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
- Rabbi Eitan Joins JUF Delegation to Italy and Israel
- Blood Drive, February 2
- SHOP Seminar Update
- Recap: Coffee House Open Mic Night
- Shir Hadash Gala, February 22
- Support the Gala with Silent Auction Donations
- Check Out What’s New on Shir-Hadash.org
- Book Club, February 25
- NEW! MOSH Family Night at Chicago Wolves, March 2
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
Creative Worship and Ritual
- Shabbat Evening Service: “So What’s a Reconstructionist Anyway?” January 31
Music Notes
- Purim’s Coming – Join Our Spiel!
- Youth Choir Begins February 2 – This Sunday!
- Be Part of Lahaka (Adult Choir)
Education
- Visit the Education Director’s Blog
Teen News
- Teen Ski Trip, February 21-22
- BBYO Board Meeting, February 6
- Midwest Regional Kallah, February 14-16
Adult Ed
- The Book of Esther Interfaith Class
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
Community Events
- Chicago A Capella Presents “Melodic Migrations”, February 15
- NEW! Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4
SHOP Shir Hadash
Membership and Upcoming Events
Rabbi Eitan Visits Italy and Israel with JUF Delegation
Our own
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow is participating in the annual JUF Rabbinic Action
Committee Mission to Italy and Israel. The 19 rabbis in the delegation had the
unique opportunity to be recognized by Pope Francis I in his homily to a weekly
papal assembly on January 22, seated next to the dais during the Pope’s
address. The group then moved on to Israel, where Rabbi Eitan placed a packet prayers
from our congregation between the stones of the Western Wall. Click here for
more details on the Rabbi’s JUF mission trip.
Blood Drive, February 2 -- This Sunday!
LifeSource
will be at Shir Hadash on Sunday, February 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for
a blood donation drive. The recent extreme weather conditions have prompted a significant
decline in donations at all of LifeSource’s donor centers, so participation is
more important than ever. Each pint of blood donated helps save three lives!
To schedule
your appointment with LifeSource go to www.lifesource.org and use sponsor code
528B. Alternatively, you can email Mark Lenhart at mjlenhart@comcast.net, or
register on the sign-up sheet in the Shir Hadash lobby during Sunday School
hours. If you have any specific medical
questions, please call LifeSource at 877-543-3768 or 800-486-0680. Thank you
for participating in this critical effort!
SHOP Seminar
Many thanks
to everyone who came to our SHOP workshops last week! We hope that you can use
the information to participate in our SHOP fundraiser easily (and frequently!)
from home.
If you
missed the workshops and would like us to schedule another session, please
contact Lise Schleicher and Gina Zinbarg at SHOP@shir-hadash.org.
Recap: Open Mic Night
 |
| Photos courtesy of Ernest J. Schweit |
Recap: Coffee House Night -- Open Mic Style
Well, the inaugural Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style was
magical! This is what we accomplished on
this special night: 17 amazing
performers of all ages and talents from poets, to musicians, to vocalists and
magicians: check! Fabulous accompaniment and support by our
own Adrian Durlester for so many of our singers: check! Awesome Bake/Bev Sale: check!
Community involvement – we had about 80 people attending spanning the
generations, members and nonmembers and friends we’ve haven’t seen in
ages: check! Very
generous donations in our baskets allowing us to continue offering Coffee House
Night programming and other special creative programming: check!
Behind the scenes support like reconfiguring our room to resemble a club
atmosphere: check! Day-of magic with a
set-up team getting last minute details taken care of to be ready for our evening
to begin: check! Wonderful front-of-the-house
support with sign-ins and welcoming our participants: check!
Excellent tech support:
check! Outstanding photographs by
Ernest J. Schweit: check! A lovely supportive atmosphere with candlelight: check!
Being surrounded by friends and family:
check! Plenty of schmoozing and that feel-good feeling when our evening
concluded: check! PR, Newsletter and Web support: check!
Bonus: everyone helped put our Coffee House venue back in pristine,
back-to-business order: double check, check!
Thank you all for participating in our inaugural Coffee
House Night. So... do we want to do this
again?
“Living
the Chai Life” Shir Hadash Gala and Silent Auction, February 22
Get ready
for our 2014 Fundraising Gala “Living the Chai Life!” on February 22 at the
Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove. Join us as we celebrate 18 years as a
community! The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres, desserts, a silent auction,
raffle and live music by the Not For Profit Band! Tickets are $54/person now,
$64/person after February 16. Visit our website for details and tickets!
Support Our Gala with Silent Auction Donations
or Sponsorships
Make our
Gala a success by contributing silent auction items or becoming a Gala
Sponsor. If you have a quality items to
donate, have a business with goods or services, or would be willing to purchase
a gift card we could include in the silent auction, please make a tax
deductible donationh, Consider asking your favorite businesses to donate an
item! Sponsorship opportunities (which include a number of tickets) are also
available. All proceeds go to Shir
Hadash, and every bit helps. Contract Glenn Graff at fundraising@shir-hadash.org
for more information.
What’s New on Shir-Hadash.org
Our website
is constantly being enhanced and improved with helpful info! Take a minute to
explore some of our new features that enable you to:
- Check out a list of the Gala’s exciting silent auction offerings, and buy your tickets
- Learn how to participate in SHOP online
- View the Shul’s wishlist for equipment we need
- Reserve a room at the Shul for any event
- And more!
Plus, we are
looking to add things to the website that members want. Ask and ye shall
receive! Questions and ideas can be sent to info@shir-hadash.org.
Book Club, February 25
Our next
selection will be Second Person Singular by Sayed Kashua. The book is a story
of identity, following two Israeli Arabs who are trying to define themselves in
modern day Jerusalem. We will discuss this novel at our next meeting, to be
held at the home of Melanie Andes on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:30. For more
information, please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
MOSH Family Hockey Night at Chicago Wolves,
March 2
Everyone is
welcome to join MOSH (Men of Shir Hadash) for a family hockey event when the
Chicago Wolves take on the Iowa Wild at Allstate Arena on March 2 at 3:00pm. We
will have a block of great seats near center ice on the lower level. Tickets
are $24.50 (parking at Allstate is an additional $13 per vehicle). For more
info or to RSVP, contact your MOSH coordinators Sean Fisher-Rohde, Doug Tashma
and Harry Goldman at MOSH@shir-hadash.org.
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
Shabbat Evening Service: “So What’s a Reconstructionist Anyway?”
January 31, 7:30
This Friday
is a fifth Friday, so we have a Learner’s Service! We will have a regular service, but we’ll
stop periodically to talk about the prayers, so we can understand what we’re
reading – and why we read it. In doing
that, we’ll talk about the special aspects of our Reconstructionist prayer
book, and how Recon – and its prayer book – differ from Conservative, Reform
and Orthodox. If you’d like to know how
to explain to your friends what Shir Hadash is all about, and why we do things
a little differently, this is the service to attend. Plus, we have great onegs – don’t forget to
bring something to share!
Music Notes – News and Ideas from our Music Director
Purim's Coming-Share Your Inner
Thespian/Comedian/Singer/Dancer/Techie/Gleek!
Purim starts
Saturday night, March 15. Rehearsals will be starting soon for our Purim
shpiel. Only a minimal commitment is needed, we promise. If you like to sing,
act, write parody, or enjoy making other people laugh, come join our crew of
merrymakers for this year's Purim shpiel. We need not only performers, but
writers, instrumentalists, and help with costumes, scenery, etc. Sometimes,
being part of the Purim shpiel is more fun than watching it! Why not give it a
try? If you're interested, contact Adrian Durlester or Rabbi Eitan.
Rehearsals for Youth Choir (Kolit) Start
Sunday, Feb. 2 at 8:45am
Does your
child like to sing? Encourage them to be part of the Youth Choir (aka Kolit.)
We will be meeting to rehearse the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 8:45am.
Singers, drummers, guitarists, pianists, clarinetists, horn players,
instrumentalists of all kinds are welcome. For more information contact Mr. D.
Lahaka (Adult Choir)
Our adult
choir, Lahaka will be meeting regularly on the first and third Wednesdays of
every month at 7:30pm. If you like to sing and be part of a warm, friendly,
fun-loving group come join us. For more
information contact Mr. D.
Education
Visit the Education Director’s Blog
Education
Director Emily Ascher’s blog has loads of pictures and news about everything
happening at Religious School. Click here to see it all.
Teen News
Youth Ski Trip, February 21-22
Hit the
slopes with Shir Hadash! All teens who are at least 14 years old and who have
completed 8th grade are invited to come on an overnight ski trip to Cascade
Mountain near Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, Feb 21 and Saturday, Feb 22. Drop
off will be at 5pm on Friday night in Northbrook. On Saturday, teens will be dropped off at
their homes so that parents are able to attend the Shir Hadash Gala on Saturday
night. Click here for detailed information on costs and registration or contact Sandi Schleicher, 800‐897‐0533 (voice & fax).
BBYO Invite Convention Recap
Ra'am BBYO
chapter sent six members to the Great Midwestern Regional BBYO Invite
Convention. The teens had a great time meeting other Jewish teens from the
region, spending Shabbat together and winding up the weekend by participating
in all the competitions among chapters, winning second place overall! The
mighty Ra'am members definitely made a huge impression on the region and had a
super time at our first regional convention.
A big THANK YOU to Lauren Tashma and Joanne Litman who bravely
chaperoned the event. Kol hakavod to our
teens who worked as a beautiful team in all the invite competitions. Way to go!.
BBYO
Board
Members: see you at our next Board meeting, Thursday, February 6 at 7:00pm at
Shir Hadash.
Adult Education
The Book of Esther – An Interfaith Class
Our
examination of the Book of Esther is on a brief hiatus while Rabbi Eitan is out
of town. We will resume classes on
February 4 and continue every Tuesday at 9:30 am through the end of
February. Led by Rabbi Eitan and Our Lady of the Brook’s Deacon Peery
Duderstadt, “The Book of Esther: Yours, Mine and Ours” offers an in-depth
examination of the story of Esther from both Jewish and Catholic perspectives.
All classes are at Shir Hadash, and newcomers are welcome. Click here to
register.
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Weiner-Kaplow
Due to the
Rabbi’s travel schedule, there will be no
lunch and learn sessions on January 29. In February, join Shir Hadash
members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly
Torah portion. This informal group meets
on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/Café. All are
welcome.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
We hope you
will join us 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 Events
Chicago A Capella Presents “Melodic
Migrations”, February 15
The Chicago
A Capella vocal ensemble presents “Melodic Migrations: Global Jewish Music” on
Saturday, February 15. This new program shines a spotlight on emotionally
powerful and beautiful Jewish a cappella music from around the world, including
South Africa, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. Benjamin Rivera, who has served as
Shir Hadash’s High Holidays music director in the past, is a member of this
excellent ensemble. The concert will be held at 7:30pm at the Nichols Concert
Hall, 1690 Chicago Avenue in Evanston. Click here to visit the event website, ,
or contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com for more information.
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4
Our Lady of the Brook parish invites Shir Hadash members for a special “scholar in residence” program featuring Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, author of The Misunderstood Jew – The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus. Dr. Levine will speak on Thursday evening, April 3, and Friday morning, April 4, at OLB, 3300 Dundee Road in Northbrook. More details on times will be coming soon.
Dr. Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, and Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Science. Professor Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist and homophobic theologies. Click here to learn more about her work. Her presentations are free of charge and open to all. For more information, contact Deacon Peery Duderstadt, peery@olb.org.
SHOP Shir Hadash
SHOP is our
congregation’s ongoing fundraiser – and the easiest way to support the shul
without spending an extra dime! Purchase giftcards through SHOP and the vendors
pay a percentage back to Shir Hadash. SHOP orders of at least $400 are now payable by
credit card, as well as annual SHOP orders. Orders can be picked up at the
synagogue office or at Sunday school. For more information, visit our SHOP page on the website.
Order $100 in Target GiftCards and Save at FTD.com!
Just in time for
Valentine's Day, place a ShopWithScrip® order* between February 1 and February 14 that
includes at least $100 in Target GiftCards or ReloadNow®products, and you'll
receive an email with a special link to receive $10 off almost every item at
FTD.com.
Bonus Contributions available now:
- Subway – 1% to Jan. 31
- Shutterfly – 2% to Feb. 7
- 1-800 Flowers – 2% to Feb. 7
- Caribou Coffee – 1% to Feb. 7
- Home Depot – 1% to Jan. 31
- Restaurant.com – 10% to Feb. 21
- See’s Candies – 1% Bonus on $25 card only, to Feb. 7
Bonuses Beginning
Feb. 1:
- Boston Market – 2% Feb. 1 to Feb. 14
- Landry’s – 1% Feb. 1 to Feb. 14
- TGI Friday’s – 1% Feb. 1 to Feb. 14
TGI Friday’s Bonus Bites: Get a FREE $5 TGI Fridays Bonus Bites
electronic coupon simply by order TGI Fridays products on ShopWithScript.com
redeemable between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2014.
Thanks to the
following families for participating in SHOP this week:
- Zinbarg
- Schleicher
- Fisher-Rohde
- Fargotstein
- Idelman
- Rice
- Grills
- Friedman
- Herbin
- Lewin
- Singer
- Weiss
- Andes
