If you need assistance, please email the office or call 847-498-8218. You may additionally reach the Rabbi on his cell 847-525-7746 at any time, and our President, Marc Fargotstein 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
- Tomorrow: Multigenerational Shabbat Service via Zoom, Friday February 5, 7:00 p.m.
- Next Friday: Shabbat Evening Service with SHED Talks, Friday February 12, 7:30 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- "The Shofar"
Religious School
- Religious School Youth Classes, February 7, 10:15 a.m.
- Youth Kallah for Grades 6-12, February 12-14
- Virtual Purim Carnival, February 21, 10:15 a.m.
Adult Education
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
- Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Thursdays, 1:00 p.m.
Membership News and Events
- Wednesday: Virtual Travels to Jewish History Sites: Alexandria, February 10, 7:30 p.m.
- Next Thursday: Mussar Virtual Discussion Group, February 11, 7:30 p.m.
- Save the Date! Virtual Congregational Town Hall, February 17, 7:30 p.m.
- Support Shir Hadash with Bagels from Max and Benny's! Order by February 16 for February 19 Pickup
- Book Club Selection; Meeting February 18, 7:30 p.m.
- Save the Date! Adult Purim Virtual Event-- Mordechai's Mountain Resort Presents Shushan Shenanigans! February 20, 7:30 p.m.
Social Justice- Sunday: White Fragility Discussion Session 4, February 7
- Monday: Raising Anti-Racist Children, February 8
Social Action
- Ends Sunday! Help Nearby Children Needing Personal Care Items
Ongoing Fundraisers
- iGive, Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Friday: Multigenerational Shabbat Service via Zoom, Friday February 5, 7:00 p.m. -- Join in 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.
Next Week: Shabbat Evening Service via Zoom, Friday February 12, 7:30 p.m. -- “SHED TALKS – Shir Hadash’s version of TED Talks” – We begin with a brief Kabbalah Shabbat to welcome the Shabbat with song and story. Then, Shir Hadash members offer personal reflections on life, living, and Judaism. On February 12, Adam Gross speaks on “Judaism and Positive Psychology: Grit, Hope, Optimism, Resilience, and Perseverance."
THE RABBI’S CORNER
February 5-6, 2021 / 24 Shevat 5781 / Shabbat Yitro
Torah: Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1 - 7:6; 9:5 - 9:6
“The Shofar”
Dear Friends,
What did the Israelites hear when they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai? Tradition says that when the Ten Commandments were given, there was complete silence followed by the sound of the heavenly shofar. Ever since, we Jews have been sounding the shofar at some of the most sacred moments in our lives. At Shir Hadash, we sound the shofar at the High Holidays. When in Jerusalem, you might hear the shofar at the start of shabbat and the festivals.
The shofar sound is about calling us to attention and keeping us focused. It is about repentance. It is about calling us to rise to our best selves. It is about community. It is about holiness.
Tradition teaches us that we were all present at Mount Sinai when the Ten Commandments were revealed. Every time we hear the shofar sound, perhaps it will remind us of that moment.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Read past editions of The Rabbi's Corner on the Shir Hadash website .
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Religious School Youth Classes, February 7 -- We are looking forward to seeing our students in their Zoom classes this week. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Goldberg or Alan Bernover.
Youth Kallah for Grades 6-12, February 12-14 -- While we cannot do Youth Kallah in our normal fashion, it doesn't mean that we can't gather online in creative ways! And this year it will be 100% free. High School students from JRC & Shir Hadash are currently planning an awesome and multi-faceted virtual youth kallah that will feature fun, tikkun olam projects, art, a movie night, Shabbat services and more! So many of your favorite things about Kallah - most importantly the connection with friends from JRC and beyond - will continue, even in this year.
Click here for information and registration.
Save the Date! Virtual Purim Carnival, Sunday, February 21, 10:15am-12:15pm. Join us for our annual Purim Carnival! Yes, we are virtual this year, but it won't stop the fun! We have been busy planning and are excited to present a carnival with baking, crafts, virtual games, and more! We will also be hosting a 50/50 raffle plus a drawing for FREE tuition! Click here to learn more and to signup. Members and guests of all ages are welcome and will help make this event the success it always is. We are looking forward to seeing you!
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, February 4, 1:00 p.m. -- Be part of an engaging examination of the week's Torah portion via Zoom.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS AND EVENTS
Wednesday: Virtual Travels to Jewish History Sites: Alexandria, February 10, 7:30 p.m. -- Join David Liebling for another fascinating virtual visit to great sites of Jewish history -- this month, our destination is Alexandria. Click here for details and to register for the Zoom link.
Next Thursday: Mussar Study Group, February 11, 7:30 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 participate in our monthly Zoom discussion, contact Lynn Liebling or Kayla Shonberg.
Support Shir Hadash: Order Max and Benny's Bagel Boxes! -- We are excited to again offer delicious bagels with all the fixings from Max and Benny's. Click here for complete details. Pre-order by February 16 for pickup at Shir Hadash on February 19 between 1:00 and 3:00 pm.
Save The Date! Virtual Town Hall, February 17, 7:30 p.m. -- Join Shir Hadash as our leadership team shares some important updates and discusses the on-going challenge of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Key topics include School Activities, Finances, and Building Facilities support. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about what is happening in the synagogue, ask questions, and contribute ideas. Our panelists will include our President, Rabbi, Education Director / V.P. for Education, V.P. Finance, and V.P. for Building Operations.
Congregants are invited to submit questions to be addressed during the meeting. Please submit your questions by Thursday, February 11 by email to Stuart Aizenberg. If you have any questions, please call Stuart at (847) 840-7895
Book Club, February 18, 7:30 p.m. -- The Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 18 to discuss The Only Woman in the Room, a novel by Marie Benedict. Check your local library or consider purchasing from your local bookstore or from Bookshop.org to support small businesses.
Save the Date! Mordechai's Mountain Resort Presents: Shushan Shenanigans! February 20, 7:30 p.m. -- This year for Purim, the Catskills are coming to you! Mordechai's Mountain Resort may be temporarily closed, but our beloved Mordy is hosting a very special, never-before-seen, Virtual Evening Spectacular! There will be laughs, songs, and surprises from our performers broadcasting right to your living room, so mark your calendars for a Catskills evening like you've never had before! Watch for Zoom links in upcoming newsletters.
SOCIAL ACTION
Ends Sunday: Help Nearby Children Needing Personal Care Items --There are students at nearby Holmes Middle School -- less than a mile from Shir Hadash -- who are running out of personal hygiene products and their families cannot afford to replace them. Shir Hadash is hoping to help all 50 students. Donations of any amount are welcomed by February 7th. If you can help, make an online donation by clicking here (select Social Action in the dropdown menu and write Personal Care Products in the Payment Notes). Alternatively, you can mail a check to the synagogue made out to Shir Hadash and indicate it's for Personal Care Products. If you have any questions, email Social Action Chair Lisa Burton Radzely.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Sunday! White Fragility Discussion Group Session 4, February 7 -- Our White Fragility book discussion, in partnership with Congregation Or Shalom. concludes this Sunday, 10am-11:30am. Contact racial-justice@orshalomlc.com if you have any questions.
Monday! Raising Anti-Racist Children, February 8, 7:00 p.m. -- Join racial healing facilitators Sarah Dennis and Yvonnie DuBose for a virtual discussion on race, racism, and parenting. This session is for parents and caregivers eager to learn practical tools to go beyond "colorblindness" when talking to their children about race.
Sign up here. Spots are limited, so sign up now. Thank you to the Lake Forest Library for hosting this program and allowing community participation, regardless of where people live.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERSGift Card Purchases Help Shir Hadash - SHOP Shir Hadash allows members to order physical and electronic gift cards from thousands of stores and Shir Hadash receives a portion of every purchase. Purchase can be for gifts or your personal use. Thousands of dollars can be generated for Shir Hadash at no cost to you.
Click here for more information. Once registered, electronic and physical cards can be ordered instantly ordered using the RaiseRight app on your phone or through our vendor shopwithscrip.com. Contact Glenn Graff
f for more information.
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.
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