August 27, 2024
23 Av 5784
B”H
Dear Fellow and Prospective Skokie Central Congregation members:
As we approach the High Holidays, I take the opportunity to reflect back on a successful year and look forward to an even more successful upcoming year.
This past year, we began an ongoing campaign to add many new sets of Seforim to our library and will continue to do so. Thank you to everybody who dedicated the new sets of books. There are still opportunities to dedicate more sets for those who are interested.
This past year, we had a successful campaign to purchase beautiful new Torah covers and they will be arriving shortly. I am looking forward to dedicating them and using them starting Rosh Hashana. Thank you to everyone who dedicated one.
We have had great minyanim and classes on Shabbosim, Holidays, Sunday mornings, and national Holidays. We have also enjoyed many Kiddushes, Seudah Shlishits, and Shabbat and holiday meals together. We will continue to do so in the future and we look forward to expanding our schedule of services and classes.
This year, we also celebrate the 65th anniversary of Skokie Central Congregation and we will be having a dinner on November 7 at Shallots Bistro to celebrate this milestone. Invitations to follow soon.
In order for the Shul to operate and grow, we ask that you renew your membership and that those who are not current members consider joining the Shul. We rely on your generosity and support in order to operate the Shul. This year, for the first time in a few years, the board of directors has approved a slight increase in the dues.
We offer 3 types of membership:
Family membership: $1,200 which includes High Holiday seats for 2 adults and children aged 23 and under, voting rights, and discounts to Shul events
Single membership: $650 which includes 1 adult High Holiday seat, voting rights, and discounts to Shul events
Associate membership (for those with full membership elsewhere): $500 which includes discounts to Shul events (Associate membership does not include seats for the High Holidays.)
Extra High Holiday seats for children over the age of 23: $125
Non-member and associate member High Holiday seats: $175 each
We ask that dues be paid by September 19. For anyone with a past due balance, please make payment prior to that date to make your account current. No one will be refused membership due to financial hardship. If you require a payment plan or accommodation, please contact Reuven Masliansky to make arrangements: rmasliansky@1stclassmovers.com
Our annual dues account for only about 30% of our yearly operating costs. Understandably, we welcome all donations to help us meet our budgetary shortfall for expenses. In addition to any regular donations you may choose to make, there are several other ways to donate as well. We welcome sponsorship for many opportunities including security, Kiddush, Seudah Shishlit, and Sunday morning breakfasts. Room rentals are also available for your small to medium family gatherings and simchas. Plaques to honor your departed family members are available on our Memorial Wall for $225 each and Leaves on our Tree of Life to honor a Simcha start at $72. We will be having our annual Yom Kippur appeal. Once again, sponsorships for full or partial pages are available in our annual Book of Remembrance which will be published and distributed on Yom Kippur and displayed on our digital board every time we recite Yizkor.
There are still several naming opportunities for different rooms in the Shul:
• Outside of the building sold $150,000
• Sanctuary $50,000
• Multi-purpose room $15,000
• Library sold $10,000
• Rabbi’s office $7,500
• Kitchen sold $7,500
• Main office $7,500
• Coat room $5,000
• Kids’ room sold $5,000
• Lobby sold $5,000
• Main restroom sold $5,000
• Vestibule $5,000
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish everyone a Shanah Tovah. We look forward to seeing everyone in Shul and celebrating the holidays together.
Best wishes,
Reuven Masliansky
President
Mon, April 21 2025
23 Nisan 5785