ENews July 2020

Shalom Friends.

Less than two years ago, we gathered to mourn those brutally murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. In the months since, hate crimes and hate speech targeting Jews has continued to increase, with the Anti-Defamation League identifying more such incidents in 2019 than in any prior year. Jews in Monsey, New York were attacked celebrating Chanukah. More were killed at a grocery in Jersey City. Swastikas and slurs appeared on buildings and college campuses.

Just in recent weeks, statements made by NFL player DeSean Jackson and actor Nick Cannon served a painful reminder that anti-Semitism is alive and well in the United States. Their statements, which will not be repeated here, perpetuated the same tired stereotypes Jews have suffered for decades.

Jews, though, are far from the only group subject to the ire of bigots and racists. It is an experience we share with our African-American, Latinx, Muslim, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ neighbors, some of whom are also part of the Jewish community, among others. For that reason, we should support the Black community in its fight against systemic racism. We should applaud the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities in their recent victories before the United States Supreme Court. We should celebrate the Native American community’s long fought victory to rename the Washington NFL team and (hopefully) the Cleveland MLB team. We should condemn anyone who tries to ascribe the atrocities committed by extremists to all Muslims.

But we must also stand up for ourselves in the face of continued anti-Semitism. We should call on others to support us and condemn hate speech in whatever its form, just as we should support them. Bigotry is bigotry, regardless of its source or target, and as long as it has a home in our world, it threatens all of us. So, let’s lift each other up. Let’s work together today for a better, more equal tomorrow. Let’s not let the misguided and hateful words of a few distract us from the moment. We must stand together – Jews, Muslims, African-Americans, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, and all other oppressed people – in our continued fight against racism and bigotry.

Finally, in moments like this it is easy to condemn the speaker. But let us condemn the words and hope to educate and inform the individual. We can all afford to learn more about the suffering of others. Follow the example of NFL player Julian Edelman, who responded to DeSean Jackson’s comments by inviting him to the Holocaust museum in Washington, D.C. and offering to visit the National Museum of African American History in return. In the words of Mitchell Schwartz, another Jewish NFL player, “We can only change if we denounce racism and bias in all its forms.”

The FVJN Board of Directors

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High Holidays 2020

Due to the continued situation with COVID-19, FVJN has decided to follow suit with the area synagogues in protecting the health and welfare of our participants, and not host in person Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services this year.

Instead, we will be partnering with Congregation Etz Chaim for their virtual services, and will also provide information on other synagogues in the surrounding communities who welcome you to attend their virtual services, as well.

Please continue to check here for details as they develop!

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FVJN Book Group!

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 7 pm

Book: We Were the Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter

*Due to COVID-19, this month’s Book Group will meet at the Wheeler Park Pavilion in Geneva. This is at the south end of the park, off Stevens St.

All are welcome, and this event will be held rain or shine.

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Hello All.

We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation. If you or your family needs any assistance with anything during this time, please do let us know by emailing rachely@fvjn.org (mailto:rachely@fvjn.org) .

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• Donations: We rely on your donations! Please consider FVJN when making donations in honor of or as a memorial to someone in your life.

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“To enrich the lives and enhance connections of our Jewish community.”

Copyright © *2020 *Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

FVJN • PO Box 346 • Geneva • IL • 60134

ENews March 2020

FVJN Community Planning Meeting: Be a Part of Our Future!
We invite each and every one of you to come to FVJN on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 pm to share your thoughts on what you would like to see FVJN do and become, as we continue forward.

We need to hear your interests and your thoughts about what you need from a Jewish organization located right here in Geneva, and what we can do together to make those things happen.

Your input is vitally important, as Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors solely exists to serve you, our Jewish and interfaith families, friends and relatives in the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities.

Please email RachelY@fvjn.org if you are able to attend, and feel free to bring treats to share!

Also please do feel free to share this with anyone you know in the community, who might not know about FVJN.

Thank you, and have a good week!
Rachel Yackley
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Pizza with a Purpose!
Treat yourself, family and friends to lunch or dinner on Thursday, March 19, 11 am – 9 pm, and help raise funds for FVJN! Dine in or carry out the totally tasty pizzas, salads and other offerings from California Pizza Kitchen! Just show the flyer below or mention the Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors fundraiser when ordering, and 20% of your purchase will go to FVJN to help us do all we do for you and our community!

