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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Creative Worship and Ritual
- Shabbat Evening Service with SHED Talks, January 17, 7:00 p.m.
- Sponsor an Oneg
- Religious School, January 19: Youth and Adult Ed Programs
- New Adult Ed Class: Judaism's Ten Best Ideas with Rabbi Eitan
- No'ar Hadash Midwest Youth Kallah, February 14-16
- No Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi on January 16
- 2020 Event Preview
- Sunday! Purim Performers Wanted! First Meeting, January 19
- Next Week: Office Closed for MLK Day, Limited Staffing Tues-Fri
- New Member Dinner, January 25
- Film Screening: The Syrian Patient, February 1
- Cocktails at Mehran's, February 8
- Book Club, February 20
- Coffee House Night, February 22
- Yom Tikkun Olam, February 23
- Trivia Night, February 29
- Voting Opens Soon for World Zionist Congress
- Save the Date and Get Involved! 25th Anniversary Gala, May 2
Social Action
- Relief Efforts for Ugandan Flood Victims
- Aid to Australia
Community Initiatives
- Ends Today! JUF Annual Campaign to Fight Hate Extended to January 16
- Martin Luther King Day of Service -- Local Activities
- Help Immigrant Teens
- 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
Shabbat Evening Service with SHED Talks, January 17, Shabbat Shemot, 7:30 p.m. - We welcome the return of SHED Talks, the Shir Hadash version of TED Talks. On a monthly basis, we do a short service and then have Shir Hadash members talking about Jewish topics. This Friday, we have two speakers:
1. Holly Rotman-Zaid, who will talk about her fascinating family history, involving adventures in Turkey.
2. Fred Andes, who will speak about EcoPeace, and his recent trip to the annual conference in the Middle East in November. EcoPeace Middle East is a group that brings together Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians to work on common water issues, including restoring the Jordan River. Learn more at EcoPeaceME.org. Please bring a dessert to share at our oneg refreshments.
1. Holly Rotman-Zaid, who will talk about her fascinating family history, involving adventures in Turkey.
2. Fred Andes, who will speak about EcoPeace, and his recent trip to the annual conference in the Middle East in November. EcoPeace Middle East is a group that brings together Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians to work on common water issues, including restoring the Jordan River. Learn more at EcoPeaceME.org. Please bring a dessert to share at our oneg refreshments.
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.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
January 17-18, 2020 / 21 Tevet 5780 / Shabbat Shemot
Torah - Exodus 1:1-6:1 / Haftarah - Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23
“The Pintele Yid”
Dear Friends,
Why a Burning Bush? What does it mean that Moses first heard God’s voice and received the charge to lead the Israelites out of slavery from a bush engulfed in flames?
There is teaching in Judaism that each Jew has within the heart a small flame of Jewish identity – a pintele Yid. The flame reminds us of who we are as Jews. Moreover, it can be fanned to grow brighter, bringing us to ever increasing connection, involvement, and action as Jews. To me, Moses’ encounter with the burning bush was coming face to face with his pintele Yid. From that moment, Moses recognized the important role that he could play as a leader of his people, bringing them from slavery to freedom.
Each one of us has a pintele Yid within. What is it telling you?
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Religious School, January 19 -- We look forward to seeing all our students at Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. In addition, we will hold our regular Adult Education classes, along with special classes, committee meetings and more:
- Torah & Jewish Philosophy with Fred Andes at 9:30 a.m.
- Family Activity Committee Meeting at 10:30 am
- Hebrew Reading & Prayer with Steve Lewin at 10:30 a.m.
- Judaism's Ten Best Ideas with Rabbi Eitan at 11:15 a.m.
- Purim Adult Comedy Night Organizational Meeting at 12:30 p.m.
This class is based on Rabbi Arthur Green's book Judaism's 10 Best Ideas. We will explore what Rabbi Green considers the fundamental principles of Judaism and the concepts that exemplify the best contributions that Judaism has made to civilization.
No'ar Hadash Midwest Youth Kallah, February 14-16 -- The annual No’ar Hadash Midwest Youth Kallah for all of the Reconstructionst Youth in the Region (us, JRC, a few smaller midwest synagogues) is happening February 14-16 & Registration Is Open!
Much of the programming will be planned by participants and the leadership team will begin meeting at JRC soon... Please write Rachel Goldberg at educdirector@shir-Hadash.org to let her know if you'd like to be part of the leadership team for Kallah, and she will make sure you are included in those communications.
No Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi this Week -- Due to a special event, the usual Thursday Lunch & Learn will not take place on january 16. On future Thursdays, join the Rabbi and Shir Hadash members and friends at 1:00 p.m. for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion, a selected book of the Bible, or a contemporary work of Jewish wisdom.
Filling out your 2020 calendar? Be sure and add these Shir Hadash events (and scroll down for details about February events):
- January 25 -- New Member Havdalah and Dinner.
- February 1 -- Israeli Movie Night
- February 8 -- Cocktails and Conversation at Mehran's
- February 14-16 -- No'ar Hadash Midwest Youth Kallah (Grades 6-12)
- February 22-- Coffee House Night
- February 23 -- Yom Tikkun Olam (Social Action Day)
- February 29 -- Trivia Night
- March 7 -- Adult Purim Night
- March 8 -- Purim Carnival
- April 3 -- Pausing in the Wilderness Service
- April 9 -- SH Community Seder
- April 25 -- Israeli Movie Night
- May 2 -- 25th Anniversary Gala
- May 16 -- Coffee House
Mussar Study Group, January 16 – The Shir Hadash Mussar Study group meets tonight, January 16 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mussar is a centuries-old Jewish body of teachings, a perspective, and a disciplined practice that provides distinctively Jewish answers to the sorts of questions any thinking person asks about life. Mussar provides guidance in identifying your uniquely personal path of spiritual growth and offers practices to help bring about that growth. Contact Lynn Liebling at lliebling@sbcglobal.net to participate.
Purim Performers Wanted! First Meeting on January 19 -- Plans are underway for Morty's Borscht Belt comedy evening for Purim on March 7 at 7:00 p.m. If you participated in the past -- or if you've always wanted to -- here's your chance! The producers are looking for stand-up comedy acts, singers, and other types of talent for the show. If you are interested, come to a short meeting at 12:30 pm. on Sunday, January 19. RSVP to davidedler@gmail.com.
Next Week: Office Closed for MLK Day; Limited Staffing Tuesday - Friday -- Please note that Shir Hadash will be closed on Monday, January 21 for the Martin Luther King holiday. Also, Nancy and Karen will be out of the office for the remainder of the week. Rabbi Eitan will be available during his regular hours.
New Member Dinner, January 25, 6:00 p.m. -- We have more new members this year than at any time in the recent past. Help welcome them at a special evening including Havdalah, wine, dinner and entertainment. Register here for Saturday, January 25 at 6:00 p.m. Free admission for members who joined since February 2019 and their immediate families; for others, $18/per adult, $7 for children 4-12 and free for children under 4. Please RSVP by January 17 so we know how much food will be needed.
Israeli Film Night: The Syrian Patient, February 1 -- The Shir Hadash Israel Committee is sponsoring a movie night on Saturday, February 1. This is a free screening of the movie The Syrian Patient at 7:30. This unique documentary offers a look at Syrian wounded and their Israeli doctors at an Israeli hospital, where enemies meet and become connected. There is no charge for the film and snacks will be available for purchase. All are invited to remain after the screening for a discussion and treats. Donations gratefully accepted to help offset costs.
Cocktails and Conversation at Mehran's, February 8 -- Join your friends from Shir Hadash for an evening of cocktail mixing at Mehran Farahmandpour's house in Long Grove, on Saturday February 8 beginning at 6:30 p.m. We will have several drinks to compare, ranging from classic to fun. A variety of cheeses and other snacks will be paired with the drinks. Click here for directions and to RSVP.
Book Club New Selection: Next Meeting February 20 -- Join us for a lively discussion at a member's home and bring a nosh to share! To RSVP and for location details, contact the office at admin@shir-hadash.org or (847)498-8218. This month's selection is God's Gold: The Quest for the Lost Temple Treasures of Jerusalem. Archaeologist Dr. Sean Kingsley describes the modern-day quest for the priceless icons of the Jewish faith plundered from the great Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.
