spertus institute 2014 fall calendar
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Spertus Institute 2014 Fall CalendarTRANSCRIPT
News | Courses | Calendar September – November 2014 | spertus.edu
See a Mouthwatering Film About Smoked Fish and Family P15
Celebrate Jewish Book Month with Programs and Events Across the City and Suburbs! P18
Not Your Grandparents’ Seder Plate: Designer Amy Reichert Reinvents Judaica P25
Spertus Institute Launches the Center for Jewish Leadership Because Great Jewish Communities Need Great Leaders
Inaugural Symposium Features Israel’s Tech Industry Superstar Jon Medved, Called “Mesmerizing” By The Jerusalem Report P6
Full Schedule of Workshops and Master Classes P16
Spertus is a partner in serving our community, supported
by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Discount Parking $11 (please note $1 price increase) with Spertus validation at:
at the Essex Inn 8th Street and Michigan (2 blocks south of Spertus). Enter on 8th between Michigan and Wabash.
We love to hear from you. To reach Spertus, visit spertus.edu, email us at [email protected], or call
our general line at 312.322.1700 to be directed to the information you need. Our box office line is open Monday–Thursday 9 am–5 pm
and Friday 9 am–12 pm at 312.322.1773.
Spertus Institute offers dynamic learning opportunities, rooted in Jewish wisdom and culture and open to all. Graduate programs and workshops train future leaders and engage individuals in exploration of Jewish life. Public programs include films, speakers, seminars, concerts, and exhibits —at the Institute’s Michigan Avenue facility, in the Chicago suburbs, and online.
Spertus is closed to the public on Saturdays and these upcoming holidays:
Labor Day Closed Sept 1.
Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur We will close at 3 pm on Sept 24.
Closed Sept 25 & 26. We will close at 3 pm (as usual
for a Friday) on Oct 3.
Sukkot We will close at 3 pm on Oct 8.
Closed Oct 9 & 10.
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah We will close at 3 pm on Oct 15. Closed Oct 16 & 17.
Thanksgiving Closed Nov 27. Spertus offices closed Nov 28 (but Spertus Shop open for Hanukkah shopping).
Spertus will be closed for a private event September 14–17.
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.
Thanks to the foresight and philanthropy of many individuals over many years, scholarships are available for people who want to participate in select Spertus public programs. Call 312.322.1743 for details.
If you are interested in providing scholarship support, we welcome your generosity. Please contact our development office at 312.322.1758.
Accessibility Spertus welcomes all visitors
and is committed to making its facilities and programs accessible
to people with special needs. Elevator access is available to
all areas of the building. Please let the box office know of any
special needs or requests when you purchase program tickets.
Cover image: Jon Medved, Courtesy of OurCrowd.
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Letter from Spertus President Hal M. Lewis A New Center for a New Year P4
Inaugural Spertus Israel Cohort Begins this Spring P8
Integration of Jewish Arts and Jewish Learning P22
Spertus Welcomes New Trustees P26
Degree Programs & Professional Development
Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies P9
Midcareer Fellowships P9
Masters and Doctoral Programs in Jewish Studies P9
Certificate in Jewish Leadership P11
Center for Jewish Leadership Master Classes P13
calendar of events
At Spertus
Inaugural Symposium of the Center for Jewish Leadership Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Jewish Leadership P7
The Sturgeon Queens A Mouthwatering Celebration of Fish and Family P15
Open House Chicago P16
50 Years of Christian-Jewish Dialogue P17
An Afternoon with Rashi’s Daughters Author Maggie Anton P17
One Book | One Community Kick-Off Event P20
One Book | One Community Book Discussion P21
One Book | One Community Author Event P21
Amy Reichert: Reinvented Judaica P25
In the Suburbs
One Book | One Community Lecture/Book Discussion in Skokie P21
One Book | One Community Author Event in Lombard P21
benefits of membership P31
Contents
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letter from the president
A New Center for a New Year
As Jews all over the world prepare to welcome the year 5775, at Spertus Institute we are starting a new season with some of the most innovative programming in our 90-year history.
I am particularly proud to announce the opening of Spertus Institute’s new Center for Jewish Leadership (CJL). Rooted in our firm conviction that great Jewish communities need great Jewish leaders, the CJL will offer the volunteers and professionals who lead our Jewish organizations opportunities to grow their skills and hone their craft. Moreover, because Judaism has so much to teach on the subject, CJL programs will facilitate discussions about effective leaders and leadership in all arenas of our lives.
