THE MITZVAH GRAM Chicago Mitzvah Campaign
Volume 12, Issue 11 // Elul 5782 - Tishrei 5783 // September 2022 | | THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, CMC TO PROVIDE FOR HUNDREDS OF HOMEBOUND PATIENTS AND SENIORS | | SHOFAR BLOWING FOR PATIENTS AND FOR HOMEBOUND
Rosh Hashana is just around the corner! As we do every year, CMC is again organizing volunteers to visit scores of hospitals, care facilities, retirement homes and private residences, to blow shofar for hundreds of homebound patients and seniors on both days of the holiday. Some CMC volunteers will walk as much as two hours to blow shofar for patients and seniors.
At this time, additional volunteers are still needed for this wonderful project. To volunteer, please contact CMC as soon as possible. | | In the West Rogers Park neighborhood there will be open-invitation shofar blowing on both days of Rosh Hashana at each of the five "Winston Towers" buildings and at the "Royalton" building (see inset for details), and additional shofar blowing by volunteers at many other residential apartments and homes.
To request a shofar blowing at your location, please call CMC as soon as possible. | | | The community should be aware that Jewish census lists at hospitals and nursing homes are often incomplete. Therefore, for any patient who is requesting a visit on the holiday, it is important to inform the CMC in advance, and not to rely on the CMC discovering the patient's name on the facility's Jewish census. | | SHABBAT AND YOM TOV MEALS
CMC has already received a great number of requests, and is now preparing to cook and deliver over 1,000 special UBCK Shabbat and Holiday meals to patients and their family members. These meals also include customary items that are unique to each holiday.
To request meals for Shabbat or any upcoming Yom Tov, please call the UBCK dedicated number – 833.4.CHOLIM (833-424-6546) - as soon as possible.
SUKKOT
Every year on Sukkot, CMC sends volunteers to dozens of local nursing homes in order to shake the Lulav and Etrog with the Jewish patients. CMC is asking volunteers to sign up to participate in these visits, which can be scheduled for the first days of Yom Tov or for Chol HaMoed. Those seniors and/or patients who remain homebound and are unable to arrange for their own Lulav and Etrog may call the CMC office, and we will make every effort to ensure that you have the opportunity to fulfil this special mitzvah on the Holiday.
HOSPITALITY SUITES
Please note, CMC's three hospitality suites adjacent to (respectively) Evanston, Lutheran General, and Skokie Hospitals, will be open throughout the Holidays. Each of the suites offers luxurious accommodations; delicious hot meals and shelf-stable refreshments throughout the week in addition to special fresh-catered meals for Shabbat and Yom Tov; and a host of additional amenities.
| | OUR RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE IS FAITH | | In Our Hearts the Fallen - July 4, 2022 | | On July 4, 2022, a gunman opened fire on innocent and unsuspecting participants at the Independence Day parade in Highland Park, killing seven, wounding dozens and traumatizing the entire nation. This terrible tragedy shakes our souls and demands a response. As Jews, our response to the challenge must begin with strengthening our faith and increasing our mitzvot. | | COMMEMORATIVE MEZUZAH MITZVAH PROJECT
For a limited time only, CMC is presenting the opportunity to 1,000 households from the breadth of the entire Chicagoland Jewish community to respond to the tragedy in Highland Park by participating in a commemorative mezuzah mitzvah project. Congregations and rabbis from across the community are deeply involved with this project.
The mezuzah project includes a beautiful scroll inside a very special mezuzah case specifically designed to commemorate and demonstrate solidarity with all those whose lives were touched by the tragedy in Highland Park. | | WHY A MEZUZAH?
Every mitzvah establishes a specific channel to receive additional Divine blessings. Jewish tradition teaches that the particular blessing of affixing a mezuzah to the doorposts of our home is in the Divine protection that this provides for the home's inhabitants and for the entire community.
Consequently, as a response to the tragic events of July 4th 2022 in Highland Park, CMC is now presenting the community with this special opportunity to unite together in strengthening our faith, reinforcing pride in our people, and fortifying Divine protection for the entire community.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
The Crain-Maling Foundation has generously sponsored this project, enabling CMC to make 1,000 of these special commemorative mezuzahs available at a below-cost price. Please note that in order to enable as many households as possible to participate, there is a limit of one mezuzah/case per household. While supplies last, contact CMC today to purchase your mezuzah scroll and special commemorative case.
| | SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 11-12! | | Save the date – December 11-12!
Following last year's extremely successful inaugural matching campaign that brought the entire community together in support of CMC's 30-plus programs and services for vulnerable seniors and patients in the community, CMC will hold a similar two-day matching campaign on December 11-12 this year. Stay tuned for details in upcoming weeks! | | CMC EXCITED ABOUT UPCOMING EXPANSION | | On November 1, the "Quik Stop" convenience store that occupies the eastern side of the first floor of the CMC building will be completing their lease and relocating. CMC will be using the newly vacated space for constructing an additional Senior Center activity room, and for adding a new kitchen facility that will be used exclusively as a dairy kitchen for UBCK (United Bikur Cholim Kitchen). Dedication opportunities are available! For details, please call Rabbi Aron Wolf at CMC. | | SENIOR CENTER HIGHLIGHTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS | | - Due to the success of its initial trial run, CMC is continuing our "Daily Kollel Learning for Seniors" in September for a second month. In addition to gaining from the enormous spiritual, intellectual and social benefits of the program, participants can also earn a monthly stipend!
