In Honor of:
Chicago Yachad and the critical work that it does

in the community all year.
 
Efrem & Shuli Popel whose dedication

to Yachad and the klal embodies "lev v'nefesh"
 
Shabsa & Susan Lis whose leadership

exemplifies being there for "tzorchai tzibur"
 
May Hashem bless you in your Avodat HaKodesh!
 
Dr. David & Keryn Schreiber and Family

To our dear friends,
Shabsa & Susan Lis
Congratulations on being chosen as this year's honorees!

We salute you!
May Hashem continue to grant you the strength to persevere,

the ability to achieve and the will to

share your success with the community!
Mazel Tov!

Your friends at 1st Equity Bank

 

Efrem and Shuli
 
We thank you for all you have done to help Yachad reach

its rightful place on the Chicago landscape.

You will always share in Yachad successes

and the organization will always be indebted to you both.

Looking forward to many more years of friendship.
 

 

Yasher koach to Chaim, Stan and the rest of the board

for all of your efforts to ensure our continued success.

Its been a lot of work, but I hope tonight,

you can feel that it was worth it.
 
Thank you to Elliot who leads Chicago Yachad

each and every day. I know how incredibly dedicated you are.

Your efforts are deeply appreciated and I know that

under your guidance, Chicago Yachad will continue to grow

to even greater heights in the future.
 

With much appreciation,

Ken Saibel
Associate Director

Mazal tov to 
Susie & Shabsa
and
Shuli & Efrem
on your well-deserved honor and

thank you for all that you do for Yachad

 

Mazal Tov to
 Susie and Shabsa

on this well deserved honor.
 
You are a great big sister

and brother-in-law, aunt, uncle

and an inspiration to us all. We are so proud of you!
Congratulations to Michel for being the

world's best "Gabbai Rishon".

 
Love

Wendy, Jon(Gabbai Sheni), Elana,

Alec, and Eitan Gelman
 

Congratulations to Dr. Susan and Shabsa Lis

on their well-deserved honor and dedication to the community

 

 

 

 

Mazel Tov from 

Congregation Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim

 

Congratulations to our Gabbai Shani
Michel
And on the recognition being bestowed upon his parents

Susan & Shabsa Lis

For all their efforts on behalf of Yachad.

We also join Yachad in recognizing all the accomplishments of

Shuli & Efrem Popel
 
 

Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik
 

 

Mazal Tov to my Sister

and Brother-In-Law,

 

Susan and Shabsa Lis

 

and their Amazing Son, Michel

 

Your Brother,

 

 

In honor of
Susie & Shabsa-
Two very special people.

KBC Computer Services

Chaim Dissen
Yehuda Dissen

8140 River Drive • Morton Grove • IL • 60053
847-675-3585

Mazal Tov to the honorees,

Shuli and Efrem Popel and Susan and Shabsa Lis

for all your generous contributions to the Yachad community and the Chicago community at large.

 

May you continue to go m'chayil el chayil.

With much appreciation,

 

Dear Susie & Shabsa,
 
You accomplish a great amount for

Am Yisrael with great humility.
 
May you continue from Chayil to Chayil.
 
Love,
 

 

To our good friends and neighbors,

 

Efrem & Shuli Popel

 

We are delighted to join
with the rest of the community in honoring you
for your devoted work on behalf of Yachad.

 

May you go from chayil to chayil.

 

 

 

To the Honorees:

Shuli and Efrem and Susan and Shabsa

Thank you for all that you have done for Yachad in Chicago

for all of these years. Your dedication and hard work

on behalf of the Yachad Participants and Parents

has not gone unnoticed.

On behalf of my son Gabriel and all his peers,
Thank you and Mazel Tov on this well-deserved honor.

 

 

Susie and Shabsa
 
Congratulations on receiving and earning

the Tzorchai Tzibur award from Yachad!
 
Yasher koach on being honored by Yachad.  Thank you

for everything you do for Yachad as an organization,

for the children and families benefiting from its programs

and services and for the entire Jewish community.
 
May you continue to go m'chayil el chayil

Alison & Alan Molotsky and Family
 

Mazel Tov to both Shuli & Efrem on your tremendous service to our special needs community,
and to Efrem as the founding Director of the

Chicago Yachad Chapter.
We truly appreciate all that you have done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Susan & Shabsa,
Mazel tov for all you have done, and as recipients of the Tzorchai Tzibur award.
 
