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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
For more information about our COVID-19 response plan,
please click here.
Our staff continues to work from home and the office as necessary. Messages via phone and email will receive a response within 24 hours. If you need any assistance, you may call Marc Fargotstein at 847-612-6579 or contact Office Administrator Karen Burnham at 847-714-6946. The Rabbi is also available on his cell phone 847-525-7746 at any time.
Creative Worship and Ritual -- Services Online
- Multigenerational Zoom Shabbat Evening Service, August 7, 7:00 p.m.
- Zoom Family Service and Pet Blessing, August 8, 10:00 a.m.
The Rabbi’s Corner --
Religious Education
- Temporary Change in School Registration Procedure
- Adult Ed Programs Continue Online -- Open to All Members
- Torah and Jewish Philosophy
- Hebrew Reading
- Resumes Sunday! Modern Israel
- Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays
Membership News and Events
- Membership Renewal Forms Now Available Online
- High Holidays Schedule and Registration Online
- Virtual Bingo, August 16
- Book Club, August 20
Social Action
- Sunday! Student-Led Food Drive at SH, August 9
- ORT Resale Shop Accepting Donations
- Donations Needed to Help Homeless Individuals
Support for Members
- Food Distribution for Veterans, August 14
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive
- Amazon Smile
- SHOP Shir Hadash
Multigenerational Kabbalat Shabbat via Zoom, Friday, August 6, 7:00 p.m. -- A family friendly Shabbat experience that everyone will love. Rabbi Eitan will read the Torah and show the prayers on-screen, and children will help in leading parts of the service.
Family Service and Blessing of Animals and Pets, August 8, 10:00 a.m.-- Join Rabbi Eitan in celebrating our love and care of our pets. Our 45 minute Shabbat morning service will include a ceremony to welcome our beloved animal pets into our Shir Hadash community and offer them special blessings. Have your animals on camera with us and be ready to introduce them to our community.
August 7-8, 2020 / 18 Av 5780 / Shabbat Ekev
Torah: Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25 / Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3
“The Merits of our Matriarchs”
Dear Friends,
In this week’s Torah portion, Moses explained that the Children of Israel would inherit the land of Canaan. This would happen not due to their virtue. Rather, it would be on account of the “merits of the Patriarchs,” their forefathers – Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov. Numerous times, God promised to give the Land to their descendants. Now was the time to make good on that promise. The merits of the Patriarchs – zechut Avot, focuses on the qualities of faith and leadership that these men exhibited in their lives.
So, what about the Matriarchs, Sarah, Rivka, Leah, Rachel and other great women of Israel? Are there any “merits of the Matriarchs" – zechut imot, for which the Children of Israel can claim the honor to settle and live in the Land of Israel? These women possessed tremendous strength and courage. They exhibited kindness, compassion, hospitality, tenacity, integrity, and so much more. Look in to the lives of the great women of the Jewish people and see for yourself how their merit amplifies our tradition and connection to the Holy Land.
Zay a mentsch – be a good person.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Read past editions of The Rabbi's Corner on the Shir Hadash website here.
Temporary Change to Religious School Registration -- During the constantly changing pandemic restrictions, we have been continually evaluating and revising our program and reviewing our costs. We have elected to temporarily suspend the payment page on religious school, until we can officially present our program and its costs to you.
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 via ZOOM
- 11:00 a.m. -- Hebrew Reading via WebEx -- contact Steve Lewin.
- Resumes Sunday, August 9, 11:15 a.m. -- Modern Israel: Incredible History and Awesome Guests via Zoom Contact Rabbi Eitan for more information.
Rabbi's Lunch and Learn, Thursdays at 1:00 p.m.-- The Rabbi's Lunch and Learn discussions resume this week. Join an engaging examination of the week's Torah portion via Zoom.
Honoring 2019-20 Members of the Haverim Society -- The Haverim (Friends) Society is comprised of those Shir Hadash members whose 2019-2020 Voluntary Commitment was at least 10% greater than the dues those members paid the year before. It is with great thanks that we honor these members who were so generous in their financial support of Shir Hadash. We hope that they and other members will increase their Voluntary Commitment this year by at least 10% over last year's and join the Haverim Society for the 2020-2021 year. Again, thank you to all. Please use this link to the members-only portion of our website to learn the names of these members and to honor their generosity.
