tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61053638444369094602024-02-19T06:59:50.944-08:00Lakeside Congregation for Reform JudaismTake a look at Lakeside Congregation in Highland Park, Illinois!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-14210742355157689802018-12-30T07:20:00.000-08:002018-12-30T07:20:10.239-08:00We made it to Jerusalem!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUlKcwsKFH1dgoe2oWMENqnbMHmntcm2GcPvnlGc81P345qZKjtCdeh2gOhoBca50NK4Nwtc7uuKAUkOGP3KFla5uXep4WGAtNeJg_BTq1t9OQ0USlK80qyPxLayU8fZlKN1AOi6bm88_/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUlKcwsKFH1dgoe2oWMENqnbMHmntcm2GcPvnlGc81P345qZKjtCdeh2gOhoBca50NK4Nwtc7uuKAUkOGP3KFla5uXep4WGAtNeJg_BTq1t9OQ0USlK80qyPxLayU8fZlKN1AOi6bm88_/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAUaT3IOox89oyLKzOd_fE-PeUpumfAs3IMxXZ34EZ2AskN7NZIPUzRlrEFHu8fLof5qaD1hj5jSCtrhL7CXBcGOdJBQlesn6wCpWZUYAWaJassO9dMurhxbItDL_MtFrwxO-yWFCibaS/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAUaT3IOox89oyLKzOd_fE-PeUpumfAs3IMxXZ34EZ2AskN7NZIPUzRlrEFHu8fLof5qaD1hj5jSCtrhL7CXBcGOdJBQlesn6wCpWZUYAWaJassO9dMurhxbItDL_MtFrwxO-yWFCibaS/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Yesterday we had a very moving visit to the Kotel or the Western Wall. After that we went to the Macheneh Yehuda open air market. It was very crowded because it was almost Shabbat and people were buying food for their Shabbat dinners. We bought some flowers to give as a gift to our Shabbat dinner hosts and then had same pita, humus, and falafel. We bought donuts and baklava for later. Alex has ice cream despite the cold. Erin and I bought hats because we were cold.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We went to Kabbalat Shabbat services with Rabbi Stacey Blank at Kehilat Tzur Hadassah which is a reform congregation in Kehilat Tzur, a suburb 12 miles southwest of Jerusalem in the Judean Hills with a population of 1,500 people. </span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">After services, our group split up and we went to Shabbat dinner with local congregants. Our dinner with Alena and Gail and their children Gabi and Sasha was amazing. They made us feel so welcome and they prepared a wonderful meal for us. Erin and Alex enjoyed talking to Gabi and Sasha about High school and middle school in Israel. And Alex and Sasha turned out to have so much in common that we joked that they were long lost twins. We enjoyed our evening with our new Israeli friends so much and we were sad to leave.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Yesterday was Shabbat so we are planning to sleep in and then go see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-67886130124388320772018-12-24T13:52:00.000-08:002018-12-24T13:52:19.012-08:00From Lakeside Travels in Israel: December 2018<br />
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From Roberta Heinrich:</div>
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Dec. 24, 2018. What a day! Tel Aviv -a view from my balcony - </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm_a9HC8R9SaEqjbN-1awGiUnhuzuBvCRFnntrknpkLWT-p-M7ob_U_iAYnwL-kGAjbHrCHvU5ortWUVFNiZIzYEukUR5HdIcRnnzX6FRKJ_Exrp4uNrxuUzwSQ9BcI_oHKMsWE727HTc/s1600/IMG_5732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm_a9HC8R9SaEqjbN-1awGiUnhuzuBvCRFnntrknpkLWT-p-M7ob_U_iAYnwL-kGAjbHrCHvU5ortWUVFNiZIzYEukUR5HdIcRnnzX6FRKJ_Exrp4uNrxuUzwSQ9BcI_oHKMsWE727HTc/s320/IMG_5732.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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that’s the Mediterranean Sea! Delectable breakfast in the hotel and then a trip to the room where it happened - the art museum where Israel declared itself a Jewish State. Shortly after, immersed in Levinsky street with its scent of spices, we sampled pastries filled with spinach, cheese, mushrooms and more. (The butcher shop photo is in homage to my Grandpa Harry, a Kosher butcher from Odessa) On nearby blocks we spied Bauhaus architecture surrounded by European and modern buildings. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Group!</td></tr>
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Then to Old Jaffa- the mosque, clock tower, remains of an archeological dig and a<br />sculpture overlooking the sea. Touring the alleyways, shopping the flea market, and tasting local fare closed our afternoon. Tonight we’re off to a traditional Israeli dinner! A perfect day.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-17985696299426782072018-10-04T11:57:00.000-07:002018-10-04T11:57:29.311-07:00The Shofars Calls for Voting<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Isaac Serotta</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lakeside Congregation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosh Hashana Morning 5779</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My son, Yehuda, accompanied me on a
Lakeside Congregation trip to Israel. We had one specific goal on our trip, and
that was to find a shofar for him to blow. We had a free afternoon our last day in Jerusalem so we wound our way
into the Old City on its stone streets to a shop we had scoped out in the
Jewish quarter. They sell nothing but
shofarot. No trinkets or souvenirs, no
other ritual items, Shofars R Us. We set
out to find the perfect shofar. Shofars
are like magic wands in the Harry Potter Books, you don’t so much pick one out,
as one picks you. There is only one way
to find the right Shofar. We played
every horn in the store, making a joyful noise in the city of Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shopkeeper didn’t mind. Maybe he was a little deaf. Maybe he was used to it. Shofar blasts rattling off the stone walls
were a good advertisement for him. Shoppers came in and started asking me about Shofarot, for display and
for use. Finally, with tired lips,
Yehuda chose a shofar whose notes were sharp and clear. We carried this 3 foot long shofar wrapped in
bubble wrap all the way home, and Yehuda played it in this sanctuary for a
couple of years and then it went with him to Iowa and Minnesota and now Colorado.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hearing the shofar is one of our most
beloved traditions. It is the reason
that many people come. There is the joy
of watching our children hear it. There
is excitement and anticipation when we see our shofar blowers, Adam
Whiteman and Douglas Smith holding it and preparing to sound the notes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible mentions the shofar 47 times,
and it has different purposes. The
shofar might announce a processional, be used as a signal, as a call to war, to
induce fear, to end plagues. In the
Torah, it says, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall
rest for a holy day, a day of remembering loud blasts, <i>zichron teruah</i>.” That’s really all the Torah has to say about
Rosh Hashanah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maimonides wrote about the meaning and
purpose of the Shofar’s blasts a thousand years ago, saying, “Awake you
sleepers from your sleep and ponder your deeds, remember your Creator and
return to God in repentance.” Maimonides
hears the shofar like an alarm clock.
Even though many people may fall asleep in temple, he doesn’t mean it
literally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He goes on to say, “Do not be like those
who miss the truth while following other pursuits. Look at your soul and consider your deeds;
turn away from wrong paths, and make a new start.” Rabbi Sidney Greenberg, a
colleague of mine, says, “these are surely days when religion should be a
disturber of the peace, a goad to conscience, and a blazing sense of
restlessness to right the world’s wrongs.” So today, we hear the shofar as a
wake up call, a reminder of our rights and responsibilities as Jews and as
Americans. Elections approach and we
cannot be asleep. The Reform movement in
our nation and in Illinois is getting together and getting organized. RAC (Religious Action Center) Illinois
organizes Reform Jews across Chicagoland and the whole state to stand up and be
counted on issues of meaning to our community. Our board voted unanimously to be a Brit Olam Congregation, a nationwide
effort of which RAC Illinois is a part, to join hundreds of Reform communities around the country and remind
those who come to worship to really hear the words of the prayers and the sound
of the shofar and recognize that we have a sacred obligation. We
have an obligation to vote.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Yitzhak (Berachot 55a) in Talmudic
times said, “A leader is not to be appointed unless the community is first
consulted.” Today, our vote is how we
get consulted. If we don’t vote, and
don’t encourage others to do so, if we suppress any vote, then the community
does not get its full say in who will lead us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a people we have rarely lived in a
nation as aligned with our own religious teachings. In 1843 President John Tyler lauded the free
expression of religion in our nation, “The conscience is left free from all
restraint and each is permitted to worship his Maker after his own
judgment….The Mohammedan…to worship according to the Koran; and the East Indian
might erect a shrine to Brahma if it so pleased him….The Hebrew, persecuted and
downtrodden in other regions takes up his abode among us with none to make him
afraid…and the Aegis of the Government is over him to defend and protect
him. Such is the great experiment which
we have tried, and such are the happy fruits which have resulted from it; our
system of government would be imperfect without it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish supreme
court justice, said in 1915 “Not since the destruction of the Temple have the
Jews in spirit and in ideals been so fully in harmony with the noblest
aspirations of the country in which they lived.” He, of course, spoke before the birth of the
modern state of Israel, but his point is still relevant. The Jews have never had a home like
America. We have been welcome here
because of the separation of church and state that President Tyler admired. Beyond that, our traditions teach us the same
values that are the noblest aspirations of America.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has never been our place to sit idly
and just let history unfold. From the
time Abraham disrupted the status quo and left his ancestral home to begin the
journey of the Jewish people we have been wandering Arameans. We have been victors and victims, but we have
never stood on the sidelines of world events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this nation we cannot be
complacent. Anti-Semitism is not dead
and gone. Though Jews are loved and
welcomed by the majority of our nation, there is still a dark underbelly of Jew
hatred. And it is not going away
quietly. Anti-Semitic screeds have
appeared on synagogue lawns in recent days, swastikas still appear in bathroom
graffiti and on synagogue doors.
Holocaust denial and conspiracy theories still have adherents and some
of them aspire to positions of power, and others, including in the highest
halls of power look the other way to garner their votes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we are not voting for ourselves
alone. Our tradition teaches that we not
only lift our own burden we help our neighbors, even our adversaries in lifting
their burdens too. Our rabbis taught in
the Talmud (Baba Batra 8a): “If you live in a city for 30 days you must
contribute to the food pantry, for three months, contribute to the charity
box. For six months you must give to the
clothing fund. After nine months, [healing the sick] and burying the dead. After a year, you must contribute to the
strength of the city.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though the laws of the Bible were written
long before the invention of democracy, it seems clear that it should be a
Jewish imperative to vote. In 1885, the
Reform Movement in America wrote its first platform, and at the last minute
they added a brief section crafted by Rabbi Emil Hirsch of Chicago, “we deem it
our duty to participate in the great task of modern times, to solve, on the
basis of justice and righteousness, the problems presented by the contrasts and
evils of the present organization of society.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not a political statement. It
comes from the deepest wisdom of the prophets from generations of old. As proud Jews and proud Americans we cannot
stand idly by while our neighbors bleed. We cannot be silent when hundreds are murdered in the streets of our
city. We cannot be silent when those who
are sworn to protect all our citizens are sometimes the source of
violence. We cannot stand aside as
families seeking help, home and asylum are separated and no one can seem to
reunite them. We can’t be silent when science
is denied, when the earth is literally shaking from the fractures of unfettered
energy mining, where the air and water gets poisoned by relaxing regulations,
where children’s brains and bodies are damaged by cover ups of contaminated
water. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We cannot stand silent as Anti-Semitism
rises. But we know that hatred of Jews
is just one part of a larger hatred; a part of racism and Islamophobia, and
homophobia. It is easy to think that
things are better than they were a year ago, because so few white supremacists
came to Washington DC a month ago when so many showed up in Charlottesville
last year, but that is not true. Every
indicator of hate crimes is up. These
haters don’t need to show up for protests because their agenda is becoming part
of the mainstream. They are not going
back to hiding under rocks, they are saying out loud what they used to say in
private and they are saying it with few repercussions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who call our attention to these
things are not prophets of doom, but prophets of hope. They hope that we will wake up and do what it
takes to make our broken world whole again. Standing up for justice is not political. The prophets of old were not
standing for a political party, they stood up for justice for rich and poor
alike. They stood up to say that every
human being is precious. All of us are a
part of God, each one <i>b’tzelem Elohim</i>, made in the image of God. Similarly, our American constitution is not
just for Democrats or Republicans, and not just for American citizens. It
proclaims a message to the world, that every person has a right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On this day of sounding the shofar let the
sound wake us up to what we can do to create a more just world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First let us vote. How is it that after every election we hear
what a dismal turnout of eligible voters there has been? I would like to think that it is not true
among Jews, not in our congregation, but I fear that we may not be so different
from everyone else. If you are not
registered, register. If you cannot get
to the polls because of work or travel or other difficulties, request an
absentee ballot and fill it in. If you
employ people make sure that they have the flexibility to vote or help them get
the absentee ballots they need.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would love to see our congregation be a
100% voting congregation. My kids are
registered where they now live, Colorado, Washington State, Pennsylvania. Their votes are very powerful, make sure your
kids know how important it is to vote. In an essentially two party system sometimes we have to vote for the
least worst option, but even then that vote makes a difference. There is a difference between least worst and
worst. And if we vote in primaries maybe
we can get to a place when we have candidates that are good and better instead
of worst and least worst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And besides your own vote, volunteer and
help get other people registered and out to vote. You can go the non-partisan route, joining
League of Women Voters for example. They
do not endorse candidates but they do have a goal of getting every eligible
voter registered and voting. Or you can
join the campaign of the candidate of your choice and help get out their
voters. We are a better nation when a
larger percentage of people votes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And third make it possible for people to
vote. In America we have a right to
vote. Political power has been used to
gerrymander districts, to purge voting rolls, and shorten pre-voting hours for
partisan ends. We should always be
pushing for more voter inclusion not less.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is important to make our vote count and
to make sure we make good decisions about our votes. I have said before, a candidate who doesn’t
believe in science should never receive a vote. It is not my only screen, but it is my first. You can debate about what
policies we should put in place to heal the planet, but denial of science is
not a policy, it is suicide. I have
spoken about the environment many times over the years, but if you need a
reminder: Climate change is real. It is
serious and urgent and it is caused by human activity. And most importantly, we can fix it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shofar is calling us. The alarm sounds and we may not like it. Not many people love their alarm clock, but
we cannot hit the snooze button. The brokenness will not heal itself, we need
to set the bones so the fractures may knit. We need to heed the prophets. In
two weeks when we celebrate Sukkot, the festival of booths, we need to make it
the festival of voting booths. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to be passionate and insistent
advocates for tolerance and enduring kindness between diverse people. To pursue justice is to create a society that
protects and enlivens everyone. Let us
be relentless, tireless builders of that society in our nation and the world in
the year 5779.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a <i>mitzvah </i>to hear the shofar. It is a time of waking up, and it is a time
to be one as a community. Let us hear
the call to act together to make our world better. We cannot wait for the election that comes
after this one. Today begins ten days of
<i>heshbon ha-nefesh</i>, an accounting of our spirits. Now is the time to stand up, be counted and make
a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ken y’hee ratzon.</i></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-60738213275130101262018-06-20T08:31:00.000-07:002018-06-20T08:31:38.664-07:00“If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” <br />
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Rabbi Serotta on Immigration Policy. </span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">There is an old bumper sticker, it has probably been
around since the Viet Nam War:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If
you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you how many people have told me
that they can’t even watch the news, on any channel, as they hear the
horrifying screams of children being separated from their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should feel outrage at what our government
is doing in our names. Our immigration system is broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know that, but with the policy of this
administration it is now shattered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">It is the new </span><a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1049751/download"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">policy</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"> of this
administration that any migrant family entering the U.S. without official
documentation will be prosecuted for this misdemeanor. The parents get
incarcerated and that leaves children to be warehoused since they are not
allowed to accompany their parents to prison. Parents plead guilty to the
misdemeanor in the hopes of getting their children back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their sentence is usually the few days they
served waiting for trial. Getting through the bureaucracy can take more time
and the children are left in custody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes the parents are deported before getting the children and those
kids are left behind in HHS “shelters” for an indeterminate amount of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children who have done nothing wrong are
serving sentences as if they are criminals. It is an outrage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">There is a second apparently unwritten policy that even
when the family presents themselves for official documentation, seeking asylum,
the government is still separating children from their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither parents nor children have done anything
wrong, but they must wait for an asylum hearing, not in jail, but in
immigration detention which is not so different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a government choice, because you do
not have to lock up people who have credible asylum claims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could be beginning a productive life but
the administration locks them and their children in separate facilities instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Imagine it was us and our families. If we come over the
border without papers we lose our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we come over the border asking for asylum, we still lose our
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best answer is to not get
caught which is the exact opposite of what immigration policies are meant to
convey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While immigration laws need
comprehensive reform, these policies are unique to this administration and they
could be ended with a simple call from the president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Our tradition reminds us over and over to care for the
stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Torah teaches that we must
not remain indifferent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times
have we heard, that evil thrives when good people remain silent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This problem is not too big for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jewish organizations are joining with
Islamic, Protestant and Catholic groups from all over the political spectrum to
end these policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Our own Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
suggests six things we can do to help:</span></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="slate-paragraph">
</div>
<ol>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Provide tangible support to detainees
and separated families</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
by gathering and sending toiletries and toys to the border. Send care packages
to: Michael Blum Social Action Chair, Temple Emanuel, 4300 Chai Street (North C
Street) McAllen, Texas 78504.</span></li>
<li><a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Tr6tidF5TlifkzebTnYLxtee62mghCq%2B" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Join a Families Belong Together
mobilization</span></b></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> in
Washington, DC or hundreds of other cities around the U.S. on June 30, 2018. I will be in Washington that afternoon.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bring a congregational delegation</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> to McAllen, TX home to the United
States' largest immigration detention center. To do so, reach out to </span><a href="mailto:rabbikogan@tergv.com" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Rabbi Claudio Kogan of the URJ's Temple Emanuel</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> in McAllen, who is eager for visitors
to see this border community first hand. Friends of mine, including Rabbi David
Stern and Rabbi Nancy Kasten from Dallas will be there tomorrow. Anyone want to take a trip?</span></li>
<li><a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XkjSVzyYlcCFnq3rG5bM49ee62mghCq%2B" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Send a letter</span></b></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> demanding that President Trump,
Secretary of Homeland Security Nielsen, and Attorney General Sessions end
family separation now. Send a letter to
our own congressional representatives to continue to push back on these
policies.</span></li>
<li><a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7mKY0Kly61BN7XBYdYb%2BOtee62mghCq%2B" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Organize or join a rally</span></b></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> outside your local Immigration and
Customs Enforcement office.</span></li>
<li><a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=f0IH1OOTDtxbPgZwsJhtCtee62mghCq%2B" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Register</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> for the North American Immigrant
Justice Campaign's Deportation Defense Training</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> on July 10, 2018. For more
information about how to join this campaign, please visit </span><a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=uINXND%2Bxg6PCJsBxzhhy79ee62mghCq%2B" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">RAC.org/naijc</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> and </span><a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=9Lt6uxSKTSPv7ngV53Kkydee62mghCq%2B" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">download the RAC's Immigrant Justice
Resource Guide</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">I hope this outrage will end
soon, but it is important to understand, that even if we succeed, this is just
a skirmish in a larger conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
let this administration move the goalposts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dayenu</i>, and be
satisfied that ending these policies is enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not enough until we raise our brothers and sisters and free them