The Polisky Family
 

 

Yasher Koach to the

Popels & Lises

On being role models for Am Yisrael
Yasher koach and continued hatzlacha to the dedicated staff of Chicago Yachad.

 

Dear Efrem & Shuli
 
We might associate you with our Summer Home, but we are so blessed that your friendship and values have and continue to remain with us throughout the rest of so many years.
 
Mazal Tov on this well-deserved honor!
 
Your Friends,
 
Bracha & Ami Avraham
Sarah & David Casden

 

Dear Susie & Shabsa,

Mazel tov on this well-deserved and hard-earned recognition. Your advocacy on behalf of Michel and other individuals is something special. Your support of Chicago Yachad and all that we do is meaningful and important, as we continue to grow and provide even more services to the community. Yasher kochachem on a successful dinner!
 
Fondly,
 
Elliot

Dear Shuli & Efrem,

From its earliest days 14 years ago, you poured your heart and soul in to every detail to ensure Yachad's success in Chicago. What an extraordinary and inspirational example for me! Thank you for your guidance, advice, expertise and time in ensuring that Chicago Yachad is amazing in all aspects of our operation and for your dedication to the success of your/our dinner (and all the prior ones too)!!
 
Love,
 
Elliot

 

In Honor of 

Dr. Susan, Mr. Shabsa & Michel Lis

 

 

Mazel tov to our wonderful machatanim,

Suzie and Shabsa Lis

on this well-deserved honor.

May we continue to see much nachas from our children.

We wish you continued hatzlacha.

May Hashem grant good health

to you and your family and may you continue

to go מחיל לחיל.

Love,

In honor of Elliot Cohen.

Your commitment and passion for Yachad's mission are invaluable. Your creative outlook continues to foster the growth and impact of Yachad in Chicago. Aleh V'hatzliach- I can't wait to see what's next. 
 
With admiration and the highest regard,
 
Dr. Tzivia Jofen
Director - National Department, Yachad

Mazel Tov to

 

Shuli & Efrem Popel 

and
Susie & Shabsa Lis

for their well-deserved recognition

as honorees of Chicago Yachad.

May they continue to support Yachad

and the broader Jewish community in good health

for many more years.

 

With much fondness and admiration of Efrem 
for his tireless commitment, drive, and determination 
towards creating an inclusive community
with so much love for our Yachad members, 
their families, and all of Klal Yisroel and with much Hakarat Hatov.

 

Fondly,

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman
International Director,
Yachad, The National Jewish Council for Disabilities
 

To the Lis Family
for their quiet wisdom and for always being there, for and with the Yachad Family and with appreciation to the Chicago/Midwest Yachad staff and board, led with enthusiasm, balance, and hard work by Elliot
 
Fondly,
Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman
International Director,
Yachad, The National Jewish Council for Disabilities
 

Efrem and Shuli,
 It would be the all-time understatement to say that this is an honor that you both truly deserve. We come tonight to honor you, but it is you that has truly brought honor to Yachad and the entire Chicago community. You have been our "rebbe' teaching us how to open our hearts, our homes, our families to all the beautiful members of Klal Yisroel.  We feel privileged to have been included in your journey for the past 14 years.

May you both have nachas from the fruit of your labor

for many healthy years to come.
 
With deep felt love and admiration,

Dear dinner design partner,
 
REBECCA BASSMAN
 
iridescent balls, ostrich feathers, bubble vases, latte and eggplant.... we have beautified the Yachad dinners for many years and have had much bonding times and laughs throughout.
Couldn't and wouldn't have done it without you! 
To many more lovely centerpieces and meals together to enjoy them!
Thank you for being my friend!

With Love, Shuli
 

To our wonderful children
 
ZEV
SHIRA
SHANA

Growing up in a Yachad world is mostly all fun and exciting but we know how much you all gave up to allow Abba to be so involved!

We are proud of your inclusion abilities, of your involvement in Yachad now and we are proud of you each individually.
Hashem should give you each much bracha.
We love you!
Abba and Mommy
 

Dear Yachad Members and Peers,
 
It's because of you that we worked for 13 years in Yachad. You are our inspiration and we were honored to hang out with you all, making it all one big happy Yachad family! 
Thank you for teaching us how to be great friends. 
Yechi ! Hedad!
 
Keep strong in your leadership ways!
Efrem, Shuli, Zev, Shira and Shana
 

Dear Shabsa and Susie,
 
Mazel tov on your honor tonight. We are proud to share in this special day. 
Thank you for being there from the start with your superstar Michel - Mr. President of Yachad, Dvar Torah giver extraordinaire and your great highschoolers. 
 
We wish you and your family only bracha!
Efrem, Shuli, Zev, Shira, and Shana

In Honor of  
Dr. Jeff, Ken, Debra, Joe, Ahuva, Chani, Batya, Eli, Yossi, and all the national advisors

(and anyone else we missed...gulp!) 
 
Chicago Yachad was always a chapter of the National office and as the Director, I always felt so proud to tell the world how lucky I was to work with the most talented group of professionals over the years who added so much on a day-to-day basis to our local program. We are indebted to your support and knowledge which allowed our chapter to grow to what it is today. 

Fondly, Efrem & Shuli Popel 
 

To our parents - Mom & Dad Popel,

We thank you for all the love and support you always give us. Having parents to learn from taught us to be part of the community and work to make it a better place. Thank you for instilling in us the leadership skills that we were able to use to help make Yachad grow.

We appreciate you.

With love, 
Efrem, Shuli, Zev, Shira and Shana
 

 

 

To our fabulous community Shuls and Rabbis, 
 
Anshe Motele, KINS, Or Torah, Chovevei Tzion, KJBS, Mikor Hachaim, Shaarei Tzedek, Adas Yeshurun, and Ezras Israel 
 
Thank you for opening your hearts and homes to us over these past 13 years! you are what makes Yachad successful!

Much Bracha,  
Efrem and Shuli & family
 

 

Dear Efrem,

Wow! We are so proud of you for all the tzorchei tzibur that you do in public and in private. We are the witnesses to how much you literally pour your heart and soul into these projects and watch you make works of perfection -- while still juggling the demands of home, learning and laundry!!
We are honored to be called your wife and children! 
May Hashem bless you with only bracha!

 

With all our love,
Shuli, Zev, Shira and Shana
 

In Honor of  
 
all the local Staff, Advisors, Assistants, and Coordinators that we have been blessed to work with over the past 13 years in Chicago. From the very beginning you have put your heart and soul into Yachad. Without your individual contributions Yachad would not be what it is today.
 
With much appreciation from the depths of our heart,
 
Efrem & Shuli

Dear #1 Chairmen!
Chaim & Zahava Suss

(the biggest Mets fans in Chicago) 
 
Thank you for your endless hours of work, support and friendship that went into making this Yachad chapter so successful. You have been there from the start helping with recruiting yachad members, lay leaders, and your very own high schoolers - Kayla, Ezra and Tzippy. And of course who could forget the star-Shimmy! You have hosted countless times, cooked for the yachad bbq's, come to numerous Shabbatons and have chaired our board. You have great skill, vision and amazing perseverance and we couldn't have done it without you. Wishing you and your family much bracha as you continue your great work!
Thank you!  Efrem and Shuli & family
 

To our Amazing Dinner Committee:
 
Zevi Ashkenazi, Ami Avraham, Doug Bassman, Sarah Bernstein, Tzvi Frankenthal, 
Miriam Gutstein, David Meiselman, Sarah Nisenbaum, Rabbi Yosef Polstein, Rabbi Moshe Schecter, Miriam Soloveitchik, Chaim Suss, and Geoff Winner 
 
You guys are amazing. You have put in endless hours to make this dinner and Yachad a success, not to mention all the past years of working and supporting Yachad in your many different capacities. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 
Much Bracha!
Efrem and Shuli and family
 

Dear Mom Hubscher,

Thank you for all that you give to us and our family. We learned from you and Abba how community involvement is so important. You and Abba have always been there to support us in our community endeavors. Throughout the years, you both came to many Yachad programs and helped check in all the guests at dinners. We appreciate you.

With love, 
Efrem, Shuli, Zev, Shira and Shana
 

 

In Honor of 
 
Elliot Cohen, Director Chicago Yachad 
 
Thank you for making this dinner experience so smooth for us as honorees and allowing us to help the organization that we love so much. 
 
May you only see continued growth and success !!
 
Efrem & Shuli  
 

In honor of the outstanding and dedicated Chicago Yachad Board. Your tireless efforts have supported Yachad's growth in Chicago and made this evening a success. A special thank you to the chairmen, Stan Gertz and Chaim Suss, for going above and beyond. Your support is invaluable to Yachad. 
 