The CJL will inaugurate its 2014 offerings with a truly unprecedented opportunity. On Sunday, October 26, leaders from the business world and social sectors in Israel and the US will come together on the Spertus stage for a once-in-a-lifetime discussion on what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur and what organizations wishing to innovate need to know. This unique program is open to the entire community. Following the formal presentations, participants will have the chance to meet over lunch and in intimate workshop settings. See page 6 for details.
In conjunction with CJL launch, Spertus will expand those of its offerings specifically designed to prepare lay and professional leaders to head 21st-century Jewish organizations. On that note, this fall we proudly begin the eleventh cohort of our esteemed MA in Jewish Professional Studies program, which has taught hundreds of individuals who now hold prominent positions in Jewish organizations across North America. And we are particularly excited that beginning in 2015, Spertus will open the first Israel-based cohort of this important program. Israeli students will study with Spertus faculty to enhance their own leadership in uniquely Jewish contexts.
Other CJL offerings include our respected Certificate in Jewish Leadership, jointly sponsored with Northwestern University, and a new series of Master Classes and Workshops on topics ranging from grantwriting to strategic planning. My hope is that in the very near future, whenever anyone thinks about Jewish leadership training and development, they will think first and foremost of Spertus Institute.
At Spertus we begin this New Year knowing that Jewish life today faces complex challenges. Because we cannot solve 21st-century
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Dr. Hal M. Lewis is President and CEO of Spertus Institute.
Read The Leading Edge, Dr. Hal M. Lewis’ blog about Jewish leadership, at spertus.edu/the-leading-edge.
Jewish problems with 20th-century organizations, our new programming will help contemporary Jewish agencies train and develop first-rate Jewish leaders—in both volunteer and professional positions—who are equipped to meet today’s demands.
As these new offerings take their place alongside our signature public and cultural programming, please accept my very best wishes for a sweet, healthy, and meaningful New Year. Shana tova.
Center for Jewish Leadership launches this fall at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership!WhyThe Center’s mission is to transform Jewish life by cultivating innovative approaches to leadership and enhancing the abilities of Jewish professionals and volunteers.
What Offerings will include:
Graduate degree and certificate programs Master classes and workshops Jewish Leaders on Leadership series An annual leadership symposium A professional community mentoring program Micro-grants for innovation and collaboration
Programs will serve Jewish organizational employees and volunteer leaders.
Inaugural symposium features Israel’s tech industry superstar Jon Medved with an impressive panel of social entrepreneurs, innovators, and experts
Turn the page for full details >>
Jon Medved
“[an] engaging, visionary, pioneering venture capitalist”
GeorGe Gilder in The Isr ael TesT
“one of Israel’s legendary business ambassadors”
Saul SinGer and dan Senor
in sTarT-Up NaTIoN
“mesmerizing”
The JerUsalem reporT
Jay GoltzAriel Beery
Toby Rubin Hal Lewis
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center for jewish leadership opening symposiumSunday, October 26, 10 am–2:30 pm
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Jewish LeadershipSpertus Institute brings together a panel of impressive, innovative leaders from the business world and social sectors to address what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and what organizations wishing to innovate need to know.
Over lunch, join participants for small group discussions based on suggestions from the presenters and questions from attendees. Come away with new contacts and ideas for innovation.
Featured Presenter
Jon Medved is a dynamic entrepreneur and high tech venture capitalist. He is currently the founder/CEO of OurCrowd, a crowdfunding platform for Israeli startups that according to Forbes is “one of the largest crowdfunding organizations on the planet.” He has invested in more than 140 startup companies, helping bring twelve of them to values in excess of $100 million.
Panelists
Ariel Beery is co-founder/CEO of MobileOCT, an Israeli biophotonics startup enabling mobile phones to detect cancer. Until recently, he served as the Global CEO of the PresenTense Group, a social venture accelerator.
Jay Goltz is founder/CEO of the Goltz Group. With businesses including Artists Frame Service and Jayson Home, he pioneered Chicago’s Clybourn Corridor. He is a small business blogger for The New York Times.
Dr. Hal M. Lewis is the president and CEO of Spertus Institute and an expert on the leadership of Jewish organizations. He is the author of From Sanctuary to Boardroom: A Jewish Approach to Leadership.
