Religion notes

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Children, teens

JCC's got Shabbat? presents storyteller Dot Kane from 4 to 5:30 p.m. April 5 at Am Yisrael Congregation, 4 Happ Road, Northfield. JCC's got Shabbat? program is filled with fun, food, Havdallah and Samantha's Amazing Animals! This program is open to the community free. (Projects designed for families with children 4 to 8, but all are welcome.) (847) 412-4225.

The Youth Department of Congregation Beth Judea will hold its annual Purim Carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in the synagogue's Social Hall, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. There will be games, prizes and food. Game tickets cost 25 cents each. (847) 634-0777.

Young Judaea will hold a Purim carnival from 1 to 4 p.m. March 23 at Congregation B'nai Shalom of Buffalo Grove, 701 W. Aptakisic Rd., Buffalo Grove. Games, prizes, snacks. Admission is $5 for kids, includes 10 game tickets. (224) 622-9370.

The Youth Department of Congregation Beth Judea will hold a special Shabbat Evening April 4, with dinner to begin at 6:30 p.m. and services to follow at 7:30 p.m. The KADINKERS (grades 3-5), KADIMA (grades 6-8) and the USY (United Synagogue Youth grades 9-12) will be participating in the Shabbat Service. They and their families will enjoy a kosher dinner; vegetarian meals are available.

Cost: 12 years and older $18; 11 years and younger $10; 5 years and younger $5. An R.S.V.P. is necessary to the Youth Department. (847) 634-0777.

Registration has begun for the summer session at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 401 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. This program is for children ages 2 and 3.

The summer session of Parent's Day Out will start June 16 and will run for seven weeks. Parents will have the option of Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday class from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children must be 2 or 3 years of age by June 1, 2008, to enroll.

All children are required to have a complete physical and provide a complete Illinois Department of Public Health Certificate of Child Health Examination prior to the start of the program.

Summer tuition: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday: $185. kingswoodumc.com.

The 2008 Summer Program registration is under way at Jacob Duman JCC Early Childhood Services at Woodland Commons, 370 Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. Offered will be a variety of options for parent/child, 2-year-olds and 3-year olds. Programs run June 16 to Aug. 8. Call Ione Miralgio, Linda Newman or Lois Agran at (847) 955-0005.

Family

The Long Grove Church will offer an Easter egg hunt from 10-11:30 a.m. today at the Community House, just west of the covered bridge on Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove. All ages are welcome. Kids in fifth grade and younger will participate in the egg hunt. Bring your own basket for collecting eggs. Call Mindi at (847)-634-3635.

Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove, offers a Purim Celebration Thursday with the following:

• 6 p.m.: Havdalah and Pizzathon ($7/adult; $5/children 12 and younger).

• 7 p.m.: Family abbreviated Megillah Reading (Book of Esther).

8 p.m.: Ma'ariv and Traditional Megillah Reading.

Groggers will be handed out to resonate throughout the evening, and hamentaschen will be served to sweeten life. As a Mitzvah project, participants are asked to bring boxes of dry pasta, rice or vitamins to be used as groggers, which will then be donated to a food shelter. (847) 634-0777.

Fundraisers

Congregation Beth Judea will hold a JUF event on behalf of the 2008 Jewish United Fund -- Israel Emergency Fund at 6:45 p.m. April 6, a dessert reception featuring guest speaker Mike Leiderman, Emmy award-winning reporter and producer. Leiderman's topic will be "Changes Through the Ages: Jewish Characters on TV." Cost is $9/person. (847) 634-0777.

Lectures, seminars

Temple Chai in Long Grove will sponsor members of the Chicago chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen at 11:15 a.m. March 30. They will be speaking about the obstacles they encountered while becoming the only black fighter pilots in WW II. Free admission; a light brunch follows the presentation. R.S.V.P. to (847) 537-1771

Touchstones will present "Spirituality of the Seasons, Part Two: Summer Solstice" 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday at Schram Museum in the Glen, 1799 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Jane Goerss' work is in holistic wellness, with a grounding in the healing arts of many traditions, as well as a professional background in music and theater. Here, participants will learn about the history and importance of some popular rites surrounding the change of seasons. www.mytouchstones.org or (866) 568-7152.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois presents "DNA, A Useful Tool for the Genealogist" by Alvin Holtzman, a JGSI member, at 2 p.m. March 30 at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie. Holtzman will explain in laymen's terms what DNA screening is all about and most importantly what the genealogist can expect to gain from DNA testing.

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

Men's fellowship

Congregation Beth Judea's Men's Club introduces a new program called "Hearing Men's Voices," which addresses the need for men to address pertinent and challenging personal issues together with other men in a safe, comfortable and confidential setting. The first "Hearing Men's Voices" program will be at 10 a.m. April 6 at Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.

Three topics to be addressed are: balancing life (work, family Beth Judea); empty nesters (filling the void); and from bar mitzvah to college (dealing and relating to your teenager). The program is lay-led, with one member of the group acting as a moderator to facilitate the discussion. (847) 634-0777.

Miscellaneous

The Social Action Committee of Congregation Beth Judea will be packing Passover boxes for U.S. Jewish soldiers beginning at noon March 30.

They will be making small pillows for the boxes, cards for the soldiers and will pack Passover foods. The Congregation has been generous about mailing the boxes individually; the cost of mailing the boxes will be less than $10.

The Committee is also looking for donations of kippahs and hagadahs to send to the soldiers. (847) 634-0777. Congregation Beth Judea is located on Route 83 in Long Grove,

Special services

The Beth Judea Men's Club will present a Yom Hashoah Candle Program with the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center at 8 p.m. April 9. The guest speaker will be Barbara Cater Berger, the director of donor relations for the new Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. The program is free and open to the community. Refreshments will be served. (847) 634-0777. 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. (847) 634-0777.

Kol Chaverim, a 1-year-old post-denominational, participatory, egalitarian congregation invites prospective members to regular Shabbat morning services and kiddush lunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Jewish Council for Youth Services Northwest, 1700 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove. Call (847) 398-2019 by Friday. www.kolchaverim.org

Women's programs

The Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Judea will hold a special Women's Passover Seder from 7 to 9 p.m. April 7 in the synagogue's Social Hall. The cost is $12 for Sisterhood members; $15 for nonmembers, which includes light refreshments. (847) 634-0777. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.