California Pizza Kitchen at Geneva Commons, 1202 Commons Dr, Geneva, IL 60134, USA
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Volunteer with Friends at Northern Illinois Food Bank!
Saturday, March 28, 8:30 – noon
With friends from the Islamic Center of Kane County
Open to all, ages 8 and up. Be sure to wear close-toed shoes.
Sign up HERE!
NIFB is located at 273 Dearborn Ct., Geneva
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Have You Taken Our Survey?
Click HERE for the survey!
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Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner from FVJN
First Wednesday of each month.
Needed for March 4: 1 Side dish still needed!
Needed for April 1: Main dish, 1 side dish, dessert
Needed for May 6: Main dish, 2 side dishes, dessert

More volunteers needed!
This is a great individual, family or group activity!

Visit www.fvjn.org/lazarus-house/ to sign up today and help your local neighbors!

Questions? Contact FVJN coordinator Lisa Foydel: lisafoydel@gmail.com.——————

Jewish Sunday School in the Heart of Geneva!
Fox Valley Jewish School
•Registration is still open for the 2019 – 2020 FVJS Sunday school year!
Get all the details HERE!
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COMING UP!
March
3/4 – Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner *Still need side dish!
3/7 — PJY Event!
3/8 – FVJS
3/19 – FUNdraiser at CPK!
3/22 – FVJS
3/24 – FVJN Community Planning Meeting!
3/26 Bd. Meeting
3/27 – Friday Flick
Click HERE for more details and complete calendar!
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Prairie Jewish Youth
Attention 4th – 12th Graders!
PJY & JSC Going to Dave and Busters!!
Saturday, March 7th, from 4-6 pm at the Addison location (1155 N. Swift Road)
$5 per person. This will get each participant a game card and snacks!
This event open to ALL 4th-12th graders! We will be meeting up with Jewish Student Connection club members from Buffalo Grove High School and Barrington High School.

RSVP HERE (required).

PJY events are for Jewish youth in grades 5th through 12th!
For information click on the link below.
http://prairiejewishyouth.weebly.com/upcoming-programs.html

ENews February 2020

FVJN Book Group!
February 18th (3rd Tuesday). The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss
Book Group meets every other month, usually the second Tuesday, 7 pm at FVJN.
Every interested reader is welcome!

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We still need your support!
https://www.fvjn.org/donate/
Dear Friends, Family and Supporters of Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors,
If you haven’t yet sent in your annual donation to support FVJN, please do so now! We only hold one major fundraising campaign a year, and we do not charge membership dues throughout the year, so we very much need everyone to support FVJN at this time. We appreciate all your support, and look forward to continue to provide services, events and more to our local Jewish community!

Donations can be mailed to: FVJN, P.O. Box 346, Geneva, IL  60134, or submitted on-line at: https://www.fvjn.org/donate/.

Thank you for your support!
*FVJN is a 501c3 organization

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Have You Taken Our Survey?
Would you like more religious services/gatherings, more Jewish education, more Jewish entertainment? Your opinion matters! Please take a moment to click on the link below and respond to our brief survey (only 10 questions!). Your input is needed and greatly appreciated as we continue to develop better ways to meet the needs of our Jewish community.

Click HERE for the survey. After completing, please email rachely@fvjn.org with “I did the survey” in the subject line.
Thank you!

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Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner from FVJN
First Wednesday of each month.
Needed for February 5: Full! Thank you!
Needed for March 4: 1 Side dish
Big thank you to Tammie, Nancy S., Felice & Mim for providing this month’s dinner!
More volunteers needed!
This is a great individual, family or group activity!
Visit www.fvjn.org/lazarus-house/ to sign up today and help your local neighbors!
Questions? Contact FVJN coordinator Lisa Foydel: lisafoydel@gmail.com.

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Jewish Sunday School in the Heart of Geneva!
Fox Valley Jewish School
•Registration is still open for the 2019 – 2020 FVJS Sunday school year!
Get all the details HERE !

