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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
With an abundance of caution and to ensure the health and safety of our staff, the Synagogue building is closed at least through the duration of the Illinois shelter-in-place order.
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 -- Services Online
- Havadalah Service with Rabbi Concert, Saturday May 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- “A Walk in the Woods"
Religious Education
- Adult Ed Programs Continue Online -- Open to All Members
- New Adult Ed Class: Modern Israel, begins May 24
- Today! Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays
- Tonight! Mussar Discussion Group, May 21
- Worldwide Synagogue Sing, May 24
Membership News and Events
- Save the Date! Upcoming Events
- Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema, Streaming Through May 26
- Annual Meeting, June 14
- Book Club, June 18
- Upload a Photo to the Member Directory
- Adopt a Fern for the Summer
Social Action
- Make Get Well Cards for Hospital Patients in Isolation
- Teen Tutors Needed for Virtual Sessions
- Donations Needed: Recreational Activities for Foster Children
- Support Local Food Pantries via Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council
Support for Members
- Donations Support Members in Need
- Shir Hadash Member Business Directory
- Face Masks Available from Shir Hadash Office
Resources for Today
- Links to Help You and Your Family Work Safely, Take Care of Each Other, and Have Fun
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive
- Amazon Smile
- SHOP Shir Hadash
Havdalah Service and Concert by the Rabbi, Saturday, May 23, 7:30 pm -- Let’s end the Shabbat together with an on-line Havdalah service via ZOOM. Rabbi Eitan will lead the service and continue with a coffee-house style concert from his home. Those who have a braided candle, fragrant spices like cinnamon or cloves, and sweet wine or grape juice are encouraged to perform the ceremony simultaneously in their own homes. If you need a multi-wick candle, simply grab three thin candles, like Hanukkah candles, bind them together with a twist-tie and you are ready to go. Lower the lights and enjoy this very special and moving candlelit service and concert together.
May 22-23, 2020 / 29 Iyar 5780 / Omer Day 44
Shabbat Bamidbar / Torah: Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 / Haftarah: Hosea 2:1 - 2:22
“A Walk in the Woods”
Dear Friends,
How can I travel when we are in quarantine? How can I hike the mountains and valleys, the deserts and forests when we are sheltering in place? The latest answer is virtual hiking. Yes, I have been on the treadmill in my basement lately with a TV in front of me watching Youtube. What I found are virtual hiking videos – essentially someone straps a GoPro camera to their hat and goes for a walk. I have hiked in Hawaii, Bryce Canyon, Olympic National Forest, and all the way to Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. What a joy. I found that walking in nature, even virtually, allows me to think, meditate, dream, and ponder – all the things I do when really on trail.
This week’s Torah portion is called BaMidbar – In the Wilderness. It refers to the Children of Israel travelling through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. The book tells of all the events that helped shape them into a people worthy of entering the Land of Israel. It is a book of transformation from slaves to free people. All this happens in the wilderness.
As the weather warms, find some time to get out into nature – either actually or virtually. Experience the healing and nurturing powers that a walk in the woods can bring the heart, mind, body, and soul.
Zay a Mentsch – Be a Good Person.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Sunday Morning Adult Ed Programs: Online! All members are welcome to participate. Contact the class facilitator, below, for information.
- 10:00 a.m. -- Torah and Jewish Philosophy Class via ZOOM
- 11:00 a.m. -- Hebrew Reading Class via WebEx -- contact Steve Lewin.
- Sundays, 11:15 am to 12:25 pm
- Instructor: Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and guests
Today! Rabbi's Lunch and Learn via ZOOM, May 14 -- Anyone can participate! Join Rabbi Eitan and Shir Hadash members for an engaging discussion of this week's Torah portion.
Tonight! Mussar Discussion Group, May 21, 7:30 p.m. -- Contact Lynn Liebling for information.
Worldwide Synagogue Sing, Sunday mornings -- Kudos to our Education Director Rachel Goldberg for creating and streaming the Worldwide Synagogue Sing. 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 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 receive Avodah credit for participating! We'll be doing it each Sunday while the shutdown continues -- you only need to register once.
- Zoom Shavuot Services and Study Session May 29, 7:00 pm
- Buffalo Grove Pride Drive-By Parade, June 7, 11:00 am
- Virtual Jewish Festival with David Broza June 7, 4:00 pm
- Shir Hadash Annual Meeting June 14, 10:45 am
- Meryl's Book Club "Henna House" June 18, 7:30 pm
Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema Streaming May 17-26 -- English subtitles! Ten days of award-winning dramas and comedies, outstanding documentaries and binge-worthy TV from Israel. Get information here.
Annual Meeting, June 14 -- On Sunday, June 14, 2020 Shir Hadash will hold its annual meeting in a new format- VIRTUALLY! The ZOOM meeting will open at 10:45 am with a fun slide show, and the business meeting will be held from 11:00 - 12:15 am. This meeting is for members only.
In addition, we will be conducting virtual voting. Details and links for this process will be available soon. All of the meeting and voting information will also be sent to you electronically. Your ballot will be anonymous and available for a specific period of time. At the meeting, you will be asked to vote for candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors. You will have opportunities to hear from the candidates and ask them questions. Information about the candidates will be emailed to you in advance. In addition to leadership reports, we will also vote on the proposed operating budget for 2020-21.
If you are unable to be on the ZOOM meeting and wish to vote, please contact the Shir Hadash office, at 847/498-8218, or send an e-mail to admin@shir-hadash.org, and you will be sent an absentee ballot request form to fill out. After you complete and send back that form, an absentee ballot will be sent to you. All absentee ballots must be received by the Shir Hadash office no later than Tuesday, June 9, 2020.These are extraordinary times for our country and our synagogue. We encourage you to participate in this important meeting and voting process for Shir Hadash.
Meryl's Book Club Selection; Meeting June 18 -- Our new book club selection is the novel Henna House by Nomi Eve. The meeting on June 18 will be held via Zoom; links will be included in newsletters the preceding week. About the book: "This vivid saga begins in Yemen in 1920. Adela Damari’s parents’ health is failing as they desperately seek a future husband for their young daughter, who is in danger of becoming adopted by the local Muslim community if she is orphaned. With no likely marriage prospects, Adela’s situation looks dire—until she meets two cousins from faraway cities: a boy with whom she shares her most treasured secret, and a girl who introduces her to the powerful rituals of henna. Ultimately, Adela’s life journey brings her old and new loves, her true calling, and a new life as she is transported to Israel as part of Operation On Wings of Eagles. Rich, evocative, and enthralling, Henna House is an intimate family portrait interwoven with the traditions of the Yemenite Jews and the history of the Holocaust and Israel."
Upload a family picture to our Member Directory -- You can edit your listing in the Member Directory by adding a photo. You can upload the photo yourself or send it to admin@shir-hadash.org. We want to see your smiling face!
Adopt a Fern for the Summer -- Lonely ferns are looking for good foster homes for the summer! Adopt Larry, Mo, Curly or Shep! Contact Rabbi Eitan for care and feeding instructions!
SOCIAL ACTION
Stay Connected to Help! We are frequently adding new opportunities to help our neighbors, our community, and the world, so keep checking the weekly emails, the Shir Hadash newsletter, and the members-only Facebook group.
Make Get-Well Cards for Hospitalized Patients in Isolation -- Cheer up hospital patients who are in isolation. You can email or drop off a get-well card, and it will be laminated and delivered to a hospital. Draw/color a card no larger than 8.5x11 inches. Drop it off at PostNet, 825 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, or take a picture/scan your card and send it to Graphics.IL106@PostNet.com and PostNet will print and laminate the card for you.
Applause to Shir Hadash's Sue Davis, Maggie Cain, and Nancy Kekst for sewing 100 masks to donate to Kellogg Cancer Center!
Teen Tutors Needed for Virtual Sessions -- Connect Chicago is a teen-led organization that is now providing virtual tutoring for Chicago Public Schools students. If you are a high school or college student who might be interested in volunteering, click here.
