re-engage | recommit | renew

Congregation or torah
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
re-en gage | re co m m i t | r e ne w

program guide 5778 | 2017-2018

 Congregation or torah
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
re-en gage | re co m m i t | r e ne w
bOard Of directOrs

president TABLE OF CONTENTS

marc pershan

immediate past president Rabbis Letter 2

buzzy schwartz
Torah & Tella
executive vice president
Joel Gorenstein Minyan Schedule 3
vp membership
Daily Shiurim 4
scott burgher Holiday Shiurim 5
yvette miller Rabbis Mini-Series 5
vp youth
denise spiegel Israel Action 6
neeli sudin
Lectures & SIR 7-9
vp ways & means
Jonathan neuman
Jennie rothner Yad Or Torah Chesed 10
vp education
devorah Greeneld Womens Group 11
mordechai turoff

vp house
Mens Club 12
etai sooliman
andy stern Youth Programming 13-14
vp ritual
Jonathan Greeneld Community Happenings 15
howard levy

financial secretary Giving Opportunities 16

michael shiner

treasurer Meet Our Staff 17

bert Goldstein
Year at a Glance 18
recording secretary
deva Zwelling

corresponding secretary VISIt rabbi Zvi engel

larry leonard
presidium-womens Group
laura lerer
tamara ashman
first year trustees:
George hanus | sandy kanter
Jacob kupietzky | Josh legum
tami miller | erik moscovitch
www.facebook.com/OrTorahGroup
second year trustees:
andrea alter | Jane best | Gary
hoberman | sima neiger
dov robinson
3800 Dempster Street Rabbi of Congregation Or Torah
Skokie, IL ortorahrav@gmail.com
Mon-Thurs 8:00 am - 4:30 pm sarah silverstein-bernstein
Friday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Executive Director
exec@ortorah.org
cONtAct
Tel: 847-679-3645 marla kirshner
Fax: 847-679-3665 Senior Administration Manager
office@ortorah.org
www.OrTorah.org
herschel Joseph
Youth Director
ortorahyouth@gmail.com
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

RABBIS
LEttER

dear congregants,

nearly two centuries before John Steinbeck adapted the expression, the Scottish poet
robert burns was the one who first coined it: the best laid schemes o mice an men / gang aft
agley. (in case your Scots english is a tad rusty, gang aft agley apparently means often go
awry.) the yiddish version of this expression brings god into the picture, a mentsch tracht und
gott lacht a man struggles and god laughs.

chazal also considered a variation on this theme, based on Sefer tehillim:

I thought about my ways, and my legs return me to Your testimonies.

even after carefully planning his daily schedule as a head-of-state, say the Sages, king david rec-
ognizes that he will always find himself returning to the places of his religious identity. Master of
the Universe! he would declare, each and every day I calculate as follows: today I am going to
this place, and then to this building will I goyet my legs bring me to the batei knessiyot and to
the batei midrashot. (vayikra raba 35:1)

this midrash, says the midrashic commentator, r. david Luria, turns on the word raglai - my legs,
because it is a variant of the word hergel, meaning something habitual or ingrained. So deeply
embedded within his sense of self is the connection to shul and to learning torahreflecting an
abiding love for these places where the Jewish people meet the almighty as a communityda-
vid hamelech is practically carried there by his legs; the link is visceral. the talmud (makot 10b)
puts it succinctly, - upon the path a person wants to
tread, that is where they are led.

here is a person who appreciates that, no matter the schedule he sets for the day, he will find
his way to places of prayer and of torah. while none of us can lay claim to the level of power
and responsibility of a king david, each of us can surely identify with the concept: whatever the
conscious planning for the future, a Jew ought to feel an innate connection to the place of tefilla
and talmud torah. we are blessed to have such a place in or torah.

please leaf through this program guide, filled with many opportunities to join together as a com-
munitymainly for the core elements of our identity as Jews, torah and tefilla, but also for social
programs for people of all agesto plan how, where, and with whom we will choose to spend
our time in the new year. Looking forward to another amazing year together, i remain,

Bvirkat Torah uMitzvot,

Rabbi Zvi Engel
2
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
 minyan schedule
weekday & Shabbat Davening

weekday minyanim

Shacharit
Monday-Friday 6:30 am & 8:00 am
Sunday 6:00 am, 7:15 am, 8:00 am

Mincha/Maariv
15 minutes prior to sunset

Late Maariv in the beit midrash

Sunday-Thursday 8:45 pm

*All Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv take place in the main

sanctuary unless otherwise noted.

shabbat minyanim

Friday Night
First 5-minute mark after candle lighting
Summer: Early Mincha 10-15 mins
prior to Plag HaMincha

Shacharit
8:00 am @ Beit Midrash
8:30 am @ Or Torah West
9:00 am @ Or Torah Main Shul
9:15 am @ Or Torah Bnei Akiva Minyan

Mincha/maariv
15 minutes prior to sunset @ Devonshire

TOT SHABBAT
November 11, 2017, December 15, 2017,
January 26, 2018, February, 23, 2018. Please
see pg. 13 for more info.

