As "People of the Book," Jewish communities have long relied on stories to infuse daily life with meaning and structure. Just as adults turn to books, instruction manuals, and stories for guidance, we ...

UIUC students gather at an on-campus vigil in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. After several years of negotiations, Hillel International, Illini Hillel, and JUF have reached an agreement with ...

Wendy Platt Newberger has hosted countless of Israeli families in her Chicago home through the years. So, when she learned of an opportunity to host a family from Kibbutz Holit for a week this past ...

Yonatan Yogadovsky, director of the Magen David Adom (MDA) international department, speaks to participants of a JUF mission about the role of the MDA. (Photo by Yonit Schiller) Since October 7, JUF's ...

Where were you on October 7? I was at my kitchen table, studying Talmud when there was a knock on the door. It was 6:30 a.m. on Shemini Atzeret, which brings Sukkot to a close. A knock on the door ...

"I was so confused at what anxiety was at the time, so I really didn't know what was going on," he said, as he reflected on the summer of 2022. Tepper is now a seventh grader at Deerfield's Caruso ...

These chairs, symbolizing each of the hostages taken on October 7, have stood outside of Am Shalom Congregation--no matter what the weather--for nearly a year. In this most challenging year, local ...

October 7 had a profound impact on Chicago area Jewish day schools and high schools. Shortly after the devastating attacks, school communities rallied and brainstormed about how they could help ...

Project management consultant Marisa Douenias and her dog, Poppy— a 13-year-old Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix— moved to Israel from Chicago, in the wake of October 7. (Photo courtesy of Nefesh B’Nefesh) ...

Wade Bacon outside the Wrigleyville celebration of his conversion to Judaism. In August, my friend Wade Bacon completed his conversion to Judaism. Wade has been married to Rebecca (Weinstein) Bacon ...

Alona Russo enjoying time at Camp Chi over the summer. (Photo courtesy of IDF Widows and Orphans Organization) Alona Russo lost her father, Uri, on October 7, while he was defending Kibbutz Kfar Aza.

Shanah Tova! Happy New Year! Are you looking for a place to celebrate the High Holidays your family? We are excited to share the following family programming for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh ...