Celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut on the actual day of the holiday!

6:30pm (begins promptly)- Yom Hazikaron ceremony

7:00pm- Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration
Maxwell Street Klezmer Band (world renowned & legendary)
Israeli Dancing with Phil Moss
Kosher Israeli food! Shuk (market) with artists from Israel!
Israel organization fair! Kids program!

$5 Donation

*Easily accessible by Skokie swift yellow line (synagogue directly next to train) or close to 94- lots of parking!*

Sponsored by:
AZM Chicago, Sidney N. Shure Kehilla JCC & Temple Judea Mizpah

Questions? Contact Becky at: badelberg@azm.org or 847-677-5949

On December 25, over 40 people came together to watch the Israeli film Ushpizin at Temple Chai in Long Grove.

Jan Lisa Huttner, JUF News leading arts and culture columnist, gave a moving introduction about Zionism and facilitated a discussion about the movie afterwards.

Everyone enjoyed the event, from the Israeli snacks to the film and are excited to have another Israeli movie night in the future. AZM & ARZA partnered on this event.

To schedule an Israeli movie night in your community, contact AZM Chicago at: Azmchicago@azm.org.

CHICAGO ANNUAL CONCERT

Honoring Ada Sutker-Rabinowitz
and Celebrating Herzl’s 150th Birthday

To read more about the event and see pictures from the event click here

For the 18th year the American Zionist Movement – Chicago Region will feature an up and coming Israeli classical artist at our annual concert on November 28, 2010.

Join us in forging bonds of love and friendship between Jews in the greater Chicago area.

This year’s featured artist is pianist Renana Gutman.

Srugim- Weekly Israeli Movie Night for Young Adults in Chicago: November 14-December 19

The American Zionist Movement Chicago just successfully concluded its screening of the first season of Srugim, the hit Israeli TV show. This final screening included sushi as well as a discussion about the season, and what people thought might happen in the next season. Everyone had a great time watching the last three episodes of the season while getting to know other attendees of the program. Over the course of the series we had over 40 different people attending various events, as well as our regulars who came to see the entire first season! Click here to read more information and to see pictures from the events.

Socialize, Network, and Support Israel- December 14, 6pm

AZM Chicago, American Friends of Magen David Adom & Sidney N. Shure Kehilla came together for “Socialize, Network and Support Israel” in response to Israel’s most severe forest fires in history. This event brought together around 30 people to learn about Magen David Adom’s life saving efforts in Israel, as well as how we as Jewish Americans can come together to support the relief efforts that are on going in Israel. All of the proceeds from the event support the relief efforts in the Carmel Region of Israel. Click here to read more about the event and to see pictures from the event.

Shalom Shlichim: November 1, 7pm

The welcoming of the new Shlichim was celebrated by over 75 people in Evanston on Monday, November 1. The evening began with greetings from AZM Chicago president, Isac Kapulski, followed by the Aliyah Center, the Aliyah Council Chairman and the Deputy Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest. They each took time to extend warm greetings to the new shlichim, as well as provide helpful advice for their term as a shaliach.

The warm greetings were followed by a violin duet performed by Samuel Nemtanu and Gina McGuinness. They performed a number of pieces by composers who were of Israeli, Russian and French descent. The guests also heard a brief introduction from all of the shlichim who were present for the evening. The new shlichim spoke about their goals for the upcoming year, while the shlichim who were returning praised of the Chicagoland Jewish community for their openness in welcoming the new shlichim to the region.

Everyone had a great time and enjoyed being able to get to know the shlichim over desserts that were provided after the presentations.

Click here to see pictures from the event!

Herzl’s 150th Birthday Bash: October 7, 7pm

Herzl’s 150th Birthday celebration was celebrated by over 100 young adults in Chicago on Thursday, October 7. The evening began with an open mic, where various performers, from comedians to musicians to spoken word artists, expressed their connection to Judaism, Zionism and the state of Israel.

The open mic was followed by an Israeli dance party. The program also featured the  Herzl “game room,”  where individuals had the opportunity to pin the beard on Herzl, sign a birthday card to Herzl or fill out a speech bubble that began with the words, ” My Zionism means to me…”. The young people who held winning raffle tickets walked home with Israeli wine, hamzot and Israeli karaoke CD’s.

Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the state of Israel and its founder, Theodor Herzl. At the close of the event, participants left the event asking, “When is the next one?” and “Can we do this again next month?”

Click here to see pictures from the event!

Sukkah Hop: September 23, 12:30pm

Following services for Sukkot at Anshe Sholom, a group of a people ranging in age from one to eighty joined together for a “Sukkah Hop.” 30 people joined together to go to three different sukkot. At the first sukkah, salatim (Israeli style appetizers) were served. Everyone was encouraged to spend their time in this first sukkah getting to know someone that they had not met prior to this experience. Following appetizers at the first sukkah, the group walked together to a different sukkah in the community where we enjoyed our main course and a discussion about what Sukkot is like in Israel, as well as how the Seven Species can be related to modern Israel. At our third and final sukkah, the group enjoyed dessert including some of the Seven Species.

The AZM-Chicago is proud to have been a co-sponsor of this successful Sukkot event. This event has created for thirst of knowledge surrounding how the Jewish holidays are celebrated in Israel, and what the similarities and differences are between celebrating the holidays in the United States and in Israel. The AZM-Chicago plans to continue to partner with different organizations throughout the Chicagoland area to provide programming that is rich in education in regards to Israeli society and Judaism.

For more information about AZM-Chicago, the Sukkah Hop and more, please contact AZM-Chicago Program Associate, Jessica Wainer.

Reception to welcome new Israeli Shlichim working in Chicago and surrounding communities.

Guest Speaker: Harvey Barnett, 2009 Award Winner of the Julius Rosenwald Memorial Award
RSVP to: badelberg@azm.org or 847.677.5949 for more information.

Environmental Crisis in Israel

June 16, 2009
Connect, 1330 N. Milwaukee, Chicago

FutureTense Chicago

On September 14th, the first FutureTense panel in Chicago, co-sponsored by AZM and PresenTense, addressed Arts & Culture.

Bring Israel’s Abducted Soldiers Home Now!

World Solidarity Day in Chicago

Students Advocate for Soldiers’ Release | View More Photos

UIC students in action
OCT. 30 — On a windy day at the University of Illinois at Chicago, students who wandered into the campus quad heard something that definitely was not the wind. It was Israeli music, and it was coming from a table where students were gathered around a large sign which read: “Bring Israel’s Soldiers Home Now: Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev.”

Students who approached the table learned more about the Israeli soldiers who were abducted by terrorists and have been held in captivity for more than a year. They heard how the terrorists have refused to grant these young men the rights which are accorded to all prisoners by international law, including Red Cross medical treatment and the right to communicate with their families.

The students organized the event as part of World Solidarity Day, a global effort organized by the World Zionist Movement, Hagshama, and the Student Forum, which took place in 72 communities around the world on October 30.

Also as part of the day’s events, the students participated in a Lunch and Learn discussion of the abduction of the soldiers led by Deborah Fishman, National Program Director of AZM, and held a candlelit vigil for the soldiers and their families.