WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events- Thank You to Landscape Volunteers
- Book Club, December 5
- Free Fire Wood – Come and Get It!
- iGive and SHOP: Two Great Ways to Help Shir Hadash
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
- Shabbat Evening Service, November 8
- Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah, November 9
- Upcoming: Shabbat Service Featuring Grades Gan-3, November 15
- Mark Your Calendar: Lights & Miracles, November 22 at OLB
- Help Plan Our Upcoming Gala
- Soup Kitchen Opportunity, November 10
- Shir Hadash Supports PADS
- Lights and Miracles
- Your Turn to Create Some Hanukkah Music
- Religious School Music/Kolit
- Join the Lahaka
- “Kedushah - When God’s Presence Creates Holy Places and Times”
- Education Director's Blog -- News, Photos and More!
- Shabbat Service Starring Grades Gan – 3: November 15
- High School in Israel Information Meeting, November 3
- SHY Lounge, November 7
- BBYO, November 7
- Madrichim, November 10
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
Jewish Cultural Events in Chicagoland
- “Old Jews Telling Jokes”
- ”Signs of Life”
MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Shir Hadash Landscape Volunteers Make Huge Impact!Thanks to our volunteers who worked hard to free five clumps of large trees on the synagogue’s side lot that were covered with invasive Buckthorn 8' to 10' in height. Volunteers, several with chainsaws in hand, worked hard for two hours every Sunday morning over a four-week period to clear the debris. The area looks so much better and can now be enjoyed by the whole community!
Our sincere thanks to the following volunteers:
- Susan Butman
- Mehran and Noor Farahmandpour
- Ann Gusfield
- Mike Guth
- Stacy and Ken Laner
- Mark and Jennifer Lenhart
- Jodi Marvet
- Sandi Schleicher
- Rachel Siegel
- Larry Weingardt
- Dan Wellisch
- Ken Wexler
Did you know that splitting wood is a great workout? (Abe Lincoln was ripped!) We still have wood piled up on the North side of the building from the landscaping project. Help yourself to as much as you can carry! Be sure to stop by ASAP. Thanks for helping!
Book Club
Our next selection for the Shir Hadash Book Club is The Slave, by Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Yiddish story of a Jewish scholar sold into slavery in 17th century Poland who falls in love with his gentile master's daughter. We will meet Thursday, December 5 at 7:30pm at the home of Rebecca Rice in Northbrook. Contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com for more information.
iGive and SHOP: Two Great Ways to Help Shir Hadash
Did you know that we have two easy, pain-free fundraising programs that deliver donations to Shir Hadash without costing you a dime? When you plan your holiday shopping and traveling, remember these options that support our congregation with every purchase:
- iGive: Established in 1997, iGive is the first online shopping mall where a portion of each purchase benefits the shopper's favorite cause. iGive members have raised over $7 million for charities across the U.S. and Canada. Every time you shop at any of the 1,300+ online stores in the iGive network, a portion of the money you spend benefits Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue. It's a free service, and you never pay more when you reach a store through iGive. There are also coupons, free shipping deals, and sales available through iGive. To get started, just click here to create your free iGive account. If you have questions, contact Sandi Schleicher, treasurer@shir-hadash.org.
- SHOP Shir Hadash: Shop Shir Hadash provides a way for you to buy gift cards for your favorite stores, including grocery, gas stations, Starbucks, and hundreds more. You pay face value for the gift card but Shir Hadash gets a percentage of the card value too. If you pay $50 for a gift card, you get $50 of value, and Shir Hadash also earns a few dollars. It is a win-win for everyone! If you use Shop Shir Hadash for your grocery purchases alone you can help raise an extra $100 or more for Shir Hadash in a year. For more info, scroll down to the end of this newsletter or contact Gina Zinbarg,gzinbarg@sbcglobal.net.
The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove or Butterfields Restaurant in Northbrook permanently will donate 5% of your total bill to Shir Hadash! No flyer needed – just mention Shir Hadash when you are paying or fill out the Shir Hadash book behind the desk. A great way to start or end Religious school!
