Achrei Mot-Kedoshim 5775

This week's parsha begins with the phrase kedoshim tihiyu - you, in the plural shall all be holy. Due to the plural phrasing of these two words, our rabbis traditionally assume that this Torah portion was uniquely recited with all of the Israelites gathered together. (Vayikra Rabbah 24:5)

We, similarly, are so proud of our USY chapter, and how they were publicly gathered and celebrated this past weekend. At CHUSY's (Chicago Region of United Synagogue Youth) regional convention, our teens were recognized as the Chicago area's chapter of the year!! We are so proud of all of you. Please see the moving letter from Rabbi D'ror Chankin-Gould by clicking here.

Dear Anshe Emet: 

We are filled with overflowing pride as we share the incredible news that on Sunday, April 26 our USY Chapter was awarded the Chicago region's Chapter of the Year award! This is an incredible honor for Anshe Emet and we cannot stop smiling and kvelling.
Mazal tov to all our SHMUSY kids and their parents! An especially hearty Mazal Tov to SHMUSY President Aaron Kamel who led the chapter to such growth and success this year. Mazal Tov also to the SHMUSY board of 2014-2015: Emma Siegel, Emily Schwartz, Meredith Leon, Sydney Schwartz, Ryder Kamins, and Bryson Shelist. Our youth leadership is simply stellar! 

In celebrating our youth, we ask the community to please mark your calendars for Saturday, May 2. On May 2, we will celebrate Senior Shabbat by honoring all our 12th graders in the main sanctuary service. Rabbi Siegel will bless the seniors. Gabrielle Xilas, recipient of this year's Rabbi Seymour Cohen award, will deliver a D'var Torah on behalf of the senior class. Aaron Kamel, our outstanding USY president will be honored for his role in our youth programs and will lead the Prayer for the Country. SHMUSY members, Emily Schwartz, Meredith Leon, and Adina Cohen will read Torah. ALL our seniors will be celebrated. Don't miss out! 

A private Shabbat lunch for high schoolers and their friends and family will serve as an Awards Ceremony for SHMUSY. The outgoing board will be celebrated. The incoming board will be honored. The basketball team will be lauded (winner of the Annual Sportsmanship Trophy!). All parents, siblings, special friends, and family of high schoolers are welcome. RSVP to Rabbi D'ror (dcgould@ansheemet.org) 

Finally, May 2 will conclude with a SHMUSY v. Men's Club Basketball Game. All are welcome to cheer on your favorite team (or both!) 

Rabbi D'ror Chankin-Gould
Youth Director, Anshe Emet Synagogue 

Bereshit 5774

Bereshit 5774

Shalom!

This week, we have guest writers for the Shabbat Today bulletin: from Jon Adam Ross, our community's Artist-in-Residence for the month of Tishrei; and Ayelet and Keshet, Anshe Emet Synagogue and BZAEDS' shinshiniyot, or Israeli volunteers in our community for this year.

This week, we are beginning the book of Bereshit, the creation story. And at the exact same time, we are witnessing the creation process of our own masterpiece, the SHMUSY Play.

The Torah teaches us that on the first day of creation, God created daytime and nighttime.

Similarly, a few weeks ago at Anshe Emet, on the first day of the SHMUSY play process, the USY board came up with the theme of the play, creating the form of what would become the play..

On the second day of creation, God divided the water into two sections - the sky and the sea. 

On the second day of the SHMUSY Play process, we invited third graders through eighth graders to join the high school students as they created an outline for the play.

On the third day, God created the land and all of its vegetation.

On the third day of the SHMUSY Play process, we split into groups and began writing dialogue for the scenes in the play.

On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars.

On the fourth day of the SHMUSY play process, we got on our feet and began improvising the lines that we had written.

On the fifth day, God created the birds and the fish of the sea.

On the fifth day of the SHMUSY play process, we filled up the script as it was being completed.

On the sixth day, God created animals and humanity from God's image.

On the sixth day of the SHMUSY play process, we did dress rehearsals, when everyone learned their blocking for the big show.

On Shabbat, God rested, and saw the SHMUSY play!

It's a special privilege to be a part of this community that has two narratives of creation every Tishrei - the one from the Torah, and the one of our students in the SHMUSY play.

Every Tishrei we tell our tradition's creation narrative, and see the narrative of our students.

Please join us on Sunday, September 29th at 4 p.m. in Blum Community Hall, as we show you our masterpiece of creation – “Sinpocalypse! A Year Without Yom Kippur.”