Your faith

To submit items, e-mail faith@dailyherald.com, or send fax to (847) 427-1301.

Adult education

Holy Family Catholic Community will host a short-term Scripture Study led by Fr. Robert Schoenstene of St. Mary of the Lake. Join us and learn about the Johannine Letters from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 14, 21, 28 and Dec. 5.

In many ways the rise of "New Age" thinking parallels many of the patterns of Gnostic thought expressed in the apocryphal books. The course will examine the Letters of John in light of religious expression of 1st Century thought, and will look at the importance of these letters for the Church today.

Holy Family Catholic Community is at 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness. For information or to register, call (847) 359-0042. Check the Web site at www.holyfamilyparish.org. Cost is $40.

Children, teens

Gan Israel Camps of Chicago is opening a new winter camp program in Northbrook. The program will run Dec. 24-28, and will include daily trips and activities. The Northbrook winter program is open to girls ages 5-11 and boys ages 5-8. Transportation and extended care options available. Camp will be held at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook 755 Huehl Road (corner Dundee Road), Northbrook.

For more information, call the camp office at (773) 262-2770, ext. 105, or visit www.ganisraelchicago.com/winter. Register by Nov. 20 to receive 5 percent off.

The following youths were called to the Torah on the occasion of their b'nai mitzvah during October 2007 at Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove: Marni Ilana Levin, daughter of Amy and Eugene Levin of Buffalo Grove; Samuel Jacob Levin, son of Amy and Eugene Levin of Buffalo Grove; Rachel Alyssa Berkoff, daughter of Susan and Mark Berkoff of Long Grove; Cassidy Erin Levy, daughter of Kimberly and Jerry Levy of Buffalo Grove; and Mackenzie Taylor Levy, daughter of Kimberly and Jerry Levy of Buffalo Grove.

The Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Judea will offer a Hanukkah Shoppe from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18 in the lobby. Before they enter the Shoppe, children will have filled out a form listing the people who are on their shopping list. Forms are available at the Beth Judea office. No gift is more than $9; gifts range in price from $1 to $9. To make this a really easy way for children to shop, the Sisterhood will even provide complimentary gift wrapping and gift stickers. No parents or any other adults will be allowed in the Shoppe, with the exception of some Sisterhood volunteers who will be there to help the children select their gifts.

For information, leave a message for Pamela or Karen at the synagogue office, (847) 634-0777. Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.

JCC's got Shabbat? program is filled with fun, food, Havdallah and entertainment featuring ventriloquist Chuck Field. This program is open to the community free of charge and will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at Adas Yehuda V'Shoshana, 2548 Jasper Court, Northbrook. It is designed for families with children 4 to 8, but all are welcome.

St. Viator High School, 1213 E. Oakton St., Arlington Heights, will have an open house for prospective students from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 28; and 7-9 p.m. April 9. For details, call (847) 392-4050, ext. 256.

Family

Beth Judea will host a Family Fun Night Nov. 17. There will be a Havdallah service, games (bring a favorite family board/card game), karaoke and snacks.

Donations to the Rachel Hirschman Fund are welcome. Rachel was a youth director at Beth Judea who was tragically killed in an automobile accident. The Rachel Hirschman Memorial Fund provides subsidies for USYers attending approved USY programs in Israel.

Please R.S.V.P. to the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777. Walk-ins are welcome Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.

The Friendship Circle of Illinois invites children with special needs and their families to a special Hanukkah Extravaganza from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Chabad of Northbrook, 755 Huehl Road (corner Dundee Road), Northbrook. It will offer fun for the whole family: including candle dipping, creating your own menorah with "K'nex," Hanukkah sand art, decorating holiday cookies, moon bounce, hot dog dinner, hot latkes, live music, and much more.

To volunteer for this event, or to ensure we have a teen volunteer for your child call (847) 833-6843 or e-mail: rsvp@thefriendshipcircle.net

Fundraisers

Holy Family Catholic Community, 2515 W. Palatine Road in Inverness, will hold the Trim The Home Floral and Expo Show Wednesday. Expo admission is $15 when purchased in advance, and $20 at the door.

The nine exhibitors will begin at 4 p.m., with five area floral designers beginning at 7 p.m. Included are an assortment of Christmas items, personalized baskets and decorations for all occasions, ornaments, angels, vases, vintage and new jewelry, purses, as well as a beautiful selection of holiday traditions from around the world. All floral arrangements will be raffled off. Also, there will be a raffle for a half-carat pair of diamond stud earrings. Each buyer will get a pair of half-carat cubic zirconia earrings as their raffle ticket. Raffle tickets are $25.

Clemenza will be selling a box dinner. Wine and water will be sold. Don't miss this annual holiday event and a chance to win one of the many floral arrangements. For more information, call (847) 359-0042.

Lectures, seminars

Holy Family Catholic Community will offer Scripture Study with Fr. Robert Schoenstene at 7 p.m. Wednesdays Nov. 14, 21, 28 and Dec. 5

Fr. Schoenstene, currently teaching Scripture at Mundelein Seminary, will teach the Johannine Letters. Some recent books, television programs and movies have revived a popular interest in the "other new testament," that is, apocryphal religious writings of the early centuries, which posit an "alternate Christianity."

Holy Family Catholic Community is at 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness. There is a $40 charge. For information or to register, call (847) 359-0042.

Great Plains Zen Center will hold an Introduction to Zen Practice Workshop at Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church, 1025 N. Smith Road, Palatine, today. Each workshop covers a brief history of Zen Buddhism, the aims of meditation practice, and basic, practical information including how to do zazen (Zen meditation), how to practice at home and throughout the day, the aims of practice, and opportunities for additional practice offered at GPZC.

The workshop will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., followed by an informal lunch. The cost for the workshop is $25 per person (free for repeating participants). Visit greatplainszen.org/workshops to register, or call (847) 274-4793.

Kingswood United Methodist Church will host a seminar on Arms Control Conscience presented by Dr. James Will from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Will is in his second year as professor in residence at Kingswood. Before retiring in 1998, he served 39 years as the Pfeiffer Professor of Systematic Theology in Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, and four years before that on the faculty of North Central College, Naperville. He served as director of the Peace and Justice Center of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary for 10 years. Visit www.kingswoodumc.com

Touchstones is sponsoring a workshop, "Compassionate Responses to Conflict," from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday in Room 101 of the Glenview Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave in Glenview. Scott Seagren, a mediation consultant for Cook County, will help participants see that conflict can actually be a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and others. Suggested donation of $15.

Visit the Web site at www.mytouchstones.org for details and directions, or call (866) 568-7152.

Touchstones is sponsoring a workshop, "Faith At Home, In A Hectic World," from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 18 in Room 101 of the Glenview Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave in Glenview.

The Rev. Phyllis Beattle is a clergy member of the Presbytery of Chicago with many years of experience in Children and Family Ministries. This workshop will be a forum for sharing experiences, traditions and ideas for creating a spirit-filled home -- whatever and wherever "home" may be. Suggested donation of $15.

Visit the Web site at www.mytouchstones.org for details and directions, or call (866) 568-7152.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold "Analyzing Late 19th and Early 20th Century Photographs for Family History Data" by genealogist and historian Craig L. Pfannkuche from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie.

The meeting facilities at Temple Beth Israel will open at 12:30 p.m. to accommodate members/guests who want to use library materials, get help regarding genealogical Web sites, or ask questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m. Visit www.jewishgen.org/jgsi or call (312) 666-0100.

Congregation Beth Judea will welcome United Synagogue's 20th Annual Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Daniel C. Goldfarb at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. His talk will be "The Internet and Its Dangers in Jewish Law."

