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
- Young Frankenstein Movie Night, November 1
- Group Outing to Chicago Festival of Jewish Cinema, November 8
- New! New Member Dinner, November 15
- Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style! November 15
- Accompanists Wanted for Coffee House Night
- Update! Meditation Group Starts November 15
- New! Jewish National Fund Community Dessert Reception, November 16
- Save the Date! Annual Gala at Pinstripes, February 7
- Book Club Recap and Next Selection
- Shir Hadash Summer Family Trip to Israel, June 2015
- Shir Hadash Sunday Schmear
Creative Worship and Ritual
- No Shabbat Services This Week
Volunteer Opportunities
- SHOP Needs You
- PADS Shelter Food Donations Needed, November 4
- Urgent! Soup Kitchen Help Needed, November 9
- New! “Helping Hands at Hawthorn,” November 9
The Rabbi’s Corner
- “Superstitious”
Teen News
- New! Teen Lunch with Rabbi Eitan at Taboun Grill, November 2
- Teen Night at Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema, November 5
- November Save the Dates
Adult Education
- Crash Course in Jewish History, November 2
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Tuesdays
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
Ongoing Fundraisers
- Help Shir Hadash Earn Free Donations with iGive
- Samuel I. Andes Scholarship Fund
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
Donations
- Chico’s Fundraiser Donation to Shir Hadash
SHOP Shir Hadash
Membership and Upcoming Events
Young Frankenstein Movie Night, November 1
It’s the
right time of year for the funniest monster movie of all time – Young
Frankenstein, written and directed by the legendary Mel Brooks. Join your Shir
Hadash friends for a movie party from 6:30 to 9:00pm on Saturday, November 1. Bring
your kids in their Halloween costumes – the best costumes will win prizes! Popcorn,
drinks, and World’s Finest Chocolate will be available for purchase. Admission
will be $4 for adults ($5 for non-members) and $2 for kids ages 12 and under
($3 for non-members). All proceeds benefit the Shir Hadash Religious School.
Check out our flyer on the website.
Group Outing to Chicago Festival of Israeli
Cinema at Northbrook Court, November 8
Join us for
a screening of the award-winning film Magic
Men at Northbrook Court’s AMC Theater on Saturday, November 8 at 7:00pm.
The story follows a Greek-Israeli Holocaust survivor and his Hasidic rapper
son, estranged for many years, as they embark on a road trip to find the old magician
who saved the father’s life during WWII. The screening will feature a special
appearance by co-director Guy Nattiv. After the movie, we’ll gather for coffee
and dessert at Prairie Grass Café to discuss the film and schmooze. The film is
part of the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema which runs from October 29 to
November 9.
We have sold
out of our block of tickets, but tickets may be available through at the
Northbrook Court AMC theater or the Festival Website. It’s all open seating, so buy a
ticket, sit with us at the movie, and join us at the restaurant for dessert.
Please let Rebecca Rice know if you are planning to come: r.rice1@comcast.net.
See you at the movies!
New! New
Member Dinner, November 15
Welcome new
Shir Hadash members! You are cordially invited to the New Members’ Dinner on
November 15, 5:30pm at the Synagogue.
Come have dinner with your fellow new members, and then stay for the
entertainment at Open Mic Night! Registration will be available on the website
shortly.
Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style, November
15
Attention
Talent and Bakers! Please sign in through our website so we have an idea of who you are. A
successful event depends on you. So far,
we have only heard from a couple of people. The big day is only a couple of
weeks away and we need your help!
“Coffee
House Night - Open Mic Style” is Saturday, November 15, 2014. Doors open at 6:30; the event runs until
10:00ish Please click the link to sign
up for talent, baking, tech, and general help with the event. Thank you!
Can’t wait to see you all there!
Coffee House Night – Accompanist Needed
APB: We’re
looking for a Performer/Accompanist to support vocalists interested in performing at the Coffee House
Night - Open Mic Style on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Of course we hope your
talents will also be a featured act at the Coffee House Night. Please contact
Margie at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com for more info.
Update!
Meditation Group Starts November 15
Are you
interested in learning about how meditation can add to your life? Our new SH
meditation group will have its first meeting on November 15 at 2:00pm at the
synagogue. We have members looking for other members to meditate with and with
whom they can exchange meditation experiences.
If you are interested in learning more about meditation at Shir Hadash,
please email rzinbarg@northwestern.edu.