With admiration and gratitude,
 
Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman - International Director, Yachad
Mr. Ken Saibel - Associate Director / Director of Institutional Advancement, Yachad
Dr. Tzivia Jofen - National Department Director, Yachad
 

 

To the incredible Day Services Staff -
Thank you for being pioneers in Yachad's newest endeavor. The care and expertise that you bring to the program and each client is truly special.

Thank you for your dedication.

 

Elliot

 

To our Programming & Office Staff -

It is a pleasure to work directly with individuals who are not only committed to being professional but who also deeply care for and support Yachad's mission.  Thank you for all that you do, day in and day out, even if it's not part of your job description!

 

Elliot

To Everyone in the National Office -

It is a great honor to work for Yachad. Our mission of Inclusion resonates with me on a personal level, allowing me to realize the importance and continued necessity of our presence in the greater Chicago community. Your support in all areas of our operation is yet another indicator of the critical and collegial partnership that we have and energizes our operational structure. Thank you for the trips, letters, phone calls, mailings, webinars, conference calls and much more, that have gone to/from New York/Chicago.

 

With much hakaras hatov,

Elliot

 

To our high school board -

Candy. You want it. You got it! Your dedication to Chicago Yachad is unique. You always keep our mission of Inclusion front and center, guiding you on decisions of activities, housing on shabbatons, and our fun events at the office. Thanks for all of the time that you've dedicated to a successful year! We'll always have swag for you...

Elliot

 

To our Members and Families -

We appreciate your partnership as we continue to look for opportunities to serve. Thank you for participating in our programs and for the Chizuk that you provide for us on a daily basis. After all, what is family for?

 

With much admiration,

Elliot

Dear Shoshanah, Meira Tova, Shalom Tzvi, Chaya Bracha, Binyamin Aryeh and Yehuda Yonasan,

Thank you for your support and encouragement during

dinner season and throughout the year. (Are those two different things?) 

You endure my long and often irregular hours, with a nary a peep. I appreciate all that you do for me.

Thank you for sharing in this avodas hakosesh.

 

Love,
Elliot / Abba
 

To the two people who taught me that no dream is too big or unattainable, and if you believe in something enough, a dream can become a reality.  To the ones who taught me that every person should be treated with respect and care, no matter what his "diffability."
 You have built a legacy and a dynasty.  Chicago is a better place because of what you created.  Thank you for changing my life, the lives of my family members, and the lives of everyone in Chicago.  I cannot think of two people that are more deserving of this honor.
Mazel Tov Efrem and Shuli!
With much gratitude,

Mazel tov to

Efrem & Shuli and Shabsa & Susan

on being recognized for your dedication to Yachad!

 

 

Congratulations to Susie and Shabsa Lis!

Your kindness, compassion, caring and chesed that you do for other people is truly special.

 

Yakov, Susan, Marlene and Steven Mandel 
 

Mazel Tov to our cousins,

Susie & Shabsa Lis

Upon being honored by Chicago Yachad
For their dedication and commitment to Yachad.

We love you!

Jay & Michelle Mendelsohn
Rachel & Jeremy
Seth & Courtney
Shira & Michal
Jared
Ari

 

To Elliot,

Thank you so much for all your hard work and behind

the scenes involvement in making

Chicago Yachad so dynamic and fun!!

The Polisky Family

In Honor of Our Dear Friend And Colleague

EFREM POPEL
Whether it was Monday night's Yachad "dinner and learn" with our high school seniors, the yearly Skokie Yeshiva Yachad Shabbaton, or the many talmidim who attended your Yachad Shabbatonim in shuls around town - the life changing lessons they learned as Yachad's High Schoolers are all attributed to you and the sensitive way that you teach, inspire, and enable young people. May Hashem continue to bless you and Shuli with the strength and good health to continue all the wonderful things that you both do.

 

The Rebbeim of Skokie Yeshiva

 

Mazel Tov Efrem and Shuli

on being the recipients of the Lev v'Nefesh award.

 

It is well deserved and quite appropriate as
you both give your hearts and souls to so many
worthy causes in our community.

 

May Hashem bless you with good health

and continued nachas from your beautiful family.

 

 

Efrem and Shuli,

Your limitless energy and devotion to all of the causes

you believe in is such an inspiration to us all!

May all of the honorees know nothing but bracha and hatzlacha

in all of their holy endeavors.

