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What's
Happening at a Glance
Membership and Upcoming Events
- Save the Date: Town Hall meeting about the new building on Sunday, February 10
- NEW DATE: Wednesday, February 6: Next book club
- Join Shir Hadash to see "The Whipping Man" on February 16
- Soup kitchen on February 17
- February 23: Purim extravaganza
- New directories distributed
- Second and third graders to perform this Sunday on the Tu B'Shevat field trip
- Purim carnival on February 24
- Permission slips still needed for Tu B’Shevat field trip
- Upcoming school schedule
- Madrichim meeting this Sunday, February 27
- Kallah! Midwest Regional Retreat February 15 to 17
- Friday, February 1: The Plagues and the Exodus
- Sunday, January 27: Torah study, 9:30 a.m. at Hellenic
- "Finding Our Humanity"
- Parent & Family Connection for LGBTQ Jews in Chicagoland
Membership and Upcoming Events
Save the Date: Town Hall Meeting
We are going to have a Town Hall meeting at the new building on Sunday, February 10, from 2 to 4 for adult members and guests. The building is located at 200 W. Dundee in Wheeling. See the announcement at the top of the page for more information.
Our next book will be One More River by Mary Glickman. This novel is about race, class, and Jewish life in the American South during the 1920s and 1960s. The story revolves around a man pursuing his roots in the course of a romance. The book was chosen by Spertus for the "One Community, One Book" for this year. Book Club will be held on Wednesday, February 6, at 7:30 at the Zwicks’ home, 385 Castlewood Lane, in Deerfield. Contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com to RSVP and for more information.
Join Shir Hadash to See “The Whipping Man” on February 16
On Saturday, February 16, Shir Hadash will be going to the theater to see the play “The Whipping Man.” “The Whipping Man” takes place immediately after the end of the Civil War. When Caleb, a wounded Confederate soldier, returns home, he finds his family's home in ruins and abandoned by all but two former slaves. United by their Jewish faith, the three men celebrate Passover while wrestling with a shared past they cannot escape. They unravel a tangle of secrets that threaten their family and faith. Slavery and war, they discover, warp even good men's souls. The playwrite, Matthew Lopez, won the 2011 NY John Gassner Playwriting Award by the NY Outer Critics Circle for this play.
We will plan to have a discussion of the play about two weeks after the outing. So go see it whenever you can!
The Social Action Committee needs your help. On Sunday, February 17, we 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, or about 10-12 families.
Each family will be responsible for bringing an entrée that will feed 15 to 20 individuals, 1 gallon milk, 1 gallon orange juice, 1 large bag frozen mixed vegetables, 1 large bag of fruit (oranges, bananas, etc.), and dessert. If you are interested in helping, please sign up by clicking on this link. Please note that we are limiting the number of volunteers for this activity to help avoid overcrowding in the kitchen and to ensure everyone has a meaningful volunteer experience. Once all slots are filled, we will not be accepting any additional volunteers. More information will be sent to all registered volunteers approximately one week before the event. The next opportunity to volunteer for a Soup Kitchen will be fall 2013. There is no age limit to volunteer, but from past experience, kids should be at least six years old to fully participate. Contact Social Action Committee Chair Mark Lenhart at (847) 478-1544 or mjlenhart@comcast.net if you have questions.
Purim Extravaganza on Saturday, February 23
Fun night out! This year, we are holding a Purim party for adults at Rocky Vander's Cafe, 698 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Prospect Heights (immediately south of Palatine Road), from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 23. The party will feature a DJ, dance floor, cash bar, and dinner buffet. Potluck dessert—please bring hamantaschen (with a prize for the best homemade hamentaschen!), other desserts, and fruit. We’ll also play party games! Come as you like or as you want. Costumes are encouraged. Stay tuned for more details! For more information or to RSVP, contact Melanie Andes at fmandes@comcast.net or Rebecca Rice at r.rice1@comcast.net. We hope to see you there, and feel free to invite a friend!
New Directories Distributed
On behalf of membership, directories have been passed out to Shir Hadash members at the Lights and Miracles service and to parents of religious school students. If you have a student in the school and you did not receive a directory, please e-mail Rebecca Rice at r.rice1@comcast.net. If you have a student that attends Havayah, or if you don’t have a child in religious school, your directory is in the process of being mailed to you. Be on the lookout for your directories!
Education
Update
Second and Third Graders to Perform on Sunday at Tu B'Shevat Field Trip!
This Sunday, January 27, Shir Hadash students, teachers, madrichim, and parents will attend our annual walking field trip to the JNF’s Tu B’shevat Family Celebration. Under the enthusiastic guidance of dance teacher Rebecca Rice, the second and third graders will perform a spunky Tu B’Shevat dance at the gathering. Parents are invited to join us at the Hellenic Academy at 11:15 a.m. We will walk over for the activities and 11:55 performance. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN WEAR WARM CLOTHES.
Tu B'Shevat Field Trip Permission Slips Still Needed
If you haven’t already done so, please turn in a permission slip for your child to attend our upcoming Tu B’Shevat field trip on Sunday, January 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Jewish National Fund’s Tu BiShvat Family Celebration is held at the Chicagoland Jewish High School, 1095 Lake Cook Road, which is directly south of Hellenic American Academy. We will have a nice group of our Sunday school students dancing onstage and there will be free arts and craft projects, free planting, free entertainment, games and prizes. Forms should be turned into the office or brought to school on Sunday morning
We need your help caring for our students that day! It’s a chance to do show your child(ren) you support them in Sunday school and you know how to have FUN! Please fill out your permission slip and return to your child’s classroom by January 20, or send to the office (Shir Hadash, 3340 Dundee Road, Suite 2N4, Northbrook, IL 60062). If you can’t find the form, visit Education Director Emily Ascher’s blog—it’s posted there!
