Based on the improved health of many of the Bears’ key players and a solid bench of offensive talent, including the team’s first-round draftee Kevin White, most experts are predicting a two-win improvement over last season, a modest bump that will still leave the team with a losing record overall. Others have suggested that the full accounting should include a mention of Adam Gase, the new offensive coordinator who’s considered to be an up-and-coming coach in the league, and the team’s reinvestment in special teams with new coach Jeff Rodgers. However, despite these bright spots on the roster and the coaching staff, the Bears remain an underdog, with some commentators even expecting the team to fall to the bottom of the NFL overall, an outcome the Bears haven’t suffered since 1969.
The Chicago Bears have experienced a few rocky years. The team’s last winning season came in 2012, Lovie Smith’s last year as the team’s head coach, and Marc Trestman’s reign saw constant declines. The disappointing 2014 season, in which the Bears saw only five wins and fell to last place in the NFC North, was more than enough to seal Trestman’s fate. Now under the direction of new head coach John Fox, the team faces a critical season. Will it climb out of its slump, or will it see further decline?
Based on the improved health of many of the Bears’ key players and a solid bench of offensive talent, including the team’s first-round draftee Kevin White, most experts are predicting a two-win improvement over last season, a modest bump that will still leave the team with a losing record overall. Others have suggested that the full accounting should include a mention of Adam Gase, the new offensive coordinator who’s considered to be an up-and-coming coach in the league, and the team’s reinvestment in special teams with new coach Jeff Rodgers. However, despite these bright spots on the roster and the coaching staff, the Bears remain an underdog, with some commentators even expecting the team to fall to the bottom of the NFL overall, an outcome the Bears haven’t suffered since 1969.
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On Tuesday, April 21, the NFL released the schedule for its 2015-16 season. Among the 256 announced events was the league’s annual Thanksgiving evening game, which has remained a time-honored tradition for nearly a century. On November 26, the Chicago Bears will face off against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in what will be Green Bay’s first Thanksgiving home game since 1923, when they prevailed over the Hammond Pros 19-0. The much-anticipated rivalry game will also present an opportunity for the Packers officially to retire the number of former quarterback Brett Favre, adding it to Lambeau Field’s Ring of Honor. Led by quarterback Jay Cutler and new head coach John Fox, the Bears will strive to take down the Packers at 8:30 p.m. (ET). Earlier in the day, the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Detroit Lions at home at 12:30 p.m., followed by a showdown between the NFC South champions, the Carolina Panthers, and, representing the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys. The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago offers a number of exciting opportunities for mission trips to Israel. It makes these trips available through local congregations, in collaboration with the Jewish Federations of North America, or as experiences open to anyone in the Chicago community. While community missions focus primarily on Israel, trips to other countries are also available.
One trip, arranged through the organization’s Young Leadership Division, takes a diverse group of Chicagoans to Israel to interact with Israeli professionals between the ages of 22 and 45. The mission allows individuals to experience Israel while making important business connections and growing a professional network. Chalutzim, an adult mission, allows older members of the community to experience Israel for the first time or reacquaint themselves with the country’s beauty. Another mission, Nachshon, is geared toward men. This mission allows participants to explore some of the harsher realities of Israeli life and meet with government officials and policymakers. Selecting a long-term care facility for a loved one can be one of the most stressful experiences in one’s life. When considering various facilities, individuals should discuss needs and expectations with their loved ones who are in need of care to identify their specific needs. With these needs in mind, individuals can begin to research area facilities. Part of this research should include looking at the facility’s service history. Several online sources can provide feedback on specific facilities, and the Better Business Bureau keeps track of any complaints filed against facilities. If people can find a local long-term care ombudsman, he or she can also provide excellent advice.
Before committing to a facility, family members should visit the location to inspect the grounds and meet the staff. A visit to the facility also provides a great opportunity to talk to the residents and their families in order to gain more insight. Visitors should feel free to ask questions relating specifically to their needs in order to determine whether the facility is the right. For three weeks each year, Camp Nageela Midwest provides the opportunity for young people to form lasting friendships, experience a number of new and exciting adventures, and explore their Jewish identity. The leaders at Camp Nageela Midwest believe that Jewish life is not something to be taught, but something that campers should live. The camp provides a rich sense of Jewish ethics, values, and customs, thereby ensuring that campers leave deeply proud of their heritage.