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CALENDAR
February
2/5 – Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner
2/9 – FVJS
2/18 — Book Group!
2/23 – FVJS
2/27 – Board Meeting
2/28 – Friday Flick @ UUSG! (See calendar for details)
March
*Save the Date! 3/24 – Community-Wide FVJN Meeting
Click HERE for more details and complete calendar!

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Notes for You!
• Lost & Found: A brown Pyrex bread baking dish was left at the UUSG during the High Holidays. If this is yours, please contact rachely@fvjn.org.

• Donations: We rely on your donations! Please consider FVJN when making donations in honor of or as a memorial to someone in your life. The FVJN Giving Tree is a great way to honor others and assist FVJN in our fundraising efforts: https://www.fvjn.org/giving-tree/.

• If you have an interest in being part of a Caring Committee, a Social Action Committee, an Adult Education & Social Committee or FVJS Committee, please contact Rachel: rachely@fvjn.org!

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Prairie Jewish Youth Group!
PJY events are for Jewish youth in grades 5th through 12th!
Coming up in February: PJY Goes to Dave & Busters! Date TBD.
All are welcome! For information and to RSVP, click on the link below.
http://prairiejewishyouth.weebly.com/upcoming-programs.html

ENews January 2020!

If you haven’t yet done so, Please Send In Your Annual Donation, Today! https://www.fvjn.org/donate/

Dear Friends, Family and Supporters of Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors,

It’s our one and only annual End-of-Year Fundraiser! Please consider donating today to help us continue to build a more cohesive and inclusive Jewish community in the Fox Valley!

We come to you this one time each year with our annual fundraising request.  FVJN does not charge membership dues and most of our events are free to the public. Instead, we rely primarily on donations that allow us to offer many activities to Jewish individuals and Jewish/interfaith families in our community. Donating is easy by sending in your tax-deductible donations right away either online or by mail. With your support, we can maintain and build upon the positive Jewish presence we have forged in our community!

If you haven’t yet responded to our annual fundraising campaign, please consider doing so! Donations can be mailed to: FVJN, P.O. Box 346, Geneva, IL  60134, or submitted on-line at: fvjn.org/donate.

Thank you for your support!
*FVJN is a 501c3 organization

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FVJN Book Group!
Meets every other month, usually the second Tuesday, 7 pm at FVJN.
Every interested reader is welcome!
Below is the list of books and dates for 2020:

February 18th (3rd Tuesday). The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss
April 21st (3rd Tuesday). Life In a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project, by Jack Mayer
June 9th. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, by Michael Chabon
August 11th. We Were the Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter
October 13th. Sons and Soldiers, by Bruce Henderson
December 8th. The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt, By Ken Krimstein

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Have You Taken Our Survey?

Would you like more religious services/gatherings, more Jewish education, more Jewish entertainment? Your opinion matters! Please take a moment to click on the link below and respond to our brief survey (only 10 questions!). Your input is needed and greatly appreciated as we continue to develop better ways to meet the needs of our Jewish community.

Everyone who responds by January 15, 2020 will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card to Deanne’s Market & Deli in Geneva!

Click HERE (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YNTXKT7) for the survey. After completing, please email rachely@fvjn.org with “I did the survey” in the subject line.

Thank you!

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We Need YOU to Help With This Mitzvah!!

Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner
First Wednesday of each month.
Needed for February 5: 1 side dish, dessert
Needed for March 4: 1 side dish, dessert
More volunteers needed!

This is a great individual, family or group activity!
Visit www.fvjn.org/lazarus-house/ to sign up today and help your local neighbors!

Questions? Contact FVJN coordinator Lisa Foydel: lisafoydel@gmail.com.

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Jewish Sunday School in the Heart of Geneva!

Fox Valley Jewish School
•Registration is still open for the 2019 – 2020 FVJS Sunday school year!
Get all the details HERE (https://www.fvjn.org/fox-valley-jewish-school/) 

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Coming Up!
January
1/19 – FVJS *Date Change!
1/23 – Board Meeting
1/26 – FVJS
February
2/5 – Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner
2/9 – FVJS
2/18 — Book Group!
2/23 – FVJS
2/27 – Board Meeting

Click HERE (http://www.fvjn.org/calendar-of-events/) for more details and complete calendar!

