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
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.
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
- Kabbalat Shabbat Evening Service, Friday May 8, 7:30 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- “Why We Really Need Shabbat Now More Than Ever"
Religious Education
- Religious School e-Learning - Special Drop-In Programming, May 10
- Adult Ed Programs Continue Online -- Open to All Members
- New Adult Ed Class: Modern Israel, begins May 17
- Worldwide Synagogue Sing, May 10
- Today! Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays
Membership News and Events
- Annual Meeting, June 14
- Book Club, June 18
- JUF Announces COVID-19 Initiative
Social Action
- Mask Makers, Assemble!
- 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
- Face Mask Distribution at our Neighbor, The Landing, May 8
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
ZOOMing Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Friday, May 1, 7:30 pm - Let’s welcome Shabbat together with an on-line Kabbalat Shabbat service via ZOOM and Facebook. Rabbi Eitan will lead the service from his home with meditations, prayer, readings, story, and song. Reba Meshulam, celebrated “story-slam” storyteller will share an exciting and touching story with us.
May 8-9, 2020 / 15 Iyar 5780 / Omer Day 30 / Shabbat Emor
Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23 / Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31
“Why We Really Need Shabbat Now More Than Ever”
Dear Friends,
What day is it? The shelter in place order often has me wondering what day is today. All the days seem to be feeling pretty much the same. Without being able to travel about, do errands, go to our workplace, work out at the gym, attend a show, or eat out, it is often hard for us to tell what day it is!
And that is all the more reason why we need Shabbat. Yes, Shabbat is a day of rest and prayer. It is also a day that is different from all other days of the week. It helps us reset our sense of time and space. It helps us refocus and restore our direction in life as time goes by. So, going forward, I encourage you to make Shabbat a special day for you and your friends and family. Yes, keep appropriate social distancing when necessary. Wear you masks and gloves and stay safe. Yet, make Shabbat special. Join our Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat Zoom gatherings. Make a special Shabbat dinner at home with candles, wine, and home-baked challah. Go for a walk or a bicycle ride, play a game, read stories… you get the picture.
Let Shabbat be a respite in the chain of seemingly unchanging days. Let it refresh and renew our hearts, minds, and souls.
Zay Gezunt - Be well.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Religious School "Drop In" e-Learning, May 10: We do not have regularly scheduled religious school classes due to Mother's Day, but our faculty will be holding an all-school optional drop-in session from 11:15am-12:15pm, after a special Mother's Day livestream of Worldwide Synagogue Sing at 10:00 a.m. (below). We understand that for some families it will be most helpful for us to provide you with two hours of activities that will occupy your children, and that for some families it will be more helpful to not have obligations on Mother's Day. We are here for you either way, and support you in whatever choices you make for your family about attendance in the activities scheduled next Sunday! Parents, watch your email for class information.
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: Rabbis Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and guests
Today! Rabbi's Lunch and Learn via ZOOM, May 7 -- Anyone can participate! Join Rabbi Eitan and Shir Hadash members for an engaging discussion of this week's Torah portion.
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.
New Book Club Selection; Meeting June 18 -- Our new book club selection is the novel Henna House by Nomi Eve. Stay tuned for details regarding the meeting. 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."
JUF Announces COVID-19 Initiative -- In an unprecedented move, JUF has leveraged resources from its annual campaign, endowment and access to additional credit, along with the support of other funders, marshaling $26 million to help Chicagoans of all faiths through this crisis. The committee will continue to meet regularly to identify emerging needs, and to provide funding to address them, in the following areas:
- Emergency Financial Aid
- Increased Food Assistance
- Health & Safety
- Community Stability
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.
Mask Makers, Assemble (Remotely)! - Can you sew? Would you be interested in sewing masks? Do you have any fabric or elastic you could donate? Let's start sewing! We will all be needing masks for a long time. We are working with Kristen Levit and the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council to put together a group of people from all faith organizations to sew masks to donate to our constituents. We have the pattern and instructions If you can help. Contact Nancy Kekst or call the office at 847-498-8218
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.
Mask Makers, Assemble (Remotely)! - Can you sew? Would you be interested in sewing masks? Do you have any fabric or elastic you could donate? Let's start sewing! We will all be needing masks for a long time. We are working with Kristen Levit and the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council to put together a group of people from all faith organizations to sew masks to donate to our constituents. We have the pattern and instructions If you can help. Contact Nancy Kekst or call the office at 847-498-8218
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.
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.
Masks Available from our Next Door Neighbor, May 8: Seniors are invited to pick up a free mask during a drive-through event from 9:00 a.m. to noon Friday, May 8, at The Landing on Dundee Senior Living in Wheeling. Marketing Director Susan Weisbond said the reusable cloth masks will be available while supplies last at the yet-to-open facility at 156 W. Dundee Road. She said it's hoped The Landing can open in July. The Landing will have assisted living and memory care for seniors.
RESOURCES FOR TODAY
Spring Activities for Kids
Mother's Day Gifts Kids Can Make
Just For Laughs: Classic Movie Bloopers (Rated PG-13 for language)
Free Downloads of Monument Valley 2 and Other Games
10 Ways to Make a Quarantine Weekend Feel More Normal
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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