WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
Registration Closes Today! Community Dinner-and-a-Movie Night, December 24
New! MOSH Poker Night, January 6
Trivia Night, January 13
New Member Dinner, January 27
Book Club Recap
Creative Worship and Ritual
No Shabbat Services This Week
Oneg Volunteers Needed -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
“Leading the Way”
School News
Religious School on Winter Break
Info Session for Camp Havaya, January 21
Bagel Bar Help Needed
Youth Activities
Ga-Ga for GaGa, January 21
Adult Education
Living Judaism Sunday Class Continues in January
Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi at DH, December 21
Social Action
Upcoming: Educational Series on Domestic Abuse and Violence
Israel Awareness
Did You Know? Fun Facts About Israel
Shabbat Speaker Peggy Shapiro, January 12
Save the Date! Israeli Movie Night, February 10
Ongoing Fundraisers
Simcha Tree Leaves
Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers!
Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
Links to Fundraisers: Amazon, iGive, and More
SHOP Shir Hadash
Synagogue Building Closed Last Week in December
Due to an abbreviated holiday schedule the last week of December and a desire to save energy where possible, the synagogue building will be closed between Monday, December 25 through Monday, January 1. If you need to contact our staff, please call the main office phone number (847-498-8218) as the line will be forwarded and someone will answer the phone or get back to you as soon as they are able.
MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Dinner and a Movie Night, December 24
Registration Closes Today!
Come to Shir Hadash for a fun and social evening! Enjoy delicious Chinese food and watch the delightful comedy Keeping the Faith, starring Ben Stiller, Edward Norton, and Jenna Elfman. We’ll also have a kids movie playing in the youth lounge for the younger set. $15 per person for adults, $10 for children. Click here to RSVP.
Our next Men of Shir Hadash poker night will be Saturday, January 6 at 7:00pm at the home of David Edler, 275 East LaSalle in Vernon Hills. Pizza (est. cost $5) and Poker Chip Buy In ($20). We will be capping the number of participants at 16. RSVP on Shul Cloud or contact Dan Wellisch (847 254 9355 or danwellisch@gmail.com) to reserve a spot at a table.
Trivia Night, January 13
Get ready for our second annual Trivia Night, an evening of fun, challenge, and great prizes! $10 per person, with all proceeds supporting the Samuel I. Andes Scholarship Fund. Click here for complete details.
Save the Date! New Member Dinner, January 27
Mark your calendar for the annual Shir Hadash New Member Dinner, January 27 at 6:00pm. All new members are invited to be our guests. We also encourage the Sponsors of the Gift of Membership families and all other current members to join us. Watch for more details coming soon.
Book Club Recap
Twelve members met last week for one of our best Book Club discussions yet. We covered the novel Windy City Blues, enhanced by a wonderful presentation on the Blues by David Liebling. He described the Blues chord progression and had several clips of the musicians mentioned in the book. We also lit candles for the third night of Hanukkah together. Many thanks to David and to Sandy Weiss for hosting our meeting. We spoke about making a trip to Buddy Guy’s Lounge to hear some live blues in the near future; stay tuned for forthcoming information!
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
No Shabbat Services this Week
We hope you enjoy celebrating Shabbat with your family.
Oneg Volunteers Needed for Services
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
December 22-23, 2017 / 5 Tevet 5778
Torah - Genesis 44:18-47:27 / Haftarah - Ezekiel 37:15-28
“Leading the Way”
Dear Friends,
What should our response be when we are asked to lead? In this week’s Torah portion we find that Joseph has risen to great power and responsibility in Egypt. He is providing food for starving Egyptians and Canaanites, including his own family. When his father Jacob and the rest of his family comes to Egypt, Jacob asks Judah to lead the way. This Judah does. Many will say that Judah is still leading.
Through the course of history, eventually 10 tribes would be conquered and destroyed by Assyria. Benjamin and Judah remained, but Benjamin was absorbed by Judah and disappeared. Thus, only the tribe of Judah remains to this very day. We Jews are all descendants of Judah. That’s why we are called Jews. That is why our tradition is called “Judah-ism.”
So be proud of our ancestor, Judah, and our great Jewish heritage. We are a people often called upon to go first and show the path. Like Judah, when the call comes, our tradition tells us to step up, lead the way, and make a difference in the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
SCHOOL NEWS
Religious School on Winter Break
Enjoy your time off from school, and come back re-energized on January 7! Want to learn more about the Religious School programs? Contact Geoff at 847-498-8218 or Geoff@shir-hadash.org.