Not sure about times and dates? Visit

www.ortorah.org under the Zmanim link.

3
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

Daily SHIURIM
daily MONDAYS
Parashat Hashavua
daf yomi
w/ Rabbi Engel
w/Rabbi Barry Robinson
Mondays 9:15 am-10:00 am @ Beit Midrash
7:00 am
OT-SKokie Community Kollel
OT-Binyan Ariel Dirshu
Womens Shiur w/Mrs. Yaffa Liberman
Daf Yomi BHalacha
10:00 am on Shmuel Bet
Monday - Friday 8:30 am
Gemara
OT-Binyan Ariel Daf Yomi Monday Evenings beginning August 7
w/Rabbi Yisroel Gluck 8:45 pm (Fall/Spring)
9:00 am 8:00 pm (Winter)
Talmud Yoma Ch. 8
halacha after mincha
w/Rabbi zvi engel
tuesDAYS
Shabbat Tefilla
Tuesdays 7:00 am-7:30 am
Soul of the Siddur
R Shalom Kohn ZL Gemara Shiur Learn about the tefillot of
following the 8:00 am Minyan the weekdays and shabbat

Parashat Hashavua
Shabbat 45 min pre-mincha
Wednesdays
(Elul) Rashi and his Beit Midrash Parsha & Pizza
(Spring): The Investigations of w/OT-YU Torah Mitzion Kollel
the Haamek Davar 5:45 pm

SUNDAYS thursdays
OT-Binyan Ariel Gemara Brachos Navi
8:35 am Thursdays 9:30 am-10:45 am
A Time for Election: Sefer Shmuel I
OT-Binyan Ariel Derech Hashem In the wake of the chaotic period of the Shof-
9:10 am tim, Sefer Shmuel focuses on the leadership
of Shmuel Hanavi, the election of Shaul as the
Open Beit Midrash first king of Israel, and the complex relation-
w/OT-YU Torah Mitzion Kollel ship between Shaul and a shepherd named
9:00 am - 11:30 pm David ben Yishai.

Rabbi Brands Shiur

w/OT-YU Torah Mitzion Kollel
9:00 am

4
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
 i d a y
Hol
RAbbis mini-series

i u r im
Sh
with Ra bbi Zvi Engel
due to space considerations, please reserve a spot for
each mini-series a week prior to the event date. email
ortorahrav@gmail.com. thank you.

the machZor and

the matriarchS roSh haShanah
aug. 29, Sept. 5 , Sept. 12, 2017
@ 9:30 am - 10:45 am
exploring themes of the machzor
and the matriarchs in conjunction
with rosh hashanah SerieS i
What is Modern Orthodoxy?
rambam: taLmud yoma & LawS oF
Where are we today?
repentance
november 9, 2017 @ 9 am
renewing the conversation
mondays elul 8:30pm

Shabbat Shuva draSha

September 16, 2017
after main minyan
chanukah Shiur
december 12, 2017
@ 8:00 pm
rabbi Zvi & Laurie engels home
purim Shiurim
February 15 & 22, 2018
@ 9:30 am - 10:45 am
practicaL peSach review
march 8, 2018
@ 9:30 am - 10:45 am
reviewing the basic halakhot of clean-
ing for pesach, product issues, etc.
hagadda:
a brieF hiStory oF time
march 15 & 22, 2018
9:30 am - 10:45 am
Looking for divrei torah for your seder?
Shabbat hagadoL draSha
march 24, 2018
after main minyan
SerieS ii
Shabbat & Yom Tov Tech
3 part Session- mid Level
1) Big Wheels: bicycles and Scooters
december 17, 2017 @ 9 am
2) From The Amazon: alexa and the kindle
January 21, 2018 @ 9 am
3) iron chef: kitchen appliances & gadgets
February 11, 2018 @ 9 am
SerieS iii
This is Not the end
3 part Series-mid level
1) halachic estate planning
may 27, 2018 @ 9 am
2) elder care: halachic considerations
June 3, 2018 @ 9 am
3)halachic will & healthcare proxy
June 10, 2018 @ 9 am

