It was an honor to share remarks at the Israeli Consulate in Chicago regarding YJLDS
Huge thanks to Andrea Storz and Jonathan Roth of The ARK for leading a job clinic at Congregation BJBE in Deerfield
Beyond The Borders – Shabbat Message from Howard Rieger, President, JCCWRP
Building bridges with other groups that call West Rogers Park home has had a twofold payoff for us. It has amplified our voice, thus allowing our Alderman, Debra Silverstein to make a more compelling case for needed public improvements, which together with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other city officials she has brought to fruition. And it has helped us to establish meaningful relationships with those with whom we share our neighborhood. In unity there is strength.
Working beyond the “borders” within WRP has been a key to our success.
We also have benefited from looking outward, working beyond our neighborhood and political borders. Engaging in collective action with the Peterson Park Improvement Association. Meeting with the past and current mayors of Lincolnwood, Jerry Turry and Barry Bass and other Village officials. Connecting with key leadership in Skokie, including Chief of Police Anthony Scarpelli.
Mariyana Spyropoulos, President, and David St Pierre, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District have been invaluable partners in enabling us to overcome roadblocks to neighborhood improvement. Kurt Summers, Treasurer of the City of Chicago, with his priority of visiting every neighborhood, helped us during his time in WRP to extend our reach into the community.
And this is only a sampling of the other city, state and national elected and appointed officials with whom we have engaged.
Borders can either be barriers to collaborative action, or they can provide a new vantage point for broadening perspective and enhancing cooperation.
While the name Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park may convey to some that we work in isolation as a Jewish organization that is constrained by our location within the city of Chicago, we have demonstrated that achieving our full potential requires breaking down the barriers that divide us.
Let us know what’s on your mind by responding to this email or giving me a call. Feedback is always appreciated.
Shabbat Shalom,
Howard
Skokie police, residents partake in 'community bonding' with National Night Out event
It’s unlikely that anyone would argue that the festival that drew hundreds to Oakton Park Tuesday, was as safe as any the village of Skokie puts on every year.
That’s because no matter where you turned, there was a Skokie police officer or sergeant or other ranking member of the force standing right there. And that was just the point of National Night Out, a nationwideinitiative organizers claim is aimed at forging a stronger relationship between police and the community.
Skokie police Chief Tony Scarpelli, who welcomed those who stopped by, said the event gives an opportunity for people to meet and talk with police in a different environment.
“It’s really about strengthening the already excellent relationship we have with the citizens of Skokie,” Scarpelli said. “They get to see us as people and kids see that we’re not to be feared.”
National Night Out was created by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “the development and promotion of various crime prevention programs including neighborhood watch groups, law enforcement agencies, state and regional crime prevention associations, businesses, civic groups and individuals devoted to safer communities,” according to information NATW distributes announcing the night out.
The first National Night Out in 1984 drew 2.5 million Americans across 400 communities in 23 states, according to its nonprofit founding organization.
NATW reports that National Night Out now involves over 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.
No two communities celebrate National Night Out in exactly the same way. Not even Skokie has celebrated the same way in the handful of years it has marked National Night Out, Scarpelli said.
National Night Out was held in Oakton Park in 2015 — just like this year — but police have also tried a series of small “greets” at area parks other years. Last year, it returned to one bigger event in Gross Point Park and this year it was back to Oakton.
The turnout this year may have been the event’s biggest, some officers said.
“This is my first year and I came because I became friends with the chief,” said Skokie resident Joe Conrad. “This is a great event because it brings everyone together and that’s always such a good thing.”
Oakton Park was first selected because neighborhoods around it were a focus area of the Many Cultures, One Community — Keeping Skokie Safe public safety campaign the village launched in 2015, Scarpelli said.
Scarpelli said the event provided a good opportunity to meet residents who at the time had some concerns about crime in the area. Many issues were resolved through the campaign, he said.
“Coming back here says we haven’t forgotten people in these neighborhoods,” Scarpelli said. “We pay significant attention to all areas and that shouldn’t have been the last time we visited this one. I think it’s important that you revisit areas you’ve had a focus on to make sure problems don’t recur.”
Although the night was about police and the community it serves, it was really a village-wide happening. The Skokie Park District not only provided the setting but employees grilled hot dogs and served other food. The Skokie Fire Department set up games and events and the village of Skokie was well represented, too.
Resident Christina Warnock said this event reflects the support police provide and sends an important message to children.
“It helps show that kids are able to come to the police comfortably and vice versa,” she said. “It shows children that police are friendly and approachable.”
And that’s just the message police wanted to send, Scarpelli said.
“We’re your neighbors, we’re your friends, we’re your relatives,” he said. “We are representative of your community.”
Twitter @SKReview_Mike
Jewish Community Leaders Say Devon Avenue is 'Dormant', Not 'Dead'
By Nicole Cardos
Business owner Avrom Fox said his religious bookstore Rosenblums World of Judaica is a social gathering spot.