Toby Rubin is the founder/CEO of UpStart, a national nonprofit that accelerates projects of Jewish social entrepreneurs and fosters entrepreneurship in established Jewish organizations.
Panel Presentation 10 am–12:30pm $25 | $18 for Spertus members, students, and alumni
Networking Lunch 12:30pm–2:30pm $10 (kosher lunch will be served)
Full Symposium $30 | $25 for Spertus members, students, and alumni
Buy tickets online at spertus.edu or call 312.322.1773.
The Center for Jewish Leadership is supported by generous grants from the Crown Family and an anonymous foundation. We are grateful for their support.
Glatt Kosher
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Recent graduate Louis Stromberg, now Assistant Director of B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp in Lake Como, PA.
Announcing MAJPS IsraelSpertus Institute is pleased to announce the first Israeli cohort of its Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies program. The MAJPS program began here in Chicago, and has grown to include organization-specific cohorts (such as our recent partnership with Solomon Schechter Day Schools) and community-wide cohorts in select cities across North America. Taking this unique program to Israel will benefit Israeli nonprofit professionals, including those who work with North American Jewish communities and on Israel education. MAJPS Israel begins this coming spring. Now accepting applications.
(Detail) Le Lever de la Loi (The Raising of the Law): Amsterdam. By Jacques Emile Edouard Brandon, ca. 1897, oil on canvas. Spertus Institute collection
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the master of arts in jewish professional studies (majps)
For Jewish Communal Professionals
Great Jewish Communities Need Great Jewish LeadersMidcareer Fellowships are available to qualified students who begin the MAJPS program this fall in Chicago or this spring in Milwaukee! Are you currently employed in a Jewish organization (15 hours per week minimum)? You may be eligible for 45% off tuition.
Learn best practices in a Jewish context, informed by Jewish thought
Cultivate critical leadership skills and enhance your career opportunities
Build a network of colleagues, fostered by cohort-based learning
Study the most critical issues in contemporary Jewish life
Gain real insight into how to meet Jewish community needs
Benefit from mentoring by seasoned Jewish professionals and lay leaders
spertus.edu/lead
masters and doctoral programs in jewish studies
For Jewish Lifelong Learners
Learning is the Beating Heart of Vibrant Jewish Communities
Advanced exploration into Jewish history and thought
Learning for personal meaning and enrichment
Onsite and online course offerings
Excellent academic advising
Development of critical thinking skills to foster a lifetime of learning
Acclaimed international faculty
spertus.edu/learn
Interested in Learning More?For a friendly person-to-person discussion about any of Spertus Institute’s degree or certificate programs, contact Spertus Institute Director of Enrollment Stacey Flint at [email protected] or 312.322.1707.
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“I gained business skills, collaboration skills, and greater self-awareness.” — Susan Levin-Abir
Midwest Regional Director of Development, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America
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the certificate in jewish leadership
Are You Ready to Lead?Sponsored by Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in partnership with Northwestern University, the Certificate in Jewish Leadership is dedicated to enhancing the professional abilities of Jewish leaders.
The program is rooted in the belief that Judaism has its own distinct and insightful approaches to leadership. Through lectures, group work, and individual mentoring led by Northwestern University and Spertus Institute faculty, participants learn best practices drawn from contemporary leadership principles and from Jewish texts and thought.
Is This Program For Me?This program has been developed for established and emerging leaders (including lay leaders) of Jewish organizations. To date we have served leaders of organizations focused on social service, philanthropy, education, culture, and advocacy.
We have found that newly promoted managers and directors—and the organizations they serve—have much to gain from this program. Consultants working with the Jewish community will also benefit.
Next Session Begins This Fall. Visit spertus.edu/certificate to apply now.
Interested in Learning More?For a friendly person-to-person discussion about any of Spertus Institute’s degree or certificate programs, contact Spertus Institute Director of Enrollment Stacey Flint at [email protected] or 312.322.1707.
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In conjunction with the launch of the Center for Jewish Leadership, Spertus Institute invites you to a series of Professional Workshops and Master Classes.
certificate workshop$149 | $129 for Spertus members, students, and alumni
GrantwritingTuesday, September 30 from 9 am to 4 pm Includes morning coffee and kosher lunch
Dr. Karin Baird will teach you how to research funders, frame project goals in relation to grant guidelines, and compete successfully for foundation and corporate funds. Attendees receive a certificate of completion.
