If you need assistance, please email the office at admin@shir-hadash.org 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 . - Friday: Shabbat Evening Learners' Sevice via Zoom, Friday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
Next Week: Multigenerational Shabbat via Zoom, Friday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- "Lag B’Omer”
Religious School - Religious School, May 2, 10:15 a.m.
Adult Education- Today: Thursday Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan, April 29, 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes, May 2
--Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m.
-- Hebrew Reading Class, 11:00 a.m. - Tuesday: "A Mother and Her Daughter-in-Law" Study of the Book of Ruth, May 4, 1:00 p.m.
Membership News and Events - Kitchen Kids Cooking Demo: Shavuot Cheesecake, May 16, 1:00 p.m.
- Save the Date: Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council Presents Virtual Tour of Israel, May 23, 5:00 p.m.
- Book Club New Selection; Meeting on June 17, 7:30 p.m.
- Volunteer Opportunity: Shir Hadash IT Committee
- Looking for Shiva Backpack
Social Justice- Apply by April 30: Buffalo Grove Pride Drive -- Participation Assistance Available
- Save the Date: Guest Presenter Nanette Massey Talks about White Privilege, May 19, 7:00 p.m.
Social Action- Help Seniors Get Covid Vaccine Appointments
Ongoing Fundraisers - iGive, Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
Friday: Shabbat Evening Learner's Service via Zoom, Friday, April 30, 7:30 p.m. -- Our “5th Friday Learner’s Service” offers a unique opportunity to ask your questions about the Shabbat worship service, the meaning of the prayers, why we do things as we do, and just about anything else in Judaism. Rabbi Eitan is ready to take your questions in this creative, lively, informal, and inspiring service.
Next Week: Multigenerational Shabbat Service via Zoom, Friday, May 7, 7:00 p.m. -- Join us for 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, with fun music, engaging prayer, and a delightful story.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
April 30-May 1, 2021 / 19 Iyar 5781
Omer Day 34
Shabbat Emor
Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23 / Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31
“Lag B’Omer”
Dear Friends,
This week, on Thursday night and Friday, we will observe the minor holiday of Lag B’omer. Lag means “33rd day.” Omer is the 50 days counted from Passover to Shavu’ot. So, Lag B’Omer simply means the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. This day is associated with two historical events. The first is the ending of a plague that ravaged the Jewish community during Roman times. The second is the outbreak of the Second Jewish Revolt against Rome led by Shim’on Bar Kochba. In Israel these days, the holiday is celebrated by building bon fires, having cookouts, and singing pioneer songs. Children will play games of Jews against Romans and run around with bows and arrows made out of sticks and string. Even though the rebellion ultimately failed, we celebrate this holiday because we Jews still exist and the Roman empire is gone. We celebrate this holiday because the State of Israel is reborn in our day – a miracle in our time – and the Jewish community worldwide is thriving.
Even though Lag B’Omer is a minor holiday, it is day of great pride and joy. L’chayim – To Life!
Zay gezunt – Be well.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Read past editions of The Rabbi's Corner on the Shir Hadash website .
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Religious School, Sunday, May 2-- We look forward to seeing all our students in their virtual classes at 10:15 a.m. Questions? Contact Rachel Goldberg or Alan Bernover.
ADULT EDUCATION
Today: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Thursday, April 29, 1:00 p.m. - Join the Rabbi and other members in an engaging examination of the week's Torah portion
Adult Ed Sunday Morning Programs, May 2: Adults are welcome to join in the following adult education programs on Sundays:: - Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m: via Zoom If you would like to participate, contact Fred Andes.
- Hebrew Reading, 11:00 a.m. via WebEx. For more information, contact Steve Lewin.
Tuesday: "A Mother and Her Daughter-in-Law: Four Movements in Two Women's Lives" May 4, 1:00 p.m. -- Join Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and Deacon Peery Duderstadt for a series of Zoom meetings, where we’ll delve into the Book of Ruth. Bring your Bible and discover a beautiful story of a mother and her daughter-in-law thousands of years ago. Sessions continue each Tuesday through May 11. They will cover one chapter each week.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS AND EVENTS
Kitchen Kids Cooking Demo: Shavuot Cheesecake, Sunday, May 16, 1:00 p.m -- Mark your calendar for a fun virtual cooking demonstration from the Family Activity Committee. We will be making no-bake cheesecake with banana and strawberry decorations. Kids in kindergarten through 8th grade can join in to watch or to cook with us as we use hand mixers and knives to create our dairy (and Shavuot celebratory) cheesecake creations. Parental supervision is advised. Register here to receive the ingredient list, recipe, and Zoom link. In the Notes box, please include the names of the children you are registering.
Save the Date: Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council Presents Virtual Tour of Israel, May 23, 5:00 p.m. -- Mark your calendar for a virtual tour is Israel program, presented by the NWSIC, on Sunday, May 23. More details to come!
New: Book Club New Selection; Meeting on June 17, 7:30 p.m. -- Save the Date! On June 17, Book Club will meet to discuss our next selection: The Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen. This novel tells the story of an Israeli girl working in an ice cream shop, and reveals how one mistake can have a thousand consequences. Read more about the book here!
Volunteer Opportunity: Shir Hadash IT Committee -- We are in great need of a dedicated group of folks that are willing to assist with our IT needs. Areas that need attention:
- Internal: network management; workstations management; device software/firmware updates; support staff with computer, phone and copier assistance.
- External: Google administration - email accounts, group distribution lists; Google drives and Docs; Facebook accounts (public and members); YouTube account; Instagram account
Do you have an interest in helping with any of these functions? We can only effectively tackle the areas in which we have volunteers. Please contact Marc Fargotstein - / 847-612-6579 or Stuart Aizenberg – 847-840-7895 if you would like to volunteer.
Looking for our Shiva Backpack -- Shir Hadash has a rolling backpack of supplies, including prayer books and other materials, for families observing shivas. At the moment, we are missing our backpack! If your family has borrowed it, please double check that you have returned it to Shir Hadash. Email Karen at the office to make return arrangements. Thank you!
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Apply by Friday!: Buffalo Grove Pride Drive on June 6 -- Participation Assistance Available -- Shir Hadash will again be a sponsor for the Buffalo Grove Pride Parade. All the fun of a parade, within your own car. For the second year using this format, residential lawns will be decorated with pride decor, music, rainbow treats and more! Do you live in Buffalo Grove and want to become part of the parade route by decorating your home? We have limited funds available to help if you do on a first come - first served basis. However, understand that the planning and work to decorate is your responsibility. Please contact Stuart Aizenberg no later than April 30 if interested.
Save the Date! Guest Presenter Nanette Massey Talks about White Privilege, Wednesday, May 19, 7-8:30pm -- Nanette D. Massey is a Black writer and workshop facilitator. She speaks with audiences about having honest, effective conversations about race. Ms. Massey will talk about white privilege on Wednesday, May 19, 7:00-8:30pm. Registration information and other details will be available next week.
SOCIAL ACTION
Help Seniors Get Covid Vaccine Appointments -- In an effort to assist high-risk individuals, we are looking for volunteers to help seniors get COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Each volunteer will call 25 seniors and help them sign up for a vaccine appointment if they haven't already been vaccinated. The phone calls will be done based on your schedule and from your own home. You will use a calling script; you don't need to figure out what to say. Catholic Charities is coordinating this effort, and Shir Hadash will partner with them. If you are interested in volunteering, email our Social Action Chair, Lisa Burton Radzely, for more details.
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. |
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