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Notes for You!

• Lost & Found: A brown Pyrex bread baking dish was left at the UUSG during the High Holidays. If this is yours, please contact rachely@fvjn.org.

• Donations: We rely on your donations! Please consider FVJN when making donations in honor of or as a memorial to someone in your life. The FVJN Giving Tree is a great way to honor others and assist FVJN in our fundraising efforts: https://www.fvjn.org/giving-tree/.

• If you have an interest in being part of a Caring Committee, a Social Action Committee, an Adult Education & Social Committee or FVJS Committee, please contact Rachel: rachely@fvjn.org.

ENews December 2018!

It’s a Chanukah Party!
RSVP TODAY to RachelY@fvjn.org.
Saturday, Dec. 14, 4 – 6 pm
At Persinger Recreation Center, 3507 Kaneville Rd, Geneva

Grab your menorahs, bundle up the kids and come to the annual FVJN Chanukah Party! Celebrate the Festival of Lights and the bravery of the Maccabees with holiday food, dreidel games and Israeli dancing, and have fun with friends old and new.

A dairy/vegetarian potluck meal is part of our annual FVJN Chanukah Party. Please see the list below, and bring a dish to share.

Email Rachely@fvjn.org (mailto:Rachely@fvjn.org) with how many of you are coming and what food you’ll be bringing. Please be sure to put “FVJN Chanukah Party” as the subject of your email response.

Food suggestions:
Latkes, sour cream and applesauce
Cut up veggies and/or fruit
Bagels & cream cheese
Hummus and pita
Sufganiyot (jelly-filled donuts!)
Desserts
*FVJN will provide beverages and paper products (if you would like to donate any of these things, let us know!)

All are welcome, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is interfaith-friendly and there is no cost to attend, though donations are welcome. Chanukah begins the night of Sunday, Dec. 22.

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Book Group
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7 pm
FVJN Book Group meets every other month, and is open to all!
Click HERE to visit our calendar and check out which books are coming up!

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Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner
First Wednesday of each month.
Needed for February 5, 2020: Main dish, 2 side dishes, dessert
*We are not providing the January 1 dinner, but please visit our website and sign up for 2020 dates, now!

Thank you to Mim E., Nancy S., Felice J. and Joanne S. for providing December’s dinner!

Volunteers needed!
This is a great individual, family or group activity!
Visit www.fvjn.org/lazarus-house/ to sign up today and help your local neighbors!

FVJN volunteers provide dinner the first Wednesday of each month to approximately 70 guests at Lazarus House, a shelter located in St. Charles, which serves men, women and children in need in the Tri-Cities. Please visit the above link to sign up for future dates!
Questions? Contact FVJN coordinator Lisa Foydel: lisafoydel@gmail.com.

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Fox Valley Jewish School
Jewish Sunday School in the Heart of Geneva!
•Registration is still open for the 2019 – 2020 FVJS Sunday school year!
Get all the details HERE.

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Coming Up!
December
12/4 – Lazarus House Mitzvah Dinner
12/8 – FVJS
12/10 – Book Group!
12/11 – Board Meeting
12/14 – FVJN Chanukah Party!
12/15 – FVJS
12/21 – Volunteer @ NIFB w/UUSG
Click HERE for more details and complete calendar!

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Volunteer Days at NIFB!
Dates: Sat., Dec. 21, from 9 am – noon
Registration required! To sign up, please visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040a4cafa628a31-food
Come partner with UUSG friends and help out our local neighbors in need!
Volunteers aged between 8 and 16 years need to be accompanied by an adult.
Because this is a warehouse environment closed toed shoes are required.
Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) is located at: 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva.

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Notes for You:

• Donations: We rely on your donations! Please consider FVJN when making donations in honor of or as a memorial to someone in your life. The FVJN Giving Tree is a great way to honor others and assist FVJN in our fundraising efforts: https://www.fvjn.org/giving-tree/.
• If you have an interest in being part of a Caring Committee, a Social Action Committee, an Adult Education & Social Committee or FVJS Committee, please contact Rachel rachely@fvjn.org.

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