As you may have noticed, we have migrated to our new website and website provider. This move will save us thousands of dollars every year. The migration has gone pretty smoothly. We are still working out a few kinks, and we are planning to add additional content and features in the next few months. In the meantime, please check out our new blogs for the Shir Hadash Weekly Bulletin; The Rabbi's Corner, where you will be able to read Rabbi Eitan’s weekly parsha; Education Updates from Education Director Emily Ascher, where parents and students will be able to reference any announcements they might have missed; and Worship Announcements, where you'll be able to find the announcements for upcoming shabbat services and holiday events. We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for how to make the website work even better for you, so please e-mail Jeff Walk with any suggestions at president@shir-hadash.org.
We have also moved off of Constant Contact, which we've used to make announcements for the last five years for our announcements and more recently our newsletter, and onto a google platform. This change has not been quite as seamless as we would have liked, but we are getting the hang of it. Please bear with us as we continue to figure out our new system.
What's Happening at a Glance
- The Blessing of Connection
- One Day at Shir Hadash
- Volunteer at the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival
Creative Worship & Ritual
- Friday, June 1: Why Israel Matters, with AIPAC's Susan Millner
- Friday: June 15: Learn about tzitzit
- Photos from Shavuot celebration
Adult Education- Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursday, May 31
Community Events
- Greater Chicago Jewish Festival WITH PERFORMER DETAILS, Sunday, June 10
- Genetic Education and Screening Program
The Rabbi's Corner
The Blessing of Connection
The Blessing of Connection
June 1-2, 2012 / 12 Sivan 5772
Shabbat Naso
Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89 / Haftarah Portion: Judges 13:2-25
Dear Friends,
When my children were growing up, and now when they are home for a visit, I bless them as we light Shabbat candles. That blessing formula, which begins with the word ‘yivarechecha, comes from this week’s Torah portion. In anticipation of completing the work of building the ‘Mishkan’ or portable desert shrine (also called a ‘tabernacle’ in English), the special words are revealed to Aaron the High Priest to be used when blessing the people of Israel during Shabbat and festival ceremonies.
Yivarechecha Adonai v’yishm’recha.
May God bless you and keep you...
To read the rest of The Blessingn of Connection, visit The Rabbi's Corner.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Education Update
One Day at Shir Hadash
At Shir Hadash, we have developed a curriculum that requires students to attend one class a week. We believe that this program works best for our students, our parents, and our teachers. We immerse our students in all things Jewish and ask them to question, to share, and to make their own decisions. We welcome parents and encourage them to participate in school activities and at services. Our teachers love sharing their passion for Judaism. We teach what it means to be Jewish, our rich culture of art, of dance, and of music. We focus on the meaning of our prayers while teaching the Hebrew aleph bet. What does it mean to be Jewish today…?
To read more from Education Director Emily Ascher, go to Education Updates.
Teen News
Volunteer Opportunity for Teens (and Their Families)
The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival will be held on Sunday, June 10, at St. Paul Woods, Morton Grove. It will have three stages with music, dance, and storytelling; a family stage; a kosher food fair; an art fair; and an organization fair. The fair will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. We have a volunteer slot from 3 to 5 p.m. to sell soda. Volunteering is open to teens, adults, and kids (with parental supervision). We still need more volunteers. Please send an e-mail with your name and t-shirt size to youth@shir-hadash.org.
Creative Worship & Ritual
Why Israel Matters: AIPAC’s Susan Millner to Join Us on June 1
Each day the headlines bring new and serious challenges for the State of Israel. Come and explore pressing Middle East issues that affect Israel’s security and U.S. Interests from the Peace Process to the Arab Spring. Join us and see how Israel is forming relationships with countries across the globe and why United States and Israel are safer, stronger and better together.
On Friday, June 1, our Shabbat service will feature Susan Brent Millner, AIPAC (America-Israel Public Affairs Committee) Chicago Leadership Management Director. Millner’s topic is “Why Israel Matters: Telling the Story.” The service will begin at 7:30 p.m.
We have a different location for this service—the Vernon Township Community Service Building, at 2900 N. Main in Buffalo Grove (where we have our seders). See you there—and don't forget to bring something for oneg!
AIPAC works with leaders in Congress and the administration to ensure a U.S.-Israel relationship that makes both countries safer, smarter and stronger. AIPAC is a bipartisan organization whose members are from every state in the union, representing all faiths, Democrats and Republicans, seasoned political veterans, as well as high school and college students. Since 2005, Susan Brent Millner, Chicago AIPAC Leadership Management Director, has been responsible for deepening pro-Israel activism within the Chicago area by empowering AIPAC members to connect to the important work of political engagement and to continuing their education of the critical issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Learn About Tzitzit on Friday, June 15
Shavuot Celebration Featured Food, Acting, and Study
Shir Hadashniks gathered on Shavuot for an evening of nosh and study at the home of Rebecca and Ed Rice. The large group included eight teens. Everyone played a character role in a reading from the Book of Ruth. After discussing the reading, we launched into three study topics. We discussed Reconstructionist views on intermarriage, we learned about the life and philosophy of Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan (the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism), and we learned about the theories behind Israel’s meteoric rise as a world leader in technology and high-tech start up companies. The evening was a great success and it set a precedent for future Shavuot celebrations.
Learn About Tzitzit on Friday, June 15
On Friday, June 15, we will have a special Torah reading at services: “The Unexpected Incident of the Twelve Spies.” Rabbi Weiner-Kaplow will teach about the significance of the tzitzit fringe on the tallit prayer shawl.
