Students spend Shabbat in Deerfield

The CJHS Shabbaton on November 19-20 was a big hit. Our thanks go to the wonderful community of Moriah Congregation who made us feel so welcome. Thanks to Karen Walanka, executive director, who arranged all of the many details with professionalism and good humor. Very special thanks go to the following families who hosted our students overnight and for Friday evening's meal:
The Dreifuses
The Eisenstadts
The Flinks
The Halivnis
The Harrises
The Levins
The Meyerhoffs
The Romanoffs
The Rubinsteins
The Rudolphs
The Seidenbergs
The Siegels

CJHS is planning our Spring Shabbaton on April 1-2 at a congregation to be named soon.

Watch for falling eggs

Junior Vicki Neiman stands with seniors Rachel Bobrick and Becky Kupchan as they show off their physics project.

Mrs. Eliaser's physics class held the CJHS Second Annual Egg Drop Contest on Dec. 1. For the previous week, students had been pitting their wits against the forces of nature as they attempted to design containers in which a raw egg could survive a 24-foot drop. As part of a larger unit on collisions and momentum, students were investigating the ways in which impact force could be reduced in cases of high- speed collisions. "F = m*delta-v divided by delta-t; it's as simple as that!" explained junior Daniel Bier to Officer Dan Sowa, who arrived on the scene with the firefighters of Morton Grove's 5th Engine Co., who came to assist the students in dropping their containers off the roof of the school. The two teams to produce winning containers were juniors Lanie Abisdris, Shayna Flink, and Ashley Silver, and juniors Avram Pachter, Daniel Bier, and Jason Wiznitzer.

Head of School and Rabbi in Residence attend Solomon Schechter Day Schools Conference

Head of School Roslyn Stein, Rabbi in Residence Rabbi Barkan, Director of Admissions Rachel Spiro and Executive Board Member Cindy Pogrund will be attending the Solomon Schechter conference beginning Dec. 5 in Cherry Hill New Jersey. Mrs. Stein will present a seminar on mentoring heads of school. She is the mentoring chair for the Solomon Schechter Day School Association. Rabbi Barkan will present a session on tefillah, presenting CJHS' tefillah program.

Planning continues for CJHS senior class trip to Israel during 2005-06 school year

The planning for the CJHS Senior Class Israel Experience continues to move forward. Partnering with United Synagogue Youth in Israel, CJHS is in the process of solidifying plans for next December.

"Our Israel Experience Planning Committee has begun to work on curriculum that will support the experience and explore sources of financial support," Director of Religious Life Rabbi Goldberg said.

If you are interested in the work of the committee, please contact Rabbi Goldberg. CJHS will hold a meeting for families of current 11th grade students to discuss details regarding next year's experience, date and time to be announced in the near future.

New CJHS Baseball T-Shirts For Sale

Every year the VA'AD Ha'Talmidim produces at least one new piece of school regalia. This semester the VA'AD has come out with great baseball t-shirts! They are 15 dollars each, and profits go to support the school's student government. If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, please contact Va'ad Secretary Deanna Levin at deannalevin87@yahoo.com.

B'nai B'rith offers college athletic scholarship

Candidates from Chicago area high schools are encouraged to apply for the Sports Lodge B'nai B'rith Scholarship for Jewish Youth. Applicants will be judged on scholarship, athletic ability, community service, and financial need. The recipient must enter a college or university in the term immediately following the granting of the scholarship. All applications must be submitted by February 6, 2005 and are available in the College Counseling Office. CJHS students are encouraged to apply.

Give tzedakah

CJHS students voted this week to donate tzedakah collected first semester to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. The tzedakah box will be put near the prayer books on Friday and will remain outside the head of school's office during the week.

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 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 of your Challah orders goes directly to Va'ad funds. If you need an order form, please email Geoff Levin at thevaad@yahoogroups.com.

Attend organ donation program in honor of CJHS Physical Education Teacher.

The Solomon Schechter Parent Organizations are hosting "A Jewish Perspective On Organ Donation" at 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the Home of Melissa and Marc Spellman, 4 Bridlewood Road, Northbrook, 847-480-1385. The evening is dedicated to Dr. Gary Peckler who needs a kidney transplant. The featured speakers include CJHS Rabbi in Residence Rabbi Ruven Barkan and Dr. Avram Kraft.

