WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
- No Shabbat Services December 14
- Religious School on December 16
- Notes from Nancy
- Holiday Toy Drive Ends Sunday
- Gift of Membership Program Ends December 15
- Mussar Study Group, January 3
- New Member Dinner, January 12
- Book Club, January 17
- Coffee House Night, February 2
- Yom Tikkun Olam, February 10
- Tzedakah for California Wildfire 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 Services December 14 -- We hope you enjoy celebrating Shabbat at home. Our next evening services will be on December 21.
December 14-15, 2018 / 7 Tevet 5779 / Shabbat Vayigash
Torah - Genesis 44:18-47:27 / Haftarah - Ezekiel 37:15-28
“Jewish Survival”
Dear Friends,
When did our concern for Jewish survival and continuity begin? Apparently, it began with the earliest days of our people. With Joseph in Egypt and a famine raging in Canaan, the Torah tells us that Jacob and his sons had to find food in Egypt. Eventually, they would all move there and become part of Egyptian society, first as welcome guests and then as slaves to Pharaoh. Already, more than three thousand years ago, there was tremendous concern that ultimately the Israelites might perish under assimilation, persecution and oppression.
Worry about Jewish survival is not a new phenomenon. It goes back to the very beginning of our history. Yet, each and every generation has found a way to adapt, deal with crisis, and transcend that which threatens us. Each generation has found a way to rise above assimilation pressure, anti Semitism, and danger in order to become stronger and more vibrant than before. This is our journey, to go from strength to strength.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Religious School, December 16 -- We look forward to seeing all our students and families at 9:15am.
Winter Break Schedule -- There will be no religious school sessions on December 23 and December 30. School will resume on January 6. Have a happy and revitalizing break!
Notes from Executive Director Nancy Kleine Kekst -- It's December and things are both winding down and picking up......winding down as it will be fairly quiet here at the end of the month, and picking up for year-end financial planning and events in the second half of the year!- The synagogue will be closed from Saturday, December 22 until we re-open on Thursday, January 3, 2019. Many staff members will be out of town and there is no religious school; this will allow us to save on energy and maintenance. But we will be checking our voice mails and emails occasionally. If there is an emergency, contact Nancy at 216-789-2452. Please plan on completing your synagogue business prior to Friday December 21.
- My last day in the office will be this Monday, December 17 as my daughter is graduating college! (Yippee). See note above.
- A win-win for year-end donations! It may be advantageous for you to pay your dues, fees, and make a year-end donation to the synagogue before the end of 2018, as synagogue dues and donations are tax deductible to the extent covered by tax law (please contact your own tax advisor for further information). Please do remember us when you are making your year-end donations.
- There are many events coming up in 2019. If you are involved in planning a synagogue event, please speak with me to review all the details. Thank you!
- Synagogue tax receipts will be sent out in January 2019.
Have a happy, healthy New Year and stay safe and warm. -- Nancy
New Landscape Committee Looking for New Members! -- Are you wondering what is happening with our two acres of green space? Get in the know by being part of our Landscape Committee! Do you have ideas for our green space, and would you like to help with landscaping? Are you a gardener, or would you like to be? This is a great group for you! Contact Deb Harrison, dlharrison6@comcast.net, to learn more.
- Yes, it's winter, but we are already thinking spring. Here are some ideas we are looking at: community garden, with donations to Wheeling food pantry; a Tu B'Shevat celebration; spring /fall clean-ups on our own landscaping; Earth Day celebration with the school... and more. What would you like to work on?
- Many thanks to Vicky Brice and Fiore Nursery for their donation of asters and sedum this fall. We can't wait to see them in bloom next year. If you are changing landscaping at your home, please contact Deb, as Shir Hadash may be able to use perennials (grasses, sedum, rudbeckia, etc) that you no longer want.
Holiday Toy Drive Ends Sunday -- This Sunday is the last day to donate holiday gifts. The presents will be delivered next week to foster children living in group homes. The facilities do not have funding to purchase gifts for the children, so your contributions will help make sure every child receives a present this holiday season.
Place new, unwrapped presents in the Shir Hadash lobby by 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) • arts and crafts supplies • basketballs • soccer balls • footballs • gift cards.
If you have any questions, email our Social Action Chair, Lisa Burton Radzely, at socialactionsh@gmail.com.
Mussar Study Group, January 3--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 remaining months is 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.
New Member Dinner, January 12 - Save the date for a community celebration on Saturday, January 12 from 6:30 to 9:30pm. All new members who have joined since January 2018 will be honored and attend free of charge. After Havdalah, we will have dinner, games, and musical entertainment by our own Mitchell Green.
Book Club, January 17 --The next book we discuss will be Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Edward Kritzler. The book's subtitle gives a taste of the story: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom, and Revenge. We will meet on January 17 at the home of Donna Torf, 2210 Ash Lane in Northbrook. For questions contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
Save the Date! Next Coffee House Night, February 2 -- Mark your calendar for another great evening of entertainment! Coffee House Night will return in February for more wonderful performances in an open-mic setting. Watch for more details and sign-ups in January.
Save the Date! Yom Tikkun Olam, A Day of Repairing the World, February 10 -- Our congregation will come together for one special day to repair the world. There will be projects for adults and children that are enjoyable and meaningful as we help make the better world a better place. More details coming soon. Save the date to be at Shir Hadash on Sunday, February 10, 11:00am-12:30pm!
Thank You from Our Neighbors -- Whitman Elementary School and Hawthorne Early Childhood Center thank everyone who donated new and gently-used winter items to help them stay warm this winter. They are greatly appreciated by the students and their families. The hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, earmuffs, jackets, snowpants, and snowboots all will make a big difference. They were distributed to students and their parents.
Israeli Film Series at Shir Hadash--Our next film will be in January. Please contact Burton Kopulsky atbkopulsk@chicagobooth.edu with both suggestions for future films and/or if you can help by sponsoring a showing.
Did You Know? Facts About Israel - Basketball Edition!
- Basketball is very popular in Israel - just behind soccer in popularity. Maccabi Tel Aviv is the top team, winning nearly every league championship. In recent years, however, new challengers have arisen. In Europe, Maccabi scored several achievements in the Euroleague Final Four, having reached the final in 2006 and 2008 and won the competition in 2004 and 2005.
- In 2009, former Maccabi player Omri Casspi made history as the first Israeli to play in the NBA, after he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings.
- The Basketball Without Borders program sponsored a camp in Israel featuring current and former NBA players and coaches during August 2017. Sixty of the top under-17 basketball players throughout Europe and the Middle East participated in the program and trained under the professional players. Additionally, Basketball Without Borders brought Israeli and Palestinian children together to play games and sponsored a new area for children at the Jerusalem YMCA. Basketball Without Borders has held camps in 26 countries since its founding in 2001, and this was the first time that Israel hosted a camp.
Tzedakah for California Wildfire Relief – California recently suffered the most destructive and deadliest wildfires in its history. Tzedakah donations through January will help individuals and synagogues needing assistance with their devastating losses. All contributions appreciated. Checks can be made to JUF. Please leave contributions in the tzedakah box near the prayer books, or they can be given to the office in person or mailed to the synagogue. 100% of donations will go toward helping the fire victims because Jewish United Fund is absorbing all administrative costs. Contact our Social Action Chair, Lisa Burton Radzely, atsocialactionsh@gmail.com if you have questions.
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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