Coffee House Night - Open Mic Style, February 22 -- What is Coffee House Night - Open Mic Style? Picture a laid back atmosphere - a place where friends get together and enjoy desserts, beverages and the amazing talent of our friends. You DO NOT need to be a performer to attend this event; it’s for everyone – member or non-member, friends, and family. Our Coffee House Night Events have attracted Talent from all over the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin areas. Talent has included Singing, Spoken Word, Storytelling and more -- we invite you to participate! To sign up to perform or volunteer, or for questions, contact Margie at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com.
Yom Tikkun Olam, February 23 -- A day for our congregation to repair the world. The entire Shir Hadash community will come together to make the world a better place. There will be projects for everyone, including ones geared to adults as well as activities that young children can do. This event is for individuals and for families -- for everyone in our congregation who wants to help the homeless, domestic violence survivors, people with a serious illness, veterans, children, animals, and more! Stay tuned for more information and mark your calendar for the morning of February 23.
Trivia Night, February 29 -- Save the date for the 4th Annual Shir Hadash Family Trivia Night on Saturday, February 29 at 6:00 p.m. The event benefits the Samuel I. Andes Scholarship Fund, which is a need-based fund to assist children who otherwise would not be able to attend the Shir Hadash Religious School due to economic reasons. Trivia buffs - high school-aged and older - will enjoy this fast-paced, high energy, friendly competition! There will be six rounds of trivia with cash prizes for the top teams, plus a live auction and a 50/50 raffle! Pizza, soft drinks and bake sale items will be available for purchase. Free babysitting is available for children up to age 12 (tots must be potty-trained). Click here for online registration.
Special Auction Item! Check your calendars and come ready to bid on four choice aisle seat Cubs tickets! The game is against the Phillies on April 25 (2:20 start) in row 3 of section 226.
Voting Opens Soon for World Zionist Congress -- Every 5 years, elections are held throughout the Jewish world for the World Zionist Congress. The WZC then spends billions of dollars that make a big difference in Israel. This is your chance to register and VOTE!
Reconstructing Judaism recommends that you VOTE for the ARZA slate to best reflect our values! ARZA will advocate that WZC funds be spent to support religious pluralism and freedom in Israel, women’s equality at the Western Wall, Israeli environmental organizations, peacebuilding and democracy efforts, and LGBTQ rights in Israel. ARZA will also work with other progressive delegations to the WZC to prevent these funds from being spent on projects in the settlements.
Voting takes place online from January 21 to March 11, 2020 and will take less than 90 seconds to participate. If you are a US citizen or resident who is Jewish and at least 18 years old, click here and sign up for a Remind Me To Vote notice and easy instructions. Or you can write to votearza@gmail.com and ask for a reminder.
Save the Date, and Get Involved! Shir Hadash 25th Anniversary Gala, May 2 -- Planning is underway for our 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May 2. The event chair is Ila Rothschild and we have a core committee in place. But we are forming subcommittees:
- Theme/Design/Invitations/Marketing: Nancy will do invitation printing and SC pages
- Decor/Giveaways: Nancy and Cindy
- Food/Entertainment: Ila Rothschild
- Program Book: Nancy will coordinate and assemble
- Event Program: Video, Speakers - chairperson needed
- Basket Auction: Chairperson needed
- Administration, RSVP, & Budget: Karen Burnham
SOCIAL ACTION
Donate to Send Food, Blankets, and Mattresses to Jewish Ugandan Flood Victims -- We have received a plea for help for those who are starving and have lost their homes due to flooding. The Ugandan Jewish community, Abayudaya, has been devastated by record rains and flooding. They are trying to figure out how to survive. We are answering their call for help by assisting them with purchasing food. If we raise enough funds, the homeless individuals also will be able to buy blankets and mattresses. The situation is dire. If you are able to help, donations can be made in one of three ways:
- In the tzedakah box near the prayer books
- Check mailed or delivered to the office, made out to Shir Hadash and Notes field indicating "Uganda flood recovery"
- Donations made online here. For online donations, select Social Action for Type and indicate Uganda Flood Recovery in the Notes field.
