WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
- No Shabbat Evening Service on January 25
- Next Week! Family Shabbat and Shabbat Evening Service, February 1
- Sponsor an Oneg!
- Religious School, January 27
- Adult Education Programs - Reduced Schedule on January 27
- Yom Tikkun Olam Family Education Day, February 10
- Saturday! Great Spaghetti Showdown & Movie Night, January 26
- Sunday! Town Hall Meeting, January 27
- Next Saturday! Coffee House Night, February 2
- Please Help! Yom Tikkun Olam Supplies Needed by February 3
- New! Wine & Cheese Party, February 9
- Yom Tikkun Olam, February 10
- Trivia Night, February 23
- Lahaka Rehearsal Schedule
- Book Club
- Notes from Nancy: Tax Receipt Info
- PADS Homeless Shelter Seeks Volunteers
- Final Week! 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 Evening Service on January 25 - We hope you enjoy celebrating Shabbat at home.
Next Week! Family Shabbat and Shabbat Evening Services, February 1 -- Mark your calendar for our unique Shabbat experience for families of young children at 5:30pm, followed by a Shabbat evening service at 7:30. In observance of Tu Bi'Shvat, both services will focus on the environment. More details in next week's newsletter.
Sponsor an Oneg! Having a birthday, anniversary or remembrance? You can sponsor an oneg to celebrate. A dessert oneg is $136 and everybody appreciates and enjoys your hospitality. The donation covers all food, including a special celebration cake. Please contact Nancy Kekst at the synagogue office to make arrangements.
January 25-26, 2019 / 20 Shevat 5779 / Shabbat Yitro
Torah: Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1 - 7:6; 9:5 - 9:6
Dear Friends,
What is the Torah really trying to tell us? In this week’s portion, Moses and the Children of Israel receive the Torah at Mount Sinai. The words of the Ten Commandments were revealed. According to our tradition, so much more was conveyed to our people on that day.
For Reconstructionist Jews, what is the Torah really all about? What is the message to be found in our world of text and wisdom?
According to Reconstructionism’s founder, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, “There is little reason to question that Moses, who led our people in the wilderness and organized them into a nation, also gave them laws. Those laws formed the bases of the various decisions and practices by which the Israelites lived after they entered the Land. In the course of time, those decisions and practices were recorded, compiled, and edited, a process which continued down to the time of Ezra (about 400 BCE), some centuries after the sojourn in the wilderness… The Torah reveals the working of God in the life of our people in that it articulates the earliest striving of our people to live up to the highest potentialities of human nature. (Mordecai Kaplan, Questions Jews Ask: Reconstructionist Answers).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Youth Religious School, January 27: We are looking forward to seeing our families at 9:15am this Sunday. When you come, please bring your donations to help supply our Yom Tikkun Olam activities on February 10 -- scroll down for a list of needed items (look for the picture of Wile E. Coyote!)
Adult Education Programs: Reduced Schedule on January 27 -- Due to the Town Meeting at 10:00am on Sunday, we will only have a Torah Study class for adults. The next meeting of the Living Judaism class will be February 24. The Hebrew Reading Crash Course will resume on February 3.
Also, we need many supplies for Yom Tikkun Olam, and in-kind donation requests can be found by clicking here. Please drop off all items by February 3. Perhaps a monetary contribution works better for your family? Any monetary donation can be made online by clicking here and then selecting Social Action under Donation.
Saturday! 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!
When: 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!
- Movies: Crossing Delancey for adults; Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for kids.
- Dinner: $10/person; $20/family. Entrants admitted FREE!
- Admission to the movies is free, although donations to help cover licensing fees and security will be appreciated.
Register today via the Shir Hadash online calendar.
Sunday! Town Hall Meeting, January 27 -- Please join us on Sunday, January 27 at 10:00am for a very important town hall meeting. We will be discussing the findings and implementations of our Security Taskforce led by Jerry Weiss. The taskforce was created in response to the tragedy that took place in Pittsburgh last October to insure the safety and wellbeing of all who enter our doors. We will also be sharing the experiences and information from the first Reconstructionist convention in eight years, which was held in November in Philadelphia. In attendance were Stuart Aizenberg, Scarlett Andes, Nancy Kleine-Kekst and Marc Fargotstein.
Next Saturday! Coffee House Night-Open Night Style, February 2 -- Members and non-members, join us at Shir Hadash for a wonderful evening of live local talent , a club atmosphere with phenomenal sound, goodies, beverages, and an amazing evening of friendship and camaraderie. Be part of the audience, help behind the scenes, or perform onstage at our next Coffee House Night on February 2. If you are interested in performing or participating behind the scenes and have not yet contacted Margie, please visit the event on the Shir Hadash calendar and follow the prompts. As you know, "it takes a village" to put on a successful show. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss this event - you never know who will be there!