5
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

ISRAEL

The safety and security of the State of Israel is our

constant concern, and helping Israel to thrive is our
constant privilege and responsibility.
AIPAC Shabbaton
with Prof. Gil Troy
October 21-22, 2017
Friday, October 21 @ 8:00 pm
Oneg Shabbat
Saturday, October 22 @ 11 am
Shabbat Morning Lecture
Saturday, October 22 @ 4 pm
Afternoon Program
Join Congreagation Or Torah and the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee for this special
weekend featuring Professor Gil Troy from Mc-
Gill University. There is no cost to attend this
event. It is open to the community. For ques-
tions please contact Brittany Cohen at bcoehn@
aipac.org or (312) 253-8968.
Congregation Or Torahs Israel Initiative
Or Torah stands proudly and resolutely with
Israel. The safety and security of the State of
Israel is our constant concern, and helping Is-
rael to thrive is our constant privilege and re-
sponsibility. We dedicate our time, tefilot and
resources to making a difference for its citizens.
The Israel Initiative reflects our desire to en-
hance and extend this commitment by estab-
lishing a three-part program of education, ad-
vocacy and volunteerism, and to provide our
members with the tools and resources neces-
sary to make a meaningful contribution to our
support for Israel.
SAVE THE DATE
Israel Bond Event
November 4, 2017

AIPAC Policy Conf Delegation

Washington Convention Center
March 4-6, 2018
Act now to join thousands of other pro-Israel
activists for three of the most important days
impacting Israels future! Visit www.aipac.org/
OrTorahPC2018

6
Congregati on or torah

Aseret
Yemei
Teshuva
Lecture
Must we
Forgive
Everyone?
RABBI yona REISS
September 28, 2017 @ 7:30
pm
Rabbi Yona Reiss is the Av
Beth Din (Chief Rabbinical
Judge) of the Chicago Rabbin-
ical Council and a Rosh Yeshi-
va at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary at Yeshi-
va University (RIETS), where
he serves as the Rabbi L. Katz
Cahir in Professional Rabbin-
ics. He previously served as
the Max and Marion Grill Dean
of RIETS. Rabbi Reiss is a
summa cum laude graduate of
Yeshiva College and went on
to receive his law degree from
Yale Law School, where he was
senior editor of the Yale Law
7
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
re-engage | recommit | renew
p ec ial
&S
c t u
Le
Journal. He received semikhah
from RIETS, where he earned
the additional distinction of
advanced Yadin Yadin (Jew-
ish jurisprudence) ordination.
Rabbi Reiss also served as an
associate at the law firm of
Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Ham-
ilton in New York, as well as
the Director of the Beth Din of
America from 1998-2008.
DR. SY Greenfield
Memorial Lecture
Joint presentation
CRISPR - It May Change
the World, but at What
Cost?
November 21, 2017
Left: Dr. Abraham Rosenbaum Right: Rabbi
Menachem Rosenbaum
res
Dr. Abraham Rosenbaum
Abraham (Avi) Rosenbaum
has worked at the forefront
of Next Generation DNA Se-
quencing for the past 14 years.
Most recently at the Ion Tor-
rent brand of Thermo Fisher
Scientific, where he was lead-
ing a team developing tools
and assays for personalized
cancer treatment. He received
his Ph.D. from George Church
at Harvard University, where
he participated in the develop-
ment of one of the first Next
Generation DNA Sequencers
as well as the analysis of the
first personal genome. Prior to
that he received a B.A. from
Yeshiva University and learned
in the kollel at RIETS. Avi lives
in Waterbury, and serves on
the board of trustees of Yeshi-
va Ketana of Waterbury where
his five children attend school.