Dr. Karin Baird is the advisor, faculty chair, and acting director of the Spertus Master of Science in Nonprofit Management program.
four-part master classes$199 | $169 for Spertus members, students, and alumni
Writing for Social MediaThursdays, September 4, 11, 18, October 2 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Spertus InstituteJournalist and teacher Brian Zimmerman introduces the types and uses of social media, teaches best practices for using social media professionally, and shares tips
to improve the quality and impact of your writing for social media.
Brian Zimmerman serves as the web content editor at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. His writing appears regularly in publications including JUF News and Tablet Magazine.
Business Plans for New InitiativesMondays, October 6, 13, 20, 27 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Spertus InstituteUnder the skilled guidance of Alexandra Beygel, participants will learn the nature and function of a business plan and then how to develop an effective plan for their own new initiatives.
Alexandra Beygel is the director of financial planning and analysis at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and a faculty member in the Spertus Master of Science in Nonprofit Management program.
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four-part master classes$199 | $169 for Spertus members, students, and alumni
Fundraising for Nonprofit OrganizationsThursdays, October 30, November 6, 13, 20 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Spertus InstituteDr. Laura Mannion introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement an organizational fundraising plan and manage fundraising operations.
Dr. Laura Mannion is the director of development for the Franciscan Alliance Foun-dation and a member of the Spertus faculty. Her 22 years as a fundraiser include senior positions for the American Cancer Society and the Weizmann Institute.
Jewish Values for Professionals and Lay LeadersWednesdays, November 5, 12, 19, December 3 7 pm to 9:30 pm at Solomon Schechter Day School, 3210 Dundee Road in NorthbrookUnderstanding Jewish values is essential for professionals and volunteers working with members of the Jewish
community. Rabbi Vernon Kurtz will illustrate core concepts and explore how they relate to working in and advancing Jewish organizations.
Rabbi Vernon Kurtz is the Rabbi of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park and a member of the Spertus faculty. He is a past president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis.
These offerings are specifically designed for professionals and volunteers working for and with Jewish organizations. Their content, however, will be beneficial to anyone seeking to learn best practices, including those who work in the nonprofit, for profit, and social sectors. They are open to all. Register online at spertus.edu or call 312.322.1773.
three-part master class$149 | $129 for Spertus members, students, and alumni
Strategic PlanningWednesdays, December 3, 10, 17 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Spertus Institute
Under the guidance of strategy expert Walter Adams, explore the key goals and components of a successful strategic plan. Then learn to develop, implement, and evaluate a strategic plan of your own.
Walter Adams has worked as an executive management consultant for Booz & Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers, and as a member of the senior team at The Sterno Group. He is a member of the Spertus Institute faculty.
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film | discussion | booksigning | tasting
Sunday, September 7 2:30 Film Screening 4 pm Reception Please note special start time.
Sturgeon Queens: A Mouthwatering Celebration of Fish and FamilyHattie Russ Gold, 100, and her sister Anne Russ Federman, 92, are the two surviving daughters of the famed Lower East Side lox and herring appetizing store Russ & Daughters. They are also the stars of The Sturgeon Queens, directed by Julie Cohen and winner of Audience Choice Awards at the Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and San Diego Jewish Film Festivals.
This film traces the Russ family from immigrant patriarch Joel Russ to thirty-somethings Josh Russ Tupper and Niki Russ Federman, Joel’s great grandchildren. Today, Josh and Niki run the store as well as the new (and all the rage) Russ & Daughters Café.
We are honored that Mark Russ Federman, who ran the store from 1978 to 2008, will join us. Mr. Federman, the author of Russ and Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from The House That Herring Built, will introduce the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A with Spertus Executive Chef Laura Frankel.
Following the Q&A, Mr. Federman will sign books while Chef Laura serves up a celebratory Herring Pairing with three smoked fish selections each paired with a special liqueur from local organic kosher artisanal distillery Koval.
$25 | $18 for Spertus members Buy tickets online at spertus.edu or call 312.322.1773.
Russ & Daughters is an “appetizing store.” What is that? Find out how The Huffington Post explains it at spertus.edu/fish
Our thanks to Koval for their participation.
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cit y-wide architectural eventSunday, October 19 from 9 am to 5 pm
Spertus Institute is pleased to again participate in the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Open House Chicago, a city-wide event that offers behind-the-scenes access to 150 architectural gems.
More info at openhousechicago.org
“a master craftswoman set upon
repairing a gap in Jewish literature”
Phil adelPhia Je wiSh Voice
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lectureSunday, October 19 at 2 pm
Fifty Years of Christian-Jewish DialogueHas the Relationship Been Permanently Altered?The Declaration by the Second Vatican Council in October 1965 profoundly altered the church’s understanding of Jews and Judaism. Join us when Fr. John T. Pawlikowski, a leading figure in interfaith relationships, talks about Vatican II’s impact on Christian-Jewish relations. He’ll explain current issues of tension and hope and examine whether Vatican II has brought lasting change.
Fr. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, is a Servite priest and professor of ethics at the Catholic Theological Union. He served for six years as President of the International Council of Christians and Jews and three times as a member of the Vatican Delegation for International Jewish-Catholic Dialogue.
$18 | $10 for Spertus Members | $8 for students Buy tickets online at spertus.edu or call 312.322.1773.
This is the annual Horwitz Family Lecture in Jewish History, generously endowed by the Horwitz Charitable Fund.
booksigning Sunday, October 26 from 2-4 pm
An Afternoon with Maggie Anton, Author of Rashi’s Daughters In celebration of her new book, The Enchantress: A Novel of Rav Hisda’s Daughter, the Spertus Shop welcomes Maggie Anton, the bestselling author of the Rashi’s Daughters and Rav Hisda’s Daughters series. All of Ms. Anton’s books will be available for sale and signing.
Maggie Anton is an award-winning author with a passion for biblical women’s history, which she has studied for more than two decades and expertly weaves into her novels.
This event is free. Reservations requested at spertus.edu/maggie-anton
Can’t make it but want a signed book for yourself or as a gift? Call the Spertus Shop at 312.322.1717.
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Many people in the Chicago area are familiar with a community coming together to read a common book through the city’s One Book, One Chicago program. The concept was originated in 1998 by the Washington Center for the Book. Today there are similar citywide, statewide, and even nationwide programs all over the world.
For the fourth year, Spertus Institute brings this concept to the Jewish community of greater Chicago with One Book | One Community. In celebration of Jewish Book Month, Spertus has planned a series of wonderful programs and handy resources—all revolving around one exceptional book.
Jewish Book Month takes place the month before Hanukkah. This year Hanukkah begins on December 16.
This Year’s BookDavid Laskin’s The Family is a fascinating memoir that follows the author’s amazing ancestors across the tumultuous sweep of the twentieth century. Characters range from a Torah scribe on the fringe of the Russian empire to the brilliant woman who founded Maidenform bras to a pair of young risk-taking pioneers building a foundation for the State of Israel.
This Year’s AuthorDavid Laskin is the author of The Children’s Blizzard, which won the Washington State Book Award and Midwest Booksellers’ Choice Award for nonfiction. The author of several other works of nonfiction, Mr. Laskin writes for The New York Times and The Washington Post. He lives in Seattle.
Our Readers’ Guide to The Family is the perfect conversation starter for book groups, and an illuminating study companion for those reading on their own. Available for download from spertus.edu/TheFamily beginning November 2.
For this year’s program schedule, turn the page >>
One Book | One Community is supported, in part, by the Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation.
JUF News is the media sponsor of One Book | One Community.
One Book | One Community
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special ticketed programs
one book i one communit y kick-off
Old Land, New Land, Holy LandSunday, November 9 at 2 pm at Spertus Institute
This year our One Book programming kicks off with music and food from three continents, along with related readings from The Family by WFMT’s Steve Robinson. Music will be performed by Stuart Rosenberg with A Bissele Shmaltz.
Steve Robinson is the general manager of WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network. In his 46-year career, he has produced hundreds of classical, jazz, and spoken word radio programs heard throughout the US and the world.
Stuart Rosenberg has performed with artists as diverse as Sir Georg Solti, Theodore Bikel, and The Moody Blues. A founding member of the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, he has long been involved with the preservation of Jewish music.
$25 | $18 for Spertus members. Buy tickets online at spertus.edu or call 312.322.1773.
