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This
website designed and maintained by |
Special
thanks to Leonard Grossman,
webmaster emeritus.
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| West Suburban Temple Har Zion has been the center of Conservative Judaism in the Western suburbs since the 1930's. Since then, we have continued to grow as a dynamic community of people who join together to pray, learn, develop lifelong friendships and to celebrate the joys of Jewish life. |  |
In addition to serving the Jewish communities of River Forest and Oak Park, our membership extends to many of Chicago's far west and southwest suburbs. We are easily accessible from the Eisenhower (290), Stevenson (55), Kennedy (90) Expressways as well as the tristate tollway (294). We are a 20 minute ride from the Loop and all major medical centers and 25 minutes from the far west suburbs.
Please visit our synagogue, join us for worship and meet our rabbi, cantor, education director and our greatest assets - our members.
SHABBAT SERVICES
FRIDAY EVENINGS
AT 6:30
We
warmly welcome Shabbat each Friday evening with Kabbalat Shabbat services. Religious
school classes often lead this service, which is sometimes followed by a special
Shabbat dinner.
SATURDAY
MORNINGS AT 10:00 AM
At Shabbat
morning services, children are welcome to sit with their parents or to attend
regularly scheduled Junior Congregation or Tot Shabbat services. Pulpit honors
are accorded equally to men and women. While many prayers are recited in Hebrew,
there are many English readings, to allow everyone's participation.
Aliyahs: Members desiring an aliyah or other honor at the Shabbat morning service (to commemorate a Yarhrzeit, special birthday, or other milestone) may contact the Temple office or our Gabbai (Dr. Ed Sachs). Even when we have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or other special Shabbat, we will reserve some honors to for members of the congregation.
THE SHOHET DAILY MINYAN
MONDAY
AND THURSDAY AT 7:30AM
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 7:45 AM
SUNDAY
AT 9:30AM
Every morning of the
year the members of our daily minyan daven the Shachrit service and face the day
ahead with smiles on their faces. After the service, there is a D'var Torah (an
explanation of the week's portion) from Rabbi Mirelman, warm bagels, coffee and
interesting conversation.
HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
We observe all of the traditional Jewish holidays and festivals. A temple membership entitles a family to seating for the High Holy Day services. Junior Congregation and Tot services are conducted during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and babysitting is also provided.
At West Suburban Temple Har Zion, we celebrate the festivals in a variety of ways. Services usually start at 10:00 am unless otherwise noted. Evening services vary and will be posted on our Special Announcements page.
PASSOVER- a congregational seder led by the rabbi and cantor on the second night of Passover attracts over 150 each year. There are special activities for the younger children and a traditional Pesach feast.
Passover Services will be on Sunday Apr. 8 at 6:00 pm, Monday Apr. 9 at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, and on Tuesday Apr 10 at 10:00 am. Yizkor will be recited at the Tuesday morning service.
SUKKOT- decorating the temple's sukkah and sharing family traditions by visiting members' sukkot on a congregational sukkah walk.
SIMCHAT TORAH - noisy, joyously celebrated, dancing to a klezmer band and marching with the Sifrei Torah in hand.
YOM HA'ATZMAUT - a festive Israeli dinner and Israeli dancing put us in the mood to celebrate Israel's Independence day.
PURIM - student-led Megilla reading and groggers, costumes and a carnival that includes games, prizes and the Shushan Food Shoppe.
HANUKKAH - this festival is enhanced by a gift fair, social dinner and candlelighting.
SHAVUOT - At Tikkun l'eyl Shavuot, we meet to study the sacred texts on the first night of Shavuot.
SELICHOT - a moving and beautiful late-evening service to usher in the High Holy Days, preceeded by a dessert reception and program.
TOT SHABBAT
Our tots (non-readers) get their introduction to services in a comfortable setting on Shabbat mornings. Once a month, they learn popular melodies, begin to recite Hebrew portions of the service and get a sense of the joys of Shabbat.
Come one and all to Tot Shabbat! Tot Shabbat is beginning soon for another great year. Anne Gottlieb and Alyse Wittenberg have been working very hard to plan an interactive and exciting Tot Shabbat service. We will be singing, learning prayers and celebrating kiddush. The Tot Shabbat service is designed for children in kindergarten or younger and their parents. We will be meeting one to two times a month. Tot Shabbat (TS) meets in the preschool at 11:00 am. Can’t wait to see you there.
Tot Shabbat meets in the preschool at 11:00 am on the following dates: November 4 and 18, December 9, January 13 and 27, February 10, March 17, April 7 and 21, and May 5.
JR. CONGREGATION.
What
is Junior Congregation?
Junior congregation is an opportunity for children
to lead and participate in Shabbat services, assisted by a few teen volunteers.
It’s a service run by kids, for kids.
Where does Junior Congregation happen?
In the Guralnick chapel, on
select Saturday mornings.
Why is Junior Congregation important? Don’t the children learn prayers
in Hebrew school?
The children STUDY prayers in Hebrew school, but they
PRAY in Junior Congregation. Actively learning to pray, and to become comfortable
with the structure of the Shabbat morning service, only happens when children
are given the opportunity to participate in actual services.
Why do the children need a special service?
Children can certainly
join in adult services, and we are so happy when the children do! Junior Congregation
is special because it is a service for kids, run by kids…it is just a different,
interactive experience.
Will this help my child be more prepared for bar/bat mitzvah?
Absolutely.
Is Junior Congregation fun?
We love to have fun at Junior Congregation – encourage your child to invite a
friend, stay a little while, socialize….but prayer is also a focused activity.
It requires effort, and the children learn and grow through their participation.
We discuss the meaning and purpose of specific prayers, the parsha of the week…it’s
an important part of the complete religious school experience.
Beginning in first grade, children are encouraged to attend Junior Congregation. Parents, including Barbara Yong, Lisa Browdy, George Srajer, Andrea Sidorow, Moselle Brotman, Heidi Kieselstein andCarol Flank will assist the children as they learn to lead the service. Through Junior Congregation, children gain confidence leading prayers. As they learn the meaning of our prayers and the structure of the service the community of our young worshippers is strengthened.
Junior Congregation meets in the chapel at 10:30 am on the following dates: November 4 and 18, December 9, January 13 and 27, February 10, February 24, March 17, April 7 and 21, and May 5.
LIFE
CYCLE EVENTS
Temple
facilities are available for important lifecycle events such as B'nai Mitvah,
Brit Milah, baby namings, weddings, anniversaries and funerals. Our recently renovated
community hall can accommodate up to 250 people for luncheon or dinner.
Please note: to help you derive the most from our services and to help us maintain our traditions and the proper decorum of our service:
-
attire in the sanctuary should be modest and appropriate for a house of worship;
no strapless,
bareshoulder dresses, no torn jeans or pants;
no bare midriffs or short shorts, etc.
- do not enter or leave the sanctuary
when the ark is open or when the rabbi is speaking
- all males should wear
a kippah (head covering) while in the building; these are available in
the
rack in the front foyer
- do not take tallit
or prayer book into the restroom
- do not smoke anywhere in or near the building
- complimentary babysitting is available in the pre-school room from the beginning
to the end of the
service
- writing is prohibited on Shabbat
and holidays; it's considered a creative act and thus is not allowed
on sanctified days
- refrain from chewing gum in the synagogue building
- pocket-sized hearing amplification devices are available; see an usher or the
executive director.
- pagers and cell phones should be silenced in the sanctuary.
-
photography is prohibited in the sanctuary during services.