Rabbi Goldfarb is the director of the Conservative Yeshiva at the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Ju-daism in Jerusalem. For 25 years, he worked as an attorney for Israel's Ministries of Justice and Finance and in private practice in Jerusalem before joining the Yeshiva in 2000.

Admission is free and the whole community is invited to attend. Congregation Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. For more information, call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777.

Miscellaneous

Beth Tikvah's Outreach group invites adults whose lives have been touched by an interfaith relationship to meet Wednesday. Outreach meets to provide a casual forum to discuss the joys and "bumps in the road" of interfaith life, give and receive suggestions from others in a similar configuration, learn new information and make new friends. The get-together will take place at Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, call the office at (847) 885-4545.

Beth Judea will host a Tailgate Shabbat Dinner Friday. Celebrate Shabbat by showing your Shabbat spirit and dressing in your favorite team's jersey. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and services are at 7:30 p.m. Cost: adults $18; children (2-5) $5; children (6-12) $10. Vegetarian meals are available upon request.

For further information, contact the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777. Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.

Temple Chai members will create a loving legacy for future generations by participating in The Torah Mitzvah, a year-long celebration of Torah creation and study.

Each member will be invited to write a letter in the torah, guided by Neil Yerman, a renowned scribe, who has worked with congregations across the country. Yerman will privately guide participants as they dip a quill in ink and create a letter in the Torah.

The project began in August and will continue in November when Sofer Yerman returns for a second visit with the congregation. Each one-hour writing session consists of 25 people and begins with teaching, guided meditation and spiritual preparation. The schedule is as follows: noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday; 3:30 to 7 p.m. Monday; 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday; and 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Sofer Yerman will visit again in mid-February to conduct additional writing sessions and the Torah Mitzvah celebration will conclude May 9 when the last panel is sewn to the Torah scroll during a final gala celebration.

Temple Chai, a Reform Jewish congregation, is home to more than 900 Northwest suburban families and is led by Rabbi Stephen Hart, Rabbi Matthew Berger, Cantor Scott Simon and Executive Director, Larry Glickman.

The Men's Club of Congregation Beth Judea will hold its annual blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 25 in the Social Hall of the synagogue on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. The blood drive is being held at this time due to the severe shortage of blood during the Thanksgiving holiday.

A photo ID is required when you fill out paperwork. Bring a state ID or driver's license and make sure to eat before you arrive. Refreshments will be provided by Shalom Kosher Bakery and Life Source.

Call the Beth Judea office at (847) 634-0777 to make an appointment.

St. Philip Lutheran Church Pastor Dawson and two parishioners will be in Myanmar, Burma, from Nov. 23 through Dec. 7 to work, teach, share, worship, play, build, sing and do arts and crafts with the children and leaders of a Christian orphanage. For information, call the Glenview church at (847)998-1946.

Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim holds monthly movie nights. On Thursday nights, Congregation Ezra Habonim shows films of interest to the Jewish community. The films, which are in Hebrew with English subtitles, are shown at the synagogue at 2095 Landwehr Road in Northbrook.

Admission to each film is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Some of the films will highlight subjects that may be geared for adult audiences.

Upcoming films are: "Aviva My Love" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; "Someone to Run With" at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17; "Mortgage" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2; and "Forgiveness" at 7:30 p.m. May 15.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.nceh.org or call the synagogue office at (847) 480-1690.

Performances

The Spirit of Life Chorus announces the following concerts as part of its Fall Concert Series:

• Sunday, 4 p.m., St. Mary Catholic Church, 1037 Dundee Road, Huntley, (847) 669-3137.

• Nov. 18, 4 p.m., Christ The King Catholic Church, 1501 S. Main St., Lombard, (630) 629-1717.

• Nov. 25, 4:30 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Master, 580 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream, (630) 665-3384.

• Dec. 2, 4:30 p.m., St. Walter Catholic Church, 201 W. Maple Ave., Roselle, (630) 894-2461.

For more information, visit www.spiritoflifechorus.org.