 

With much love and admiration,

The Dragon Family

Mazel tov to

 

Susie & Shabsa Lis and Efrem & Shuli Popel

 

on this well-deserved honor.

Thank you for everything you do for the community.

May you continue to go m'chayil l'chayil.
 

Shana & Steve Erenberg

and Your Friends at Libenu
 

 

Wishing a huge mazel tov to

Shuli and Efrem Popel

on their well-deserved honor

for all their contributions

to the Yachad community

and the Jewish People.

May you continue to inspire

and strengthen klal yisrael!

 

 

With admiration,

 

 

 

Efrem and Shuli

 

Mazel Tov to you and your parents for this great honor 

 

Mazal Tov to

 

Efrem and Shuli Popel

 

on this well-deserved honor. 

It is truly inspiring to see all that you do on behalf of others. 

May HaShem continue to help you in your Avodas HaKodesh and may you have much nachas from your children.

 

 

Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai Ginsparg
 

In honor of

 

Shuli and Efrem

Your love and hard work for Yachad has been

such an inspiration to those of us who know and love you.

We see how you care for each and every child as if

they were your own. The Chicago community

as a whole and the Yachad community

specifically is lucky to have you.

 

Mazel Tov Shuli & Efrem
A well-deserved honor for a couple

who has added so much to our community. 

You are always ready to help anyone

with a smile and are role models of true chesed. 

You raise the bar and are an inspiration to all that meet you.
 

 

We wish you all the best always!

 

In honor of

Shuli and Efrem Popel

who are role model parents, friends

and community leaders.

 

May you and your beautiful family

go from strength to strength.

 

 

Dear Efrem,
 
Thank you for your outstanding leadership

and tireless efforts on behalf of Chicago Yachad.
Your selfless devotion and dedication are truly admirable.
I feel privileged to have had the opportunity

to work closely with you over the years.
May you continue to be a source of strength

and leadership to us all.

Mazal Tov on this well deserved honor!
 
~ Deborah and Ari Rockoff

Efrem and Shuli - two shining stars in Chicago.

Your friendship and leadership over the years have inspired us and so many others. The never ending energy and emunah

present in your household is a model to which we aspire.

Wishing you mazel and bracha on this well-deserved honor!!

 

 

Mazel Tov Efrem & Shuli

on this well-deserved honor!

Your dedication and commitment

to both Yachad and the klal

is remarkable and inspiring.

May Hashem give you the strength

to go ma'chayil el chayil in all of your endeavors.

Yitzie and Dena Stern
Yehuda and Ahuva Willig

 

B"H
in honor of

Efrem and Shuli -

 

You have been friends and role models to us since before we were "us", and we are so glad that you are receiving this well-deserved recognition for your dedication to Yachad.

Thank you both for your guidance and inspiration.

 

Chanan and Aliza Strassman

Mazal Tov Shuli and Efrem!
 
Your dedication to Yachad, and your modeling of inclusion

and kindness continues to inspire us.
 
We are honored to be your friends!
 

To Elliot and the wonderful Chicago Yachad Team,
Thank you for your dynamic efforts on behalf of Yachad.
We admire your enthusiasm and devotion and appreciate your boundless dedication.With appreciation for the special role that you each continue to play in making the Chicago Jewish community a more inclusive one.
      
     With much thanks,
     The National Team

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman           Ken Saibel

Tzivia Jofen                Deborah Rockoff
Batya Jacob                 Yossi Szpigiel
Ilana Glazer

 

To Our Dear Friends, a Wonderful Couple -
Shuli & Efrem
May you go from strength to strength.
 
Love,

Dear Efrem,

Mazal Tov on your well-deserved honor.
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do

on behalf of Yachad. Your unwavering devotion

to the mission of inclusion is truly an inspiration to us all.

May Hashem continue to grant you the strength to persevere,

the ability to achieve and the will

to share your ideals and values with the community.

 

With much thanks,

Yachad is an organization that has helped Klal Yisrael in many ways. The Popels, who carried out Yachad's work for more than a decade, have ensured that all Yachad members, teen peers, and families received everything that they needed. May they be Zoche to continued Bracha, Nachas, and Hatzlacha from their wonderful Mishpacha

עד ביאת גואל צדק במהרה בימינו, אמן.

 

Rabbi Zev Cohen                                 Mr. Benjy Kandelman                                                    & Mr. Lance Taxer