Kickoff 5777-2016 School Year; What do I understand?

We are now in the month of Elul, which precedes the month of Tishri; the month of the High Holy days.  During Elul we are to prepare ourselves for the upcoming holiday season.  There are many different ways to get ready and as usual I am personally preparing for the High Holy days by preparing our educational program at Lakeside Congregation. School this year will look a little different and a little like it has in the past.

On the first day of school we will have a Kickoff for Lakeside which will feature a Firetruck bouncy house, a police car, an opportunity to say and write thank you notes to our local first responders.  music, making s'mores, and information tables by our Lakeside affiliates.  It will be a fun morning for the whole family and for prospective new members. I hope to see all of you at our opening program.

We are also very excited to launch our new Lakeside Academy for grades 5-10.  Students will be able to chose from a list of electives for the 2nd half of class.  Students will have a core curriculum from 10:30-11:15am and from 11:15am-Noon they will be able to chose an elective.  Here is a video with some of the electives we will be offering. Lakeside Academy Electives

Other ways to get ready during the month of Elul is to #BlogElul.  I hope to start blogging shortly and here are the topics that I will participate in Rabbi Phyllis Sommer of Am Shalom.


It is daunting to try and blog every day and I have never been very successful.  It does push me to think, prepare and get ready in many different ways.  Today's blog is understand.  I think to understand you must first know what you don't know.  After opening school for over 30 years (27 here at Lakeside) I almost always have butterflys the night before.  I have come to understand that I can't always anticpate everything that will happen or 100% accurately predict how the day will turn out.  I can do all the hard work before hand over the summer to insure there will be a modicum of success and continue to build on my understanding to make next year even better.  I look forward to blogging Elul and preparing for the High Holy days. 

Blog Elul, I am late to the party but still here. Blog #26 Create

I try every year to Blog Elul with my colleague Rabbi Phyllis Sommer.  What's the big deal about the month of Elul?  Here is what we learn from Rabbi Phyllis:


The Jewish month of Elul, which precedes the High Holy Days, is traditionally a time of renewal and reflection. It offers a chance for spiritual preparation for the Days of Awe. It is traditional to begin one’s preparation for the High Holy Days during this month with prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. We look to begin the year with a clean slate, starting anew, refreshed.


This year Elul started when I was on vacation and when I got home from vacation I began immediately planning for Lakeside's Hebrew and Religious School and our Adult education program.  Every day my blog got away from me.  Now as we approach Rosh Hashanah and the end of Elul I may be late but I am ready to go.  Today's topic is Create.  Perfect.

I enjoy working on my blog and over the summer I did blog from OSRUI and I love to create blogs not just from camp but weekly during the school year.  I am lucky that my job allows me to create in many different ways.  I create new programs like this year's first day of school, Day of Awesome. I also enjoy creating iMovies which highlight different programs at Lakeside, camp and my family.   

I look forward to a new year of creating in many different ways and modes.  Creating keeps me motivated and keeps my job refreshed.  This is my latest iMovie from the first day of Hebrew school and from my Kitah Aleph class.  It's just a taste of what we do.  Can't wait for the rest of the year!

#BlogElul 2 Act

Ethan Ehrlich, First day: UW Madison, August 2014/Elul 5774

All of your parenting leads up to this day. You hope you have prepared your child to act in the appropriate manner and then you send him off to college. You teach them how to act in all types of situations: studying, doing Jewish activities, doing Tikkun Olam, making friends, having a good time and learning how to deal with the not so good times.

I am not sure why this day brings tears as well. I suppose I do know. Things change after you go off to college. I know it's not just the address change but it is also the maturity you acquire living on your own.  I feel confident that Ethan will love college, do well and still feel comfortable coming home.   It just an adjustment not to have him at home.  He was a madrich all summer at OSRUI and we basically knew where he was and what he was doing.  At college, although I am SURE he will call home, eventually, it is different.  I don't want to interfere but desperately want to know what is going on in his life.

I know I must learn how to act with our youngest away at school.  It will not come easy but we have been leading up to this day.  We can act.  I am looking forward to the next chapter.  In fact this is what I left under Ethan's pillow to find after we have left.  I can't wait to see the places he will go!

#BlogElul 1: Do

Lakeside Congregation

Opening Teachers Meeting: Check
Sending youngest Child off to University of Wisconsin: Almost check
Getting ready for the first day of Religious School, Sunday September 7 10am to 12 Noon: check
Helping school Admin to prepare class lists and get all info to teachers:  Check

Ethan Ron

I am trying to "do" as much as possible and sometimes at this time of year I never feel like the days are long enough.  As the month of Elul comes I know the High Holy day are around the corner and Religious and Hebrew can't be far off.

Summer is a time to relax, rejuvenate, and renew. Fall/Elul is a time to do; Time to execute plans for the year and to dream of what can be.  The classrooms are being prepared, teachers are working on exciting programs for this year.

I would write more today but have to get ready for the big drop off tomorrow.  I will have lots to write for #Blog Elul 2:Act as we drop off at University of Wisconsin.  Stay tuned

Act like you are 80 and feel blessed! #BlogElul

Wedding picture, Marian and Jerry Michaels
January 1955

Yesterday was my mother's 80th birthday and hence the delay in posting for blog Elul.  I think the rules are lenient enough to take a DOUBLE POST.  My mom, Marian Michaels turned 80 yesterday and was surprised by her friends with a birthday luncheon.  The luncheon was hosted by her walking group and other attendees included  her book group, family and friends from 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years ago.  My mom knows the meaning of ACT.  Just last week she worked a McHenry Country Citizens for Choice booth at the County Fair which is not an easy task.  She volunteers yearly and this is the first time she was not accompanied by her 90 year old friend who passed away during the year.

"The Walkers" Skit

My parents have always acted and stood for all things Jewish and liberal.  They hosted coffees, went door to door and tried to get their candidates elected.  Our house modeled the idea to act and get out there.  There was no question about voting, wearing a button for your candidate and of course supporting your candidate financially.

 Everyone sitting in that room is a testimony to my Mother and her actions and how she acted over her life.  She made a comment about everyone in the room and knew not just their stories but also the stories of their families, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren.  She is remarkable and I know she feels blessed.  My parents have 5 grandchildren and are involved with each and every one and their friends as well.  They are blessed and we are blessed to have both of my parents in all of our lives.  Shabbat Shalom.

Marian and Jerry Michaels and Grandchildren

Marian and MJ