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Shabbat Evening ServiceFriday, November 8, 2013 (7:30 PM): Shabbat Vayetze“Traditional Shabbat”Every so often, it’s nice to return to the traditional way of doing things. Join us for a Shabbat evening service filled with comfortable and old-style melodies and old prayers that you probably haven’t heard in a long time. We’ll reminisce about the synagogues in which some of us grew up and talk about how the traditional world gave way to the liberal and creative experience that we enjoy at Shir Hadash.
Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, November 9, 2013 (9:45 AM)We will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Jonathan Wallk, son of Ruth & Jeffrey Wallk
Upcoming: Shabbat Evening Featuring Gan Yeladim through Grade 3, November 15
Scroll down to Education News for details.
Mark Your Calendars: Lights & Miracles Service, November 22 at OLB
Don’t miss a true Shir Hadash tradition – the annual Lights & Miracles Hanukkah Service. Bring your family and friends to share in our celebration of Hanukkah music and traditions, with a special Thanksgiving twist especially for this unusual year. Latkes and cranberry sauce, anyone?
To accommodate a great turnout, this year’s service will be held at Our Lady of the Brook, 3300 Dundee Road in Northbrook. Come ready to sing, dance, laugh, and be inspired! Our service starts at 7:30pm.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Help Plan Our Shir Hadash 2014 GalaDo you like planning parties? Do you want to have some fun with your fellow Shir Hadashniks? Shir Hadash is throwing a gala evening on February 22, 2014, and we need volunteers to help plan the event. Our gala will be a fun night of music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres and dessert – a great opportunity for members of the Congregation and their friends to relax and enjoy a night out.
There are a number of different volunteer opportunities, including:
- General event planning and coordination
- Menu selection
- Invitations
- Obtaining silent auction items
- Creating a sponsor event book
- Marketing materials
- Day-of assistance: set up, clean up, ticket taking, etc
Soup Kitchen Volunteers Needed THIS SUNDAY
On Sunday, November 10th, Shir Hadash will be preparing, cooking and serving over 90 meals to needy individuals at the St Paul's Lutheran Church Soup Kitchen in Evanston. This event will require volunteers to be available from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. We need a minimum of 25 volunteers (about 10-12 families). There is no age limit to volunteer, but from past experience, kids should be at least 6 years old to fully participate. Each family will be responsible for bringing an entrée that will feed 15 to 20 individuals, one gallon of milk, one gallon of orange juice, one large bag frozen mixed vegetables, one large bag of fruit (oranges, bananas, etc.) and dessert.
If you are interested in helping, please contact Mark Lenhart ASAP at mjlenhart@comcast.net. After this, the next opportunity to volunteer for the Soup Kitchen will be February 2014.
Shir Hadash Supports PADS Shelters for the Homeless
The Shir Hadash Social Action Committee is excited to announce a new partnership with the PADS Shelter Program in Northern Cook County. PADS provides hospitality, food, and overnight emergency shelter to the homeless between October 1 and April 30, seven days a week (including holidays). Please visit their website to learn about the vital services PADS provides.
Initially, Shir Hadash will be providing some portion of the food needed at the Tuesday PADS Site located at the Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove. At this point, we are just collecting names of interested people who are willing and able to provide food once or twice a season, depending on the number of volunteers we get. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mark Lenhart atmjlenhart@comcast.net for detailed information. Maureen Rivkin will be coordinating and assigning volunteers as needed. Thanks in advance for your support of this great organization!
MUSIC NOTES – NEWS AND IDEAS FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
Lights & MiraclesHanukkiah? Check. Candles? Check. Latkes? Check. Jelly Doughnuts? Check. Turkey and Stuffing? Check. Pumpkin Pie? Check. Miles Maccabee and Judah Standish? Check. What a crazy, mixed-up holiday it's going to be. Come celebrate what some are calling Thanksgivukkah at this year's Lights & Miracles service on Friday, November 22, at Our Lady of the Brook. Come and gobble up some latkes!
Your Turn to Create Some Hanukkah Music
I had a little dreidl, from cranberries I made it
It stained the floor so badly
That my mom and dad forbade it!
I made a little menorah,I shaped it like a turkey
And what else could I call it
Besides the name "menurkey?"
Oh Hanukkah and Thanksgiving
This year they share the day
A day of miracles and thanks
The perfect time to pray
Though we have a new building
We people of the book
Our Lights & MIracles serviceIs at Our Lady of the Brook
If you think you're so clever
Then you might do no worse
So why not take a stab
And write your own Thanksgivvukah verse?