Program Schedule
Lecture | Book DiscussionThursday, November 20 at 6:30 pm at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center 9603 Woods Drive in Skokie
Dr. Phyllis Lassner, a professor in the Crown Center for Jewish Studies at Northwestern University, is an expert on historical memoirs and on literature about the Holocaust. Join her for an exploration of The Family’s characters and themes, as well as the ways David Laskin brings his ancestors’ intertwining stories to life.
$10 | Buy tickets online at spertus.edu or call 312.322.1773. $5 IHMEC admission before the program, with your program ticket
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free programs | Made possible with generous support from our donors and partners.
Introduction to Jewish GenealogySunday, November 16 at 2 pm at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El 1175 Sheridan Road in Highland Park
In his research for The Family, author David Laskin both confirmed family lore and encountered astonishing surprises.
For those inspired to begin this quest—as well as those already involved in genealogical research—Spertus invites you to join Jewish genealogy expert Mike Karsen for an exploration of what information is most beneficial to seek and the factors that make Jewish genealogy unique. Mr. Karsen is a genealogy mentor and the past president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois.
This program is free. Reservations requested at spertus.edu/TheFamily
Book DiscussionTuesday, December 2 at 7 pm at Spertus Institute
With expert book group facilitator Rachel Kamin, director of the Gray Cultural & Learning Center at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, this informal discussion is perfect for those who have read the book, plan to read the book, or just want to learn more.
This program is free. Reservations requested at spertus.edu/TheFamily
One Book | One Community
Meet prize-winning author David Laskin at one of two locations!These events are free. Booksigning follows each presentation. Reservations requested at spertus.edu/TheFamily
Author Event #1 Sunday, December 7 at 10 am at Spertus Institute
Author Event #2 Sunday, December 7 at 2 pm at Congregation Etz Chaim 1710 S. Highland Avenue in Lombard
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Jewish Arts and Culture at SpertusA Letter from the ProvostAt Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, we believe that arts and culture are essential to Jewish life and learning. Powerful first-hand encounters with original artifacts—as well as live performances and first-person presentations—offer compelling ways to both understand the Jewish past and address the pressing issues of today.
Through a lineup of intimate changing exhibits (in the first-floor vestibule and select locations throughout our building) we share treasures from our collection, explore the history of Jewish Chicago, and showcase remarkable local Jewish artists working in a wide variety of media. Highlights have included photography by Jay Wolke, tapestries by Berit Engen, and paintings by Yohanan Petrovsky Shtern. A major acquisition by artist Vera Klement was recently on view, and this fall Judaica by award-winning designer Amy Reichert will be on display.
Also coming soon, look for increased online access to our world-class collection through a new web-based interface, currently in development. Self-directed and user-centered, you will be able to follow your own interests as you learn about the history, craftsmanship, function, and provenance of featured objects.
Spertus is honored to steward an important collection of Jewish art, ceremonial objects, and archival materials. Preservation and presentation of these works is core to our mission. Although large, stand-alone exhibits are less frequently a central offering at Spertus, our collection doesn’t stay in storage. Instead, we weave our holdings into Jewish learning. For example, through the resources in our collection and our relationships with the artistic community, participants in our graduate program in Jewish Professional Studies get up close access to Jewish art and artists. The resulting personal experiences are eye-opening and inspirational for our students, students who will go on to teach in Jewish schools and lead Jewish organizations.
Dr. Dean P. Bell is Spertus Institute Provost, Vice President, and Professor of History
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Top Left: I am seven years old, by Ken Aptekar. (detail) Commissioned by Stephen and Ruth Durchslag, on display on the 2nd floor.
Top Right: Garden of Eden, by Marc Chagall from Drawings for the Bible, a series of 24 color lithographs that will go on display October 19 on the 7th floor.
Spertus Collection Highlights on ViewHighlights from Spertus Institute’s extensive collections of art and archival materials are on view at Spertus and beyond. When you visit Spertus for programs, classes, research, or shopping, view artwork and learn about the unique architecture of the award-winning Spertus building in a free self-guided tour. Just stop in the Spertus Shop and ask for your complimentary copy of the tour brochure.
Asher LibraryThe Asher Library collection at Spertus Institute includes Jewish-interest fiction and nonfiction books, periodicals, films, and music from all over the world. While our primary emphasis is on collections and services for Spertus students and the Jewish community, our library is open to the public and responds to inquiries from around the globe.
