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
- Thanks for Making Our Rummage Sale a Success!
- Shir Hadash Honey Available Now
- Fundraising Night at Chico’s of Lincolnshire, Sept. 4
- Membership Renewals are Past Due
- Help Shir Hadash Earn Free Donations with iGive
- Samuel I. Andes Scholarship Fund
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
Creative Worship and Ritual
- No Friday Night Service August 28
- Shabbat Morning Service and Bat Mitzvah, Saturday, August 29
- High Holidays Registration
- Special Offer for High Holidays Guests – “High Holiday Memberships”
- Shabbat Bike Ride Recap
Volunteer Opportunities
- High Holidays Ushers and Oneg Help Needed
- High Holiday Food Baskets
The Rabbi’s Corner
- "The Month of Elul"
Music Notes
- Join the Lahaka for High Holidays
Teen News
- BBYO Regional Kickoff, Sept. 7
- New: Havdalah and Movie Night, September 13
- Ra’am BBYO Upcoming Meetings
Adult Ed
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
SHOP Shir Hadash
Membership and Upcoming Events
Our massive
Rummage Sale last Sunday brought in mountains of donations, loads of shoppers,
and a net benefit to Shir Hadash of approximately $2000! Our heartfelt thanks
go out to Lise Schleicher and the hardworking fundraising team, the volunteers
who helped sort, set up, and sell, and the donors who provided the wide array
of merchandise.
A Sweet New Year Begins with Shir Hadash's
Honey Sale
Guarantee a
sweet start to your New Year by purchasing a bottle of honey (or two, three or
more) during Shir Hadash's Honey Sale.
The fundraising team is very happy to offer a giftable eight-ounce
bottle of USDA Grade A kosher honey at better than last year's prices! Purchase one bottle at $8 each or 3 for
$20. That's less money, honey!!
Honey will
be available for purchase at this Sunday’s Rummage Sale, before Shabbat
services on September 5th and 19th, and every Sunday morning
beginning September 7th once Sunday School is back in session, through Rosh
Hashanah. Be sure to pick some up for
yourself and to share with friends and family!
For more information, contact Carrie Matt by email at
carriematt0921@gmail.com or by phone at 702-219-6584. Make your New Year a little sweeter and help
support Shir Hadash!
Fashionably Philanthropic: Shir Hadash Shopping Night at Chico's in
Lincolnshire, September 4
Looking for
those perfect outfits for the High Holidays?
Maybe some new pieces for work or play?
Shir Hadash Shopping Night at Chico's in Lincolnshire Commons (970
Milwaukee Avenue, Suite H, in Lincolnshire) is a fun and fashion-forward way to
support the synagogue! Join your friends
on Thursday, September 4th, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm, and purchase selections from
Chico's beautiful fall line (as well as already-reduced gems from the Summer
line). Chico's will generously
contribute 10% of purchases to Shir Hadash!
Have a coupon or other special offer from Chico's? No problem!
You reap the savings and Shir Hadash still earns 10%! Is September 4th a good date, but the time
slot is all wrong? The Chico's
Lincolnshire team will graciously contribute 10% of purchases made before
6:00pm - just remember to mention "Shir Hadash" when you check-out.
Shop at Chico's
and support Shir Hadash! Doing a mitzvah
never looked so good!
Membership Renewals are Past Due
Membership
renewals were due by July 31. The timely collection of membership dues is vital
to the daily operation of the shul. If you have missed the deadline, please
follow the links on www.shir-hadash.org to renew your membership right away. If you have any questions about the renewal
process, contact Lise Schleicher at info@shir-hadash.org.
Book Club
Our next
book will be My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit.
The meeting will most likely be in the last half of October, following the
holidays. Details for time and place will be announced soon. All are welcome to
our book club meetings. If you have questions, please contact Meryl Abensohn,
abenkras@aol.com.
Help Shir Hadash Earn Free Donations with
iGive
You can help
Shir Hadash every time you shop online – the iGive Button makes it simple!
iGive is a free and easy way to support the shul. Average shoppers using iGive raise between
$30 and $100 a year for their causes. There are 1480 online retailers helping
to make donations happen through iGive.
Click here
to learn more and join iGive. If you have questions, contact Sandi Schleicher, finance@shir-hadash.org.
Scholarship Fund
We are
grateful to everyone who has contributed to the Samuel I. Andes Scholarship
Fund, a need-based fund for children whose families cannot afford to pay for
their Jewish education at Shir Hadash. Melanie and Fred Andes have created this
fund in memory of Fred’s great-uncle Samuel I. Andes and have graciously
offered to match all donations to the fund up to $11,000.00. Click here to donate online or mail in your check made out to Shir Hadash with “Scholarship”
written in the memo line. Thank you!
Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant
Fundraisers!
The
Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove and Butterfield’s Restaurant in
Northbrook 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.
Creative Worship and Ritual
High Holidays Registration
High
Holidays are coming soon - Selichot, which starts the holiday season, is on
Saturday, September 20. So, it's time to
register! This year, we are doing that
on-line, using the ShulCloud system
Members:
Please keep in mind, although you do not have pay for tickets to High Holidays
services, you do need to go through the online service registration. This
allows us to plan for seating, food, and other contingencies. Also, note that
members must up-to-date in their annual dues payments in order to be admitted
to services.
All
questions regarding services, registration, etc. should be directed to
cwr@shir-hadash.org. We look forward to see you all on the High Holidays!
Children’s Programs for High Holidays
Just a
reminder: if you plan to have your children participate in our excellent
special programs during Rosh Hashanah morning and Yom Kippur morning services,
please be sure to sign them up via our website. This allows us to plan for
materials, seating, and other logistics. Thanks for your response!
Special Offer for New High Holidays Guests
– “High Holiday Memberships”
We are not
selling tickets for High Holiday services this year -- we are offering High
Holiday Memberships! This new concept covers everything we do at Shir Hadash
between Slichot and Simchat Torah/Shmini Atzeret, including of course Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is a perfect time for your friends that have been
on the fence about us to try us out! Come to Lunch and Learn on Thursdays with
the Rabbi, try out an adult ed class on Sunday mornings, Try out a Saturday
morning Shabbat and see our one of a kind B'nai Mitzvah's.
For anyone
who has never been with us for High Holidays, there are 108 memberships
available for $54 each. For those guests who have been with us before, a High
Holiday Membership is the same as the ticket-only price of $250. Click here for details, or tell your friends to
visit our website to register. Shir Hadash:
Not what you expect, but what you've been looking for.
Shabbat Bike Ride Recap
Thanks to
all the intrepid Shir Hadash members who came out for last Saturday’s torah
discussion and bike ride. It’s always great to celebrate Shabbat outdoors, even
if the weather isn’t perfect! Watch the newsletter for future SH community bike
events.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers Needed for High Holidays
The High
Holidays are just around the corner, and we’re looking for volunteers to help
our observance a pleasure for everyone. With a minimal time commitment, you can
help make our services welcoming and accommodating. New members are especially
welcome – this is a great opportunity to make new friends in the community!
Volunteers
are needed in the following roles:
- Ushers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Contact Ken Laner, klaner@6ideas.com
- Oneg Organizers for Rosh Hashanah: Contact Mia Graff, graffme379@yahoo.com
There’s no
need to set a time commitment now – just email Ken or Mia to let them know
you’re interested or to ask questions. Thanks for your participation!
High Holiday 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 to 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, September 14 from 9:30 to 10:15 am. The address for the packing is 3411 Woodhead Drive, in Northbrook.
- Delivery of food packages will take place on Sunday, September 21, from 9:30 to 11:30am in the Buffalo Grove/Wheeling area. We will be delivering 105 food packages, which will be in large boxes weighing approximately 20 lbs. each. We deliver to several large complexes and use a rental truck to transport the boxes.
To make this
a smooth operation, we need approximately 8-10 people for packing on September
14th and about 10-15 people for delivery on the September 21st.
If you are
interested in helping on one or both of these dates, please contact Mark
Lenhart, mjlenhart@comcast.net, as soon as possible. Mark will be able to
provide volunteers with more details a few weeks before each date.
The Rabbi’s Corner
August 29-30, 2014 / 4 Elul 5774
Shabbat Shofteem
Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9 / Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 -
52:12
“The Month
of Elul”
[Note: The Jewish month of Elul began on Tuesday
evening. The great rabbis of Jewish tradition have taught that because this
month precedes the High Holidays, it should be observed with meditation,
introspection and preparation for the New Year.
Thus, it has become a custom to study the teaching stories of the
Midrash for special insight and inspiration.]
Dear
Friends,
In his
marvelous book The Days of Awe, the
great Jewish writer Shai Agnon told of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, Poland,
the founder of the Sanz Chassidim. Rabbi
Chaim used to tell this story:
A man had been wandering in a forest for
days and days. Though he tried and
tried, he could not found the way out.
One day he entered a clearing and was thrilled to see another man
approaching him for a long way off. He
ran towards the man certain that he would know the way out of the forest. When they met, he said, “Friend, I have been
wandering in this forest for many days.
Can you show me the way out?”
The other replied, “I too am lost and have
been wandering for many days. This I can
tell you, do not go the way that I have been following, for it will surely lead
you off course. Therefore, let’s join as
one and look for the way together.”
Rabbi Chaim added: “And so it is with
us. One thing we can each tell the
other: the way that we have been following until now is not the way. Come, let us join hands and look for the way
together.”
As the month
of Elul begins we are called to examine our lives in honesty and truth. And if each one of us would be so honest,
then we might see ourselves as characters in the parable….
To read the
rest of The Rabbi’s Corner, please click here.
Music Notes
Join Lahaka for the High Holidays
If you’ve
been thinking about joining Lahaka, now is the perfect time: rehearsals for our
High Holidays services are now underway! Vocalists and instrumentalists are all
welcome. We are looking forward to providing beautiful, meaningful music for
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. For more information contact Sandy Weiss,
sandy2weiss@gmail.com.
Education
Religious School Starts Soon!
Shir Hadash’s
wonderful religious school starts a new year on Sunday, September 7. Click
here to read important information in Education Director Emily Ascher’s blog.
Teen News
BBYO Regional Kickoff Concert, September 7
BBYO’s Great
Midwest Region wants you to “Light Up the New Year” with a spectacular Kickoff
Concert on September 7! The band Radical Something will perform at Metro
Chicago from 7:00 – 9:00pm in a show
that’s open to all Jewish teens in 8th-12th grade.
Transportation will be available from the Weinger JCC in Northbrook, the Duman
JCC in Buffalo Grove, and the Kaplan JCC in Skokie.
Tickets are
$39 for GMR members, $49 for non-members. Hurry,
registration will close on September 3. Click here for more info and to buy
tickets.
New:
Havdalah and Movie Night, September 13
Save the
date for a Havdalah service followed by a movie night with your friends! Watch
the newsletter for details, coming soon.
Ra’am BBYO Upcoming Meetings
- Board Meeting on September 8
- Business Meeting on September 15 (all chapter members are encouraged to attend).
Adult Ed
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Weiner-Kaplow
Join Shir
Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the
weekly Torah portion. Upcoming summer
sessions for this informal group will meet on August 21 and August 28,
beginning at noon, in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/Café. All are welcome.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
School’s out
for the kids, but Adult Ed goes on! Check the website calendar http://shir-hadash.org/calendar
for upcoming Sunday morning classes with Fred Andes.
Donations
To the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund:
Doug
Lieberman, to thank Rabbi Eitan for cheering up his mother in the hospital
Tammy and
Bruce Pomper
Samuel Andes School Scholarship Fund:
Abby and
David Edler
Tammy and
Bruce Pomper
To the General Fund, Camp Scholarship Fund,
School Wish List, Music Wish List, and Youth Group Fund:
Tammy and
Bruce
SHOP Shir Hadash
SHOP
Over the Summer!
SHOP is our
congregation’s ongoing fundraiser – and the easiest way to support the shul
without spending an extra dime! Purchase gift cards 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.
New! Starbucks is available for ReloadNow!
Bonus Contributions Now Available:
- The Children’s Place – 1% til Aug 29
- Smart & Final – 2% til Sept 26
- JC Penney – 2% til Sept 12
- BonTon – 2% on ecards only til Sept 12
- Kohl’s – 1% til Aug 29
- TGI Friday’s – 3% til Sept 5
- Red Robin – 2% til Sept 5
Bonuses Starting August 30:
- Boston Market – 2% Aug 30 til Sept 12
- Staples – 5% Aug 30 til Sept 12
Walmart® is
offering a savings of 10 cents a gallon
on gas purchases made when using a Walmart Gift Card, effective through
September 8, 2014.
GLSC Summer Hours: GLSC, a
giftcard vendor, has special summer hours for customer service from now until
September 2: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m Eastern Monday through Thursday, and 8:00
a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Eastern on Fridays.
Thanks to the
following families for participating in SHOP this week:
- Zinbarg
- Schleicher
- Arons
- Herbin
