How will Chicago-area small businesses fare in 2012? Will the flagging economy continue to affect financial performance? Read More »
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JUF 
Jewish celebs from the Chi
Not only is Chicago chock full of cool stuff, but plenty of cool people are from/live here…even some Jewish celebs in the sports, entertainment and music industries. Here’s my list of the top 10 Jewish Chicago celebs by category. Read More »
JUF »
Consuls General of Greece and Israel come together
Both attended Jan. 10 JCRC meeting. Read More »
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Shaking up your perception: what happens when non-Jews experience Israel firsthand
There comes a time in everyone’s life when a major shakeup is necessary. For nine non-Jewish students from Illinois, this opportunity was given to them when visiting Israel for the first time in their lives. Read More »
JUF »
JUF affiliate agencies meet with public officials
Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Rep. Daniel Bliss visit agencies. Read More »
JUF »
Grace Hou leaving her role as assistant secretary at the Illinois Department of Human Services
She will be taking on the role of president at the Woods Fund of Chicago. Read More »
JUF »
A Jewish music blog about other Jewish music blogs
Is this metablogging? Read More »
JUF »
Report: Obama to name Lew to top White House slot
President Obama reportedly will name Jack Lew, an Orthodox Jew, to be his chief of staff, according to the Los Angeles Times. Read More »
JUF »
That’s Feminist, with a capital ‘F’
Some years ago, I was asked to fetch coffee at an event where I happened to be the keynote speaker. Read More »
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Larry Goodman receives lifetime achievement award for philanthropy in Be’er-Sheva
Goodman is honored with the 2011 Distinguished Citizen award for Lifetime Achievement. Read More »
JUF »
A really Freaky Friday, an extra Zuckerberg, and a show of support au naturel
The last Friday of 2011 disappeared on the tiny Pacific island of Samoa. And if that sounds strange, just wait ’til you hear what the rabbis have to say about it. Read More »
JUF »
Ring in 2012 with Oy!
Celebrate the flickers of light in 2011, examine the role of rabbis on film and get tips for dating during the holiday season. Read More »
JUF »
Introducing Ofer Bavly, new director general of JUF’s Israel office
KARINA GRUDNIKOV Staff Writer Earlier this year, Linda Epstein, longtime director of JUF’s office in Israel, announced her plans to step down after almost 17 years of working in the organization. Set to take on the position is Ofer Bavly. Read More »
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Local Jewish band Shakshuka performing at Skokie Theatre on Jan. 7
Proceeds to support Greater Chicago Jewish Festival. Read More »
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‘A nice American boy’ teaches in Israel
Israel Teaching Fellows, a Masa program Read More »
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Moving on up… to Israel
Meet the Midwest’s new Shlichah and some Chicagoans who have recently made Aliyah Read More »
JUF »
Complexity at its finest: A recap of Write On for Israel’s trip to Israel
There is no other country on earth where the opinion of a taxi driver holds as much substance in my eyes as that of a politician. Read More »
JUF »
Strong Israel connections grow from strong campus Jewish communities
“I guess I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I would be,” Natalie admitted as she reflected on a class she took at her school on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The bias in this class really affected me. Read More »
JUF »
Finding and funding your Israel Experience
So you’re in high school, college, or a 20-something and thinking about travelling to Israel? Great idea. Read More »
JUF »
A modern day Noah’s Ark
Congregation Beth Judea holds first ‘Blessing of the Animals’ event Read More »
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The ‘Jewish Jordan’ talks basketball, Judaism, and giving back
“Jewish Jordan”-that’s the nickname Sports Illustrated gave Tamir Goodman when he was merely 17 years old and a high school junior at the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. Read More »
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Tzivi’s Jan ’12 Spotlight
When you lit your first candle on Dec. 20, how much thought did you give to your menorah? Read More »
JUF »
January 2012
Obituaries that appeared in the December 2011 issue of JUF News. Read More »
JUF »
Access all JCFS has to offer with one, easy, toll-free number
Any questions? Starting Jan. 1, just ask JCFS, by calling 1-855-ASK-JCFS. Read More »
JUF »
Will you still need me?
The fuzzy photo of Herzl on the hotel balcony in Basel is a classic of Zionist iconography. Read More »
JUF »
Experiencing the land
So many of the stories we tell revolve around place . “Remember when we went to…?” “That’s when we were living in…..” It’s the same for Jews; the stories told in the Bible revolve around either being promised the Place, living in the Place, leaving the Place, or returning to the Place. Read More »
JUF »
Mona Lisa and the Jewish question
After years of living isolated in the French countryside two old women looked at each other and said, “You know it’s time to take the train into Paris and at long last, see the Mona Lisa. Read More »
JUF »
Auld Lang Syne—a toast to 5772 and 2012
There’s a lot to love about being Jewish, but for me the icing on the cake is we get to ring in New Year’s not once, but twice a year. That’s almost as good as celebrating Chanukah for eight nights. Read More »
JUF »
Time to say thank you and celebrate
Soon after New Year’s, the 2011 Annual Campaign closes, and so does my term as Campaign Chairman. I’ll be celebrating all that we’ve accomplished together, and I hope you will too! Read More »
JUF »
Just give
Now that Chanukah is over, and the gift exchanging is too, it seems like the right time to “invite more abundance into your life” by finding ways to give back to the community. Read More »
JUF »
Twelve social entrepreneurs enter JCC PresenTense Chicago fellowship program
Jewish social innovators begin a five-month venture accelerator in which they will develop their ideas into sustainable ventures. Read More »
JUF »
How to shake up a kosher cocktail
Just in time for New Year’s Eve, here’s everything you ever wanted to know about the kosher cocktail. Read More »
JUF »
TOV connects hot make-up artist to cancer patients at Sinai
In the spirit of the holiday season, two makeup artists wanted to make a difference. Read More »
JUF »
Meet Dan Shapiro, the Hebrew-tweeting U.S. ambassador from Champaign, Ill.
