To view this
blog in its entirety, go to our website.
For daily
event updates, visit our calendar .
What’s Happening at a Glance
Membership News and Upcoming Events
- Update: New Member Dinner to be Rescheduled
- Update: Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style Postponed
- Meditation Group Starts November 15
- Chico's Shopping Day on Sunday, November 16
- Jewish National Fund Community Dessert Reception, November 16
- Meet Up Day, November 20
- Update: Chess Club
- New! Dancers Wanted for Lights and Miracles Service, December 12
- Save the Date: Annual Gala at Pinstripes, February 7
- Book Club
- Recap: Outing to Israeli Film Festival, November 8
- Shir Hadash Summer Family Trip to Israel, June 2015
- Shir Hadash Sunday Schmear and Starbucks
Creative Worship and Ritual
- Dancers Wanted for Lights and Miracles Service, December 12
- Highlights from Tot Shabbat, November 7
- No Shabbat Services November 14 & 15
- Upcoming Services:
- Shabbat Evening, Friday November 21 at 7:30
- Shabbat Morning and Bar Mitzvah, Saturday November 22 at 9:30
- New! Help Plan Our New Saturday Worship Services
Volunteer Opportunities
- SHOP Needs You
- Holiday Gift Wrap at Barnes and Noble to Support Shir Hadash
- PADS Shelter Volunteer Opportunity, December 2
The Rabbi’s Corner
- “God Helps”
Teen News
- New! Ra’am BBYO Recruiting Event, November 26
- New! Connect Event, December 7
- New! Ra’am Youth Board Elections
- Sneak Preview Screening of Mockingjay Part 1, November 19 at Northbrook Court
- New! Midwest Regional Kallah Planning Meeting, November 23
- New! J-Serve Chicago “Freedom Fest,” December 14
Adult Education
- New! Participate in Limmud Chicago, November 15-16
- Crash Course in Jewish History -- No meeting on November 16
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan, Tuesdays – No meeting on November 18
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes -- No meeting on November 16
Ongoing Fundraisers
- Help Shir Hadash Earn Free Donations with iGive
- Samuel I. Andes Scholarship Fund
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
SHOP Shir Hadash
Membership and Upcoming Events
Update:
New Member Dinner to be Rescheduled
Due to
scheduling conflicts, we will be rescheduling our New Member Dinner previously
planned for this Saturday, November 15. We are looking forward to welcoming all
our new members for a relaxed, fun get-together, so be sure to watch for
details about the new date coming soon!
Update:
Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style Postponed
Coffee House
Night - Open Mic Style, previously scheduled for November 15, has been
cancelled due to a death in Margie's family.
Thank you all for coming forward with your talents and interest in
attending our special evening. This event will be rescheduled at a later
date. Thank you for your understanding.
Meditation Group Starts November 15
Are you
interested in learning about how meditation can add to your life? Our new SH
meditation group will have its first meeting on November 15 at 2:00pm at the
synagogue. We have members looking for other members to meditate with and with
whom they can exchange meditation experiences.
If you are interested in learning more about meditation at Shir Hadash,
please email rzinbarg@northwestern.edu.
Jewish National Fund Community Dessert
Reception, November 16
Interested
in learning more about Israel's relations with its neighbors and other world
powers? Come hear from Professor
Jonathan Adelman of the Korbel School of International Studies at the
University of Denver on November 16.
The event is at 7:00pm at Congregation Beth Judea - Route 83 and
Hilltop, Long Grove. Shir Hadash is a
co-sponsor of this event. Register
on-line at jnf.org/dessert or at 847-656-8880.
Chico's Shopping Day on Sunday, November 16
Looking to
add some glamour to your holiday season?
How about saving on fashionable Fall clearance items – while helping
Shir Hadash at the same time?
Shir Hadash
Shopping Day at Chico's in Lincolnshire Commons (970 Milwaukee Avenue, Suite H,
in Lincolnshire) is a fun and fashion-forward way to support the
synagogue! Join your friends on Sunday,
November 16, from 10:00am to noon, when Chico's opens early for you to view and
purchase selections from Chico's stunning pre-Holiday line (as well as
already-reduced gems from the Fall line)!
Chico's will generously contribute 10% of purchases to Shir Hadash! Have a coupon or other special offer from
Chico's? No problem! You reap the savings and Shir Hadash still
earns 10%! Can't make it to Chico's
before noon on the 16th? The Chico's
Lincolnshire team will graciously contribute 10% of purchases made all day on
November 16th - just remember to mention "Shir Hadash" when you
check-out. Can't make it on Sunday the
16th? Shop Chico's Lincolnshire from
Thursday, November 13th through Saturday, November 15th, put your selections on
hold for purchase on the 16th, and Shir Hadash will still earn a 10%
contribution!
Meet-Up Day, November 20
Do you work
alone and/or at home? Do you long for
some company during your work day? Then drop in at Shir Hadash for our new Meet
Up Day.
Meet Up Day
will be held on the Third Thursday of Every Month from 10am-2:30pm. The first
Meet Up Day will be on Thursday November 20. Bring your laptops and enjoy
working in the company of other people. Registration is not required but we
would like to have an idea of how many people are coming. If you have
any questions and/or want to let us know that you are coming, contact Melanie
Andes, fmandes@comcast.net.
Update:
Chess Club Starts December 4
Our new Shir
Hadash Chess Club will meet weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-2:30pm. Our first
meeting is now planned for December 4. All skill levels are welcome. Please
bring your own chess set if possible. We would like to have at least four people
come to play. We do need
to know how many people to expect, so please RSVP to Gunther Rice at
guntherrice@gmail.com.
New!
Dancers Wanted for Lights and Miracles Service, December 12
It wouldn’t be Shir Hadash without dancing! Rebecca Rice is looking for people who would
like to participate in a Hanukkah dance during the Lights and Miracles service
on December. (Students in grades K-3 are already preparing to dance at the
early service, so this would be for anyone in grade 3 or older, including
adults!) There will be a minimal number
of rehearsals, either on Sunday at our building or at a time that was good for
all interested. If you’re interested,
please contact Rebecca, r.rice1@comcast.net.
Save the Date -- Annual Gala at Pinstripes,
February 7
When you’re
planning your 2015 calendar, be sure to reserve February 7 from 7:00 to 11:00pm
for the Annual Shir Hadash Gala! This year’s celebration will be extra special
as we honor Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow on his 20th anniversary with
our congregation. The party will include silent auction items, a “Heads or
Tails” raffle, a delicious dinner, and entertainment by Felix & Fingers
Dueling Pianos. Watch for your invitation coming in December! If you would like
to be involved in planning this exciting event, please click here for more
information.
Book Club
The next
Book Club selection will be Pictures from
the Past by Deby Eisenberg. Our meeting will be held the second week of
January. Watch future editions of the newsletter for more details.
Recap: Outing to Israeli Film Festival,
November 8
Close to 50
Shir Hadashniks joined the outing to the Israeli film festival at Northbrook
Court last Saturday, and then close to 30 went to Prairie Grass restaurant for
dessert. The writer/director of Magic Men
spoke to the audience after the film. Audience members asked challenging
questions, and his responses were fascinating. Over dessert, everyone agreed
that the movie was excellent – as was the pumpkin pie. We had fun schmoozing
about the movie and schmoozing in general!
Shir Hadash Family Summer Trip to Israel,
June 2015
If you’ve
been considering a visit to Israel, here’s the perfect opportunity! Rabbi Eitan
and Dawn Weiner-Kaplow will lead a family tour of comprehensive sightseeing
from June 16 to 26, 2015. The trip will include visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv,
Haifa, Galilee, and a wide range of ancient and modern sites. The package
includes airfare, hotel, motor coach transportation, excursions, and much more.
Visit our website for a detailed package flyer and itinerary,
or contact Dawn at dweinerkaplow@sbcglobal.net.
Get your Sunday Schmear at Shir Hadash
What to do while the kids are in Religious School? Looking for fun on Sunday mornings? Hungry while waiting for adult education to start? Come hang out with your fellow Shir Hadashniks and have Starbucks coffee and a bagel 'n schmear. Spend some fun time with your friends, bring a newspaper, or just have a relaxing morning with a cup of Joe. All coffee and bagels proceeds benefit the Synagogue.
Creative Worship and Ritual
Fun times at Tot Shabbat! At last Friday’s early evening service, Rabbi Eitan and Lauren Shook led a fun-filled Shabbat celebration for a dozen Tots and their families. The kids enjoyed singing, dancing, storytelling, and a craft project. Look for announcements in future newsletters about upcoming Tot Shabbats, and join in the fun!
This Week’s Services
No Shabbat Services at SH November 14 &
15
Enjoy
celebrating Shabbat with your family, and join us on Sunday morning for an
engaging adult education class.