rabbi menachem
roSenbaum
menachem rosenbaum teach-
es bible and talmud at ida
crown Jewish academy. he
has previously taught a phi-
losophy seminar, classes on
prayer and other subjects in
Jewish thought when he was
kollel fellow of the yeshiva
university torah mitzion kollel.
he went to yeshiva university
for his b. a. in philosophy and
studied for semicha at rietS.
menachem lives in west rog-
ers park with his wife aliza
and three children ezra, de-
vora and mordechai.
schOlar in
residence
rabbi
michaeL
taragin
dec. 8-9, 2017
rabbi moshe
taragin has been a ram at
yeshivat har etzion in gush
etzion for the past 19 years.
he has Semicha from the rab-
bi isaac elchanan theological
Seminary, a ba in computer
Science from yeshiva college,
and an ma in english Litera-
ture from city university. rab-
bi taragin previously taught
talmud at columbia university,
lectured in talmud and bible
at the ibc and JSS divisions of
yeshiva university, and served
as assistant rabbi at the Fifth
avenue Synagogue.
in addition, rabbi taragin cur-
rently teaches at the Stella
k. abraham beit midrash for
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
re-engage | recommit | renew
women of yeshivat har etzion
in migdal oz in gush etzion.
he is the author of an inter-
net shiur entitled talmudic
methodology with over 5,000
subscribers a weekly shiur on
pirkei avot with over 1400
subscribers and has delivered
hundreds of audio shiurim
featured on the yeshivat har
etzion audio beit midrash (
kmtt) as well as on yu torah
online.
schOlar in residence
JOint presentatiOn
lET THERE BE BuSInESS:
vEnTuRE CAPITAl In
ISRAEl
February 9-10, 2018
Left: ben wiener right: michael eisenberg
ben wiener
ben wiener is the Founder
and managing partner of
Jumpspeed ventures, a ven-
ture capital fund based in Je-
rusalem, israel that he founded
in late 2013. Jumpspeed in-
vests in Jerusalem-born or
based software startups and
is the only venture fund dedi-
cated to Jerusalem startup op-
portunities.
ben began his career in law
after graduating from colum-
bia Law School, first serving
as a clerk on israels Supreme
court and then as a practicing
corporate lawyer at kramer,
Levin in new york and Sharir,
Shiv in tel aviv. he left law and
cofounded his first software
start-up in 1999 in Jerusalem.
he has cofounded a number of
startup and investment ven-
tures and also served as a vice
president at idt corp. (nySe:
idt) where he led m&a trans-
actions and was part of idts
venture Services group.
ben earned a b.a. in econom-
ics from yeshiva university
and a J.d. from columbia Law
School, where he was a harlan
Fiske Stone Scholar. he also
has smicha from both rietS
and r. Zalman nehemia gold-
berg in Jerusalem. ben sup-
ports a number of non-profit
initiatives, including serving on
the boards of made in Jerusa-
lem (a non-profit supporting
technology entrepreneurship
in Jerusalem) and the ou is-
rael. he is married with seven
children and in his spare time
clears his head by running
marathons.
michaeL eiSenberg
michael eisenberg is an equal
partner at aleph, an early
stage venture capital fund with
$330mm under management.
aleph serves israeli entrepre-
neurs who want to build high
growth, scalable, global busi-
nesses. Since its founding in
2013, aleph has invested in 12
companies including wework,
houseparty, Lemonade, wind-
ward, honeybook and nexar.
prior to aleph, michael was a
8
general partner at Benchmark
Capital which he joined in July
2005 and continues as the
partner responsible for Bench-
marks Israeli portfolio. Mi-
chael has focused on Internet
and software-enabled-services
investments since 1995 and
has invested in and sat on the
board of Israels leading com-
panies and start ups, such as
Shopping.com (Nasdaq SHOP,
acquired by EBAY), Conduit,
SeekingAlpha, Gigya, WeWork,
Wix (Nasdaq WIX), Answers.
com (Nasdaq ANSW), Tradeum
(acquired: VERT), and Picture-
vison (acquired: EK).
Michael writes a blog on Me-
dium on topics ranging from
politics to technology and
macro-economics, He was a
contributor to Themarker.com
(Hebrew) and is the author of
the Hummus Manifesto, the
seminal piece on Israels inno-
vation scene. In 2016, Michael
published two books: Thus
Shall Be Done to the Jew (He-
brew Version, English Version
by Sela Meir Publishing, ) on
Jewish Identity and Megillat
Esther; and Ben Barukh, a
commentary on the Jerusalem
Talmud, Tractate Brakhot.
Michael also serves on a few
education-oriented non-profit
boards and lectures frequently
on the topics of Venture Capi-
tal, Israel and Entrepreneur-
ship. Michael lives in Jerusalem,
Israel with his wife and eight
children.
9
Scholar in ability of rabbinical arbitration
residence agreements and awards in U.S.
Dr. Michael
(Avi) Helfand
April 13-14, 2018
Dr. Michael
(Avi) Helfand is
an expert on religious law and
religious liberty. A frequent
author and lecturer, his work
considers how the state treats
religious law, custom and
practice. He is currently an
associate professor at Pepper-
dine University School of Law
and co-director of Pepperdine
Universitys Glazer Institute for
Jewish Studies. He received
his J.D. from Yale Law School
and his Ph.D. in Political Sci-
ence from Yale University.
His academic articles have
appeared in numerous law
journals, including the Yale
Law Journal and the New York
University Law Review, and
Duke Law Journal. Professor
Helfand also often provides
commentary on clashes be-
tween law and religion, writing
for various general audience
publications, including the
Wall Street Journal, Los An-
geles Times, USA Today, and
the Forward, and has provided
legal commentary for various
news outlets, including the
New York Times, PBS, and
Huffington Post.
In addition to his academic
work, Professor Helfand is
an executive board member
of the Beth Din of America,
where he also serves as a
consultant on the enforce-
courts.
Scholar in
residence
Nechama
Price
May 4-5, 2018
Nechama Price
is the Director
of Yeshiva Universitys Gradu-
ate Program for Advanced
Talmud Studies (GPATS), from
which she earned certification
in 2003. She is a Senior Lec-
turer in the Bible and Judaic
Studies departments at Stern
College, where she has been
teaching since 2004. Nechama
earned a Masters Degree in
Jewish Education from Azrieli
Graduate School, and an MA in
Bible from the Bernard Revel
Graduate School. She is also
a graduate of the inaugural
class of the American branch
of Nishmats Yoetzet Halacha
Program, and currently serves
as a Yoetzet Halacha (Halakhic
Advisor) to the communities
of Englewood, Tenafly, Livings-
ton, West Orange, and Long
Branch NJ. Nechama is a com-
munity scholar and speaks all
over North America. She lives
in Bergenfield, NJ with her hus-
band & four children.
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

