Idea Transcript
JRC: An Historical Timeline Sukkot, 1971 Mid-contstruction
Simchat Torah, 1981 Groundbreaking
Cantor Anita Schubert Cantorial Soloists Lori and Riki Lippitz
Interim Rabbi Roy Furman
venue 3 0 3 D o dg e A
Rabbi Arnie Rachlis
Marge Frank, EC Consultant; Bonnie Silverman, Early Childhood Director
JRC Press Publications
Ed
it i o n
25th
h
President David Pinzur and Rabbi Brant Rosen flank Mike Nolan and President Alan Saposnik, co-project managers.
S A RY
— Bud Selig
Commissioner of Baseball
"As a long-time Dodgers fan, I can feel Arnie’s Cubs fan angst. For us it was ‘Wait ‘til next year;’ for Cubs fans it’s ‘Wait ‘til next millennium.’ Keep the faith, it will happen some day.” — Doris Kearns Goodwin
Historian, Author Wait Till Next Year: a Memoir
Arnold B. Kanter
JRC Choir, ca. 1976 Rabbi Richard Hirsh and students
JRC Kallah
1959–1963 In the Beginning
1964–1975 The Pre-Rabbinic Era
1964
1965
1966
1967
Max Grossman
Milton Malin
Harriett Rosenberg
Maurice Blumenthal
1968
1969
1970
Leroy Shuster
1971 Roger Price
1976–1985 The Early Rabbinic Era 1972
1973
1974
Robert Jesmer
1975
Michael Richmond
1976
JRC Press • Evanston, Illinois
JRC Press
Cover design & art by Darlene Grossman Cover photograph by Kay Berkson
$14.95
1978
Stuart Cohn
1979
1980
Susan Siebers
1981
Illustrated by Darlene Grossman
1998–2005 From the End of the 20th Century to the New Millennium, Part I
Cookie Stavish
1982
1983
1984
Alan Gratch
1985
Charlene Gelber
1986
1987
1964
1970
1976
1986
1991
1998
Rabbi Ira Eisenstein, son-in-law of Reconstructionist founder Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, leaves Anshe Emet Synagogue. A group of congregants who like Rabbi Eisenstein’s approach to Judaism continues to meet as an early chavurah, usually in each other’s homes.
The chavurah elects Max Grossman as its first president.
JRC moves to Chute Middle School with summer meetings at home of members. (The “Schlep-A-Shul” Era)
First JRC Choir performs at High Holiday services, led by Riki Lippitz.
JRC programming is expanded to include Early Childhood Education.
Rabbi Rachlis relocates; Rabbi Roy Furman becomes our interim rabbi.
Brant Rosen becomes JRC’s third rabbi; Anita Schubert becomes the first full-time cantor.
1978
1987
1999
Membership: 160 families
Bryna Cytrynbaum becomes first Executive Director.
Cardinal Bernardin speaks at Shabbat service.
Rabbi Ira Eisenstein
Membership: 85 Families
1972
1965–1966
Arnie Rachlis, RRC rabbinic intern, leads High Holiday services.
Harriett Rosenberg becomes the first woman president.
First Kallah is led by Arnie Rachlis.
The chavurah continues meeting over storefronts in Wilmette, on Central Street in Evanston, and at the Hotel Greenview in Evanston.
JRC’s first Bar Mitzvah is celebrated.
1973
Early members include Ruth and David Kolodny and Leroy Shuster.
1967
1960–1962
September: Religious School is established. Membership: 60 Families
JRC Religious School program expands to include weekdays as well as weekends; Sunday morning Adult Education mini-courses begin.
1980–1985
June 16: JRC’s first Bat Mitzvah (Betsy Levin) is celebrated.
J RC meets at Covenant United Methodist Church, 2525 Hartrey, Evanston.
1980 Riki Lippitz is hired as the part-time cantorial soloist.
JRC first Purim spiel production: My Fair Esther starring Roger and Marilyn Price
First JRC trip to Israel
1983 Lori Lippitz is hired as one of a group of five cantorial soloists.
Leroy Shuster
1985
1975 1968 JRC formally incorporates as a congregation.
Membership: 200 Families
Rabbi Rachlis becomes the first (part-time) rabbi, installed by Rabbi Ira Eisenstein. Members continue to lead a large portion of the services.
