat Shalom

Candle lighting time is at 6:27 p.m. on Sept. 23. The parshah is Ki Tavo.

Read the text of the parshah online.

CJHS announces new E-News editor

Caroline Musin, Director of Student Activities, will be editing the e-news letter beginning Oct. 30. Email your articles to cmusin@chicagojhs.com.