Chicago Yachad

“Evening Under the Stars,” a Chicago Yachad benefit event, will be honoring Chaim and Zahava Suss, dedicated supporters of Yachad, and Shlomo Meyers, Yachad member. The benefit will take place on June 15 at the Ravenswood Event Center, 4011 North Ravenswood Avenue. Rooftop reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. Raffle prizes and an antique car show will be featured in the program. Couvert is $125 per person.

Chaim and Zahava Suss have been part of the Chicago Jewish community for over 20 years. Chaim, originally from New York, is the president of the Suss Financial Group. Zahava is a Chicago native who has been active in many chesed organizations while raising their six children ages four to nineteen. Chaim and Zahava became involved with Chicago Yachad at its inception.  Together with Yachad the Suss family has worked to make inclusive and supportive programming available for Chicago area children with special needs. After serving on Chicago Yachad’s board of directors for numerous years, Chaim assumed the role of its first financial chairman in September to continue fundraising for Yachad’s inclusive programming.

Efrem Popel, Director of Chicago Yachad says, “Chicago Yachad grew in large part due to our committed lay leadership, particularly with Chaim and Zahava, who were there from the beginning when Chicago Yachad started 10 years ago. With this benefit we hope to engage more support for Yachad’s inclusive programming for all.”

Shlomo Meyers currently lives in a group home sponsored by Jewish Children and Family Services in Chicago. Shlomo is engaged to Danielle Magady, a Los Angeles Yachad participant. The couple plans to settle in Los Angeles after their June wedding. For the past eight years, Shlomo has enjoyed his job at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School.

Shlomo, one of seven children, was born in New York.  At age eight, when he moved with his family to Chicago, Shlomo participated as part of Team Keshet in the Special Olympics, winning gold medals in track and the standing long jump. Yachad began programs in Chicago around the time of Shlomo’s graduation from high school and he has been involved ever since.  One of the activities which Shlomo particularly appreciates is the learning program with high school students at the Hebrew Theological College. Three years ago Shlomo traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with Members of Congress as an Illinois representative of Yachad during North American Inclusion Month.

For more information, please contact Efrem Popel at 773-764-3653 or go to www.yachad.org/chicago.