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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Shir Hadash Newsletter -- July 25, 2013

To view this blog in its entirety, go to our website.
For daily event updates, visit our calendar.

What’s Happening at a Glance

Membership News and Upcoming Events
  • Building Update
  • Synagogue Dedication, August 18
  • Call for Photos for Dedication Celebration
  • Ravinia Outing, July 27
  • Update Your Online Membership Info
  • Rabbi Visits India
  • High Holidays Guest Tickets: “180 for $18”
  • Musicians Wanted: Synagogue Dedication and High Holidays
  • Permanent Fundraiser at The Continental Restaurant 
Volunteer Opportunities
  • Pitch In for the Big Move
  • High Holidays Food Baskets
  • Pick Your Week to Host an Oneg
  • Join the ADA Benefit Committee


Creative Worship & Ritual
  • Upcoming Service:  Friday, August 2
  • High Holidays Schedule Posted
  • High Holidays: Torah Portions Available
Adult Education
  • No Lunch and Learn on July 25 
Donations

Community News
  • Healing Hands Grief Support Group
  • Theatre Recommendation: “The Pianist of Willesden Lane” 
SHOP Shir Hadash

Membership and Upcoming Events

Building Update
Jerusalem stone surrounds the ark in our new sanctuary.
Our synagogue construction team has made great progress in every area of the building! Click here for more photos and detailed descriptions of the work taking place.  Many thanks to our architect Mehran Farahmandpour, Housh Construction, and our tireless committee volunteers.

Synagogue Dedication, August 18
Plans are in full swing for the next major milestone in the life of Shir Hadash: the Dedication of our Synagogue. On August 18, we will be marching together to carry the Torahs from our office in Northbrook to our new home at 200 Dundee Road in Wheeling. When our parade arrives, we will gather for a Dedication Ceremony, followed by Kosher refreshments, dancing, festivities and more!

We need your involvement to make this day a success. Please plan to dedicate an hour of your time during that day so that we can spread out the work and everyone can enjoy themselves. Click here to view the schedule of activities, to learn about a range of volunteer opportunities, and to RSVP.  For more information or to help with planning, contact Melanie Andes, fmandes@comcast.net or 847 913 9198. Thanks for your help!

Call for Photos for Dedication Celebration
Time to dig through those old photo albums and find photos from Shir Hadash events--services, your kids' b'nai mitzvah, baby namings, religious school, picnics, etc. We'd love to use them in our Dedication slideshow so we can document the growth of our congregation. Bar and bat mitzvah photos especially needed! You can scan and e-mail the photos to photo@shir-hadash.org, or mail the actual photo to Rachel Schick Siegel, 3821 Cindy Lane, Glenview, IL 60025. All photos will be returned.

Ravinia Outing July 27 -- THIS SATURDAY
Join your Shir Hadash friends at Ravinia on Saturday, July 27.  The CSO is performing, with James Conlan conducting and Lang Lang on the piano. Lawn seats are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and free for kids through college age. Tickets may be ordered online at Ravinia.com, at the gate on the day of the concert, or through Shir Hadash. For the last option, contact Meryl Abensohn today, July 25, at abenkras@aol.com. All sales are final. Pavilion seats are also available for $25; please order Pavilion seats directly from Ravinia. Please RSVP to Meryl so we know who is coming and can plan a picnic on the lawn. Looking forward to a fun evening of music and socializing on July 27!

Update Your Membership Info Today!
Now is the time to renew your membership for the coming year. Our membership year runs from July 1 to June 30.  We are now well into July. If you haven’t completed your (virtual) paperwork, please click here to do so today so that your dues, tuition, building fund, etc payments can be spread out across the months between now and 6/30/14. If you wait until October or November to renew your membership, you will be forced to condense your payments in fewer months.

Please remember, only members who have submitted all their renewal forms will be admitted to High Holiday services, which start on September 4. Additionally, families with bar/bat mitzvahs coming up must be members in good standing in order to have access to the synagogue’s resources (use of the ark, books, torah, rabbi, and of course the new building).

