What's Happening at a Glance
- Book club to meet on October 11
- Chicago Festival of Israeli Film outing on November 4
- Shir Hadash Board: At Work for You
- Vacancy on the Board
- Save the dates: Worship service recommendations for religious school students
- First day of school and much more
- Teen Selichot outing photos
- Last call for High Holiday forms!
- High Holiday schedule: Erev Rosh Hashanah, September 16; Day 1 Rosh Hashanah, September 17; Kol Nidrei, September 25; Yom Kippur Day, September 26
- High Holiday volunteers needed
- Save the dates: Sukkot (October 5) and Simchat Torah (October 7)
- All Israel Stood at Sinai
- Genetic education and screening program for young adults
Membership and Upcoming Events
Our next book club will be held on Thursday October 11, at 7:30 pm at the home of Beth Klauba, 2311 Central Street, Apt. 1, Evanston. We will be discussing The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, a historical fiction at Masada's final stand. For more info please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
Save the Date: Chicago Festival of Israeli Film on November 4
Join Shir Hadash members to attend the Chicago Festival of Israeli Film on Sunday, November 4. We are planning to go see “My Australia” as a group event at 6 p.m. M. at Northbrook Court. For more information, please contact Deidre Berkowitz at deidre.berkowitz@gmail.com.
Shir Hadash Board: At Work for You
Have you ever wondered who does what around here? We reorganized our Board this summer, and now it’s easy to find out who to contact if you have a question or problem. Visit our website for more information about our Board’s structure, roles, and responsibilities.
Vacancy on the Board
We have a seat to fill on our Board’s Sustainability Team, and we need your skills and experience. We are looking for someone to work collaboratively on fundraising, public relations, marketing, and prospective member outreach. For more information, contact Jeff Wallk at president@shir-hadash.org
Education Update
Shir Hadash teachers want our students to be familiar with and comfortable in our Shabbat and holiday worship services. We recommend that students and their families should attend at least two worship services during the school year. We have some great opportuities for the children to participate in (and enjoy) services. (Note: There is a six service attendance requirement for students in the year prior to bar/bat mitzvah service.) At least one of these services should be a Shabbat service, and the other can be a holiday service such as Sukkot (Friday, October 5), Simchat Torah (Sunday, October 7), Lights & Miracles on Hanukkah, Purim, and Pausing in the Wilderness.
We are offering several Shabbat services that will be geared specifically to—and led by—our students. Our teachers will prepare the students to lead portions of the service.
- Friday, November 16: Shabbat services will be led by grades 4 through 7
- Friday, March 1, 2013: Shabbat services will be led by grades K through 3
- Friday, May 17, 2013: Shabbat services will be led by our Havayah
Please put those dates in your calendar.
First Day of School and Much More
There are many youth-oriented Shir Hadash activities in the weeks ahead.
- Sunday, September 23: First day of religious school, 9:15 a.m.-12:25 p.m., Hellenic American Academy, Deerfield.
- Monday, October 1: Havayah (8th - 12th graders), 6:30 to 8 p.m., LCHS.
- Friday, October 5: Sukkot service, 7:30 to 9 p.m., LCHS. Help us welcome the mystical spirits of biblical leaders Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others into our sukkah. We’ll also offer a Sukkot art project for all ages. The Education Committee highly recommends you join us for this great service, always a favorite of the children.
- Sunday, October 7: Pizza dinner, Simchat Torah, and Consecration (honoring our new students) service, 5 to 8 p.m., LCHS. Simchat Torah showcases Rabbi Eitan at his very best. The Education Committee highly recommends you join us for this great service, always a favorite of the children. Taffy apples are included in the fun.
Teen News
The Shir Hadash Youth couldn't have asked for a better setting to get into the mood for High Holidays. The day was sunny and bright, the setting was peaceful and green and the kids had a little learning, a lot of food, and a little self-reflection.