Upcoming Services
Shabbat Evening Service, Friday, November
21, 7:30pm
Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah,
Saturday, November 22, 9:30am
New! Help
Plan Our New Saturday Worship Services
Based on
interest expressed by a number of members, Shir Hadash’s Creative Worship and
Ritual Committee is working on a plan to hold regular Saturday morning services
(in addition, of course, to our Friday night services). We have a few dates in mind for the initial
services, starting in January. Before
then, we want to get a group together to discuss and plan those services. We hope to have an initial meeting in the
next few weeks, on a Monday evening. If
you are interested in participating, please email the committee at
cwr@shir-hadash.org. And, if you have any questions, please include those in
your email as well. Thanks for participating!
Volunteer Opportunities
SHOP Needs You!
Our ongoing,
and vital, SHOP Shir Hadash fundraiser needs volunteers to staff our table at
Sunday School. It’s an easy job and a great chance to schmooze with other Shir
Hadashniks! Can you spare one Sunday morning to help – just one – from 9:00 to
12:30? Click here to sign up for a day of your choice on Shul Cloud, or contact
Gina Zinbarg, gzinbarg@sbcglobal.net, for more info.
PADS Homeless Shelter Volunteers Needed,
December 2
We have
another opportunity to help our homeless neighbors in need on Tuesday, December
2. We are looking for seven people to
work the Dinner Shift at the PADS shelter at Kingwoood Methodist Church, 401
West Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove. From 6:30 to 9:00pm, volunteers will set-up,
serve, and clean up after the meal, and also be able to interact with the
guests over dinner. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
In addition,
we are looking for the following food donations to be dropped off at the church’s
PADS location:
- Main Dish (Serving 12-15)
- Vegetable (Serving 12-15)
- Salad (Serving 12-15)
- Dessert (Serving 12-15)
- Two Gallons of Milk
- Two Gallons of Juice
- 15 Pieces of Fresh Fruit
- Two Pounds of Sliced Deli Meat
- Two Pounds of Sliced Cheese
If you would
like to sign up, or have any questions, please contact Suzanne Wexler,
skwexler@yahoo.com or 847 769 8257.
Holiday Gift Wrapping at Barnes & Noble – Supports Shir Hadash
Does the
mere mention of "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel" or "Chestnuts
roasting on an open fire" make you tingle with excitement, yearning to
beat a path to the nearest mall? Here’s
a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the merry madness of the season and do a
mitzvah as well: Help raise funds for
Shir Hadash by wrapping gift purchases at Barnes and Noble's Deerfield Square
and Old Orchard locations.
We'll be
wrapping at two Barnes & Noble locations:
- Deerfield Square, 728 North Waukegan Road in Deerfield
- Sunday, November 30, 3:00 – 8:00pm (volunteers sign up for 3:00-5:30 or 5:30-8:00pm)
- Sunday, December 14, 3:00 -- 8:00pm (same shifts)
- Old Orchard, 55 Old Orchard Center in Skokie
- Sunday, November 30, 9:00am – 3:30pm (shifts from 9:00-12:15 or 12:15 – 3:30)
- Sunday, December 7, 9:00am – 3:30pm (same shifts)
- Sunday, December 14, 9:00am -- 3:30pm (same shifts)
- Tuesday, December 23, 3:30 – 10:00pm (shifts from 3:30 – 6:45 or 6:45 – 10:00pm)
This is a
great way to get in the spirit of the season and raise funds for Shir
Hadash! Please sign-up for a shift (or
two or more) by clicking here. Questions? Contact Carrie Matt by phone at 702-219-6584 or by email at
fundraising@shir-hadash.org .
The Rabbi’s Corner
November
14-15, 2014 / 22 Heshvan 5775
Shabbat
Chayei Sarah
Torah
Portion: Genesis 23:1-25:18 / Haftarah Portion: I Kings 1:1-31
“God Helps”
Dear
Friends,
How can we
explain the power that moves us to assist someone with their important
needs? How can we explain the feeling of
focus and commitment that comes over us when we understand the importance of
fulfilling some immediate action to help another?
In this
week’s Torah portion, Sarah has died and Abraham is left to finish the raising
of Isaac. Isaac is a young man who needs
to find a wife. Yet, for whatever reason, fulfilling this task is beyond the
abilities of both Abraham and Isaac. The
honor falls on Abraham’s beloved and loyal servant, Eliezer, to assist. He is called upon to help. Thus, it is Eliezer who leaves the Land of
Canaan and goes back to Abraham’s ancestral home to find a wife for Isaac. It is Eliezer who finds Rebecca and escorts
her back to Canaan. Perhaps we should
not be so surprised that Eliezer has taken on and fulfilled this important
task. After all, his name means, “God
Helps.”
