Welcome to Temple Har Zion
At the end of the High Holy Day Season comes ...
Click here or on the image above to see what is ahead for the season!
Tonight...
Musical Shabbat
&
Salmon in the Sukkah!(SOLD OUT)
The Festival of Sukkot begins Friday, September 29,
with our beautiful Musical Shabbat
on the Solomon Terrace (weather permitting).
Please join us!
Registration for Salmon in the Sukkah is CLOSED
-- An address by --
Knesset Member Alon Schuster
A special treat at Har Zion on Wednesday, October 11
New Budapest Orpheum Society in Concert
October 11, 7:30pm
Come hear Cantor Figa and the New Budapest Orpheum Society will perform songs from their upcoming fourth CD in this free concert! Click here or on the flyer for more!
B'ruchim Ha'baim - Welcome to Temple Har Zion
Come experience Temple Har Zion’s vibrant Jewish community serving the Western suburbs and the West side of Chicago. Join our diverse and dynamic community as we imbue our lives with Jewish wisdom, prayer, learning, social action and the celebration of Jewish life together. No matter where you are in your journey, we welcome individuals, families/interfaith families, and seekers to nourish your spiritual life with us.
We would love to get to know you; please call us at 708.366.9000 or email:
- The temple office: office@wsthz.org
- Rabbi Adir Glick: rabbi@wsthz.org
- Executive Director Charles Shapera: cshapera@wsthz.org
- Director of Education David Schwartz: dschwartz@wsthz.org
(including adult programing and Koven Religious School) - Early Childhood Education Claudine Guralnick: preschool@wsthz.org
Shabbat Services


Friday Kabbalat Service
Shabbat Evening, Friday, 6:30 PM
Live, in person, this week lead by Sara Stern, or Zoom ID# 818 0357 8025
(requires the Har Zion password )

Saturday Morning
Shabbat morning, 10 AM
Live, in person, or Zoom ID# 242 651 284 (requires the Har Zion password )
Also live and saved on:
Once or twice a month, on a Friday evening or Saturday morning, the Temple Har Zion Davening team presents a special service that is elevated with their music. The Friday Musical Shabbat services are family- and children-friendly (including a play area for our youngest in in sanctuary), and are usually preceded by a Intergeneration Meal.
The next Musical Shabbat is September 29, Erev Sukkot. This Musical Shabbat service is followed by Salmon in the Sukkot!
All adult Shabbat and holiday services are in person and are also livestreamed and saved on:
Weekdays and Sundays, and Especially for Children
Shohet Daily Morning Minyan
Monday–Friday, 8-9 AM
Sundays, 9:30-10:15 AM
Live, in person, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Zoom only Tuesday & Friday.
Zoom ID# 799 405 500 all days
(requires the Har Zion password )
Tot Shabbat and Junior Congregation
One Saturday a month; 11 AM
Tot Shabbat: An introduction to Shabbat services with books, stories, and singing for preschoolers and young school-aged children, accompanied by an adult; in person only.
One Saturday a month; 10:30 AM
Junior Congregation: For older school-aged children; in person only. Resumes on October 21.
Led by our temple youth, using an children's siddur, Junior Congregation encourages participation from all the children in attendance. Adults are welcome to join, but are not required.
Adult Programs and Learning
Monday Evening Learning with David Schwartz
Mondays at 8 PM, Zoom only. Zoom ID# 9245 552 6669 with Har Zion password.
Previous sessions of most Har Zion Adult Education programs are available on Har Zion
FROM THE COMMUNITY...
STAR: Seniors & Retirees Gathering to Learn & Connect
Thursdays at 1 PM
Contact the office for Zoom information.
The Interactive Jewish Book of Why
Select Saturdays, In person and Zoom (Zoom ID to come)
Deepen your skills and knowledge of the Jewish holidays with “The Interactive Jewish Book of Why” series! Once a month we’ll meet to not only learn the “what” of each Jewish holiday, but also the “how” and the “why”. Get your questions answered, learn new traditions, and leave with more than you arrived with! The next class is Sunday, October 15, when we will discuss Shabbbat.
Click here or on the flyer for much more information on this class.
The purpose of this newly initiated program is to build community by fostering relationships between younger and older members of the Har Zion community. This intergenerational program works to address the very real need of families whose relatives don’t live in the Chicago area as well as to build diverse social engagement.
Please click here or on the flyer to note your interest!
Welcoming a Refugee Family to Chicago
Har Zion, with the leadership of member John Dempsey, is gathering a team together to co-sponsor a refugee family in partnership with HIAS Immigration & Citizenship (HIAS), to help refugees make a safe and successful transition to their new home in Chicago. HIAS will provide substantial assistance to the family, including finding an apartment, providing large furniture items, and help in finding employment.
Temple co-sponsors will welcome the family to Chicago, providing their first meal and stocking their pantry, and then help with ongoing support in learning English, navigating the Chicago area, and learning the tools they will need to succeed here. They will also help raise funds for the HIAS Welcome Campaign, https://hias.org/welcome-campaign/
Click here for more information and to sign up!
John Dempsey at 312.925.8127 or harzionsponsorship@gmail.com.