“We have everything that one needs to celebrate the entire Jewish life cycle, from birth to death and all the holidays in between,” Fox said, adding that there are also books for those interested in the religion from a historical and cultural point of view.
The making of a Jewish monument from Nicole Cardos on Vimeo.
Now in its sixth year of residence in Skokie, Illinois, Rosenblums was previously located on Devon Avenue in West Ridge in Chicago. Fox said he purchased the store from its previous owner in 1990 at its Devon Avenue location, when the Jewish community was reflected in the storefronts on the now-majority South Asian shopping street.
For years now, businesses, like Rosenblums, that catered to the surrounding West Ridge Jewish community have been moving out—so much so, that the Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park has named “the rebirth of Devon Avenue between California and Kedzie as a unique urban destination serving Jews throughout the city and suburbs” as one of the organization’s goals on its website.
Fox said he moved Rosenblums to follow the Jewish community that was migrating toward the suburbs, and because he considers Devon Avenue “dead” as a shopping district.
“Devon is no longer commercially viable,” he said.
But it’s not only Jewish-owned businesses that are closing or relocating. The CVS store and pharmacy at 2825 W. Devon Ave. announced its springtime closing late February. The decision was made in part of the company’s plan to shut down dozens of its storefronts.
“Everybody is dormant—we’re dormant now too,” said Irv Loundy, senior vice president of Banking Services and Community Relations at Devon Bank.
Loundy, an employee at Devon Bank since 1958, said he has seen tremendous change in the area. Loundy remembers Devon Avenue as a home to high-end ladies fashion and kosher delicatessens and grocery stores in the 1970s and 1980s. But as the community changed to include an Indian-Pakistani population, and nearby young Jewish families started relocating to surrounding suburbs, Jewish businesses followed suit.
What also pushed storeowners to move away from the area was the lack of parking space, said Loundy, who’s active in the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
“We need to create the presence and make it attractive for people to want to come here,” he said.
One of the ways to revitalize the area is to work on collaboration among the existing community groups, said Shalom Klein, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park.
The goal of JCCWRP is to advocate for and improve the lives of residents and businesses in West Ridge, commonly referred to as West Rogers Park.
Although the Jewish community has a longstanding history in the area, the organization isn’t only catering to that group of people, Klein said.
“We’re committed to a beautiful West Rogers Park, meaning it doesn’t need to be a beautiful Jewish neighborhood,” he said. “We want it to be a beautiful neighborhood which happens to be home to the Jewish community, and living and working together with many other cultures.”
After having conversations with West Ridge residents, Klein acknowledged that there was a need for an updated or new library in the area. The Northtown Branch of the Chicago Public Library located at 6435 N. California Ave. currently serves the community, but Klein said it’s outdated.
“The library is not equipped,” he said. “It doesn’t have the meeting space, the technology for kids to do their homework.”
So Klein and other JCCWRP organizers, along with members of other ethnic communities in West Ridge, recently launched a petition called LEARN—Library Enhancement And Renovation. After having earned thousands of signatures, LEARN has been approved to open a new library in West Ridge.
“So those are the types of things that by coming together, by organizing, we’re able to make a difference,” he said.
Proud to see the Skokie community turnout at Vigil Against Hate
It was an honor to be invited to attend this Monday’s “Vigil Against Hate” in response to the weekend’s ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. We applaud Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob for hosting this event which worked to unite all members of the community “in a statement of protest against anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry in all forms.” The synagogue noted that Skokie, with a sizable population of Holocaust survivors, relatives and descendants, has a notable history of confronting Nazi ideology.
“Nazism, the KKK, and white supremacists’ evil and violent ethos must be confronted from every corner of our society,” said SVAJ Rabbi Ari Hart. “All people of moral conscience are called at this moment to say: hatred will not be tolerated.”
The non-denominational and non-partisan gathering was led by leaders of local community and faith groups. “The hatred we have seen can make us afraid,” Hart said. “But when we join together in love, respect, and a commitment to be there for one another, we are stronger than any hate.” 
JUF and Oy!Chicago announce sixth annual Jewish '36 Under 36' list
The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago has announced the sixth annual “Double Chai in the Chi: 36 Under 36” list of young Jewish movers and shakers in Chicago.
(The letters of the Hebrew word “Chai,” which means “life,” also represent the number 18.)
Check out the list and full bios online at: www.oychicago.com/36under36
Presented by JUF’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) and Oy!Chicago – an outreach website for Chicago 20- and 30-somethings – the list shines a spotlight on the faces of Chicago’s Jewish future and recognizes the amazing contributions of this generation. The young professionals featured are noted for making a difference through their work, giving back in their free time, and earning distinction in the Jewish community and beyond.
“This year’s list does not disappoint – I can guarantee you that the future of our Jewish community is in good hands with these young leaders at the helm,” said Stefanie Pervos Bregman, co-founding editor of Oy!Chicago. “This marks our sixth year of this initiative and I’m always amazed at the innovative, philanthropic work that is happening right here in Chicago.”
