COVID-19 Response

TWO MINUTES OF TORAH

Here's Rabbi Steve's two minute take on the weekly Torah portion. Read more about Chukat-Balak.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 

Please keep an eye out for your membership renewal packet - they went out by mail. You may renew online, or fill out and mail back the printed commitment form. We recognize that the pandemic has impacted our community in every way, and want to reiterate that no one will ever be denied membership because of an inability to meet the standard dues commitment. If your financial situation has changed, or if you would like to confirm a continued dues assistance plan for the coming year, please contact Zoe Sherman at 224.805.9400 or zoes@amshalom.com. Membership commitment forms are due by September 1.

TUTORS NEEDED: TWO OPPORTUNITIES

• Skilled Volunteers for Israel offers an exciting online volunteer opportunity. Their new program, English B’Yachad (English Together), seeks to add meaning and purpose to life during this tumultuous time. The program offers one-on-one English language tutoring to Israeli young adults through an online platform. Apply to volunteer for a 10-session commitment (approximately 2 to 2.5 hours a week).

• Sign up to be a study buddy for a child in Chicago through MASK (Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killing). Register here.

MASK AND FOOD DRIVE

Thank you for continuing to drop off food donations and masks - the need is as great as ever. Donation bins can be found near the main temple entrance. 

amshalOM: GUIDED NATURE WALKS

Join Rabbi Steve and your Am Shalom friends for an outdoor nature series at Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. This series will be guided by a Heller staff member and will include a 75 minute walk/discussion outdoors. The program will be limited to nine participants each week. Sign up for one, or as many as you'd like!

Up first: The Life and Flight of the Honeybee on July 13

FROM THE FEEDING THE HUNGRY TEAM

With basic program adjustments, creative local foodservice support and remarkable continued generosity of congregants, Am Shalom has maintained the monthly Feeding The Hungry program throughout the coronavirus pandemic. During each of the last four months Am Shalom has managed to deliver more than 400 meals and hundreds of masks to Bethlehem Healing Temple on Chicago’s West Side. Our “recipe” for getting it done adapts each month to what is possible in a social distancing world. We all miss the monthly gatherings in the Am Shalom kitchen to assemble then deliver the meals but that will return when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, any ideas on food or other supply possibilities would be appreciated.  Please contact Alyssa Latala, Director of Engagement at Am Shalom, at alatala@amshalom.com  or 847.606.5168.

VIRTUAL GATHERINGS 
For Youth information, please click here.

*Need help connecting to Am Shalom's Livestream or Zoom calls? 
Please contact Alyssa Latala at alatala@amshalom.com or 847.606.5168.

*Would you like a hard copy of Mishkan T'filah Prayer Book or Torah Commentary? Please fill out this form.

You can find a digital Mishkan T'filah prayer book here. It is also on our livestream page, along with a link to this week's yahrzeit list. Click here for the weekly Torah portion. Our complete Zoom and livestream schedule, along with instructions for joining the gatherings, can be found here.

GETTING IN TOUCH

We are here for you. You'll find the cell phone numbers for our staff below. We've also created a non-emergency contact form on our website, if you'd like to reach us that way. 

If this crisis has caused you economic hardship, and you'd like to talk about your Am Shalom membership commitment, please contact Zoe Sherman at zoes@amshalom.com or 224-805-9400.

Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein - 847-630-6108
Rabbi Phyllis Sommer - 224-619-6807
Rabbi Pam Mandel - 561-886-8186
Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz - 917-841-8385
Cantor Julie Staple - 317-418-4644
Laura Horn, Director of Operations - 847-772-8822
Alyssa Latala, Director of Engagement - 847-606-5168
Zoe Sherman, Director of Financial Management - 224-805-9400