Yad Or Torah chesed

as we have grown as a community, so too have the needs of our
members. yad or torah was established as a committee of volunteers willing to lend a
helping hand. during many life cycles and challenges that occur in our members lives,
we at yad or torah want to embrace our families. whether you or someone you know
needs help, please contact either the shul office, tami miller at tmiller620@aol.com or
elaine rothner at elrothner@gmail.com.

save the dates

September 1- September 24, 2017
September 18, 2017 YAD OR tORAH cOAt DRIVE
pRE-ROSH HASHANAH
FOOD DRIVE FOR tHE ARK october 15, 2017
YAD Ot BLOOD DRIVE
September 10, 2017
MAOt cHItIM pAcKING DAY February 4, 2018
YAD Ot BLOOD DRIVE
September 17, 2017
MAOt cHItIM DELIVERY DAY

cOmmUnity resOUrces the ark 773.761.4005

Seymour h. persky building office@thechicagocenter.org
chicago rabbinicaL 6450 n. california ave
counciL chicago, iL fOOd cOllectiOn
2701 howard St., chicago iL 773.973.1000
773.465.3900 ark@arkchicago.org Sherra & JeSS
www.crcweb.org bLoomenkranZ
6647 n. whipple ave
Skokie eruv chicago cheSed Fund chicago, iL 60645
847.679.eruv(3788) 7045 n. ridgeway ave 773.274.5682
skokieeruv.com Lincolnwood, iL
847.679.7799 Laurie babendir
Skokie mikvah www.chicagochesedfund.org 8620 hamlin ave, Skokie iL
4242 w. dempster ave, 847.677.5527
Skokie, iL 60076 niLi hotLine 847.302.5527 (cell)
(west off crawford & east of 847.636.9723
Skokie blvd.) please leave a message debra SoLovechik
847.568.8710 nilihotline@chicagotorah.org 773.791.8961
www.mikvah.org/mikvah559/ www.chicagotorah.org/
skokie_mikvah nilihotline please contact corinne
engelhart, corinnehart@aol.
ShaLva chicago mitZvah com for more information.
24/7 help/crisis Line campaign
773.583.hope (4673) 866.697.2224
www.shalvaonline.org chicagomitzvahcampaign.org

JvS chicago chicago center For

5150 golf road, Skokie iL torah and cheSed-
847.568.5150 reFoenu
www.jvschicago.org 6333 n. troy St., chicago, iL

program guide 5778 | 2017-2018

10
 re-engage | recommit | renew

Womens Group
The Or Torah Womens Group is a social and fundraising arm
of our synagogue. Under Co-Presidents, Tamara Ashman &
Laura Lerer, we endeavor to fill our calendar with a variety of
programs to meet the needs of our membership. We hope that
we can inspire you to be part of our exciting programs. We
welcome help and suggestions.

2017-2018 Calendar
Fun activities this year will include: Simchat Torah Dinner, Two
Night Cooking Demo with Sylvia Fallas, Chanukah Carnival,
Murder Mystery Purim Event, Womens Group Health Event,
Graduation Kiddush

To get involved with the Or Torah Womens Group, contact

Laura Lerer at lauralerer@gmail.com or
Tamara Ashman tamaraashman@gmail.com

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program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
 re-engage | recommit | renew

Men's Club
Or Torah Mens Club provides a wide variety of programs and
activities that reach out to all members of the congregation -
building camaraderie, friendships, and warmth. A goal for the
Or Torah Mens Club has been to raise funds to support our
Youth Department as well as Chesed Funds and the needs of
our synagogue and greater community.

Stay Tune For Upcoming Events In January, March, and July!

Save the Date for 4 CUPS on March 25, 2018

To get involved with the OT Mens Club,

email mensclub@ortorah.org

24
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

youth programs
Events + Learning + Groups

August 27, 2017

Cupcake Wars
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
3rd-5th graders are invited to bake it off
and create and decorate the worlds
best cupcakes! Batter will be spilled,
legends will be born and prizes will be
awarded!

