Lifecycle
We want to hear all about your life, from births to illnesses to job loss to engagements. We are here to listen and help in any way that we can. You can contact a clergy member directly or feel free to reach out to Sarah Duffin, Executive Assistant to the Clery, at 847.835.0724.
Baby Naming & Brit Milah (Bris)
We want to be a part of your special events, and it is hard to imagine any lifecycle event filled with more joy than the addition of a new child or grandchild to the family! If you’d like to invite us to join in, whether you are hosting at your home or at our synagogue, please start a conversation with Sarah Duffin to coordinate with one of our rabbis or cantor.
Weddings
Mazel Tov! Our rabbis and cantor have officiated hundreds of wonderfully personal and thoughtful wedding ceremonies over the years. We want to ensure your day is special and has all of the personal touches and spiritual guidance you would expect from a Reform Jewish perspective. We officiate both at our synagogue and at other venues in Chicago and beyond. Our open and inclusive values are why so many families feel inspired to include us in their marriage ceremony. Please start a conversation with Sarah Duffin or reach out to one of our clergy directly so that we can make your day even more special.
Click here to see what weddings look like in our beautiful sunlit sanctuary or on the terrace overlooking Lake Michigan!
B'nei Mitzvah
Mazel Tov! Your child is fulfilling his or her journey to becoming b’nei mitzvah. As you make arrangements to commemorate this special event, we’d like to help you craft a celebration that’s meaningful for you and your family. Please use the resources listed on this page to guide you through the necessary details for your child’s b’nei mitzvah. We have a successful and seemingly endless class of b’nei mitzvah every year here at NSCI! We are proud to be a part of the development of our b’nei mitzvah students through the Goodman Center for Jewish Education and invite our students, parents, and guests to learn everything there is to know about preparing for and enjoying this great honor of reading from Torah.
Are you older than 13 but still want to experience b'nei mitzvah? We welcome a new class each year of interested adults in their journey to adult b'nei mitzvah.
Funerals
The rabbis and cantor are always available to be with you as you mourn and plan to honor your loved one. From visits beforehand to the funeral itself to shiva and navigating the road of mourning afterward, our clergy will guide you through the process and help you make thoughtful decisions. Our goal is to give you the strength to feel the warmth and support of your community.
Click here to find comprehensive articles, tools, and resources to help with understanding shiva, how to plan a shiva, along with appropriate ways to honor and commemorate loved ones.
If you are handling your own funeral services, please let us know of the loss of your loved one. We will include them in our congregational communications and recognize them lovingly in our Shabbat service before saying Kaddish, the memorial prayer. Your notification allows us to remember your loved one at our Yizkor observances throughout the year as well.
Bereaved families can reach us any time by calling the synagogue at 847.835.0724. During regular business hours, ask to speak with Sarah Duffin.
After hours, follow the directions to reach the clergy on-call.
Illness & Healing
In an effort to fulfill the mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick), our clergy visit members who are hospitalized in the metropolitan area. This has become increasingly difficult, as local hospitals cannot contact houses of worship due to HIPAA privacy regulations. Please call Sarah Duffin to advise us when you, a relative or a friend is in the hospital so our clergy can be in touch.
Additionally, we say a communal Mi Shebeirach (Prayer for Healing) at our Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning services weekly, where anyone in attendance is welcome to share the name or names of those in need of healing.
Sun, October 6 2024
4 Tishrei 5785