from the chains of oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ending an
outrage is a start, but real reform is the goal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-37664631952551517552018-04-15T10:13:00.000-07:002018-04-15T10:13:12.770-07:00Commemoration of the 50th Yahrzeit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. <b>On the commemoration of the 50th yahrzeit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we marked our Founders’ Day at Lakeside Congregation. It has been my custom to share sermons of historical importance at that “throwback” service, and I was lucky enough to find the sermon of Rabbi James Wax delivered on April 5, 1968, the night after Dr. King’s assassination.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in the 1941, James A.Wax served as the rabbi of Temple Israel in Memphis, TN, in the 1960s. Rabbi Wax supported racial justice, and during this period was a member of the Memphis Committee on Community Relations which worked towards integration. Here is his sermon which I found online in the <a href="https://jwa.org/">Jewish Women’s Archives</a>:</b><br />
<i><br /></i>
I shall speak only briefly tonight because of the time, but I do not feel that we can have a worship service as moral and responsible people without taking cognizance of what has transpired in these last days.<br />
<br />
I am reminded of the speech delivered by President Roosevelt when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The President said in addressing the Congress, that December 7, 1941 would live in infamy. I think I can be rightly said tonight, that April 4, 1968 will be a day that will live in infamy.<br />
<br />
Speaking this morning to the mayor of our city, I said to him that I spoke with mixed emotions, of sadness and anger, of deep and righteous resentment, and the view which I expressed is the view of the clergy of the city of Memphis. I know there are people in our city tonight who are not sad at what happened last night. I know there are some people in our city who might even be glad. I remember a few weeks ago at the Rotary Club when the television newscaster made his five minute report announcing that Dr. Martin Luther King was coming to Memphis there were those who sneered, and some who mocked the announcement. But I wonder who those people are, contrasted with Martin Luther King. Who is this man, Martin Luther King that the President of the United States should proclaim a national day of prayer? Whose death is mourned in the capitals of the world? Whose death is deeply regretted by responsible people, decent people, wherever they may live? Who is this man whose name was sneered and mocked by some of our so-called civic leaders? I shall answer very simply and briefly, Martin Luther King was a prophet, a prophet like Amos and Isaiah and Jeremiah, a man who walked in the footsteps of Moses, (and if I were speaking in a Christian congregation, walked in the footsteps of Jesus). What did Martin Luther King do? Martin Luther King helped to bring freedom to the oppressed people yet in this free nation. He fought to break the chains that have oppressed people. He sought to give men dignity, he sought to make this a better world in which to live. O how the cynics sneered when they gave him the Nobel Peace Prize. They said, “What did he do to deserve it?” How little can people be! Here was a man in the tradition, the greatest tradition of Judaism and Christianity, bringing freedom to people, and we white hypocrites that speak about freedom for all people know full well that not many miles from here Negroes could not vote. In this very city, called a place of good abode, because their skin was black, they had to sit in the back of a streetcar. They were not even given the dignity of their names.<br />
<br />
Martin Luther King was one of the greatest men of this century because he personified the greatest teachings in Judaism and Christianity, and he did it without violence. He sought to appeal to the heart and the conscience of men.<br />
<br />
When I memorialized or tried to memorialize the late President John F. Kennedy, standing in this place, I said, “You judge a man not merely by the friends he has, but by his enemies.” Who are the enemies of Martin Luther King? Segregationists! And a segregationist is a bigot. A segregationist violates the laws of the Torah. A segregationist desecrates Judaism. These are the people who dislike Martin Luther King. These are the people that sneered when his name was mentioned at the Rotary Club. Ah, yes Martin Luther King’s skin was black, but his heart was whiter than those who would deny dignity to men because their skin was black. Yes, I speak harshly. I speak Judaism! I speak the Torah! And it is time for us to take it seriously.<br />
<br />
Many of us have worked for a month and six weeks from early morning until late at night, from conference to conference, courier boys carrying one message to another. I just spoke with two outstanding men, national figures, and one of them said to me, “Rabbi, I remember when you said several weeks ago we were going to have trouble in Memphis.” And I wasn’t the only one. We have begged, we have cried. And I mean it literally. “Let us solve these problems and avoid death and destruction and desecration.” And tonight I hear of a plan that some people in this city are willing to make certain arrangements that take the form of charity. The black man doesn’t want any charity. The black man wants to live with honor and dignity and respect.<br />
<br />
Yes, Martin Luther King was a champion of social justice and a prophet of peace and that is why he is mourned by people throughout the world. He is dead. His body is now in Atlanta. But I will say this because I believe it is so, that what he stood for has not died. The decent people of this city are filled with a righteous indignation and eve if some of us die in the process, justice will be done. Martin Luther King did not die in vain.<br />
<br />
This city shall witness a new spirit and the memory of this great prophet of our time shall be honored. There will be the bigots and the segregationists and so-called respectable but unrighteous people who will resist. But in the schema of history God’s will does prevail. Yes, I speak with anger, I speak with a broken heart. I’m not sad that it happened in Memphis. Some people said, “Isn’t it too bad it happened here?” No my friends, I love this city but this doesn’t disturb me as such. I am disturbed by the conditions of racial injustice that prevail here. I am concerned about the bigotry and prejudice in our community. This disturbs me.<br />
<br />
Martin Luther King was one of the world’s greatest men in this time. He was detested and forsaken and spat upon in his lifetime, but his memory lives on tonight. That memory is an inspiration; that memory is an encouragement; that memory has given those of us who were weak a new resolve and a new determination that God’s will will be done. He had a young life of less than 40 years. We are deeply grateful. We are grateful for his heroism, his devotion, his commitment and we say in faith the words of Job, <i>Adonai natan, Adonai lakach, y’hi shem Adonai m’vorac</i>h--The Lord hath given. The Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen.<br />
<br />
<b>A remarkable document! A few word choices might be different today, but the prescience to recognize that we would still remember Dr. King and what he stood for half a century later is powerful. I wish I could have heard Rabbi Wax and his heartbreak and anger, but it frankly pours off the page.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I did have the chance as a boy to hear the Coretta Scott King. Dr. King was scheduled to be the speaker at my brother’s college graduation in May of 1968. His widow spoke in his place, a month after his death. I remember hearing her that day, hearing fear and brokenness, but also power and determination in her voice. I am sure that everyone who heard her that day left with an indelible emotion in their hearts. A sense that until the work is done, we should keep an eye on the prize, and work for a time of true equality. We have come a long way, but we are not yet there. Let us take this moment of memory and turn it to resolve to accomplish the task for the sake of our ancestors who fought and died for freedom, and so our children might know peace.</b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-12987515538076064632018-03-01T12:36:00.000-08:002018-03-01T12:40:16.867-08:00Embracing Diversity <br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Rabbi Isaac
Serotta</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Torah</i> we read that Israel left Egypt
with a “mixed multitude.” It is one of many examples in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Torah</i> to teach us that God loves
diversity. Despite the idea that we are a band of brothers, all descendants of
one of the 12 sons of Jacob that become 12 tribes, this phrase “mixed
multitude” reminds us that we were already an ethnically and racially diverse
people. We were already a mix of different customs and stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are
stories, going all the way back to creation when God makes all of the creatures
of the earth, which are meant to teach us that God loves diversity.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our tradition even teaches that the first
human was one and then divided into two, a text that suggests diversity even
within a single species. When we get to the Tower of Babel, and the creation of
a diversity of languages, we are meant to understand that God wants us to be of
many cultures, languages and faiths. It is also true that God wants us to
transcend those barriers, respect others and come to love our diversity and
overcome our differences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This story
comes around every year but it has particular resonance right now. On an
international level, as our country debates the fate of dreamers and legal
immigration, the respect for difference and the love of diversity is very
important. Our national motto, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">e pluribus
unum</i>, out of many, one—teaches us that our founders knew that strength does
not come from being all alike. Strength comes from embracing all equally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is why
when our president denigrates people who come from other countries, when he
misrepresents both the vetting process that goes into the immigration lottery
and family immigration, I feel the need to speak up on behalf of the “mixed
multitude.” While the president focuses on Africa and Haiti today, it is
worthwhile to remember that Jewish immigrants were also considered unworthy in
the not so distant past.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1924 the Congressional
Committee on Immigration received a report calling Jews “filthy,” and of “low physical
and mental standards.” They were “un-American.” As a result, Congress cut
immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe. In 1921 over 100,000 Jews came to
America; after the bill passed in 1924 that number became 10,000. Because of
these laws, when Hitler came to power, Jews were forbidden entry into the
United States. Our action as a nation made us complicit in the genocide in
Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our
ancestors came to this country to make a better life for themselves and their
families. How often have we told the stories of our own relatives who made it
here, saved up money, and sponsored as many members of their families as they
could? Who knows how many were saved by the industrious and righteous actions
of those immigrants?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now there
are other nations in distress, and other immigrants who would come here to
build a better life. We should not shun them in favor of more blondes from
Denmark or fashion models from Slovenia. Instead we should see the difficult
conditions in Haiti, the Middle East, and parts of Africa as a reason to let
people in rather than keep them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our
ancestors were considered low and yet we see what these immigrants did for our
country. Every study of immigrants shows what we know in our hearts about our
own families. Immigrants work hard, as the musical <i>Hamilton </i>reminds us, “We get
the job done.” A mixed multitude was good for our ancestors leaving Egypt and
it is good for us in America today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a more
personal level, God’s love for diversity, is a part of Lakeside’s tradition in
the past, present and future. We have embraced many people in our congregation
from diverse backgrounds. People of many faiths are welcome in our community. We
embrace gender diversity. We embrace Jews of all hues, from all streams of our
tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have
cooperated with most of the synagogues around us on educational, spiritual,
social, and justice programs. In the Jewish community we also believe in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">e pluribus unum</i>, although our tradition
words it a bit differently, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kol Yisrael
arevim zeh l’zeh</i>—All of the children of Israel are responsible for one
another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As an
opportunity comes along to unite two congregations, we are like those people leaving
ancient Egypt. We don’t all know each other. Not yet. But we know that we are
responsible for one another. We are a mixed multitude. In a sense we are tribes
that recognize a common goal and believe that together we can do greater things
than we can on our own.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When that
mixed multitude reaches the sea, the way forward becomes clear. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">midrash</i> tells us that the sea didn’t
just split, revealing a clear path. It was not until the Israelites stepped
into the water, took a leap into the unknown that the road stood revealed. We
are taking that step, like immigrants leaving home, like slaves testing the
limits of freedom. Each step we take begins to show us the beauty of the path
ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-55142973390767765952017-11-13T14:36:00.001-08:002017-11-13T14:36:32.731-08:00Civil Rights: A Serotta Family Legacy<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rabbi Isaac Serotta</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am honored to be part of this scholar in residence
weekend when we welcome Joseph Levin, co-founder of SPLC, the Southern Poverty
Law Center. Lakeside Congregation has always welcomed diverse opinions, because
there is always more to learn. We welcome our friends from Congregation Solel,
Har Shalom and around the community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am especially honored that the event committee asked
me to share the story of civil rights advocacy in my family and how it shapes
my life. It is always meaningful to me when I get to remember my parents, and
pay tribute to what they did for me and for the world. There is a lot to tell,
so I can only scratch the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother, Dorothy Ann Levin, was born in the south.
