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
- Multigenerational Shabbat Service via Zoom, Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.
- Next Week: Shabbat Evening Service via Zoom, Friday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- "Pillar of Salt"
Religious School
- Religious School Meets November 8, 10:15 a.m.
Adult Education
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Programs This Week
- Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi, Thursdays, 1:00 p.m.
Membership News and Events- Virtual Travels with David Liebling to Sites of Jewish History: Cordoba and Grenada in the Age of Maimonides, November 18, 7:30 p.m.
- Movie Night Discussion: The Tobbaconist, Nov. 22, 8:00 p.m.
- Save the Date: Shir HaNosh TV, November 22
- Book Club Selection for December Meeting
Social Action
- This Saturday -- Bernie's Book Bank Dropoff, November 7
- This Sunday - Donate Today! Support Contactless Soup Kitchen on November 8
Support for Members- Cash Relief Program for Suburban Cook County Residents: Apply by November 6
- ComEd Assistance
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive, Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
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."
Next Week: Shabbat Evening Service via Zoom, Friday November 13, 7:30 p.m. “Judaism and Democracy: Where Things Stand” - Join us for a Zoom Kabbalat Shabbat experience and discussion led by Rabbi Eitan.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
November 6-7, 2020 / 20 Heshvan 5781 / Shabbat Vayera
Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24 / Haftarah Portion: II Kings 4:1-37
“Pillar of Salt”
Dear Friends,
As a child, I was astonished by the story of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. It amazed me that she would be punished for looking back as the city of Sodom was being destroyed. Anyone would want to look back, certainly for curiosity if not for compassion on those caught in the conflagration. I wondered what this story was really about. The answer came to me in the summer of 1974 during my first trip to Israel. We visited the Dead Sea and saw pillars of salt, a natural phenomenon arising from the mineral rich waters. The story, it occurred to me was mythical explanation for the salt formations in the area.
Over the years, I have learned that the Dead Sea is itself going through tremendous change. The inflow of waters from the Jordan River are greatly diminished and the chemical mining operations in the south are draining the sea. The water level is dropping, the ground is becoming unstable, and the Dead Sea is disappearing. The Bible tells of the destruction of Sodom by fire. We are witnessing the destruction of the Dead Sea by evaporation and mismanagement. We must do our best to see that the Dead Sea does not turn into a pillar of salt.
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 8 -- 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
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
Mussar Study Group via Zoom, November 12, 7:00 p.m. -- Mussar is a centuries-old Jewish body of teachings, a perspective, and a disciplined practice that provides distinctively Jewish answers to the sorts of questions any thinking person asks about life. To join our monthly discussion group, contact Lynn Liebling.
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 and to register.
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!
Save the Date! Shir HaNosh TV, November 22 -- Plan to join us for the next interactive episode of Shir HaNosh TV on Sunday, November 22. Reba Meshulam will teach us two Sephardic spinach recipes: Keftes (like spinach latkes) and Bulemas (spinach and cheese-filled fillo pastries)! More details coming soon.
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.
SOCIAL ACTION
This Saturday - 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.
This Sunday - Donate Today! 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 hereand then select Social Action under "Type," and write Soup Kitchen in "Payment Notes." Thank you for helping those in need.
SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS
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.
ComEd Assistance -- ComEd recently launched Helping Hand, a program that provides financial assistance to customers with the greatest need who have been impacted by the COVID pandemic. A one-time grant amount of up to $300 is available. The program will continue until funds are exhausted, so apply quickly. Click here for more details and to apply.
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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