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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Creative Worship and Ritual
- Register Today for High Holidays!
- No Shabbat Services September 13/14
- Sponsor an Oneg
- Religious School, September 15
- Adult Ed: Torah and Jewish Philosophy, Sundays
- More Adult Ed: Hebrew Reading, Sundays
- Rabbi's Lunch & Learn, Thursdays
- Membership Renewal Forms are Open
- Sunday! The Band's Visit, September 15
- Mussar Study Group Resumes
- New Book Club Selection
- Visit our Reading Corner
- Reconstructing Judaism Today - Link to e-Newsletter
Social Action
- Holiday Food Baskets -- Packing September 15, Delivery September 22
- Tzedakah to help Legal Immigrants, Asylum Seekers, and Unaccompanied/Separated Children
Jewish Community
- Volunteer Opportunity for Spanish Speakers with HIAS
Israel Awareness
- Israeli Film Series Presents "Ushpizin," October 12
- Sponsor a Bimah Ark Panel -- Only Three Left!
- SHOP Shir Hadash
- Simcha Tree Leaves
- Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers!
- Shir Hadash Memorial Wall
- Links to Fundraisers: Amazon, iGive, and More
Time to Register for High Holiday Services -- Believe it or not, the High Holidays are coming soon! Selichot is on Saturday, September 21, and Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Sunday, September 29. All of the information that you need to register – and the whole Holidays schedule – are on the website If you have any questions about the Holidays, feel free to e-mail cwr@shir-hadash.org . We’ll see you all on the Holidays!
No Shabbat Services September 13/14 -- We hope you enjoy celebrating Shabbat with your family.
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, execdir@shir-hadash.org to make arrangements.
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.
August 13-14, 2019 / 14 Elul 5779 / Shabbat Ki Teitze
Torah: Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 / Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1 - 54:10
“Feeding the Hungry”
Dear Friends,
What is our responsibility to those who are hungry? This week’s Torah portion hearkens back to a time when our ancestors were farmers in the Land of Israel. “When you reap the harvest in your field and overlook a sheaf in the field, do not turn back to get it; it shall go to the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.” (Deuteronomy 24:20) The same applies for gathering fruit from trees and grapes from the vine. Any produce that is left behind after the initial harvest becomes available to the poor and the hungry.
That principle can apply to our lives today. Though most of us are no longer farmers, we can provide food for those who are hungry. At this holiday time and throughout the year, consider making a donation to a local food pantry in either cash or goods. Call the pantry and ask what is most needed. Volunteer your time to sort, stock shelves, and distribute food to the poor.
Zay a Mentsch – Be a Good Person.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Religious School, September 15 -- School is back in session! We look forward to seeing all our students at 9:15 a.m. Parents, don't forget to check out the Gift Shop Liquidation Sale and Remaindered Clothing Sale for some great bargains during school hours.
Adult Ed: Torah and Jewish Philosophy Class Sundays, 9:30 to 10:30 am -- Instructor: Fred Andes. Be part of an open, free-wheeling discussion of Torah portions, modern Jewish philosophers, and how all of that relates to our daily lives. And if you miss a week, there’s a new portion, and a new topic to discuss, the next week! If you have any questions, just contact Fred at frederic.andes@btlaw.com
More Adult Ed! Adult Hebrew Reading, Sundays 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. -- Instructor Steve Lewin. Students will learn to read and understand the key prayers of the service including the Barechu, Shema/V'ahavta, Amidah, and Aleynu. We will also learn to chant the Torah blessings. It will also serve as the foundation for anyone considering becoming adult bar or bat mitzvah.
Today! Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays --Join Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow, Shir Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion, a selected book of the Bible, or a contemporary work of Jewish wisdom. We meet on Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:00pm. Don’t be surprised if archaeology, sociology, contemporary world affairs as well as law, medicine, and business ethics enter the lively conversation as we plumb the deeper meanings of Judaism’s core text. Participants are encouraged to share their views, questions, and opinions.
Membership Forms Now Available Online -- Have you renewed your membership? Don't be left behind! You can't register for high holiday services until you do! Our membership forms are online and awaiting your information! Simply visit this link to renew your current membership, become a new member, and register for religious school! You must be a member in order to register for school. Please complete the forms on a computer. If you do find any issues that need correcting, simply write us at admin@shir-hadash.org and we will assist you, or call the office at 847-498-8218.
Sunday! The Band's Visit, September 15 - Shir Hadash will be going as a group to see last year's Tony winner for Best Musical, The Band's Visit, on Sunday September 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cadillac Palace downtown. Our block of tickets is already sold out; however, anyone is welcome to buy their own tickets and join us after the play at Starbucks - 171 W Randolph - just down the block from the theater entrance.
New Book Club Selection for October 17 Meeting -- The Shir Hadash Book Club is reading The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty. The author, a renowned culinary historian, offers a fresh perspective on our most divisive cultural issue, race, in this illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry—both black and white—through food, from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. We will meet on Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. - location TBA. For information, contact the office at admin@shir-hadash.org or (847) 498-8218.
Mussar at Shir Hadash: Intro Session Tonight! -- Life repeatedly challenges us. How do we translate high-level concepts of ethical living to this moment in time? Mussar is a Jewish practice that guides us on this path.
