Shir Hadash Newsletter, December 12, 2013

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE

Membership News and Upcoming Events

• Special Presentation by Holocaust Survivors, December 15
• Gift Wrapping at Barnes & Noble Benefits Shir Hadash
• SHOP Shir Hadash Gift Cards
• Coffee House Open Mic Nights
• Chinese Food and Fiddler on the Roof, December 25
• MOSH Bowling Night Recap
• Book Club
• Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s

Creative Worship and Ritual

• “Tot Shabbat” Service, December 14

Volunteer Opportunities

• Organizational Meeting for Spring ADA Benefit, December 14
• Help Needed with Shir Hadash Marketing

Music Notes

• Youth Choir & Ensembles Informational Meeting , January 12
• Shabbat Shirah, January 10
• Religious School Music - Teaching Dangerous Songs

The Rabbi’s Corner

• “Hope”

Education

• Education Director’s Blog

Teen News

• Recap: Teen-Led Shabbat
• BBYO Meeting TONIGHT: Invite Convention Planning
• “Praying with Lior” January 11
• Midwest Regional Kallah, February 14-16

Adult Ed

• Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
• Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes

MEMBERSHIP AND UPCOMING EVENTS

"Out of Chaos": Special Presentation by Holocaust Survivors, December 15
Featuring our own Lillian ZolotoShir Hadash's beloved Administrator, Lillian Zoloto, recently shared her experiences as a child of the Holocaust in an anthology entitled Out of Chaos, now available from the Northwestern University Press. On December 15, we will welcome Lillian and three of her fellow contributors, Aaron Elster, Ida Pulach, and Marguerite Mishkin, who will join us for readings and discussions of their personal stories of surviving World War II -- two from Poland, two from Belgium. After our guests share their stories, there will be the opportunity for questions from the audience.
Please join us on Sunday, December 15 from 10:30am to 12:00pm. This very special event is open to members, visitors, parents, and students of our 6th and 7th grade classes. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Emily Ascher, eddirector@shir-hadash.org.

Gift Wrapping at Barnes & Noble Benefits Shir Hadash
Come out to support Shir Hadash and synagogue members who have generously donated their time to raise funds for our synagogue!  Shop at Barnes & Noble, 920 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire, this Sunday, December 15 from 10:00am until 8:00pm, stop by to say "Hello," and have us wrap your B & N purchases!  Whether you need to get in a little late Hanukkah shopping, pick up a gift or two for those celebrating Christmas, or want to take advantage of great deals for upcoming birthdays and celebrations, this is a great way to accomplish those tasks and support Shir Hadash at the same time.  Let's share in the spirit of the season and give Shir Hadash a great gift!!  We hope to see you this Sunday at Barnes and Noble in Lincolnshire.

SHOP Shir Hadash Gift Cards – Perfect for Teachers, Mail Carriers, Everyone!Still need gifts for teachers and all those other folks who help you out during the year? Use SHOP gift cards to pay for your presents, or just give the cards as gifts – always a perfect fit! Every purchase benefits Shir Hadash, without costing you an extra dime. SHOP cards are available during Sunday School or can be picked up in the SH office.Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for detailed info on special offers, and contact Gina Zinbarg, gzinbarg@gmail.com, with any questions.

Coming Soon: Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style
It’s coming!  “Coffee House Night at Shir Hadash – Open Mic Style” will be on Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 7:00 to 10:00pm.  Enjoy a laid back Saturday night with low lighting, comfortable seating, friendly conversation, a Bake Sale with Coffee/Beverages, and the amazing talent of our friends.  EVERYONE will be welcome to participate: any age, any talent, members, non-members, friends and people who are just there to enjoy a wonderful evening of entertainment.

To get this event off the ground we still need a little help -- YOU!  The event is practically all organized, all we need is a little help from YOU!  Your talent! From the youngest who just wrote their first poem to the oldest – everyone will be included.  Dancers, Actors, Musicians, Storytellers, Magicians, Group Acts … you name it!  If you have a talent or you know someone who would like to share, we invite you to participate. Invite your friends and family to cheer you on and support you.  There’s room for everyone and we’d love to get you involved.  Attention Bakers!  Attention Tech Help!  Attention Set-up Crew (roadie)!  Interested in participating?  Please contact Margie Skora at MargiePromoPro1@aol.com and put “Coffee House Talent” in the subject line.  Click here  for more information.  

