Tiger Athletics

 

Ten-Pin Tigers
While it has been cold and snowy outside, CJHS student-athletes have been busy inside with their sports teams.  The bowling team demonstrated how much they have improved over the season at their January 8 contest with Deerfield.  Next Tuesday, the team travels to Vernon Hills to bowl against this experienced team, and on January 27 will challenge the faculty and parents at Brunswick Lanes in Deerfield.  If you want to participate in the faculty/parent bowling challenge, contact Coach Gary Auslander at 847.324.3707 or drauslander@cjhs.org.

Tiger Sharks

The swim team practiced diligently for its meet at Loyola Academy on Thursday and the results paid off.  CJHS held its own in events such as the 200 Medley Relay, 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 fly, and the 200 Freestyle relay.  Both experienced and novice CJHS team members had the opportunity to compete in the meet. The team swims its next meet on February 5 at Lake Forest Academy. 

Tigers Basketball
After several weeks off, the men's and women's basketball teams begin the second semester with a full schedule of games.  The Lady Tigers and men's varsity team play at Waldorf on Wednesday, and all teams take on the competitive Hinsdale Adventist teams on Thursday.  The Lady Tigers host Cristo Rey on Saturday night, while the men's varsity team plays Roycemore the following Sunday.

Freethrows for Heroes
Combining tikkun olam and athletics, our basketball teams will raise money for our deployed Illinois military heroes and their families by participating in the state-wide "Free Throws for Heroes" program.  Players will solicit pledges for each free throw made in practice next Tuesday, with the winners competing against the best free throw shooters from Hinsdale Adventist Academy at their game next Thursday.  To learn more about this innovative IHSA-endorsed program, go to the organization's website at http://www.freethrowsforheroes.com.

Tiger Club
Are you a fan of Mizrahi Grill and CJHS athletics?  If you join the CJHS athletic booster club--the Tiger Club--then you will be eligible for a drawing for two $25 gift cards generously donated by Mizrahi Grill.  Click here to join, and check back next week to see a list of Tiger Club members.

Chai Lifeline Runners
Please help support junior Jeremy Hipps and his father Kirk Hipps who are running the ING Miami Marathon/Half Marathon on January 25 to raise money for Chai Lifeline.  Chai Lifeline is an international organization dedicated to helping very sick children and their families.  It provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children and their families every year.  Jeremy and Kirk have dedicated their run to senior Yali Derman, a cancer survivor and a recipient of Chai Lifeline's support.  They have committed to raising $3,600 by race day and need the community's support. 

Please contribute, either by visiting their webpage on the Team Lifeline site or by sending a check, made payable to Chai Lifeline, to Jeremy Hipps at 1355 Oakwood Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60016.

Athlete of the Week: "Super Teen" Victor Abecassis

This week's star CJHS athlete receives his award not only for his performance on the court, but his performance in the workout room.  Since last summer, Victor Abecassis has volunteered his services as a personal trainer for his teacher and friend, Mr. Harvey Gross.  Every afternoon of the week, Victor and Mr. Gross work out together in the CJHS fitness room, preparing Victor for his nights on the basketball court and preparing Mr. Gross to feel as young as he looks. In recognition of Victor's commitment, he has been nominated and selected by NEXTSTEP Magazine as one of 25 Super Teens in the United States. Look for him in the March edition of the magazine!

Victor took the treadmill from his former teammate Michael Brunwasser ('07), who started the project last spring. Brunwasser, then a senior in Mr. Gross' class, took an interest in his favorite teacher's health and well-being, and told him that the days of physical fatigue interfering with his otherwise enthralling personality were over.  "Tomorrow afternoon, in the workout room, no excuses," Brunwasser reputedly told his teacher.  "I will be there, and I will see to it that you are feeling better!"  Mr. Gross kept his appointment, and he and Michael designed a workout schedule. 

In early summer, Michael set about naming a successor.  "Don't think that just because I'm off to college you're off the  hook," he reportedly told Mr. Gross.  Victor, who was then recovering from a sports injury, was delighted to join the workout project.  He and Mr. Gross have been meeting every day since then--summer vacation, winter snow, and all--to make physical fitness a partnership, a mentorship, and a mitzvah.

 

Mazel Tov to our colleague Rabbi Michael Schwab and his wife Erica on the birth of a baby daughter Liana Orly.  Rabbi Schwab serves on the CJHS recruitment committee.  A second mazel tov to technology coordinator David Rose, whose youngest daughter Shayna was named at CJHS this week, and to math department chair Marina Gitlin and Anton Mostovoy, who welcomed their son Micah (right) into the covenant of Israel.

May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, bless Liana Schwab, Shayna  Rose, and Micah Mostovoy.  Just as they have entered the congregation of Israel, so may they enter the study of Torah, the chuppah, and lives of good deeds.

 

Elliot Dorff at CJHS 

 

Save the Date: March 23^rd                  4:30 - 5:15 PM

Rabbi Dorff is the Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at American Jewish University, and Vice-Chair of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. He has written over 200 articles and thirteen books, some of which appear in our curriculum. To read more about Rabbi Dorff, click here.

Rabbi Elliot Dorff will present to students, parents and faculty on March 23, after minchah in the Bet Knesset. His topic is "What Does Judaism Have to Do with Ethics?"

CJHS is grateful to the DePaul University College of Law Center for Jewish Law and Judaic Studies for making Rabbi Dorff's visit possible.

 

Shabbat Shalom