Her family moved to Miami in 1925 when she was a little girl. Many civil war veterans and former slaves
were still alive. The first sidewalk in the city went by her house, and though
the city was growing rapidly it was truly a southern town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anti-Semitism was common. As a teenager my mom tried to
find a hotel to host the National Honor Society induction ceremony. She was
rebuffed by inquiries of whether there would be any children of the “Jewish
persuasion” participating. She knew that there was going to be at least one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beyond the explicit Anti-Semitism, there was the
obvious racism. The hotel managers didn’t need to ask if there were black
children in the National Honor Society. Schools were segregated, so the name of
the school (my mother attended Robert E Lee Elementary School) itself meant
there would be no black children involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother was the first to say that she did not as a
child and teenager recognize the racism around her. It was simply the way things were. If you saw
blacks at all, they were the help, and they were supposed to remain invisible. They
would step off the curb to let white pedestrians pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My father grew up in Saratoga Springs, New York. As a
kid he and his brothers worked in my grandfather’s used furniture (some might
say junk) business. They worked
alongside African Americans moving furniture. During the racing season they
picked up a little extra money shoveling horse stalls with black people. He
lived, not in a world of equal rights, but one that was more integrated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My parents met and married during World War II. They
spent the war on Army bases in Georgia and Florida. It was my father’s first
experience of the deeply racist south, and he was appalled by it. My mother
always credited him with opening her eyes. That is what it takes, sometimes.
Someone to help you see what has always been there if you just knew to look .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As we grew up, the city of Miami changed. We used to
joke that Florida is the only state where you have to drive north to get south.
But even so, racism was endemic in Miami, where my siblings all attended
schools that were 100% white, where we learned that Ulysses S. Grant was a
drunk who got lucky, and where we used to get a day off from school on Robert
E. Lee’s birthday. It is true that when debate was going on about whether to
have a holiday in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, one Florida state senator
suggested that we celebrate Dr. King and Robert E. Lee on the same day. He
said, “That way everyone will have something to celebrate.” People in Miami were a little less likely to
say things like that out loud, but it was as segregated as any city in the
south.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When we were kids we used to drive from Miami to New
York in the summer to see family. This was before the interstate system was
completed, so we used to get up at 3am to make some time and get off the
Florida and Georgia surface roads as quickly as possible. Along the way we
would stop at gas stations, with colored bathrooms and water fountains. As the
sixties wore on the “white” and “colored” signs disappeared, but the facilities
were still there and the culture didn’t change very much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My most vivid memory of these trips is crossing the
Georgia border at Valdosta. There was a
large billboard, freshly painted, of hooded men on horseback. It said, “The
United Klans welcome you to Georgia.” It was terrifying. I had a similarly dark
experience in the tourist mall of Underground Atlanta, where the former state
governor, the racist Lester Maddox, had a store where he sold axe handles They were souvenirs. Burned into the wood it
said, “n-word beater.” Take one home for your very own!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was intimidating and disgusting. To the present day
if I am in the south I will not be at the “Dixie Diner,” or anywhere that
brandishes a confederate flag. If you are still celebrating the confederacy, no
matter how you may cloak it in “heritage” or “state’s rights,” you are still
siding with the people who beat people instead of serving them lunch, who still
turned me and my friends away from the door of a diner because one of us was
wearing a Jewish star.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once your eyes are open you can’t really choose to
close them again, and that was the story for my mother. She began to fight racism wherever she saw
it. In 1960 she was among those who helped integrate the lunch counter at
Burdines Department Store. She got involved in the League of Women Voters and
organized voter registration drives in the African American neighborhoods of
Miami. My brother considers the experience of helping people register to vote before
he was of age himself to be one of the most important experiences of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother taught all of her kids to “stand up, show
up, and speak up.” She taught us to fight against poverty and injustice.In the Jim Crow south the justice system, the
educational system, and the economic system kept black people down. Jim Crow has mutated but it is not gone. The
same system that oppresses African Americans in the south keeps them in the
neighborhoods of Chicago’s south and west side, and allows people like me, many
of us, to maintain our white privilege. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Though few of us have ancestors who owned slaves, as
most Jews came to America after the Civil War, we are still beneficiaries of a
corrupt system. We shouldn’t forget that there are Jews in many hues; Jews by
birth and by choice, from Africa, the Middle East, China and India. But if white
Jews don’t recognize how they have been allowed to transform from colored to
white, and don’t work to make things better, we are complicit. It is easy to
tell ourselves that we love everybody and wouldn’t have a problem having
African American neighbors. But we do nothing to help people move up the
economic ladder. When one of our local congregations, Zion Lutheran Church,
proposed building some affordable housing on their property, some of the
neighbors went into a “not in my backyard,” frenzy. People who would never ever define themselves
as racist protected their white privilege with arguments about traffic and
property values. I went to the plan commission to speak in favor of the church.
That there was not a single person of color in the room may tell you all you
need to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While we don’t have poll taxes or voting tests
anymore, the new Jim Crow controls the electorate through criminal prosecution.
In most states being convicted of a crime purges you from the voting roll. In
some you can lose your vote permanently, in others you may apply to be
reinstated after you serve your term plus parole and probation. Our country has
more people in prison than any other. The poor and people of color are more likely to be convicted, so
disenfranchisement falls disproportionately on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is a reason that the Attorney General opposes
legalization of Marijuana. If marijuana is legal the prison pipeline gets
disrupted and more people of color will be able to vote. There may even be
legal standing for those who lost their voting rights to regain them through
the courts. The last thing Attorney General Sessions wants is to enfranchise
minorities and the poor. That he can couch that in terms of his love for “law
and order,” is a bonus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many Lakeside kids have had a brush with the law. They
might have to do a few service hours. Then their records are expunged.
Meanwhile the Cook County Jail is the largest in the country. It is full of
people awaiting trial because they cannot afford bail. If they are students
they flunk out, if they work, they lose their jobs for being unable to attend,
all before they get their day in court. Many plead out so they can get to work
and then they have a record that keeps them from voting and perpetuates the cycle
of poverty and hopelessness. In a nation as evenly divided as ours, those who
are not allowed to vote could be the margin between victory and defeat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Growing up in Miami, there were times I could have
been arrested. My brother did get caught. Even though he spent time in prison, I
saw firsthand how white privilege and money worked. It led me to many volunteer
hours in prisons. I have had the ironic experience of celebrating the <i>seder</i>, our festival of freedom, in a Florida
prison. A lot of folks joined us to get the four glasses of wine. It is
heartbreaking to hand out books from the prison library as I did in the
Milwaukee stockade, and find that prisoners wanted coloring books because they
couldn’t read anything more challenging. Every study shows that race and income
play a decisive role in who gets convicted, who serves time, and therefore, who
doesn’t get a second chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These issues are at the forefront of civil rights
today. That’s why I marched with the NAACP on a small part of their journey
from Selma to Washington D.C. As I arrived with my daughter, Vered, the first
person I met had adopted the name “Middle Passage,” after the journey slave
ships took from Africa to the West Indies. He and I sat together at breakfast
in North Carolina, and bonded over a bowl of grits. Nothing makes me happier
than good grits, and for some reason you northerners just don’t get it. Middle
Passage carried the American flag every day for 800 miles. I walked beside him
carrying a Torah for a small part of that walk. I got the feeling that some of
my rabbinic predecessors, my heroes, like Joachin Prinz, Abraham Joshua Heschel,
and Maurice Eisendrath got when they walked with Dr. King. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We walked into downtown Raleigh, and I stood by
Reverend William Barber, a giant of a man, and a giant in civil rights today. On
the steps of the state capitol we called for equal voting rights for all
Americans. It was Reverend Barber at the Democratic Convention last year who
referred to Jesus as a dark-skinned Palestinian Jew. One can only wonder what
kind of “extreme vetting” Jesus would get if he tried to come back today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I recently went to Washington, DC for the day to march
from the Martin Luther King Memorial to the Justice Department on the 50<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of Dr. King’s “I have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. The
march was made up of ministers, priests, imams, Buddhist and Christian monks
and nuns, Hindus and Sikhs and, of course, rabbis. We went to the Justice
Department to demand equal rights, justice reform, and votes for all citizens. One
of the ministers said, “Jesus wouldn’t be welcome in Trump’s America, [but]
Trump [should worry that he] won’t be welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On that day Reverend Jim Wallis referred to racism as
“America’s original sin,” and called on everyone there to preach from every
pulpit that we must confront the evil of racism. It is up to us to denounce racism throughout
our society. Even pizza makers have to do it. Being colorblind is not good
enough. We also need to recognize how the institutions that have been so good
to white folk, are not blind to the color of our fellow citizens. It is not
enough to have a black friend, or to wish we had a black friend. We have to
recognize our own privilege and work to even the playing field. We don’t have
to give up our own slice of the pizza, but we have to work to make the pie
bigger so that everyone has an adequate slice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Start anywhere you like. For me it has been about
justice reform and voting rights and access to healthcare, but just recognizing
that this is not yet the land of equal opportunity is a start. Ceilanne pointed
out a sign in our neighborhood the other day, “Drive like your children lived
here.” She suggested the underlying message is that we only care for our own
children. What do we have to do to understand that other children are also
precious? I went to Ferguson with my youngest daughter, Elisha. We walked and
chanted with supporters of Black Lives Matter, “Whose kids, our kids.” They all
deserve safe streets and all deserve the opportunity to learn, to work, and to
vote. This is not yet the land of equal opportunity for people of color and for
the immigrant and the poor, not even for women, even though they are not a
minority. Until we recognize that all of them are our children, then this will
never be the “more perfect union” our founders hoped we would achieve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That is why I have to fight my own complacency. It is
easy to just care about our own family and community. Easy to say I’m too busy,
it’s too far to drive, it’s outside my comfort zone. I have to stand up, show up
and speak up and be an ally in the march toward justice, because that is what
my parents taught me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m proud of their legacy of civil rights and I hope
that I am pushing the envelope a little more. I have tried to teach it to my
kids, and I am proud of them. One of these days, hopefully in their generation
if not yet in ours, we will reach the mountaintop and equality will go from a
dream to a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ken
y’hee ratzon.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-10141546250852393872017-11-06T12:05:00.000-08:002017-11-06T12:05:38.173-08:00In Memory of Rabbi Selig Salkowitz<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">News arrived over the weekend of the death of my immediate predecessor at Lakeside Congregation, Rabbi Selig Salkowitz. Selig changed the face of the modern Reform rabbinate, and though he only served our congregation for a year as an interim rabbi, he certainly changed our congregation as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Selig served a congregation in New Jersey for many years with great distinction. In his honor they named their Scholar-in-Residence program after him, and his funeral was held in their sanctuary this morning. Selig was also a distinguished member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, chairing an ad-hoc committee to look at the question of ordination of LGBTQ rabbis. The committee report was in favor of ordination, changing the face of the American Rabbinate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After his retirement, Selig took on the task of serving congregations all over the country in the role of interim rabbi. It was practically unknown for congregations to take this step until Selig, and a handful of other colleagues, proved the wisdom of giving congregations an opportunity to step back, do a self-appraisal and search for a new rabbi without the pressure that finding an immediate replacement can bring. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is the gift that Selig gave to Lakeside Congregation. In his brief time here he made deep connections, and in a matter of months, I know that he changed people's lives He also helped the board and rabbinic search committee define what they were looking for in a new rabbi. He did that work while also holding down the fort; teaching and preaching and leading services at Lakeside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was, of course, during that year, that I interviewed to be the rabbi here. I met Selig and he became my trusted advisor. He gave me his honest and hopeful appraisal of the congregation, and of what he thought my chances of success might be. At the same time he was advising the search committee, and his wisdom was welcome in every room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will never forget the service where Lakeside welcomed me, and we said farewell to Selig. With exaggerated ceremony and with good humor he took his keys out of his pocket and passed them to me. He set the tone of scholarship, informality, caring and humor, that have been ongoing for these past 20 years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got to see Selig from time to time at rabbinic meetings, and we invited him back to Lakeside on several occasions. I have run into several colleagues happy in their rabbinic positions at places where Selig served as interim rabbi before they arrived. I am not quite sure what to call Selig in my life. I don't know that I knew him well enough to call him friend. And I didn't lean on him enough to think of him as a mentor. The best way to describe him comes from a story in the Torah. In the Book of Genesis, Jacob sends his son Joseph to find his brothers who are in the fields with their flocks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Joseph gets to the field his brothers are nowhere to be found. The whole biblical narrative is in danger of falling apart. If Joseph doesn't find them, he doesn't get to Egypt, he doesn't become second in command to Pharaoh, doesn't save Egypt and Israel, there is no Moses and therefore no revelation and no Judaism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Torah tells us that Joseph comes upon a man, who asks "What are you looking for?" and then directs Joseph on his path. That was Rabbi Selig Salkowitz. He asked Lakeside Congregation, "What are you looking for?" and he asked the same of me. And when he realized that we were headed in the same direction he helped us find each other. Some commentators say that the man Joseph finds in the field who points him on his way was really an angel sent by God. I know how I feel about my predecessor, Rabbi Selig Salkowitz, but I'll leave you to draw your own conclusion. May the memory of Rabbi Selig Salkowitz abide among us as a blessing, and may he rest in peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Isaac Serotta</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-65212331451394921482017-09-08T10:14:00.000-07:002017-09-08T10:14:22.352-07:00Our Latest Refugee Family!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Florentine
and Tchadrak are our latest addition to the refugee resettlement project and we
are helping them acclimate to American life. We don’t know much about their
background, here is what we do know:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Florentine speaks French and is originally
from Rwanda. Tchadrak speaks French and Swahili and is from the Congo.