On the 20th Anniversary of our founding, JRC purchases 303 Dodge Avenue building from Mikdosh-El Hagro.
JRC moves from Chute Middle School to First Baptist Church (now Lake Street Church).
Leota Hirsch starts the JRC library with Ruth Kolodny as co-librarian.
Staff at JRC:
Purim at JRC:
1993
Lori Lippitz becomes our cantorial soloist. Margie Goldberg is hired as first Early Childhood Education Director and is responsible for classes and summer day camp.
1989
Rabbi Richard Hirsh is installed as JRC’s second rabbi. Early Childhood Education creates intergenerational program in cooperation with CJE and Francis Parker School.
JRC 25th Anniversary celebration honors twelve past presidents.
1994
Marsha Richman becomes Early Childhood Director; Danny Wallenberg becomes Choir Director.
FAN (Friends and Neighbors) groups are initiated. Founders’ Oral History Project is completed.
Heavy Shtetl is founded as the first congregational klezmer band in the Chicago area.
1995
1990
1996
Memorial sculpture is dedicated.
The erev Shabbat Jazz Service, composed by JRC member Bob Applebaum, premiers; children’s choir begins.
Second JRC trip to Israel JRC Preschool wins accreditation by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
Sharon
Executive Directors Bryna Cytrynbaum Sharon Díaz Assistant Executive Director Jill Persin Membership Director Barbara Israelite Membership & Program Coordinators Dina April London Tom Samuels
Barbara
Tom
Religious School Directors Robin Goldberg Shelley Auslander Laura Harari Dan Prath Sharon Wasserberg Rabbi Jonathan Malamy Anne Johnston Terri Bernsohn Early Childhood Directors Margie Goldberg Marsha Richman Bonnie Silverman
Terri Administrative Assistants Marcie Weiss-Good Ruth Gilbert Ilene Cutler Beverly Katz Debra Pinsof Lesley Goodman Julie Anza Faye Herbstman Andrea Shanker Cynthia Palmer-Kenzer Noreen Silverman DeeDee Natker Diane Melnick
36th Anniversary: JRC honors Judy Holstein and Jordan Margolis for their purim spiel productions. The first JRC timeline is created by Bryna Cytrynbaum, Vickie Korey and Jack Weiss.
2001 JRC member Howard Friedland becomes cantor.
1992
1993 Bob Brodsky
JRC member Jonathan Markowitz, 2nd from left
2002 January: JRC Environmental Task Force grows out of the Tikkun Olam Sunday workshop and begins to meet regularly. Professional fundraiser Mark Randall & Associates is hired; $6.9 million is raised to start building. From Oy to Joy: Our Holidays Across the Years, JRC’s second congregational publication, makes its debut.
2003
AIDS/HIV Task Force is formed.
Bonnie Silverman becomes Early Childhood Director.
April: Building Assessment Task Force (BATF) is created to analyze options to remodel, move or rebuild on our exiting site.
Alte Rockers, JRC’s congregational band, debuts at Purim’s Oy Vey Cafe, written and emceed by Stan Cohn.
2 0 0 2: L e s
Bookkeeper Tuly Faden Librarians Leota Hirsch Ruth Kolodny Leora Siegel Jan Wishinsky Kate Kinser Sharon Chefitz Charlene Gelber Eva Eisenstein
1995 Joan Fields
March: BATF begins plans for new building on existing site; Ross Barney Architects hired. May 17: Moon Over Mulford, the JRC Prom fundraiser, is held at the Levy Center.
1997 Vickie Korey
Oy Vey Cafe—written and emceed by Stan Cohn with co-chair “Woody” and starring other JRC members—begins in 2003 and is presented (understandably so) in odd-numbered years.
April: Meeting on the Mishkan: Ross Barney Architects presents conceptual designs and the first draft of plans for our new home to congregants. Sunday, June 26: JRC’s first participation in the 36th Annual Chicago Gay Pride Parade. From There to Here: Points on the Circle of Life, the fourth JRC publication, is launched. JRC/AJWS (American Jewish World Service) Task Force Trip to Uganda is led by Rabbi Rosen.
Financing of our new building is secured.
August 1–12: JRC journey to Israel October: Service trip to post-Katrina New Orleans is led by Rabbi Rosen. December: First Early Childhood Fair Trade Chanukah Bazaar is held to include fair trade items and socially responsible gifts representing a wide variety of organizations and charities. Membership/Programming Director position is approved.
