For daily event updates, check our calendar. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Download the Shir Hadash App for Apple or Android
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE:
THE VIRTUAL EDITION
THE VIRTUAL EDITION
With an abundance of caution and to ensure the health and safety of our staff, the Synagogue building is closed effective immediately until March 30, 2020.
Our devoted staff will be working from home and messages via phone and email will be responded to within 24 hours.
If you need any assistance, you may call Marc Fargotstein at 847-612-6579 or contact Executive Director Nancy Kleine Kekst at 216-789-2452. The Rabbi is also available on his cell phone 847-525-7746 at any time.
Our devoted staff will be working from home and messages via phone and email will be responded to within 24 hours.
If you need any assistance, you may call Marc Fargotstein at 847-612-6579 or contact Executive Director Nancy Kleine Kekst at 216-789-2452. The Rabbi is also available on his cell phone 847-525-7746 at any time.
Creative Worship and Ritual
- Shabbat Services Friday March 20 -- Join us on Facebook!
The Rabbi’s Corner – “Sheltering in Place”
Religious Education
- No Religious School on March 22
- Adult Ed Programs Continue Online
- Worldwide Synagogue Sing, March 22 -- Online!
- Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi via Zoom on March 19
Membership News and Events
- Tonight! Mussar Study Group via Zoom, March 19
- Communication Channels
- 2020 Event Plans- Updates
- Send us your photos of fun times at home, and great jokes!
Social Action
- United Way Assistance Available
- Community Support Plus Volunteer Opportunities: Links
- Special Services for Medicare Beneficiaries
Jewish Community
- JUF Leadership: Open Letter on COVID-19 Response
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive
- Amazon Smile
- SHOP Shir Hadash
Shabbat Evening Service on Facebook, Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m. -- Please stay home and join a Shabbat service on Friday night which will be live streamed in our Facebook live private members-only group. (If you haven't joined the group yet, scroll down to our Communication Channels note for directions.) Rabbi Eitan will conduct a service lasting 35-45 minutes. Pot luck oneg for your family in your kitchen to follow!
March 20-21, 2020 / 25 Adar 5780 | Shabbat Vayak’hel-Pikudei/HaHodesh
Torah: Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 | Maftir: Exodus 12:1 - 12:20 | Shabbat HaHodesh
Haftarah: Ezekiel 45:16 - 46:18 | Shabbat HaHodesh
“Sheltering In Place”
Dear Friends,
This Shabbat is Shabbat HaHodesh – the Shabbat of THE month – the most important month of the year – the month during which the Exodus occurred. Next week, we will welcome the springtime month of Nisan, and with it the celebration of Pesach on the 15th day.
As we spend these next few Shabbat dinners and possibly the Passover seders hunkering down and sheltering in place, we are reminded of how our ancestors did the same thing more than 3,250 years ago. While we are living in seclusion, isolation, and socially distanced to protect ourselves and others from the spread of the Coronavirus, our ancestors were waiting for the Angel of Death to pass over their homes. On the evening before their liberation, our ancestors did not meet in large groups. They did not gather as a community. Rather, they went home to be with their close families in homes. They put the blood on their doorposts, ate the Passover meal, packed, baked their matzah, prepared, and waited until the coast was clear. Although separated by household, they were united in purpose and vision. The times were unprecedented for our ancestors and they are certainly unprecedented for us. Yet, we know what to do, and we know that eventually ‘this too shall pass.’
As with our ancestors during their challenging time, take care of yourselves and your families. Be safe. Be smart. Wash your hands. Limit exposure to possible infection. Look in on your friends and neighbors to check that they are well. Show your appreciation and support to our medical professionals and first responders.
As our ancestors understood on that fateful night of safety and protection long ago in the land of Egypt, we too will get through this together. We will be wiser and stronger. We will be free.
Zay a mentsch – Be a Good Person. Zay gezunt – Be Healthy!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
No Onsite Religious School March 22
Sunday Morning Adult Ed Programs:
- 10:00 a.m. -- Torah and Jewish Philosophy Class via Zoom. Contact Fred Andes for details.
- 10:30 a.m. -- Hebrew Reading Class -- contact Steve Lewin.
- Watch for updates about other classes, including Judaism's Best 10 Ideas!
Rabbi's Lunch and Learn, March 19 -- You can participate in this week's discussion of Torah via Zoom. Contact Rabbi Eitan for details.
Worldwide Synagogue Sing -- Kudos to our Education Director Rachel Goldberg for creating and streaming the First Ever Worldwide Synagogue Sing last week. If you are a Jewish Sunday School Student, Parent, or Educator and want to sing with your friends and family near and far, join in Sundays at 10:00 am Chicago time (11am EDT/8am PDT) for the Worldwide Synagogue Sing - a chance for school age kids to connect virtually for meaningful and creative Jewish experience. Perfect for family participation.
Click here to sign up and register for this weekly program and watch for it as SH students will received Avodah credit for participating! We'll be doing it each Sunday while the shutdown continues. And keep an eye out -- rumor has it that our own Rabbi Eitan will be making an appearance soon!
Tonight! Mussar Study Group Meeting via Zoom, March 19 -- To connect for this virtual meeting, contact Lynn Liebling. (Read on for information about Zoom meetings.)
