WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
- Less Than Two Weeks Away! Community Passover Seder, March 31
- Environmental Preservation Education Series, April 20
- Prospective Member Open House, April 22
- New! Coffee House Concert Series presents Classical Guitarist Mitchell Green, April 28
- New! Family Retreat Weekend
- Please Respond! Capital Improvement Survey
- MOSH Poker Night Recap
- Book Club - New Selection
Creative Worship and Ritual
- No Shabbat Services this Week
- Oneg Volunteers Needed -- Sign Up Today
The Rabbi’s Corner
- “You Must Not Eat Blood”
School News
- Religious School on Spring Break -- Resumes April 8
- Save the Date! Bring A Friend To School, April 22
Adult Education
- Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi, March 22
Social Action
- Passover Food Delivery, March 25
- Domestic Abuse Education Series Continues, April 12
Israel Awareness
- Israel Speaker Series, April 13
- Israeli Film Series
- 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
Less Than Two Weeks Away! Community 2nd Night Passover Seder, March 31
Registration is now open for our Community Seder, being held on Saturday evening March 31 beginning at 6:00pm. This special Shir Hadash tradition includes a wonderful seder led by Rabbi Weiner-Kaplow and a delicious veggie/dairy potluck meal. Click here for details and registration. Seating is limited and we often have waiting lists. Don’t delay, RSVP today!
New Series! Environmental Preservation, April 20
We are launching a new educational series on the vital issues of environmental protection. Our first guest speaker, on Friday, April 20, will be Mary S. Allen who is the Recycling and Education Director for the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), a not-for-profit intergovernmental agency with 23 member municipalities including the Village of Wheeling. We will provide an overview of key programs and resources that focus on waste prevention and recovery, as well as highlight sustainability initiatives. Come and learn what more you can be doing to reduce your carbon footprint to be a better steward of the Earth.
Save the Date! Religious School Bring a Friend Open House, April 22
Join us on Sunday, April 22 during Religious School for our Bring A Friend Open House event. Students and Members are encouraged to bring a friend to learn more about Shir Hadash and our Religious School. Help us share the excitement of our innovative school and our progressive Synagogue by inviting your friends to attend. For each friend you bring you will receive a raffle entry for a $50 gift card.
During the open house your friends will get to:
- Meet Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and Education Director Geoff Prass
- Tour our warm and inviting classrooms, youth lounge, and sanctuary
- Have the option to sit in on an age appropriate class
- Have a nosh, a cup of coffee, and meet parents with children currently enrolled
Please click here to RSVP.
Save the Date! Coffee House Night Concert Series presents Mitchell Green - Classical Guitarist, April 28
Shir Hadash’s own Mitchell Green is going to grace us a 90 minute guitar concert, featuring works from classical and contemporary composers. Watch for more details and a link for reservations coming soon. If you'd like to reserve your spot now, please contact Margie at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com (write “Coffee House Night” in the subject line) and indicate how many people are in your party. And if you’d like to volunteer to be part of the Coffee House Night Team or contribute baked goods for this event, please let Margie know. This is going to be a real treat -- hope to see you there!
Shir Hadash’s own Mitchell Green is going to grace us a 90 minute guitar concert, featuring works from classical and contemporary composers. Watch for more details and a link for reservations coming soon. If you'd like to reserve your spot now, please contact Margie at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com (write “Coffee House Night” in the subject line) and indicate how many people are in your party. And if you’d like to volunteer to be part of the Coffee House Night Team or contribute baked goods for this event, please let Margie know. This is going to be a real treat -- hope to see you there!
New! Family Retreat Weekend
Rabbi Eitan would like for Shir Hadash to hold a Famiiy Retreat Weekend at a summer camp sometime next fall or winter. Anyone interested in helping with the planning and organization, please contact Rabbi Eitan at the Shir Hadash office: 847 498 8218.
Please Respond! Building Improvement Survey - Deadline Extended
What does Shir Hadash need to make our building a home? The Building Committee has created a list of items it believes are needed to make our building a home. What do you think we need? Your input will shape decisions that affect us all as a congregation. Please take three minutes to complete the survey found here. The survey closes on March 31. Thank you for your participation!
MOSH Poker NIght Recap
On March 17, Men of Shir Hadash (MOSH) played poker at the home of Dan Wellisch. We play many variations of the standard five- and seven-card poker games. The games are always interesting and surprising, and include all different levels of players. Watch for announcements about our next poker night on Shul Cloud and the newsletter, or contact Dan at danwellisch@gmail.com to be added to the MOSHPoker email list.
Book Club
Book Club met last Thursday to discuss The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman.
All 11 participants had interesting comments on this complex family saga. These included stories of their own family relationships and expectations. Thank you , Cheryl, for your gracious hospitality.
The next book will be The Bridal Chair by Gloria Goldreich, a work of a historical fiction about Marc Chagall’s daughter. We are seeking a host for our meeting, which will be held in May. Please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
All 11 participants had interesting comments on this complex family saga. These included stories of their own family relationships and expectations. Thank you , Cheryl, for your gracious hospitality.
The next book will be The Bridal Chair by Gloria Goldreich, a work of a historical fiction about Marc Chagall’s daughter. We are seeking a host for our meeting, which will be held in May. Please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
No Shabbat Services this Week
Enjoy celebrating Shabbat with your family. Our next Friday night services will be April 6.
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
March 23-24, 2018 / 8 Nisan 5778 / Shabbat Tzav/Hagadol
Torah: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36
Haftarah: Malachi 3:4 - 3:24 | Shabbat HaGadol
“You Must Not Eat Blood"
Dear Friends,
Why does the Torah forbid us from eating blood? Of course, the rabbinic sages have many opinions. Maimonides says that it is to prevent us from idolatry, since other peoples did eat blood as part of their worship. Nachmanides disagrees, by quoting the Torah verse that ‘the soul of all life is its blood.’ He argues that while we are permitted to eat meat, we may not eat the soul or life force of the animal, its blood.