Make Get-Well Cards for Hospitalized Patients in Isolation -- Cheer up hospital patients who are in isolation. You can email or drop off a get-well card, and it will be laminated and delivered to a hospital. Draw/color a card no larger than 8.5x11 inches. Drop it off at PostNet, 825 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, or take a picture/scan your card and send it to Graphics.IL106@PostNet.com and PostNet will print and laminate the card for you.
Applause to Shir Hadash's Sue Davis, Maggie Cain, and Nancy Kekst for sewing 100 masks to donate to Kellogg Cancer Center!
Teen Tutors Needed for Virtual Sessions -- Connect Chicago is a teen-led organization that is now providing virtual tutoring for Chicago Public Schools students. If you are a high school or college student who might be interested in volunteering, click here.
Recreational Activities Needed for Foster Children --Jewish Child and Family Services has requested recreational items to keep foster children engaged and enriched: glue/glue sticks, glitter, markers, scissors, white paper, crayons, adult coloring books, and kids activity books. JCFS also is accepting NEW toys, clothing and household items, especially:
Support Northwest Suburban Food Pantries -- a message from Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council: Our food pantries desperately need your help! Due to the continued issues with the coronavirus, many more of our neighbors are in need of food and everyday supplies. Please help us support our local food pantries either through monetary donations or purchasing of needed supplies. Download all the details here!- Art supplies (Play Doh, water color paint and paper, construction paper, and markers)
- Dolls with a variety of ethnicities
- Science themed/educational games
JCFS is unable to accept donations of furniture, computers, used clothing and used toys. All JCFS buildings are closed, so please contact Haley Zimmerman at (773) 467-3746 to make drop-off arrangements.
For more information on any of our programs, please contact us by e-mail or telephone: nwsinterfaith@gmail.com, 224-699-0386 or visit our website. Donations may be made directly to: Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council. PO Box 5301. Buffalo Grove, IL 60089.
Please note that The ARK is not currently accepting food pantry donations.
Map of food pantries in Lake County.
Coronavirus Community Resources from JUF of Chicago - A good place to get help or give help, connect with others, or bust your boredom.
SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS
Donations for Congregants in Need: Shir Hadash has been receiving some anonymous contributions to help congregants who may be in need of food or meal delivery. Should you want to make a donation, email Nancy Kekst. If you are in need of food/services, email Rabbi Eitan.
Shir Hadash Member Business Directory – Click here to reach the Shir Hadash Member Business Directory, and please patronize member businesses if you can. If you would like to add your business to the page, there is a link on the right side you can click, or click here. Note: You must be a synagogue member and must be logged into the member portal to submit your listing.
Need a Mask? -- With thanks to the mighty sewers of Minnesota's Mask Mania 2020 group, we have received a donation of 100 cloth masks. If you need a mask, please email Karen Burnham in the office or call 847-498-8218.
RESOURCES FOR TODAY
The Great Big Jewish Food Festival -- Participate in workshops, happy hours, Shabbat dinner, and more during this 10-day online celebration of Jewish cooking.
Stars in the House -- Broadway stars like Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, Wayne Brady, and many more perform live from their own homes in this virtual fundraising series for The Actors Fund.
NYC Ballet Online -- More stellar performances to enjoy in your home.
10 Cheap and Healthy Foods for your Pantry -- Stock up at the grocery store!
Investment Advice for a Turbulent Market -- Stay the course.
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 programs. 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 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! To double-dip, just pay for your purchases with a ShopWithScrip Amazon gift card! Happy Shopping!
Shop with Scrip! 50,000 organizations use ShopWithScrip gift cards to turn everyday shopping into earnings. Now, Shir Hadash is using gift cards to offset our costs and create more opportunities for families. Shop at 750+ brands with gift cards to earn on gas, groceries, eating out, clothes—the list goes on. It’s easy, it’s rewarding, and it fits right into your busy schedule. Click here for complete details!
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