Communication Channels: We will continue our email blasts to congregants at least twice a week: our regular weekly roundup on Tuesdays and the Synagogue newsletter on Thursday mornings, plus additional information as needed and late breaking developments.
For those congregants who do not have computer access, the staff will be making telephone check-in calls.
Another primary way to stay in touch with members is through our closed (private) Facebook group. You need to have a Facebook account to access this group. It’s a great way to watch live streamed services.
How do I create a Facebook account?
To create a Facebook account:
1. Go to www.facebook.com/r.php .
2. Enter your name, email or mobile phone number, password, date of birth and gender.
3. Click Sign Up
4. To finish creating your account, you need to confirm your email or mobile phone number.
If you're having a problem creating a Facebook account, contact Nancy Kleine Kekst 216-789-2452, Marc Fargotstein 847-612-6579 or Karen Burnham 847-714-6946 and we will help you.
How do I find the Shir Hadash Facebook Group?
The Group is called Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue – Current Members. It is a private group, so you must ask permission to join and post. (You may receive an invitation to join if your Facebook account email matches the one Shir Hadash has on file.) Once you have joined, you will be able to see live streaming of our events, including services.
Also please follow —and encourage your friends to follow — our Shir Hadash General Community page.
Another way to stay in touch is through Zoom meetings—both video and audio or call-in audio only. For adult education classes or committee meetings, the facilitator will send you a Zoom meeting invitation. You do not need to have a Zoom account to participate. You can simply download the Zoom app on your laptop, tablet and/or phone. To establish a free Zoom account for your own personal use, visit zoom.us.
And to learn more about Facebook or Zoom, search for and watch free instructional videos at http://youtube.com.
Overview of Upcoming Events -- Be sure and check the Shir Hadash calendar for the latest updates on events.
- April 3: Pausing in the Wilderness Service – Plans to be determined
- April 9: SH Community Seder - CANCELLED
- April 25: Israeli Movie Night - Postponed
- May 2: 25th Anniversary Gala - Postponed
- May 16: Coffee House - Postponed
So, What Have You Been Doing? Please send us photos of what you are doing at home with your family—and any good (clean) jokes! It will help boost our spirits. What books are you reading? What games are you playing? Share with Nancy at execdir@shir-hadash.org -- we will send new links and resources every week!
SOCIAL ACTION
United Way Assistance -- In case anyone needs this: United Way has a COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund. They will help with bills, rent and food. You can call (866) 211 9966 and provide your zip code to receive a list of local agencies to provide assistance.
Community Support, Plus Volunteer Opportunities -- If you need help, or if you would like to help those in need, NBC Chicago has gathered official resources here.
Did you know... Medicare beneficiaries can temporarily use telehealth services for common office visits, mental health counseling and preventive health screenings. This will help ensure Medicare beneficiiaries are able to visit with their doctor from their home, without having to go to a doctor's office or hospital, which puts themselves and others at risk to COVID-19 exposure. Learn more here.
JEWISH COMMUNITY
JUF Response to COVID-19 Emergency -- Click here to read an open letter from JUF leadership on resources, volunteer opportunities, and support.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
If you are home and shopping online, be sure to consider these resources. You can help support Shir Hadash AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU through these donation program. We will need funds to help our congregants in need.
Help Shir Hadash Earn Free Donations with iGive --You can help Shir Hadash every time you shop online – the iGive Button makes it simple! iGive is a free and easy way to support the shul. Average shoppers using iGive raise between $30 and $100 a year for their causes. There are over 2500 online retailers helping to make donations happen through iGive. Click here to learn more and join iGive. If you have questions, contact Sandi Schleicher, sschleicher@onebox.com.
Amazon Smile Fundraising Option
Shir Hadash is registered with the Amazon Smile fundraising program. Just go to smile.amazon.com, search for Shir Hadash (be sure to select the one in Wheeling), and from then on 0.5% of your purchases will automatically be donated to Shir Hadash at no cost to you! Remember, if you go to Amazon through iGive.com or the iGive button, SH will get money from both Amazon and iGive. And to triple-dip, just pay for your purchases with a SHOP Amazon gift card! Happy Shopping!
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.
As we all shelter in place in our homes, ordering goods and food online has become a vital part of our daily lives. Did you know that you can buy store gift cards online from Shir Hadash? You purchase gift certificates (scrip) through Shir Hadash (we partner with shopwithscrip.com), and we earn a percentage of that purchase. For example, you pay $75 for an electronic Lettuce Entertain You gift card that you will use for takeout dinner for the family. You get a $75 face value gift certificate. It costs you no more than you are spending anyway, but Shir Hadash makes $9 on your $50 purchase. While the percentages vary, a huge selection of vendors participate with both electronic and physical gift cards. Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Jewel, Mobil, Subway, Walmart, Old Navy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle. The list goes on and on and on. Putting together hundreds of such purchases adds up to significant money. That money will allow Shir Hadash to assist members in need in our community, as well as meet our fiscal obligations in these trying times. Pay for your script with a secure, direct withdrawal from your checking account (no convenience fee) or with a credit card. Click here to learn more.
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment