WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE
Membership News and Upcoming Events
- Synagogue Dedication, August 18
- New and Prospective Member Teas
- Update Your Online Membership Info
- High Holidays Guest Tickets: “180 for $18”
- Pick Your Week to Host an Oneg
- Musicians Wanted: Synagogue Dedication and High Holidays
- Ravinia Outing, July 27
- Book Club Recap
- Permanent Fundraiser at The Continental Restaurant
Creative Worship & Ritual
- Upcoming Service: July 19
- What's the Shema Really All About?
Adult Education
- Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi, July 18
The Rabbi’s Corner
Teen News
- Leadership Opportunity: Diller Fellowship
Community News
- Healing Hands Grief Support Group
- Theatre Recommendation: “The Pianist of Willesden Lane”
MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Synagogue Dedication, August 18
Plans are in full swing for the next major milestone in the life of Shir Hadash: the Dedication of our Synagogue. On August 18, we will be marching together to carry the Torahs from our office in Northbrook to our new home at 200 Dundee Road in Wheeling. When our parade arrives, we will gather for a Dedication Ceremony, followed by Kosher refreshments, dancing, festivities and more!
We need your involvement to make this day a success. Please plan to dedicate an hour of your time during that day so that we can spread out the work and everyone can enjoy themselves. Click here to view the schedule of activities, to learn about a range of volunteer opportunities, and to RSVP. For more information or to help with planning, contact Melanie Andes, fmandes@comcast.net or 847 913 9198. Thanks for your help!
New and Prospective Members Teas - Tell Your Friends!
Help Shir Hadash grow! We are beginning a series of “welcoming teas” for our new members, as well as for anyone interested in learning more about Shir Hadash. The teas will provide a relaxed opportunity for guests to meet Rabbi Eitan and Education Director Emily Ascher. Encourage your friends to find out what makes Shir Hadash a unique Jewish community.
The next welcoming tea will be in Buffalo Grove in early August. All are welcome, including children. For more info, contact Sandy Weiss at sandy2weiss@gmail.com or Lynne Arons at Rzldzl122@aol.com.
Update Your Membership Info Today!
Click here to visit our new online membership management system, hosted by ShulCloud. We encourage you to renew your membership online ASAP so that you will be all set for the High Holidays--Rosh Hashanah is right after Labor Day! All members should have received an email that includes a link to your account and instructions to get you started. If you haven’t received this email, contact Lise Schleicher and the SH Tech Team at info@shir-hadash.org.
Tell Your Friends – High Holidays “180 for $18” Tickets
In 2013, Shir Hadash is offering a special promotion: “180 for $18.” Guests can purchase High Holiday tickets at the reduced rate of $18 per ticket. We hope this will inspire new families to get to know us and become members of our community. Some restrictions apply:
- There are only 180 tickets available for purchase at the price of $18 per ticket.
- The offer cannot be redeemed by current or past members, those who have purchased High Holiday tickets in the last five years, or those who participated in last year’s complimentary ticket program.
- All registrations must be received by August 20.
- Click here to visit our website for more information and online registration.
Pick Your Week to Host an Oneg
This year we are asking each of our families to be Oneg & Service Host for just one service a year. This does NOT mean providing all the refreshments for the oneg -- just setting up, cleaning up, and greeting our guests. Multiple families can/should host the same week. While you’re exploring the newMembership Management System on Shul Cloud, you will find more information and a form to choose a date and sign up on the home page. Sign up today to pick the best date for your family!
Musicians Wanted!
We have two great opportunities for musicians to get involved!
- The Mighty Shir Hadash Klezmorim will be playing a hora set at the synagogue dedication on August 18. If you’re interested in playing along, rehearsals will be in late July and early August. Contact Abby Edler at edlerfamily@att.net for more info.
- Musical rehearsals for High Holidays instrumentalists and singers will begin in mid-July. Adults and post b'nai mitzvah students are welcome. Contact Sandy Weiss atsandy2weiss@gmail.com.
Ravinia Outing, July 27
Join your Shir Hadash friends at Ravinia on Saturday, July 27. The CSO is performing, with James Conlan conducting and Lang Lang on the piano.
Ravinia is not offering a group rate for this benefit evening concert. Lawn seats are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and free for kids through college age. Tickets may be ordered online atRavinia.com, at the gate on the day of the concert, or through Shir Hadash. For the last option, contact Meryl Abensohn atabenkras@aol.com. All sales are final. Pavilion seats are also available for $25; please order Pavilion seats directly from Ravinia.
Please RSVP to Meryl so we know who is coming and can plan a picnic on the lawn. Looking forward to a fun evening of music and socializing on July 27!
Book Club
The Shir Hadash Book Club met on July 11 to discuss The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan. Many thanks to the Zwicks for hosting! Eleven members engaged in a stimulating and lively discussion about the book, relations between Israeli and Palestinian Arabs, and the right of return. We also enjoyed some delicious lemon (and other) treats. Watch the newsletter for future book club selections, coming soon.