October 6, 2017
OT Youth Sukkah Hop
Kids of all ages are invited to hop
along as we learn torah, eat treats and
collect prizes at three succahs! The
Hop begins at Or Torah at 4:15pm and
ends at the Engels.

October 21, 2017-
March 3, 2018
Motzei Shabbat Parent/Child Learning
1 hr After Shabbat Ends
Parents and kids of all ages are invited
to learn and grow together each week
in this Beit Midrash learning program.
Pizza and a raffles each week!

October 22, 2017

Noahs Ark
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Kids of all ages are invited to experience
animals like never before! Enjoy pony
wheels, animal games, facepainting
and more!

November 11, 2017

Tot Shabbat
15 mins after Mincha
For kids ages 2-6 and their parents.
Do You Have Small Children or
Grandchildren? When and how will
you introduce them to shul?Come
daven in a special monthly minyan
(full kabbalat shabbat and maariv)
in the Or Torah Beit Midrash focused
on giving our youngest members an
opportunity to dance, sing, and hear
a Shabbat story! Please note that kids

13
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
 re-engage | recommit | renew
need to be supervised by their parents at all 11:00 am - 1:15 pm
times during the davening. Kids of all ages are invited to enjoy an amazing
art project purim treats and more!
November 24, 2017
College Oneg May 19, 2018
8:00 pm Leil Shavuot Learning
@ Rabbi Zvi & Laurie Engels Home All high school and middle school students
are invited to learn and grow as we prepare
December 15, 2017 for matan torah! The evening will end with
Tot Shabbat Cinnabon, ice-cream and more!
15 mins after Mincha
See details from Nov. 11 Tot Shabbat on pg. 13.

December 16, 2017

SHABBAT MORNING GROUPS
Laser Tag at Or Torah
6:00 pm-8:00 pm Ages 6 Weeks old +
(3 -5th Graders Boys & Girls)
rd
Meets at 8:30 am in the far right
Kids are invited to have a blast with laser tag classroom.
at Or Torah. Cost: $15

December 17, 2017 Preschool Groups
Womens Group & Youth For children who are pre-schooled
Chanukah Carnival aged and potty trained. The Preschool
group meets at 8:30 am in the far left
January 12, 2018 classroom.
Teen Oneg
8:00 pm Kindergarten-
@ Rabbi Zvi & Laurie Engels Home
grade 2
Meets at 8:30 am in the Poochies
January 20, 2018
classroom. Children will enjoy games
Movie Night
and Shabbat tefilot while spending time
Kids in kindergarten, first and second grade
with group leaders who are dedicated to
are invited to come in their PJs, enjoy pizza,
ensuring your childs enthusiasm for the
popcorn and a movie! Cost:$5
Shul experience.
January 26, 2018
Tot Shabbat grade 3-5
15 mins after Mincha Meets at 9:15 am. Children will enjoy
See details from Nov. 11 Tot Shabbat on pg. 13. team games, raffles, and will learn
Shabbat tefillot.
February, 23, 2018
Tot Shabbat BOYS - GREEN ROOM
15 mins after Mincha GIRLS - X ROOM
See details from Nov. 11 Tot Shabbat on pg. 13.
or torah bnei akiva
February 28, 2018
Purim Extravaganza
teen minyan
7:30 pm Grades 6-12 at 9:15 am.
Kids in kindergarten, first and second grade
are invited to come in their PJs, enjoy pizza, NEW! Stay tuned for the Or Torah
popcorn and a movie! Cost:$5 Teen Education Committee led by Ari
Best & Hannah Jacoby.
March 1, 2018 =
Purim Extravaganza
14
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

community happenings

September 2, 2017 November 11, 2017 February 2018

New Members Event Kristallnacht Event Snow Birds Event in Boca Raton

September 16, 2017 December 15, 2017 February 28, 2018

Pre-Selichot Kumzitz Young Couples Chanukah Dinner Leil Purim Dinner

October 5, 2017 December 17, 2017 March 25, 2018

Open Sukka Chanukah Carnival Mens Club 4 Cups Event

October 12, 2017 January 12-13, 2018 April 12, 2018

Simchat Torah Dinner YU Coast to Coast Shabbaton Yom Hashoah Memorial Event

November 3, 2017 January 2018 August 26, 2018

Empty Nesters Dinner Or Torah Dinner OT Community Picnic

15
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
 re-engage | recommit | renew

Giving opportunities
Celebration or Commemoration?
Please consider one of the sponsorship opportunities below as a meaningful & symbolic gift.

