Our staff has transitioned back to work in the building as much as safely possible. Office hours are Mon, Tues, Thurs 9:30a-4:30p, and Fri 9:30a-3:30p. If you need assistance, please contact the office at 847-498-8218 or email admin@shir-hadash.org. You may additionally reach the Rabbi on his cell 847-525-7746 at any time, and our President Marc Fargotstein, who welcomes your calls on any matter, at 847-612-6579. For more information about our COVID-19 response plan, click here .
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Creative Worship and Ritual - Shabbat Dinner Blessings via Zoom, Friday October 23, 6:15 p.m.
- Shabbat Evening Service via Zoom, Friday, October 30, 7:30 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- "The Jewish Sign”
Religious School
- Religious School Meets October 25, 10:15 a.m.
- 5th, 6th and 7th Grades: Schedule Hebrew Assessments
Adult Education
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Programs This Week, 10:00 a.m.
- Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays, 1:00 p.m.
Membership News and Events- Saturday! Israeli Movie Discussion, The Women's Balcony, October 24, 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday! Cookies, Crafts & Kibbitzing for Grades 5-7, October 25, 1:00 p.m.
- A Facebook Invite for SH Members
Social Action & Social Justice
- Monday! Jews and White Privilege, Hosted by Reconstructing Judaism, October 26, 3:00 p.m.
- New! Support Contactless Soup Kitchen on November 8
Support for Members- Suburban Cook County Lottery for Rent Assistance, Submissions Close November 2
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive, Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL -- Contact the SH Office for Zoom links.
Shabbat Dinner Blessings with the Bernover Family via Zoom, Friday October 23, 6:15 Join as we light candles, bless our families, sanctify the wine, and bless the challah before Shabbat dinner. Jen and Alan Bernover will lead a 15-minute ceremony to begin our Shabbat dinners at home.
Shabbat Evening Service via Zoom, Friday October 30, 7:30 p.m. Our "5th Friday Learner's Service" offers a unique opportunity to ask questions in the Zoom chat about the Shabbat worship service, the meaning of prayers, why we do what we do, and just about anything else in Judaism. Rabbi Eitan is ready to take your questions in the creative, lively, informal, and inspiring service style.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
October 23-24, 2020 / 6 Cheshvan 5781 / Shabbat Noach
Torah: Genesis 6:9 - 11:32 -- Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1 - 55:5
“The Jewish Sign”
Dear Friends,
At the end of the flood story, God puts a sign in the sky announcing that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood. That sign was, of course, the rainbow. According to the story, whenever we see the rainbow, it is God remembering the covenant.
Signs are important and pervasive in Judaism. The mezuzah on the doorpost is a sign that this is a Jewish home. The kipah or yarmulka is a sign of one’s Jewish identity. Placing the lit Hanukkah lamp in the window is a sign of celebration of the Jewish holiday of independence. For many, the six-pointed star is a sign of the Jewish people – and even appears on the flag of Israel. What I find interesting is that the star is a relatively recent sign for Judaism, perhaps only 200 years old. Even though it is called the “Star of David,” I doubt very strongly that King David ever considered this symbol to represent Judaism or his kingdom. When I visited the Jewish catacombs of Rome a few years ago, there was a plethora of painting and images painted on the walls. Nevertheless, I did not see a single six-pointed star anywhere. However, I did see paintings, etchings, and graffiti of seven-branched menorahs everywhere. Thus, while the star is on Israel’s flag, the menorah is the official symbol of the state of Israel. Signs and symbols are meaningful in Judaism. The oldest sign of Judaism is the seven-branched menorah.
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.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Religious School, October 27 -- We will be meeting via Zoom from 10:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Please use the links we send you each week. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Goldberg or Alan Bernover
5th, 6th, & 7th Graders: Schedule Hebrew Assessments -- This Sunday between 1pm and 2:30pm, our Education Director and Hebrew Specialist would like to meet with each 5th, 6th, and 7th grader to assess their current Hebrew reading skills. This will help us place them with the best one-on-one Hebrew Learning Buddy. The assessment will take three to five minutes. Parents - details for how to schedule your child's five-minute time slot will be in the RSNL (Religious School Newsletter) you receive later today from Rachel.
ADULT EDUCATION
Adult Ed Sunday Morning Programs: Adults are welcome to join in the following adult education programs on Sunday mornings:
10:00 a.m. -- Torah and Jewish Philosophy via Zoom. Contact Fred Andes for details.
10:00 a.m. -- Hebrew Reading via WebEx -- contact Steve Lewin.
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Thursdays -- Join an engaging examination of the week's Torah portion via Zoom Lunch and Learn meets on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS AND EVENTS
"Saturday Night at the Israeli Movies" Film Discussion, October 24 -- On Oct. 24 from 8-9pm, we're kicking off our new series, Saturday Night at the Israeli Movies! Our first film is The Women's Balcony, a gentle Israeli comedy about women speaking truth to power. Watch the film at your leisure anytime before the event, and then we'll meet virtually for a discussion led by member Burton Kopulsky. Click here to read about the movie, find out how to watch it, and to RSVP for the discussion!
Cookies, Crafts & Kibbitzing for Grades 5-7, October 25 -- Calling all 5-7th graders! Bring your paper, pens, crafting materials and your favorite snack to our Cookies, Crafts, and Kibbitzing on Sunday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m. Learn about a fun craft - Micrography (using a word or sentence only) to create an awesome artwork. We will do a quick overview of this ancient Jewish artform while we snack. Then we will open the floor to share our work, ideas about future activities, or just hang out. Looking forward to seeing you there! Brought to you by the Family Activities Committee (FAC). Register here to get the Zoom link.
A Facebook Invite to our Members -- If you have not already done so, please take a minute to join our Members Only Facebook Group. It is a great way to have receive notifications, access special events, stream our services, communicate with other members about relevant issues. Simply click here or search in Facebook for "Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue - current members" and click 'Join'. Please allow some time for your request to be approved.
SOCIAL ACTION & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Jews and White Privilege, Hosted by Reconstructing Judaism, October 26, 3:00-4:15pm -- A prominent feature of Jewish identity is that we are oppressed, that we are vulnerable to antisemitism. Since the end of the Second World War, however, European Jews in the United States have been viewed as white, and whiteness is accompanied by privileges, including privileges that come at the expense and through the oppression of people of color. What is the responsibility of white Jews to work against injustices from which we benefit? How can we shed our attachment to whiteness and acknowledge that the Jewish people is in fact multiracial? Rabbi Jacob Staub will discuss these and related questions with Rabbis Max Reynolds and Jessica Rosenberg, beginning with their essay Jews and White Privilege. To register for this virtual discussion or to get more information, click here. A recording will be available to those who register even if you cannot attend the live discussion.
Support Soup Kitchen on November 8 -- Soup kitchens are needed more than ever these days, and Shir Hadash will sponsor 70 meals at an upcoming contactless soup kitchen. Patrons will receive a delicious, catered, individually boxed meal. It comes complete with entree, drink, vegetable, sides, fruit, and dessert. While we can't volunteer in person due to Covid, please consider making a donation so Shir Hadash can provide these meals. Click here and then select Social Action under "Type," and write Soup Kitchen in "Payment Notes." Thank you for helping those in need.
SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS
Suburban Cook County Lottery for Rent Assistance -- Applicants can go to http://myportal.thehacc.org until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2 to put their names in for a randomized lottery to get on the final waiting list for the Suburban Cook County Housing Choice Voucher Program, which will be capped at 10,000 households. To qualify, an applicant’s income must be less than 50% of the area’s median income, or about $45,500 for a family of four, and they must seek units within the housing authority’s jurisdiction of suburban Cook County. The vouchers subsidize the difference between 30% of the applicant’s household income and the cost of rent.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
When you’re 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 .
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!
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website. |
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