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
- Hanukkah Candle Sale During Religious School
- SHOP Shir Hadash for Hanukkah
- Gift Cards for Illinois Tornado Relief
- Dining for Dollars Fundraiser at Culver’s, November 26
- Winter Clothing Drive Ends November 24
- Book Club, December 5
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
Creative Worship and Ritual
- Lights & Miracles, November 22 at Our Lady of the Brook
- Photo Recap: November 15 Shabbat Service
Volunteer Opportunities
- Gift Wrapping at Barnes & Noble to Benefit Shir Hadash
- Help Plan Our Upcoming Gala: First Meeting November 17
- Shir Hadash Supports PADS
Music Notes
- Religious School – The Return of Kolit
- Lights & Miracles
- More Fun Hanukkah Music
The Rabbi’s Corner
- "The Blessing of Family"
Education
- Toys! Toys! Toys!
- Lights & Miracles: Kids Arrive at 7:00 for Dance Rehearsal
- Education Director’s Blog
Teen News
- BBYO, November 21--Tonight!
- Teen-Led Shabbat, December 6
- Midwest Regional Kallah, February 14-16
Adult Ed
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
Jewish Cultural Events
- Recap: Shir Hadash Goes to the Theatre
Community News
- JUF Fund for Typhoon Relief
SHOP Shir Hadash
Membership and Upcoming Events
Hanukkah Candle Sale During Religious
School
SHOP Shir Hadash for Hanukkah
Do you still
have gifts to buy on your list? Use SHOP gift cards to pay for your presents, or just give the cards
as gifts – always a perfect fit! Every purchase benefits Shir Hadash, without
costing you an extra dime. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for detailed
info on special offers, and contact Gina Zinbarg, gzinbarg@gmail.com, with any
questions.
Gift Cards for Illinois Tornado Relief
Here’s
another great way to use SHOP gift cards for good! In an effort to help the
victims of this past weekend’s devastating tornados in central Illinois, Shir
Hadash has joined with a non-profit relief agency called Threads Hope and Love
in Washington, Illinois. At this time, the greatest need that these victims
have is for food, clothing, building materials and other personal items. The fastest and most expedient way that we can
provide support is through the donation of gift cards. The most requested gift cards are for Target,
Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, and Ace Hardware.
To expedite
the delivery of these cards to needy families, Shir Hadash will mail all gift
cards brought to the temple. SHOP Shir
Hadash will also be selling these same gift cards during Sunday School for the next
few weeks – your purchases will support the synagogue as well! Additionally, we will be collecting cash
donations brought to the temple and collecting this Sunday’s Tzedeka donations
to purchase gift cards to help the Washington community get back on their feet.
Please stop
by Sunday School to drop off or purchase gift cards that will be mailed to
tornado victims. We will also be able to
provide tax receipts for donations if you would like one.
Winter Clothing Drive
Please help
us provide comfort and warmth to the homeless and needy in our community during
this upcoming cold season by donating gently used items such as blankets,
sweaters, winter coats, boots, gloves, hats and other warm clothing. All sizes are needed.
We will be
collecting these items until this Sunday, November 24th.
Please place all donations inside a sturdy plastic or paper bag, and
drop them off in the lobby of the Shir Hadash building, 200 W. Dundee Rd.
Wheeling. Please look for signs of where
to place your items. All donations will be given to the Wheeling Township
Social Services Department for distribution.
Thank you for your generous support!
Dining for Dollars: Culver’s in Buffalo
Grove, November 26
Book Club
Our next selection for the Shir Hadash Book Club is The Slave, by Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Yiddish story of a Jewish scholar sold into slavery in 17th century Poland who falls in love with his gentile master's daughter. We will meet Thursday, December 5 at 7:30pm at the home of Rebecca Rice in Northbrook. Contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com for more information.
Hungry Before or After Religious School (or
Anytime)?
The
Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove or Butterfields Restaurant in
Northbrook permanently will donate 5% of your total bill to Shir Hadash! No
flyer needed – just mention Shir Hadash when you are paying or fill out the
Shir Hadash book behind the desk. A
great way to start or end Religious school!
Creative Worship and Ritual
Lights & Miracles Service, November 22
at OLB
First things
first: please remember that this service will NOT be at the synagogue. Rather, given the large crowd expected, we
will have the service at our High Holiday home, Our Lady of the Brook, which is
at 3700 Dundee Road in Northbrook - a few minutes due east of the synagogue.
And what
will be doing to celebrate Hanukkah (and Thanksgiving)? Well, of course, there will be a LOT of
music, led by the Rabbi and our wonderful new Music Director, Adrian Durlester,
with help from some our teen musicians. We’ll
have storytelling from the one-and-only Bubbie Bailah. Our adult choir, the Lahaka, will be
singing. The kids from our Religious
School will be leading songs - and doing some dancing! We will ALL be getting up to dance, to the
klezmer rhythms of our own Mighty Shir Hadash Klezmorim Band. And, everyone will be singing - we are, after
all, Shir Hadash (A New Song), right?
And don't forget the climatic "glow light" celebration...
But there's
more! We have a very special oneg
planned, including lots and lots of LATKES!
We do need your help, though. We
always do a bring-your-own oneg, as you know, and this time, we need some
different things - such as: sour cream, apple sauce, sufganiyot (those Hanukkah
donut hole-type things - you can get them from Leonard's in Northbrook, or you
can bring jelly-filled donut holes from Dunkin') – Since it is almost
Thanksgiving, we can use some cranberry sauce.
If you'd like to bring latkes, feel free - just bring them hot or
warm. We can keep them warm till the
oneg, but we can't cook them there.
So, see you
at OLB on Friday - and happy Thanksgivingukkah!
Recap: Shabbat Service, Friday, November 15
Our community gathered for a very special Shabbat last Friday, with our youngest Religious School students leading the service and a celebration for the 100th birthday of Lillian Cohen, mother of Susan Cohen. Thanks to all the children who participated, and to the Mighty Shir Hadash Klezmorim who got us up on our feet to dance!
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Volunteer Opportunities
Gift Wrapping at Barnes & Noble
Benefits Shir Hadash
- Friday, November 29th (Black Friday) from 9:00am until 4:00pm
- Sunday, December 8th from 10:00am - 3:00pm
- Sunday, December 15th from 10:00am - 8:00pm
Help Plan Our Shir Hadash 2014 Gala
Do you like
planning parties? Do you want to have some fun with your fellow Shir
Hadashniks? Can you help find Silent
Auction items? Shir Hadash is throwing a
gala fundraising evening on February 22, 2014, and we need volunteers to help
plan the event. Our gala will be a fun night of music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres
and dessert – a great opportunity for members of the Congregation and their
friends to relax and enjoy a night out and support our community.
There are a
number of different volunteer opportunities, including:
- General event planning and coordination
- Menu selection
- Invitations
- Obtaining silent auction items and sponsorships
- Creating a sponsor event book
- Marketing materials
- Day of assistance – set up, clean up, ticket taking, etc
Working on
this fundraising gala will be fun and will make a meaningful difference for our
Congregation. Whether you have a little
time to give or want to dive in deep, any help would be very much appreciated. If you are interested in helping, please
contact Glenn Graff at fundraising@shir-hadash.org or 847-420-2505.
Music Notes – News and Ideas from our Music Director
Religious School Music - Youth Choir
We’re looking
for students in religious school who would like to be part of Kolit, our reforming
youth choir. If your child might be interested, please let me know at
music.director@shit-hadash.org.
Lights & Miracles
Is your
Menurkey (Hannuturkiah?) ready yet? This year's Lights & Miracles service
on Friday, November 22, will be a celebration of this once in a lifetime
overlap of the first day of Hanukkah with Thanksgiving. Don't be there, be
square. Be there, sing a round!
More Hanukkah Music
Some
chemists at the Israel Institute of Technology offer this fun rendition of Maoz Tzur.
For you Don
McLean fans out there: Thanksgivukah Pie.
Students at
Stratford College offer this Matisyahu parody
Another
parody, this time of a Lorde Song: Oils
Click here for lots more
Hanukkah videos -- enjoy!
The Rabbi’s Corner
November 22-23, 2013 / 20 Kislev 5774
Shabbat Vayeshev
Torah Reading: Genesis 37:1-40:23 / Haftarah Reading: Amos
2:6-3:8
“The Blessing of Family”
Dear
Friends,
As I write,
my daughter Elana is flying home from Israel.
She will be visiting for two weeks before returning to enlist in the
Israeli army. My mother is flying in
from Las Vegas. My nephew is driving in
for a visit, too. We are all so excited at home and looking forward to a real
family reunion. My father will not be
with us. Actually tomorrow is his
yahrtzeit – the first anniversary of his death. My how time flies – a year already.
Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coming together give us added cause to get together
and renew the ties that bind us together.
I find it
interesting that this week’s Torah portion is precisely about an event that
nearly destroyed a family….
To read the
rest of The Rabbi’s Corner, click here to visit our website.
Education News
Toys! Toys! Toys!
There will
be children who will go without this holiday season. Shir Hadash Sunday School
would like to help shrink that number by partnering with the JCC to collect new
toys for children less fortunate than our own. Please send new toys appropriate
for infants through Kindergarten and we will make sure they get to the JCC for
distribution. We will have a box set up in the front of the school for your
convenience.
Lights & Miracles
Please make
sure to attend our highlighted Hanukkah Lights & Miracles service this Friday,
November 22 at Our Lady of the Brook. This short, very musical service will
include your children. Each grouping of
grades will have the opportunity to sing and dance to an amusing Hanukkah tune.
The students have a great time and always enjoy the glow sticks (who doesn't?).
Please arrive at 7:00 p.m. for dance
rehearsal. The celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. See you there!
Check Out the Education Blog
Our
Education Director Emily Ascher shares school news, photos, and insights in her
weekly blog. Click here to see what’s new!
Teen News
Teen-Led Shabbat, December 6
Shir Hadash
teens will be leading the Shabbat service on Friday, December 6 at 7:30pm. Celebrate our new Ra'am BBYO chapter and more
at this special Shabbat service.
Midwest Regional Kallah, February 14 – 16
Save the
Date for the Midwest Regional Kallah for 6th-12th graders. Join teens from the
Chicago area and Michigan for a weekend of Reconstructionist living. Registration forms will be available
soon—watch for more details in future newsletters.
Fifteen
members of Shir Hadash braved the
unbelievable weather last Sunday to attend a matinee of "Old Jews Telling
Jokes" at the Royal George Theatre. The show was 80 minutes of side-splitting
laughter. It was being filmed for PBS for a January program on Religion and
Humor -- and our own Susan Grossman was interviewed! Afterwards we had dinner at
Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, where Asad graciously served us a delicious
family-style dinner.
Jewish Cultural Events in Chicagoland
Recap: Shir
Hadash Goes to the Theatre
Fifteen
members of Shir Hadash braved the
unbelievable weather last Sunday to attend a matinee of "Old Jews Telling
Jokes" at the Royal George Theatre. The show was 80 minutes of side-splitting
laughter. It was being filmed for PBS for a January program on Religion and
Humor -- and our own Susan Grossman was interviewed! Afterwards we had dinner at
Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, where Asad graciously served us a delicious
family-style dinner.
Watch the
newsletter for future theatre outings – we would love to have you join us next
time!
Adult Education
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Weiner-Kaplow
Thursdays,
noon-1:00pm in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/Cafe
Join Shir
Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the
weekly Torah portion. Don’t be surprised
if archaeology, sociology, contemporary world affairs as well as law, medicine,
and business ethics enter the lively conversation as we plumb the deeper meanings
of Judaism’s core text. Participants are
encouraged to share their views, questions, and opinions. Each month, one of the class sessions will be
devoted to the Chai Mitzvah curriculum.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
Sunday
School isn’t just for kids! Join us this week for Torah and Philosophy at 9:45
with Fred Andes, followed by Hebrew Reading at 10:45 with Steve Lewin. For more
information, contact Fred Andes, frederic.andes@btlaw.com.
Community News
JUF Fund for Typhoon Disaster Relief
SHOP Shir Hadash
SHOP for Hanukkah!
New Small
Denomination Cards: Limited Time Only!
Announcing a
limited run of small denomination gift cards from some of your favorite
retailers! These small denomination gift cards make thoughtful, easy gifts for
teachers, coworkers, babysitters, and all the other special people in your
life. While supplies last, the following
plastic gift cards will be available:
Amazon.com
Gift Card $10
Barnes &
Noble $5
Pizza Hut $5
Target $10
Panera
Bread® $5
Walmart $10
Meijer Gift
Cards now available for reload!
New ScripNow
Retailers
Royal
Caribbean
Bahama Breeze
Island Grill
Darden
Longhorn
Steakhouse
Olive Garden
Red Lobster
Seasons 32
Fresh Grill
Bonus
Contributions:
Currently
Available
Bath & Body
Works -- 5% through Nov. 22
Cabela’s – 3%
through Nov. 22
CoolCuts – 2%
through Nov. 22
Express – 2%
through Nov. 22
Hallmark – 2%
through Nov. 22
JC Penney – 1%
through Nov. 15
Jo-Ann Fabric and
Craft – 2% through Nov. 22
Journeys – 3%
through Dec. 13
LL Bean – 3%
through Nov. 22
Meijer – 1%
through Nov. 29
Pottery Barn – 2%
through Nov. 22
Red Robin – 3% through
Jan. 3
Regis Salons – 2%
through Nov. 22
Restaurant.com –
10% through Nov. 29
Sears – 3%
through Nov. 15
Shutterfly – 2%
through Dec. 13
Smart & Final
– 2% through Jan. 3
Spafinder – 2%
through Nov. 15
Stage – 2%
through Nov. 22
SuperCuts – 2%
through Nov. 22
You could win a
Chili's Party Platter for every order you place on ShopWithScrip® by November
22 that includes at least $50 total in Chili's gift cards or ScripNow®.* After the promotion ends, one lucky grand
prize winner will receive:
A $250 Chili's
eGift card to pay for a Chili's Party Platter Feast. Click here to see the
party platters available from Chili's.
...AND free
shipping for their organization for one year (up to $800, or 65 orders)
Four first prize
winners will receive $250 Chili's eGift cards to pay for their own Chili's
Party Platters.
For more
information call our helpful Customer Support Team at 1.800.727.4715 opt. 3.
Xbox Live - New
ScripNow Retailer with a 6% non-profit contribution!
Gift Card Holiday
Wrappers are available in packs of 10 for $2, with a 10% non-profit
contribution. Find them on ShopWithScrip.com!
Thank-Scrip-ing
Day will be back for Thanksgiving, November 28, with a whole new set of
retailers and ScripNow bonuses! Plus, we still have a lot of different bonuses
you can see on the Special Offers page.
Thanks to the
following families for participating in SHOP this week:
Zinbarg
Schleicher
Levy
Idelman
Fisher-Rohde
Bagby
Sharpe
Kaplan
Fern
Michaels
Herbin
Edler