Rav Kook took a vegetarian’s perspective by teaching that eating meat was a temporary measure while we evolved to overcome our murderous instincts. For Rav Kook, eating meat or blood was a sign of human cruelty. Nechama Leibowitz continued this line of thinking by arguing that people must eventually show mercy to fellow human beings and all animals. For Leibowitz, refusing to eat meat or blood was a path to sensitivity and reverence for life.
This Torah injunction is the reason why kosher meat is soaked in a saltwater brine to remove the blood before it is cooked. And that’s why coarse salt is called ‘kosher salt’ – not because it is kosher, but because it is used in making the saltwater brine used to kosher the meat.
Whatever your view on meat-eating, the Torah is clear in understanding that blood is connected with life, and life is holy.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
To enjoy past entries of the Rabbi's Corner, please visit our website.
SCHOOL NEWS
Religious School on Spring Break -- Resumes April 8
Have a relaxing break and come back ready to learn on April 8!
Save the Date! Bring A Friend To School, April 22
On April 22, have a friend join you at religious school and show them how amazing our Sunday School is! You will receive a raffle ticket for each friend you bring, with an opportunity to win a $50 gift card. Scroll back to the top of the newsletter or click here for details!
ADULT EDUCATION
Torah and Jewish Philosophy Class, Resumes April 8
Instructor: Fred Andes
Join us to dig deep into the weekly Torah portion and take a look at modern Jewish philosophy.
Living Judaism: Introduction to Jewish Spirituality & Civilization, Resumes April 15
Sundays, 11:15 am to 12:25 pm on 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 and Learn at Shir Hadash, March 22
Join Rabbi Eitan and Shir Hadash members and friends for refreshing and contemporary Jewish learning. We are currently studying Talmud, specifically the Mishna Trachtate Berachot. Everyone is welcome. No prior study, expertise, or background required. We will meet this week on Thursday, February 15 at 1:00 pm at Shir Hadash. Feel free to bring your lunch.
SOCIAL ACTION
Passover Food Delivery, March 25
Shir Hadash is again joining with Maot Chitim of Greater Chicagoland to deliver Passover food boxes for needy Jewish families all over the Chicago area. Food delivery will take place on Sunday, March 25 from 9:30 to 11:30am in the Buffalo Grove/Wheeling area. We will be delivering approximately 100 food packages, which will be in large boxes weighing approximately 20 lbs. each. We deliver to several large complexes and use a rental truck to transport the boxes.
We need approximately 10 - 15 people for delivery on the March 25. If you are interested in helping, please email Mark Lenhart, mjlenhart@comcast.net ASAP.
Domestic Abuse Education Series Continues, April 12
The second of our discussions on domestic abuse will be led by guest speaker Anita Pildes, Community Education and Outreach Coordinator for SHALVA. We will explore the different types of domestic abuse: physical, emotional, financial, sexual, spiritual, and electronic. The presentation will include the following topics:
- What is domestic abuse?
- Types of domestic abuse
- Myths about domestic abuse
- What is SHALVA and what are its services?
ISRAEL AWARENESS
Israel Speaker Series, April 13
Please join us for our next speaker on Friday, April 13. Keren Fraiman, Spertus Institute's Dean and Chief Academic Officer, will be coming to Shir Hadash to lead an interactive session on Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State. She has a diverse background that includes Israel Education, a PhD in International Relations from MIT, extensive research, and service as an officer in the IDF. This should be a unique and fascinating session. Please come, and encourage friends and family to come as well. The event is open to the general public and will include a brief service followed by Keren's activity.
Israeli Film Series
We are finalizing details for our next Israeli film screening, tentatively scheduled for May 5. Look for more details soon.
Did You Know? Fun Facts About Israel
- Israel has more in-vitro fertilization per capita than anywhere in the world
- Israel leads the world in the per capita number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000 workers.
- Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world.
NORTHWEST SUBURBAN INTERFAITH COUNCIL
News from the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council
Shir Hadash is an active member of the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council. We look forward to the spring and summer with the following upcoming programs:
- “Knock Your Socks Off”: Our second annual collection for men’s women’s and children’s new socks for distribution to our homeless neighbors in the Northwest Suburbs. Please help fill the box during April and May!
- Stamp Out Hunger, May 12, sponsored by the US Postal mail carriers: You place non-perishable food in your mailbox and the mail carriers will collect it. The Interfaith Council will then pick up the food and distribute it to our pantries that serve our community.
- 5th Annual i-Walk Against Hunger, June 24: A family walk from St. Mary Parish to Hope Lutheran Church and back. All donations collected go to assist our food pantries. We need walkers, sponsors and volunteers.
- 5th annual service trip to Detroit on August 1-5: Volunteers will work with Cass Community Social Services to repair, maintain and build facilities to benefit the hungry, homeless, and unemployed. For more information and to register, click here.
- Interfaith Trip to Israel, summer 2018: details forthcoming.
- Food Donations: Please remember those less fortunate. Donations of canned goods are accepted throughout the year at our food pantries located at Congregation Beth Am (1370 Abbott Court, Buffalo Grove), Kingswood Methodist Church (401 W. Dundee, Buffalo Grove) and St. Mary Parish (10 North Buffalo Grove Road.)
We are discussing ideas for further educational programming. Our last panels covered questions on Christianity and Judaism. If you have any suggested topics, please contact Suzanne Wexler at skwexler@yahoo.com or 847-769-8257.
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 nachaswith 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 … Spring?
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.