Info Session for Camp Havaya (Formerly Camp JRF), January 21
On January 21, Rabbi Isaac Saposnik, Executive Director of Camp Havaya (formerly Camp JRF) from the Reconstructionist Movement camp, will be at Shir Hadash to give a presentation about the camp for our students and hold a special meeting just for parents. This is a great chance to find out about a fantastic camp and to have answered any questions you may have. Specific times for the presentation will be given when we get back from break. Please plan to come to hear about this awesome opportunity for our students.
Sunday Morning Bagel Bar Help Needed
We all enjoy the delicious bagels at Sunday school, graciously donated by Tammy Pomper. Now we need some volunteers to pitch in with set-up and clean-up. Helpers would need to arrive around 8:15am to make coffee and set out bagels. If we get lots of helpers, it won't be much of a time commitment for anyone. Please contact Glenn Graff, nflsunday1966@gmail.com, or Tammy Pomper, tammy.g.pomper@gmail.com, to learn more.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Save the Date! Ga-Ga for GaGa, January 21
Our Sunday School students and madrichim have been asking for more time in Shir Hadash's new gaga ball pit, so we’re making it our next Youth Group event. On Sunday, January 21, stay after Sunday School to play traditional gaga ball and fun variations. More details coming soon!
ADULT EDUCATION
Living Judaism: Introduction to Jewish Spirituality & Civilization, Sundays
Sundays, 11:15 am to 12:25 pm on Jan 21, and 28; Feb 11; March 11 and 18; April 15, 22, and 29, 2018.
Instructor: Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
A survey of essential and fundamental concepts of Judaism - its roots, history, sacred texts, holidays, and life cycle celebration. This class offers a great opportunity to learn what Judaism offers us to live, learn, celebrate and relate to life’s challenges in a Jewish way, today! This class is for everyone – from those with no Jewish background to those with a strong Jewish background, and all in between.
Today! Lunch and Learn at the Synagogue with Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow, December 21
Join the Rabbi and Shir Hadash friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion, a selected book of the Bible, or a contemporary work of Jewish wisdom. Bring a lunch and join the conversation at 1:00pm. All are welcome.
SOCIAL ACTION
New Program Announcement! Educational Series on Domestic Abuse
The SH Social Action Committee announces a new six-part series on the sensitive subject of domestic violence. Beginning February 1 and running every other month, the series will welcome a variety of experts to lead thoughtful explorations of crucial topics. Watch for details about upcoming programs in future newsletters. For more information, contact Jeff Wallk, jeffrey.wallk@gmail.com.
ISRAEL AWARENESS
Save the Date! Shabbat Speaker Peggy Shapiro, January 12
Our Shir Hadash Friday Speakers Program will be featuring speakers about Israel in 2018. Our first speaker is on January 12. Peggy Shapiro of the organization Stand With Us will be talking about Israel and free speech on U.S. college campuses during our regular Shabbat service.
Save the Date! Israeli Film Series, February 10
The Israel Committee had a wonderful turnout on Saturday evening for its second film showing, the award-winning Israeli movie “Footnote”. Mark your calendar for February 10 for the next movie showing. If you have suggestions for a good movie, please send them to bkopulsk@chicagobooth.edu.
Did You Know? Fun Facts about Israel
The Negev Desert in southern Israel receives only one inch of rain per year.
In the south along the shore of the Red Sea in Eilat, there’s a stunning coral reef 3,900 feet long
Nature preserves have been created in Israel to protect wolves, foxes, leopards, ostriches, and other species, as well as create breeding habitats for threatened animals.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
Simcha Tree Leaves Available for Purchase
Our Tree of Joy—a Simcha Tree—is situated in our Community Room to remind us of all the joys of our lives. The leaves come in copper, silver, and gold. Each leaf marks a lasting memory of a joyous simcha in the lives of members of Shir Hadash. We invite you to add your loved ones’ simchas to our Tree and share your nachas with our congregation or just add your loved ones’ names out of love.
Leaves can be purchased to mark your special family or individual accomplishments. Click here to see additional information and make your purchase.
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
Having a Memorial Plaque for a loved one in Shir Hadash’s Memorial Wall 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 the Winter
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. 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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