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View the JUF Synagogue Connections brochure. | | | |
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There's always something to celebrate and JUF News wants to publish it! - Births
- Bar and bat mitzvahs
- Engagements
- Weddings
- Anniversaries
Send a short description of your simcha and a photo to simchas@juf.org to be featured in an upcoming issue. Announcements will also be posted on the JUF website. | | | |
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| | Registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel Chicago Community trips run by Shorashim Opens February 15 |  | | Are your congregants ages 18-26? Are they ready for an Israel experience? Please share this exciting Birthright opportunity with them. Travel to Israel with Israelis on a Chicago community trip through Shorashim, a partner of JUF. Registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel opens on Wednesday, February 15 at 10 am EST. Priority registration for returning applicants opens Tuesday, February 14 at Noon EST. Check out http://www.israelwithisraelis.com/ for more information. This trip is a gift from Taglit-Birthright Israel and covers round-trip airfare plus ten days of educational programming in Israel. Any Jewish youth, 18-26 (post high-school), who has never been to Israel on a peer-group program is eligible to apply. | | | | Programs for Young Adults | YLD Goes to TribeFest! TribeFest offers the opportunity to explore and celebrate being Jewish with over one thousand other young adults from across the country. TribeFest will reflect the vibrant city of Las Vegas, offering meaningful fun and top-quality content. For more information, please contact Caryn Fields in the YLD office at 312-357-4880; register for the conference on the TribeFest website. 
2012 Lewis Summer Internship Program Applications now are being accepted for the 2012 Hillels of Illinois’ Harriet and Maurice Lewis Summer Intern Program in Jewish Community Service. The nationally recognized work-study program provides hands-on experience that helps college students make career choices, strengthen leadership and professional development skills and enhance Jewish identity. Participants are matched with one of 26 paid internships, geared to their career interests, at agencies or departments of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. The 2012 program runs June 4 - August 3 and is open to undergraduates who live in (parental residence) or attend school in the Chicago area. For more information visit the online application or contact Lisette Zaid, 312-673-2353. | | | | Upcoming Joyfully Jewish Programs | 
JUF Book Buddies - January 22 & February 26 Join JUF Book Buddies on Sunday, January 22 for a Tu B’Shevat themed day and Sunday, February 26 for Purim themed art projects and story readings in Naperville, Vernon Hills or Oak Park. Learn about Jewish holidays, meet other families with young children (best for children ages 0-5) and have fun! The program is free to attend but pre-registration is requested. Grandparents welcome! Register on the website, email or call 312-444-2844 for more information. 
PJ Library Goes Green! Join JUF Joyfully Jewish, PJ Library, Solomon Schechter Day School and Keshet for a Tot Concert featuring Rick Recht, Jewish rock artist and environmental activist. Participate in these environmentally-friendly activities: Composting with the Urban Worm Girl • Collages with repurposed materials • Planting microgreens • Building with cereal boxes • Cozy reading corner • Create your own windmill. Perfect for kids ages 2-5 and their favorite adults! Children with special needs welcome and encouraged to attend. Date/Time: Sunday, February 5, 9:30–11:30 am
Location: Solomon Schechter Day School, 3210 Dundee Road, Northbrook Cost: $18/family in advance; $25/family at the door (space permitting)
RSVP: Register online or by calling 312-357-4831 PJ Library Goes Green is a Lila Tov Initiative, sponsored by the family and friends of Lila Weinzweig, a lifelong Jewish educator beloved by generations of children. She believed passionately in the power of Jewish engagement to enliven and inspire. This program is presented in partnership with JUF Joyfully Jewish Family Programs, The PJ Library Chicago, Solomon Schechter Day School and Keshet. 
South Suburban PJ Library Pajama Party Join JUF’s Joyfully Jewish and the Cooperative Jewish Council for an afternoon of family fun on February 12 from 3:30-4:30 pm at the Marie Irwin Community Center, located at 18120 South Highland Avenue. Come dressed in your favorite pajamas and participate in bedtime themed activities featuring your favorite PJ Library books. Move and stretch with family yoga, decorate pillow cases, make personalized bedroom door hangers and sunshine picture frames. And of course, enjoy a nosh of milk & cookies. Best for children under age 5, grandparents and other family members are invited! Please bring a non-perishable item to donate to Respond Now, a local agency serving the community. $10/family. Space is limited. Learn more and register online or call 312.357.4851 for additional information. Be sure to spread the word to family and friends!  Preschool on My Mind Make your New Year’s resolution to enroll your child in a Jewish early childhood program. You may be eligible for a JUF Right Start Gift Voucher with a value of $500, $750, or $1,000, depending on the number of days your child attends. Call a Jewish early childhood program to make an appointment to meet with the director and observe in a classroom. Ask lots of questions to see if this is a comfortable fit for you or your child. Go online to learn more about the Program and where Jewish early childhood programs are located or call the JUF Right Start Coordinator at 312-357-4513. Learn more about Joyfully Jewish » | | | | JUF Happenings | 
Jewish Women's Foundation Awards $203,418 in Grants The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (JWF) announced December 13 that it awarded $203,418 in 2011 grants to 17 organizations that focus on improving the lives of Jewish women and girls here and around the world. JWF awarded the largest grant in its history to The Jewish Teens and Women Credit, Asset Building and Savings Help (CASH) program, sponsored by the Jewish Vocational Service. The $60,000 grant - $20,000 each over three years – is JWF’s first multiyear impact initiative. Overall, JWF awarded five new grants and renewed 12 others. For a complete list of grant recipients, read the full article. 
