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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Shir Hadash Weekly Newsletter - June 3, 2021

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue

Shir Hadash Weekly Newsletter

June 3, 2021

If you need assistance, please 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.  

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
COVID Policy Update
Creative Worship and Ritual 
.

  • Friday: Multigenerational Shabbat via Zoom AND IN PERSON! Friday, June 4, 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: "Green Thumb" Shabbat Morning via Zoom, Saturday, June 5, 10:00 a.m.
  • Next Week: Shabbat Service and SHED Talk with Fred Andes via Zoom, Friday, June 11, 7:30 p.m.
  • Upcoming: Hybrid Shabbat Service (Zoom and In-Person), Friday, June 18, 7:30 p.m.

The Rabbi's Corner -- "Let Us Go Up"
Religious School

  • Religious School on Summer Break
  • Friday: End of School Picnic Celebration, Friday, June 4, 5:00 p.m.
Adult Education
  • Today: Thursday Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan via Zoom, June 3, 1:00 p.m.
  • Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
    --Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m.
    -- Hebrew Reading, 11:00 a.m.

Membership News and Events

  • Sunday: Annual Meeting, June 6, 11:00 a.m.
  • Sunday: Buffalo Grove Pride Drive, June 6, 12:00 noon
  • Wednesday: Social Action Planning Meeting, June 9, 7:00 p.m.
  • Order by June 8: Max and Benny's Box Pickup, June 11, 1:00 p.m.
  • Book Club Meeting on June 17, 7:30 p.m.

Ongoing Fundraisers

  • iGive,  Amazon Smile, and ShopWithScrip

 
COVID POLICY UPDATE


The Board of Directors has updated our Covid Policy.  Here’s what to expect: 

  • Services and other events may be held in the building or outdoors. The first hybrid service (outdoors and Zoom) will be on June 4, with more in-person services to come. Services will continue to be on Zoom as well.
  • The sanctuary will be limited to a maximum of 40 and everyone must be masked. Separation of groups will be required.  Soft reciting of the prayers and singing is allowed.  Onegs will not occur after services for the immediate future.
  • Meetings and education can take place in the building if you have made arrangements in advance.  However, our preference for the time being is that these meetings continue to be held on Zoom.

Details regarding our Bridge Phase Policy, Building and Site Occupancy Limits, and Wellness Criteria can now be found on the Shir Hadash website. All of these policies will be reviewed and updated as conditions change.  Thank you for your patience as we transition to a safe, welcoming reopening.

CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL



Friday: Multigenerational Shabbat In Person AND via Zoom, Friday, June 4, 7:00 p.m.  Be part of our first hybrid service, to be held outside and also available on Zoom! This family-friendly service welcomes 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. Everyone should bring their own seating, and please wear a face mask.


Saturday: "Green Thumb" Shabbat Morning Service via Zoom, Saturday, June 5, 10:00 a.m. - Start with a short Shabbat morning service -    Then stay on Zoom and Shir Hadash member Deb Harrison will lend her gardening expertise and lead us in making herb pots at home.  Click here for more info and for the supply list.

Next Week: Shabbat Evening Service and SHED Talk with Fred Andes via Zoom, Friday, June 11, 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. This month, Fred Andes presents "How Someone Somehow Ends Up Very Involved in National and International Organizations on Jewish and Israel Issues."

Upcoming: Hybrid (Zoom and In-Person) Shabbat Evening Service, Friday, June 18, 7:30 p.m. -- We are excited to hold our first regular Shabbat Evening Service in the building, with a simultaneous Zoom option, on Friday, June 18.  Please note that in-person attendance will be limited to 40 participants, and advance registration will be required.  Watch for further details coming soon.

THE RABBI’S CORNER

June 4-5, 2021 / 24 Sivan 5781
Shabbat Shelach Lecha
Torah: Numbers 13:1 - 15:41 / Haftarah: Joshua 2:1 - 24
 
“Let Us Go Up”
 
Dear Friends,
 
In this week’s Torah portion, after two years of travel from Egypt, the Children of Israel finally arrived at the Promised Land.  They did not enter immediately. Rather they sent scouts to check things out.  They reported that the Land was good, but there were obstacles to overcome. Joshua urged the people saying, “Let us go up to the land, for we are able.”  However, the people grew frightened and needed to take it slower. So, out to the desert they went for 38 more years until they were ready.
 
