What's Happening at a Glance
Annual Meeting, Sunday, May 6
Book Club, Monday May 14
The True Cause of Dis-Ease
Yom Tikkun Olam photos
Teacher Appreciation Day, Sunday, April 29
Bring a Friend Day, Sunday, April 29
Game night with JRC, Saturday, May 5
Mitzvah
It's not too late to sign up for Bikur Cholim
We need a Shir Hadash webmaster
New Genetic Education and Screening Program
Social Events & Membership
Annual Meeting May 6
Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 6 (the last day of Sunday School). We will initially convene the meeting at our Sunday School location, Hellenic American Academy, 1085 Lake Cook Road in Deerfield. Voting will be open starting at 9:15 at that site. Starting at 10 a.m., we will move over to the building next door, Chicagoland Jewish High School (CJHS), for the remainder of the meeting. You will be able to vote at CJHS, and there will be presentations by candidates and concerning the proposed budget, with opportunities to ask questions. Plus, there will be coffee, tea, bagels, cream cheese, fruit, and pastries available at CJHS during the meeting (at no charge).
We'll be reviewing the budget for next year and voting on several board positions. Like many congregations, we too have felt the same challenges that our members have faced with the slow recovery of our economy. We are planning on dedicating part of the board to address this issue head-on next year.
We are introducing a restructuring of the board to improve our ability to grow our membership and enhance fundraising. The board also recognized the need to streamline our governing structure, improve communications with our committees and staff, and provide better focus. Come and help us make a quorum, meet the Board, and ask questions!
May Book Club
The May book club meeting will be held on Monday, May 14 (tentative), at Susan Grossman's home in Highland Park. We will be reading Drawing in the Dust by Zoe Klein. RSVP to Meryl at abenkras@aol.com (preferred) or (847) 509-0377. Please tell your friends about it! This event is not exclusive to Shir Hadash. It is open men and women alike.
Looking for Three Families to Host a Tea
The tea will be an evening event during which the rabbi will teach and lead a discussion about a theme of Reconstructionist values and/or thought that is very relevant to our contemporary Jewish lives. The host will help the rabbi select the theme of most interest. The host will invite some Shir Hadash friends to attend as well as some non-member friends who might be interested in participating. Please contact Caryn McArdle at caryn.mcardle@comcast.net.
Family Bike Ride with the Rabbi...
Keep watching the newsletter for information on a family bike ride with Rabbi Eitan, Chicago architect boat tour, and a baseball game, to name a few activities planned for our community in the next few months.
Rabbi's Corner
"The True Cause of Dis-Ease"
April 27-28, 2012 / 6 Iyar 5772
Shabbat Tazria-Metzora
Torah Portion: Leviticus 12:1-15:33 / Haftarah Portion: II Kings 7:3-20
Dear Friends,
What causes disease? Rabbinic sages commenting on this week's Torah portion came up with a clear answer. Diseases, such as leprosy and fungal infections, are caused by speaking slander against one's neighbor. What's the connection? A careful reading of Torah stories reveals that Moses developed a serious skin disease after complaining to God about the Israelites. At another point Miriam became leprous after complaining about her brother Moses' wife.
I will buy it. Public ridicule and embarrassment can, at times, cause physical symptoms from stress and anxiety. I have heard some say that stress can bring on or worsen some skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Maybe there is a connection. Now, I do not believe that gossiping will directly result in a Divine punishment of physical maladies...
Read the rest on the Rabbi's Blog.
L'shalom (In Peace)
Rabbi Eitan
Rabbi Eitan
Education Update
We know our school is filled with creativity, fun, and inspiration, so why not give your friends the opportunity to experience that too?This Sunday, April 29, is Bring a Friend Day at Shir Hadash. We have always encouraged our students to bring a Jewish friend to Sunday school. This year, we thought it would be nice to have a single, special day to invite friends. Please encourage your sons and daughters to ask a friend to join them on Sunday. Just e-mail Education Director Emily Ascher at eddirector@shir-hadash.org so the teachers can prepare accordingly.
The Sun Shone on Yom Tikkun Olam
We had a wonderful time at The Grove in Glenview for Yom Tikkun Olam, our day to repair the world. With donuts, cookies, hot chocolate, and coffee in hand for fortification, we walked into the woods. Our goal: to plant dozens of burr oak saplings. The burr oak is a tough but majestic tree. The slender saplings had long, graceful, feathery root systems, so the holes needed to be deep. Kids and adults alike took turns digging in the earth. We even broke a shovel! Certainly not all of the saplings that we planted will make it, but some of them will, and in 150 years, they will tower over the forest.
The Grove staff was so welcoming and happy to have us there. Many thanks to them and to Rebecca Rice for arranging the event. Rabbi Eitan led us in a prayer for Yom Tikkun Olam, and Rebecca did a reading about trees. It was a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
Also coming up:
- Bring a Friend Day, April 29
- Teacher Appreciation Day, April 29
- School Shabbat Service, Friday May 4
- Last Sunday, May 6
Emily Ascher
Education Director
Teen News
Upcoming Teen Advisory Board Meeting
Game Show Night with JRC
Creative Worship & Ritual
Call for Volunteers
Community Events
Game Show Night with JRC
Our next Teen Advisory Board meeting will be on Sunday, May 6, at 8:30 a.m. Please mark your calendars.
Our 8th through 12th graders will meet for pizza and games on Saturday, May 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge, Evanston. This will be a great game show night with great food! There's no charge for this event, but you must RSVP by May 1. We need to know who will attend! To RSVP or if you have questions, send an e-mail to youth@shir-hadash.org.
Carole Mostow
Youth Director
Musical Notes: Kolit
We are always looking for new voices. Kolit rehearses on Sunday School are from 12:30 to 1 p.m. It's not too late to join Kolit (the Shir Hadash children's choir). Join Kolit Director Arielle Galante and Ethan Zwick for a fun half-hour of singing.
Creative Worship & Ritual
Pausing in the Wilderness
Last Friday night, April 20, we had our annual Pausing in the Wilderness service, and this year, we did something different: the theme was Our Jewish Wanderings. Members brought and shared their stories of how our families made it to America. We watched a montage (set to music) of family pictures sent in by members. And we tagged, on a world map, the places where our families came from. After the service was over, Rabbi Eitan led a drum circle. A special thank you to Gary Kuper for creating the video/music montage.
Adult Education
We have all of our Adult Ed classes this week:
Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi
Thursday, April 26, noon to 1 p.m., Shir Hadash office
Torah Class
Sunday, April 29, 9:30 to 10:20, Hellenic American Academy
Adult Hebrew Class
Sunday, April 29, 10:25 to 11:20, Hellenic American Academy
Adult B'nai Mitzvah Class
Sunday, April 29, 11:25 to 12:25, Hellenic American Academy
All Things Jewish
Sunday, April 29, 11:25 to 12:25, Hellenic American Academy
For more information, please contact Fred Andes (fandes@btlaw.com) for the Torah class and Steve Lewin (stevelewin@yahoo.com) for the Hebrew class.
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.
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
Genetic Education and Screening Program
Registration opens Monday, April 23, 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/.
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