Rabbi Eitan began with a story about a rabbi from the old country. Right on cue, our teens lit the fire, just as the Rebbe did in the 17th century. From there we held a short Selichot service to set the tone for our pre-Rosh Hashanah week. Carole led an interactive session on the Ashamnu (confessional) prayer. As a community we decided that instead of wallowing in guilt we want to get to the point where we can say “This is who I was” and “This is who I want to be.” We talked about some modern applications to the ancient words. We ended with a hot dog & s'mores feast, cooked over the fire the teens had built and tended throughout the program. We ended the day with frisbee and more s'mores.
Creative Worship & Ritual
Last Call for High Holiday Forms
If you haven’t already filled out and returned your High Holiday forms, please do so as soon as possible. You should have received them via e-mail last weekend. You can also find the forms on our website.
High Holiday Schedule in Brief
Shir Hadash is offering the following High Holiday services to members and ticket holders: Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sunday, September 16, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Day 1 Rosh Hashanah, Monday, September 17, 9:30 a.m. to noon; Kol Nidrei, Tuesday, September 25, 6:15 to 8: p.m.; Yom Kippur Day, Wednesday, September 26, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The following High Holiday services are open to the public: Selichot; Day 2 Rosh Hashana; and several adult services on Yom Kippur: Yizkor, Adult Open Discussion, Reflection Service, Afternoon Service, and Ne’ilah. For more details or the times of the services, go to our website.
Our family services are also open to the public: Rosh Hashanah family services, Monday, September 17, 2 to 2:45 p.m.; and Yom Kippur family services, Wednesday, September 26, 2 to 2:45 p.m. Family services are geared to children grades K – 3rd grade and their families. Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to our open services.
All services will be held at Our Lady of the Brook Worship Center, at 3700 Dundee Road in Northbrook.
High Holiday Volunteers Needed
We still need some help organizing and executing our High Holiday services. We need help with making calls, setup and takedown, transporting equipment back and forth from the office, and putting badges in envelopes after the Kol Nidre service, so they are ready for the Yom Kippur morning service. Please contact Fred Andes at Fredric.Andes@btlaw.com or call the office at (847) 498-8218 if you can help.
Save the Dates: Sukkot and Simchat Torah
Mark your calendars for Sukkot on Friday, October 5, and our Simchat Torah pizza party on Sunday, October 7. Many members feel that these are among our most fun family services! And, they are a perfect way to begin to fulfill our new service recommendations for religious school students.
The Rabbi's Corner
September 14-15, 2012 / 28 Elul 5772
Shabbat Netzavim-Vayelech
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:30 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 61:10-63:9
“All Israel Stood at Sinai”
Dear Friends,
How do you define the Jewish people? Who are we? Where are we? When are we?
An answer to these questions came to me last Sunday afternoon when Youth Director Carole Mostow, Education Director Emily Ascher and I met with eighteen of our Shir Hadash teenagers for a special outdoors Selichot program. Selichot is the day when special prayers are offered asking God for forgiveness in anticipation of the start of the High Holidays. So there we were with these amazing Shir Hadash teens, in a field behind the Zion Lutheran Church in Deerfield. We studied and discussed a Jewish text, prayed, sang and ate a great lunch around a roaring campfire…
To read the rest of Rabbi Eitan’s blog, visit The Rabbi's Corner.
Community Announcements
Genetic Education and Screening Program for Young Adults
Registration is now open for the Center for Jewish Genetics’ 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 www.jewishgenetics.org to learn more.
Donations
Thank you for the following donation:
Music Fund
- Marilynn Singer, in memory of Ruth Hellman
SHOP Shir Hadash
As we move indoors with the change of seasons, Shop at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Update your fall look at American Eagle, Claire’s, Dicks, Great Clips, J. Jill, REI, Sports Authority, Target, Ulta, and Walmart/Sam’s. Prepare for entertaining at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Caputo’s, Dominick’s, Fanny May, Jewel, Garden Fresh, Mariano’s, Sunset, and Whole Foods.
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.
Thanks to the following families for supporting SHOP this week:
- Schleicher
- Zinbarg
- Walmart is offering a savings of 10 cents a gallon on gas purchases made when using a Walmart Gift Card, starting August 31, 2012, until December 23, 2012.
Welcome Back!
- Old Country Buffet
