WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
- No Shabbat Service on December 28
- Shabbat Evening Service, January 4
- Religious School on Break December 30
- Notes from Nancy
- Landscape Committee Invites New Members
- New Date! Mussar Study Group Now Meets January 10
- New Member Dinner, January 12
- Book Club, January 17
- Great Spaghetti Showdown & Movie Night, January 26
- Coffee House Night, February 2
- Yom Tikkun Olam, February 10
- Support Food Pantries with Interfaith Council
Israel Awareness
- New! Israeli Film Screening at SH, January 19
- Did You Know? Facts About Israel - Literary Edition!
- 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 December 28 -- We hope you enjoy celebrating Shabbat with your family.
Shabbat Evening Service, January 4, 7:30pm – The holiday season has passed and with it the annual singing of Peter Yarrow’s Hanukkah song, “Light One Candle.” But have we ever stopped to ponder the deep meaning of the words? This Shabbat, we will examine and discuss the lyrics and discover the powerful Jewish message embedded within the words that sustains us throughout the whole year. Please bring a treat to share at our potluck oneg refreshments.
(Please note: our previously announced Family Shabbat Dinner/Service will not be held on January 4. Families with young families, save the date for our next Family Shabbat experience on February 1.)
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.
December 28-29, 2018 / 21 Tevet 5779 / Shabbat Shemot
Torah - Exodus 1:1-6:1 / Haftarah - Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23
“The Burning Bush”
Dear Friends,
What can we learn from Moses’ encounter at the Burning Bush? This was when Moses first heard God’s voice and received the charge to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. But why did God talk through a bush?
The Midrash offers this story: A man once asked a rabbi, “Why did God choose a bush from which to appear?” The rabbi replied, “Had God appeared in a carob or a sycamore, you would have asked the same question. However, it would be wrong to let you go without a reply, so I will tell you why it was a bush: to teach you that no place is devoid of God’s presence, not even a lowly bush.”
From this we learn that God’s presence is everywhere.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
To past entries of view Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow's blog, please visit our website.
Winter Break Schedule -- There will be no religious school on December 30. School will resume on January 6. Have a happy and revitalizing break!
Notes from Executive Director Nancy Kleine Kekst -- Hello Friends: 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!
1. A win-win for year-end donations! If you itemize deductions on your 2018 income tax return, it may be advantageous pay your dues, fees, and make a year-end donation to the synagogue before the end of 2018, as those payments are potentially tax deductible to the extent covered by tax law. Please contact your own tax advisor for further information, and please do remember us when you are making your year-end donations.
2. The synagogue is closed until we re-open on Thursday, January 3. 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.
1. A win-win for year-end donations! If you itemize deductions on your 2018 income tax return, it may be advantageous pay your dues, fees, and make a year-end donation to the synagogue before the end of 2018, as those payments are potentially tax deductible to the extent covered by tax law. Please contact your own tax advisor for further information, and please do remember us when you are making your year-end donations.
2. The synagogue is closed until we re-open on Thursday, January 3. 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.
3. Volunteers Needed for Sunday mornings (Starting January 6) We still need volunteers to sit at the front desk and buzz people in and answer the phones. Please call Nancy to let her know when you can help out!
4. Our freezers are full! We have tons of frozen bagels (earmarked for a Social Action birdfeeder project), hot dog buns, hot dogs, and latkes. Please check our kitchen freezer before making a food purchase.
There are many events coming up in 2019, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at them! Have a happy, healthy New Year and stay safe and warm.
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?
- 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.
New Date! Mussar Study Group, January 10-- The next meeting of the Mussar study group has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 10 at 7:30pm. The core text we are studying is Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar, by Alan Morinis, and this month's topic is Equanimity. The final meeting, on February 7, will discuss Honor. There is no charge for participation in the Mussar Study Group and all are welcome. Please email Lynn Liebling, lliebling@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in attending or if you have any questions.
New Member Dinner, January 12 - Join us as we come together to celebrate the growth of Shir Hadash at this casual evening with our community. All members are encouraged to attend, especially those who gifted a membership to a new family. The program will start with Havdalah, followed by introductions, dinner, trivia and special entertainment by noted classical guitarist Mitchell Green. There is no cost for the dinner for our new members who have joined since January 2018. We appreciate a donation of $18 per adult and $7 per child ages 4-12 for our members of more than one year. Children three and under are free. RSVP here.
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.
New! The Great Shir Hadash Spaghetti Showdown & Movie Night, January 26 -- Following in the footsteps of two successful years of The Great Chili Cookoff, this year you are invited to attend The Great Spaghetti Showdown!
The Details: Saturday, January 26, 6:00pm
The Rules:
- Anyone can enter! We will provide regular and gluten-free pasta -- You will provide the sauce!
- Sauces and meatballs must be made with Kosher meat (beef, bison, chicken, turkey, etc.) OR can be vegetarian/pareve. No dairy will be served. (Sorry, no parmesan cheese!)
- Bring your sauce in a crock pot or Dutch oven to compete for bragging rights to best meat, best vegetarian, most innovative, fan favorite sauce, etc.
- BYOB and pot luck pareve dessert!
- $10/person; $20/family. Entrants admitted FREE! Reduced admission for movie-only attendees; Showdown attendees pay no fee for the movie. (Crossing Delancey for adults; kids’ movie TBA.)
Watch for registration information coming soon on www.shir-hadash.org.
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!
New! Israeli Film Series at Shir Hadash, January 19 -Our next film will be on January 19. Please save the date. We should have a film selection ready to announce in the near future.
Did You Know? Facts About Israel - Literary Edition!
- First held in 1963, The Jerusalem International Book Fair is a unique biennial event which draws over 1,200 publishers from more than 40 countries who exhibit more than 100,000 books in different languages.
- Amos Oz is an internationally renowned Israeli writer whose works have been translated in 41 languages. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Israel Prize in 1998.
- Haim Nahman Bialik was a famous Jewish poet who wrote in both Hebrew and Yiddish. He was one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew poetry and is regarded as Israel’s national poet.
- Shmuel Yosef Agnon received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966 and was one of the central figures of modern Hebrew fiction. His works dealt with the conflict between the traditional Jewish life and language and the modern world emerging around the State of Israel.
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.
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