If you haven’t received the online link for membership renewal or have any questions, please contact the tech team at info@shir-hadash.org.

Rabbi Visits India with American Jewish World Service Delegation
Rabbi Eitan is currently on a visit to India as part of a delegation of rabbis organized by AJWS, a New York-based human rights group focused on eliminating poverty in developing nations. The 18 rabbis will stay in Lucknow, the capital of the province of Uttar Pradesh in northeast India. The rabbis will meet with local policy-making officials and work at a local primary school, where they hope to build relationships with local residents.  He returns home on August 1. Click here to read the full Patch.com story on Rabbi Eitan’s journey.

Tell Your Friends – High Holidays “180 for $18” Tickets
In 2013, Shir Hadash is offering a special promotion: “180 for $18.” Guests can purchase High Holiday tickets at the reduced rate of $18 per ticket. We hope this will inspire new families to get to know us and become members of our community. Some restrictions apply:
  • There are only 180 tickets available for purchase at the price of $18 per ticket.
  • The offer cannot be redeemed by current or past members, those who have purchased High Holiday tickets in the last five years, or those who participated in last year’s complimentary ticket program.
  • All registrations must be received by August 20.
Click here to visit our website for more information and online registration.

Musicians Wanted!
We have two great opportunities for musicians to get involved!
  • The Mighty Shir Hadash Klezmorim will be playing a hora set at the synagogue dedication on August 18. If you’re interested in playing along, rehearsals will be in late July and early August. Contact Abby Edler at edlerfamily@att.net for more info.
  • Musical rehearsals for High Holidays instrumentalists and singers are starting! Adults and post b'nai mitzvah students are welcome.  Contact Sandy Weiss at sandy2weiss@gmail.com.
Permanent Fundraiser at The Continental Restaurant
Have you been to The Continental Restaurant yet? This family eatery in Buffalo Grove is participating with Shir Hadash in a PERMANENT fundraiser.  They will donate 5% of any bill from Shir Hadash members any day of the week and no flyer is necessary! The Continental Restaurant is located at 788 S Buffalo Grove, next to the Dominick’s.

Volunteer Opportunities

Pitch In for the Big Move
The move to our new home is planned for August 14 -- right around the corner! We can use lots of help getting ready. Here are some options for how you can participate:
  • Sign up for a two-hour shift to pack boxes at the Northbrook office between now and August 13 (anytime between 10:00 and 4:00).
  • Volunteer to help cover the office phones for a three-hour shift between now and August 30, so that our staff can concentrate on organizing the move and new office set-up.
  • Help organize existing supplies at the synagogue in Wheeling on August 9 from 9:00 to 1:00.
  • Join the packing/unpacking crew for a three-hour shift on August 14 (1:00 to 4:00 or 4:00 to 7:00), August 15 (10:00 to 1:00 or 1:00 to 4:00) or August 16 (10:00 to 1:00 or 1:00 to 4:00).
Volunteer sign-ups are being coordinated by Dan Wellisch and Suzanne Wexler. Contact them at volunteer@shir-hadash.org with your availability preferences and they will fill time slots.


High Holidays Food Baskets
Once again this year, Shir Hadash will be joining with Maot Chitim of Greater Chicagoland to help them pack and deliver High Holiday food baskets for needy Jewish families all over the Chicago area.  There are two different ways you can help, either packing food boxes or delivering them. 
  • Packing will take place on Sunday, August 18th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.  The address for the packing is 5990 W. Touhy in Niles.
  • Delivery of food packages will take place on Sunday, August 25th, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Buffalo Grove/Wheeling area.  

If you are interested in helping on one or both of these dates, please contact Mark Lenhart, social.action@shir-hadash.org as soon as possible for more information.