Permanent Fundraiser at The Continental Restaurant
Have you been to The Continental Restaurant yet? This family eatery in Buffalo Grove is participating with Shir Hadash in a PERMANENT fundraiser. They will donate 5% of any bill from Shir Hadash members any day of the week and no flyer is necessary! The Continental Restaurant is located at 788 S Buffalo Grove, next to the Dominick’s.
CREATIVE WORSHIP & RITUAL
Friday Service on July 19: What’s the Shema Really All About?
This Friday night (7:30 at the synagogue), we learn about something that you might have thought you knew: the Shema. Shema Yisrael and V’ahavta are amongst the most well-known pieces of Torah text. (Yes, they are directly from the Torah - did you know that? Just a hint of what’s to come at this service.) Yet, few know what they really say, even though we repeat them by rote at virtually every service. Rabbi Eitan will lead an in-depth text study and discussion to reveal why Shema and V’ahavta deserve their honored place in our prayers.
Since it is the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av, which mourns Jerusalem’s destruction in antiquity, we also will read a selection from the prophets, to bring comfort to all Israel. For oneg treats, please bring “comfort” food. See you Friday!
High Holidays – Torah Portions Available
The High Holidays will be here before we know it. We welcome you to sign up to read or chant Torah for our services. We have a particular need for readers or chanters on Rosh Hashanah Day 2 and Yom Kippur afternoon, but we do have a few slots still available on Rosh Hashanah Day 1 and Yom Kippur morning. We are especially interested in having recent bar and bat mitzvahs come up and chant Torah. We will e-mail to you an MP3 of the Rabbi chanting the portion, plus a written copy of the portion in Hebrew and English. You also can get help from the Rabbi and Dawn in getting ready to chant. If you (or your son or daughter) are interested, please contact Fred Andes atfandes@btlaw.com or 773 354 3100.
ADULT EDUCATION
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan
Torah Study on Thursday Afternoon
Join Rabbi Eitan and fellow Shir Hadash members for an exciting hour of Torah study, brown-bag lunch, and lively discussion.
Meeting Place: The Shir Hadash office, 3340 Dundee in NorthbrookTime: 12 noon - sharp
This week's portion: Deuteronomy, Chapter 4:44-5:30Discussion Topic: "The Decalogue - Ten Commandments"
THE RABBI’S CORNER
July 19-20, 2013 / 13 Av 5773
Shabbat Va’etchanan/Shabbat Nachamu
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:1-26
“With Your Heart, Soul and Body”
Dear Friends,
This week’s torah portion, Va’etchanan, includes the famous “Shema Yisrael Adonai elohainu Adonai echad - Listen Israel, the Eternal One is our God, the Eternal One alone.” The Shema stands out as the main faith statement of the Jewish people for more than two millennia. It is the first line of Torah taught to children; it is recited daily in prayer services and it constitutes the last words to be recited at the time of death. Its meaning seems evident and clear at first, yet our sages tell us to cover our eyes during its recitation because the meaning is so profound and unfathomable that we must find a way to go deeper. The Shema has been the focus of great philosophical exploration by the greatest of our scholars. Let me share two insights:…
To read the rest of the Rabbi’s Corner, click here.
TEEN NEWS
Leadership Opportunity: Diller Fellowship
JUF has announced that a Chicago chapter of the Diller Teen Fellows Program is being launched this year, for rising high school sophomores and juniors. The Diller Fellowship is a fifteen-month leadership program for Jewish teens that empowers participants to be active, effective leaders with strong Jewish identities and respect for pluralism. Throughout the year, Diller fellows participate in educational workshops, attend weekend retreats, and create and implement social service projects. The program also includes a three-week Seminar in Israel, the Diller Teen Leadership Congress with participants from twenty North American and Israeli communities, and a 10-day peer exchange during which the Chicago teens will host their Israeli peers. Click here for more information and to request an application.
COMMUNITY NEWS
“Healing Hearts” Grief Support Group
Healing Hearts, a partnership of several suburban congregations and Jewish funeral homes, presents a Northwest Suburban Jewish Grief Support Group for those who have lost a parent or adult sibling in the last 18 months. The group meets on Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 at Temple Chai, 1760 Checker Road in Long Grove. For information, contact Rosalie Greenberger, LCSW at 224 625 2819.
Theatre Recommendation: “The Pianist of Willesden Lane"
This wonderful play at the Royal George Theatre has been extended again, through August 4. Set in Vienna in 1928 and in London during the Blitzkreig, “The Pianist of Willesden Lane” tells the true story of noted pianist and author Lisa Jura, as performed by her own daughter Mona Golabek. Click here to visit the Royal George Theatre site for more information.