July: Welcome to Transition plans are formulated. August: JRC moves to Shaare Tikveh B’nai Zion, 5800 N. Kimball Avenue, Chicago, for worship; administrative offices are located at Peterson & California Avenues, Chicago; and ECE is located at the McGaw YMCA Children’s Center, 1420 Maple Avenue, Evanston.
JRC Social Action Trips:
2005
Carole Caplan
February: Torah procession leads from Chute School to JRC’s new building; homecoming celebration takes place in our new 3rd floor sanctuary. The ark and eternal light, designed by artist David Bachrach, are installed several days later in the main sanctuary. Early Childhood Center common room is designed and created by JRC member Rebecca Hamlin. Environmental Task Force trains docents to showcase our new building. April: JRC building is dedicated; cantata for dedication is composed by JRC member Bob Applebaum. Rabbi Rosen is named one of the best 25 pulpit rabbis by Newsweek magazine. July: JRC service trip to Uganda and Rwanda is led by Rabbi Rosen. This is one of the 13 task forces working on member-led programs. September: JRC becomes the first house of worship in the world to be awarded LEED Platinum status. JRC rebranding includes a new logo and prototype newsletter design. Barbara Israelite retires after 20 years as Membership Director.
2006
2007
Alan Saposnik
2008
2009
David Pinzur
2010
2011
2012
Josh Karsh
2013
Freddi Greenberg
2014 David Tabak
2009
2011
November: The Sicha (“Conversation”) Task Force is established to provide a way for JRC members to have civil discourse about Israeli/ Palestinian issues. The first event is attended by 130 congregants.
FEST (Families Enjoying Shabbat Together) is launched.
Third JRC service trip to Rwanda is led by Rabbi Rosen.
June 3: JRC member Billy Kaplan’s “A Shabbat Sweet,” an original folk-rock kabbalat Shabbat service, debuts at the erev Shabbat service, accompanied by his baritone ukulele and the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band.
September: Holocaust Memorial Torah from Prestice, Czechoslovakia, is installed in the sanctuary lobby.
September 13–February 2, 2010: JRC is featured at the Jewish Museum of New York’s exhibition Reinventing Ritual: Contemporary Art and Design for Jewish Life via models built by Ross-Barney Architects as well as with slide presentations.
2010
June: Executive Director, Bryna Cytrynbaum, retires after 24 years. Second JRC service trip to post-Katrina New Orleans is led by Rabbi Rosen. July: Sharon Díaz is appointed the second JRC Executive Director. Second service trip to Rwanda is led by Rabbi Rosen.
v
v
2013
September 1: JRC’s quarterly newsletter goes green; the electronic version saves printing and postage costs and delivery time.
April: JRC Holocaust Torah is dedicated.
2012
November: 1st Annual JRC Fall Social to create community and make friends is held.
January: Interior design and decoration of the youth lounge is completed.
March: Unveiled, a dramatic performance and conversation with Rohina Malik, is presented at JRC.
Early Childhood’s “natural” playground is installed at a cost of $90,000. Two-thirds of the cost is raised entirely by preschool family fundraisers over a period of 10 years. (Approximately 30% of JRC members have experienced JRC for the first time in the preschool. Each year, summer camp welcomes our alumnae who enjoy returning as JRC camp counselors.) May: JRC launches its own Facebook page.
JRC Preschool wins accreditation by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
June: Vote is taken to combine the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) and the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation ( JRF) into one organization.
December: JRC trip to the Palestinian territories is led by Rabbi Rosen.
Summer: JRC Environmental Task Force morphs into Green Team.
Jubilee Campaign raises $1.4 million toward eliminating our remaining mortgage.
JRC Membership: 500 Families
2014 Jubilee Year JRC celebrates its 50th year with the Golden Gala Anniversary Celebration in March; a kumzitz; a garden party; very special kabbalat Shabbat services over the year honoring our members by decade; the Religious School’s special JRC scroll; the JRC Archive Project— organization and completion of documents and memorabilia from our first 50 years; and the presentation of the Jubilee Timeline. Rabbi’s and cantor’s lecterns, designed by artist David Bachrach, are installed in the main sanctuary. September: JRC begins a new chapter in its rabbinic and community life.