shiurim
$54 A Day of Learning
$180 A Week of Learning
$3,600 A Year of Learning
Daf Yomi
$180 Day of Daf Yomi
$540 Week of Daf Yomi
$1,800 Month of Daf Yomi
$3,600 Seder of Daf Yomi
Shalosh Seudot
$225 Sponser Shalosh Seudot
Kiddush
Contact the shul office for more info
OR TORAH SIMCHA TREE
Dedicate a leaf on the Or Torah Simcha Tree
for $1,000*

Seforim Dedicate a stone for the Or Torah Simcha Tree

$54 Dedicat an Artscroll or Koren Siddur
$54 Dedicate an Artscroll Megillah or
Machzor
$72 Dedicate a Chumash
Yarzheit Plaques
$500 Yarzheit Plaque Engraved in your loved
ones memory
Condolence Cards
$5 Mail a condolence card on your behalf
$10 Condolence Card 5-Pack
for $18,000**
*Discounted rate of $540 offered if you purchase a leaf
at the time of reserving the shul for your simcha
**Purchase of a stone includes 18 leaves on the Simcha
Tree
You can turn in the form below, go to our
website (https://www.ortorah.org/payment.php),
or call the Or Torah office for more
information about sponsorships and/or
dedications.

Name:
Address:
Email: Phone:
Please charge: / MC , Visa , AMEX , Check Enclosed
card number:
Exp: CSV: total $
sponsorship details:

Congregati on or torah
16
 meet our staff
RABBI rabbi of congregation or torah
ZVI ENG ortorahrav@gmail.com
EL office: (847) 679-3645 ext 222

now in his tenth year as the rabbi of or torah, rabbi Zvi engel strives to help his
congregants get closer to hashem, to the torah, klal yisrael, and to medinat yisrael.
rabbi engel serves the broader Jewish community through his involvement as the
president of the chicago rabbinical council, as a member of the executive commit-
tee of the rabbinical council of america, as a member of the hillels of illinois gov-
erning commission of the Jewish united Fund/Jewish Federation of metropolitan
chicago, and as a member of the aipac national council. rabbi engel studied at
yeshivat har etzion, received his rabbinical ordination from the rabbi isaac elchanan
techological Seminary (rietS), and holds a b.a. in english Literature from yeshiva
university. he and his wife Laurie, are the proud parents of four children, and he en-
joys running, cycling, playing guitar, and laughing!

RI- executive director of congregation or torah

E St exec@ortorah.org
V
H SIL EIN office: (847) 679-3645 ext 226
RA St
SA BERN Sarah Silvestri- bernstein received her bachelors in biology & psychology from ye-
shiva universitys Stern college for women. Sarah has served as the executive direc-
tor of congregation or torah for the past two years working to help members realize
the potential of what they want their community to look like. Sarah is responsible
for the full spectrum of synagogue management: building and grounds, facilities,
security, the website, calendar, communications, marketing, programming, and fun-
draising. She prides herself on working collaboratively with committee members
and on reaching out to all ages and all corners of the synagogues population. previ-
ously, she served as a qualified intellectual disabilities professional at clearbrook/
the Libenu Foundation. Sarah and her husband Josh have been married for 5 years
and have two children, olivia and Liam.

LA R
Senior administration manager
R office@ortorah.org
MA HNE office: 847-679-3645 ext 221

I R S
K marla kirshner received her bacherlors degree in accounting from northeastern il-
linois university. She has been employed at congregation or torah for the past 26
years. marla and her husband mark have lived in Skokie and are member of congre-
gation or torah for the past 29 years. they have four children.

HERScHE
L youth director of congregation or torah
JOSEpH ortorahyouth@gmail.com

herschel Joseph has been the youth director at congregation or torah for the past
six years. herschel grew up in Los angeles, attended yeshivat torat Shraga in Je-
rusalem for two years, and graduated yeshiva university with a b.a. in political Sci-
ence. herschel is also a former fellow of the Legacy heritage teacher training Fel-
lowship and has an m.a. in Jewish education from the azrieli graduate School of
Jewish education and administration. herschel and his wife Jessica, a Skokie native
and practicing occupational therapist, live in Skokie with their two children, akiva
& elisheva.

