A Place to Worship, A Place to Learn, A Place to Belong
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Emanuel is a vibrant, growing congregation located along Chicago's lakefront. What makes Emanuel so unique is its dedication to Jewish worship, learning and community by its diverse membership of: seniors and families who have been members for several generations, interfaith and interracial couples, and those who have more recently identified with the Jewish people. Our midsized Reform congregation has a strong commitment to Jewish tradition that serves as the foundation for our daily lives.
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We welcome you to visit with us and to become part of the Emanuel family.
Download our membership application (this will open in Word Document in a new browser). Want to know more about the Emanuel community? Call the office!
If you have trouble downloading the application, please try refreshing your browser or email the office to be forwarded the application.
Entrance to on-site parking lot just north of the building.
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Honor Your Loved Ones
Emanuel Can Send an Acknowledgement of Your Donation with a Minimum Contribution of $10. Your donation not only supports the good works of the Congregation, but is also a thoughtful way to honor a special occasion, to express wishes for a speedy recovery, or to memorialize a loved one. If you have any questions, please email info@emanuelcong.org or call the Emanuel office at 773-561-5173. Download a PDF of the contribution form.
Manna for Emanuel: Gift Cards that Give Back
Think about the money you spend over the course of the month at stores like Jewel for groceries, AMC movies for entertainment, Marathon for gas, and in the summer at hotels like Marriott and Best Western. Did you know that you can make this money work double-time? By planning in advance and purchasing gift cards through Manna for Emanuel, you can give a portion of the money you have already budgeted to your congregation. It is an easy win-win!
Orders, paid with cash or checks made out to Emanuel, can be turned in to the office periodically and will be ready the following week. For more information, leave a message for the coordinator in the Emanuel office. Download the Manna For Emanuel order form to start your next order.
 Support Emanuel! Make your book and CD purchases at amazon.com . Emanuel will receive referral fees of 5-15% of the amount you spend. Need book suggestions? Check out the Important Books page! If you would like to purchase a prayer book for the High Holidays, Emanuel Congregation currently uses ""Gates of Repentance: The New Union Prayer Book for the Days of Awe" published by the CCAR Press".
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Dear Friends,
With advance warning from the Chicago Police Department, on August 3 Emanuel received a visit from members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. If the name sounds only or at most vaguely familiar, you may recall news reports about a group that pickets funerals of service personnel killed in action as proof that God hates America because we tolerate homosexuals. They also achieved “fame” for picketing Matthew Shepard’s funeral with their insistence that he was burning in hell.
Well, they came to Edgewater with Jews as the current target for their bigotry. And while the advice of those who represent the defense organizations in the Jewish community was to ignore Westboro’s presence, I strongly felt that was not the best approach. I do not believe silence is the preferred strategy to confront hatred, but I was also aware that this struggle should not be one of Jews versus anti-Semites.
We invited our neighbors from the churches and mosques in Edgewater to consider that this was their moment to respond. With the assistance of lots of good people, especially our Alderman Mary Ann Smith’s office, a call went to and received an awesome response by so many. On a humid Monday morning, at least 400 people stood with and for us. We are in their debt as they provided a beautiful witness for collaboration in the face of an ugly effort at confrontation.
I invite you to view photos and video by visiting the following web pages. The first is congregant Leah Jones' photos on Flickr and the second is a post on ChicagoNow blog What's a Boy to Do.
Very sincerely,
Rabbi Michael Zedek
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Services are Friday nights at 8:00 PM and Saturday mornings at 11:00 AM. The monthly Early Service at 6:30 PM and Share Shabbat dinner follows at 7:15 PM, check the calendar or contact Emanuel office for dates.
On most Saturday mornings, two adult study opportunities are available at 9:30 a.m. Torah Study with Rabbi Emeritus Hermann Schaalman in his study. Advanced Hebrew Study with Rabbi Michael Zedek in the library. Confirm dates with the office.
Check the Events page for ShabbataTOT!
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"Every Jew shall write a torah" is a mitzvah that Emanuel is proud to embrace in the five year project designated as the Rabbi Herman and Lotte Schaalman Torah Writing Project. The new Torah scroll will be used in all services, with the exception of B'nai Mitzvah and Confirmation, when in a tradition established by Rabbi Schaalman, student's read from our Czech Torah Scroll. The project will serve as an expression of our regard, respect, devotion and love for two remarkable individuals who have given so much to Emanuel for over 50 years.
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