Chicago Jewish Experience
 
 
 
 
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What is the Chicago Jewish Experience (CJE)? WE are a community of people engaged in spiritual self-discovery through the medium of Judaic tradition, ritual, and culture. Our goal is to reconnect with God with our hearts and minds through an openness to a Jewish life that emphasizes joy and celebration of the grandeur of the universe, and through studying the deepest spiritual truths of the Jewish people. We are a new community, (2007) still in the formative process of spiritual self-discovery. As such, the people who join us in our quest will define the path that we will travel. We invite those interested in this journey of self-discovery to join us. Where is CJE located? WE are located at at Congregation Shaare Tikvah B'nai Zion, 5800 Kimball Ave. Chicago, IL (Hollywood Park, near West Rogers Park). What is the connection between CJE and Congregation Shaare Tikvah B'nai Zion? Congregation Shaare Tikvah is a Conservative Synagogue and is providing seed money for the Chicago Jewish Experience. Most CJE programming takes place at Shaare Tikvah B'nai Zion and STBZ members often attend CJE programs. Is CJE Orthodox, Reform or what? We will be what we become. We choose not to define ourselves in these terms, they are more constraining than they are helpful and would hinder the self-discovery process. We don't adhere to patriarchal and authoritarian conceptions of God and because we insist on egalitarianism, equal rights for gays and lesbians, a rejection of all forms of chauvinism (including views of the Jews as somehow better than others), and an openness to create new prayers to express our deepest spiritual longings. Yet we are also traditional: we use many of the traditional prayers in combination with new and meaningful ways of self expression. We encourage our community members to spend a full 25 hours of Shabbat in celebration of the universe. What if I don't know if I really believe in God. Some of those in our community have trouble with traditional conceptions of God, or with the very word God (not a Hebrew word). We affirm YHVH as the Force of Healing and Transformation in the world-the Force that makes possible the transformation from That Which Is to That Which Ought to Be. Some of us think of God in a non-hierarchical, non-judgmental, non-patriarchal way. What if I or my friend/partner isn't Jewish? You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy our services. All are welcome. We have many interfaith, or no faith or in other ways mixed couples in our community. While we urge people to consider deepening their Jewish practice, there is no pressure on any one to go at a pace different from what feels comfortable to them. What about children? We especially welcome children, particularly for services. We have a great Hebrew school that meets once a week, every Sunday between 9AM and 1PM. They do a great job of preparing kids for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. There is a children's service on the first Friday of each month and and a variety of children's educational activities. Click here for information about our Children's Program. Conversion Program We have an ongoing conversion program. Please see our website Chicago Jewish Conversions. mailto:congstbz@visioni.com?subject=Request%20for%20Children's%20Program%20informationshapeimage_5_link_0
For more information
                   please call
           (847) 242-6020