Try your hand at writing some verses, send them to Adrian at music.director@shir-hadash.org, and we might include them in the very special "Mr. D's Dreidl Song Challenge" at this year's Lights & Miracles Service on Friday, November 22 at Our Lady of the Brook. Deadline for submissions is 11/17/13. (Of course, you never know- you may find me adding lyrics to the Powerpoint slides during the show itself!)
Religious School Music
Do your children like to sing? Do they play an instrument? Soon after Hanukkah we'll be reforming our Kolit Youth Choir, and also looking to find ways to use our student musicians as well. Stay tuned (and in tune.)
Choral Singing is the New Black
Well, not really, but it got your attention! Like to sing? Come join the Shir Hadash Lahaka, our adult choir. Rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:30pm at Shir Hadash. If you're interested, contact Adrian atmusic.director@shir-hadash.org.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
November 8-9, 2013 / 6 Kislev 5774Shabbat VayetzeTorah - Genesis 28:10-32:3 / Haftarah - Hosea 12:13-14:10“Kedushah - When God’s Presence Creates Holy Places and Times”
Dear Friends,This week’s Torah portion speaks about the miracle of marriage. The Torah reading this week begins by noting that "Jacob left Beer-Sheba and set out for Haran." According to last week's portion, his parents sent him there to "take a wife there from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother." Jacob went from his home to seek the comfort of love and marriage.
Marriage - that two people, two entire universes of ideas, experiences, preferences and quirks, can share their lives as one is astounding. In fact, the rabbis considered the existence of a good marriage to be one of the most astounding of God's miracles….
To read the rest of the Rabbi’s Corner, click here to visit our website.
EDUCATION NEWS
Check Out the Education BlogOur Education Director Emily Ascher shares school news, photos, and insights in her weekly blog. Click here to see what’s new!
Shabbat Starring Gan through Grade 3, November 15
Friday, November 15th will be a special Shabbat service led by the Gan Yeladim, First, Second, and Third graders (Rabbi Eitan too!). This service is quite fun and a chance for the children to get used to standing on the bima and leading the prayers they are working on in Sunday school. We also get to bless our children and sing some songs together. Please let me know if you are interested in hosting a pre-service pizza dinner in our beautiful kitchen -- it's really fun and a great way to start a family tradition. This is a perfect opportunity for bonding with other Shir Hadash families--don't miss out.
TEEN NEWS
SHY Lounge -- TONIGHT!On Thursday, November 7th from 7-8:30 pm, come hear Shir Hadash senior Claire Marvet talk about the documentary Blood Brother, a powerful film about a young American who dedicates himself to working in an HIV/AIDS hostel for poverty-stricken children in India. Claire is hosting a special showing of the film on November 20th at the AMC Showplace in Vernon Hills, with proceeds benefiting the children of the hostel.Click here for details about the documentary and ticket information.
BBYO – TONIGHT!
Our next meeting will be Thursday, November 7 at 6:00. We’ll share a pizza dinner and hold chapter elections. (Remember, you must be officially registered with BBYO in order to be elected as an officer.Click here to signup.) After the meeting, stay for the presentation by Claire Marvet about Blood Brother.
Madrichim
Next meeting: Sunday, November 10th at 8:40 am.
AMHSI – High School in Israel Program
Thank you to Dana Klein from Alexander Muss High School in Israel for a terrific presentation of some options for high shcool students to live and study in Israel for 6, 8 or 14 weeks. If you are interested in the program but were unable to attend the meeting, please see Carole Mostow for an information packet. Information will also be placed on the info table at the front of the synagogue.
ADULT EDUCATION
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan Weiner-KaplowThursdays, noon-1:00pm in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/CafeJoin Shir Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion. Don’t be surprised if archaeology, sociology, contemporary world affairs as well as law, medicine, and business ethics enter the lively conversation as we plumb the deeper meanings of Judaism’s core text. Participants are encouraged to share their views, questions, and opinions. Each month, one of the class sessions will be devoted to the Chai Mitzvah curriculum.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
Sunday School isn't just for the kids! Join us this Sunday for Torah and Philosophy at 9:45 with Fred Andes, followed by Hebrew Reading at 10:45 with Steve Lewin. For more information, contact Fred Andes,frederic.andes@btlaw.com
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