Shir Hadash has released a new set of COVID policies to keep our congregation safe and guide our use of the synagogue building. Masks are to be worn at all services, meetings and programs.
The Shir Hadash office will be closed until Monday, January 3. General phone messages and emails will be checked periodically (847-498-8218 or admin@shir-hadash.org). For emergencies, please reach Rabbi Eitan at 847-525-7746, or President Stuart Aizenberg at 847-840-7895.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Newsletter Update from the Communications Committee Chair
Creative Worship and Ritual No Shabbat Services December 31
Next Week: Multigenerational Hybrid Shabbat, January 7, 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming: Shabbat Shira & Tu B'Shavat via Zoom, January 14, 7:30 p.m.
The Rabbi's Corner -- "God, the Power that Makes for Salvation"
Membership News and Events
New: Sheleg, Sheleg! Let It Snow Fundraiser Starts January 1
Refugee Sponsorship Opportunity through HIAS
Reconstructing Judaism Convention, March 23-27
Participate in a Reconstructionist Movement Convention Project
Tornado Disaster Relief Funds
Krafts & Kibitzing via Zoom, January 5, 7:30 p.m.
Israeli Movie Night Discussion via Zoom, January 15, 7:30 p.m.
Religious School Sunday School on Winter Break: Classes Resume January 9
Adult Education
"The Book of Job: Lessons of Faith and Suffering" Interfaith Class, Begins January 11
No Lunch & Learn Today; Resumes January 6
Sunday Morning Virtual Adult Ed Classes, January 2- Hebrew Reading, 10:00 a.m.
- Torah and Jewish Philosophy, 10:00 a.m.
Ongoing Fundraisers
Restaurants, Shop Shir Hadash, iGive, and Amazon Smile
NEWSLETTER UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENT
Update from Matt Settler, VP Programming & Communications Chairperson: I am excited to announce the Communications Committee has been fine tuning our Newsletter, and will be rolling out a new format starting with the January 6 edition.
Main points that will look different to you include:- The titles of events/services/programs will now be actual links to take you to their corresponding event pages on our website
- The length of each item will be reduced, but the links will take you to full event details will be on the website event pages
- Zoom links will be in the Newsletter and on our event pages when they are for public events (ie: Shabbat services) so you do not have to search alternate places for them
- We are transitioning to a Newsletter every two weeks, ideally the 1st & 3rd week of the month (for example Jan. 6 & Jan. 20). We will continue to provide you with four weeks of information.
This change has been developed to continue to create more user-friendly communications in several ways including your ease of use, accessibility of zoom links, overall visual clarity, consistency of our layout and messages, and more effective dialogue. Feel free to contact me at chair-communications@shir-hadash.org if you have any questions or comments regarding these new changes. I look forward to hearing your feedback.
CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL
No Shabbat Service on December 31 -- We hope you take the opportunity to welcome Shabbat at home as we say farewell to 2021!
Next Friday: Multigenerational Hybrid "Puppet Shabbat", Friday January 7, 7:00 p.m. -- Rabbi Eitan and special friends will be telling the story of our people’s enslavement in and liberation from Egypt. We encourage all generations to enjoy a Shabbat service with music, story, and Torah reading. Register to participate in person.
Upcoming: Shabbat Shira & Tu B'Shavat Service via Zoom, Friday January 14, 7:30 p.m. - Celebrate the Shabbat of Song with a Zoom service featuring a series of music videos performed by our Lahaka adult choir under the direction of Marek Rachelski. Shabbat Shira (Sabbath of Song) celebration features the singing of our Lahaka adult choir under the direction of Marek Rachelski.
THE RABBI’S CORNER
December 31, 2021-January 1, 2022 / 28 Tevet 5782 / Shabbat Va’eira
Torah: Exodus 6:2 - 9:35
Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21
“God, the Power that Makes for Salvation”
Dear Friends,
How do we find the strength to live life at our best? In this week’s Torah portion, God sent Moses to Egypt to free the Children of Israel from slavery. In addition to convincing Pharaoh to let them go, Moses needed to convince the Israelites to summon the courage to leave. To bolster Moses, God revealed the four-letter name of God when promising to redeem the people from bondage. The story is telling us that knowing God’s name is proof of God’s existence and God’s ability to fulfill a promise.
Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan wrote, “God is the aspect of reality which elicits from us the best that is in us and enables us to bear the worst that can befall us.” In knowing God’s name, Moses and the Children of Israel find that strength to challenge Pharaoh and seek liberation. May we harness the same power as we confront injustice and evil in the world. God is the power that makes for salvation – for living a life of purpose and meaning.
As we enter the new year of 2022, with God’s help, let us seek to become the very best that each one of us can be.