- CMC's new "One-to-One Weekly Torah Study for Women" program is continuing into its second month, on Tuesday afternoons from 2:00-3:00. Immediately upon inception the program became an enthusiastic success, with many women excitedly remarking how illuminating and uplifting it was, and how they had never previously studied Torah topics in quite such a format and atmosphere. CMC is looking for additional volunteers to participate in this program; for more information, please contact Lisa or Sandra at CMC.
- CMC's Book Group, skillfully led by Rina Citrin, recently enjoyed a "table read" of "Invasion of Skokie," following which they relished the rare opportunity to meet with playwright Steven Peterson, who shared insights into the play. The group is looking forward to reading another play soon.
- In recent weeks CMC's Senior Center has continued a series of special series of presentations focusing on various subjects within the general topic of wellness. On August 21 a large audience gathered at the Center to listen to CMC's Fitness Center Director, Josh Rich, give a fascinating and enlightening presentation on the topic of mobility, entitled, "Don't Just Sit There!"
- After taking a short break during the Holiday season, the wellness series will continue into the fall season. We are excited to welcome Dr. David Mael on Sunday 10/23 for a special guest lecture on rheumatology. We also look forward to welcoming Dr. Aaron Benjamin in November for a special guest lecture on diabetes.
- On Wednesday, September 22 at 1:00pm, all seniors are invited to participate in a special "shofar factory" program in honor of Rosh Hashana.
- Stay tuned for details of CMC's annual Sukkot party for seniors, which will take place during Chol HaMoed Sukkot.
- From September through December, all seniors are invited to participate in a special 8-part lecture series on the History of the Jews in Europe during Geonic Times: 500-950 C.E. This fascinating series of lectures will be expertly presented by Marcia Harris, PhD, JD. Lectures, which are all scheduled for 1:00-2:00pm, will take place on the following dates: Sept 14,28; Oct 26; Nov 2,15,30; Dec 14,28.
| | CMC wishes a speedy recovery and good health to: | | - HaRav Yehoshua Heschel
- ben Shartza Babtcha
- Aron ben Shaina Rivka
- Avrohom ben Bluma
- Avrohom ben Shoshana
- Brocha Ahuva bas Chaya esther
- Chava Devasha Sara bas Chaya Raizel
- Craig ben Roberta
- Dovber haKohen ben Dube Dobresh
- Dovid ben Chaya Rivka
- Dovid ben Malka Maltza
- Dovid Yitzchok ben Chaya Sara
- Mordechai Gershon ben Chaya
- Moshe Lebiv ben Devorah Esther
- Refoel Yoisef ben Rochel
- Riva Sara bas Leah
- Rivka bas Gitel
- Shayna bas Faige Perel
- Shmuel Eliezer ben Fruma Gittel
- Simcha ben Hinda
| | - Simcha Dovid ben Chaya Yaffas
- Toba Raizel bas Menucha
- Velvel Dovid ben Chaya Gitel
- Yael Tamar bas Chaya Rashe
- Yechezkel Naftoli ben Ratze
- Yehoshua Moshe ben Rachel
- Yisroel Nun ben Sarah
- Yosef Mayer ben Esther HaLevi
- Zlata bas Sluva
| | CMC CHAPLAINCY AND SENIOR SERVICES DIVISION | | IN HOSPITALS
Patient visitation Shabbat and Holiday meals Advocacy and support Food for Hatzalah transports Free kosher guest meals Family Counseling Tefillin, prayer and observances Hospitality suites and food pantries Shabbat packages Friday night candles Maternity box of delights Emergency food deliveries Bedside refrigerators SPECIAL HOLIDAY PROJECTS (hospitals/nursing homes/home-bound)
Rosh Hashana: Shofar blowing Sukkot: Lulov and Etrog Chanukah: Menorah lighting and gifts Purim: Megillah reading and gifts Pesach: Seder plates | | AT HOME
Medicar transportation Senior Center daily programs Emergency medical alert systems Preventing elder abuse and neglect Home safety assessments Fall prevention equipment Free delivery service for groceries Senior friendship Medication management systems World-wide "SimchaVision" (from any hospital or residence)
END-OF-LIFE
Musical enrichment Counseling and support Assistance with traditional Jewish burials Minyanim for Kaddish Kaddish recitation Yahrtzeit and memorial services | | Chicago Mitzvah Campaign 2757 W Pratt Blvd Chicago, IL 60645 1.866.MYRABBI (1.866.697.2224) | | | | | | |
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