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 Evening Service via Zoom, Friday, October 30, 7:30 p.m.
- Multigenerational Shabbat Service via Zoom, Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- "Reward for Performing a Mitzvah"
Religious School
- Religious School Meets November 1, 10:15 a.m. -- Turn Back Your Clocks!
Adult Education
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Programs This Week
- Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays, 1:00 p.m.
Membership News and Events- Remember to Vote by November 3!
- Virtual Travels with David Liebling to Sites of Jewish History: Cordoba and Grenada in the Age of Maimonides, November 18, 7:30 PM
- Movie Night Discussion: The Tobbaconist, Nov. 22, 8-9 PM
- Book Club Selection for December Meeting
- A Facebook Invite for SH Members
Social Action & Social Justice
- Bernie's Book Bank Dropoff, November 7
- Support Contactless Soup Kitchen on November 8
Support for Members- Suburban Cook County Lottery for Rent Assistance, Submissions Close November 2
- Cash Relief Program for Suburban Cook County Residents: Apply by November 6
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive, Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
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.
Next Week! Multigenerational Shabbat Service via Zoom, Friday November 6, 7:00 p.m. A family-friendly Zoom service for all school families, seniors, not-yet seniors, and anyone else who would like to come worship with us as a community. Enjoy a Shabbat service with fun music, engaging prayer, and a delightful story told by Lynne Arons. We will welcome all new students to our Sunday School with a service of "consecration."
THE RABBI’S CORNER
October 30-31, 20120/ 13 Heshvan 5781 / Shabbat Lech Lecha
Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
“Reward for Performing a Mitzvah”
Dear Friends,
Is there a reward for doing a mitzvah? A mitzvah is often described as a ‘good deed.’ Actually, the word means ‘commandment’ – something that we are required or expected to do. Some would define a mitzvah as a ‘righteous deed,’ in that doing it fulfills an obligation and helps bring goodness and balance to the world. So, when we perform a mitzvah, should we expect to receive anything in return?
The answer can be found in the Talmudic book, Pirkei Avot – Ethics of the Sages. One of the great rabbis, Antigonos Ish Soho said this: “Be not like servants who work for their master only on condition of receiving payment but be like servants who work for their master without expecting any reward – and be in awe of God.” (Avot 1:3) Later, Rabbi Shimon ben Azai taught that “the reward for doing one mitzvah is the opportunity of doing another one.” (Avot 4:2).
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, November 1 -- We will be meeting via Zoom from 10:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Remember: Daylight Savings Time is ending, so turn back your clocks one hour before your go to bed on Saturday! Please use the links we send you each week. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Goldberg or Alan Bernover
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.
11:00 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
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 -- A friendly reminder: be sure you vote by Tuesday! If you've completed a mail-in ballot, it can be dropped off at many secure early-voting sites. Click here for dropbox sites in suburban Cook County.
Virtual Travels with David Liebling to Sites of Jewish History: Cordoba and Grenada in the Age of Maimonides, November 18, 7:30 p.m. -- For November's Virtual Travels program, we're headed to Coroba and Grenada in the Age of Maimonides. David Liebling will share the sights and history of this fascinating destination, where Moorish rule created a period of inter-religious cooperation. Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 PM -- click here to learn more.
Movie Night Discussion: The Tobacconist, November 22, 8:00 p.m. -- Mark your calendars for a Movie Night Discussion on Sunday, November 22 from 8-9 PM! We'll be discussing The Tobbaconist, a 2018 German-language film set in Vienna, where a tobacco shop apprentice befriends Sigmund Freud. Set during the escalating political and social times as the Nazi occupation of Vienna begins, each has decisions to make regarding staying in or fleeing from Austria. The film will be available from November 19-22 -- stay tuned for more details!
Book Club Selection for December - Our Book Club will be reading The Physician, a novel by Noah Gordon. Watch for details to come about our December virtual meeting.
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
Last Bernie's Book Bank Dropoff This Year, November 7, 12:00-4:00pm -- Want to donate children's books and help kids have books to read at home? Bernie's Book Bank will hold the last collection this year on Saturday, November 7th, 12pm-4pm at Barnes and Noble in Mellody Farm, 901 N Milwaukee Ave, Suite 500, Vernon Hills. Accepting new and gently used books for birth through 6th grade reading level. Please no textbooks, dictionaries, activity books, coloring books, reference material, or religious books.
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.
Cash Relief Program for Suburban Cook County Residents: Apply by November 6 -- The "COVID-19 Resident Cash Relief Program" is a one-time $600 payment for residents of suburban Cook County who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Applicants just have to demonstrate they have been affected by unpaid leave, that they have had to care for vulnerable or infected relatives, or experienced loss of pay due to business or school closures. Apply by November 6 by clicking here.
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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