Jewish year bringing changes
The High Holy Days mark a time to look back and look ahead.
Jews of the North and Northwest suburbs have been assessing High Holy Days messages from rabbis and congregational leaders, summarizing what they have achieved and determining what they hope to do in the year 5768.
At Or Shalom in Vernon Hills, plans for the new year take the form of blueprints. The congregation at 21 W. Hawthorn Parkway will build a whole new temple on an adjacent lot, eventually tearing down the existing building, which will become a parking lot for members of the growing Reform temple.
Alan Pearlman of Hawthorn Woods is immediate past president and the current chairman of Congregation Or Shalom's "Generations of Light" project.
He said the village of Vernon Hills is now reviewing building permits.
"We hope to complete that process soon and proceed to break ground on our new building either late this fall or next spring," Pearlman added.
Or Shalom was formed in 1977 and has about 370 families with 410 students in its religious school. The school also leases space to a Board of Jewish Education preschool.
Congregation Beth Am, 225 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove, is embarking on a fundraising campaign to renovate the foyer of the temple, which used to be a Crate & Barrel store.
The foyer renovation is meant to take better advantage of the open space: Part of it will be an additional small chapel and part will be where people greet each other and talk.
Other congregations have concluded additions or renovations. A building fund campaign at Temple Chai in Long Grove led to a new bimah, the area at the front of the sanctuary. It was rebuilt and opened last spring.
Congregations in the North and Northwest suburbs have program chairmen and committees, as well as paid executive directors. They seek out guest scholars, including authors and social or political activists from the U.S. or Israel.
The objective, say leaders of Reform and Conservative congregations, is to keep families from leaving after their kids are finished with bar and bat mitzvahs -- a trend that is negatively affecting memberships throughout the nation.
In that vein, Congregation Beth Judea, a Conservative synagogue in Long Grove with 652 families, has no construction plans but will concentrate instead on education programs for the 245 students and their parents.
"The children are the future of the continuity of Judaism," said Rhonda Wener, Beth Judea's new president.
The focus for the Conservative congregation will be Project Etgar, a pilot program that comes from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Beth Judea set aside funds in the education budget to send two Daled (fourth year) Hebrew teachers and Education Director Anna Besser to New York for training in the new program.
The students are also enjoying a two day a week schedule for Hebrew School and religious school, one that makes it easier for two working parents to car pool.
Meanwhile, for the oldest congregation in the Northwest suburbs, the year 5768 begins a year of celebration.
The first congregation in the Northwest suburbs was Beth Tikvah, 300 Hillcrest Blvd., in Hoffman Estates.
Now marking its 50th anniversary, it plans a yearlong celebration that began when new Rabbi Max Weiss shared the bimah with Rabbi Emeritus Hillel Gamoran, who gave the sermon at the Rosh Hashanah service last week.
Longtime member Sarese Simon Hranicka, who owns the Menshenables Judaica shop in Buffalo Grove, remembers the congregation's early days when her family lived in Elk Grove Village.
"We were among the early members of Beth Tikvah," she said. "It was the only congregation in the area; members came from Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates and other suburbs."
Hranick's brother, Scott Simon, is the cantor at Temple Chai.
Beth Tikvah is inviting all past Religious School students to a special Reunion Service on Nov. 23.
As well, on the last Friday of every month beginning in October there will be a special 50th Anniversary Shabbat service that will feature members speaking about their personal involvement and relationship with Beth Tikvah.
The 50th Anniversary Party for the Religious School is scheduled for Jan. 20. For adult members of the temple, the culminating event is a Gala Dinner Dance, featuring a five-course meal and the music of the Stuart Rosenberg Orchestra. The event is planned April 5 at Villa Olivia in Bartlett.