Zay a mentsch -- be a good person.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
MEMBERSHIP NEWS AND EVENTS
New! Sheleg, Sheleg! “Let It Snow” Fundraiser Starts January 1 -- Donate to Shir Hadash and watch the P’teetay Sheleg “Snowflakes” fall throughout the synagogue. For every dollar you donate a snowflake will be hung in the synagogue. Click here to donate. FAC, Religious School and others will help create all shapes and sizes of snowflakes. Would you like to help from home? You can make your own snowflakes and drop them at the building.
Help an Afghan Refugee Family Resettle Locally: In-person Volunteers Needed -- The Jewish people have been refugees relying on assistance from strangers numerous times. Now it is our turn to help the stranger. Working with HIAS, we have an opportunity to sponsor a local Afghan refugee family. We would assist them in every way as they settle into their new lives in Chicagoland. In order to sponsor a family, we need a core group of a few people willing to meet with and help the family once a week for several weeks -- perhaps a few months -- as they learn about how to navigate their new lives in the United States. HIAS will share resources with us; volunteers will receive a lot of support and guidance. In talking with people who have helped other refugee families, they say it is the most meaningful, impactful work they have ever done. If you have questions or might be interested, please contact our Social Action Chair, Lisa Burton Radzely .
 Sign Up for Reconstructing Judaism Convention, March 23-27 -- Rabbi Eitan, President Stuart Aizenberg, Board Member Lynne Arons, Assistant Education Director Samantha McArdle and Fred Andes, who is a member of Reconstructing Judaism’s Board of Governors are attending in person. Consider joining us either in person or virtually. During the convention, we will learn from and with experts, scholars and lay leaders. We will engage in conversations, ask questions, and listen. We will pray together, sing together, dance together and celebrate all that we do every day in our communities to reconstruct Judaism. For more information: Click Here.
New Deadline: Participate in a Reconstructionist Movement Project! Reconstructionist singers, musicians, dancers, artists. etc. are invited to participate remotely in a video that will premiere at Reconstructing Judaism's 2022 convention. Learn more and sign up here .Deadline to indicate interest is December 31.
Tornado Disaster Relief Efforts -- Want to help people who lost their homes in recent tornadoes? Additional funds are needed to help meet short-term needs such as food and water, as well as for long-term rebuilding. Donate to Jewish Federation of Louisville, Kentucky Tornado Relief or to Chabad of Kentucky. (For Chabad donations, be sure to click "Please Direct my Donation to the Western Kentucky Relief Efforts.")
Krafts & Kibitzing via Zoom, Wednesday, January 5, 7:30 p.m. -- Crafters of all ages and abilities are invited to bring in their current crochet/ knit/ or other handicraft/ art projects via Zoom. We will share ideas, learn tips and tricks, and shoot the breeze. Break-out rooms are available for our 17 years and younger set. Register here to receive the Zoom link.
Israeli Movie Night Discussion via Zoom, Saturday, January 15, 7:30 p.m. -- Join an interesting conversation about the Israeli film "Love & Dance," a 2006 film about the challenges faced by Russian Jews who immigrated to Israel at the end of the 20th century. Participants should watch the film prior to the conversation and then join our Zoom session. Zoom link will be sent when you register for the discussion. For info on how to watch the movie for no charge, click here.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Religious School on Winter Break -- Classes will resume on January 9. Have a wonderful break!
ADULT EDUCATION
New! "The Book of Job: Lessons of Faith and Suffering" Tuesdays beginning January 11 -- In this joint project from Shir Hadash and St. Norbert/Our Lady of the Brook Parish, Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and Deacon Peery Duderstadt look at the Book of Job from Jewish and Catholic perspectives. Classes will meet on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 - 2:00 PM on Zoom, beginning January 11 and ending March 8. Register here to be sent the Zoom link.
No Lunch and Learn Today; Resumes Thursday, January 6 -- In 2022, join Rabbi Eitan and Shir Hadash members and friends for a refreshing, contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion.
Virtual Adult Ed Sunday Morning Programs: Adults are welcome to join in the following adult education programs on most Sundays: - Hebrew Reading, January 2, 10:00 a.m. Class will resume on December 19 at 10:00 a.m. For more information, contact Steve Lewin.
- Torah and Jewish Philosophy, January 2, 10:00 a.m: If you would like to participate, contact Fred Andes.
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
No-Cost Ways to Support Shir Hadash -- There are several fundraising opportunities to support Shir Hadash without spending anything extra! Click here to learn about restaurant dine-and-donate programs, SHOP Shir Hadash gift cards, and iGive and Amazon Smile rebate donations.
To view past editions of the Newsletter, please visit our website. |
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