Study with Rabbi Lebeau

The Jewish Theological Seminary, CJHS and Solomon Schechter Day School invites parents, faculty and members of the community for a private breakfast study session with Rabbi William H. Lebeau, dean of the JTS Rabbinical school, who will be speaking on "Not Reform; Not Orthodox: Conservative Judaism's Essential Middle Way - A Study of Maimonides' Treatise on the Importance of the Center in Jewish Life" on Dec. 9 at CJHS. The event is chaired by Karen and Jay Kaufman and Sandy Starkman.

Join CJHS for tefillah at 8 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. followed by the study session.

Rabbi Lebeau will also be teaching a Judaic Studies class later in the day.

Celebrate Chanukah at the Dance A Thon

With every dance step CJHS students will raise money for Bikur Cholim Hospital in Jerusalem. The Dance A Thon will last from 8 to 11 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Skokie Valley Congregation. Family and friends can sponsor a CJHS student who must raise $18 to participate. The CJHS student who raises the most money will win a prize. Every $18 raised will entitle the student to one raffle ticket to be eligible to win one of several door prizes.

The deadline to purchase tickets is on Dec. 17. The Dance A Thon is sponsored by the Va'ad Israel.

Resnick family donates Torah to CJHS

The Resnick family has recovered a Torah from Morocco, refurbished it and will present it to CJHS at a hachnasat torah (a torah dedication ceremony) on Dec. 13 during a special Chanukah morning minyan. Please save the date. Thank you to the Resnick family for their continuing contributions to CJHS.

Student photos to be displayed at JCC in Northbrook

The CJHS photography class' photos will be exhibited at the Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook. The exhibit, titled "Best of 2004." will hang in the lobby of the JCC from Dec. 17 through Jan. 31. Student photographers are sophomore Josh Freeman, freshman Jacob Shapiro, junior Michael Shapiro, junior Madeline Miller, sophomore Sandy Johnston, sophomore Sofi Petchersky and Mrs. Marla Snyder, Photography teacher.

Save the Dates: Study Conservative Judaism at CJHS

What exactly is Conservative Judaism? Find out on Jan. 5, 12, and 19 at study sessions with CJHS Director of Religious Life Rabbi Elliot Goldberg at CJHS.

Save the Dates: 'The Best of Schechter Feb. 13-14'

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to study with faculty from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.

Park Prof. David Golinkin, Pres. SIJS - "Adloyada" or: Just How Drunk should Jews get on Purim?"
Prof. Renee Levine Melammed, Asst. Dean, SIJS “The Secret Lives of Crypto-Jewish Women”
Prof. Gabi Barkay, Senior Lecturer, SIJS - "What is Happening on the Temple Mount Today?"
Feb. 13
10 am-3:30 p.m.
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
1175 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park
Paid $10 reservation required for Sunday lunch.
For info call 847-432-8900 or nssbe@nssbethel.org

"Were the Israelites in Egypt? Archaeological Perspectives on the Exodus" Prof. James Hoffmeier, Trinity International University, Deerfield Respondents: Professors Gabi Barkay and David Golinkin, SIJS.
Feb. 14
4 -6 p.m.
Northwestern University, Evanston
Sponsored by The Crown Family Center for Jewish Studies at Northwestern University
For more information: 847-491-2612; jewish-studies@northwestern.edu;
http://www.cas.northwestern.edu/Jewish-studies

8 p.m.
"Current Controversies in Israel: Education and Archaeology."
Prof. David Golinkin "Wanted: a Jewish Educational Revolution in the State of Israel”
Prof. Gabi Barkay,"What is Happening on the Temple Mount Today?"
Feb. 14
8pm
Anshe Emet Synagogue
3760 N Pine Grove, Chicago
For more information contact Andi Gutnik, at 773-868-5119, agutnik@ansheemet.org

Synagogue Lecture Co-Sponsors: Anshe Emet Synagogue, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, Cantor’s Assembly -Midwest Region, Chicagoland Jewish High School, Federation of Jewish Men’s Club’s -Midwest Region, Midwest Jewish Educators Assembly, Jewish Theological Seminary - Midwest, Mercaz USA, Chicago Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El , Ramah Day Camp, Solomon Schechter Day Schools of Chicago, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism - Midwest Region, Women’s League For Conservative Judaism - Central Branch

Yasher Koach

Yasher kochechem to faculty members Mrs. Eliaser, Ms. Marcus, senior Rachel Hilker, juniors Benji Derman, Jennifer Feldman, Renana Fox, Avram Pachter, Matthew Silverman, and Jason Wiznitzer for leading tefilah. Freshmen Josh Warshawky and Shai Kamin read Torah.

Yasher Koach to Rabbi Wolkin from Congregation Beth Shalom for giving the Dvar Torah at tefillah last week.

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 4:05 p.m. The 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