Supplies Needed by February 3! In-Kind or Monetary Donations for Yom Tikkun Olam -- Our day of repairing the world - Yom Tikkun Olam on February 10 (see below) - will require a lot of supplies. Please help us offer projects benefiting children, animals, homeless, veterans, the troops, people facing serious illness, domestic violence victims, the environment, and more. Sign up for what you would like to donate or make a monetary contribution. Use this signup link to donate specific supplies. Monetary contributions can be made by clickinghere and then selecting Social Action under Donation. Thank you for helping to make the world a better place!
Mussar Study Group, February 7 -- The final meeting of the Mussar study group will be February 7 at 7:30pm. The core text we are studying is Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar, by Alan Morinis, and we will discuss Honor on February 7. There is no charge for participation in the Mussar Study Group and all are welcome. Please email Lynn Liebling, lliebling@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.
New! Wine & Cheese Party, February 9 - Join your friends from Shir Hadash for an evening of wine tasting at Mehran Farahmandpour's house in Long Grove. We will have several wines to compare, ranging from sparkling wine, whites, and reds. A variety of cheeses and other snacks will be paired with the wines. We'll start at 6:30pm. Bring a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or a favorite cousin. Bringing a bottle that you may want to share is optional.
The address is 3996 Orchard Lane, Long Grove. Please RSVP by Friday, February 8 by visiting the Shir Hadash calendar and following the event prompts. Questions? Contact Mehran at mehranf@aol.com or call 312-961-3961.
Yom Tikkun Olam, A Day of Repairing the World, February 10 --February 10 will be a day that you feel good about helping so many. All Shir Hadashniks will come together at the synagogue to do tikkun olam (repair the world). There will be projects that appeal to everyone, from adults to young children. We will make meals for the homeless and cook dog biscuits for an animal shelter; create care packages for troops; do art projects benefiting veterans, children in the hospital, children in foster care, and others who need cheering up; write letters to people recently diagnosed with breast cancer; create bird feeders; and make personal care kits for people facing domestic violence. With so many choices, we guarantee that you can find projects that interest you, and you will make the world a better place.
To help us know how many supplies we need, it is appreciated if you register here. Also, please consider making an in-kind or monetary donation to help with the many needed supplies. See above.
New! Trivia Night, February 23 -- Save the date for the Third Annual Shir Hadash Trivia Night, scheduled for February 23 at 6:00pm. More details will be coming soon! You can sign up now by going to the Shir Hadash calendar page and following the prompts for the event.
The next book will Gateway to the Moon by Mary Morris. Our meeting will be held on March 21; more details to come. Questions? Contact Meryl Abensohn, abenkras@aol.com.
- Lahaka Schedule: Rehearsal and Shabbat
- February: Monday 2/4; Monday 2.25.19
- March: Friday 3/1 Shabbat; Monday 3/18
- April: Tuesday 4/2; Friday 4/5 Passover; Monday 4/29
- May: Friday 5/3 Shabbat; Monday 5/20
- June: Tuesday 6/4; Friday 6/7 Shabbat
Notes from Nancy: Tax Receipts -- Tax receipts for 2018 will be mailed this week. If you have any questions, please call the office.
- Tu BiShvat (the New Year for trees) is an important festival in Israel which is one of only two countries on earth to enter the 21st century with a net gain in trees.
- Thousands of Israelis take part in the annual Tu BiShvat tree planting. In Israel, Tu BiShvat activities take place throughout the month of January.
- Tu BiShvat is also the anniversary of the first meeting of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) which is celebrated in conjunction with Tu BiShvat.
PADS Homeless Shelter Seeking Volunteers -- Kingswood Church in Buffalo Grove hosts the homeless on Tuesday nights year 'round. Typically 40-45 men, women and children come each week and are given a hot meal for dinner, a warm safe place to sleep, a shower, breakfast, a sack lunch and, most importantly, a welcoming environment serving up dignity and a smile. We currently have two very specific shifts we need help with - Cleaning (7:00-8:00am on Wednesday mornings) and Laundry Transport (pick up at Kingswood Church on Wednesday morning, drop off at local hotel who cleans the linens for free on Wednesday afternoon, and then pick up the laundry on Thursday and return it to Kingswood Church). People typically volunteer for these roles once or twice a month, or even once a quarter is helpful! If you are able to volunteer in either of these roles, please be in touch with Suzanne Wexler - skwexler@yahoo.com; 847-769-8257.
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 SHOP!--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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