July 18, 2012

To view this blog in its entirety, go to SH Connections on our new website!

What's Happening at a Glance

Membership and Upcoming Events

• Book club meets on Thursday, July 19
• Honor the memory of your loved ones in the Book of Life, due July 20
• Lahaka: First High Holiday rehearsal on July 22
• MOSH card night on July 25
• Membership forms are due on August 15



Rabbi Eitan and Dawn visted the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union
Institute (OSRUI), where they hung out wi th their daughter,
Elana, who is a counselor and songleader, and with camper
Alek Kopulsky. Both are in the Chalutzim Hebrew
speaking unit.

• Save the Date: Annual picnic on Saturday, August 18

The Rabbi's Corner

• Paying It Forward

Education Update

• Send in your religious school registration forms
• School Happenings

Teen News

• Outdoor adventure with Rabbi Eitan
• Calling all Teen Advisory Board members

Creative Worship & Ritual

• Friday, July 20: Rabbi Eitan will tell us all about his trip to Italy and Israel

Adult Education

• Torah class will be held on Sunday, July 22

Community Announcements

• Genetic education and screening program for young adults

Membership and Upcoming Events

Book Club Meets on Thursday, July 19
Our next book club will meet on Thursday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m., at the home of Sandy and Jerry Weiss, 2144 Walters Avenue, Northbrook. We are reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon. This an exciting novel set in World War II in America and Czechoslovakia. It features the Jews in the comic book industry, Houdini, and the Golem! Men, you will really enjoy this book! Members, non-members, men and women of all ages are welcome. RSVP to Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com (preferable) or (847) 509-0377.

Honor the Memory of Your Loved Ones in the Book of Life

We are proud to announce the creation of a new program for Shir Hadash members, which follows the hallowed Jewish tradition of honoring the memory of our loved ones. The Book of Life will be used to provide reminders to members about days of remembrance for their loved ones, to service leaders on appropriate Shabbat Services to call out the names of loved ones, and to ensure on the holiest of days, Yom Kippur that we remember those who have passed on. The act of remembrance takes on a deeper meaning when accompanied by a donation to the congregation. The amount of your contribution is entirely at your discretion.

This year, our Book of Life due date is July 20. Please send in your form and payment by July 20 as we need time to prepare the book for the High Holidays. Please remember that only the names of those loved ones who passed this year will be read during the Yizkor Service.

First Lahaka High Holiday Rehearsal on July 22
Lahaka will have its first rehearsal for the High Holidays on Sunday, July 22, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., with our High Holidays Music Director Benjamin Rivera. The location will be announced shortly. It is not too late to join Lahaka; interested members can contact Sandy at sandy2weiss@gmail.com.

MOSH Card Night on July 25
Men of Shir Hadash (MOSH) Card Night will be held on July 25, from 8 to 10 p.m., at Sandi and Lise Schleicher’s house, 2384 Dehne Rd, Northbrook. RSVP to (800) 897-0533; drop-ins are OK, too! Come out and meet some other men from Shir Hadash; talk, have a drink, play some cards, eat, etc. Learn to play hearts, spades, euchre, pinochle, bridge, poker, etc. The games will change based on what everyone wants to play or learn. MOSH will be meeting the fourth Wednesday of every month from 8 to 10 p.m., so if you can’t make it this month, put us in your calendar for next month!

Membership Renewal Forms Due on August 15
The membership renewal forms were mailed on June 28. Please fill them out and return them to our office by August 15. Please call Lillian at (847) 498-8218 if you did not receive the forms.

Save the Date: Annual Picnic on Saturday, August 18
This year, our annual picnic will be held on Saturday August 18, at 4 p.m., Sunset Woods Park, 1801 Sunset Road between Central and Park Avenue West, in Highland Park. Shir Hadash will  supply the kosher hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers. Please bring dairy-free side dishes and desserts. Rabbi Eitan will lead a sing-a-long. Sunset Woods Park is lovely and features many fun playgrounds and amenities. Do you have friends, family, or neighbors who are shopping around for a synagogue? Please bring them along so they can see our vibrant community and wonderful rabbi in action! Watch your e-mail for more information on the picnic and how to RSVP.

