WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
- No Shabbat Evening Service on November 23
- Next Shabbat Service, Friday November 30, 7:30pm
- Hanukkah Happenings at Shir Hadash, December 2 and 7
- Religious School on Thanksgiving Break, November 25
- Hanukkah Showcase Family Education Day, December 2
- Shir Hadash at National Convention
- Donations Accepted to Support Pittsburgh Families Now through November 30
- Share Winter Warmth and Holiday Magic: Outerwear and Toy Drives Going on Now
- Gift of Membership Program Extended to December 15
- Volunteers Needed! Sign Up Today to Pack Holiday Gifts for Kids, December 2
- Mussar Study Group, December 6
- Book Club, January 17
- Coffee House Night Recap from Margie
- JUF Emergency Fund for California Fires Relief
- Support Food Pantries with Interfaith Council
Israel Awareness
- Did You Know? Facts About Israel
- SHOP Shir Hadash
- Simcha Tree Leaves
- Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers!
- Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
- Links to Fundraisers: Amazon, iGive, and More
No Shabbat Evening Service Friday November 23
Next Week: Friday, November 30, 7:30pm -- "Fifth Friday Learner's Service" Join us for a unique opportunity to ask your questions about the Shabbat worship service, the meaning of the prayers, why we do things as we do, and just about anything else in Judaism. Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow is ready to take your questions in this creative, lively, informal, and inspiring service style. Bring a treat to share at our pot luck oneg refreshments.
HANUKKAH HAPPENINGS AT SHIR HADASH!
Sunday, Dec 2: Hanukkah Showcase--Family Education Day: Hanukkah activity stations followed by a family/student assembly at 11:30am and a festival celebration for all! And latkes and jelly donuts!
Friday, December 7: 5:30 pm Family Hanukkah Shabbat -- We will gather for dinner at 5:30pm and then have a family-friendly service and celebration of Hanukkah afterwards. There will be Hanukkah songs, light sticks for the kids, and a dessert to follow. We hope to get a few dreidel games going as well. No charge but there will be a pre-registration. And latkes and jelly donuts!
Friday, December 7, 7:30pm - Community Shabbat Hanukkah Celebration -Songs, music, dance, readings, prayers and decorations! We look forward to some special dedications too. And latkes and jelly donuts!
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.
November 23-24, 2018 - 16 Kislev 5779 / Shabbat Vayishlach
Torah Reading: Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 / Haftarah Reading: Obadiah 1:1-21
“Flexible or Unbending”
Dear Friends,
Which is better, to be flexible or unbending? In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob returns to the Promised Land after many years in self-imposed exile from his brother Esau. Jacob is a humble and bending shepherd. Esau is a mighty and strong warrior.
In the Talmud, the rabbis consider the flexibility of Jacob with the firmness of Esau. They wrote, “The reed, which is a humble plant, grows in water, replenishing its roots which are many. No matter how hard the wind blows, or from which direction, the reed is not blown from its place. It simply bends away from the wind. The cedar, which is a high and prideful tree, stands tall against all the winds of the world except for the south wind. When that wind blows, it can uproot the cedar and turn it upside down.” (Ta’anit 20a).
Our tradition teaches that we should be more like Jacob - seeking humility, compassion, kindness, and fairness wherever and whenever we can.
Zay a mentsch – be a good person.
Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Religious School on Thanksgiving Break, November 25-- We look forward to seeing all our students and their families next week.
Hanukkah Showcase Family Education Day, December 2--Mark your calendar for a special day at school, featuring Hanukkah activities, and student/family assembly at 11:30, latkes, jelly donuts and more!
Hanukkah Bazaar Open - Be sure to stop by to get your last-minute Hanukkah gifts! Our shop will be open during synagogue hours, as well as during the Sunday School Family Hanukkah Event on December 2. All proceeds support Shir Hadash.
Shir Hadash at Convention -- Shir Hadash was well represented at last week’s Reconstructing Judaism convention in Philadelphia. Rabbi Eitan attended the convention, along with (left to right) President Marc Fargotstein, Scarlett Andes, Executive Director Nancy Kleine Kekst, and Executive Vice President Stuart Aizenberg. This video reflects the positive energy that made the Convention so special. In the words of Rabbi Deborah Waxman, ‘The people in it speak to all our dreams -- bringing all kinds of people into our movement, continuing to welcome people of all ages, and growing our nurturing community of communities.” Enjoy!
Donations Accepted to Support Pittsburgh Families Now through November 30--Tzedakah donations are now being collected for the Pittsburgh victims and families of the recent tragedy. 100% of these proceeds will go directly to the cause via JUF. You can donate directly into the Tzedakah box at Shir Hadash, or by writing a check to JUF. You can also make a donation via Shul Cloud with a notation that funds are to be directed to Pittsburgh assistance. This will run through November 30. For any questions, please contact Chana Sulpar at csulpar@yahoo.com.
Gift of Membership Opportunity Extended to December 15 --Do you have a friend or family member you'd like to give the Gift of Membership for the balance of this year? Contact the office or Stuart Aizenberg, stuartaizenberg@gmail.com, for more information. You will be provided with a certificate that you can give to your candidate that they can turn in with their request for membership. The deadline is extended to December 15. Their membership will be good through June 30. Dues and Building Fund are waived. School tuition and fees are required if they want to enroll children in our religious school. Previous Shir Hadash members are not eligible.
More Volunteers Needed to Sort Donated Toys and Shop the Donations to Fulfill Children's Wish Lists! On December 2, 1:00-3:00pm, we will be sorting donated toys and then "shopping" to fulfill children's wish lists. Feel great knowing that you are helping children receive the present they were hoping to get. All ages welcome to participate, but children under 13 must be supervised by an adult. JCFS is located at 255 Revere Dr. #200, in Northbrook. Click here to register or email SocialActionSH@gmail.com for information.
Give Warmth this Winter and a Gift this Holiday Season--There are many children in our area who don't have the necessities to stay warm this winter and won't receive any holiday gifts unless people provide donations. If you would like to help, there are donation bins in the lobby. Questions? Contact Lisa Burton Radzely, Social Action Chair, at SocialActionSH@gmail.com.
Winter outerwear can be donated through December 2. Clean gently-used or new jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, snowpants, and boots are welcomed for all ages. Donations will go to children in need at nearby schools.
New, unwrapped gifts can be donated through December 16. Please no items with batteries or associated with violence. The most-requested items are: board games and card games • puzzles • Legos • dolls and accessories (especially ethnic dolls) • basketballs • soccer balls • science kits and other educational toys • headphones and mp3 players • gift cards. Donations will go to children in need who are JCFS clients or to children in the foster system who are living in group homes.
Mussar Study Group, December 6--All are welcome to join the Shir Hadash Mussar study group, which will meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. The core text we are studying is Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar, by Alan Morinis. There is no charge for participation in the Mussar Study Group. The schedule for the next several months is: December 6: Gratitude; January 3: Equanimity; and February 7: Honor. Please email Lynn Liebling lliebling@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in attending or if you have any questions.
Book Club -- The next book we discuss will be Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Edward Kritzler. We will meet on January 17 at the home of Donna Torf; more details in upcoming newsletters. For questions contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
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| Blind Hills duo (Chuck VanderVennet and Diccon Lee), photo by Ernest J. Schweit, ernestjschweit@sbcglobal.net |
Coffee House Night Recap from Margie -- November 10’s Coffee House Open Mic Night was a wonderful evening with all the trimmings! Thank you to our fantastic Team Members including Don J, Dave L, Ernie S, Jim and Cheryl S, Joy A & friend, Ken G, Maureen R, Bonnie K, Tammy P, Scarlett A, Melanie A, Lynne A & friends, Lise S, Lisa B-R, and a host of others who pitched in and made the Event happen – I sure hope I identified everyone.
We had about 120 people in attendance, extra-generous contributions to our baskets, professional sound and photography, excellent treat/beverage providers, fabulous front-of-the-house team members, wonderful service at our bake/beverage bar, a nod to our Veterans in attendance with flag pins and recognition (generously donated by Lisa B-R and the SH Social Action Committee), and our incredible 22 acts (25 performers in all)! Set-up and break-down happened like magic which always amazes me at how our sanctuary is converted back to business as usual.
Save the date for our next Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style on February 2, 2019. If you’re interested in being part of the action behind the scenes or as a performer, please contact Margie at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com.
Did You Know? Facts About Israel - Special Turkey Day Edition
- Israelis eat almost double the amount of turkey meat Americans do each year and have the largest per capita consumption of turkey in the world.
- When Israel was first established importing meats was expensive, so processed meat became popular including turkey.
- Israel is the world’s eighth largest turkey producer with almost half of Israel's turkey production being for export.
- Most of the shawarma served in Israel is actually turkey meat.
- Turkey pastrami was invented in Israel and is a key factor in Israelis high consumption of turkey.
Food Pantry Donations Continue--Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council supports local food pantries throughout the year. Please remember those less fortunate by donating canned goods 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.)
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 - Now Including Flappy’s!--The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove, Butterfield’s Restaurant in Northbrook, and now all three locations of Flappy’s 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 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 SHOP SHOPl!--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.
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website.
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