WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
Tomorrow! Join in the Drum Circle for Rabbi Seeg's Send-off, May 19
Annual Meeting and Elections, May 21
“Know Your Neighbor’s Religion” Panel Discussions, May 22
Recap: Cruisin' Through the Blues Coffee House Night Concert
Annual Meeting and Elections, May 21
“Know Your Neighbor’s Religion” Panel Discussions, May 22
Recap: Cruisin' Through the Blues Coffee House Night Concert
Creative Worship and Ritual
Shabbat Evening Service, Friday, May 19, 7:30pm
Shabbat Morning Minyan Service, Saturday, May 20, 9:30am
Oneg Volunteers Needed -- Sign Up Today
Shabbat Morning Minyan Service, Saturday, May 20, 9:30am
Oneg Volunteers Needed -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
“Levels of Righteousness"
Youth Education Announcements“Levels of Righteousness"
End of School Year Celebration, May 21
Final Ethics Adult Ed: "So Now What?" May 22
Thursday Lunch 'n Learn
Final Ethics Adult Ed: "So Now What?" May 22
Thursday Lunch 'n Learn
Tikkun Olam Opportunity, July 30 - August 3
Sock Drive for the Homeless
Subscribe to Reconstructionism Today Newsletter
Donations
Ongoing Fundraisers
Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
Links to Fundraisers: Amazon, iGive, and More
SHOP Shir Hadash
Sock Drive for the Homeless
Subscribe to Reconstructionism Today Newsletter
Donations
Ongoing Fundraisers
Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
Links to Fundraisers: Amazon, iGive, and More
SHOP Shir Hadash
MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Tomorrow! Join Us for the Drum Circle to Celebrate Rabbi Seeg, May 19
Join the Shir Hadash Community on Friday, May 19 at 7:30pm for a music-filled, family-friendly, and festive Friday night service. We will honor Rabbi Seeg for his contributions to our school, services, and adult education.
Our celebration will include a drum circle. The Shiviti Drum Circle will join us. Bring your own drums or percussion instruments (extra instruments will be available if you don't have any). Don't miss this very special evening!
Our celebration will include a drum circle. The Shiviti Drum Circle will join us. Bring your own drums or percussion instruments (extra instruments will be available if you don't have any). Don't miss this very special evening!
Annual Meeting and Elections, May 21
The Shir Hadash 2017 annual meeting will be held on Sunday, May 21 at 9:15am at the synagogue. (The meeting will be followed by the annual end-of-the-year School Assembly.) You will be asked to vote on nominees for open positions on the Board of Directors, and to approve the Shir Hadash budget for 2017-18. Come see your friends, have a nosh, and participate in the governance of our synagogue!
"Know Your Neighbor’s Religion” Panel Discussion, May 22
On Monday, 48 people gathered at Shir Hadash to learn about different sects of Judaism in a panel discussion sponsored by the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council. The sharing continues with a second panel discussion about the common and distinct aspects of traditions within Christian denomination on Monday, May 22 at 7:00pm. Presenters from Catholic, Methodist, and Lutheran churches will be on the panel at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road in Prospect Heights. Speakers will describe each movement’s positions on key issues of faith, practice, and tradition, with time for questions from the audience.
On Monday, 48 people gathered at Shir Hadash to learn about different sects of Judaism in a panel discussion sponsored by the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council. The sharing continues with a second panel discussion about the common and distinct aspects of traditions within Christian denomination on Monday, May 22 at 7:00pm. Presenters from Catholic, Methodist, and Lutheran churches will be on the panel at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road in Prospect Heights. Speakers will describe each movement’s positions on key issues of faith, practice, and tradition, with time for questions from the audience.
Recap: Coffee House Night – Concert Series: Cruisin’ Through the Blues
What a night! Shir Hadash
welcomed an audience of about 100 members and guests to Cruisin’ Through the Blues, presented by member Dave Levit and his Million Dollar Blues Band. Dave and bandmates Bill Pollack,
Todd Lazar, and Darren Jay Fallas provided fantastic music, along with special guests
including Bonnie Brenner (vocals) and our own Ed Waxler (bass) and Ken Wexler
(bass). Coffee House organizer Margie
Skora opened the show with some banjo tunes, followed by the full band. There
was dancing in the aisles, heads boppin’ in the seats, and singing along to the
incredible music. In addition, the evening included a slide show and narrative script that offered the opportunity to learn about the impact of Jewish songwriters, producers, and musicians in the Blues/R&B/Soul/Jazz/Rock-N-Roll
scene.
We had the most exciting press coverage, coordinated by own Lana
Simon. Click here
to read the great article by Northbrook Star reporter Irv Leavitt with photos
by Karie Angell Luc.
Many thanks to our Front of House team: Ed and his friend who
helped with set-up and non-member, Noal and her friend, who helped with set-up
and checked in guests. Don, as always, was a “rock star” at setting up our sanctuary
to look like a downtown music club. Scarlett and Melanie kept the treats coming
and the coffee flowing at our dessert/beverage bar. Our donation baskets were
generously filled during the event. Finally, clean-up was magically accomplished
by a host of Shir Hadash members.
Watch for our next Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style event in
the fall. As always, many thanks go to Rabbi Eitan and the entire Shir Hadash
family for their continued support!
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Shabbat Evening Service, Friday, May 19, 7:30pm -- Be part of our festive community service as gather to honor Rabbi Seeg and send him off to his next chapter in Colorado with a drum circle. Please come to wish him well, and bring something to share for the oneg.
Oneg Volunteers Needed for May and June Services
Please sign up to help as an oneg volunteer for one of our upcoming services. It's easy: just click here to pick a date, bring a challah, and show up! You'll receive a reminder email the week before with more details. For more information, contact Sean Fisher-Rohde at oneg@shir-hadash.org.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
May 19-20,
2017 / 24 Iyar 5777
Shabbat
Behar-Bechukotai
Torah:
Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34 / Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14
“Levels of
Righteousness”
Dear
Friends,
How can we
help those in need in ways that will really matter? Will fifty cents placed in a cup or a dollar
bill handed out the window at a red light really make a difference?
Four times
in this week’s Torah portion, we are challenged to help our fellow human being
should he or she fall into poverty. The
help we offer is not charity, i.e. given out of the love of our hearts. Rather it is tzedakah, i.e. assistance
rendered out of righteous obligation, whether we are moved or not. The great rabbi Maimonides (or the Rambam)
created eight levels of tzedakah to guide us.
1. The
highest level is supporting another reduced to poverty by offering a loan, a
business partnership, or finding work for the individual.
2. Below
this is giving so that neither the giver nor the receiver know the other’s
identity.
3. Below
this is giving so that the giver knows the receiver, but the receiver does not
know the giver.
4. Below
this is giving so that receiver knows the giver, but the giver does not know
the receiver.
5. Below
this is giving to the poor without being asked.
6. Below
this is giving after being asked.
7. Below
this is giving less than what is appropriate, but cheerfully.
8. Below
this is giving begrudgingly.
Let’s all do our part to bring righteousness to
the world in small and big ways through acts of tzedakah
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
YOUTH EDUCATION
End of School Year Celebration, May 21
Celebrate another fabulous year at our religious school, and say a fond farewell to our Director of Lifelong Learning as Rabbi Seeg heads to Colorado. The end-of-school assembly will take place on May 21 at 11:30am-12:30pm, and immediately following the annual meeting.
ADULT EDUCATION
Final Ethics Adult Ed: "So Now What?" May 22
For the
final ethics adult ed session on Monday, May 22, we will consider what should
go into crafting a personal ethical and moral code in the 21st century. The session will begin at 7:00pm and conclude
by 8:30pm. We will pay particular attention to how (or if) traditional Jewish
texts (especially the Hebrew Bible) should play a significant role in how we
shape our moral and ethical outlook.
Please RSVP to Rabbi Seeg (learning@shir-hadash.org) by Friday, May 19
if you plan to attend. This session will
require a minimum of three attendees.
Join Rabbi Eitan for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion. We meet every Thursday at 1:00pm, no RSVP necessary. Don’t be surprised if archaeology, sociology, and 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.
SOCIAL ACTION
Tikkun Olam
Opportunity, July 30 - August 3
Interfaith
Council presents the Fourth Annual Mission trip for families to help rebuild
the lives of those who have suffered extreme loss in the St. Louis area,
rebuilding homes destroyed by flooding in 2015.
Skilled and unskilled help is needed. 31 people have already signed up!
Please consider joining with our interfaith community on this special trip.
Click here for more
information.
The Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council is sponsoring its first "Knock Your Sock Off" sock drive to help the homeless in our communities. Donate new socks for men, women, and children in the collection box in the Shir Hadash lobby. Thank you for your generosity!
COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS
Subscribe to Reconstructionism Today
DONATIONS
To the General Fund
- Glenn Graff, in memory of his friend Steve Friedman
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
Shir Hadash is installing a Memorial Wall in the sanctuary, with individual plaques recording the Hebrew and English name of the deceased and the date of birth and passing. Having a Memorial Plaque for a loved one ensures that Yahrzeit will be observed for them in perpetuity by our congregation. On the Yahrzeit, or anniversary of the death, the lights next to the plaques of those whose death occurred on the same Hebrew date will be lit.
The cost for a plaque is $360. Many congregants prepay and reserve plaques.You may register for the plaque(s) through our web site, or request a paper order form by calling the office (847 498 8218),
Fundraiser Information Now Available on Shul Cloud
You can help Shir Hadash at no extra cost to you by taking advantage of a variety of ongoing fundraisers, including iGive, Amazon Smile, and more. For complete details, click here.
SHOP SHIR HADASH
SHOP for Spring!SHOP is 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. Orders can be picked up in the Shir Hadash office or purchased during Sunday School. For more information, email Michelle at SHOP@shir-hadash.org.
Be sure to stop by the SHOP table when you come to the Annual Meeting on May 21! We have plenty of cards in stock, and Shir Hadash gets a percentage of every purchase. If you are looking for particular brands of cards, please email Michelle at SHOP@shir-hadash.org.
Thank you for supporting Shir Hadash with your SHOP purchases!
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment