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: Shabbat Dinner Blessings, Friday, March 19, 6:15 p.m.
- Next Week: Pausing in the Wilderness Service, Friday, March 26, 7:30 p.m.
- Community Second-Night Seder, Sunday, March 28, 6:00 p.m
The Rabbi's Corner -- "The Nature of Sin"
Religious School
- Religious School, March 21
- School Reopening Task Force -- Your Input Needed!
Adult Education- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes, March 21
--Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m.
-- No Hebrew Reading Class this week - Thursday Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan, March 18, 1:00 p.m.
Membership News and Events
- Board Nominations Due by March 31; Annual Meeting June 6
- Sunday: Shir HaNosh TV: Passover Recipes, Sunday, March 21, 3:00 p.m.
- New: Saturday Night at the Israeli Movies Discussion, Saturday April 3, 8:00 p.m.
- New: "Food for Thought" Virtual Event, Tuesday, April 6, 7:00 p.m.
- Apply by April 6: JUF COVID-19 Initiative Academic Scholarships for Academic Year 2021-22
Ongoing Fundraisers - iGive, Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Tomorrow: Shabbat Dinner Blessings via Zoom, Friday, March 19, 6:15 p.m. -- Shabbat Dinner Blessings with Rabbi Eitan Join us on Zoom as we light candles, bless our families, sanctify the wine, and bless the challah before Shabbat dinner. Rabbi Eitan will lead a 20-minute ceremony to welcome our Shabbat dinners at home.
Next Week: Pausing in the Wilderness Service via Zoom, Friday March 26, 7:30 p.m. -- Join us on Zoom for our community’s special way of welcoming our celebration of Passover! Through story, song, and even dance, we will celebrate our ancestors’ deliverance from Egyptian slavery.
Community Second-Night Seder via Zoom, Sunday, March 28, 6:00 p.m. -- Join the Shir Hadash Community for a second-night seder led by Rabbi Eitan in a unique service that is familiar, lively, and interactive. This year, we will be gathering via Zoom, each at our own seder tables in our own homes, with a computer or other device on the table to link us together. Click here for details to help you plan!
THE RABBI’S CORNER
March 19-20, 2021 / 7 Nisan 5781 / Shabbat Vayikra
Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 / Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23
“The Nature of Sin”
Dear Friends,
How can we better understand the nature of sin? Our Jewish tradition helps us in this week’s Torah portion, the beginning of the third book of the Torah, Leviticus or Vayikra. The book has great concern for the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood of Israel, among them offering sacrifice to God to absolve one of sinful acts. There appear to be two, if not three categories to consider. First are sins between ourselves and God – adam laMakom. Forgiveness comes through sacrifice and worship. Second are sins between ourselves and other human beings – adam l’chaveiro. Forgiveness comes through apology and returning to better ways of behavior. Third are sins between people and themselves – adam l’atzmo. Forgiveness comes through introspection and growth.
Our tradition recognizes that everyone makes mistakes and therefore, everyone can repent and live according to their highest selves.
Shabbat Shalom. Stay safe and Zay Gezunt – Be Healthy,.
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Read past editions of The Rabbi's Corner on the Shir Hadash website .
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Religious School, March 21-- We look forward to seeing all our students in their virtual classes at 10:15 a.m. This week will include very special Passover activities! Questions? Contact Rachel Goldberg or Alan Bernover.
New: School Reopening Task Force -- The Synagogue is looking to create and staff a “School Re-Opening Task Force” to prepare for the 2021-2022 Religious School educational year. This task force will shape policy, create protocols for safe re-entry to our school, and implement best practices and procedures to comply with city, state and national guidelines regarding COVID-19. Professional areas of expertise are essential such as: medical professionals, school administrators and teachers, architects, engineers, safety compliance managers, project managers, and the like. We are hoping to include a wide array of backgrounds in this new task force and welcome school parents' input as well. Please contact Alan Bernover by email or at (773) 865-3136 if you are interested in participating in this new action committee. We plan to form this committee in the coming two weeks.
ADULT EDUCATION
Adult Ed Sunday Morning Programs, March 21: Adults are welcome to join in the following adult education programs: - Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m Contact Fred Andes for scheduling details.
- No Hebrew Reading this week due to special school programming. Join the class next week at 11:00 a.m. via WebEx. Contact Steve Lewin..
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Thursday, March 18, 1:00 p.m. - Join the Rabbi and other members in an engaging examination of the week's Torah portion via Zoom.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS AND EVENTS
 Board Nominations Due by March 31; Annual Meeting June 6 -- As in 2020, the Shir Hadash Annual Meeting will be held via Zoom. Please plan to participate on June 6 at 10:00 a.m. for an informative session as well as elections for new Board members and approval of the annual budget. Your input is needed and greatly appreciated! If you will need an absentee ballot, please contact Karen in the office.
At this time, we are seeking members who are interested in serving in the open Board positions, including:
- President
- Executive Vice President
- Vice-President for Programming
- Four At-Large Board Members for two-year terms
In order to hold any of these offices, the individual must be a member in good standing as described in Article III, Section 4 of the bylaws. If you would like a nomination form or more information about the positions, please contact Fred Andes at 773-354-3100. Completed nomination forms must be received at the office by March 31, 2021.
 Sunday: Shir HaNosh TV: Passover Recipes, Sunday, March 21, 3:00 p.m. - Mark your calendars for Shir HaNosh TV -- we're getting ready for Passover! Come cook along and chat with us as Reba Meshulam teaches us a recipe for Pastel (Sephardic Passover meat pie), and Mehran Farahmanpour teaches us a Persian haroset! Click here to RSVP.
New: Saturday Night at the Israeli Movies Discussion: "She's Got It", Saturday, April 3, 8:00 p.m. -- Join us for Saturday Night at the Israeli Movies! This time, we've got a comedy: She's Got It, which centers around three women and a counterfeiting scheme. Watch the movie at your leisure beforehand, and we'll gather virtually for a lively discussion. Click here to learn more, watch the trailer, and RSVP! The film is available online for free on Hoopla which you can access with most local library cards.
New: "Food for Thought" Virtual Event, Tuesday, April 6 -- Save the date for an interfaith experience reflecting on hunger in our nation. Presented by the Children of Abraham Coalition and Tri-Faith Initiative. More information to be announced.
New: JUF COVID-19 Initiative Academic Scholarships for Academic Year 2021-22 -- The Jewish United Fund and JVS Career and Employment now offer scholarships for Jewish low-income high school graduates who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis. The funds are intended to make a difference in the ability to gain a post-high school education. Students must demonstrate how this crisis has impacted their ability to afford their education, be Jewish, and have a permanent residence in the Chicago metropolitan area. The funds are limited and not intended to pay full tuition. Eligible students may attend the full spectrum of post-high school institutions, including vocational schools, community colleges and four-year colleges/universities. They may be either full-time or part-time students. Preferences will be given to students attending Illinois institutions. Apply here. The deadline is April 6, 2021 and awards will be made by May 2021. This is a one-time fund generously funded by JUF’s COVID-19 Initiative. Email jvsscholarship@jvschicago.org for more information.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
Gift 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. 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 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.
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website. |
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