WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
Membership Renewal Forms Now Available on Shul Cloud
Give the Gift of Membership! Program Runs Through August 17
Phone Call Volunteer Request
Lahaka Rehearsals Start July 26
Shir Hadash App Available Now
Book Club
Creative Worship and Ritual
Kabbalah Shabbat with Congressman Brad Schneider, July 21, 7:30pm
Shabbat Morning Service and Blessing of Animals & Pets, July 22, 10:00am
Shabbat Under the Stars, August 4, 7:30pm
Intergenerational Pancake Breakfast and Family Morning Service, August 5, 10:00am
Torah Readers Needed for High Holidays
Oneg Volunteers -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
“Simmer Down”
Education News
School Registration is Open -- Sign Up Now for Early Bird Discount
Lunch ‘n Learn Returns in September
Social Action/NW Suburban Interfaith Council
Tikkun Olam Opportunity, July 30 - August 3
Community
Subscribe to Reconstructionism Today Newsletter
Ongoing Fundraisers
Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers!
Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
Links to Fundraisers: Amazon, iGive, and More
SHOP Shir Hadash
MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Membership Renewal Forms Now Open
It's time to renew your membership in Shir Hadash for the coming year. In an effort to streamline the process and reduce the use of paper, all our forms are now available on Shul Cloud. Click here for detailed information. (If you prefer to use paper forms for your registration, please contact our office at 847 498 8218.) Please complete your renewal by July 31. If you need assistance, contact Julie Wellisch at admin@shir-hadash.org, or our Executive Director Geoff Prass at geoff@shir-hadash.org.
Gift of Membership Program Runs Through August 17
All members that renew and make payment arrangements by August 17 get a certificate to give to a friend or family member who has never been a member of Shir Hadash! The certificate will get them a free one-year membership providing it is redeemed by August 31. (Please note, the certificate will not cover school fees.) Questions? Contact Lisa Settler at settlerl@comcast.net or Stuart Aizenberg at stuartaizenberg@gmail.com.
Phone Call Volunteer Request
Would you be willing to help notify Shir Hadash members and interested parties about what is going on. We are seeking people willing to make 20 calls about 4 times a year. Script and, if appropriate, an email follow-up will be be provided. Most will result in voice mails being left. Time commitment of 60-90 minutes and it could be spread over several days. If you are willing to help, please contact Stuart Aizenberg - stuartaizenberg@gmail.com or 847-840-7895.
Lahaka is Looking for Singers/Instrumentalists
Rehearsals start July 26
If you were at our High Holiday Services (HHS) last year you experienced the wonderful sounds of our Lahaka (Shir Hadash's choir), led by our new music director, Marek Rachelski. If you sing or play a musical instrument and want to learn more about Lahaka, come to a rehearsal and give us a try! There is no obligation and you don't even need to know how to read music. We provide all sheet music and we'll be working on a learning CD.
Our first rehearsal will be Wednesday, July 26 at 7:15 at the synagogue. The full rehearsal schedule will be posted soon to the website calendar and the SH App. All are welcome! For more information, contact Ken Wexler (ken.wexler@lockton.com or 847-769-8247).
Shir Hadash App Now Available
We are excited to announce the Shir Hadash App is live and ready to be downloaded! Simply go to the Apple App store and/or Google Play Store, search for "Shir Hadash," download it, and voila! Click here for the iOS version and here for the Android version.
New Book Club Selection
The upcoming Book Club discussion will be on Daniel Silva's The English Assassin. This book is the first in a spy mystery trilogy about the Nazis. The story involves an Israeli spy, Nazi art heists, and of course a murder. Our next meeting will be in July or August. We're looking for a host to sponsor at this time. For this and questions, please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Kabbalah Shabbat with Congressman Brad Schneider Friday, July 21, 7:30pm
Join us for a brief Kabbalat Shabbat service featuring our Lahaka adult choir. Then we will hear from Congressman Brad Schneider.
Shabbat Morning Service and Blessing of Animals & Pets Saturday, July 22, 10:00am
Join us in celebrating our love and care of our pets on the Shabbat when we read in the Torah about Noah and the Ark. Our out-of- doors one-hour Shabbat morning service will include a ceremony to bless our beloved animal pets. Make sure your pets are properly leashed, caged, etc. The service begins at 10:00am, rain or shine!
Tisha B’Av Commemoration: From Sadness to Joy Monday, July 31, 7:30pm
Join us for an evening of story, song, reading, and reflection on the eve of Tisha B’Av, as we recall the many destructions, calamities, setbacks, and misfortunes that have shaped so much of Jewish history.
Shabbat Under the Stars Friday, August 4, 7:30pm
Grab your family and friends and usher in Shabbat Under the Stars. This outdoor evening is open to the community at no cost. Seats will be available for services. Following services, we'll roast marshmallows and make s'mores during the oneg. In case of rain, the event will be moved indoors.
Intergenerational Pancake Breakfast & Shabbat Family Service Saturday, August 5, 10:00am
Calling all grandparents, parents, and children! Come at 10:00 for a light pancake breakfast. Then, Rabbi Eitan will lead a lively service that includes the Shabbat prayers along with story, song, and dance. It’s an interactive Shabbat experience not to be missed! Following the service, we will join for refreshments and a shabbat activity. Bring treats to share at the kiddush refreshments
Oneg Volunteers Needed for 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.
Torah Readers Needed for High Holidays
The High Holidays will be here before we know it - only about two months away. We have a particular need for Torah readers or chanters on Rosh Hashanah Day 2 and Yom Kippur afternoon, but we do have a few slots still available on Rosh Hashanah Day 1 and Yom Kippur morning. We are especially interested in having recent bar and bat mitzvahs come up and chant Torah.
If you volunteer, we will e-mail to you an MP3 of the Rabbi chanting the portion, plus a written copy of the portion in Hebrew and English - and you can get help from the Rabbi and Dawn in getting ready to chant. So if you (or your son or daughter) are interested, please let Fred Andes know at fandes@btlaw.com or 773 354 3100. Feel free to contact Fred with any questions as well
THE RABBI’S CORNER
July 21-22, 2017 / 28 Tamuz 5777
Shabbat Matot-Masei
Torah: Numbers 30:2 - 36:13 Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4 - 28; 3:4
“Simmer Down”
Dear Friends,
What’s the best way to react - quickly and recklessly or slowly and deliberately? This is the question that the Torah contemplates when Moses establishes cities of refuge amongst the twelve tribes of Israel. According to the Torah, if a person commits an unintentional murder, manslaughter, he can run to a city of refuge where he will find safety and a fair trial. Without these cities, aggrieved families would certainly jump to conclusions and possibly lynch the perpetrator in a heartbeat. Innocent blood must never be shed. The Torah is telling us that true justice takes time and cool heads. It requires all the facts and a thorough investigation.
Life should be that way, too. When situations boil out of control, find a way to calm things down. Help others to cool off and get some distance and perspective. Complicated situations demand careful exploration and consideration. So, let there be no jumping to conclusions as the innocent may be unfairly punished.
Simmer down and let cool heads prevail. Zay a mentsch – Be a good person!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
EDUCATION NEWS
School Registration is Open -- Sign Up Now and Save!
Register by July 31 and Save $50 per Student!
Shir Hadash Religious School registration forms are now open. Click here to access the forms on Shul Cloud. The Shir Hadash Religious School is reigniting our tradition of being a creative laboratory of progressive Jewish education. Our new Education Director Geoff Prass has put together some interesting, innovative, and fun Jewish educational opportunities for our students. Want to learn more about the Religious School programs, or are ready to register? Contact Geoff at 847-498-8218 or Geoff@shir-hadash.org.
Lunch & Learn on Summer Hiatus
Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi will return the first week of September.
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. Many people have already signed up! Please consider joining with our interfaith community on this special trip. Click here for more information.
COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS
Subscribe to Reconstructionism Today
Are you receiving the latest news from the Reconstructionist Movement? Interested in finding some resources for you and your family, and perhaps a few nuggets of wisdom? If so, click here to subscribe to the Reconstructionist movement's monthly email newsletter!
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers!
The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove or 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.
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.The cost for a plaque is $360. Many congregants prepay and reserve plaques.You may register for the plaque(s) through our website, 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 Summer!
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. Thank you for supporting Shir Hadash with your SHOP purchases!
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website.
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