 |
|
 |
|||||
|
|
Society of PatronsAcademy supporters gather to hear Rabbi Berel WeinMore than 50 ICJA parents and supporters gathered at the
home of current parents Michelle and Brian In his introduction of Rabbi Berel Wein, Rabbi Leonard Matanky said, “Rabbi Wein has changed our Jewish world through the art of communication, written and oral. There is not a person who hasn’t learned from him.” Rabbi Wein, who was a member of the Chicago Jewish Academy’s second graduating class, described the state of Jewish education in Chicago at the time of the Academy’s founding. “When my parents took me out of seventh grade to enroll me in the Academy, fine-standing Orthodox Jews came to my parents and said, ‘How can you send him there? You’re going to make him a cripple.’” Sixty
years later, Rabbi Wein, whose mother smartly replied, “At least he’ll be a
religious cripple,” Not only have graduates benefited from the Jewish, academic and life preparation they gained at ICJA, but the Chicago Jewish community has thrived because of the institution’s contribution. Describing the mission of one of the Academy’s founding rabbis, Rabbi Wein said, “Rabbi Sacks said this institution is going to save Chicago.” Rabbi
Sacks went door-to-door begging parents to provide their children with a Jewish
education. Rabbi Wein, who is known for transmitting Jewish history to the Jewish community, closed by saying, “In the Jewish world, we remember towns by the institutions they have. Chicago is written into the history of the Jewish people because of the institutions it created.” Many thanks to the Levinsons for hosting the beautiful program and to the SOP chairs and committee. Thank you to our generous members of the Society of PatronsGuardian (List in formation) |
|
Levinson for the Society of Patrons
reception, motzaei Shabbat, October 29. Following a dessert reception,
attendees were privileged to hear from world-renowned speaker, author and
educator Rabbi Berel Wein, an Academy alum of 1950. 
and the Academy have proved the naysayers wrong. Rabbi
Wein’s class was the first of three generations of Academy graduating classes
to produce outstanding leaders in Jewish communal life, business, politics,
academics and more. “The leaders and gedolim of the next generation came out of
that class,” said Rabbi Wein.
Sixty years later, ICJA continues to thrive, each year inspiring 300