Purim Carnival on February 24
Get your costumes ready. The Shir Hadash Purim Carnival will be on Sunday, February 24! Nat Arons and the madrichim (teen assistants) are getting creative. We are all going to have a great time.
- Sunday, January 27: All-School Tu B'Shevat Walking Field Trip (2nd and 3rd graders to perform)
- Sunday, February 6: Sunday School
- Sunday, February 10: Sunday School
- Monday, February 11: Havayah (High School Class)
- Friday, February 15 to Sunday, February 17: Youth Kallah (Retreat) in Wisconsin
- Sunday, February 17: No Sunday School
- Sunday, February 24: Purim Carnival 11:05
- Friday, March 1: Shabbat services will be led by grades K through 3
- Friday, May 17: Shabbat services will be led by our Havayah
Teen
News
Madrichim Meeting This Sunday, January 27
We have another madrichim meeting this Sunday, January 27, to work on the Purim Carnival. Please plan to arrive by 8:40 a.m. to meet and go over assignments and details, and to strategize ways to make the Purim Carnival meaningful for our students and their families. Our next Purim Carnival meeting will be on Sunday, February 10, at 8:40 a.m. to finalize our plans and make sure everything is covered.
Deadline Extension: Kallah! Midwest Regional Retreat February 15 to 17
Planning is underway for the 2013 No'ar Hadash Midwest Youth Kallah, which will be held from February 15 to 17, 2013, at a NEW location. This year, Shir Hadash 6th to 12th graders will share a great weekend with teens from other Reconstructionist congregations at the Perlman Retreat Center at Camp Beber in Wisconsin. Registration information has been mailed home. The registration deadline has been extended to January 25. If you are an adult and would like to help chaperone for the weekend, please e-mail Carole Mostow at youth@shir-hadash.org. Please contact Carole with any questions.
Creative
Worship & Ritual
Friday, February 1: The Plagues and the Exodus
So did the Exodus really happen? How about the plagues? Do we take the Bible literally on these issues, or not so much? At services next Friday night, February 1 (7:30 at LCHS), we look into these issues. Our Torah portions during this month are all about the plagues and the Exodus, so we'll explore what the Torah has to say, and then view a video—“The Bible's Buried Secrets”—that provides some interesting new information and perspectives. Then, of course, we'll have a wide-open dialogue. So while the Rabbi's in Israel with the Ta'am kids, come to this lay-led service, and be a part of the discussion! Plus, bring something for oneg...
Adult Education
This Sunday (9:30 at Hellenic), we continue with the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt. So the plagues are done, Pharaoh lets us go, we're walking, we're walking... So we come to the Red Sea, then through the Red Sea, then we thank the Lord, then Miriam and the ladies do their thing, then there's some manna and quails - yes, quails. You think that you know the whole story? Don't be too sure! Here's the portion! Come and discuss!
The
Rabbi's Corner
January 25-26, 2013 / 15 Shevat 5773
Shabbat Beshalach & Tu B’Shvat Festival
Torah - Exodus 13:17-17:16 / Haftarah -
Judges 4:4-5:31
“Finding Our Humanity”
Dear Friends,
I have been thinking about this question and now understand that both are correct. The Hebrew term for the body of water crossed by the Hebrews is Yaf Suf, which means literally a sea of reeds. This is a swampy marshland with tall cane and grasses…
To read the rest of Rabbi Eitan’s blog, visit The Rabbi's Corner.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Community
News
Is your child gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, or questioning? Do you want to talk to other Jewish families with LGBTQ children? If so, join the monthly discussions with Parent & Family Connection for LGBTQ Jews in Chicagoland. Upcoming meetings will be held on February 25, March 11, April 22, and May 20. Upcoming topics will include: transgender youth; passing--who knows, who doesn’t know; navigating a hetero-sexist world; healthy relationships and violence in the GLBTQ community; and conversation about creating inclusive communities.
With support from Keshet
(www.keshetonline.org), Response provides group support for those dealing with
any stage of the coming out process. Response helps adolescents in the Jewish and
general community develop skills in communication, decision-making and
leadership necessary to deal with life’s challenges. Response is a program of
JCFS, a partner in serving our community, supported by the Jewish United
Fund/Jewish Federation.
Donations
Thanks to
the following people for their donations:
General Fund
- Jennifer and Alan Bernover
Rabbi’s
Discretionary Fund
- Ruth and Jeff Wallk, in memory of Helen Wallk
- Ruth and Jeff Wallk, in memory of Ed Kaplow
SHOP
Shir Hadash
Shop orders of at least $400 are now payable by credit card. Annual SHOP orders are also payable by credit card. If every family purchases $400 a month in grocery, gas, or other cards, we can earn more than $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.
Special Offers
Enter the ShopWithScript Facebook sweepstakes for a chance to win a Buffalo Wild Wings® Big Game Bash, including a $200 gift card, koozies and more, all provided by our friends at B-Dubs®. To enter, 'Like' the ShopWithScrip® Facebook page and answer a few questions. A Facebook account is free and easy to set up, if you don't have one already, and the ShopWithScrip page keeps you updated on all our latest news. This promotion starts January 14 and runs through January 25. Click here to visit the ShopWithScrip page on Facebook and enter to be eligible to win!
Thanks to the following families for supporting SHOP this week:
- Friedman
- Weiner-Kaplow
- Tashma
- Lewin
- Weiss
- Callistein
- G. Graff
- Schleicher
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