2012 : Rwanda
2010: NOLA
2 0 07 : N OL A
2010: East Jerusalem
2005 : Uganda 2008: Rwanda
JRC musical directors Danny Wallenberg (choirs) and Terry Parisoli (orchestra)
r ae l
Heavy Shtetl 2012
JRC composers Bob Applebaum and Billy Kaplan 2005: Haman of Fakachta
Bruce Kaskel
2004
EC students coming home
April 2: JRC receives Environmental Leadership Award for constructing a green LEED certified synagogue building.
June: Building Bash—Farewell to the old building party
2003
2008
JRC awarded $105,000 grant by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to cover the incremental costs of design and engineering for a LEED certified building and cost of LEED commissioning.
Saying goodbye to the old building
2002
Ken Ross
March: Board approves BATF proposals for new building and financing.
20 07: Is
1998:
2001
October: Groundbreaking takes place for our new building.
Alte Rockers
shan iss Shu M : 7 9 19
2000
2007
Music at JRC:
Misugena bles
2013: Oy Vey Cafe
1999
Reese Gratch
December: JRC goes online with the monthly calendar.
2005
1998
2009–2014 From the End of the 20th Century to the New Millennium, Part II
2008 Welcome Home
2006
2000: West Side Tsorys
Little Schnapps for Schnorrers
1996
May: Board approves Green Policy to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) status in our new building.
Bonnie Robyn Hurtig Bonnie Stone Stern Elyse Fischmar
1994
2004
1997
2003: Camelplotz
2006–2007 In the Wilderness
Bryna Cytrynbaum, Vickie Korey, Lesley Williams
Social Action Task Force shifts to grassroots program. New Tikkun Olam Task Force is created to respond to member initiatives.
1991
George Larney
January: First Tu B’Shvat Seder is sponsored by the Environmental Task Force.
JRC Purim Parody Productions— created, directed, produced by and starring Jordan Margolis, with the assistance of Judy Holstein and other JRC members—premiers in 1997. Bryna
Neal Rubin
2004: Goys and Kabbalah
1999: Bali Chai
1990
First JRC Press Publication is launched: Is God a Cubs Fan?, a collection of original High Holiday open-mic talks, written by Arnie Kanter and illustrated by Darlene Grossman.
December 6: Pirkei Imahot: A Celebration of Our Mothers, a collection of members’ stories, poetry and photographs, is launched.
JRC Membership: 450 Families
1989
September 11: The country mourns.
2000
JRC celebrates its 30th Anniversary.
1988
Gerry Israelite
1959
First congregational dinner at Tally-Ho, an Evanston restaurant on Chicago Avenue. Cost: $3.85 adults, $2.60 children, for fish or chicken.
FEST
Cubs Season Summaries by Sam Eifling
1986–1997 The Interim Rabbi Era 1977
Czech Holocaust Torah
Artist David Bachrach completes installation of the ark.
Arnold B. Kanter
U.S. Secretary of State
25
25
— Hillary Clinton
“Faith and Hope are part of being a fan of Major League Baseball and that is poignantly demonstrated in Arnie Kanter's book. Baseball fans will truly enjoy this book.”
i t i on
25
25t
Homecoming
AN NI V
President of the United States
“[Whether God is a Cubs fan] is a theological question I have asked myself many times and I am glad that you chose to devote your amusing little book to a problem that has perplexed me from girlhood. It might give you some comfort to know that Methodists all over the North Side have been asking the same question for years.”
ER
— Barack Obama
A RY
JRC Shabbat dinner, ca. 1986
d
JRC Website
A N NI VE
2
5 d a Cubs Fa Go n ? Is E
“Cub-mania is at a fever-pitch. I take pride in Chicago’s reputation as a city of grit and character, and the Cubs’ suffering has definitely contributed to that character; we clearly owe the team a debt of gratitude. Keep writing.”
RS
Is God a Cubs Fan?
Harriett Rosenberg, first female president, with Ruth Kolodny, co-founder
Early Childhood Playground
Cantor Howard Friedland
Rabbi Brant Rosen
Maxwell St. Klezmer Band (Not officially ours, but they visit often.)
Timeline: Co-creators: Amanda Axel, archivist; JRC members: Bryna Cytrynbaum, Marie Davidson, Naomi Feldman, Charlene Gelber, Darlene Grossman 12/2014 We apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions.