Happy Chanukah | Gesher Art Therapy | Thanksgiving Highlights

For Karin Sher, art has always been more than creativity. It is a way of listening, understanding, and connecting. That lifelong bond now guides her work as an art therapy intern at Gesher, The Ark's therapeutic day program, where she helps adults living with mental health challenges express themselves and build community through art. 

Karin began her career in Israel as an independent artist before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Multidisciplinary Art at Shenkar College in Tel Aviv. While teaching art lessons, she discovered that many students were drawn to art as a form of healing. That experience inspired her to pursue art therapy and eventually brought her to Chicago, where she is completing her Master of Art Therapy and Counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Karin leads both group and individual art therapy sessions for our clients. Her group, Healing Through Art, invites participants to explore creativity as a pathway to calmness, reflection, and self-discovery. Each session offers a new prompt or theme, from imagining a place of safety to exploring the meaning of the weekly Torah portion. Karin reminds clients that art is not about perfection but about process, play, and expression. 

Karin recently facilitated a therapeutic tour for Gesher participants at the Art Institute of Chicago, centering on the works of Marc Chagall. Many clients visited the museum for the first time and found deep personal meaning in Chagall’s story of resilience and hope. 

Karin’s work reflects the heart of Gesher, a place where creativity, compassion, and Jewish values come together to nurture healing and belonging. 

Click the button below to read the full article about Karin’s journey and her inspiring work at Gesher. 

Every Thanksgiving, The Ark brings our community together through programs that nourish the body and lift the spirit. Volunteers, families, and supporters show kindness and celebrate tradition throughout the holiday. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared their time and resources to feed our community this Thanksgiving. Your generosity brought comfort to hundreds of households. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, The Ark’s team of more than 60 professionals is grateful for YOU – our diverse community of Jews across Chicagoland who uplift each other every day and strengthen our kehillah, our community. Thank you for being a special part of The Ark. 

Tune in to WTTW Channel 11 or stream live at wttw.com to watch The Ark’s

15-second TV commercial airing before and after A Celebration of Hanukkah, hosted by Geoffrey Baer.

Catch the commercial tonight: Thursday, 12/18 at 6:58 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.

The Ark will also be featured in spots airing on WFMT 98.7 FM. This partnership with WTTW and WFMT allows us to reach a large Jewish audience across Chicagoland in a highly targeted and cost-effective way, helping raise awareness of The Ark’s important work.

Our signature annual fundraiser, the Dinner-Less Dinner, will be announced in January, and we can’t wait for you to join us. Interested in being recognized as a member of the Host Committee? Please join us with a leadership gift of $1,800 or more by December 31, 2025. 

Because our dinner is “dinner-less,” your entire contribution directly powers our vital services to meet the urgent financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of more than 5,000 Chicagoland Jews facing hardships. 

Give online today, or make a pledge by contacting Adam Parker, Director of Development, at 773-973-0090 or aparker@arkchicago.org. 

On Sunday, December 7, The Ark and the Chicago Jewish Historical Society welcomed community members for a special partnership program highlighting The Ark’s history, evolution, and continued impact. 
 
CJHS President Rachelle Gold and Ark CEO Marna Goldwin each shared remarks, and longtime Ark supporter and Trustee, Nathan Bloch, who served on The Ark’s Board of Directors for 30 years, moderated a panel discussion. Nathan was joined by Allen Ray, an early Ark activist and Board President in the 1980s, as well as Ark Clinical Manager, Mimi Seleski. They shared stories about The Ark’s founding, the leadership of Dr. Binyomin Sokol, z”l and Rabbi Yehoshua Eichenstein, z”l, the organization’s multiple relocations on the North Side, and the continued growth of services to meet evolving needs in today’s Jewish community. Guests contributed their own memories during the Q and A session. 

Guests had the opportunity to explore historical photos and memorabilia and take a tour of The Ark’s renovated and expanded building to see the full range of free programs that continue to be available to Chicagoland Jews. 

The event offered a meaningful look at how The Ark has supported the community for five decades and provided guests with an opportunity to engage directly with history. Watch the full event below. 

There are so many meaningful ways you can strengthen The Ark and help empower those in our community who are navigating unexpected crises and long-term challenges. Please join us before the year ends on December 31 to provide hope and a lifeline of support for more than 5,000 Chicagoland Jews who urgently need our support. 

1. Make a tax-deductible donation by credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer at give.arkchicago.org or mail a check to The Ark at 3100 Dundee Road, Suite 802, Northbrook, IL 60062. 
   
   
2. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA, give via a donor-advised fund, or gift appreciated stock or securities by contacting our Development Team at 773-681-8980 or giving@arkchicago.org. The Ark's Tax ID number is 23-7164967. 
   
   
3. Check if your company matches employee gifts, and make your dollar go even further. 
   
   
4. Help us Pack the Pantry through three ways to give: donate dollars, click and ship, or shop and drop. 
   
   
5. Donate your used car, truck, or motorcycle, in any condition, by completing our vehicle donation form. 
   
   
6. Consider a planned gift to sustain The Ark for generations, and join The Ark Legacy Society by sharing your intentions with us. 
   
   
7. Spread the word with your friends, family, and colleagues and encourage them to subscribe to this newsletter. A text message, email, phone call, or personal conversation goes a long way. 
   
   
8. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Like, comment, and share our posts. 

Your partnership powers our vital work and uplifts the most vulnerable in our community. Thank you for making a difference for Chicagoland’s Jewish community. 

• Manage inventory in Lincolnwood and West Rogers Park to help stock the shelves, keep items organized, and ensure everything is ready for distribution.
  
  

• Volunteer at our pantry in West Rogers Park and help pack and distribute grocery orders to clients.

• Schedule a tour of our West Rogers Park location for a first-hand understanding of how The Ark provides support to address needs in our local Jewish Community.

• Make a connection between your company or organization and The Ark for an informational program or service project.

• Start a Pack the Pantry collection drive for our West Rogers Park and Northbrook pantries. Challenge your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to help you collect any one item from our pantry list.

To express interest or learn more, contact us at volunteer@arkchicago.org.

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