“We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.” – Audre Lorde – 1934-1992 – Writer-Librarian-Civil Rights Activist

 

“Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful.” – Hazrat Inayat Khan – 1882-1927 – Professor

 

“As long as I’m alive, I will continue to try to understand more because the work of the heart is never done.” – Muhammad Ali – 1942-2016 – Professional Boxer

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CALENDAR

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

May 4 – 10-Noon – District Assembly at the Carle Forum

1-4 PM – Fold newspapers for the Humane Society at Good Shepard Lutheran Church

May 13 – 24 – U of I Intensive Language Instruction.   Instruction in 13 languages is offered.  There is no required attendance, minimal homework and no grades.  For more information, go to go.illinois.edu/ilip.

May 18 – Rotary Leadership Institute – the Club will pay the fee for those who wish to attend.

May 30 – Club Social at 1607 Sandpiper Ct., Champaign – No AM meeting

June 27 – Pass the Gavel

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Joe Rank introduced Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel, the Executive Director of Chabad Center for Jewish Life and Living.    Chabad is the largest Jewish organization in the world.  It was started in Ukraine in the 1700’s to provide social services and education to Jewish families.  

 

Rabbi Dovid is originally from Brooklyn, NY. Three of his great grandfathers were killed for being Jewish.  One was killed by the Cossacks, one by the Nazis and one by the KGB.  He lost 22 family members in the Holocaust.   From childhood, he wanted to be a rabbi.

 

Rabbi Dovid’s wife Goldie is from Chicago. They have six children. They believed that they should not go where they wanted to go, but where they were  needed to go. So in 2003, when they were asked to move from Brooklyn to start Chabad in CU, they came.  Rabbi Dovid said there is a long history of Jewish life in Champaign, beginning with Joseph Kuhn.

 

The first building Chabad owned was at the corner of 4th and Green Street.  Later, a fraternity lost its charter and they were able to buy the fraternity house at 4th and Armory.  The aim of the Jewish center is to give meaning, share joy and add spirituality to the every day. Their dream is to teach those values in a warm and nurturing environment where people can grow together, enjoying life and Judaism simultaneously.

 

Rabbi Dovid became the liaison for religious life on campus. After ten years, the University made it an official position. He wants to bring people together rather than to divide them.  He believes that people will always care about each other; you just have to bring them together.

 

—

  Apr 11th Apr 18th Apr 25th May 2nd
Introductions Rod Roberts Garrett Colbert Jarrod Scheunemann Jen Shelby
Reflection Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry Joe Rank
Greeters Rod Roberts Garrett Colbert Jarrod Scheunemann Jen Shelby
Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry Joe Rank
Notetaker Hodson Crane Conforti Perry

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

April 11th –Al Nudo who will speak about Willard Airport (Tom)

April 18th – Retired American Airlines Captain John Carey will speak by Zoom about his experience investigating U.S. Airlines flight 1549 that landed on the Hudson River in 2009 (Mary)

April 25th – Jenette Jurczyk of The Family Room (Lisa)

May 2nd – TBD

May 9th – TBD

May 16th – TBD

May 23 – Cooper, the Child Advocacy Center Comfort Dog (Joe)

May 30th – TBD

 

 

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

 

April 3 – Mary Hodson

April 24 – Mary Kay Smith