Membership Forms Now Available -- Shir Hadash's 2020-21 Membership Forms are now open. Click this link to renew your membership, become a new member, or register your children for Religious School (see note above). Paper registration forms are available for those that need them. Please call the synagogue at 847-498-8218 to request forms or ask any questions.
High Holidays Schedule and Registration Now Available: Register by August 15 -- The High Holidays are approaching! Shir Hadash will be holding all of our customary services, this year via Zoom due to COVID-19. Each registered member will receive a unique viewing code. Visit our website for complete information about services and registration. (You will need to log into Shul Cloud to access member information.) Prayerbook order forms are available as well. Please remember that you must be a member in good standing with up-to-date payments in order to register for High Holidays. If you have any questions about High Holiday services, contact the Creative Worship & Ritual Committee at cwr@shir-hadash.org.
Virtual Bingo, August 16 -- Enjoy a game of Bingo from the comfort of your home! Please invite family and friends to join us on Sunday, August 16 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Chana Sulpar will host this free Family Activity Committee event, and Kyle Sulpar will be the caller of the Bingo numbers. Please register here by August 13 to receive a Bingo card and Zoom link!
Book Club: New Selection -- Our next book club Zoom meeting will be on August 20. We will discuss The Weight of Ink, a novel by Rachel Kadish. Set in London of the 1660s and of the early twenty-first century, The Weight of Ink is the interwoven tale of two women of remarkable intellect.
Landscaping Enhances Shir Hadash Entry -- The entrance to our building has been made more welcoming with new decorative plantings by the doors. The adjacent garden space is also filled with flowering perennials, ornamental grasses and other greenery. Thank you to Deb Harrison for her gardening efforts that have beautified our outdoor spaces!
SOCIAL ACTION
Sunday! Student Led Food Drive at Shir Hadash, August 9 -- Mikey G., a Madrichim at Shir Hadash, is leading a food drive for Wheeling Food Pantry, which has a critical shortage of food at this time. We need your help by donating non-perishable foods (click here for most requested items), many under $1 at Aldi & Dollar stores!
Drive by our no contact drop-off in the Shir Hadash parking lot on Sunday, August 9, rain or shine! Michael will be wearing a mask and will take items from your car. If you cannot drop off at that time and would like to donate, please call Cindy at 847-409-3707 to make arrangements.
ORT Welcomes Clothing Donations - ORT Resale Shop, 1710 First Street in Highland Park, is once again accepting clothing donations on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please bring donations to the back of the building.
Donations Help Suburban Homeless Individuals -- JOURNEYS: The Road Home provides shelter and services to those who are homeless or at risk in suburban Cook County. They welcome donations of food items, cleaning supplies and seasonal clothing. Detailed information is available here or on their Amazon wishlist. Donations can be left at the rear entrance at 1140 E. Northwest Hwy. in Palatine, Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS
Free Groceries for Veterans, August 14 -- If you are a veteran and need food assistance, Northern Illinois Food Bank will distribute free groceries to veterans on Friday, August 14, 12pm-1:30pm at Midwest Veterans Closet, 2323 Green Bay Road, North Chicago. A volunteer wearing protective gear will place the box and/or bag of groceries in your vehicle. You will not be allowed to exit your car. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
If you are home and shopping online, be sure to consider these donation programs that support Shir Hadash at no extra cost to you!
iGive -- There are 2500 online retailers helping to make donations happen through iGive. Click here to learn more. or contact Sandi Schleicher, sschleicher@onebox.com.
Amazon Smile -- Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of your purchase to when you sign up at smile.amazon.com. Be sure to select "Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue-Congregation Shir Hadash" in Wheeling as your charity of choice.
Shop with Scrip -- ShopWithScrip gift cards are available for more than 750+ brands and each purchase provides a donation to Shir Hadash. Click here for complete details!
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