WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
Annual Picnic, August 27
Membership Renewal Forms Past Due -- Please Complete Now!
Final Week! Gift of Membership Offer Closes August 17
March with Shir Hadash in the Buffalo Grove Days Parade, September 3
Office Volunteers Wanted
Phone Tree Volunteer Request
Shir Hadash App Available Now
Book Club
Join the Shul Cloud Support Team
Creative Worship and Ritual
No Shabbat Services this Week
Register Now for High Holiday Services
Special High Holiday Memberships
Oneg Volunteers Needed -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
“One Hundred Blessings”
Education News
Help Wanted: Religious School Parent with Basic DIY Skills
School Registration is Open
New Section: Israel Awareness
Join the SH Israel Committee
Interesting Reads
Facebook Page Connects Chicago and Israel
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
Annual Potluck Picnic, August 27
It's time again for our annual day of Fun, Food, Family & Friends! Our annual community picnic will kick off at 4:00pm in the Shir Hadash courtyard on Sunday, August 27.
We will have activities for kids (of all ages!) and Rabbi Eitan will lead music. This is a great opportunity to bring family and friends who would like to get a taste of Shir Hadash or are thinking of joining.
We are grilling Kosher hamburgers and hot dogs, plus vegetarian options. Please click here to RSVP and tell us what dishes or desserts you'd like to bring. If you have any questions, please contact the office at 847-498-8218 ext 1.
(When you come to the picnic, please remember to bring a donation of school supplies for our Back to School Drive to support homeless children in our community. Scroll down to our Social Action section for details and suggestions. Thank you!)
Membership Renewal Forms Past Due -- Please Complete Now!
It's time to renew your membership for the coming year. For your convenience, all our forms are available on ShulCloud. Click here for detailed information. (If you prefer to use paper forms for your registration, please contact our office at 847 498 8218.) The requested deadline for completing renewals was this past Monday, July 31. However, there is still time to complete the process. If you need assistance, contact Julie Wellisch at admin@shir-hadash.org, or our Executive Director Geoff Prass at geoff@shir-hadash.org.
Final Week! 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
March with Shir Hadash in the Buffalo Grove Days Parade, September 3
We are looking for volunteers to march in the BG Days Parade on Sunday, September 3. The parade starts at 11 but we will be gathering prior to that time. We'll be handing out lollipops and information on Shir Hadash. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Settler at settlerl@comcast.net
Office Volunteers Needed
It’s the busiest time of year in the Shir Hadash office! Now through early October, High Holidays, Julie, our Administrator, needs some help with answering phone calls, taking down information, filing, and various other office tasks. She would welcome volunteers during office hours everyday except Thursdays. For more info, contact Julie at admin@shir-hadash.org. Thanks for helping!
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 can be spread over several days. If you are willing to help, please contact Stuart Aizenberg at stuartaizenberg@gmail.com or 847-840-7895.
Shir Hadash App Now Available
Don’t forget to download the Shir Hadash App! 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.
Book Club
The upcoming Book Club discussion will be on Daniel Silva's The English Assassin. This book is the first in a spy mystery trilogy revolving around the Nazis.The story involves an Israeli spy, Nazi art heists, and of course a murder. Our next meeting will be in August. We're looking for a host to sponsor at this time. For this and questions, please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com
Join the Shul Cloud Support Team
Want to help out, but hate going to meetings? Read on! We are looking for a few good people to help on the Shul Cloud team. If you have been looking for a way to get involved with helping the synagogue and have some knowledge in technology -- we want you! We are looking for people who:
- Enjoy teaching and coaching
- Have experience with computers other than word processing
- Have experience with web or graphic design
After initial training, there are no regular meetings. You get to help out the shul in a very needed way, and everything can be done from home! Everything thing we do is task based -- assuming we have a full team, we will be able to flex the work around different schedules and skill sets easily.
Interested? Please contact Geoff or Lise Schleicher at info@shir-hadash.org as soon as possible. We hope to get the team trained and running in early August.
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
No Shabbat Services this Week
We hope you enjoy celebrating Shabbat with your family and friends.
Register Now for High Holiday Services
The High Holidays are fast approaching, beginning with Selichot on Saturday, September 16. Shir Hadash will be holding some services at Our Lady of the Brook Worship Center, at 3700 Dundee Road in Northbrook, with the remainder of the services at the synagogue. Please register for your tickets by September 1. For a complete schedule of services, information about children's programming, and registration, visit our website.
Guests Encouraged!
Shir Hadash welcomes participants in our High Holiday services who are not (yet!) full members. We consider these guests to be High Holiday Members, and encourage them to join in all our services from Selichot through Simchat Torah. We have two separate levels for returning guests and first-timers:
- High Holiday Members: For those who have come to our High Holiday services in the past, we offer a Holiday Membership for $250/person ($200 for seniors). They can register on our website.
- New High Holiday Members: Guests who have not been with us for previous High Holidays may be eligible for our special New High Holiday Membership rate of $54 per person. Invite your friends and family to take advantage of this opportunity by visiting our website.
If you are paying for your friends’ or family members’ Holiday Membership, you can do it at the same time when you register for yourself. Questions? Call the office at 847 498 8218.
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.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
August 11-12, 2017 / 20 Av 5777
Shabbat Ekev
Torah: Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25 / Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3
“One Hundred Blessings”
Dear Friends,
Why do we say the Motzi blessing, which proclaims that God brings forth bread from the earth? I have never seen nor heard of a loaf of bread growing from the earth nor emerging from it. Yet, we still say the blessing!
In this week’s Torah portion, Moses is preparing the Children of Israel for the time when they will enter the Promised Land and experience a life of abundance. There will be plenty of food and water. The rocks of the Land will supply metals. The Land will flow with milk and honey. Yet, Moses is concerned that the people will take it all for granted and believe that they are responsible for their comfort. They will come to forget that all their wealth is a true gift from God. So, Moses warns them not to eat without thanking God. They are not to enjoy the gifts of the Land without recognizing God as the source of all.
This is a fundamental Jewish principle, to recognize that God is the source of all blessing and abundance. That’s why our tradition tells us to say at least one hundred blessings every day. So think about it, are there one hundred things in your life each day for which you can show your appreciation and give thanks? Start with waking up in the morning, breathing, standing, walking, seeing, and being free. Then add your appreciation for wonderful clothing, food, work, comfortable homes, and of course bread. You get the idea.
Your challenge this week: One hundred blessings every day.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
EDUCATION NEWS
Help Wanted: Religious School Parent with Basic DIY Skills
Can you saw, drill, sand, and paint? Rabbi Eitan wants YOU! The Rabbi is working on a special project for the Religious School students and needs some help. This is a fairly small and easy project with a short time commitment. Please contact Rabbi Eitan at rabbi@shir-hadash.org to join in the fun.
Register Now for Sunday School
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 education opportunities for our students. School starts September 10! Registration forms are now open. Click here to access the forms on Shul Cloud.
Want to learn more about the Religious School programs? Contact Geoff at 847-498-8218 or Geoff@shir-hadash.org.
SOCIAL ACTION
School Supplies Drive for Homeless Children, Now through August 27
Help homeless children get off to a great start for their school year: support our School Supplies Drive! There is a collection box in the Shir Hadash lobby. Any new supplies are welcome, but the items most needed include notebooks, lined paper, journals, #2 pencils, pens, gel pens, tracing paper, colored pencils, markers, highlighters, crayons, tape, calculators, glue sticks, and gift cards for food and clothing. Many of these items are inexpensive -- feel free to give multiples! Thank you for helping children in need in our community.
ISRAEL AWARENESS
Join the Israel Committee
Please reach out regarding this newsletter section to Ed Rice (e.rice1@comcast.net) or Burton Kopulsky (bkopulsky@chicagobooth.edu) of the SH Israel Committee. They appreciate your feedback, ideas, and suggestions. They are looking for additional members to join them on the committee and enhance Israel-related programming at Shir Hadash.
What is it really like in the Palestinian territories and do the Palestinian leaders really want peace?
These are important questions as Israeli leaders seek a productive dialog with the Palestinians. Here is an interesting article from a writer who went into Palestinian-controlled areas and met with one of their key leaders.
For an "undercover" perspective on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, check out this hilarious but disturbing book written by a Jew who, fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, English and German, interviewed and befriended a variety of folks on both sides of the conflict. The book is available at local libraries in our area and at Amazon.
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 Back to School!
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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