Over 300 members of our community filled the sanctuary on Friday, May 9 in a heartfelt show of appreciation for our beloved retiring staff members, Bekki Kaplan, Marci Dickman, and Kathy Kaberon, who joined Rabbi London and Cantor Young on the bima during Kabbalat Shabbat services. Our honorees shared teachings and remarks, and were blessed …
Hello Beth Emet Community, My name is Emmie Weprin, and I am thrilled to be starting as your Director of Youth Engagement. I am originally from Denver, Colorado. Growing up, being involved in the Denver Jewish community was a huge part of my identity. I attended Jewish summer camp and participated in a wide range …
Dear friends, How excited and blessed I am to offer the entire Beth Emet family a hearty mazel tov and yasher koach, both personally and on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), as you celebrate your synagogue’s 75th anniversary. Since 1950, Beth Emet has had an impressive history of spiritual leadership and integrity, …
We’ve got a soulful Shabbat coming up next week (August 29, 6:30pm), with our monthly Soul Spark service and Labor Day Shabbat speaker Ethan Aronson, Faith Community Organizer at the worker rights organization Arise Chicago. Ethan’s d’var is titled “God Does Not Retreat, Neither Will We: A Report from the Struggle for Labor and Immigrant Rights …
On Saturday, August 16, over 50 Kahalniks (Beth Emet-ease for anyone who comes to our Saturday morning service, lovingly named Kahal) gathered following a lively Tot Shabbat service co-led by Cantor Young and Lauren Reeves. With members new and old in attendance, it was a lovely opportunity to worship in nature. Kol hakavod to Lauren …
Dear Friends, I walked into Kahal Shabbat services—with my then kindergarten-aged son—13 years ago this fall. Newly back to West Rogers Park where I grew up, I was looking for a Jewish community different from that of my youth. As we walked in late, we were warmly greeted by Helene Rosenberg (zichrona livracha, may her memory …
Connection, music, stimulating our minds, reflection, comfort, and rejoicing are all amazing reasons to pray at services. Correspondingly, there are lots of reasons why it might be hard to be at services, regardless of age or experience: sitting still, needing to come late, not understanding the Hebrew, not knowing the songs, and more. At Beth …
For Children 2nd Grade & Older Does your child love to sing? We’d love to welcome them to KOCHAVIM, a joyful space for kids to build confidence, learn music, and make new friends—all while having fun! Kochavim is the Hebrew word for “stars.” Select Sundays 9:00–9:30am (before Beit Sefer) in the sanctuary No experience necessary—just a …
Dear Beth Emet Family, For those of you who know me, you’ll know it’s been an intense few months as I’ve transitioned to my now-official new role as Director of Operations and Technology. I started at Beth Emet a little over a year ago as the Director of Communications and Outreach. Over time, my role …
Kol hakavod to the Center for Enriched Living, based in Riverwoods, an organization that maximizes opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attain personal success, friendship, fun, employment and community involvement. CEL will use the $1,000 tzedakah grant to help implement a program to provide tailored behavioral interventions including positive behavior support plans, …
The Jewish People face a grave moral crisis, threatening the very basis of Judaism as the ethical voice that it has been since the age of Israel’s prophets. We cannot remain silent in confronting it. As rabbis and Jewish leaders from across the world, including the State of Israel, we are deeply committed to the …
My role as Director of Lifelong Learning involves shared learning and discovery; I look forward to learning as much from you as I look forward to teaching you! You can learn more about me on my bio page website. Change is hard, bumpy, uncomfortable—and full of possibility. You may need to tell me your name …
While I’ve enjoyed the last 13 years working remotely and creating impact for national Jewish organizations, my professional career started just over 30 years ago, locally, at the Mayer Kaplan Jewish Community Center in Skokie. One of the aspects of the job I loved the most about that job at the time (pre-Internet) was being …
Beth Emet is embarking on a new initiative called A Gift of Challah. Each Shabbat, someone signs up to bake challah in their home. The Klei Kodesh will identify someone in need of a little extra love–perhaps someone who is celebrating an accomplishment, or is ill, or had an especially challenging week. During Kabbalat Shabbat …
On Friday, May 30 2025 following a Kabbalat Shabbat service featuring music and liturgy by Israelis and Palestinians, 130 people came together in Beth Emet’s Crown Room to share stories of how we became engaged in the topic of the Israel/Palestine conflict and how our relationship with Israel has evolved and changed over the years. …
Dear Friends, In the spirit of heart health awareness—and in celebration of one year since my heart attack—I’d love for you to join me for a special night of Israeli Dancing on Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 PM. I wanted to share a little heart-to-heart (literally!). One year ago, I shared my story with our …
On Saturday, the children decorated crowns and swung at pinatas in the shape of numbers “7” and “5.” Cantor Young led the community in celebrating Havdalah, ending with “Be the Light.” We ate a delicious dinner cooked by chef Julie Ratowitz, we drank festive drinks, we danced the hora. We grooved to guitarist Casey Nielsen …
What will you add to 75 years of Beth Emet? As we celebrate 75 years of Beth Emet, we invite you to reflect, remember, and share your part in our story. A Memory Scroll is displayed in the lobby. Add a memory, moment, teaching, or thought to any of the five pillars—whatever speaks to your …
In our liturgy we say to God, lador vador nagid godlecha (from generation to generation we will sing Your praises). It’s a statement of gratitude to God that despite hardship and struggle, the Jewish people have not just endured but have thrived. The Shabbat when we celebrate our Kabbalat Torah class (graduating high school seniors) …
Image: Evanston Roundtable Rabbi Andrea London and Cantor Natalie Young joined JRC Cantor Howard Friedland and representatives from multiple houses of faith at Raymond Park on Sunday, April 27 for a special Earth Day Prayer for the Planet sponsored by Interfaith Action of Evanston. Watch remarks from our Earth Day Shabbat service (Friday, April 18) …
Dear Chicago-area Beth Emet 20s and 30s Folks, I hope this note finds you well in these challenging times. Please know that I’m here for you if you need support. I’d like to invite you to worship, dinner, and conversation at Beth Emet on Friday, May 30. This will be the final event for our …
Our Green Maven blog, edited by Dayenu (climate action and environmental justice) Circle members Chris Wynn and Sharon Smaller, will give you ideas, information, resources, and things you can do to make this world a better place environmentally, tikkun olam. As a community, we can learn from each other, so we welcome your ideas and …
On March 17, I accepted the great honor of becoming the next President of Beth Emet. I’m grateful to serve this congregation where Sarah and I were married and raised our two daughters. It has been our home for more than 30 years. At 75 years young, Beth Emet is strong. We have an outstanding …
If you’d like to view the Annual Meeting presentation, click here. Outgoing President’s Address from Lee Weintraub It’s hard for me to believe that this moment marks the end of my term as President of Beth Emet’s Board of Trustees. Three years have passed quickly, yet they have sometimes felt long—especially during the difficult moments …
Click here to watch Beth Emet’s Purim Shpiel from 2025!
