We hope this finds you hunkered down and healthy! We thought we would take this time and give you an update on our Passover 2020 “Delivery.” THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts, for your support and generosity during this unusual time in our organization. Without your help we would have not been able switch […]
We celebrated Rosh Hashanah in September, New Years in January, and we just celebrated the “new year of the trees,” also known as Tu Bishvat. A long time ago, this holiday signaled the start of the agricultural cycle. Today, Tu Bishvat has morphed into a nature appreciation day celebrated by planting trees and eating fruit. […]
Tu B’shvat: the New Year for Trees Tu B’shvat takes place on the 15th of the month of Shevat. (February 10, 2020). A minor Jewish holiday, it is often referred to as the “new year” or “birthday” of the trees. Its customs are simplistic, however, it’s meaning can be quite monumental. We’re Jewish, Therefore We Eat! […]
It’s hard to believe it, but we’re already getting ready for Thanksgiving. We’re all about celebrating holidays at Maot Chitim, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate a holiday than to practice gratitude. These are just a few of the things that we’re giving thanks for this Thanksgiving. 1. The Chicagoland Jewish […]
Who said resolutions are only for the calendar new year? The Jewish new year is the perfect time to make a new positive habit or quit an old negative one, especially since it coincides with the beginning of pre-existing routines like the school year. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your resolution, you’ve come […]
Why do people volunteer? The obvious answer: people volunteer because they want to help other people from the bottom of their hearts. The not-so-obvious answer: the volunteers themselves experience a wealth of personal benefits. Here are five surprising things benefits volunteers gain from their service: 1.New friends Making friends is even easier for volunteers because […]
Most Jewish holidays are a cause for celebration. Usually, there’s lots of food involved. Tisha B’av, often described as the saddest day of the Jewish year, is an exception. It commemorates a series of tragedies that all happened to fall on the 9th day of Av, which falls on August 10th this year. To name a few, the destruction […]
There was a time in my youth where the phrase “community service” only signified some kind of mandated punishment. To me, there was no benefit that I would experience from doing volunteer work. I felt that the only people benefiting from this activity were either the people who would receive the fruits of my labor, […]
When Jewish immigrants started flowing into the US in the early 20th century, summer camps were created with the intention of assimilating the immigrant children to American culture. More than a century later, Jewish camps have evolved into a place for kids to discover their Jewish identities while having fun and making lifelong friendships. Jewish values […]
