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Community Corner

Buffalo Grove Native to Run Chicago Marathon with TeamJUF

Before racing down Chicago’s streets, members of one 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon team will come together Sunday morning for a special prayer. Members of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago’s first ever TeamJUF will gather before the race to say kaddish (the Hebrew memorial prayer, traditionally recited by a group of ten people or more) in memory of Buffalo Grove native Adam Reinherz’s father, who recently passed away.

 

“When I considered registering for the Chicago Marathon, I wasn’t sure how I would say kaddish with a group the morning of the race,” said Reinherz, who has committed to reciting the prayer every day for 11 months in accordance with Jewish tradition. “JUF told me that without reservation it will gather a group before the race so that I can say kaddish for my dad.”

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Reinherz credits his childhood Jewish education and the formation of his Jewish identity to JUF.

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“I learned how to read Hebrew because of the JUF. I developed a Jewish identity because of the JUF. And now, before crushing 26.2 miles of Chicago, I’ll say kaddish for my dad because of the JUF. This organization truly impacts people on a personal level. I feel incredibly indebted, from my childhood until today. [Running with TeamJUF] is really the least I can do.”

 

Reinherz will join 31 other members of TeamJUF. Runners will include JUF Chairman of the Board David T. Brown, Israel’s Consul General Roey Gilad, as well as a former JUF client who is now a donor.

 

As of Oct. 8, the team had raised $49,253 toward their $50,000 goal. Proceeds will support JUF’s life-changing work caring for people in need and sustaining the Jewish community.

 

TeamJUF supporters will cheer runners on at the marathon’s Charity Block Party, and individual donation pages are available online. For more information, visit: http://www.juf.org/Marathon/

 

The JUF/Federation funds a vital network of agencies that act upon core Jewish values, including caring for people in need and sustaining the Jewish community.

 

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