The camp recognizes all Jewish affiliations and ensures that programming is open and accepting. Campers can choose from several different learning and prayer sessions, depending on their own backgrounds and level of Jewish knowledge. Camp Nageela also offers free Jewish tutors for children interested in delving deeper into any aspect of Jewish study. On Shabbat, the camp has a special program that begins with a Kabbalat Shabbat on late Friday afternoon and concludes with a Havdallah ceremony on Saturday night. During Shabbat, campers can engage in a range of special activities and enjoy traditional foods, from freshly baked challah to matza ball soup. Many Israelis travel to the Golan Heights to escape the pressures of urban life and enjoy the beautiful, pastoral expanses of the northernmost part of the country. Here, vacationers will find a wealth of relaxing activities, from spas and luxurious bed-and-breakfasts to nature walks and horseback riding.
Mount Hermon, located on the Israeli-Lebanese border, has a great deal of historical importance for the region. While learning about the rich history of the mountain, visitors can explore its charming villages and even go skiing during the winter months. The Banias waterfall, a natural spring that feeds the Jordan River, is also located on Mount Hermon. The rich soil of the Golan Heights is perfect for growing berries. During berry season, which usually runs from May to September, visitors can readily pick raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and blackberries. The region is also known for its wine, and tourists can try several varieties at the Golan Heights Winery in the historic town of Katzrin. More adventurous visitors can book whitewater-rafting adventures along the Jordan River. A three-week camp that provides an unforgettable experience to Jewish kids and teens from 25 states, Camp Nageela Midwest offers the perfect sleep-away camp on more than 500 acres outside Marshall, Indiana. With a dedication to practicing Jewish observances and a campground that features everything from paintball tournaments to zipline courses, it’s a wonderful place for young members of the Jewish community to learn more about their faith, culture, and heritage while having the time of their lives. The newest addition to the myriad activities and programs at Camp Nageela Midwest is its Scuba Academy.
The Scuba Diving Specialty Academy offers campers the chance to attend a professionally certified school that begins in the pool and ends at the camp’s lake for an open water test. A $500 fee covers campers’ instruction and equipment rentals, including a snorkel and mask to bring home. While campers may opt out of the open water test, receiving a junior certification instead, those that complete the test will achieve their PADI Open Water Scuba Certification, which allows graduates to scuba dive around the world. The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) offers many opportunities for people to volunteer their time and skills to help others. Two of these programs are the JUF Uptown Cafe and JUF Community Legal Services.
The JUF Uptown Cafe offers hot kosher meals to people in need. Serving dinner three days a week and Sunday brunch to people of all faiths, the cafe offers restaurant-style service that provides hope and dignity. Volunteers act as servers, and the JUF encourages them to talk with diners and join them for meals as well. JUF Community Legal Services provides free legal representation to families and individuals. Formerly called the American Jewish Congress Legal Clinic, the legal services program relies entirely on volunteer attorneys who offer pro bono assistance in civil cases. Services range from bankruptcy and family law to administrative and housing matters. Additionally, clients who meet eligibility requirements are protected by malpractice insurance. When the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) closed its 2014 annual fundraising efforts, it had collected $82.1 million for its operations around the world. The fund runs more than 70 programs and agencies that provide social services, thereby touching the lives of more than 300,000 members of the Chicago community and 2 million Jews across the globe.
While the Annual Campaign supports the regular initiatives of the JUF, including subsidized health care and the provision of food and medicine to seniors, the organization also raises money in support of specific causes. In 2014, it responded to the outbreak of violence in Israel with an emergency campaign that raised $9.7 million. Funds from the campaign provided meals and supplies as well as activity kits and trauma support for people forced into shelters by rocket attacks and other vulnerable populations in Israel. Thanks to the generosity of the Jewish community in Chicago, 2014 marked the fifth consecutive year of growth for the Annual Campaign. With the support of its donors, the JUF plans to continue doing what it has done for more than a century: help people in need all over the world. Accredited by the American Camping Association, Camp Nageela Midwest offers boys and girls camps for participants in grades three to 11. To keep camp relevant for teen campers, the staff offers experiences customized for them and their broadening lives. One option available to teenagers at Camp Nageela is the opportunity to take overnight trips to cities like Saint Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
Some teenagers can join Camp Nageela’s “Staff in Training” program, which allows participants who have finished their junior year of high school to begin transitioning from the role of camper into that of staff member. Participants in the Staff in Training program learn from senior camp staff while working and joining in on some of the regular teen program’s activities. After they finish their summer experience, the Staff in Training campers receive a stipend in recognition of their work. Camp Nageela also offers teens an active year-round community. Teens who attend the camp often stay in touch with their new friends, visiting them during breaks from school and joining them for Nageela Midwest events throughout the year. The combination of attending the camp and joining a year-round community can make being going to Camp Nageela a life-changing experience for teens. |
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