Rabbi Glick and Yakira Levi invite our members to join the West Suburban Chevra Kadisha (WSCK) to participate in the powerful mitzvah of Taharah.
Click here for more information. Fill out the form to join the WSCK team, request a Taharah for yourself or a family member.
Over the centuries, a beautiful and powerful ritual called Taharah - washing, purifying and dressing the deceased for burial has arisen by which we sanctify the transition from life to death. Taharah is the work of the Chevra Kadisha. Oak Park Temple and Temple Har Zion have joined to form the WSCK. The first of its kind in the western suburbs, to make Taharah possible for our community.
When requested by a family member, a team of our volunteers will come to the funeral home to wash, purify and dress the deceased for burial.
Every day should be Earth Day (As Saturday, April 22 , actually is this year!)
More info on green programs on and on Earth Day programs on the Har Zion Earth Day page.
Find An Earth Day Event to Participate In
Click here for a Google search that lists Earth Day activities in the Chicago area. Click on search more events in the box at the top for a very nice listing.
Plastic Collection: Transforming Plastic Bags into a Bench
We are also continuing our collection of plastic bags (only clean, soft plastic) so we can get another free Recycled Plastic Bag Bench from Trex.
And Bread Tag Collection!
We are collecting bread tags (those little hard plastic things that are used to close the plastic bags on most commercial bread products). The proceeds of recycling these are then used to purchase wheelchairs and prosthetics for kids in need! (Yes, this really works.) See the Earth Day Page for more about this program.)
This Week at Har Zion
See our calendar for our full schedule, click here.
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Sun, October 1 2023
16 Tishrei 5784
The High Holy Days began Friday evening, September 15.
Click here or on the image above to go to the Har Zion High Holy Days page.
The Har Zion Herald
Have you read the new September Herald?
(links in the Herald are clickable)
Temple Har Zion Services and Programming
We welcome Har Zion members and all others interested to join our services and participate in our programming.
In Person or Streaming?
We are beginning to offer more of our services/programs in person. You are welcome to join us.
However, all services and most adult programs are also streamed live, and many are saved for later viewing on the temple's Facebook or YouTube accounts. No password is needed to access our programming on Facebook or YouTube.
Events on Zoom
Events that are live on Zoom are protected by the Har Zion password protected. If a live program requires registration, you will receive an email message when you register with the link and password. Otherwise, call or email the temple office if you need the password.
Services
Friday Kabbalat Service

Live, in person, or
Zoom ID# 818 0357 8025
And Facebook and YouTube
Every Friday, 6:30 PM
Saturday Morning

Live, in person, or
Zoom ID# 242 651 284
Shabbat morning, 10 AM
Shohet Morning Minyan
Live, in person, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (except for US federal holidays), and Zoom ID# 799 405 500 all days.
Monday–Friday, 8-9 AM
Sundays, 9:30-10:15 AM
See Services for more information and links to online copies of the siddur.
Upcoming Events
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Monday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2023Monday Evening Learning with Temple Har Zion Director of Education David Schwartz
Monday, Oct 2nd 8:00p to 9:00p
Monday Learning with David Schwartz -
Wednesday ,
OctOctober 4 , 2023Family Fun/Kef Mishpachti Hot Dogs in the Hut
Wednesday, Oct 4th 6:00p
Enjoy a a kid-friendly meal in the sukkah; for kids of all ages! -
Friday ,
OctOctober 6 , 2023Shemini Atzeret
Friday, Oct 6th 6:30p to 7:30p
Erev Shemini Atzeret: Friday, October 6, 2023, 6:30 PM Shemini Atzeret: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 10 AM -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2023Shemini Atzeret
Shabbat, Oct 7th 10:00a to 12:30p
Erev Shemini Atzeret: Friday, October 6, 2023, 6:30 PM Shemini Atzeret: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 10 AM -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2023Rabbi Yosef Levanon discusses the Book of Job
Shabbat, Oct 7th 1:15p to 2:15p
After kiddush, about 1:15pm, in the Chapel. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2023Simchat Torah
Shabbat, Oct 7th 6:00p to 6:30p
On October 7th, an evening of community and celebration for all ages! Meal at 6 PM, service at 6:30 PM, music and celebration at 6:45 PM, followed by a morning service on October 8th, 10 AM. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2023Simchat Torah
Shabbat, Oct 7th 6:30p to 8:30p
On October 7th, an evening of community and celebration for all ages! Meal at 6 PM, service at 6:30 PM, music and celebration at 6:45 PM, followed by a morning service on October 8th, 10 AM. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 8 , 2023No KRS today
Sunday, Oct 8th (All day)
-
Sunday ,
OctOctober 8 , 2023Simchat Torah Morning Service
Sunday, Oct 8th 10:00a to 12:15p
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Monday ,
OctOctober 9 , 2023Monday Evening Learning with Temple Har Zion Director of Education David Schwartz
Monday, Oct 9th 8:00p to 9:00p
Monday Learning with David Schwartz -
Wednesday ,
OctOctober 11 , 2023
Wednesday, Oct 11th 7:30p to 9:00p