All In The Family: Using Family Health to Identify and Support Women at Risk for Hereditary Cancer This program is designed for nurses and nurse practitioners who want to learn to use family health history to identify and support patients and families at high risk for hereditary cancer and become familiar with opportunities for intervention which will make an impact on health outcomes. Collaboration with genetic professionals will be highlighted. - When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 6-8 pm
- Where: Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Avenue West, Highland Park
- RSVP: Karen Litwack at 312-357-4717 or go online for more information
read more JUF news » | | | | Volunteer Opportunities with JUF | 
January TOV MTV Hands-on volunteering opportunities are available for Jewish teens in grades 6-12 through the TOV Monthly Teen Volunteering (MTV) program. Teens can sign-up for one project, or all of them, whatever works for their schedule. Upcoming events include:
Projects are first come, first served and pre-registration is required. Visit the website for more information and sign up online today! To be placed on the mailing list or if you have questions, please contact TOV Teens at 312-444-2867 or by email.
TOV’s Winter Mitzvah Mania is Here!Winter Mitzvah Mania registration is now open! One-time volunteer opportunities will take place through Sunday, February 12, 2012. Sign up to volunteer or call the TOV Hotline at 312-357-4762. In conjunction with Winter Mitzvah Mania, TOV will be collecting used cell phones (no chargers, please). They will be sold, recycled, or refurbished; all proceeds will be donated to SHALVA. Drop off your old cell phones now through February 12 at the following locations: - Bernard Weinger JCC, Northbrook
- B'nai Yehuda Beth Sholom, Homewood
- Congregation Beth Judea, Long Grove
- Florence G. Heller JCC, Chicago
Check Out TOV in the News!This Christmas, the JUF TOV Volunteer Network sent volunteers to the Inspiration Corporation’s Inspiration Café and Living Room Café to serve Christmas brunch and dinner. ABC 7 did a piece on the importance of volunteering on holidays (and year round) and featured one of TOV’s very own volunteers, Ricky Levy! Click here to watch the video. 
Making Mitzvot Part of Your Bar/Bat MitzvahLooking for a mitzvah project, but don't know where to start? Volunteerism comes in many different forms - whether you choose to give your time, raise money, or host a collection drive, your project can, and will, make a difference in your community. TOV's B'nai Mitzvah Tikkun Olam Manual will guide you towards finding the right fit. For more information, please sened email to BnaiMitzvah@juf.org | | | | Israel Experience Scholarships | 
Israel Experience Scholarships High school students, college students and young adults planning to travel to Israel this coming summer or fall of 2012 may be eligible for the Jewish Federation’s High School financial need-based, College/Young Adult financial need-based or merit scholarships. Deadline is March 1, 2012. Is this your first time applying for an Israel Experience Scholarship? If so, please join us for one of our telephone seminars on Tuesday, January 17 or Friday, February 10, both at 12 pm. During both of these seminars we will discuss how to fill out the application and will answer questions. These calls are only available for a limited number of callers, so if you are interested, you must register for either call by emailing Lyndsey Yeary or calling 312-357-4798. Registration is first come, first served. | | | | JCC Chicago | 
2nd Friday - Friday, January 13, 5:45-7:30pm
Celebrate the 2nd Friday with the whole family at the JCC with stories, music, open gym and open swim (Swimming at Weinger only). Dinner included! 
JCC Young Actors Ensemble Sci-fi Musical Adventure JCC Chicago’s first-ever sci-fi musical adventure, Mileep and the Attack of the Jellybean People, will blast onto the stage January 19-29, 2012, in the Elaine and Zollie Frank Theater, Mayer Kaplan JCC, in Skokie. Enjoy the show with your whole family. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 8-12 and $5 for kids 7 and under. Advance ticket purchases can be made by email, calling the box office at 847.763.3518 or at the door. To learn more about the JCC's Young Actors Ensemble and how they embrace Jewish values visit their website: visit www.gojcc.org/theater. 
Got Shabbat - Friday, January 21, 3:30-5:00 pm at Bernard Weinger JCC (300 Revere Dr., Northbrook)
Enjoy crafts, snacks, Havdalah and drummer Greg Fundis! 
2012 Summer JCC Maccabi Games! Teenagers’ ages 13-16 are invited to learn about the summer 2012 JCC Maccabi Games in Houston, Memphis, and Rockland County, NY this upcoming August. The program provides athletic, social and cultural experiences to Jewish teens. Information nights will be held on January 12 at Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook and on January 17 at Mayer Kaplan JCC Children’s Center in Skokie, both at 7 pm. Tryouts will take place between January 22 - February 14. Full details available online or by calling Rachel Thompson at 847-763-3571. 
JCC's Me and My Dad
Bond with your K-1 child while attending monthly group meetings to learn about Jewish holidays by creating art projects, reading stories and engaging in father-child activities! You choose the dates and times with your group. Meetings are held in the homes of the group or at the JCC | | | | Programs Offered by Jewish Federation Affiliated Agencies | 
It is the mission of the Jewish Child and Family Services is to provide help, healing and caring services infused with Jewish values to strengthen lives in the community. January and February events include: Healing Hearts is supported by a partnership of Temple Chai, Congregation Beth Am, Congregation Beth Judea, Chicago Jewish Funerals, Goldman Funeral Group, Pizer Funeral Services and Shalom Funeral Home.  More information about the Jewish Healing Network of Chicago can be found online. 
Jewish Vocational Service is a dynamic agency delivering a comprehensive selection of non-sectarian employment services. Programs offered in January: Workshops offered in February: - Alternative Financing
- Is Entrepreneurship Right For You?
- Starting a Small Business in Illinois
- The IT/Tech Future
- Building Your Personal Brand and Telling Your Story
- Career Support Group
- Current Trends in Successful Resumes and Cover Letters
- CORE FOUR Small Business Planning Boot Camp
More information, including registration details available online or contact Carol McDermott at 312-673-3400 or Samantha Manuel at 312-673-3433. Learn more » | |
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