WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Religious School
- Religious School, November 11
- Kids’ Gift Bazaar, November 18
- Donations Accepted to Support Pittsburgh Families Now through November 30
- Share Winter Warmth and Holiday Magic: Outerwear and Toy Drives Going on Now
- Saturday! Coffee House Night, November 10
- Sunday! Social Action Committee Meeting, November 11
- Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, November 18
- Hanukkah/Diwali Joint Celebration, November 18
- Gift of Membership Program Extended to November 30
- New! Hands-on Help for Kids in Need at JCFS, December 2 Register now!
- Mussar Study Group, December 6
- Book Club
- Hurricane Relief Donations - Results are in!
- Support Food Pantries with Interfaith Council
Jewish Community News
- JCC Maccabi Games/ArtsFest Information Sessions, November 13 or 14
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 Service on November 9--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.
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 9-10, 2018 / 2 Kislev 5779
Shabbat Toledot -Torah: Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 and Haftarah: Malachi 1:1 - 2:7
“Jacob and Esau”
Dear Friends,
What is the real difference between the Jacob and Esau? Both were sons of Isaac and Rebecca and yet they led completely different lives. Jacob was a shepherd and one who kept close to camp. Esau was a hunter, one who traveled far and wide. Jacob was the second born, the favorite of his mother. Esau was first born and favored by his father.
Rabbi S. Z. Kahana commented on the difference between the brothers, claiming that they represented two vastly different philosophies of life. He wrote, “Esau accepts the world as it is: all is well. But Jacob is not satisfied with the world as it is. He recognizes that a great deal remains to be done.” (Heaven on Your Head, Research Centre of Kabbalah, New York, 1986.)
Rabbi Kahana is correct. As the descendants of Jacob, we Jews are rarely satisfied. Thus, we enthusiastically take up the mantle of being a light to the nations. We are proud of our commitment to Tikun Olam, bringing repair and healing to the world. Yes, it is part of our DNA to expose darkness and wrongdoing in the world. It is our passion to pursue of justice and righteousness.
Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Religious School, November 11-- We look forward to seeing all out students and their families at 9:15am.
Kids’ Holiday Gift Bazaar, November 18--Don’t miss our Kids’ Bazaar at Sunday School on November 18! Each class will have an opportunity to visit the Holiday Bazaar to purchase Hanukkah gifts for parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents – including lots of options priced $10 or less. Please send money to Religious School with your child. We have great gifts for everyone! Parents are welcome to shop as well! Don’t forget, all proceeds go to benefit Shir Hadash.
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.
Saturday! Coffee House Night Returns November 10 --It’s time to enjoy some great music and other entertainment at our “Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style” this Saturday! You do not need to be a performer to join us at this event - it's for everyone who wants to enjoy live local talent. A free will donation is requested. Doors open at 6:30pm, performances will run from about 7:00 to 10:30 pm.. If you are a performer, you can share any talent – music, storytelling, dance, etc. There is a two-song/story rotation or performance time of about 10 minutes. Come around 6:30 to sign-in on the performance list, tune your instruments, exercise your voice, get your treats and coffee/tea and do your final preparation before the Show begins. Performers, please check in with Margie so she can advise our Tech Team of your requirements: just click here or email her at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com and put “Talent” in the subject line. If you are bringing a savory or sweet treat for our dessert table, please let her know that as well.
We are going to try something a bit different this time. In an effort to stay within our scheduled event time, we are going to try to limit sign-ins to about 22 total slots. Time permitting, we may have additional 1 song/story slots available or even encore opportunities. Of course, your slot is not secure until you arrive and actually sign-in on the Performer’s Sign-Up list. See you on Saturday for a talent-filled evening!
Social Action Committee Meeting, November 11 --Social Action Committee will meet Sunday, November 11, 10:00am-12:00pm, in the annex conference room. We will pick what social action activities we will do this year. Come and contribute your thoughts! If you can't attend but want to be involved, contact Lisa Burton Radzely at SocialActionSH@gmail.com.
Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, November 18--Shir Hadash and the congregations of the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council will come together for a Thanksgiving Celebration on Sunday, November 18 at 7:00pm at Saint Mary Parish, 10 N. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove. The service will include music, thoughts and prayers of thanks, and be followed by light refreshments. Please bring non-perishable donations for area food pantries.
Celebrate Hanukkah and Diwali with Shir Hadash and StandWithUs, November 18--Shir Hadash is co-sponsoring a first for Chicago: a joint celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees, and Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Come celebrate these two festivals of light with an evening of desserts, dancing, and entertainment by the world's only Indian-Jewish standup comedian! The event will be held at 6:00pmon Sunday, November 18 at Temple Beth El, 3610 Dundee Road in Northbrook. $10 pre-registration fee; RSVP on the event website.
Gift of Membership Opportunity Extended to November 30--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 November 30. 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.
Make Children's Dreams Come True! December 2 at JCFS Northbrook - Register Today!--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 in January; more details in upcoming newsletter. Looking for another great option? Meryl highly recommends White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen, whose works we have read in the past. This well-written novel is about women in journalism, the Daley regime in Chicago, and the mob. For questions contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
JCC Maccabi Games/ArtsFest Information Sessions, November 3, 13 or 14--Calling all Teen Athletes and Artists! Next summer, JCC Chicago will be traveling to Atlanta (July 28-August 2) and Detroit (August 4-9) for the 2019 JCC Maccabi Games. The JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest are an Olympic-style sporting competition and arts celebration held annually each summer in North America. With delegations from Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Mexico, Panama, and the United States participating in the games, it is the largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world. To participate in Maccabi, athletes must be 13-16 years old as of July 31, 2019 and artists must be 13-17 years old. To learn more about this opportunity, come to one of the following informational events:
- Tuesday, November 13, 6:30-7:30PM, Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook or
- Wednesday, November 14, 6:30-7:30PM, Bernard Horwich JCC in Rogers Park
- Information session for parents and teens to learn about the Maccabi experience, tryouts, cost, housing, schedule, and all other things Maccabi!
For more information, contact Julie Minor at jminor@jccchicago.org or at 847-763-3639.
Israeli Film Series at Shir Hadash--Our next film will be in January. Please contact Burton Kopulsky at bkopulsk@chicagobooth.edu with both suggestions for future films and/or if you can help by sponsoring a showing.
Did You Know? Facts About Israel
- Israel is only 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East (Israel is roughly half the size of Lake Michigan).
- Per square mile, Israel has one of the highest levels of bird traffic in the world. Over 500 million migrating birds cross its airspace.
- Israeli cows produce more milk per cow than almost any country in the world, vying only with South Korea.
- Some buses and stations around Israel bear the inscription “You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the old” — a quote from Leviticus intended to encourage courtesy among passengers.
- People who keep Shabbat can buy car insurance which doesn’t cover Saturdays, making it cheaper.
$1,177.58 Raised for Hurricane Relief!--We raised $1,177.58 to help those who suffered devastating losses in Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this relief effort.
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 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 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.
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