Here is
Judaism’s message for us. Whenever we
are called upon to help, it is the God power within that stirs and supports us
to act….
To read the
Rabbi’s Corner in its entirety, please click here.
Education
Religious School
There are
lots of exciting developments happening in Shir Hadash’s religious school.
Click here to read Education Director Emily Ascher’s blog “Drash Hadash.”
Teen News
New! Ra’am
BBYO Recruiting Event, November 26
In town for
Thanksgiving? All 8th through 12th graders are invited to
share some food and fun with Ra’am! Time and location TBA – check next week’s
newsletter for details.
New! Connect
Event, December 7
6th-8th
graders: Watch for details on our Hannukah
party for you! December 7 after Sunday
school. Details to follow.
New! Ra’am
Youth Board Elections
Interested
in serving on the next Ra'am BBYO Youth Board?
Watch your e-mail for the packet of information for our upcoming
elections.
Sneak Preview Screening of Mockingjay Part 1, November 19 at
Northbrook Court
BBYO Great
Midwest Region, in partnership with Diller Teen Fellows, JCC Chicago/Camp
Chi/Maccabi, Jewish Student Connection, Jewish Community Relations Council,
JUF/JF of Metropolitan Chicago, and NFTY, is excited to announce that tickets
are now on sale for our The Hunger Games:
Mockingjay Part 1 exclusive premieres in Chicago and Northbrook! The
premieres are open to all Jewish teens in grades 6-12 (and parents, especially
if students are under the age of 13!) Each attendee must bring at least two
canned food items to donate – the first 50 people to bring 15 or more cans get
VIP seating!
Details are
below, click on the links to register. Tickets are limited, purchase yours now!
November 19,
2014
Doors open
at 6:00pm, movie starts at 7:00pm
Northbrook
Court AMC 14
Check in at the registration
desk, drop off your canned goods and enjoy the movie!
New! Midwest Regional Kallah Planning Meeting, November 23
Kallah is the best, because you make it that way! 9th-12th graders interested in planning the weekend of fun should contact Carole (youth@shir-hadash.org) with your phone/e-mail before our first planning session on Sunday, November 23.
New! J-Serve Chicago “Freedom Fest,” December 14
Each year, J-Serve Chicago marks an official day of Jewish youth
service. On Sunday, December 14, hundreds of Jewish teens will come together in
a day of advocacy against discrimination at J-Serve Chicago’s Freedom Fest!
This J-Serve event will take place at the Mayer Kaplan JCC, 5050 Church Street
in Skokie, from 1:30 to 4:30pm. The afternoon will include a social media
campaign, an advocacy walk, and a song session. J-Serve is open to students in
grades 7-12. Click here for more event information and registration.
Adult Education
New! Participate
in Limmud Chicago, November 15-16
Our regular
Shir Hadash adult education classes will be taking a break this week (see
below), so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in Limmud Chicago,
a celebration of Jewish learning at the Doubletree Hotel in Skokie. From 8:00
to 10:00pm Saturday and continuing Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Limmud will
present a vast array of speakers, workshops, and topics. Art, music, history, spirituality,
social action – Limmud covers it all! To learn more this program, click here to
visit the Limmud website.
Sundays this
fall, 11:15 a.m.-12:25 p.m.
November 23
December 7
and 14
Please Note:
No class on November 16. All are encouraged to participate in the Limmud
Chicago Adult Education Day at the Doubletree Hotel in Skokie: click here forinformation.
Topic for November 23 – Medieval Period: The
Khazars – The Lost Kingdom of the Jews
Join Rabbi
Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and Dr. David Liebling for a journey through four thousand
years of Jewish history in our free, eight part lecture series. Crash Course in
Jewish History participants receive a free Companion Guide to Jewish History
and timelines to help them follow the key dates and events that have shaped
both Jewish and world history. This survey course enables participants to
develop an appreciation for the richness of their Jewish heritage throughout
the millennia, and will inspire interest in further exploration of their own
Jewish experience. This program is presented in conjunction with the National
Jewish Outreach Project. Click here for details.
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Weiner-Kaplow – No Meeting on November 18
Please note
that the weekly “Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi” will not be held on November
18. Resuming on November 25, all are invited to join Shir Hadash members and
friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah
portion. We now meet at noon on Tuesdays
in the conference room.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
Our Torah
Study & Jewish Philosophy class, led by Fred Andes, takes place on Sunday
mornings. Meet at the synagogue from 9:45 to 10:45 for coffee and engaging
discussion topics. All are welcome.
