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]