17
Congregati on or torah

Congregation or torah
year at a gLance 5778 | 2017-2018
September
September 1-18, 2017
pre-rosh hashanah Food drive
September 2, 2017
new members event
September 9, 2017
Shaliach tzibbur melave malka
September 10, 2017
maot chitim packing
September 16, 2017
pre-Selichot kumzitz
September 17, 2017
maot chitim delivery date
September 24, 2017
yad or torah coat drive
September 28, 2017
Sy memorial Lecture rabbi yona reiss
october
october 5, 2017
open Sukkah
october 6, 2017
or torah youth Sukkah hop
october 12, 2017
Simcha torah dinner
october 15, 2017
yad or torah blood drive
october 20-21, 2017
aipac- ou Shabbaton
october 21, 2017
motzei Shabbat parent/child
Learning begins
october 22, 2017
ot youth- noahs ark 2017
october 27-28, 2017
Shabbat project at or torah
october 29-30, 2017
womens event- two night
cooking demo Sylivia Fallas
november
november 3, 2017
empty nesters dinner
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
re-engage | recommit | renew
november 4, 2017
israel bond event
november 9, 2017
rabbis mini Series
november 11, 2017
kristallnacht commemoration
november 11, 2017
tot Shabbat
november 17- 18, 2017
yachad Shabbaton at or torah
november 21, 2017
Sy greenfield memorial
Lecturedr. abraham rosenbaum &
rabbi menachem rosenbaum
december
december 8-9, 2017
Sir rabbi michael taragin
december 15, 2017
young couples dinner
december 15, 2017
tot Shabbat
december 16, 2017
ot youth- Laser tag
december 17, 2017
rabbis mini Series
december 17, 2017
womens group & youth
chanukah carnival
January
January 20, 2018
mens club event ot youth Shavuot night Learning
January 21, 2018
rabbis mini Series
January 26, 2018
tot Shabbat
January 28, 2018
or torah dinner
February
February 4, 2018
tanielle miller memorial Lecture:
r. david Fohrman
February 4, 2018
yad or torah blood drive
February 9-10, 2018
Sir ben weiner &
michael eisenberg
February 11, 2018
rabbis mini Series
February 23, 2018
tot Shabbat
February 24, 2018
murder mystery purim event
Feb 28, 2018
Leil purim dinner
march
march 1, 2018
ot youth purim extravaganza
march 25, 2018
mens club 4 cupS 2018
apriL
april 12, 2018
ot yom hashoah program
april 13-14, 2018
Sir dr. avi helfand
april 22, 2018
womens group health event
april 29, 2018
ot-JuF dessert reception
may
may 4-5, 2018
Sir nechama price
may 6, 2018
amy kahan memorial Lecture
may 19, 2018
may 27, 2018
rabbis mini Series
June
June 2, 2018
or torah grauation kiddush
June 3, 2018
rabbis mini Series
June 10, 2018
rabbis mini Series
auguSt
august 26, 2018
ot community picnic
18
 J o i n C o n g r e g a t i o n O r To r a h a n d
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee for an

AIPAC SHABBATON
Featuring

Gil Troy
Professor, Department of History and Classical Studies at McGill University

Friday, October 20, 2017

8:30 pm Congregation Or Torah
Oneg Shabbat 3800 Dempster Street Skokie
Saturday, October 21, 2017 There is no cost to attend.
11:00 am This event is open to the community.
Shabbat Morning Lecture
For questions please contact Brittany Cohen
4:00 pm at bcohen@aipac.org or (312) 253-8968.
Afternoon Program

Gil Troy is a leading presidential historian and one of todays most prominent
activists in the fight against the delegitimization of Israel. He is a professor of history
at McGill University, a visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution and a Research
Fellow in the Shalom Hartman Institutes Engaging Israel Program.
Professor Troy has edited two books and written ten, including biographies of
Ronald Reagan and Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also authored Moynihans Moment:
Americas Fight Against Zionism as Racism, which tells the inside story of the 1975
UN resolution that called Zionism a form of racism.
Professor Troy has been widely published and quoted in the American, Canadian,
and Israeli media. He writes a weekly column for the Daily Beast on forgotten American history, putting
current events in historical perspective, as well as a weekly column for the Jerusalem Post often republished
in the Huffington Post.

19
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

Wishing all a happy, healthy

and prosperous 5778

David Strulowitz JD, LLM

4709 W. Golf Road, Suite 1120, Skokie, IL 60076
phone 847.779.0687| fax 847.512.0980
email: dstrulow@cornerllc.com
www.davidstrulowitz.com
www.cornerllc.com

20
program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
 private banking

Private Banking with

Global Advantages
And A Personal Touch

Leumi Marc Pershan | Private Banking

1 North Lasalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602
leumiusa.com Tel: 312.419.4077 | Mobile: 312.498.7960
marc.pershan@leumiusa.com
Part of the Leumi Group

Bank Leumi USA is an FDIC insured, New York State chartered bank. Leumi and Bank Leumi are marketing brands operated by Bank Leumi USA.
Bank Leumi USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank Leumi le-Israel, B.M. and part of the Leumi Group.

21
Congregati on or torah

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program guide 5778 | 2017-2018
25
Congregati on or torah
 re-engage | recommit | renew

program guide 5778 | 2017-2018

 CONGREGATION

OR
TORAH
3800 Dempster Street, Skokie, IL 60076 | TEL: (847) 679-3645 | Ortorah.org
Congregati on or torah