What's Happening at a Glance
Membership News and Upcoming Events- Dedication: What a Day!
- Honey for the Holidays
- August 19-25 -- Dining for Dollars at Superdawg
- New: Parent/Kid Fantasy Football League
- Update Your Online Membership Info
- Book Club
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
- High Holidays Food Baskets
- Pick Your Week to Host an Oneg
- Join the ADA Benefit Committee
- Upcoming Services
- High Holidays: Torah Portions Available
- High Holidays Schedule Online
- Lunch and Learn, TODAY, August 22
- Address on the Dedication of our New Synagogue Building
- Teen Meeting August 26 -- Madrichim, BBYO and More!
- “The Pianist of Willesden Lane”
Membership and Upcoming Events
Dedication RecapWe did it! Our community gathered together on August 18 to celebrate the dedication of our long-awaited synagogue. Our Torahs made the journey from Northbrook to Wheeling on foot (and, briefly, by bus) under a Huppah held high with pride. Hundreds of members, friends, and honored guests participated in an outdoor ceremony filled with music, emotion, and high aspirations for Shir Hadash’s new chapter. We then celebrated throughout the afternoon with delicious food, live music, and outdoor games while tour guides helped everyone get acquainted with all that the new building has to offer.
Kol Havod to Melanie Andes and the Dedication Committee volunteers, whose hard work pulled off a celebration that represented all sides of Shir Hadash’s character. Thanks also to Mehran Farahmanpour, the Building Committee, Housh Construction, and all the staff members and volunteers who made the building ready in time for Sunday’s monumental event.
We will be compiling a keepsake album and other remembrances of our congregation’s special day, and we would love to include your photos and thoughts! Please email your favorite photos to photo@shir-hadash.org. In the meantime, click here to enjoy a video of the Torahs’ journey produced by the Sun-Times's Karie Angell Luc.
Update Your Membership Info Today!
Now is the time to renew your membership for the coming year. Please remember, only members who have submitted all their renewal forms will be admitted to High Holiday services, which start on September 4. Additionally, families with bar/bat mitzvahs coming up must be members in good standing in order to have access to the synagogue’s resources (use of the ark, books, torah, rabbi, and of course the new building).Click here to view the online membership area of our website. If you haven’t received the online link for membership renewal or have any questions, please contact the tech team at info@shir-hadash.org.
Kosher Honey for the High Holidays
It’s almost time to start a Sweet New Year. Shir Hadash has arranged to obtain delicious kosher honey, just in time for Rosh Hashanah. Just click here to place your order online and have it shipped directly from the manufacturer to you or to your family and friends. Honey is a perfect New Year's surprise for kids at college or out of town family. Funds from the honey sale benefit Shir Hadash.
August Dining for Dollars: Superdawg!
How many hot dogs can you eat in a week? A LOT if it's for a good cause! During this entire week of August 19-25, come to Superdawg in Wheeling (333 S Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling) or in Chicago (6363 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL), present our flyer and 20% of your purchase will be donated to Shir Hadash. Click here to view and print the flyer; it is also available on the Shir Hadash website by going to the Superdawg event on the Calendar. Enjoy a great meal in the fresh air and at the same time support our community.
New: Parent/Kid Fantasy Football League
Looking for a chance to share your vast storehouse of knowledge about fantasy football with your kids? This fall, for the first time ever, Shir Hadash is facilitating a no-betting, fantasy football league for school-aged kids (K-7) and their parents. This is a great opportunity for you to spend more time with your child and to get to know other Shir Hadash families. The league is open to boys and girls and moms and dads.
The Shir Hadash fantasy football draft will be held on Sunday, September 1, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the synagogue. The league will be run online. Depending on interest, there could be up to 12 teams in the league. For more information or to RSVP for the draft, contact Commissioners Steve Mesirow at slmesirow@comcast.net or Rich Siegel at rschicksiegel@comcast.net.
Book Club
The next book for after the High Holidays will be My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner: A Family Memoir by Meir Shalev. This is the story of a second generation Israeli family and their grandmother battling her biggest problem with Israel—the dirt. Watch for details of our fall meeting coming soon.
Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield's
Have you been to The Continental or Butterfield's restaurants? These friendly eateries in Buffalo Grove and Northbrook are supporting Shir Hadash with PERMANENT fundraisers. 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, Buffalo Grove, next to the Dominick’s. Butterfield's, a breakfast/lunch restaurant, is located at 4195 Dundee Road in Northbrook -- different strip mall, with a different Dominick's. Both are very convenient to the synagogue -- a great idea after Sunday School! Be sure to mention Shir Hadash when you are paying your bill so we will get credit for your purchase.
Volunteer Opportunities
High Holidays Food BasketsOnce again this year, Shir Hadash will be joining with Maot Chitim of Greater Chicagoland to help them pack and deliver High Holiday food baskets for needy Jewish families all over the Chicago area. Baskets were packed last Sunday – thanks to all who participated!
Delivery of food packages will take place on Sunday, August 25th, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Buffalo Grove/Wheeling area. If you are interested in helping with deliveries, please contact Mark Lenhart, social.action@shir-hadash.org as soon as possible for more information.
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 new Membership 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!
Join the ADA Benefit Committee
We are pleased to announce that Shir Hadash will be hosting a benefit next year in support of the American Diabetes Association. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to become a leader within the greater Chicagoland community while supporting this important cause.
The initial agenda and core concept for the production have already been established. Now the team is looking to assemble a planning committee to work on the following areas:
- 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
Creative Worship & Ritual
Upcoming ServicesNo services August 23-24Selichot Service Saturday, August 31, 7:30pm
High Holidays – Service Schedule
Shir Hadash offers a full complement of services and activities for the High Holidays, taking place at both Our Lady of the Brook in Northbrook and our synagogue in Wheeling. Click here to view a full schedule on our website.
High Holidays – Yom Kippur
Torah Portions Available
Thanks to everyone who has signed up as a Torah reader for the High Holidays services. We still have openings for Torah readers or chanters for Yom Kippur afternoon. Recent bar and bat mitzvahs would be especially welcome! 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. Please contact Fred Andes at fandes@btlaw.com or 773 354 3100.
Adult Education
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi EitanThe next Lunch & Learn Torah Study will be held on August 22 at noon, in the Rabbi’s office at the synagogue. Bring a brown bag lunch and join in for an enlivening discussion of the week’s Torah portion.
The Rabbi's Corner
August 23-24, 2013 / 18 Elul 5773Shabbat Ki TavoTorah Portion: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 60:1-22Address on the Dedication of our New Synagogue BuildingSunday, August 18, 2013
Good afternoon, Everyone! I thank my colleague Rabbi Michael Balinsky for your invocation. Thanks to Congressman Schneider, Village President Argiris, and Jonathan Markowitz for your greetings. Welcome all friends of Shir Hadash. We are honored by your presence at our celebration.
This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, tells us to recall our ancestor’s journey from Egyptian slavery through the wilderness and to give thanks once we have crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. In our case, we have crossed the Des Plaines River and our Promised Land is called Wheeling, Illinois! Today is a day for recalling Shir Hadash’s eighteen year journey since its founding in 1995 that has brought us to this moment. This is a time for celebrating the patience, perseverance, and hard work of our leaders and the blessings of the Eternal One, through which we joyfully and thankfully dedicate our synagogue home this day….
To read the rest of The Rabbi’s Corner, click here to visit our website.
Teen News
August 26: Two Important Meetings for Our TeensMadrichim: Mandatory meeting on Monday, August 26th from 6:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m in the Shir Hadash youth lounge, 200 W. Dundee Rd, Wheeling.
All 8th - 12th graders & their parents: Join us on Monday, August 26th from 7:15 - 8:00 p.m. for an important meeting about our NEW BBYO chapter. Here is a little information about BBYO:"More Jewish Teens, More Meaningful Jewish Experiences" - BBYO’s pluralistic movement of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists will serve as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post- Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences that inspire a lasting connection to the Jewish people.
For more info on these meetings, contact Carole Mostow at youth@shir-hadash.org.
Community News
Final Weeks: “The Pianist of Willesden Lane"This wonderful play at the Royal George Theatre has been extended again, but must close on September 1. 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.
