End-of-tax-year Information- Plan ahead if you want your January 1, 2014 payments to be applied to the 2013 tax year. Payments postmarked by December 31, 2013 will be posted to your account for 2013. If your account is set up to be charged automatically, please contact the bookkeeper if you want your January charge put through before the end of 2013.

Worship

Message from Rabbi Cosnowsky

In 2009, we began having one-on-one sessions with new members of the community in order to assess what our congregants were looking for from our congregation. From these conversations, the Connections Team was born and now we have many new programs and opportunities. Read more here.

Adult Activities

Library Committee is pleased to announce a program of book discussions at Etz Chaim. Read more here.
Sisterhood News:
The Lifelong Learning Committee presents the second part of Faces of Christianity. Read more here.
Brotherhood Trivia Night- Join us on Saturday, January 25 for our annual Trivia Night. Read more here.
Connections Team & Etz Chaim's DuPage United Core Team will be leading Listening Sessions through February. Read more here.
NEW Charurah- The Connections Team is developing Chavurah Groups for 2014. Read more here.
The Annual JUF Brunch will be Sunday, February 9. The guest speaker will be Dr. Eric A. Goldman. Read more here. Book order form here.
Spotlight on Our Library- This month's library spotlight focuses on the book Hush by Eishes Chayil. Read more here.
Sophie and Jack Edwards Scholar In Residence- Save the date for our annual Sophie and Jack Edwards Scholar In Residence weekend March 7-9, 2014. Read more here.
DuPage United's very successful 2nd Manufacturers Round Table was held at theTechnology Center of DuPage December 12. Many manufacturers and nonprofits participated in the early morning round table. Read more here.

School & Youth Activities

Message from Our Educator

Part of our first grade curriculum is a study of Shabbat. We have Shabbat dinners and Shabbat baskets for the families to participate. Read more here.

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Reminder- Please note Wednesday, December 18 is the last day of Hebrew School and Sunday, December 22 is the last day of Sunday School. Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 8. Wishing everyone a fun and safe winter break.
Shabbat Chaverim- Our next Shabbat Chaverim will be THIS Friday morning, December 20 at 10:00 AM. This program is for young children and a parent/guardian. Each session we do a craft, have play time, music with Cindy Michelassi and, of course a snack. We recite the Shabbat blessings and then have challah and juice.
OSRUI is accepting registration for the 2014 summer season. For more information or to register, click here.
Jewish American Heroes- Each week this year we have a famous guest visiting our school. The guest is always a figure from our American Jewish past. Read more here.
Snow Day School Closing Information- If we need to close for some unforeseen reason, not due to bad weather, we will contact you via phone. If we need to cancel school because of bad weather we will do three things.

Send an email blast by 7:30 AM on a Sunday and by 2:00 PM on a Wednesday
Post it on the home page of our Etz Chaim webpage.
Post it on the Etz Chaim facebook page. Like us on Facebook.

Congregational Life

Save the Date: Let the Good Times Roll- Congregation Etz Chaim Gala 2014 - Saturday, March 22, 2014. Join us for exciting casino gambling, lively dancing, delicious appetizers and drinks, plus fabulous live and silent auction. Party masks optional! New this year: Photo booth! Priority parking spots! Watch this space for more information in January.
Shomrei Adamah, our Etz Chaim Environmental Team- Join us for an afternoon of fun and crafts on Sunday, January 12 at 12:00 PM as we learn more about the Birthday of the Trees! Please bring a brown bag lunch. We will create an indoor herb garden (just in time for Passover), play games and learn how we can make the world a better place by honoring our environment.Please RSVP to Mary Slack or Robin Lucansky.
Congregational Retreat- Planning has already begun for the annual Congregational Retreat at OSRUI. The 2014 Retreat will be held the weekend of May 2-4 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Read more here.

Did You Know

Manna- The next Manna is Sunday, January 19. The Manna Gift Card program provides an easy, no cost way to raise funds for our congregation while receiving 100% value for every dollar you spend. Find out more about Manna or click here for an order form.
The Jewish Federation Academic Scholarship Program awards two scholarships ($10,000 each year of study toward a four year undergraduate program) to high school seniors beginning college in the Fall of 2014. Read more here.
JVS CAREER MOVES (Jewish Vocational Service) provides a range of services that are available for congregants looking for employment:

Career Counseling, Resume reviews,
Interviewing strategies, Workshops, Networking,
JEN (Jewish Employment Networking)
Refers qualified job candidates, at no cost to employers, throughout metropolitan Chicago For further information or to schedule an appointment call Joyce Bogolub, JVS Career Counselor, Lombard office, 630-889-0548 or visit the JVS website.

Register for Fall Classes at OSRUI- OSRUI offers many classes and programs throughout the fall. Read more here.
Indiana University's Jewish Studies is now accepting applications for scholarships for incoming freshmen for 2014-2015. Read more here.
Tzedakah Collection Box-The social action committee has designated the tzadakah collection to aid victims of typhoon Haiyan. The donations will be sent to United Reform Judaism Disaster relief fund which will be distributed to aid groups working in the affected areas.

Congregation Etz Chaim | | cec.office@congetzchaim.org | http://CongEtzChaim.org
1710 S. Highland Ave.
Lombard, IL 60148