Contact our Social Action Chair, Lisa Burton Radzely, at SocialActionSH@gmail.com or Lynne Arons at lynnearons1@gmail.com if you have questions.
Australia Wildfire Assistance -- We've all seen the heartbreaking images and heard the staggering statistics about the Australian wildfires. A problem this huge needs all of the help they can get from everyone around the world. There are several reputable organizations where you can help displaced persons, injured animals, and the firefighting effort.
- Local fire departments: Victoria and New South Wales have been hardest hit. The Victoria fire department is welcoming donations at this link, while New South Wales fire department donations can be made by clicking here.
- Injured animals: WIRES is the New South Wales-based Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc., Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization. It requests donations to fund the rescue and care of animals affected by the fires. In December, WIRES received more than 20,000 calls and volunteers attended more than 3,300 rescues, according to the organization's website. All animal rescuers are volunteers. Learn more at wires.org.au.
- Displaced persons: The Australian Red Cross is supporting thousands of people in evacuation centers and recovery hubs. Learn more about where your money goes and donate at redcross.org.au. The American Red Cross is also accepting donations for bushfire relief efforts.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
MLK Day of Service, January 20 -- There are several local opportunities to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. This list is only some of them:
Ends Today! JUF Extends Campaign to Fight Hate Through January 16 -- In response to rising incidents of anti-semitism, JUF has extended its annual campaign until January 16. Your support helps our community take a stand against hate. Click here to donate.
- Highland Park, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave West. More than 30 valuable service projects.
- Arlington Heights, Noon-3:00 p.m.: Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunston Ave. Service projects with local organizations.
- Wheeling, 3:00-7:00 p.m.: Wheeling Park District, 100 Community Blvd. Volunteer Fair and Coat Drive.
- Northbrook, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane. Activities with books that focus on community service. Also, collecting personal care items for the homeless.
- Winnetka, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: The Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave. Projects ranging from creating blankets and scarves for the homeless and refugees, Valentines for Veterans, banners and door hangers for shelters to pet toys and mats for cages for the Orphans of the Storm animal shelter. Details about the projects may be found at https://volunteercenterhelps.org.
- Chicago, 10:00 a.m. - noon: Jewish United Fund, 30 South Wells. Join PJ Library and JUF's Tilkkun Olum Volunteer Network (TOV) to make blessing bags and donate them to Ronald McDonald Houses in the city and the suburbs.
Help Immigrant Teens -- We have heard so much about the issues at our southern border. Now we have a real opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children directly affected by it. Legal teens have been brought to local suburbs while they await joining their U.S. relatives with whom they will live, heal and recover from the horrors of their experiences. Needless to say, it is a stressful and confusing time.
While these children await transfer to the U.S. family members with whom they will live, they need some essential items for the cold months ahead. They also would benefit greatly from enrichment and entertainment. We will be donating to 12-17 year old males. Most of them do not speak English, so it's best to donate activities that do not involve reading English. Items can be new or gently-used. Please make sure they have all of the pieces. They do not have access to batteries, and please no items associated with violence. The most-needed items are: headphones, slippers, hats, hoodies, bathrobes, stuffed animals, coloring books (appropriate for teens), lip balm, sunglasses, gel pens, playdough, molding clay, air dry clay, popsicle sticks, painting supplies, glitter sticks, construction paper, sketch books/paper for art, stickers, canvas, wooden crafts to paint, books in Spanish (beginner readers), video games (Wii and Playstation), sand for sand tables, 3D puzzles, therapeutic games to deal with anger, self-esteem, etc.
For your convenience, you can order online and mail items directly to the Illinois location.
For your convenience, you can order online and mail items directly to the Illinois location.
- Send items to Mary Kieger, Project San Francisco, 1150 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 (the facility's name is not provided for the children's safety and privacy. All donations will be used locally. The national name for the program is San Francisco).
- If possible, include a Gift Message and say that you are a member of Shir Hadash Synagogue.
- A donation receipt can be requested when you mail items to the facility. Shir Hadash cannot provide donation receipts.
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.
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website.
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