The U.S. ambassador to Israel tweets in Hebrew. Read More »
JUF »
JVS Chicago announces academic scholarships for Jewish college and graduate students
JVS Chicago announces educational scholarship funds received by grants from the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation. Read More »
JUF »
Third annual MLK Weekend Food Justice Symposium “From Plant to Plate—Grow Local As Social Action”
KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation will honor the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. with a weekend long education and advocacy program focused on food justice and sustainability January 13-15 Read More »
JUF »
Reminiscing on 2011
2011 was a year that I believe can’t be defined as either positive or negative, as the world saw its fair share of tragedies and miracles. But it’s hard to imagine a year more memorable, filled with more historic events or important news stories, in recent years. Read More »
JUF »
Jewish festivals, home and away
If you are planning to travel this coming year, you might be able to check out a Jewish festival while you’re out of town, too. Read More »
JUF »
Inaugural Non-Jewish Student Leadership Trip headed to Israel
First group departs on Dec. 27. Read More »
JUF »
“He sounds like a Republican.”
In Washington, for the most part, a policy statement can be easily labeled as coming from the Democrats or Republicans.Not so true in Springfield. Read More »
JUF »
JFNA names Randy Gold Jewish Community Hero of 2011
Two Chicagoans also named as semi-finalists Read More »
JUF »
Application period open for Hillels of Illinois’ 2012 Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family Summer Intern
The 2012 program runs June 4 through Aug. 3, and is open to undergraduates who live in (parental residence) or attend school in the Chicago area. Read More »
JUF »
Apply now to the 2012-2013 Everett Kovler Scholars program
Deadline for application is March 1, 2012. Read More »
JUF »
Here and there: Shalom U’Lehitra’ot
This is my final blog as JUF/JF’s Israel Office Director after 17 years on the job. It has been a wonderful professional period for me. The challenges and the satisfaction have both been remarkable. Read More »
JUF »
Remembering Maynard Wishner, former JUF chairman
Maynard I. Wishner was an attorney, business and civic leader with a love for storytelling and a deep commitment to the Jewish community and inter-ethnic affairs. Read More »
JUF »
Tzivi reviews Midnight in Paris
Yesterday Woody Allen’s latest film, Midnight in Paris, received four Golden Globe nominations. It has a 93% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and everyone I know who saw it last summer loved it. Midnight in Paris arrives on DVD next Tuesday (12/20/11), just in time for Chanukah. Read More »
JUF »
“We’re lucky of one thing: we have a country called Israel”
JUF has produced a new video about Jack Garfein, a noted figure in the world of film and theater. Read More »
JUF »
A busy week for Jewish Federation meetings with public officials
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sen. Dan Kotowski were featured speakers at Government Affairs Comittee on Dec. 12. Read More »
JUF »
Jewish Women’s Foundation awards $203,418 in grants
Financial empowerment program for Jewish women, teen girls receives organization’s first multi-year grant. Read More »
JUF »
A moment to consider…tweeting
Actually, tweeting and Facebooking and all manner of electronic communication. I am not here to bemoan the existence of these virtual connections; to the contrary, I embrace them. Read More »
JUF »
Big Event: Big star, big crowd, big impact
I’m talking, of course, about the 2011 YLD Big Event which featured Jimmy Fallon-talk show host, comedian, musician and, as we all learned this weekend, all-around sweet guy. Read More »
JUF »
Late night with Jimmy—and his 2,600 new best friends
YLD’s Big Event starring comedian Jimmy Fallon draws big(gest) crowd ever. Read More »
JUF »
Celebs that have traveled (recently) to the Holy land, Part II
Last month, I shared a list of celebs who have been making the trek to the Holy land, but the list was so long I decided to break in into two posts. Here is the rest of the list. Read More »
JUF »
Students get ready for the first Taglit-Birthright Israel trip of the winter season
Chicago’s Jewish students get ready to pack their bags and head to Israel. Read More »
JUF »
Jewish United Fund provides $235,000 in new grants through J-HELP
JUF has allocated more funds to address immediate community needs through its breakthrough J-HELP program. Read More »
JUF »
JCC young actors battle aliens, boredom in sci-fi musical adventure
The young actors of Jewish Community Center (JCC) Chicago are once again taking theater to a new level—a cosmic level—complete with pretzel warriors and jellybean people. Read More »
JUF »
Home team advantage
Is there anything left to be said about Chanukah that hasn’t already been flooded with presents, chocolate replicas of once prized Chanukah gelt, real coins that Jews of a certain age still remember? Read More »
JUF »
‘The Gift of Rest’
Sen. Joe Lieberman visits Chicago to share new book on the ‘gift’ of Shabbat Read More »
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Ilinois Hospital Association’s Health Care Leadership Profiles Highlights Sinai Health System
“Health Care Leadership and Innovation” features Chicago’s Sinai Health System. Read More »
JUF »
‘A Christmas Story, The Musical!’
Something to do on Christmas-besides eat Chinese food. Read More »
JUF »
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