ChaiLites December 2013

december 2013 ChaiLites Kol Sason - A Voice of Joy Happy Hanukkah to one and all! As you receive this edition of the Chai Lites it is quite likely that you, like many Jewish families around town and around the country, are coming down from much of the celebrating of this very rare, combined Hanukkah Thanksgiving confluence that has just finished. Young or old whether you’re a holiday hound or not, the consensus is that it has left us all a little “weirded out.” Seventeen years ago on a sunny winter day in New York, my wife Gail had just given birth to our second child on the 26th of November. It was just two days after Thanksgiving, and right before an early December Hanukkah and so we named him ‘Chaggai Matan’, meaning “my festival gift.” So the holiday juxtaposition may have a little bit more meaning for us, but I suggest none of us spend too much time wondering about the next one. Waiting for it will remind us all of the ‘Peanuts’ character ‘Linus’ waiting all Halloween for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin! Enjoy the cute “mash up” names that people have come up with, like “Thanksgivukah”, but I wouldn’t invest in more than one turkey shaped “novelty” Menorah because you won’t have a chance to light the first candle before Thanksgiving again in 800 lifetimes even if you lived to be a hundred in each one them. But looking past Hanukkah and the first few days of December, what do we have to look forward to? If you’re one of the blessed 80 or so folks who are going to Israel on another one of our incredible Temple Chai trips with Rabbi and Mendy Hart, obviously much adventure awaits! But “are there any more holiday coincidences to look forward to here at home” you might be bold enough to ask? Well, as it happens, yes there are. Soon after the New Year Celebration, Jewish Music month begins and continued on page 3 Protect your health! Turn to page 8 and see how. Kislev/Sh’vat 5774 Worship Schedule Friday, December 6 - Vayigash 5:45 p.m. Oneg Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Worship with Anniversary Blessings and Band participation Saturday, December 7 8:30 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the Musick Family Library B’nei Mitzvah of Hannah Safron and Jacob Schoen Friday, December 13 – Vayechi 5:45 p.m. Oneg Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Worship with 3rd Grade Consecration Saturday, December 14 8:30 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the Musick Family Library B’nei Mitzvah of Joey Callahan and Rachel Schless Friday, December 20 – Shemot 5:45 p.m. Oneg Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Worship with Birthday Blessings Saturday, December 21 8:30 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the Musick Family Library Friday, December 27 – Va’era 5:45 p.m. Oneg Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Worship Saturday, December 28 8:30 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the Sanctuary Friday, January 3 - Bo 5:45 p.m. Oneg Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Worship with Anniversary Blessings Saturday, January 4 8:30 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish in the Sanctuary 1670 Checker Road • Long Grove, IL 60047-5289 • 847-537-1771 • www.templechai.org • [email protected]