They came to the United States six weeks ago with the help of the Ethiopian
Community Association of Chicago. They live in a very small studio apartment in
Rogers Park. Florentine was a school teacher for 8-10 year olds, Tchadrak owned
a “mini market”, selling milk and groceries. They attend English classes at the
Ethiopian Community Center and<span style="color: #c00000;">, <span style="color: black;">this week, started
working</span> </span>at the United Club Lounge at the airport. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszICEX_ds9JYwgEWhoXskTK_0kCpr_NncKV3omEnEqTqXjqLn1y9AuFK6zrwTrXCUle10Ve-LJTjo4jDUyailKeHaiG-KQQd4P0otaYjsNBXk-0zw5ihUrJcLXAbao2JRwXsGUPkHEX3d/s1600/New+refugees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszICEX_ds9JYwgEWhoXskTK_0kCpr_NncKV3omEnEqTqXjqLn1y9AuFK6zrwTrXCUle10Ve-LJTjo4jDUyailKeHaiG-KQQd4P0otaYjsNBXk-0zw5ihUrJcLXAbao2JRwXsGUPkHEX3d/s320/New+refugees.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We are helping them
improve their English skills, we have provided clothing and bedding for them,
taken them to the grocery store and introduced them to American foods. We will
help them learn computer skills using the computers at the local library
branch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
need a twin size air mattress and a set of twin size sheets.</span></u></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-39374245503876062492017-08-28T13:19:00.001-07:002017-08-28T13:19:44.701-07:00From the Congo to Chicaog all via the Computer!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s1600/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s320/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With much delight,
Makanja applied for and received a Chicago library card today. He was so
pleased as he realizes it will open some doorways for him. His first request
was to learn to use a computer. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although he found the
"mouse" a bit tricky at first, he soon caught on. We roamed the
internet. We saw photos of the Tanzanian Refugee Camp where he lived and
through the photos, he explained the camp to us. We saw the Congolese village
of his birth. It is beautiful; the terrain is amazing, it's both hilly and
flat. He showed us the lake that the Congolese need to cross over to escape to
Tanzania when there is a war. He found a photo of one of his paternal
uncles and a cousin who still live in "Fizzi Town", in the Congo. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We're not sure what moved Makanja more today, for once, being our teacher or seeing his birth country and the refugee camp he only left only 4 months
ago. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6j45J5GKpw0FjziOX4rAxfsNhkVTpPAWHIWMScRht0X2yCik1vS37hQNvIec5wDCsp1Ks5KZxV6pQcLrJnT4J2kcVp83R9ksZryBJyAL9PGCBwIZc-JBkybL9icM-P4v6b92SmsqYesM/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6j45J5GKpw0FjziOX4rAxfsNhkVTpPAWHIWMScRht0X2yCik1vS37hQNvIec5wDCsp1Ks5KZxV6pQcLrJnT4J2kcVp83R9ksZryBJyAL9PGCBwIZc-JBkybL9icM-P4v6b92SmsqYesM/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we asked, he told
us that he misses the many people that he left behind, but he is so proud to be
in America and hopes his remaining family will also be able to come.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jackie and Gary Cohen</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-62713705867879112712017-08-25T08:49:00.001-07:002017-08-25T08:49:58.399-07:00Our Refugee Family: Read about here!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s1600/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s320/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
has been a busy summer for Agnes, George, Daniel and Jennie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">George
attended ETHS summer school for six weeks and then participated in the Y
Achievers Program through the McGraw YMCA Evanston. The program provides tutors
from Northwestern University, social worker interns from the University of
Chicago and community volunteers to a ensure successful high school and
continuing academic or vocational education. George is entering ETHS this fall
as a sophomore.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMVRSMBvcuU5HZOCXG3JAS13_-Rpw74OWOIbGeOQBPg2oez4DceT6RfcMjET6TeQ9VcpWnVWdDAehtizUe4CVeU70oIF7dk2XjNIL9NtgA12eWbpIG4bL7B7rSfpruiN8HW5cRm4iUrx7/s1600/IMG_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMVRSMBvcuU5HZOCXG3JAS13_-Rpw74OWOIbGeOQBPg2oez4DceT6RfcMjET6TeQ9VcpWnVWdDAehtizUe4CVeU70oIF7dk2XjNIL9NtgA12eWbpIG4bL7B7rSfpruiN8HW5cRm4iUrx7/s320/IMG_1078.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennie, Daniel and George</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Daniel
and Jennie attended summer school at Nichols Middle School Evanston and, in the
afternoon, attended a free summer day camp where they went on weekly field
trips. They auditioned for the Evanston Children’s Choir, they will begin
rehearsals in the fall. Daniel will enter 8<sup>th</sup> grade and Jennie will
enter 6<sup>th</sup>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Agnes
continues her work in housekeeping at Evanston Hospital in the
afternoon/evening shift. We are working to get her changed to the morning shift
so that she can be with the children in the evening. Agnes completed the
paperwork required to obtain a green card and we took them to be fingerprinted.
