WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
Annual Picnic, August 27
Membership Renewal Forms Now Available on Shul Cloud
Give the Gift of Membership! Program Runs Through August 17
Office Volunteers Needed
Office Volunteers Needed
Phone Tree Volunteer Request
Shir Hadash App Available Now
Book Club
Creative Worship and Ritual
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 Needed -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
“Shema: Its Deeper Meaning”
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
Tonight! Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan Concert, 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
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, April 27.
Great activities for kids (of all ages!) will be put together by the School Advisory Committee, 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!
We will be grilling Kosher hamburgers & Kosher 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.
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
Office Volunteers Needed
It’s the busiest time of year in the Shir Hadash office! Now through the High Holidays, our Administrator could use some help with answering phone calls, taking down information, filing, and various other office tasks. She would welcome volunteers during office hours on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, or Fridays. 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 could be spread over several days. If you are willing to help, please contact Stuart Aizenberg - stuartaizenberg@gmail.com or 847-840-7895.
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
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
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
August 4-5, 2017 / 13 Av 5777
Shabbat Va’etchanan
Shabbat Nachamu (Shabbat of Consolation) –The Shabbat after Tish'a B'Av
Torah: Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11 / Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1 - 40:26
“Shema: Its Deeper Meaning”
Dear Friends,
What do we mean when we recite Shema Yisrael – Listen Israel, the Eternal One is our God, the Eternal One alone? Beyond the familiar sounds and syllables and beyond the comfortable melody that Jews have sung for centuries, what is the underlying message of this central utterance of the Jewish people – the ‘watchword of our faith’? Philip Cohen offered these insights of Maimonides, the great medieval commentator.
“The Shema, says Maimonides, affirms the unity of all that exists and will exist. God’s power embraces everything. It is the primary Cause uniting the countless stars of the cosmos; the green globe of earth with its complex web of life; and the yesterday, today, and tomorrow of humanity. In the declaration of the Shema, Jews acknowledge that God is not mortal, not limited by human frailties, and not a symbol reducible to stone, wood, or artistic images. God, Maimonides argues, is the One Power that creates all that is.” (Philip Cohen, Rambam on the Torah as found in Harvey Fields, A Torah Commentary for Our Times).
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 educational 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.
ISRAEL AWARENESS
Join the Israel Committee
Please reach out regarding this newsletter section to Ed Rice (e.rice1@comcast.net) or Burton Kopulsky (bkopulsk@chicagobooth.edu) of the SH Israel Committee. They would appreciate your feedback, ideas, and suggestions. They also are looking for additional members to join them on the committee and enhance Israel-related programming at Shir Hadash.
Thought-Provoking Editorial About the Palestinians
Here is an interesting opinion piece from the head of the American Jewish Committee. It's one idea on how we can start to move towards peace.
Israel in Chicago
Did you know there is a Facebook site with news about Israel and its links to Chicago? It's sponsored by the Israeli Consul General in Chicago. Where else would you see the Consul General throwing out the first pitch at a Sox game? The site is also currently highlighting a beach party with opportunities to learn about study abroad in Israel.
Tonight! Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan Concert, August 3
Here's a great opportunity for families to enjoy a fun Israel-related event. Shir Hadash is a co-sponsor of a night of fun and entertainment with The Israel Scouts Tzofim Friendship Caravan at the Lake County JCC. Here are details on this great and FREE event.
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!
DONATIONS
To the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Janie & Brad Baskin
To the General Fund
Lillian Zoloto, in memory of Norman J. Steinback
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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