A concert of new material will be recorded later in the fall for the group's 4th CD. Join us for an incredible concert with the seven members of Grammy-nominated New Budapest Orpheum Society as they carry on the traditions of Jewish cabaret music. Mezzo-soprano Julia Bentley enjoys performing a broad range of genres, from operatic roles of Mozart and Rossini to the dusky back rooms of cabaret in her appearances with the New Budapest Orpheum Society. She has appeared as a soloist for such conductors as Raymond Leppard, Robert Shaw, and Pierre Boulez, and has premiered more than 200 pieces, thanks to her passion for newly composed works. A regular guest with Chicago’s ensembles, she is also on the faculty of several Chicago universities as a voice teacher, chamber music specialist, and lecturer in Art Song. Philip V. Bohlman, artistic director, is the Mary Werkman Distinguished Service Professor of the Humanities and Music at the University of Chicago and Honorarprofessor of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Germany. He has received the Edward Dent Medal from the Royal Music Association, the Berlin Prize, the Derek Allen Prize from the British Academy, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and with the New Budapest Orpheum Society the Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society. Among his recent books are Revival and Reconciliation (2013) and Wie könnten wir des Herrn Lied singen in fremdem Lande? (2015). Stewart Figa, baritone, has served as cantor at West Suburban Temple Har Zion in River Forest since 1998, and has been a cantor in the Chicago area since 1990. He also comes to the New Budapest Orpheum Society from a tradition of Yiddish theater, beginning in New York City in the 1980s. He has had the privilege of working with some of the legendary greats of the Yiddish stage, including Leon Liebgold, Seymour Rexite, Reizel Boyzk, and Max Perlman. He has performed programs of Yiddish song throughout Chicagoland. Danny Howard, percussion, is the newest member of the New Budapest Orpheum Society. With strong roots in the UK, he has built an international career that stretches across repertoires and genres, no less than across the English Channel and the Atlantic. Having studied in Cuba and Brazil, Danny has specialized in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian Folkloric music for over a decade and now runs his own Latin band. His first passion, nonetheless, was classical music. The New Budapesters could not be more thrilled that he’s recently put down his diverse musical roots in Chicago. Iordanka Kissiova, violinist, is active as an orchestral and chamber musician throughout the Chicago area and the state of Illinois. A native of Bulgaria, she studied in Sophia at the Bulgarian National Academy of Music before immigrating to the United States in 1993. She performed widely in Europe, among others with the “Sophia” women’s orchestra. A string teacher with Quinlan and Fabish, she has played regularly in regional orchestras throughout the Midwest, among them Ars Viva. She has recorded for the Bulgarian Radio Orchestra and the New Budapest Orpheum Society. Ilya Levinson, music director, arranger, and pianist, holds degrees in composition from the Moscow Conservatory and the University of Chicago (Ph.D. 1997). His works for chamber music and orchestra have recently enjoyed performances in France, Germany, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. His Klezmer Rhapsody is recorded by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band on the Shanachie label. Composer-in-residence with American Music Festivals, he is Assistant Professor of Music at Columbia College Chicago. More info: https://www.cedillerecords.org/artists/ilya-levinson/ Mark Sonksen, bassist, joined the New Budapest Orpheum Society in 2008, and he has been a stalwart member of its tours in Europe and its performances of stage and film music from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. His works are rooted harmonically in the modern jazz idiom, yet incorporate a wide variety of influences as a result of being involved in Spanish language and culture for 20 years. These influences range from music of the Caribbean to Argentine/Uruguayan Tango, New Tango, and folkloric music in addition to early twentieth-century classical music, and modern jazz in the American and European traditions. Don Stille, Chicago pianist and accordionist, has performed throughout the country with a long list of internationally acclaimed jazz artists and has opened for Herbie Hancock and Stephane Grappelli. Among his achievements are recognition as “Mainstream Jazz Pianist of the Year” by the Twin Cities Jazz Society, and house pianist and often-featured jazz artist on NPR’s “First House on the Right.” Don recently performed on accordion in five concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, both at Orchestra Hall and on tour. He also was recently featured on accordion in the movies Picture Paris and Swan Song. -
Friday ,
OctOctober 13 , 2023Lay-Led Family-Style Service
Friday, Oct 13th 6:00p to 7:30p
Join us for a laid back and lay-led service on Friday October 13th. While not just for families, this service is going to be dished up family-style. Details: 6pm - A good sized nosh/snack (Lobby) 6:30pm- Lay-led service on the Terrace, weather permitting (seating in the round, short, soulful, songful) 7pm - Kiddush and Dinner (Social Hall) There is no charge to attend, but we are inviting those who are able to donate in order to cover the cost of the meal for themselves and/or others who can't afford it. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 14 , 2023Rabbi Yosef Levanon discusses the Book of Job
Shabbat, Oct 14th 1:15p to 2:15p
After kiddush, about 1:15pm, in the Chapel. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 15 , 2023Interactive Jewish Book of Why
Sunday, Oct 15th 9:45a to 10:45a
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Sunday ,
OctOctober 15 , 2023
Sunday, Oct 15th 1:00p to 2:30p