Congregation Hakafa

06/23/2026

This past weekend, we celebrated Shabbat in the Home all over Chicago! Congregants opened their homes to other members of our community for a shared meal and celebration! Thank you to all of our Shabbat in the Home 2026 hosts!

06/16/2026

Calling all families with tots (0-4)! Enrollment for Hakafa Chai is open through July 24th! Enrollment includes participation in all of our tot programming from July through December! For more information and/or to enroll, go to: www.tinyurl.com/HakafaChai-Fall26.

05/29/2026

Shabbat shalom from Krakow!

05/19/2026

New episode out now of Points on the Circle, Rabbi Elder sat down with Lee Goodman to discuss his incredible work in activism around immigrant rights and protections, it’s an important listen in today’s political climate! Head to our YouTube channel Points on the Circle for the full episode, link in bio 🔗

05/15/2026

From our dear friend, Emma Yaaka.

I chose my community, not power, not success, and not fear of failure. Serving my community has become part of my life because, at one point, someone believed in me. I was given safety, rights, freedom, and an opportunity to rebuild my life. Today, I try to use those same gifts to make a difference....

04/11/2026

Points on the Circle is back! Rabbi Elder interviews members of our congregation and adjacent communities to bring us all a little closer together! New episode featuring Sidney Friedman will be coming out later today, so keep an eye out for it! The podcast can be found on YouTube when you search Points on the Circle

04/01/2026

Chag Pesach Sameach! Hope everyone has a good first night Seder, we look forward to tomorrow night’s Hakafa community Seder!

03/31/2026

Humans of Hakafa : Marcy Cohen

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What gets me up in the morning and motivates me is that every day brings something new—new opportunities, new connections, and new beginnings. I love the idea that no matter what yesterday looked like, today holds fresh possibilities.

What is your most cherished memory at Hakafa?
One of my favorite Hakafa memories is going to the High Holiday family services when our kids were little. There was just something about the music, the singing, and being together with other Hakafa families that made it so special.

What is your favorite Jewish food and why?
My favorite Jewish food is definitely blintz soufflé—especially cherry blintzes—at a Sunday morning brunch with my family. It’s a Falcon/Cohen family tradition that everyone loves—there’s nothing better!

03/05/2026

Chag Purim Sameach! What a busy Purim we’ve had! From our tot hamentashen-making party with Micah Siva - to a Purim Fun Day at Sunday School complete with Rice Krispie treat gragger making (and eating), Haman Karaoke, and prizes galore - to our Game Show Megilla Reading extravaganza! We acknowledge the joy of this holiday even in this particularly difficult time.

02/23/2026

Humans of Hakafa : Faith Wilansky

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Living in New York City is what gets me moving every day. Knowing that the city is already in full motion is its own kind of motivation to get out of bed. Millions of people are here chasing something…a dream, a deadline, or a better version of themselves. Before my alarm goes off, the street noise has already pulled me into the rhythm of the day. Feeling surrounded by all of that ambition is contagious. 

What is your most cherished memory at Hakafa?
My favorite memory at Hakafa isn’t just one moment. It’s the collection of Friday nights at Shabbat services week after week. Hakafa became a sense of home when we moved from D.C. Walking into the Winnetka Community House became something deeper than routine. What started as new surroundings turned into warm smiles, familiar melodies, and a sense of grounding. Every time I come back to Chicago to visit, I make sure to return “home.” 

What is your favorite Jewish food and why?
I have two favorite foods. We spend every break fast with the Rosenthal, Delman, and Schindler families. While it’s not a typical Jewish food, Marnie makes a special mostaccioli. Maybe it’s not traditional, but it’s become sacred in its own way. And, I still dream about the malawach and eggplant dip that I found in a market in Israel.