This year’s list is replete with entrepreneurs, activists, fundraisers, and more, running the gamut from writers to rabbis, attorneys to social workers… and, well, the list goes on.
“This is our future, and these young people are our future leaders,” said Lisa Tarshis, incoming YLD Board President and former award winner. “I love all the creativity and passion that always comes through, and the impact that is being made across a variety of sectors-both today and for the years ahead.”
Donations to JUF of up to $36 in recognition of a 36 under 36 honoree will be matched in full, doubling the impact and benefit to those in need in the community. Learn more and donate at https://donate.juf.org/36Under36.
Full profiles of each honoree are available on the Oy!Chicago website.
The 36 winners will be honored at YLD’s “WYLD” party at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10 at Old Crow Smokehouse in River North, at 149 W Kinzie. The party is open to the public. Tickets are available for $20 in advance or $30 at the door. $5 of each ticket will be donated to JUF’s 2017 Annual Campaign to provide services for those in need. To register, visit http://bit.ly/WYLD2017 or e-mail yld@juf.org . Register early – last year’s party completely sold out!
Village of Skokie and Northwestern University to Partner on South Asian Health Study
The Village of Skokie is partnering with Northwestern University on a five-year
project to improve the health of South Asians in Skokie and the surrounding area,
Skokie Health Director Dr. Catherine Counard announced today. “Numerous studies
confirm that South Asians are at much higher risk for heart disease, diabetes and
high blood pressure when compared to other populations. Our partners at
Northwestern University have successfully addressed these issues with the South
Asian Healthy Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI), a recent pilot program that
encourages South Asian individuals to adopt specific lifestyle changes to improve
their health,” said Counard. “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is providing a
$3.5 million grant for a study in which Northwestern University, the Village of
Skokie, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Metropolitan Asian Family Services
and other agencies will partner to expand the reach of SAHELI to Skokie and
surrounding communities.”
Northwestern University successfully applied for the NIH grant and will administer
the project over the five-year grant term. The recent SAHELI pilot was led by Dr.
Namratha Kandula and her team at Northwestern University. “Individuals who
participated in SAHELI lowered their blood sugar and weight,” said Kandula. “Most
health advice is not geared to the unique cultural aspects of South Asians’ lifestyle,
but in SAHELI, we provide education and behavior change strategies that are
evidence-based and specifically geared to South Asians. The aim of the continued,
larger study funded by the NIH grant is to implement and evaluate healthy lifestyle
intervention adapted to the cultural context of South Asians, who are the second
fastest growing ethnic minority group in the U.S.”
“The Skokie Health Department will assist Northwestern University with
recruitment, health education and community outreach for the study. We look
forward to working with Dr. Kandula, the rest of her team at Northwestern
University and study partners on the expanded SAHELI to improve the health of
South Asians living in and around Skokie,” said Counard. “We are grateful for the
strong community partnerships that led to this important collaboration.”
Recruitment of study participants is expected to begin in early 2018. For more
information on the study, email southasianhealth@skokie.org or call the Skokie
Health Department at 847-933-8252.
Oakton Community College’s Skokie campus adds renewable energy source
When Oakton Community College President Joianne Smith signed the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge in December 2015, the college joined more than 200 higher education institutions dedicated to climate action. One of Oakton’s commitments as part of that pledge was recently realized with the addition of a 25-kilowatt photovoltaic array at its Skokie campus, 7701 N. Lincoln Ave.
Installation of the roof-mounted system, consisting of approximately 80 solar panels, was completed on June 20. In its first month, the system has generated five megawatt hours of energy, enough to power approximately 15,000 light bulbs for one day. This use of solar power has already prevented roughly 3,700 kilograms of carbon dioxide being released into the environment, equivalent to planting 201 trees.
“Incorporating renewable energy is one important way of reducing the college’s impact on the environment,” Oakton Sustainability Specialist Debra Kutska says. “It is also something that is of high value to our students, who regularly tell us this is an area they hope the college continues to pursue.”
In addition to the new solar array, the Skokie campus is home to a test system that is easily accessible for enrolled students and provides them with hands-on experience working with solar panels. Live data from the solar array will soon be incorporated into the college’s existing Energy Dashboard which can be found at www.oakton.edu.
Oakton’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its mission, vision and values statement in addition to its strategic plan, “Success Matters.”
Oakton President Joianne Smith says, “We understand that we are part of a diverse ecosystem and that the sustainable use of resources is important not just for our operations, but for the community and the world.”
In March, the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) recognized Oakton’s green commitment with the College Leadership and Sustainability Award. Recent efforts include the installation of a publicly available electric vehicle charging station at the Des Plaines campus, launch of a new environmental studies concentration, preservation and restoration of campus natural areas, diversion of more than 36 percent of waste from landfills and a student-led initiative to use refillable water containers and eliminate the sale of single-use plastic water bottles on campus.