Blog
Reflections On A Memorable Day
12/18/17 “If you will it, it is no dream” Theodore Herzl Today was a special day in the 100 year history of Temple Beth Israel. Today our collective congregation and our collective community was able to deliver 460 holiday gifts plus hundreds of dollars in teacher supplies to Herzl School in Lawndale. If you will…
Read MoreIf I had a million dollars…
If I had a million dollars… This opening line from an early 1990’s Barenaked Ladies song is one with which many of us can identify. Here at TBI we have our own version of this fantasy. We have lots and lots of programmatic ideas that often have to be relegated to our “wish list” because…
Read MoreAmerican Peace Caravan
During the week of Oct. 23rd, I was honored to participate in the American Peace Caravan – a conference of Rabbis, Imams, and Christian Evangelical Pastors – that took place in Rabat, Morocco. It was held under the patronage of King Muhammed VI of Morocco and sponsored by the Forum for Promoting Peace…
Read MoreThe Optimistic Geniza
“The Geniza looks half full!” I overheard the shout from one of the hundred children as they walked by the Geniza that was dug to celebrate the Temple Beth Israel Centennial. Each child was given the chance to offer a book into the Geniza. Our entire community was welcome to contribute to the…
Read MoreWherever we gather, we have Community
On Friday night, August 25, 2017 TBI held Shabbat Worship and dinner at a local park. We have held a couple of Kabbalat Shabbat experiences each summer in this neighborhood park. It is such a great experience with over 200 members, prospective members and friends of members joining in prayer and Shabbat dinner. It was…
Read MoreA Call for Peace and Community Engagement
On Monday evening, August 14, 2017, I had the great honor to stand in front of a crowd of residents of Skokie and some surrounding communities to address the horrible events this past weekend in Virginia. Only 24 hours earlier, I had received a call from the new rabbi at Skokie Valley Traditional Congregation requesting…
Read MoreTBI welcomes new Director of Operations
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Amber Wood into our TBI professional staff team. Amber is our new Director of Operations. Among her responsibilities, Amber will oversee our office staff and maintenance staff as well as coordinate the smooth functioning of all the activities taking place in our building. She will collaborate with…
Read MoreHeaded to camp?
I went to resident camp for 8 weeks beginning the summer I turned 9. I am thrilled that so many of OUR TBI kids will be attending Jewish camp.
Read MoreAction in Support of Immigrant Rights
I was pleased that I was in the position, as Corporation Counsel of the Village, to draft the Village of Skokie ordinance concerning immigrant residents. Our ordinance equates immigrant rights as a matter of human rights. It was a unique approach and has been widely applauded. It provided me with an opportunity to put into…
Read More