The Rabbi's Corner

July 20, 2012 / 2 Av 5772

Shabbat Matot-Massei

Torah: Numbers 30:2 - 36:13 / Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4 - 28; 3:4

“Paying It Forward”

Dear Friends,

With the reading of this week’s Torah portion, we come to the end of the fourth book of the Torah, the book of Numbers. Even through there is one more Torah book to go, Deuteronomy, at this point the Children of Israel have arrived on the threshold of the Promised Land. They are camped on the Jordan River across from Jericho ready to make plans to cross over. The generation of the Exodus has died during the forty years of desert wandering. Moses will die as well. Soon, a new generation, born in freedom will reestablish the Israelite presence in the Holy Land.

What about all those who courageously left Egypt behind, but died in the wilderness? What about their hopes and visions for a new life of freedom? What does Judaism say about their not reaching the Promised Land?...

To read the rest of Rabbi Eitan’s blog, visit The Rabbi's Corner.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Education Update

Send in Your Religious School Registration Forms
Religious school registration forms were due on July 15. Please call Lillian at (847) 498-8218 if you did not receive the forms.

School Happenings
Know any 5 year olds craving a fun Sunday school class? Please advise them to sign up for the Shir Hadash Gan Yeladim class with superstar teacher Cindy Salomon. Awaiting your children are hands-on, center-based activities specifically developed to aid them in absorbing Jewish values, the feeling of Jewish holidays, the meaning of Torah stories and even an early knowledge of Hebrew.

Havayah (8th grade - high school class) and madrichim (teacher's assistants) forms will be mailed this week. These are wonderful opportunities for your teen to experience personal growth, appreciation for our community, and lots of fun.  Look for more information to arrive at your home this week.

The Shir Hadash picnic will be a great time to get together before school starts on Sunday, September 23. Visit with the Rabbi, some board members, and students for a celebration of shabbat, the summer, and each other.

Emily Ascher, Education Director
eddirector@shir-hadash.org

To read the latest from Education Director Emily Ascher, go to Education Updates.

Teen News

Outdoor Adventure with Rabbi Eitan
We are in the process of planning a cool outdoor adventure with Rabbi Eitan. Details to follow.

Calling All Teen Activity Board Members
TAB members: We need to schedule an August meeting to continue planning our event. Please e-mail Carole Mostow at youth@shir-hadash.org and let her know when you will be available in mid- to late August.

Creative Worship & Ritual

Friday, June 20: Return of the Rabbi!
Rabbi Eitan is back from his trip to Italy and Israel, and he has some very exciting things to tell us about (and show us too). At the service this Friday night, July 20 (7:30 at LCHS), come to welcome the Rabbi back, and hear all about the trip, including the Rabbi's presentation to Shir Hadash Italy (in Florence), and his visits to important archaeological and historic sites in Israel. 

Adult Education

Torah class will be held on Sunday, July 22, from 10 to 11 am at the office. This week’s Torah portion two themes: The Jews Go to War, and Equal Rights for Women.

Call for Volunteers

Help Wanted
We have all kinds of volunteer positions available. Stay tuned for more details.

Community Announcements

Genetic Education and Screening Program for Young Adults

Registration opens Monday, August 20, for the Center for Jewish Genetics’ upcoming carrier screening programs for young Jewish adults. The Center offers an expanded panel of 18 disorders, including Tay-Sachs disease, Gaucher disease, and Cystic Fibrosis. Join the Center in October or December 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 or visit http://www.jewishgenetics.org/ to learn more.

SHOP Shir Hadash

Annual Shop Orders Are Now Payable By Credit Card
If every family purchases $400 a month in grocery, gas, or other cards, we can earn over $15,000. Shir Hadash believes that an inability to pay should never be a barrier to membership or education. Special consideration is given to our members when circumstances prevent them from meeting any part of their financial commitment. To offset this consideration and to make up the budgetary deficit, the Board is asking that all members consider making a monthly commitment to using shop gift cards. Purchasing Shop gift cards helps the shul raise much needed funds without spending any more money than you already do for your regular expenses. A complete list of the many gift cards available through this program, along with the percentage the shul earns is available on our website. Orders can be picked up at Sunday school or the Shir Hadash office. Visit our website for more details on SHOP.

New ScripNow Retailer

• Caribou Coffee