Fiddler on the Roof and Chinese Food, December 25
Save the Date, December 25! What's a Jew to do?  Come to Shir Hadash and enjoy a kosher Chinese buffet dinner and sing-a-long to Fiddler on The Roof!
The movie will start at 4pm and dinner will be at intermission. $18.00 for adults and $12.00 for kids 10 and under. After the movie, there will be a discussion of the Jewish themes in the movie.
We will need volunteers to help with set up and clean up. Watch your emails for the rest of the details including how to rsvp, volunteer and pay. Bring your friends and relatives too! Any questions? Contact Melanie Andes, 847-913-9198,fmandes@comcast.net.

MOSH Bowling NightOn December 8, eighteen brave Shir Hadash members ventured out into the cold and snowy conditions to enjoy an evening of socializing, bowling and listening to music.  The Alley in Highwood was a unique venue and fun was had by all. Watch future newsletters for announcements about upcoming MOSH events!

Book Club
On December 7, nine Book Club members met to discuss The Slave by the famous Yiddish author Isaac Bashevis Singer. We enjoyed hearing about the author’s life, learning about the dark years in Poland after the Cossack rebellion, and discussing philosophical questions about Judaism. Many thanks to Rebecca Rice for hosting.
Our next selection will be Second Person Singular by Sayed Kashua. We will discuss this novel at our February meeting; watch future newsletters for date and location info.

Hungry Before or After Religious School (or Anytime)?
The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove or Butterfields Restaurant in Northbrook permanently 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.  A great way to start or end Religious school!

CREATIVE WORSHIP AND RITUAL

“Tot Shabbat”, December 14
Service begins at 6:00 (note special time)This Friday night, we have a special Second Friday program, specially designed for families with young children (six and under). The Tot Shabbat will start at 6:00 pm, and will be led by Rabbi Eitan and our children’s service leader Lauren Shook. There will be lots of singing, dancing, a Torah parade, and a great puppet show. The 40-minute service will be followed by challah, grape juice, and a delicious pot-luck oneg. Please bring a dessert to share. Bring your family and friends - non-members are welcome!
Just to be clear - there will NOT be a regular Friday night service after Tot Shabbat.  Stay tuned, though - we do have a great service coming up next week (Dec. 20), and the new, first-time-ever Dec. 25 evening program, where we eat Kosher Chinese food while we watch (and sing along to) "Fiddler on the Roof"! 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Organizational Meeting for ADA Benefit, December 14
Shir Hadash will hold a benefit concert to support the American Diabetes Association in the spring. The concert will raise awareness, raise funds for the local chapter in Chicago, and maybe make a difference in a few lives. It will also be a great, fun event to bring together our entire community!
We’re looking for team members to help with:

• Formulating a plan
• Creating a budget
• Seeking out and signing up performers, including musicians and actors
• Assembling a production team that will include stage crew, food, drinks, and production logistics

If this is your area of interest or expertise, we would love to have you!  Join us for an organizational meeting on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 to 11:00am to learn more about this exciting project. Please contact Jeffrey Wallk (president@shir-hadash.org) for more information.

Help Needed with SH Marketing
The Marketing Committee needs help letting the public know what’s going on at Shir Hadash! Can you help out in one of these roles?

• Flyer Designer

• We are looking for one or two people to create flyers for upcoming events. Some desktop publishing or design experience preferred. Flyer designers will work with the Marketing Committee, event planner(s), and Rabbi Eitan.  

• Time commitment is about rwo hours per month

Public Relations Coordinator

• We are looking for one or two people to follow detailed instructions to submit event announcement to online calendar listings and to submit and publish press releases.

• about 6 times per year, submit event announcements to online calendar listings
• about twice per month, submit press releases to area publications via e-mail and self-publish on online publications such as Patch.
• Time commitment is about two hours per month. 

Press Release Writer

• One or two volunteers will be assigned a topic for a press release according to their availability. They will contact the subjects of the press release and write a release following detailed instructions. Press release writers will work with the Marketing Committee, event planner(s), Rabbi Eitan, and other interested parties.

• Time commitment is about three hours per month (about one press release each month).

If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Rachel Schick Siegel, Marketing Committee Chair (847) 724-5720, rschicksiegel@comcast.net. Thank you!

MUSIC NOTES – NEWS AND IDEAS FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR

Youth Choir & Ensembles Informational Meeting , January 12
On Sunday, January 12 at 8:45am we will hold an informational meeting for parents and students interested in participating in our newly re-organizing youth ensembles - the Kolit youth choir, and student instrumentalists of all kinds who might be interested in playing in a small youth ensemble, or playing along with Kolit. Singers, drummers, guitarists, pianists, clarinetists, horn players, instrumentalists of all kinds are welcome. For more information contact Mr. D at music.director@shir-hadash.org.

Shabbat Shirah, January 10
On Friday, January 10 we read parashat Beshallakh, which contains the "Song of the Sea" that the Israelites sang after crossing the Reed Sea. Join us at the special service at 7:30pm with a focus on music and song, including music sung by the Shir Hadash Lahaka adult choir.

Religious School Music - Teaching Dangerous Songs
I've started teaching one of my favorite songs to our Shir Hadash students. Decades ago, when I first started teaching this "dangerous song" to students in Jewish schools, not a few people wondered how I could be teaching a German peasant song in a Jewish setting. If you'll take the time to learn the history of the song "Die Gedanken Sind Frei" (Thoughts are Free), then you might come to understand the power of this song that I learned from Pete Seeger in my childhood. (It appears on his album "Dangerous Songs.") It may be a centuries old German peasant song (some believe the music goes back to the middle ages, but the first attested versions date back to near the end of the 16th century).  It became an important anthem to German opponents of the Nazis, including the antiviolent die Weiße Rose, the White Rose Society. It's important for our students to understand that not everyone in Germany was a supporter of the Nazis. Additionally, in our own day and our own time there are still those who would seek to oppress others, and tell them what they can and cannot think.  I'm encouraging our students to help me write some new English verses to the song so that we can contribute to its important message: that no one can deny, Die Gedanken Sind Frei!

THE RABBI’S CORNER

December 13-14, 2013 / 11 Tevet 5774Shabbat VayekhiTorah - Genesis 47:28-50:26 / Haftarah - I Kings 2:1-12
“Hope”
Dear Friends,
My daughter flew back to Israel after a brief and wonderful visit over the Hanukkah and Thanksgiving break.  In ten days she will enter the Israeli army and begin her two years of service.  Watching her go through the security check at the airport, I thought of all the dangers that surround us in our modern and high-tech world.  I said a quiet prayer for Elana’s safety as she left us and headed out into the world.
What a world we live in – filled with so much to fear.  The 20th century was the bloodiest on record during which countless millions were murdered and slaughtered in two world wars and regional and national conflicts.  We live in a world where the fear of terrorism has reached every corner of the globe.  Our high-tech gadgets have brought us identity theft.  The chemicals that brought us abundant harvests are causing biological problems of all kinds. Our fossil fuels are causing the earth to warm and climate to change.  There is a lot to worry about these days.
Yet, we Jews are not ones to despair.  As Edmund Fleg put it in his poem, ‘Why I am a Jew,’I am a Jew because in every place where suffering weeps, the Jew weeps.I am a Jew because at every time when despair cries out, the Jew hopes….
To read the rest of The Rabbi’s Corner, click here to visit our website.

EDUCATION NEWS

Check Out the Education Blog
Our Education Director Emily Ascher shares school news, photos, and insights in her weekly blog. Click here to see what’s new!

TEEN NEWS

Recap: Teen Led Shabbat
Mazel Tov to our new BBYO Chapter Ra'am! With Rabbi Eitan, the teens led Shabbat services on December 6, interspersing their own thoughts about the theme for the evening, "new beginnings."  Shir Hadash teens were joined by about 30 BBYO members from area chapters, regional staff members and chapter advisors. We are so proud of our teens and look forward to the many opportunities our BBYO affiliation affords.

BBYO: Invite Planning Meeting TONIGHT
BBYO will meet at the synagogue on Thursday, December 12 at 7:00. Come help the chapter plan for our participation in the upcoming BBYO Invite Convention, January 24-26, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. For more information about this great event and to register online, click here. 

Mark Your Calendars: “Praying With Lior”, January 11
On Saturday, January 11 from 7:00 - 9:00, BBYO presents the film “Praying With Lior” with a discussion to follow.  Watch for details, coming soon!

Midwest Regional Kallah, February 14 – 16
Save the Date for the Midwest Regional Kallah for 6th-12th graders. Join teens from the Chicago area and Michigan for a weekend of Reconstructionist living.  Registration forms will be available soon—watch for more details in future newsletters.

ADULT EDUCATION

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Thursdays, noon-1:00pm in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/CafeJoin Shir Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion.  Don’t be surprised if archaeology, sociology, contemporary world affairs as well as law, medicine, and business ethics enter the lively conversation as we plumb the deeper meanings of Judaism’s core text.  Participants are encouraged to share their views, questions, and opinions.  Each month, one of the class sessions will be devoted to the Chai Mitzvah curriculum.

Sunday Morning Adult Ed
Sunday School isn’t just for kids! Join us this week for Torah and Philosophy at 9:45 with Fred Andes, followed by Hebrew Reading at 10:45 with Steve Lewin. For more information, contact Fred Andes,frederic.andes@btlaw.com.