In 2016, Oxford Dictionaries' Word of the Year was "post-truth," which it defined as “denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Sadly, this is actually how the human mind often works, relying more on "emotion and personal belief" than on objective facts and reason and (gasp!) changing our opinion. I spoke at length about the problems of our "post-truth" world on Rosh Hashana evening 2017/5778, and it has only gotten harder to determine what is true and what is false ever since. AI-generated images and videos, fake quotations, and memes that return again and again because people WANT them to be true no matter how many times you point out the Snopes.com article proving it is wrong. 

When a new temporary villain of popular culture appears, like a tennis spectator who snatches a souvenir hat from a child or a baseball fan who demands she deserves a home run ball, we rush to condemn them to make us feel better. And we are extra gullible when we see another scandalous story claiming to be about them, or a haughty quote attributed to them that "proves" their sense of entitlement. It is easy to believe embarrassing lies about people we already don't like; it is hard to accept problematic truths about people on "our side."

A commitment to truth means examining claims for evidence, considering causality and prediction using reason, self-awareness of our biases and tendencies, and skeptical questioning of something that seems too easily true. At some point, AI imagery will figure out how many fingers and arms people should have, and Chat GPT will move beyond sounding like an overwritten 10th grade essay. Whether what we see and read and hear needs and will need to be checked by our own minds, by sources we trust, by evidence we know, before we agree to believe it.

There is one other skill we need to cultivate: the ability to say "I don't know." Living with uncertainty is difficult, but a burning need to know and be certain will certainly lead us to leap to conclusions. If we can admit "I don't know," and then pursue the truth, we can have more confidence in our conclusions. In the words of Rabbi Sherwin Wine:

Admitting that we do not know when we do not know takes courage, especially when we want so much to know. It is too easy to grab at answers simply because we cannot bear the uncertainty of not knowing. “I do not know” is a brave and dignified answer, especially when it is true.

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New writing for "Shalom from Rabbi Chalom" will be on hiatus until after Yom Kippur. You can find previous posts on our website at https://www.kolhadash.com/shalom-from-rabbi-chalom. 

Experiencing a Humanistic Jewish service can be a liberating experience. No apologies, no cognitive dissonance, no need for creative translations or mental caveats while reciting texts whose beliefs and values are not your own. Join our Meet the Congregation Shabbat to explore why we say and sing what we believe.

Have you missed a recent Shabbat Service or want to re-watch one you enjoyed? Follow this link to view past programs.

The High Holidays are right around the corner! We're looking for a few ushers for the adult services. If you're available to help, please contact Jeremy in the office at info@KolHadash.com

We look forward to sharing the High Holidays with you!

This year, Rosh Hashana will be observed on September 22 and 23 and Yom Kippur on October 1 and 2.

A full schedule of our services can be found here.

Kol Hadash members do not need to register as tickets for both in-person and online attendance to our High Holiday Celebration are included with membership.

Non-member family and guests are very welcome to join us online or in-person with advance registration (voluntary donations appreciated). Non-member guests can register here.

The deadline for guests to register for in-person attendance is Wednesday, September 17.

Questions? Contact Jeremy at info@KolHadash.com.

All are welcome at our in-person Family Services held at our congregational home at the North Shore Unitarian Church (2100 Half Day Road in Deerfield). These services are free, open to everyone, and no registration is needed. The family services are intended for children age 4-11 with their grown-up though we welcome everyone.

Questions to Youth Education Director Ilana Shaffer at youthed@kolhadash.com or 773-209-8266

Sunday, September 14

our Sunday School at Deerfield High School

9:00-9:30

B Mitzvah Prep Class

9:30-11:30

Sunday School

Looking to see how We Do Jewish Differently? Join us for our SUNDAY SCHOOL TRY OUT event! Bring your kids and try out our Sunday School for a day by visiting their grade's classes. Parents can get their questions answered and kids can meet other Sunday School students.

Let us show you how your family can have a custom B Mitzvah that will be both personal and meaningful while also balancing Jewish traditions alongside your unique family heritage.

Register to schedule a free custom Zoom session to discuss the possibilities with Rabbi Chalom and our B Mitzvah Coordinator today. For families with a 3rd-6th grader.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/56bked7w

Join us at Di Pescara’s in Northbrook Court for canasta & lunch at noon. The restaurant requires players to order food for lunch (no minimum required) as compensation for hosting us. Everyone is invited! If interested or would like to be added to the weekly text please let Marlene Tambourine know at 847-476-8887.

Introduce your young child to secular celebrations of Jewish holidays through songs, stories and hands-on activities in our Adult & Tot Make ’n Take class. To celebrate the High Holidays, children will make and take home their own shofar and will also hear a real shofar!

Stay for our Adult & Tot Play ’n Schmooze! Connect with other families with young children in an open-play classroom -- our teacher provides activities for children while parents chat.

Questions to Youth Education Director Ilana Shaffer at youthed@kolhadash.com or 773-209-8266

Sunday, September 28, 5:00pm on Zoom

The Chicago YIVO Society is offering a free Zoom program on Yiddish language on the last Sunday of each month. What are the building blocks of many of our sayings and blessings? What makes something particularly Jewish? The program will explore popular phrases and what they mean underneath, and more obscure sayings. No previous knowledge is required to participate or enjoy the program. All materials will be in Yiddish, transliteration and English translation. Program will run about an hour and fifteen minutes. For more information or to register.

Ron Schwartz has advanced kidney disease, and needs a kidney transplant. Learn more here.

Do you have news? We'd love to share it. Engagements, Weddings, Babies, B Mitzvahs, Anniversaries, Graduations, Awards, Nominations, Appointments, Honors, Achievements. Email Jeremy in the office at info@KolHadash.com with YOUR news.

Honor a mitzvah, wedding, a yartzheit, passing, or other special event with a donation. Celebrate a friend or loved one or wish them well in a time of difficulty by making a donation in their honor. 

Suzanna Dworsky

Weiss Choir fund - in memory of Harold Goldman

Follow this link to register. Want to volunteer or have questions? Contact Tony at anthbilotti@gmail.com or 312-859-0500.  

 Click here to view our most recent monthly newsletter. 

Questions about any of our programming? Contact Jeremy in the office at 847-383-5184 or info@KolHadash.com.