http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm Chicago Sinai - Lifelong Learning Blog en-us Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:57:42 -0500 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:27:00 -0500 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss support@aslaninteractive.com support@aslaninteractive.com http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/24/Boundary-Issues There are few Jewish organizations more respected than the Anti-Defamation League. Over the years, the ADL has not only been the steadfast defender of Judaism and the Jewish people against the scourge of anti-Semitism. [More] main Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:27:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/24/Boundary-Issues http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/16/Message-from-Rabbi-Sternfield Israel's announcement on March 9 that it would construct 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem, precisely during the visit of Vice President Biden has done serious harm to the relations between the two countries. [More] main Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:21:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/16/Message-from-Rabbi-Sternfield http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/7/NEWS-AND-VIEWS Had Israel not responded to the Haiti catastrophe, no doubt it would have been roundly condemned for doing nothing. [More] main Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:59:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/7/NEWS-AND-VIEWS http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/12/7/Of-Olympic-Dreams-and-Urban-Nightmares Like most Chicagoans, I had hoped that our city's bid to host the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games would have been successful. Certainly, Chicago's civic leaders put forth a remarkable effort, pulling out all stops, including appearances by President Barack and Michelle Obama. [More] main Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:59:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/12/7/Of-Olympic-Dreams-and-Urban-Nightmares http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/5/8/News-and-Views In the wake of the recent Israeli elections and the formation of the new ruling coalition headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, most American Reform Jews are feeling bewildered and downright disappointed. Unfortunately for the people of Israel, there simply were no viable alternatives to Likud headed by Netyanyahu and Kadima, headed by Tsippi Livni. [More] main Fri, 08 May 2009 16:11:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/5/8/News-and-Views http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/3/31/Some-Things-Never-Happened-But-They-Are-True-Nonetheless Very soon it will be Passover. By now, most Jewish homemakers are planning their seder menu. As for myself, I am engaged in what has become my annual struggle with the problem of veracity in regard to the Exodus story. The Exodus comprises the very heart of the Torah. [More] main Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:14:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/3/31/Some-Things-Never-Happened-But-They-Are-True-Nonetheless http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/3/4/Defiance There have been so many Holocaust era films over the years that one would think that the public would have tired of this subject, notwithstanding the fact that the Shoah will always be of immense importance to our Jewish people. [More] main Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:35:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2009/3/4/Defiance http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2008/12/16/The-Arrogance-of-Power-given-on-the-week-of-the-Gov-Blagojevich-arrest I hardly need to say that his has been an incredibly disheartening week for the people of Illinois. The spectacle of the Governor of this state being arrested and taken from his own home in handcuffs was startling in and of itself. But the revelation of what he is accused essentially of having conspired to auction off the vacant seat in the United States Senate literally takes one's breath away. [More] main Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:35:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2008/12/16/The-Arrogance-of-Power-given-on-the-week-of-the-Gov-Blagojevich-arrest http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/12/12/News-and-Views In so many ways, in just over a decade, Sinai's newest synagogue has become a recognized and beloved landmark for the Jewish community and the city itself. Whether for worship, religious school, preschool, or for a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah or funeral, this Temple is a most welcoming and inspirational "House of Prayer for all People." [More] main Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:42:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/12/12/News-and-Views http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/11/6/Our-Competition-Across-The-Street By now, you must have noticed that the Thai restaurant across the street from the Temple has been replaced by yet another Starbucks. I enjoy good coffee as well, so I have no particular objection to the latest Starbucks, although I am somewhat amazed that we now have four of them within about a quarter of a mile from the Temple. The public's thirst for Starbucks seems to be virtually insatiable. [More] main Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:53:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/11/6/Our-Competition-Across-The-Street http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/10/2/News-and-Views On Sunday, October 21, we will join in celebrating the Heidi Kon's Tenth Anniversary as our Director of Religious Education. In her decade with us, our children have benefited immeasurably from her devotion to Jewish learning. So much of what has been achieved over the past decade is directly attributable to Heidi's skills, dedication and love of Jewish learning. She is my cherished colleague and friend. [More] main Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:23:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/10/2/News-and-Views http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/7/10/Vatican-grants-a-revival-for-oldstyle-Latin-Mass Recently Pope Benedict authorized the return to the Latin Mass; an event, which many liberals within the Church fear may be an omen of even more retrogressive steps yet to be taken, and which ultimately may reverse many of the modernizations that were put into effect as a result of Vatican II. The Pope has opened the door to wider use of the Latin Mass by allowing priests to say the Mass without requiring authorization from their local bishop. [More] main Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:50:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/7/10/Vatican-grants-a-revival-for-oldstyle-Latin-Mass http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/6/25/What-Kind-Of-Finale-Is-This---Some-thoughts-concerning-the-final-episode-of-The-Sopranos I confess! I have watched every single episode of The Sopranos, and I'm really sorry that it is over. As despicable as most of the characters are, this series was totally mesmerizing from start to finish. There is an undeniable morbid fascination with the underworld, which, incidentally, is now being played out in real life with the major mob trial that is now underway right here in Chicago (of all places!) [More] main Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:49:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/6/25/What-Kind-Of-Finale-Is-This---Some-thoughts-concerning-the-final-episode-of-The-Sopranos http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/5/21/Jerry-Falwell-An-Ambiguous-Retrospective When it comes to evaluating Rev. Jerry Falwell's legacy, it is not a simple matter for us as Jewish Americans. That he had a tremendous impact in American politics cannot be doubted. Jerry Falwell was an important figure, and for us he was also tremendously disconcerting. For better or for worse, Jerry Falwell was a significant pillar of the Reagan revolution. The Moral Majority, which he founded in 1979, has had an immense impact on the political system, even though Falwell disbanded the organization over two decades ago. Still, the Christian Coalition, which more or less took up where the Moral Majority left off, continues to thrive and to flex its muscles. [More] main Mon, 21 May 2007 11:42:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/5/21/Jerry-Falwell-An-Ambiguous-Retrospective http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/5/8/Drunk-driving-is-not-a-joke Recently, Paris Hilton was sentenced to jail for driving without a license, her driver's license having been suspended after her conviction for drunk driving. In her first public comments since she was handed a 45-day jail sentence for a driving related offense, she stated: "I feel that I was treated unfairly and that the sentence is both cruel and unwarranted and I don't deserve this." The predictions are that her incarceration will only benefit her, and that is probably true. [More] main Tue, 08 May 2007 11:36:00 -0500 http://www.chicagosinai.org/lifelong_learning/blog/index.cfm/2007/5/8/Drunk-driving-is-not-a-joke