WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
MOSH Poker Night, January 6
Trivia Night, January 13
Update! Register for New Member Dinner, January 27
Meal Help Requested for SH Member
Creative Worship and Ritual
Family Shabbat, Friday January 5, 5:30pm
Shabbat Evening Service, Friday January 5, 7:30pm
Oneg Volunteers Needed -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
“Abilities”
School News
Religious School, January 7
SAC Meeting, January 14
SAC Meeting, January 14
Info Session for Camp Havaya, January 21
Bagel Bar Help Needed
Youth Activities
Update! Register for Ga-Ga for GaGa Event, January 21
Adult Education
New! Bagel Breakfast and Speaker Series, January 7
Living Judaism Sunday Class Continues January 21
Today! Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi at SH, January 4
Social Action
Toy Drive Brightens Hanukkah for JCFS Families
Upcoming: Educational Series on Domestic Abuse and Violence
Israel Awareness
Shabbat Speaker Peggy Shapiro, January 12
Israeli Movie Night, February 10
Did You Know? Fun Facts About Israel
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
MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS
MOSH Poker Night, THIS Saturday, January 6
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.
Update! Register for New Member Dinner, January 27
Join us to celebrate the growth of Shir Hadash at this casual dinner with our community. There is no cost for our new members. We’d appreciate a donation of $10 per adult and $4 per child ages 4-12 for our members of more than one year. Children age three and under are free.
Please register here by Tuesday, January 16, so we can finalize the numbers and have the right amount of food. Let us know how many will be attending and if you prefer a gluten free or dairy free meal. We hope to have members of the Madrichim helping with the younger children, so please plan to bring them as well.
Meal Help Requested for SH Member
Luba Rothblatt is recovering at her home from a fall and has requested some help with meals. She will be recovering for about a month. Any help would be greatly appreciated. You may reach out to her directly by phone (847 412 1514) or email: (lubaroth@comcast.net). She lives in Northbrook at 2 Court of Harborside.
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Family Shabbat, Friday January 5, 5:30pm
Join us for a kid-friendly Shabbat experience designed for families with young children. We will enjoy a casual dinner together followed by songs, prayers, and Shabbat activities with the Rabbi. The Family Shabbat will be followed by our regular Shabbat Evening Service at 7:30pm.
Shabbat Evening Service, Friday January 5, 7:30pm -- Shabbat Shemot
“Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King: Preparing for the Day of Service”
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
January 5-6, 2018 / 19 Tevet 5778
Shabbat Shemot
Torah - Exodus 1:1-6:1 / Haftarah - Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23
“Abilities”
Dear Friends,
Must we be perfect in order to make a difference? We expect our leaders to be perfect in every way – mentally, spiritually, and physically. And yet, right from the start, we learn that Moses had difficulty speaking in public. Moses, the greatest leader of our people, had a physical disability. Even though the Torah never tells us the nature of his speech impediment, Moses of course exceled and is revered to this very day as a paragon of strength, inspiration, tenacity, and courage.
So, how did Moses cope? He got his brother Aaron to assist him… and the rest is history. There are two lessons here. First, we all have strengths and weaknesses. So, get someone to help you with the areas that are more difficult for you. There is no shame in that. Second, we are much, much more than our disabilities. Look upon those with disabilities as full human beings completely capable of doing great things in the world. Like Moses, a disability should not disqualify anyone from living a full live and making a profound contribution to those around them and society in general.
In our own way, each of us can and should make a difference.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
SCHOOL NEWS
Religious School, January 7
Welcome back! We hope you had a fun and relaxing winter break. We’re looking forward to seeing our students ready to go at 9:15 this Sunday. Want to learn more about the Religious School programs? Contact Geoff at 847-498-8218 or Geoff@shir-hadash.org.
School Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting, January 14
Religious School parents, come share your ideas or just listen to what’s happening in school. We will meet in the annex conference room from 9:30 to 11:00am.
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. To see the camp video, click here.
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
Update! Register Now for Ga-Ga for Gaga! Youth Group Event, January 21
Kindergarteners through teens, we heard your request for extra time in Shir Hadash's new indoor gaga pit, so we are making it the next youth group event. On Sunday, January 21, 12:30-2:30 we will eat lunch and then Coach Cliff Silverman will lead us in traditional gaga games as well as fun variations. The different age groups will have separate gaga pits.
Gaga ball is an Israeli game that is enjoyed by all ages and athletic abilities. No experience necessary; it can be learned in a couple of minutes. More information on gaga ball and Coach Cliff Silverman can be found here.
$10 SHY youth group members/ $12 non-SHY youth group members. Register by Thursday, January 18, by clicking here. Ask Lisa Burton Radzely any questions at sac@shir-hadash.org.
ADULT EDUCATION
New! Bagel Breakfast and Speaker Series, January 7
This week, we introduce a new once-a-month Sunday morning program from 11:00-12:30. “Judaism: Believe It or Not” is a fun and engaging series to bring fresh perspectives on Jewish history, culture and experience. Please bring $5/person to cover food and drink.
On January 7, we present “Jewpardy! Little Known Facts and Trivia about Jewish Culture, Tradition, and History” with Richard Moline, Director of Israel Education for the Community Foundation for Jewish Education/Jewish United Fund. Did you know that according to Jewish law, it’s possible for triplet boys to have their circumcisions on three separate days? That Uganda almost became the home of the Jewish people or that Hebrew almost became the official American language? Join us as Richard introduces us with matters significant and trivial that you may find quite surprising!
Returns January 21: 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.
Lunch & Learn at Shir Hadash, January 4
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
Thank You, Holiday Gift Drive Donors
Thanks to your donations, about 50 children had a much brighter holiday. They had gifts to open, and will enjoy the toys, games, books, art supplies, puzzles, etc. throughout the year. They also received necessities like lip balm to help their very dry lips, and socks to help keep them warm. Most of the donations went to Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS), who distributed them to their clients. Imagine those children's joy when they got the items on their wish lists!
Next week, more ways your donations made an impact!
Coming Soon - 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 for its second film showing, the award-winning Israeli movie “Footnote” this past December. 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
Jews have formed the majority of Jerusalem's population since the middle of the 19th century.
Jerusalem is mentioned 669 times in the Hebrew bible. (It's never mentioned in the Koran.)
Jews around the world face Jerusalem when praying. (Muslims, including Muslims praying on the temple mount with their back to the Al Aqsa mosque, face Mecca.)
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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