New! Jewish
National Fund Community Dessert Reception, November 16
Interested
in learning more about Israel's relations with its neighbors and other world
powers? Come hear from Professor
Jonathan Adelman of the Korbel School of International Studies at the
University of Denver on November 16.
The event is at 7:00pm at Congregation Beth Judea - Route 83 and
Hilltop, Long Grove. Shir Hadash is a
cosponsor of this event. Register
on-line at jnf.org/dessert or at 847-656-8880.
Save
the Date! Annual Gala at Pinstripes, February 7
When you’re
planning your 2015 calendar, be sure to reserve February 7 from 7:00 to 11:00pm
for the Annual Shir Hadash Gala! This year’s celebration will be extra special
as we honor Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow on his 20th anniversary with
our congregation. The party will include silent auction items, a “Heads or
Tails” raffle, a delicious dinner, and entertainment by Felix & Fingers
Dueling Pianos. Watch for your invitation coming in December! If you would like
to be involved in planning this exciting event, please click here for more
information.
Book Club
We had a
spectacular turnout of 20 people at our Book Club meeting this month. We
discussed My Promised Land by Avi
Shavit, an Israeli journalist and columnist. There were many differing opinions
voiced and a truly amazing, animated discussion was generated. As Saul Bellow
said, “If you want everyone to love you, don’t discuss Israeli politics!” Thanks to Wendy and Burton Kopulsky for
graciously hosting such a large group.
The next
Book Club selection will be Pictures from
the Past by Deby Eisenberg. Our meeting will be held the second week of
January. Watch future editions of the newsletter for more details
Shir Hadash Family Summer Trip to Israel,
June 2015
If you’ve
been considering a visit to Israel, here’s the perfect opportunity! Rabbi Eitan
and Dawn Weiner-Kaplow will lead a family tour of comprehensive sightseeing
from June 16 to 26, 2015. The trip will include visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv,
Haifa, Galilee, and a wide range of ancient and modern sites. The package
includes airfare, hotel, motor coach transportation, excursions, and much more.
Visit our website for a detailed package flyer and itinerary,
or contact Dawn at dweinerkaplow@sbcglobal.net.
Get your Sunday Schmear at Shir Hadash
What to do
while the kids are in Religious School?
Looking for fun on Sunday mornings?
Hungry while waiting for adult education to start? Come hang out with your fellow Shir
Hadashnicks and have coffee and a bagel 'n schmear. Spend some fun time with your friends, bring
a newspaper, or just have a relaxing morning with a cup of Joe. All coffee and bagels proceeds benefit the
Synagogue. And if you would be
interested in helping assist with the coffee and bagel once a month, please let
us know by emailing nflsunday1966@gmail.com.
Please put “Bagels” in the subject line.
Creative Worship and Ritual
No Shabbat Services this Week
We have no
scheduled for services October 31/November 1. Enjoy Shabbat with your family,
and feel free to join us for adult ed classes on Sunday morning. See below for
more information.
Volunteer Opportunities
SHOP Needs You!
Our ongoing,
and vital, SHOP Shir Hadash fundraiser needs volunteers to staff our table at
Sunday School. It’s an easy job and a great chance to schmooze with other Shir
Hadashniks! Can you spare one Sunday morning to help – just one – from 9:00 to
12:30? Click here to sign up for a day of your choice on Shul Cloud, or contact
Gina Zinbarg, gzinbarg@sbcglobal.net, for more info.
PADS Homeless Shelter Food Donations
Needed, November 4
Once again
we have the opportunity to provide food for our homeless neighbors in
need. The local PADS shelter, located at
Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove, has assigned us the
following items:
- Main Dish (to serve 12-15)
- Salad (to serve 12-15)
- Vegetable Dish (to serve 12-15)
- Dessert
- Fresh Fruit - 15 pieces (will be put in sack lunches)
- Two Gallons of Milk
- Two Gallons of Apple or Orange Juice
- Two pounds of sliced meat for sandwiches,
- Two pounds of sliced cheese for sandwiches.
All food
should be dropped off by 6:00pm on November 4th. More specific guidelines will be shared with
those who sign up. Please contact Suzanne Wexler, volunteer@shir-hadash.org, to
let her know what you’re able to contribute. Thank you!
Urgent!
Soup Kitchen Help Needed, November 9
On Sunday,
November 9, we will be preparing, cooking and serving over 90 meals for 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; that's about 10-12 families. There is no age limit
to volunteer, but from past experience, kids should be at least six years old
to fully participate.
Each family
will be responsible for bringing an entrée that will feed 15 to 20 individuals, one gallon milk, one gallon orange juice, one large bag frozen mixed vegetables, one large bag of fruit (oranges, bananas, etc.) and dessert.
If you are
interested in helping, please contact Mark Lenhart, mjlenhart@comcast.net,
before November 1. More information will be sent to all volunteers
approximately one week before the November 9th date. Thank you in advance for
your support!
New! Helping
Hands at Hawthorn Project, November 9
Here’s a
wonderful opportunity to participate in “Helping Hands at Hawthorn” on Sunday,
November 9 from 9:30am to noon. Shir Hadash volunteers will help host a tables
where kids coming to the Hawthorn mall in Vernon Hills will make “Life Support”
cups for parents of children staying overnight at Lutheran General Hospital. We
will supply the cups, decorations, and sample size shampoo, toothpaste and body
wash to put inside.
Shir Hadash
will be joined by three other synagogues, JCC, Big Tent Judaism, and JUF for
this project. We need two or three people to help set up the table at 9:30,
help children decorate and pack the cups, and then take down the table and
clean up. Easy and fun! If you’d like to be involved, please contact Lynne
Arons at 847 732 7001 or Rzldzl122@aol.com.
The Rabbi’s Corner
October
31-November 1, 2014 / 8 Heshvan 5775
Shabbat Lech
Lecha
Torah
Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
“Superstitious”
Dear
Friends,
It’s
unusual, but this year our Shabbat coincides with Halloween, the pagan festival
of witchcraft and death that captures so much of the American psyche. Halloween is clearly not a Jewish festival in
any way. Its obsession with the occult
and the mysterious and terrifying forces that govern life and death is not part
of Jewish life and thought. None of this
is in our sacred texts, our worship, our traditions, or our festivals. It is just the opposite. We call tending to
the deceased ‘kavod hameit – honoring the dead.’ We call our cemeteries ‘beit chaim – place of
life.’ Beyond this, as
Reconstructionists, we proclaim our pride at pursuing scholarly and
well-reasoned consideration of our Jewish tradition. And so, there is no place for superstition in
Judaism! Or is there?
Certainly
Askenazi Jews from Poland, Eastern Europe and Russia lived for many centuries
in a world that was very superstitious and fearful. Because of that, we say “Kunnah hurrah
(Properly pronounced: Ken ayin harah)” – to ward off the evil eye. We spit three times – tfu, tfu, tfu - so that
good wishes will not be disturbed. We
throw salt. We hang red ribbons over
cribs for protection from the evil spirit.
We name our children after those who have died, to protect them from the
angel of death. Lately, we have been hanging up chamsah charms, representing
God’s presence in our lives, as signs of good fortune and protection. Yet,
through it all, we have a sense that this is all for fun and amusement.
Nevertheless,
as Halloween and Shabbat coincide, I urge you to think about all the ways that Judaism
avoids any obsession with, or celebration of death and superstition. Rather, focus on how Judaism can be a pathway
from fear to faith to life!
Shabbat
shalom.
Rabbi Eitan
Weiner-Kaplow
To read our archives
of The Rabbi’s Corner, please click here.
Education
Religious School
There are lots of exciting developments happening in Shir Hadash’s religious school. Click here to read Education Director Emily Ascher’s blog “Drash Hadash.”
There are lots of exciting developments happening in Shir Hadash’s religious school. Click here to read Education Director Emily Ascher’s blog “Drash Hadash.”
Teen News
New! Teen
Lunch with Rabbi Eitan, November 2
All SH teens
in grades 8-12 are invited to a casual lunch with the Rabbi on Sunday, November
2. We’ll be talking about topics that interest all of you, especially questions
about what you want from your synagogue. What’s on your mind? Join us at the
Taboun Grill, 3111 Dundee Road in Northbrook, from 1:00 to 2:25pm. RSVP to eddirector@shir-hadash.org.
Teen Night at Chicago Festival of Israeli
Cinema, November 5
BBYO, in
partnership with several other Jewish youth organizations, will present “Teen
Night” at the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema at Northbrook Court’s AMC
Theater. For just $5, teens can see up
to three outstanding movies by Israeli filmmakers! The first presentation
starts at 4:00pm. Click here for more information and registration.
November Save the Dates!
We have lots
of great events planned for November. Mark your calendars and watch for more
details coming soon!
- November 7: Teen Global Shabbat at Shir Hadash
- November 10: Ra’am BBYO Board Meeting at 6:30p, followed by Teen Hangout at 7:30.
- November 12: Mini Golf with Shabak
- November 19: “Mockingjay” Film Pre-Release Event at Northbrook Court AMC
Adult Education
Crash Course in Jewish History
Sundays this
fall, 11:15 a.m.-12:25 p.m.
November 2,
9, and 23
December 7
& 14
Topic for November 2 – “Maimonides”
Join Rabbi
Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and Dr. David Liebling for a journey through four thousand
years of Jewish history in our free, eight part lecture series. Crash Course in
Jewish History participants receive a free Companion Guide to Jewish History
and timelines to help them follow the key dates and events that have shaped
both Jewish and world history. This survey course enables participants to
develop an appreciation for the richness of their Jewish heritage throughout
the millennia, and will inspire interest in further exploration of their own
Jewish experience. This program is presented in conjunction with the National
Jewish Outreach Project. Click here for details.
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Weiner-Kaplow – Now on Tuesdays!
Join Shir
Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the
weekly Torah portion. This fall, we have
a new day and location: We now meet at noon on Tuesdays in the conference room.
All are welcome.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
Our Torah
Study & Jewish Philosophy class, led by Fred Andes, takes place on Sunday
mornings. Meet at the synagogue from 9:45 to 10:45 for coffee and engaging
discussion topics. All are welcome.
Ongoing Fundraisers
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
To help
families in financial need pay for their children’s Jewish education at Shir
Hadash, Melanie and Fred Andes created the Samuel I Andes Scholarship Fund in
memory of Fred’s great-uncle 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.
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.
Donations
Fundraiser Donation to Shir Hadash
We’ve just
received a generous donation from Chico’s in Lincolnshire as the culmination of
the shopping fundraiser they hosted in September. Many thanks to Chico’s, to
Stacey Zenn for making the referral, to Carrie Matt for organizing this event,
and to all of you who turned out to participate! Watch for more Dining – and Shopping
– for Dollars events coming soon.
SHOP Shir Hadash
Fall into SHOP!
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.
SHOP
Needs Your Help!
Please sign up to staff the
SHOP table for a Sunday morning. Full details in the “Volunteer Opportunities” section above.
Get Low Denomination Gift
Cards While They Last! Starting in November, we will have a limited number of
the following, special, small denomination gift cards available, just in time
for the holidays!
- Amazon.com Gift Cards $10
- AMC Theatres® $10
- Barnes & Noble $5
- CVS/pharmacy $10
- Groupon $10
- Meijer $10
- Outback $10
- Panera Bread® $5
- Pizza Hut $5
- Regal Entertainment Group $10
- Target $10
- Starbucks $5
- Walmart $5
The Home Depot 1% Bonus
Contribution The Home Depot® is offering a 1% bonus contribution from Saturday,
October 25 through Friday, October 31. Customers who purchase The Home Depot
Gift Cards or ScripNow® eCards during this time will receive a 5% contribution
instead of the standard 4%.
Bonuses
Available Now:
- California Pizza Kitchen – 5% October 18 to 31
- Destination Maternity – 3% October 18 to 31
- Domino’s Pizza – 2% October 18 to 31
- JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts – 2% October 18 to 31
Bonuses Available Beginning
November 1:
- Journeys – 3% til November 14
- Meijer – 1% til November 28
- Red Robin – 2% til November 14
- Restaurant.com – 15% til November 28
You could get lucky with a
great offer from Macy's! Place a ShopWithScrip® order including at least $100
in Macy's gift cards or ScripNow® eCards from November 1 - 7 and you'll be
entered in a drawing for a chance to have Macy's reimburse you for the cost of
your order, up to $200. Six families will be randomly selected to win, and one
of those will also be chosen to win free shipping for their organization for
six months!
New Retailer Available -
Pizza Ranch Make tonight a pizza night - Pizza Ranch® scrip is now available!
$25 Pizza Ranch gift cards can be ordered for an 8% non-profit contribution.
Thanks
to the following families for participating in SHOP this week:
- Zinbarg
- Schleicher
- Weiner-Kaplow
- Andes
- M. Graff
- Kulesza
- Simon
- Idelman
- Farahmandpour
- Fargotstein
- G. Graff
- Mostow
- Singer
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