Pick Your Week to Host an Oneg
This year we are asking each of our families to be Oneg & Service Host for just one service a year.  This does NOT mean providing all the refreshments for the oneg --  just setting up, cleaning up, and greeting our guests.  Multiple families can/should host the same week. While you’re exploring the new Membership Management System,  you will find more information and a form to choose a date and sign up on the home page.  Sign up today to pick the best date for your family!

Join the ADA Benefit Committee
We are pleased to announce that Shir Hadash will be hosting a benefit next year in support of the American Diabetes Association.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to become a leader within the greater Chicagoland community while supporting this important cause.

The initial agenda and core concept for the production have already been established.  Now the team is looking to assemble a planning committee to work on the following areas:
  • Formulating a plan
  • Creating a budget
  • Seeking out and signing up performers, including musicians and actors
  • Assembling a production team that will include stage crew, food, drinks, and production logistics

If this is your area of interest or expertise, we would love to have you!  Please contact Jeffrey Wallk (president@shir-hadash.org) for more information.

Creative Worship & Ritual

Upcoming Service: Friday, August 2 -- 7:30 at the synagogue

High Holidays -- Schedule Posted Online
This year, Shir Hadash will offer a full range of services throughout the High Holidays. Some will take place at Our Lady of the Brook in Northbrook, others in our synagogue in Wheeling. Click here to view a detailed schedule.

High Holidays – Torah Portions Available
The High Holidays will be here before we know it. We welcome you to sign up to read or chant Torah for our services. We have a particular need for readers or chanters on Rosh Hashanah Day 2 and Yom Kippur afternoon, but we do have a few slots still available on Rosh Hashanah Day 1 and Yom Kippur morning.  We are especially interested in having recent bar and bat mitzvahs come up and chant Torah.  We will e-mail to you an MP3 of the Rabbi chanting the portion, plus a written copy of the portion in Hebrew and English. You also can get help from the Rabbi and Dawn in getting ready to chant. If you (or your son or daughter) are interested, please contact Fred Andes at fandes@btlaw.com or 773 354 3100. 

Adult Education 

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Due to the Rabbi’s trip to India, there will be no Thursday afternoon Torah study today, July 25. Join Rabbi Eitan and fellow Shir Hadash members next week for an exciting hour of Torah study, brown-bag lunch, and lively discussion.

Donations

To the Education Fund:
Marilynn Singer, in memory of Miriam Simon, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of the Bernover Family

Community News

“Healing Hearts” Grief Support Group
Healing Hearts, a partnership of several suburban congregations and Jewish funeral homes, presents a Northwest Suburban Jewish Grief Support Group for those who have lost a parent or adult sibling in the last 18 months. The group meets on Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 at Temple Chai, 1760 Checker Road in Long Grove. For information, contact Rosalie Greenberger, LCSW at 224 625 2819.

Theatre Recommendation: “The Pianist of Willesden Lane"
This wonderful production at the Royal George Theatre will be playing through August 4. Set in Vienna in 1928 and in London during the Blitzkreig, “The Pianist of Willesden Lane” tells the true story of noted pianist and author Lisa Jura, as performed by her own daughter Mona Golabek.  Click here to visit the Royal George Theatre site for more information.

SHOP Shir Hadash 

SHOP is easiest way to make donations to Shir Hadash, without spending an extra dime! Here’s how it works: You purchase gift certificates (Scrip) through Shir Hadash and we earn a percentage of that purchase. Online orders and convenient pick-up options make it easy. Visit the SHOP page of our website for detailed program information.

This week’s updates:

While supplies last, a limited run of the following plastic gift cards is available:
* Barnes & Noble $5 Gift Card
* Target $10 GiftCard
* Panera Bread $5 Gift Card

Cold Stone Creamery® is available on ScripNow®! You can find Cold Stone eCards on ShopWithScrip® with the same 8% non-profit contribution as plastic cards.

Thanks to the following families for participating in Shop this week:
  • Zinbarg
  • Schleicher
  • G. Graff
  • Singer

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