Beth Tikvah Congregation, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is pleased to present nationally known Broadway performer and comedian Steve Solomon in "The Man, The Music, and the Mishuginah" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17. The performance will be held at the Prairie Center for the Performing Arts in Schaumburg. Tickets are $18 due to the generous underwriting of the Damlich/Splansky Memorial Fund of the Beth Tikvah Sisterhood. For tickets or more information, call (847) 885-4545.

Young musicians songwriters, and vocalists will showcase their talent at the First Annual Jumpstart Jazz concert, a benefit for Public Action to Deliver Shelter Crisis Services. The performances will take place at North Shore Unitarian Church at 7 p.m. Nov. 17. The suggested donation is $10 with all funds going to PADS.

Performers include vocalist Amanda Nach, a sophomore at Maine West High School; the Dan Pierson Trio, with Dan Pierson from Libertyville High School (piano), Amalie Smith from DePaul University (bass), and Peter Manheim from Evanston Township High School (drums); jazz quintet Missing Fundamental from Lake Zurich High School with Cary Foxx (tenor saxophone), Tomas Drury (alto saxophone), Nick Fletcher (piano), Colleen McGuckin (bass), and Hannah Ford (drums); the John Klaess 5 from Libertyville and New Trier High schools with Cory Richardson (guitar), John Klaess (trumpet), Ben Solomon (tenor saxophone), Lee Starovich (bass), and Ben Paulson (drums); and professional singer and songwriter Shelley Orbach.

A raffle featuring donated gift baskets will be held. Hot cider and homemade baked goods will be served to guests.

For more information on Jumpstart Jazz, e-mail Libby at socialaction@nsuc.org. The North Shore Unitarian Church is at 2100 Half Day Road (Route 22) in Deerfield, just off I-94.

The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band opens the holiday season at St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, with a concert at 4 p.m. Nov. 25.

Seniors

The next program for LAFF (Life After 55), the senior group of Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates, will be at Beth Tikvah at 7:30 p.m. today. New Beginnings, a performing company of singers and instrumentalists who have a wide variety of musical styles, will entertain. The free show is approximately an hour. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Lois Braverman at (847) 301-1449.

Special services

Am Chai, serving the Northwest suburbs, will hold its next Friday night service at 8 p.m. Friday at the Devonshire, 1515 Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates. Rabbi Tillman will be conducting. All are invited. For more information, call (847) 604-4060 or go to the Web site, www.amchai.org.

The Beth Judea Youth Department will host a Shabbat Dinner and Service for the members of the various youth groups (Kadinkers, Kadima and USY) and their families Nov. 30. All congregants are cordially welcome to attend.

The dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by a 7:30 p.m. Shabbat service.

Cost of the dinner: adult (12 years and older) $18; 6 to 11 years old $10; 5 years old and younger $5. Vegetarian meals are available upon request.

Please contact Aaron at the synagogue office (847) 634-0777, ext. 114, for further information. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.

Shabbat worship services are offered at 7:30 p.m. Fridays (Kabbalat Shabbat) and at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. Birthdays and anniversaries will be recognized at the first Friday night service of the month. Daily minyan services are: Mondays at 6:15 a.m.; Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 9 a.m.

Tot Shabbat services are held in the main sanctuary of the synagogue at 6:30 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. Gan Shabbat services are held every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Beit HaMidrash on the Religious School level.

Nonmembers of Beth Judea are invited to attend services. For information, call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777.

St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will offer a Renewal Service at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17. Theme for the service is "Refreshing Our Spirits" and will feature special music and prayers.

St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will offer a Thanksgiving Eve Service at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21.

Women's programs

Caryn Bark, entertainer and author of the novel "Mittelschmerz" will speak about her book at Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim's Sisterhood Book Club meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10. The book club will review this "laugh-out-loud comic romance."

Copies of the book are available in the NCEH gift shop. Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim is at 2095 Landwehr Road in Northbrook. For information, call (847) 480-1690.