News Briefs: 500 gifts for hospitalized children, new course at Chabad, local collegian honor

Wilmette’s Holiday Toy Drive was a hit.

According to organizer Kate Groff the drive gathered more than 500 toys for hospitalized children — more than double its original goal of 200.

The toys were given to Evanston Hospital and will be distributed to children there and in other NorthShore University HealthSystem’s hospitals.

Groff and NorthShore childlife specialist Katelyn Beyer joined forces on the project and placed a collection box in the Wilmette Fire Station at 1304 Lake Avenue. It was the first community toy drive for Beyer and Evanston Hospital, the only local hospital with a pediatric unit.

“Thanks to the overwhelming support, toys will continue to be distributed throughout the year to bring comfort to hospitalized children,” Groff wrote in an email. “The hospital staff are incredibly grateful and truly felt the support of our community during this challenging holiday season.”

Meditation course coming to Wilmette’s Chabad Center

The Chabad Center for Jewish Life and Learning in Wilmette will offer a new meditation course by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.

“Not many people think of meditation as a Jewish thing,” said Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein, the local JLI instructor, in a press release. “When in reality, Judaism has a rich and authentic tradition of meditation practices that, when implemented, can truly transform one’s life for the better.”

The course will reportedly teach life tools to help respond to negative thoughts and emotions, recognize the value of each moment and more.

Beginning the week of Jan. 30, participants in this six-week course will discover what Jewish meditation is, the pivotal role it plays in Jewish tradition, and the fundamental ideas it is based on, according to the release.

“‘Meditation from Sinai’ is a revolutionary, empowering offering that unveils Jewish meditation and mindful awareness as the bedrock for a meaningful life,” it says in the release. “This course synthesizes extensive research from both the spiritual community and psychological research, forging a practical path to fully realizing life’s potentials.”

The course will be offered virtually and in person. For more information, call (847) 251-7707 or visit www.chabadwilmette.com/JLI.

Glencoe native Kate Burnham wins scholarship to study in Italy

Glencoe resident and Hamilton College junior Kate Burnham earned a Coccia Foundation Scholarship to study in Italy for the spring 2022 semester, according to a press release.

Burnham, a New Trier High School graduate, is a psychology and sociology double major who will study in Milan through the Italy Today program.

“I’ve been looking forward to studying in Italy since my first Italian class my first semester of freshman year,” she said in the release. “Italy offers me the perfect opportunity to explore my passions for food, music, and sports from both a personal and sociological perspective.”

At Hamilton, Burnham sings in the choir, manages the Jitney, and competes with the club hockey team.

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