Shir Hadash is offering an opportunity to get some background in what Mussar is all about. There will an Intro to Mussar session tonight, September 12 at 7:30 pm at Shir Hadash. Members who attend these sessions will then have the option of joining our ongoing Mussar group, which meets one Thursday evening per month. Our core text is Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis. Please obtain the book either through your local library or purchase and begin reading Part One.
The first regular session for the entire group is on Thursday, September 19 at 7:30 pm. We will discuss the middah (character trait) of Yirah (Awe or Wonder). Subsequent meetings TBA. For more information, contact Lynn Liebling, lliebling@sbcglobal.net or Kayla Shonberg, klashon74@gmail.com.
Visit our Reading Room -- Have you seen our new mini-reading room? It is now located in the hallway outside the sanctuary, across from the restrooms. There are many books of interest. Please feel free to take one, enjoy it, and pass it along to a neighbor, but DON"T return it! We have more books to put out!
Reconstructing Judaism Today e-Newsletter -- Learn about what’s going on in Reconstructionist communities around the world, and gain access to exciting online learning opportunities and resources from the central organization of the movement, Reconstructing Judaism. To subscribe to the e-newsletter Reconstructing Judaism Today, and receive other vital communication from Reconstructing Judaism, just click on this link.
SOCIAL ACTION
Holiday Food Baskets -- Packing September 15, Delivery September 22 -- Once again this year, Shir Hadash will be joining with Maot Chitim of Greater Chicagoland to help pack and deliver High Holiday food boxes for needy Jewish families all over the Chicago area. Packing will take place on Sunday, September 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 6211 Monroe Ct, in Morton Grove. Delivery of food packages will take place on Sunday, September 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Buffalo Grove/Wheeling area. We will be delivering about 100 food packages, which will be in large boxes weighing approximately 20 lbs. each.
We need approximately 10 people for packing on September 15 and about 10 - 15 people for delivery on the September 22. If you are interested in helping on one or both of these dates, please contact Mark Lenhart, mjlenhart@comcast.net, as soon as possible.
Support Legal Immigrants, Asylum Seekers, and Unaccompanied/Separated Children: Tzedakah, Now Through Mid-October -- Help provide on-the-ground assistance to legal immigrants, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied/separated children. Now through mid-October, tzedakah will be split between JUF Asylum Seekers Fund and HIAS Border Response. These funds provide housing, basic necessities like clothing and toiletries, training on their rights, and legal assistance to legal immigrants, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied/separated children. For more information on the JUF Fund, click here. For more information about HIAS' efforts, click here.
Cash or checks can be placed in the tzedakah box located near the prayer books, or it can be given to the office. You can give tzedakah any time the building is open or you can mail a check to the synagogue. Checks should be made out to JUF Asylum Seekers Fund, HIAS, or to Shir Hadash with a note that it's for tzedakah. If you have questions, ask Lisa Burton Radzely or email her at socialactionsh@gmail.com.
JEWISH COMMUNITY
Volunteer Opportunity with HIAS in El Paso/Juarez -- There are currently more than 13,000 asylum seekers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. These asylum seekers are not aware of their legal rights and don’t understand the very complicated process of seeking asylum in the U.S.
HIAS is seeking volunteers to stay in El Paso, Texas and travel into Ciudad Juarez daily to assist local staff in serving asylum seekers by providing Know Your Rights presentations and screening asylum seekers for potential legal representation. Each delegation of two to eight volunteers will last from Sunday-Friday. All volunteers must be at least advanced-proficient Spanish speakers, but need not have any experience working with asylum seekers or in immigration law. You can find out more information about this opportunity here.
HIAS is seeking volunteers to stay in El Paso, Texas and travel into Ciudad Juarez daily to assist local staff in serving asylum seekers by providing Know Your Rights presentations and screening asylum seekers for potential legal representation. Each delegation of two to eight volunteers will last from Sunday-Friday. All volunteers must be at least advanced-proficient Spanish speakers, but need not have any experience working with asylum seekers or in immigration law. You can find out more information about this opportunity here.
ISRAEL AWARENESS
Israeli Film Series at Shir Hadash Presents "Ushpizin,” October 12 - Come to Shir Hadash at 7:30pm on October 12 for a screening of “Ushpizin.” This film is a heartwarming story for the Sukkot holiday, which begins the following evening. Admission is free and snacks will be available. Donations to help offset costs are always appreciated.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
Twelve Tribes Bimah Panels: Only Three Panels Left to Dedicate! -- Celebrating our fifth anniversary in our building, our Twelve Tribes bimah ark panels are a combined creation of artists Maureen Fisher Schweit and Abe Schor, who worked together on concept, design and colors.
You are invited to participate in this fundraising historic project by dedicating all or part of a panel. Each panel dedication is $1,800; panels may be dedicated by more than one person and families may pool resources to dedicate one panel (e.g, $180 each by 10 people). Donors will be acknowledged on our new donor wall next to the Simcha Tree. The panel dedications will remain in perpetuity, or as long as the art remains in our sanctuary. (They will not expire in 18 years as originally stated.) To learn more about the Bimah Panels, click here. For questions, panel reservation, choice and payment options, contact Executive Director Nancy Kleine Kekst at (216) 789-2452 (mobile) or email execdir@shir-hadash.org.
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 --The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove, Butterfield’s Restaurant in Northbrook, and 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.
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