To search the Asher Library catalog, visit spertus.edu/online-resources
For Spertus Students and Members We are excited to offer new resources through the Feinberg eCollection. These include Otzar HaHochma Online, the world’s largest Judaic digital library, containing more than 62,000 books scanned in their original format and fully searchable. Visit the Online Resources page on the Spertus website for current information. Spertus members receive Asher Library borrowing privileges, interlibrary loan, and access to our online resources.
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exhibitSunday, October 5, 2014 through Sunday, March 8, 2015
Amy Reichert: Reinventing JudaicaSpertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership is pleased to present a selection of Judaica (Jewish ceremonial objects) for the home and community by local architect and designer Amy Reichert.
Amy Reichert has been creating Judaica since 1995, when she was inspired to create a Passover seder plate for a competition funded by Philip and Sylvia Spertus.
Her floating Hanukkah lamps, blossoming Shabbat candles, and sophisticated seder plates offer a dramatic new take on traditional designs. This debut solo exhibit showcases Ms. Reichert’s creative process, which fuses sophisticated interpretation of Jewish texts with innovative contemporary design and local artisanal craftsmanship.
Amy Reichert received her BA and MArch from Yale University. She combines her studio work with teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Exhibit HoursSunday-Wednesday 10 am–5 pm Thursday 10 am–6 pm Friday 10 am–3 pm Closed to the public Saturdays and Jewish and secular holidays.
Join us for a Drop-In Gallery Talk Meet Amy Reichert and learn about her creative process
Sunday, October 19 at 1 pm Stop by during Open House Chicago (see page 16)
Thursday, December 11 at 1 pm
Sunday, March 8 at 1 pm
No reservations required. These programs are free.
Exhibits at Spertus Institute are supported in part by the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation.
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Dr. Sharon Silverman
Sharon Silverman remembers watching the new Spertus Institute building being constructed on Michigan Avenue. Her first impression was a meaningful one. “I marveled at its beauty,” she says.
Today, as a new trustee, she says that Spertus helps her connect to the Jewish community, a community, she’s discovering, that is as diverse as the city that harbors it.
“Chicago’s Jewish culture is extremely rich,” says Silverman, a partner in the consulting firm TRPP Associates, where she consults on teaching and higher education. “What distinguishes Spertus from other organizations is that it embraces all forms of Jewish identity and widely promotes the rich Jewish culture. It’s open to everyone.”
Silverman thinks this inclusive atmos-phere is integral to the institution’s continued success. “Identifying and meeting the needs of a diverse Jewish community are key determinants to Spertus Institute’s future,” she says. “I look forward to active involvement.”
Josh Daitch
Josh Daitch, Senior Managing Director of Mesirow Financial, believes the most important aspect of Jewish life today can be summed up in one word: community. In each of the five cities he’s lived around the world, he’s made it a priority to get involved with a Jewish organization, because he believes that only through communal participation can Jewish communities grow, thrive, and prosper.
“I view Spertus as a leader enriching the educational opportunities for our Jewish community,” says Daitch. “What attracted me to Spertus was the focus on how these educational opportunities can help ensure a vibrant, more engaging Jewish future.”
Building on that foundation, he wants Spertus to become a hub for Jewish learning and events in the greater Midwest. “We’re in an era where people no longer feel they have to be Jewish, rather they need to want to be Jewish. Spertus can be the spark that ignites a resurgence of Jewish literacy, arts, culture, history, and heritage.”
Spertus Institute is proud to welcome four new Trustees!
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Harold Israel
Thirty years ago, when Harold Israel was a kid growing up in suburban Detroit, he took a field trip to Spertus Institute that left an indelible impression. He remembers seeing stunning Jewish artifacts on display. For him, those artifacts were a ticket to understanding the Jewish past, “something that is especially important as the Jewish people enter their third and fourth generations in the United States,” says Israel.
More than three decades later, now an attorney at Chicago’s Goldstein & McClintock LLP, he is trying to return the favor. Although he only recently became a trustee, his vision for Spertus is clear.
“Given the challenges facing Jews and Jewish organizations, it is essential that there be a place for community leaders to be properly trained,” he says. “That place is Spertus.”
He is already busy recruiting for Spertus leadership programs. In fact, when he first heard of Spertus Institute’s Jewish Professional Studies program, he shared the information with one person he felt would be a great future student. “I have a high-school age son considering a career in the Jewish community,” he said, “and I want the very best for him.”
Bruce Hecktman
When it comes to involvement in Chicago’s Jewish community, Bruce Hecktman has roots that run deep.
“My grandfather was a rabbi on the Southwest Side from the 1930s to the 1970s,” says Hecktman, President of Millbrook Real Estate Company. “Knowing what he went through in that area—the discrimination, the anti-Semitism—made me realize how important it is to give back to the Jewish community.”
At Spertus, Bruce Hecktman is giving back in a major way. After joining the Board of Trustees in October, he’s already making strides to broaden Spertus Institute’s impact in the local community. Bruce’s goals for Spertus include bringing awareness of the institution to more people in his generation—people in their 40s and 50s who grew up involved in Judaism but have fallen out of touch over the years.
“I want to let the people of my generation know that Spertus is the perfect entryway back into Jewish learning.”
Spertus Institute is proud to welcome four new Trustees!
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Venue SIX10, located within Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, offers exceptional event space on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. Venue SIX10 brings creativity, excellence, great food (through our preferred caterer, Wolfgang Puck Catering), and outstanding hospitality. We offer you the perfect place to host non- profit galas, corporate gather- ings, weddings, and other social events.
Event spaces available include the 400-seat state-of-the-art Feinberg Theater and Landing Pre-Function space, the Crown Family Great Hall, and Gallery 10 with magnificent views of the Chicago lakefront. Numerous breakout rooms are also available to support your event.
For more information visit venuesix10.com or call 312.322.1725.
Your Event. Our Space.
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Michael Aram Apple Plate, $79
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Spertus Shop Hours
Sunday–Monday 10 am–5 pm Wednesday 10 am–5 pm Thursday 10 am–6 pm Friday 10 am–3 pm
Closed Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Jewish and secular holidays.
Closed for a private event September 14 –17.
Your purchases support Spertus programs, helping foster Jewish culture and education. The Spertus Shop is endowed by George and Mae Bariff.
Visit our new online store at shop.spertus.edu to order anytime or call
toll-free 888.322.1740.
Free ground shipping on orders over $200.
Michigan Avenue curbside pick-up is available for phone orders. Call in an order and we’ll deliver your purchase to your car window so you don’t have to park!
Rosh Hashanah Begins at Sundown on September 24.We have everything you need to welcome 5775 with family and friends. Stop in today or shop online, where you’ll find Judaica, books, gifts, and more.
The Spertus Shop Chicago’s go-to place for all things Jewish.
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To Our Donors and Members,
Thank You!At Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership we are committed to two overarching truths. We believe that learning is the beating heart of vibrant Jewish communities and that great Jewish communities need great Jewish leaders.
As we mark our 90th year, we are extremely grateful for the donors whose support has allowed us to reach this remarkable milestone. Your generosity enables us to provide dynamic learning opportunities that lay the groundwork for strong and vibrant Jewish communities, now and in the future.
Your gift at any level makes an impact!
Challenge GrantThis year we are grateful for a significant challenge grant from an anonymous donor. Your new or increased gift (over what you gave in either of the last two years) will be doubled!
For Spertus AlumniYour gift of $25 or more will be matched at an even higher level!
Visit donate.spertus.edu or call 312.322.1262.
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benefits of membership
Enjoy the Benefits of Jewish Learning and Culture!
Online access to the Feinberg eCollection
Library borrowing privileges
Discount in the Spertus Shop and online at shop.spertus.edu
Discounts on tickets to performances, lectures, author events, and more
Discounts on courses and workshops
Benefits for two people and a second member card
Recognition as a donor in print and/or online
Sper
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et $
50
Indi
vidu
al $
60
Hou
seho
ld $
75*
Ass
ocia
te $
100
All membership contributions are 100% tax deductible.
Become a member visit donate.spertus.edu/membership Call 312.322.1777 email [email protected]
*Adults over 65 are eligible to receive a Household membership at a discounted rate of $40.
Become a Spertus Member Today!When you become a Spertus Member, you make a commitment to Jewish learning and leadership. Your membership fees directly support the extraordinary programming we offer to all those seeking Jewish knowledge, curious about Jewish culture, or aspiring to foster a vibrant Jewish future.
In exchange, you can feed your own passion for learning with online access to Jewish articles and books, reduced prices on Spertus courses and programs, Spertus Shop discounts, and invitations to take advantage of special member offers.
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