Agnes should receive her green card in a few months.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5CgHf8DZioPn-mDv48GUwXAnR91EIF4rcK1TF8QF_t53pwPrt_LZxhwnhcUKfqqSj-ic3AqbNjvpCPUFVeSm9eA6EDvV1l6-XnqPohxw6CMQhNcKXhT6aa9mKgusge61jW3OMM6pwQQw/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5CgHf8DZioPn-mDv48GUwXAnR91EIF4rcK1TF8QF_t53pwPrt_LZxhwnhcUKfqqSj-ic3AqbNjvpCPUFVeSm9eA6EDvV1l6-XnqPohxw6CMQhNcKXhT6aa9mKgusge61jW3OMM6pwQQw/s320/IMG_1058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agnes and her family!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Agnes
and her family celebrated their first 4<sup>th</sup> of July fireworks … a
joyful celebration for them. We took them on field trips to swimming pools and
Six Flags. They went to a dentist and an optometrist. George and Jennie were
fitted with glasses. We had their bikes repaired and bought them new backpacks
and school supplies. Their backpacks are packed and they are excited for their
first day of school!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Occasionally we needs supplies for our family so check back here to see what they may need. Can't wait to see what the year brings</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKU0MRJzJHwEW1Sw3wdeXmFb_gjdJg6d10nZRPYilA7VyuAQWeVRDLTzQdZoJx2xK_xc48aNegMTP5CsJpfkYUQKCSqC74Qr2c7DLJUYqzvXG7z7Ve0od-AaUy3rCcUeNDAQ02aECMmEg/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKU0MRJzJHwEW1Sw3wdeXmFb_gjdJg6d10nZRPYilA7VyuAQWeVRDLTzQdZoJx2xK_xc48aNegMTP5CsJpfkYUQKCSqC74Qr2c7DLJUYqzvXG7z7Ve0od-AaUy3rCcUeNDAQ02aECMmEg/s320/IMG_1076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Susan Gottlieb on behalf of the Lakeside Social Action committee</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-10485831130434087332017-08-14T11:11:00.001-07:002017-08-14T11:15:12.459-07:00On Charlottesville<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From Rabbi Isaac Serotta</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">The tradition tells us that the ancient city of Jerusalem was destroyed because of "baseless hatred." As I saw images of people carrying torches, brandishing swastikas and waving confederate flags in Charlottesville this past weekend, it reminded me that people often have a baseless hatred of those that they do not know or understand. Just as Judaism teaches that this baseless hatred led to the destruction of Jerusalem, it is corroding and destroying our society as well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">Our thoughts and prayers are surely with those who were injured, and with their families, and the families dealing with the murder of loved ones in an act of blind hatred in Charlottesville. We should also take note that bigoted hate speech has turned into brutal attacks over the last few months. Hate crimes have increased against Jews, Muslims, African Americans, immigrants of all kinds, LGBTQ people, and women, so this is not an isolated incident.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">The president’s first reaction, to blame individuals on “many sides,” does nothing to put an end to this violence. When it comes to ignorance, bigotry, and violence, there are not “many sides.” In tacitly accepting the support of racists to achieve a narrow political victory, the president turned over a rock that no politician wanted to touch. What has crawled out from beneath that rock is what we saw in Charlottesville.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">At Lakeside we are going to be doing a lot in coming days and months to make sure we understand what is happening and how we can help to reduce ignorance and the bigotry that allows hatred to flourish. I will be heading to Washington D.C. in a few days along with thousands of members of the clergy from across the country to stand against violence and for civil rights. I will speak about it from the pulpit, and we are dedicating our Scholar-in-Residence weekend and some Sunday morning programs to counteracting hate and hate crimes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "bookman old style" , "new york" , "times" , serif;">Reducing ignorance will help reduce hatred. The hope of Judaism remains that Jerusalem will one day fulfill the meaning of its name; that it will become Ir Shalom, the city of peace. That remains the goal in our nation as well, that we will judge people by the content of their character, that baseless hatred will end, and Charlottesville, and every town across the country can be a haven and stronghold of peace.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-43222891411593004842017-08-07T12:34:00.000-07:002017-08-07T12:34:20.577-07:00August 2017 Visit with Makandja and Bobasha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s1600/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s320/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1502048458049_7574" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
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The highlight of today's visit was to present a bicycle to Makandja and Bobasha which was donated by Roberta Heinrich. Smiles and joy radiated from both men. The bike was immediately test driven by both men, who gave their experiences a double thumbs up. (Unfortunately, I left my phone charging at home, so I was unable to get a photo to include.) Even though the bike came with a lock, Bobasha insisted it be kept in the apartment for safe keeping. The men are delighted that they can use the bike to get to some places rather than their dependency on the Chicago bus system. </div>
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We located the nearest library and plan a return visit to apply for library cards and explore all of its offerings.</div>
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To date, the men have not found a nearby full service grocery store. Thus far, volunteers have driven them to chain stores to stock up. There is one small market that we found today within a couple of blocks of the men's apartment that they can use for convenience items.</div>
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Jackie Cohen</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-56510673225167833552017-08-04T08:29:00.003-07:002017-08-04T08:29:55.595-07:00Who eats chocolate in the Congo? Read on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s1600/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s320/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><span class="">Sunday evening 7/30/17: Brad and I drove to Albany Park to drop off some items that Marcie had left for them. </span></span></span><span class="" style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;"><span class="">We were welcomed by Makandja who introduced us to three friends. One was a young lady from their camp named Abby who was sitting still at the kitchen table as Bobasha </span></span><span class=""><span class=""><span class="" style="color: #3e3e3e;">skillfully attached curly hair extensions to Abby’s hair. The other young men listened to Congolese music while chatting. There was a clear sense of happiness and camaraderie, and …the</span></span></span><span class="" style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><span class=""> apartment was quite clean! (Thanks to Jackie and Gary who have worked miracles. )</span></span><span class=""><span class=""> We asked if they had dinner, and when they said they hadn’t, we decided to take them to a Taco restaurant in Albany Park called T&B ( tacos and burgers). While there, we practiced ordering food, Bwya, Makandja, Bobasha had never tried Tacos. I showed them recipes and pictures, and hope to cook with them in the near future. An assortment of chicken, vegetarian and fish tacos were brought to the table, as well as cheese burgers ordered by Makandja and Bobasha. Everyone sampled the different choices but it was clear that the all time favorite food was guacamole and chips as well as </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span class=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRDNphEDbpEaHahQ2uB-I3YIP2N2Ky6v-_lfbOi4-BeZQAMpuW8G5LLb-4ICr_ONcuwuJcGhYrff1K1Q_q4uHraWZxnwYvkzwyilsPPXoFp6XWGn1cKm14No5IEJhi59IcnHl1alzn0fc/s1600/IMG_5148.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRDNphEDbpEaHahQ2uB-I3YIP2N2Ky6v-_lfbOi4-BeZQAMpuW8G5LLb-4ICr_ONcuwuJcGhYrff1K1Q_q4uHraWZxnwYvkzwyilsPPXoFp6XWGn1cKm14No5IEJhi59IcnHl1alzn0fc/s400/IMG_5148.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span class="">french fries. As much as we love our Chocolate, it is not high on the list with our Congolese friends. Ruti, who joined us for dessert, explained that adults don’t eat chocolate in Congo, only children. (There’s a little tidbit we didn’t know before!)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-82377643003919301552017-08-01T19:04:00.000-07:002017-08-01T19:04:02.298-07:00New experiences in a new place!<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today's visit with Bobasha and Makandja was jam packed. We started out discussing American currency. The lesson was a review for Makandja, and a fun initiation for Bobasha. They seemed to take a lot of pleasure identifying coins and paper money and doing the math for some mock purchases and trying to stump their teachers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gary demonstrated to the men when and how to use deodorant. Both Makandja and Bobasha have small neatly trimmed beards, and aren't too interested in shaving, but they got a kick out of learning about shaving cream and razors.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPIpO9GjGT44NzaPmeVZe5iBMCkgOuH9GStrnPg8-o4FhXiCjj4HSAZfQtjLeudwNp97NETC3DMvDYv46BzPkGCVWMJ7Ob2tML0HLHzYwk9SI3q4mI4Zd_FR64tLlTiL9Ys0kZ56-NLQU/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPIpO9GjGT44NzaPmeVZe5iBMCkgOuH9GStrnPg8-o4FhXiCjj4HSAZfQtjLeudwNp97NETC3DMvDYv46BzPkGCVWMJ7Ob2tML0HLHzYwk9SI3q4mI4Zd_FR64tLlTiL9Ys0kZ56-NLQU/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The four of us spent time cleaning the kitchen. Makandja started calling me "mom", when I insisted the entire kitchen be cleaned. (Seems like Bobasha and his attitude towards cleaning is like most young men with their first apartment.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going grocery shopping was our next adventure. Fresh fruit is very high on their list, as is meat and fish. The cashier at the store was fascinated by the men and went out of his way to accommodate them. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-63898360746886466212017-07-20T07:27:00.003-07:002017-07-20T07:27:56.531-07:00Mitzvah Day Meals Shipped to Mozambique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vvlXIXIWIgTYulB9BxAvwg1LPTgpnnVrNiSG7rchAJ9XtZdgTlLm0Wf84FtDmeuPxgOsBVS4y3l7pgVJggswkoYayy07oXfGrnw67FlaP-Wg6wDvNNm1Bnanka8qsCqMOrbshx08G-R7/s1600/IMG_8515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vvlXIXIWIgTYulB9BxAvwg1LPTgpnnVrNiSG7rchAJ9XtZdgTlLm0Wf84FtDmeuPxgOsBVS4y3l7pgVJggswkoYayy07oXfGrnw67FlaP-Wg6wDvNNm1Bnanka8qsCqMOrbshx08G-R7/s200/IMG_8515.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We are delighted to announce that the 10,081 meals we packed with <a href="http://www.riseagainsthunger.org/get-involved/?gclid=CjwKCAjwqcHLBRAqEiwA-j4AyF7hLOEAcU1X1ieI8xqBqXVva3zYLJ5DzwaxOOS1-G11MlBKnXUD6BoCznMQAvD_BwE">Rise Against Hunger</a> (RAH) on Lakeside's 17th Annual Mitzvah Day have been shipped in a container with a total of 285,120 meals to be distributed in </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mozambique!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rise Against Hunger in collaboration with ADRA International and Islamic Relief are spearheading a 3-year school-feeding initiative in the Southern African countries of Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. While these countries have made considerable advancements towards achieving stronger food security, the most powerful El Nino on record has stretched the livelihoods and safety nets of many households in the region. Seeing the existing need in Southern Africa, RAH along with its implementing partners is responding with life-saving aid through region wide school-feeding programs. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh409J2fHOPK3MXHJfxZHI-cq7K3qtVH5jmUYLCgDXWM621ww_OTMPZQsD6hBTZuHkB0jgsTWywzQUMkRfNjXX_kO5RwZp_9JAxJvl_oznDVlJ1IHG5k1yICB79zKLRAz0vD5BwMQnqFnxv/s1600/IMG_8541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh409J2fHOPK3MXHJfxZHI-cq7K3qtVH5jmUYLCgDXWM621ww_OTMPZQsD6hBTZuHkB0jgsTWywzQUMkRfNjXX_kO5RwZp_9JAxJvl_oznDVlJ1IHG5k1yICB79zKLRAz0vD5BwMQnqFnxv/s320/IMG_8541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The expected outcomes of the initiative are to improve nutrition for school going children, increase enrollment and attendance rates at schools, and further involvement of staff, the local community, and private sector in the project. Overall, for 2017 school year the project is expected to support more than 20,000 school age children by delivering over 14,200,000 RAH meals to more than 70 schools in the 5 Southern-African countries. In Mozambique, RAH will be delivering 2,851,200 meals to feed 5,922 school-age children attending 19 schools in Boane and Maputo districts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time with the Rise Against Hunger project and we look forward to continuing our dedication and commitment a world without hunger.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-50019913552750338902017-07-13T11:42:00.000-07:002017-07-13T11:46:43.893-07:00Further Adventures of Makandja and Bobasha visiting Lakeside and the Botanic Gardens<!--[if !mso]>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s1600/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s200/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Tuesday Makandja and Bobasha spent part of the afternoon