Ongoing Fundraisers
Help Shir Hadash Earn Free Donations with
iGive
You can help
Shir Hadash every time you shop online – the iGive Button makes it simple!
iGive is a free and easy way to support the shul. Average shoppers using iGive raise between
$30 and $100 a year for their causes. There are 1480 online retailers helping
to make donations happen through iGive.
Click here
to learn more and join iGive. If you have
questions, contact Sandi Schleicher, finance@shir-hadash.org.
Scholarship Fund
To help
families in financial need pay for their children’s Jewish education at Shir
Hadash, Melanie and Fred Andes created the Samuel I Andes Scholarship Fund in
memory of Fred’s great-uncle have graciously offered to match all donations to
the fund up to $11,000.00. Click here to donate online or mail in your check made out to Shir Hadash with “Scholarship”
written in the memo line.
Don’t Forget Our Permanent Restaurant
Fundraisers!
The
Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove and Butterfield’s Restaurant in
Northbrook will donate 5% of your total bill to Shir Hadash! No flyer needed –
just mention Shir Hadash when you are paying or fill out the Shir Hadash book
behind the desk.
SHOP Shir Hadash
Fall into SHOP!
SHOP is our
congregation’s ongoing fundraiser – and the easiest way to support the shul
without spending an extra dime! Purchase gift cards through SHOP and the
vendors pay a percentage back to
Shir Hadash.
SHOP orders of at
least $400 are now payable by credit card, as well as annual SHOP orders.
Orders can be picked up at the synagogue office.
SHOP
Needs Your Help!
Please sign up to staff the
SHOP table for a Sunday morning. Full details in the “Volunteer Opportunities” section above.
Get Low Denomination Gift
Cards While They Last! Starting in November, we will have a limited number of
the following, special, small denomination gift cards available, just in time
for the holidays!
- Amazon.com Gift Cards $10
- AMC Theatres® $10
- Barnes & Noble $5
- CVS/pharmacy $10
- Groupon $10
- Meijer $10
- Outback $10
- Panera Bread® $5
- Pizza Hut $5
- Regal Entertainment Group $10
- Target $10
- Starbucks $5
- Walmart $5
Bonuses
Available Now:
- Journeys – 3% til November 14
- Meijer – 1% til November 28
- Red Robin – 2% til November 14
- Restaurant.com – 15% til November 28
- Bath and Body Works – 5% til November 21
- Bon Ton – 2% til November 21
- Boston Market – 2% til November 21
- Cabela’s – 3% til November 21
- Hallmark – 2% til November 21
- Payless – 1% til November 21
Bonuses
Beginning November 15:
- Walgreen’s – 2% November 15 – 28
- Shutterfly – 2% November 15 – December 5
TJX
Sweepstakes This Week
From November 15 to 21, place
an order including at least $50 in TJX Gift Cards or ScripNow eCards and you’ll
be entered to win! Ten winning families will receive a $500 TJX Gift Card. Out
of those ten, five families will receive free shipping for a year for their
organization! Call our Customer Support Team at 800 727 4715 option 3 if you
have any questions.
Gift
Card Holiday Wrappers Back in Stock
We have a colorful collection
of gift card holiday wrappers back in stock and available for ordering. These
colorful pre-cut glossy wrappers fold up to wrap your gift card in a fun,
festive package. It even gives you space to leave a name, gift card amount, and
a little note!
Thank-Scriping-ing
Day!
On November 27, from 12am to
11:59pm EST, partake in the highest rebate offers on popular ScripNow products
and get your electronic gift cards delivered to your ShopWithScrip account in
minutes – just in time for the biggest shopping day of the year!
To participate, make sure
that you are able to login to your ShopWithScrip account and place online
orders. Additionally, if you sign up for PrestoPay, ShopWith Scrip’s online
payment system, your ScripNow eCards will be available to print out within
minutes. Or go mobile this Thank-Scrip-ing season and access your eCards
through MyScripWallet on the go! You can, of course, still pay by check during
the 24-hour event – you just won’t receive your ScripNow until your coordinator
releases the order
As a Thank-Scrip-ing day
tradition, the list of retailers will be released when the clock strikes 12 on
Thursday the 27th, so you’ll have to wait until then to find out who’s
participating! If you have any questions, please give one of our gift card
venders’ Customer Support Team a call at 800 727 4715 option 3, or send an
email to ShopWithScrip@glscrip.com
Thanks
to the following families for participating in SHOP this week:
- Zinbarg
- Schleicher
- Weiner-Kaplow
- Simon
- Idelman
- Farahmandpour
- Fargotstein
- Sharpe
- Estes-Goldman
