In this Issue:

• Bring your family to the next JUF Book Buddies!

• Families rock out at ShirLaLa concert

• What's Happening at the JCC of Chicago

• "Kids in the Kitchen" Cooking Class

• Hyde Park Early Childhood Information Fair

• Family Fun Sundays at Spertus

• Young Family Programming at Area Synagogues

JUF’s Shalom Baby welcomes the newest members of our community by providing a complimentary gift package to Jewish newborns up to one year old in Chicagoland.

Learn more »

Get your child off to theRight Start - the JUF way! It's already time to start looking at preschools for next Fall! If your child will be 2 or older by September 1, 2010, and is the first child in your family to enroll in a Jewish preschool, you may be eligible for a JUF Right Start gift Voucher ranging from $500 - $1,000.

Learn more »

Join the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders as it celebrates its 10th anniversary Thursday, October 15, 6:00 - 9:00 pm with Amy Harmon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist whose series The DNA Age explores the effect of genetics on our lives.

Looking for a fun (and FREE) activity to do with your kids or grandchildren? Join us for JUF Book Buddies on Sunday, October 18, 2009, 10:30 – 11:30am as we learn about about Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) with an hour of stories, crafts, songs and fun.

JUF Book Buddies is an exciting monthly program for families with children ages 0-5. It’s a great way to learn about the Jewish holidays and spend time with other families. There is no cost to attend.

JUF Book Buddies is now in four locations!

Barnes & Noble Bookstores
47 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville
720 Hawthorne Center, Vernon Hills
590 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg

Borders Bookstore
755 W. North Avenue, Chicago

JUF Book Buddies is part of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago’s Joyfully Jewish initiative and The PJ Library, in partnership with the Jewish Community Center of Chicago.

Learn more and register online »

Over 350 parents and kids packed the gym at the Menomonee Club in Chicago and the Sullivan Community Center in Vernon Hills on August 16th for performances by ShirLaLa, outrageously hip Jewish music for kids.

The families came for the Tot-Hop, a first of its kind event celebrating the PJ Library (launching later this Fall), which distributes Jewish books and CDs to families, and the success of JUF Right Start, which supports a child’s first year at a Jewish preschool or day care. The two programs are part of “Joyfully Jewish,” a series of family-oriented programs.

Look for more Joyfully Jewish programs for your family coming this year!

See photos from the event! »

Young Jewish Family Sukkot CelebrationOct 2, 4–5:30 pm
Anita M. Stone JCC
Contact Ilene Uhlmann, 708.794.1021

Vacation Days
Oct 12
K–5th grade, before and after care available.
Contact Andrea Berlow, 224.406.9207

got shabbat? with Samantha’s Amazing Animals
Oct 17, 4–5:30 pm
Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 Broadway, Chicago
Contact Marni Katz, 773.938.8343

got shabbat? with special guest entertainer
Oct 24, 4–5:30 pm
South Suburban Cooperative Jewish Council
Anita M. Stone JCC
Contact Susan Ellenby, 224.406.9223

Me and My Dad (Groups forming now)
Kids age 5–7 with their dads. Groups forming in all neighborhoods.
Contact Susan Ellenby, 224.406.9223

Sports & Leagues Classes (Locations vary)
Oct 5–Dec 17
Smart Start Basketball, Gym Kids, Hip Hop, Basketball, Swimming, Adult Group Fitness, Jr. NBA.
Contact Steve Nagle, 224.406.9253

Early Registration for JCC Apachi Day Camps!
Begins Oct 12
Visit www.gojcc.org/daycamp for more information.

Vacations and Getaways at JCC’s Perlstein Resort & Conference Center
Winter Camp: Dec 20–23
New Year’s Family Vacation: Dec 29, 2009– Jan 1, 2010
Contact Lawrence LeVine, 847.763.3603

Solomon Schechter Day School will be having a “Kids in the Kitchen” series of cooking classes for children ages 3 1/2 to 5 years old.

Classes meet on Oct. 1, 8, 15, and 22, 1:30 – 2:45 pm.
Instructor: Stacey Schwartz, Founder of Cooking for Fun!
Location: SSDS Skokie campus, 9301 Gross Point Road, Skokie.
$45 for all 4 sessions

All supplies and edible treats will be kosher and nut-free. Advance registration required prior to 9/23; participation is limited. To register, contact Leslie Rosen Stern at 847.412.5617 or leslie.rosenstern@schechter.org.

Looking for a preschool? The preschools in the neighborhood of Hyde Park are hosting an Early Childhood Information Fair at Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School at 5235 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Kelli at 773-493-8880 or kharris@akibaschechter.org.

Join in the Family Funat Spertus:

Sundays, Oct. 25, Nov. 8, and Nov. 22
610 South Michigan Ave, Chicago

Families will be able to participate in art workshops, family tours, stories and activities. These programs will take place in the Gray Children’s Center from 10:30 – 3:00 PM. To check out Spertus programming, go to www.spertus.edu.

More info »

Congregation Beth Shalom, 772 W. 5th Ave., Naperville

• Pizza in the Hut, a fun chance to decorate and dine within Congregation Beth Shalom’s Sukkah with festivities.
  Oct. 2, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
  $5/person. Register at 630-961-1818 or office772@napershalom.org.
• Family Hayride and Bonfire Lunch
  Oct. 11, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
• Tot Shabbat Music Program
  October 17, 10:00 – 11:00 am

To register for these programs contact Elizabeth Sigale at 312-925-5590 or esigale@comcast.net.

Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 Dempster, Evanston

• Yom Kippur Young Children’s Service - All families invited - a great way to learn about Beth Emet!
  Sept. 28, 2:30 pm
• Mishpacha/Family Shabbat Pot-Luck dinner
  Oct. 2 (Erev Sukkot) 5:15 pm. For families with children 3rd grade and younger. RSVP to mishpacha@bethemet.org. Later that night singer/songwriter Debbie Friedman will be singing to celebrate the installation of the synagogue’s new cantor, Arik Luck at 7:30 pm.
• Tot Shabbat (Simchat Torah) - Families will enjoy singing, dancing, and stories together, followed by brunch.
  Oct.10, 9:00 am

Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge Ave., Evanston

• Families Enjoying Shabbat Together
  Saturdays 9:00-10:00 am
  Join other families with young children to celebrate the joy of Shabbat with music, prayers, art, play, dance, stories and song.
• JRC Young Children’s Service
  Sept. 12, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, 9:00-10:00 am JRC’s Rabbi Brant Rosen and Cantor Howard Friedland will lead families with young children in a joyous celebration of singing, dancing and prayer.
• Telling Tales – Family Library Hour
  Sept. 26, Oct. 31, Nov. 28, Dec. 26
  Join JRC Librarian Eva Eisenstein the early childhood teachers who will share the joy of Shabbat, as they read stories of Shabbat and Jewish holiday themes with you and your family.

For more information visit www.JRC-evanston.org or call Dina at 847-328-7678, ext. 2235