Shavuot Celebration Featured Food, Acting, and Study
Shir Hadashniks gathered on Shavuot for an evening of nosh and study at the home of Rebecca and Ed Rice. The large group included eight teens. Everyone played a character role in a reading from the Book of Ruth. After discussing the reading, we launched into three study topics. We discussed Reconstructionist views on intermarriage, we learned about the life and philosophy of Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan (the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism), and we learned about the theories behind Israel’s meteoric rise as a world leader in technology and high-tech start up companies. The evening was a great success and it set a precedent for future Shavuot celebrations.
Adult Education
Torah study with the Rabbi on Thursday, May 31, from 12 to 1 at the Shir Hadash office. The theme and Torah verses that we will be studying this week: “The Test for Adultery,” Parshat Naso - Numbers 5:11-31.
At press time, no information is available about adult education classes this weekend.
At press time, no information is available about adult education classes this weekend.
Call for Volunteers
Wanted: Webmaster
We are looking for someone to maintain our Shir Hadash website. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Jeff Wallk at jeffrey.wallk@gmail.com.
Mitzvah Committee
We're looking for more Shiva leaders (adults and yes, even Havayah kids). If you are interested, please contact Bob Roiter at bob.roiter@sbcglobalnet.net.
Get Involved with the Spring Membership Drive
We're planning a lot of activities this spring to expand our membership. If you're interested in helping us grow, please call the office and ask for Lillian (847) 498-8218.
Community Events
Greater Chicago Jewish Festival
The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival will be held on Sunday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will feature Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies, Blue Fringe, and Soul Aviv, along with a juried art fair, kosher food court, children's activities, and an organization fair. We are planning to have a Shir Hadash booth, so stay tuned for details, including how to sign up to volunteer at the booth!
PERFORMER UPDATE: The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival has now released its musical, storytelling, and dance line up. Along with Steven Page, Blue Fringe, and Soul Aviv, other performers will include Chicago native Rabbi Joe Black from Colorado, who moves from liturgical music of the heart to children's music of the funny bone; Moshe Skier from Milwaukee; Jewish blues performer Saul Kaye from California; Chicago based Lucky Break Bluegrass; the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band; the Chicken Fat Klezmer Band; Ed Holstein, part of the legendary Chicago folk music scene; Steve Justman, who continues the Chicago folk music tradition, will focus his performance on Jewish song writers for the Festival. Other performers include storytellers, comedy, a children’s choir, a Yiddish choir, an Israeli dance troupe, jazz, and a puppeteer.
The festival will be held at the Cook County Forest Preserve, St. Paul Woods, Oakton Street west of Lehigh. There is plenty of parking on site. A $5 per person donation is suggested. For more information, go to http://www.jewishfestival.org/ or call (847) 933-3000.
Genetic Education and Screening Program
PERFORMER UPDATE: The Greater Chicago Jewish Festival has now released its musical, storytelling, and dance line up. Along with Steven Page, Blue Fringe, and Soul Aviv, other performers will include Chicago native Rabbi Joe Black from Colorado, who moves from liturgical music of the heart to children's music of the funny bone; Moshe Skier from Milwaukee; Jewish blues performer Saul Kaye from California; Chicago based Lucky Break Bluegrass; the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band; the Chicken Fat Klezmer Band; Ed Holstein, part of the legendary Chicago folk music scene; Steve Justman, who continues the Chicago folk music tradition, will focus his performance on Jewish song writers for the Festival. Other performers include storytellers, comedy, a children’s choir, a Yiddish choir, an Israeli dance troupe, jazz, and a puppeteer.
The festival will be held at the Cook County Forest Preserve, St. Paul Woods, Oakton Street west of Lehigh. There is plenty of parking on site. A $5 per person donation is suggested. For more information, go to http://www.jewishfestival.org/ or call (847) 933-3000.
Genetic Education and Screening Program
Registration is underway for the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders upcoming screening programs for young Jewish adults. The Center is now offering an expanded panel of 18 disorders. Join the Center in June or August for a subsidized screening program ($180 per person), which includes an educational presentation, dinner, and screening. These tests usually cost more than $3,000! Pre-registration is required. Please contact Taryn Brickman at tarynbrickman@juf.org to learn more or visit http://www.jewishgenetics.org/.
Donations
Thank you to the following people for donating to Shir Hadash:
General Fund
- Lauren and Doug Tashma, in memory of Howard Herbin
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund:
- Ina and Lloyd Idelman in honor of Grandchildren Elizabeth and Spencer Soglin' s B'nai Mitzvah
- Andrea Idelman in honor of niece Elizabeth and nephew Spencer Soglin's B'nai Mitzvah
SHOP Shir Hadash
Shop for Dads, Grads, and Teachers
Celebrate Dads, Grads, and Teachers with Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, Bath and Body Works; Bed, Bath, and Beyond; Dicks; Great Clips; REI; Sports Authority; Target; Walmart/Sam’s; Fanny May; Best Buy; Home Depot; Darden and Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Lettuce Entertain You restaurants are now available for purchase by credit card.
Thanks to the following families for supporting SHOP this week:
- Schliecher
- Weiss
Retailer & Product Update
June 9, 2012, through June 22, 2012, there will be a great 2% bonus rebate on AMC Theatres® Gift Cards and Reload, Cinemark Theatres Gift Cards, and Regal Entertainment Group Gift Cards and variable denomination ScripNow.
Welcome New Retailers
Zappos.com - New ScripNow™ Retailer
