 School Registration: Many of our returning students have already registered for classes this fall. All families with children enrolled in the Religious School last year received pre-filled in forms in June. Please check them over and make any updates or corrections needed, and return them with payment to the Emanuel office. Forms and payment must be received in the office prior to the first day of classes. If you are new to the school or have misplaced your forms, please visit the Emanuel Congregation website at www.emanuelcong. org and download a registration form or contact Myra Wagner at mwagner@emanuelcong .org.
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Emanuel Congregation presents a broad curriculum designed to encourage joy in our tradition as well as skills in Jewish ritual and observance. If you have any questions on the curriculum, please contact the Director.
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 Building the Foundation for Joyful Jewish Living
2010-2011 / 5770-5771
We are committed to providing children with the enthusiasm and skills they need
for lifelong Jewish learning and practices.
Alison Siegel, Director of Education: alisonsiegel@emanuelcong.org
Myra Wagner, Religious School Administrator: mwagner@emanuelcong.org
In the last several years our school enrollment has grown by leaps and bounds. Our curriculum encompasses our theme: “TAG – You’re It!”
(T –Torah, A – Avodah, G – Gimilut Hasadim). We are blessed to have a teaching staff filled with a diverse spectrum of people whom are dedicated to teaching Judaism as a realization of B’tzelem Elohim; one who is made in the image of God.
Emanuel Congregation Religious School serves children in preschool (four years old) through 10th grade (Confirmation). Our children learn and understand our prayers (in Hebrew and English) and rituals. They participate in tikkun olam-making the world a better place. In addition, they feel a sense of community through their active participation in retreats, services, and synagogue events and celebrations. We encourage our religious school family members and congregants of all ages to participate in all our special programming.
Please look carefully at the registration forms. They provide our teaching staff with more personalized information about your child, and will enable us to better meet his/her needs in the classroom. The information we receive will be kept confidential and shared only with his/her teacher.
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Nissim. Cantor Shelly Friedman sings "Nissim," or the daily prayer about the miracles of everyday life.
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 Sunday, September 12
9:30 am - 12:15 pm
First Day of Religious School of the 2010-11 School Year
Opening Day Picnic following Religious School, sponsored by the Emanuel Brotherhood
Tuesday, September 14
4:30-6 pm
First Day of Hebrew School of the 2010-11 School Year
Please contact Alison Siegel Lewin, our Director of Education or Myra Wagner, both at 773-561-5173 if you have a child entering Pre-Kindergarten (age 4) through 10th grade and are interested in information about Religious School and Hebrew School at Emanuel. Those who were enrolled this past year should have received registration information in the mail.
Updated Religious School Curriculum
Cover letter sent to parents
Registration Forms
Tentative Calendar
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It's not too early to plan; High Holy Days begin in early September:
 Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 8 Child care registation due by
Rosh Hashanah – 1st Day Thursday, September 9 August 27!
Erev Yom Kippur Friday, September 17
Yom Kippur Day Saturday, September 18
Alert--New this Year for Family Services!
Complimentary tickets may be obtained through the website http://emanuelfamilyhh.eventbrite.com/.
Tickets. All members in good standing (current through August) receive High Holy Day tickets for themselves and any dependent family member whose primary residence is at the members’ home. Bus shuttles will again be available; arrangements for child care should be made by August 27. --more--
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Religious School, for all students, is held on Sundays, September through May. Hebrew School is for 3rd through 7th graders and is held on Tuesdays.
Sundays: 9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Tuesdays: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to convey the full richness of Jewish experience and observance. It includes subject matter in Jewish values, holidays, prayer, communal living, Bible and rabbinic interpretation, Hebrew, Israel, arts and literature, life-cycle events, and music. Hebrew study emphasizes fluency in reading and understanding the prayer book, augmented by modern Hebrew where appropriate.
Confirmation Class
All 9th and 10th grade students study with Rabbi Michael Zedek on Sundays. In addition, they choose various topics of Jewish interest to round out their Jewish education.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Students
All Bar/Bat Mitzvah students have private tutoring by Congregational Cantor Michelle Drucker Friedman supplemented by sessions with Rabbi Michael Zedek. Tutoring generally begins six to eight months before the event.
Special Holiday Programs
The Religious School sponsors several special family and holiday programs every year, including: Sukkah Decorating, Simchat Torah/New Student Consecration, Chanukah Event, Tu B'Shevat Seder, Purim Carnival, and others.
Transportation
Emanuel supplies a list of students and their schools to all parents in August to help with carpooling. We have a large parking lot, and during the High Holy Days, we arrange for the use of additional nearby parking lots.
Inclement Winter Weather
Call 847-238-1234, or go to www.EmergencyClosings.com to find out if Emanuel will be closed during severe weather. Note: Hebrew School on Tuesdays will close whenever Chicago Public Schools are closed for inclement weather.
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 Emanuel Congregation invites you to an exciting, fun Tot Shabbat program designed for families with infants, toddlers and pre-school age children to delight in the joy of Shabbat together.
Once a month on a Saturday morning, at 9:30 am, Congregational Cantor Shelly Friedman brings a unique, creative, music-filled mini-service and Judaic art project to our families with young children. As always, our programs are open to the community. Please join in this Shabbat celebration! Contact the Emanuel office for dates and more information.
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Everything You Want To Know About Hebrew But Were Afraid To Ask!
 Do the letters in the prayerbook look like mysterious squiggles? Do you mumble along, because you are sure you are unable to reproduce those sounds (especially the ones in the back of the throat)? Do your knees quake at the thought of doing a Torah Blessing on the bimah? These conditions and many more in the category of "torahfied" are curable, and it's easier than you might imagine. Marcey Rosembaum teaches Hebrew to adults on Tuesday afternoons while Hebrew School is in session. The only requirements are:
1.) Show up; and
2.) Bring a copy of "Aleph Isn't Tough"
(available at Amazon, Rosenblum's, etc.).
There is no charge for Emanuel members; non-members pay $100. Class will run between 4:30 and 6:00 pm, starting Tuesday, September 14, and if there is interest for more advanced Hebrew Marcey can make adjustments. Questions or clarification? Just send an e-mail to Marcey at: marceyrosenbaum@gmail.com
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Music
Ruth Seidner , our music director, spends a half-hour on Sundays with each class, teaching both Hebrew and contemporary Jewish songs. Children look forward to Ruth's class!
Junior Choir
Ruth Seidner also leads the Junior Choir, which is open to all students who can read. The choir practices twice a month on Sundays, from 12:30 to 1:45 pm., and sings at certain services, congregational events, and other venues.
High Holy Day Programming .
Family Services are held prior to the Congregational Services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on the day of Yom Kippur. The Congregation's own machzor (prayerbook) is used for this service. Programming/babysitting is provided for children through 4th grade by prior paid reservation during the morning services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on the morning of Yom Kippur.
 Early Services/Share-Shabbat Dinner
Popular among Emanuel families is the Early Service/Share-Shabbat Dinner, a song-filled, participatory, intergenerational service held once a month on Fridays at 6:30 pm. The Service is followed by a potluck dinner at 7:15 pm. at a moderate cost. Click HERE for upcoming dates. Call the Emanuel office at 773-561-5173 by noon the Wednesday prior to make a reservation for dinner.
Youth Groups
Emanuel encourages youth group participation. We offer two programs: the Junior Youth Group for students in grades 5-7, and the Emanuel Senior Temple Youth (ESTY), for students in grades 8-10. Participants enjoy social, educational and Jewish-related programming with youth at Emanuel and throughout the Chicago region, often with youth groups from other congregations. The Junior Youth Group advisor, Rafi Bratman, can be reached at jryouthgroup@emanuelcong.org and the Senior Youth advisor, Erin Jones, can be reached at sryouthgroup@emanuelcong.org. If you would like to receive Youth Group e-mail announcements, email: e-mail emanuelbulletin@emanuelcong.org. National and regional youth group associations include NFTY, the North American Federation of Temple Youth and NFTY-CAR, the NFTY's Chicago-Area Region.
Religious School Email Annoucements
If you would like to receive Religious School e-mail announcements, e-mail: emanuelbulletin@emanuelcong.org
Summer Camp
 Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute is operated under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and not only is it our regional summer URJ camp, it was founded by our Rabbi Emeritus, Herman Schaalman, during the 1950s. It is our goal here at Emanuel that any family who wishes to send their child to Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute will be able to. We believe in this powerful Jewish experience for our children, and that it is an integral part of their educational process.
Scholarship Opportunities for Emanuel members
Emanuel Congregation is proud to offer OSRUI scholarship opportunities. This system will enable parents to apply for scholarship in a way that is designed to meet the needs of every family. If you would like to discuss the numerous scholarship opportunities available, please contact the Religious School Administrator, Myra Wagner.
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