After more than a year of lock-down, we have reached the point when we can start re-opening our building for programs, meetings, and services. Our scouts are our Board of Directors, Executive Officers, and committees – leaders of our community who have been hard at work guiding us day by day.  We know that the future looks bright, though there are obstacles to deal with as the COVID19 pandemic hopefully winds down.  I say, “Let us go up.”  Let us act responsibly, carefully, and safely as we reopen our beautiful building.  Let us enjoy the many offerings of our synagogue family and celebrate our Jewish heritage and tradition as a community.
 
I look forward to seeing you at upcoming events!
 
Zay a Mentsch – Be a Good Person.

L’Shalom (In Peace),
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
 
Read past editions of The Rabbi's Corner on the Shir Hadash website .
 
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 

Religious School on Summer Break --  We wish all our students, teachers, and school families a wonderful vacation!  If you have questions about plans for next year, please contact Rachel Goldberg or Alan Bernover.

Friday: End of School Celebration Picnic, Friday, June 4, 5:00 p.m. (rescheduled from May 23) -- School Families, come celebrate the end of the school year with your teachers and friends, in-person and off the screens!  Bring your own picnic dinner and join us on the Green Space across the parking lot from Shir Hadash. Feel free to bring a ball, sidewalk chalk, a frisbee or just yourselves!  Families will be asked to keep socially distanced while eating and then everyone should plan on wearing a mask once finished. We hope to see teachers, students, parents, siblings, grandparents. Enjoy your dinner, and stay for the Multigenerational Shabbat Service at 7:00 (details above)!  Questions? Contact Alan Bernover.
 

ADULT EDUCATION

Today: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Thursday, June 3, 1:00 p.m. -   Join the Rabbi and other members via Zoom in an engaging examination of the week's Torah portion. 

Adult Ed Sunday Morning Programs via Zoom/WebEx:
  Adults are welcome to join in the following adult education programs on most Sundays -- note holiday updates below:

  • Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m:   If you would like to participate, contact Fred Andes. 
  • Hebrew Reading, 11:00 a.m. For more information, contact Steve Lewin.
       

MEMBERSHIP NEWS AND EVENTS


Sunday: Annual Meeting, Sunday June 6, 11:00 a.m. --  Join fellow Shir Hadash members for the Virtual Annual Meeting via Zoom at 11:00 a.m. this Sunday, June 6. We will be electing new officers and at-large board members, approving the budget, voting on By-Laws changes, hearing a building opening update including school in the fall, and more.  Members should have received an email with Zoom link information as well as information forms on all of the candidates.  If you have any questions, please contact the office at admin@shir-hadash.org. 


Sunday: Buffalo Grove Pride Drive, Sunday June 6, Noon to 3:00 p.m. -- All the fun of a parade, within your own car.  Shir Hadash is delighted to be a sponsor for this community event.  Residential lawns will be decorated with pride decor, balloon art by Balloons by Tommy, music, rainbow treats and more! Wave to friendly folks outside their homes from 12-3pm or drive around any time to check out the decor! Route maps will be available by the end of May on the event website.


Wednesday: Social Action Planning Meeting via Zoom, June 9, 7:00 p.m. - We look forward to planning Shir Hadash's social action activities for the upcoming year. We want to hear what programs you have liked and share ideas for new activities and/or new ways of doing things. We will meet on Zoom on Wednesday, June 9th, at 7pm. If you would like to be involved, email Social Action Chair Lisa Burton Radzely at socialactionsh@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.


Max and Benny's Boxes are Back! Order by June 8, Pickup on Friday June 11 -- Our Max and Benny's food box fundraiser returns in June!  Click here for details about the delicious options available, including fresh bagels, lox platters, and kits for bagel baking and cookie decorating. Orders must be placed by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8.  Pickup will be at Shir Hadash on Friday, June 11 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.  Contact Vicky Brice with questions at (224) 423-4797.



Book Club, June 17, 7:30 p.m. -- 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! 


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.  

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. 

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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