at Lakeside Congregation where they met Vanessa, Rabbi Ike and people who work
in the office who have been so helpful encouraging and supporting our refugee
project. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Vanessa: We enjoyed meeting Makandja and Bobasha as we showed them the sanctuary, the Ark and the Torah. They had many questions and wanted to know what prophet we prayed to and asked if it was Jesus or Mohammad and I quickly said Moses. They have only been here for 6 weeks and can speak some English, it is amazing. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS8Ky0Pw2xA0RyCTjpMCPuHOiAC9O0Gc5CKBzqGtL1OCCcHVSE5kMYUBLSAjsaDSCf46B8E7Qo2cekEtlNvM0M6njIrtdoYGRk9MC5eAjLWl893kDd0PJCsGA_AT3wa9MdjPU5asCIXZM/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="640" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS8Ky0Pw2xA0RyCTjpMCPuHOiAC9O0Gc5CKBzqGtL1OCCcHVSE5kMYUBLSAjsaDSCf46B8E7Qo2cekEtlNvM0M6njIrtdoYGRk9MC5eAjLWl893kDd0PJCsGA_AT3wa9MdjPU5asCIXZM/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Besides the tour of Lakeside, we spent time
walking through the Botanic Garden. Exploring the farm area of the garden gave
us the opportunity to see many fruits and vegetables growing; some familiar and
many that were not familiar, but that we have seen in the grocery store, like
blueberries and strawberries. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Makandja wanted to know if there were crocodiles
in the water. I told him we do not have crocodiles here and showed him photos
of turtles that can be spotted on the sunny rocks. We saw many ducks and birds. When we walked through the rose garden Makandja and Bobasha asked
about snakes, and were reassured that poisonous snakes are not really a concern
in our area.<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqnPzrD44zlCyz7MKVu6kFDGDnWsFbDm8CHH9J6yzYhmxSviNzVkYjO8oJfk-wweA2qcHYc9vcnVcr6j0o0pJiIw5PxqV1RQkqZb2RUea54dcEob5l6JskuP9G4Xu69840AL-AdD2pB8-/s1600/80E7DEB8-53C8-4CED-9595-105BB24F22D3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqnPzrD44zlCyz7MKVu6kFDGDnWsFbDm8CHH9J6yzYhmxSviNzVkYjO8oJfk-wweA2qcHYc9vcnVcr6j0o0pJiIw5PxqV1RQkqZb2RUea54dcEob5l6JskuP9G4Xu69840AL-AdD2pB8-/s320/80E7DEB8-53C8-4CED-9595-105BB24F22D3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After touring the garden we had plans to go to Gillson park, but the rain
interfered with our plans. Instead we stopped in to see the beautiful Baha'i
temple where we translated the words around the edges of the interior dome of
the temple that explain the core beliefs of this religion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the end of the day we stopped into the grocery
store near the apartment to get some supplies they needed, including, soap,
lotion and nail clippers, and then we headed to the apartment to put away
groceries. We stored bulk grain and rice that they keep under a sink in large
plastic bins. We repeated instructions about emptying the garbage, washing
fresh produce, what foods need to be secured in containers and what needs to be
stored in the refrigerator. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We showed them on their calendar what time they will
have a Saturday visit. As they began to cook dinner, we told them how much we enjoyed
their company and said good bye. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Marcie and Rob Bearman</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-18771456994631580812017-07-12T08:40:00.000-07:002017-07-12T10:40:19.638-07:00A Crack in the Western Wall<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A crack in the Western Wall</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rabbi Isaac Serotta</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://lakesidecongregation.org/">Lakeside Congregation</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">July 7, 2017</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakeside:Western Wall 2013 for B'nai Mitzvah</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Political promises are often broken. Somehow it hurts a little more, when the one who makes the promise, and then breaks it, is the Prime Minister of Israel. When I moved to Israel for rabbinic school, the first time I met one of my classmates, she was in tears. She had just come from the airport and realized that the taxi driver had cheated her on the fare. She was angry and sad, and so disappointed to find out that Israel has crooks, just like any other country. She couldn’t believe that a Jewish taxi driver would take advantage of a Jewish student like that. I tried to console a new friend, even as I smiled inwardly, knowing that whatever kind of person you can find in America you can find in Israel, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So it shouldn’t be any surprise that Prime Minister Netanyahu, like most politicians, will do whatever he thinks is necessary to keep himself in power, rather than do what he knows is right. Sixteen months ago he agreed to a deal to open a section of the western wall plaza where men and women can stand and pray together, where women can read Torah, or wear a tallit if they choose. It may seem like it’s not such a big deal, but if there is no freedom of religion for Jews in Israel, no equality for Reform and Conservative Judaism, it is abundantly clear that Israel has a problem that extends not only to Jews, but Christians and Muslims in Israel and in the occupied territories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Israel’s Declaration of Independence says that all faiths will have equal rights. When it comes to Jews it seems that some Jews are more equal than others. While Orthodox rabbis are paid by the state, Reform and Conservative rabbis have to make a living on their own. There is no level playing field. The Orthodox rabbinate refuses to consider weddings or conversions performed by liberal rabbis as valid in Israel. The language they use to vilify us is unconscionable. To quote a bill posted in ultra-orthodox neighborhoods, “The Reform movement intends to sink its claws in the wall of Jerusalem…we must hurry and fight the Lord’s battle against this hemlock and wormwood movement that has brought the fall of many and taken a huge, deathly toll….This monster brings chaos into the world and increases the power of satan.” All we want is the freedom of worship that Israel’s Declaration of Independence promises. We want what the Israeli government promised sixteen months ago.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Israeli government is a parliament. You must have more than 60 votes to pass any legislation. To build that coalition, the Prime Minister, like many before him invited the Orthodox parties that make up a small block of Knesset members to join his coalition. That means that in exchange for their votes, Netanyahu backed down from an agreement to build an egalitarian space at the wall. As the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports, “Orthodox theocracy has effectively excommunicated Reform and Conservative Judaism while insulting their members endlessly.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not a new insult. 200 years ago Orthodox leaders in Europe said, “new is forbidden by the Torah” in an attempt to snuff out Reform Judaism. That’s why the ultra-orthodox wear clothes that were the height of Jewish fashion in Eastern Europe two centuries ago. It got so bad back then that Orthodox Jews actually poisoned a Reform Rabbi and his daughter. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> But the fault is not with the ultra-orthodox alone. Haaretz points out that “even completely secular Israelis, those who haven’t seen a synagogue since Bar Mitzvah and make a point of eating pork with milk on Yom Kippur, ridicule Reform Jews as if they were members of the most fanatic Hasidic sect. What kind of observance is this, Israelis ask, in which you pray in “temples” for the welfare of the State of Israel as you treat women equally, work for social justice and tikkun olam, embrace intermarried couples, ignore 613 ancient mitzvot and are undeterred by mingling with goyim? To borrow a famous saying of our current prime minister - have you forgotten what it means to be Jews?” The complacency and misunderstanding of secular Jews in Israel is also responsible for driving a wedge between American Jews and Israel. With the majority of Jews in Israel living completely secular lives, the opportunity exists for Reform Judaism to bring many of those secular Jews back to a new and vital Judaism for the 21</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"><sup>st</sup></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> century.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When Netanyahu’s cabinet cancelled the plan for the Western Wall, they heard loud and clear from American Jews that this is unacceptable. As one person said, Israel reminds them of the teenager who say, “Mom, stop butting in on my life. But first can you give me twenty dollars and drive me to the mall?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, Israel doesn’t like to be told what to do, but reneging on this agreement could be dangerous for the connection between Israel and America. The Jewish Agency's Chairman of the Board of Governors, <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.798197">Michael Siegal, told newspapers that his organization will reconsider its relationship with the Israeli government</a>. A delegation from AIPAC immediately went to Israel to see Netanyahu, and while not making a public statement, they will explain that their funding comes from liberal Jews in North America and the Netanyahu government will make it hard for AIPAC to do its work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of Netanyahu, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, leader of the Reform Movement in America said, "leadership is always about taking a principled stand. I understand that there are pragmatic considerations, but leadership on any level - local, national and international - is also about being able to stand firm on matters of principle." Instead of acting on principle, Netanyahu claimed this week that every Israeli prime minister would have acted the same way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is simply not true, Ariel Sharon, no liberal, personally dismantled the Ministry of Religious Affairs, fired Orthodox ministers from his cabinet and found new coalition partners. Ehud Barak stood firm that an electric turbine should be moved on Shabbat. He may have lost his post because of his principled stand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is one example. In 1988 Yitzhak Shamir allowed the Orthodox in his coalition to change the definition of “who is a Jew” and who gets to define Jewishness. As a result, American Jewry sent high-level delegates, including leaders of AIPAC, to warn Shamir that his move threatened their donations and support. Shamir quickly capitulated and set up another national unity government with Labor instead. It is in our hands whether our outrage over this situation will echo 1988 and create an even playing field for all Jews.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week, the sense of betrayal felt by Reform and Conservative leaders is palpable. We have been patient through Netanyahu’s constant maneuvers and delays, by his promises that never came to anything and by his festive declarations that meant nothing. Surveying the American scene HaAretz says, “This disappointment is fueling their current resentment no less than the actual revocation of the Kotel agreement. Even though they were warned in advance not to trust Netanyahu or his promises, his American Jewish interlocutors gave Netanyahu generous leeway and room to maneuver, during which he told them they could trust him and things will be all right. When the Kotel deal was approved in January 2016 the Reform and Conservative leaders rejoiced, feeling their patience had paid off, despite the warnings.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I do not think it is a coincidence that there are only two countries in the world that prefer Donald Trump over his predecessor Barack Obama. They are Russia and Israel. I can’t help feeling that Netanyahu believes he has a partner in the White House, so maybe he doesn’t need AIPAC or the Jewish Agency (which distributes 25 million dollars of Chicago Jewish contributions annually). Netanyahu, like Trump and Putin, believes that only he can lead his nation to the promised land. History is full of leaders who thought they were indispensable. All of them have been replaced. One day the same will happen to Netanyahu. If he doesn’t figure a way out of this mess, it might be soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The denial of rights to Reform and Conservative Jews in Israel is just one example, of how Israel is ill-served by its current governing coalition. Some of the parties in Netanyahu’s government, even conservative parties like Israel Beiteinu, with its large support of secular Russian immigrants, may bring the coalition down and force new elections. One can hope.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, as American Jews, we have many issues to work on at home and abroad. It would be a mistake to focus on only one. There is injustice in America, there is a climate crisis, there are human rights violations near and far. It is up to us to continue to fight to make the world a better place A promise from our own people, from the leader of a nation we hold dear, should have been an easy one. Instead, it is one more piece of bitter fruit. Yet even the bitter can turn sweet. There are two lakes in Israel, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. One is sweet, full of life and life giving. The other is so salty that barely anything can survive in it. What is the difference? There is water that feeds into the Sea of Galilee and tributaries that flow from it, while water descends to the Dead Sea and it has nowhere to go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sea of Galilee is teeming with life because it shares its bounty. The other sea is dead because it shares nothing. The western wall can be a symbol of sharing, of all that is good about Judaism. It can be life affirming. Or it can be like the Dead Sea, and become devoid of meaningful life. The Torah teaches us which way to go, “Choose Life, that you and your children may live.”</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-90405979486750675822017-07-11T10:31:00.000-07:002017-07-11T10:31:50.025-07:00Walking in their Shoes: Another Lakeside Congregation Refugee Story!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s1600/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1vE5IRXr2KzUpZ6eahXN0bhyphenhyphenOhkys40yhBRfREsKNC66sZjp__b-Uikzossre2e2sDHtB01sVIeyizgz2n2CRGy82zt6mHl4DpYNcfCMEzSfIcZ2uWT5v3xq3mQqtHBTKD2Yb98oiAFB/s320/Lakeside%2527s+Refugee+Project+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Refugee Family Update</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span>Before Makandja and Bobasha arrived on the scene we were given the opportunity to help out another family. Here is there story:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDZmzkJ1Y4oVlxaQFfKUwGyloiPCdbewZ5cdgZDb1oO3M7DcJ-L3StU77WsfkH-V3X6MpPYDuQ-TlGxGhXSqV7oASHLABMLYlArF6d_2b56AtZhIQZSnooM7-z0dHfLqe-aozo1TxlHYk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-07-11+at+11.50.38+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDZmzkJ1Y4oVlxaQFfKUwGyloiPCdbewZ5cdgZDb1oO3M7DcJ-L3StU77WsfkH-V3X6MpPYDuQ-TlGxGhXSqV7oASHLABMLYlArF6d_2b56AtZhIQZSnooM7-z0dHfLqe-aozo1TxlHYk/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-07-11+at+11.50.38+AM.png" width="187" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visiting the Beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agnes (age 41) and her three children are refugees originally from The Congo. George is 15, Daniel is 13 and Jennie is 11. Both George and Daniel were born with the debilitating disease of Sickle Cell Anemia. In their more than 8 year journey through Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, they have experienced hardships that we have only read about in books. With babies and toddlers literally on her back, Agnes single handedly lived with her babies in refugee camps with no food, running water or electricity. She worked in whatever capacity she was able so that her family could survive and get to America and often had to make hard choices between food, medicine and school for her children. She is one of the strongest women and dedicated mothers we have ever met. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrDX0eknzT0Vy07769Dc51V_FJqwDcvttAX7DkP_nADgEA_7v7TxRRHxb7XfxKzil_PHDF_kLD5ykJtDlpdSqFwdmakEyxucg8m8-FvfmSO9bE7m5BQWsObGoDODWWlQiRcBd0gc8ZnKG/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-07-11+at+11.51.05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrDX0eknzT0Vy07769Dc51V_FJqwDcvttAX7DkP_nADgEA_7v7TxRRHxb7XfxKzil_PHDF_kLD5ykJtDlpdSqFwdmakEyxucg8m8-FvfmSO9bE7m5BQWsObGoDODWWlQiRcBd0gc8ZnKG/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-07-11+at+11.51.05+AM.png" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennie's 5th grade Graduation</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The family has now been in Evanston for 18 months. All of the children are in school and Agnes has a job cleaning at a hospital making $11.50/hour. We have been volunteering to help Agnes and her family and through the generosity of so many, we have managed to get them out of their roach infested one bedroom apartment into a clean, safe, two bedroom apartment. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have also been able to get paperwork in place for their Green Cards, communicate with the children's teachers, get the children involved in activities, help the children begin to catch up in school, take the children to doctor appointments, help Agnes learn to read English and drive in order to become independent, help Agnes change her shift from the night time to the day time so that she can be home with her children, food shop, write checks and generally navigate the new and often confusing culture of America. Frankly, the list is endless and the learning curve can be steep. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Those gorgeous smiles you see are what we see every day we are with them. Despite their difficulties,they are some of the most loving and appreciative people we have come across. Agnes, George, Daniel and Jennie have become like extended family to us. They have made permanent imprints on our hearts.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agnes and Jennie making new friends<img height="16" id="bqcylfrwol78" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">George loves soccer, video games and is interested in the Galaxies. He has seen the most heartache of the three children and has had to look after his siblings from a very young age. George is quiet, contemplative and very kind. When you gain George's trust, you will have a friend for life. He is a rising sophmore at Evanston Township High School. Due to lack of opportunities, George reads at a second grade level but is working hard to close the gap. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daniel is a gregarious, curious and resourceful rising 8th grader. Daniel always has a huge, infectious smile on his face that lights up a room. Daniel enjoys soccer and wants to learn how to play piano. He makes friends wherever he goes. Daniel also reads below grade level but when Daniel sets a goal, he will work hard to achieve it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennie is an adorable, exuberant rising 6th grader. Jennie has a beautiful voice and will begin singing in the Evanston Children's Choir in the fall. Jennie is very responsible and bright girl who is deciding whether or not to be a doctor or a teacher. Jennie has had little math instruction and is working on foundational skills. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agnes will do anything for her children. She is very smart, strong and creative. Agnes has held many jobs over the years and is an incredibly hard worker. Agnes loves to sew and she makes beautiful clothing. She is learning to read English and would like to take more advanced English classes at Oakton Community College one day. Agnes has the equivalence of a 12th grade education.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(83, 83, 83); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Many of us see stories of refugee families on the news that tug on our hearts and think we would like to help. If you want to get </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(83, 83, 83);">involved let us know. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melissa Cook and Susan Gottlieb</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-46689321179242333842017-07-10T08:53:00.000-07:002017-07-10T08:53:01.857-07:00First 4th of July and thoughts of the winter that is coming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that the utilities are working properly in in the apartment and Makandja and Bobasha have settled in to a schedule of English classes, we are able to have more relaxed visits and find opportunities to explore Chicago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />This week, after a brief cleaning lesson in the apartment and a few other logistical things that needed to be taken care of, Lisa and I took our new friends to the Art Institute where we spent a long time in the African galleries. There was a large map on a wall that showed all of the African countries. Makandja and Bobasha read the titles on the information cards to discover which region each piece came from and they seemed proud and happy to find the work from Congo and Tanzania. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />We took them through the French Impressionist wings and through the western religious art galleries where they stopped. Where they stopped to look, we stopped to look with them and tried to answer questions with google translate or sometimes goofy sign language. We spent the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening taking photos outside, at their request, in front of the museum, in Millennium Park and at the Taste of Chicago. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbXtJiVxw8bvr2_NhnMpq00bdK7L8dVOKzVo5qmn4lXN4s0Igf9rl4jbfXlnhQqa6mc9Z4FEasa26RyG9NIIoiAIbFAFLTcACi2k62q2wfEvimnQTJ6K9klzNB_3lEYsOdbqRE9EuxU2L/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbXtJiVxw8bvr2_NhnMpq00bdK7L8dVOKzVo5qmn4lXN4s0Igf9rl4jbfXlnhQqa6mc9Z4FEasa26RyG9NIIoiAIbFAFLTcACi2k62q2wfEvimnQTJ6K9klzNB_3lEYsOdbqRE9EuxU2L/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We talked about the winter ice skating rink at Millennium Park and showed them photos of winter snow that will come to Chicago. They looked surprised and maybe a little horrified! It is hard to know what they were told before they arrived and what they expected life to be like in Chicago. Lisa and I took the opportunity walking together through the park to discuss winter needs for Makandja and Bobasha and to plan a volunteer strategy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />We are hoping to involve new volunteers from <a href="https://lakesidecongregation.org/">Lakeside</a> who might want to join or form knitting or quilting clubs. <b>We will need people to buy and collect winter clothing. These men are both small and the clothing will need to fit properly to be useful.</b> There is very little storage space in the apartment so we will need the collection to be well coordinated and focused. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN1Xis7cwGWoHelJJQGL5fx50UJrN-tpqufCW8WONlT8oy1OX-VIJv9X24cJBfhaDIwaKGDym5HTt2uyqvteLbRcUlTvmMEtF2uyJxY9G1wTxlaWrqAfu9LhXpW-Wz1vURNTrPPdMX-Pq/s1600/fullsizeoutput_d16c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN1Xis7cwGWoHelJJQGL5fx50UJrN-tpqufCW8WONlT8oy1OX-VIJv9X24cJBfhaDIwaKGDym5HTt2uyqvteLbRcUlTvmMEtF2uyJxY9G1wTxlaWrqAfu9LhXpW-Wz1vURNTrPPdMX-Pq/s320/fullsizeoutput_d16c.jpeg" width="305" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfD_Zc4U5H6jmaTG3zRtCTpTD4t_jNwYAkrIwBHlBefRxveyOzZTGQ_qKUwOuWhljJzw_KgFPxDO4tn2MaBHrZGxSXuWXk0FWBr_ZJYWFLz0AvOLyqFHw5xMtFam-0-9YElq7Zbk2RN36/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfD_Zc4U5H6jmaTG3zRtCTpTD4t_jNwYAkrIwBHlBefRxveyOzZTGQ_qKUwOuWhljJzw_KgFPxDO4tn2MaBHrZGxSXuWXk0FWBr_ZJYWFLz0AvOLyqFHw5xMtFam-0-9YElq7Zbk2RN36/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="169" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please get in touch with me or Lisa if you want to help with this winter effort. Call the office at 847-432-7950 and we will get the message!</b> We will not begin to collect winter items until sometime in September. Thanks so much for your continued interest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa and Marcie</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16384421828007187338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6105363844436909460.post-33391594021392643272017-07-06T10:34:00.000-07:002017-07-06T10:34:30.795-07:00Welcoming the Stranger: July 4th American Style<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vYwW47A901GBYo7pz4807J5zP_GJNc0EqkGcpBLI0eDTKWCd6jZlsBlIBCd9Orv1LBCtf78uSqI9jff0T8jfdQpX8B2Vma46pXecyrYOkcR1i4GWH2EGCFdxGeyoU3WNtU25Vgvzk8Nm/s1600/Bobasha+and+Makandja+7-4-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="640" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vYwW47A901GBYo7pz4807J5zP_GJNc0EqkGcpBLI0eDTKWCd6jZlsBlIBCd9Orv1LBCtf78uSqI9jff0T8jfdQpX8B2Vma46pXecyrYOkcR1i4GWH2EGCFdxGeyoU3WNtU25Vgvzk8Nm/s320/Bobasha+and+Makandja+7-4-17.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Makandja, Bobasha and their friend Bwaya shared a picnic with us on the 4th of July at a beautiful park near their apartment. After lunch we played Uno and a dice game that all three young men quickly learned and enjoyed. Games are a fun way to interact with limited language skills on an equal playing field.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spent an hour or two laughing, getting to know each other better and trying hard to win small prizes. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the afternoon ended, we took the friends to Farwell Beach in Chicago, where they saw their first fireworks display in the USA. So happy <a href="https://lakesidecongregation.org/">Lakeside Congregation</a> has been able to sponsor a Refugee. </span><br />
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