Shir Hadash Weekly Newsletter: August 8, 2013

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT A GLANCE

Membership News and Upcoming Events

• Synagogue Dedication, August 18
• Tonight: Welcome Tea for New and Prospective Members, August 8
• Shir Hadash Honey for the Holidays
• August Dining for Dollars: Superdawg
• Update Your Online Membership Info
• High Holidays Guest Tickets: “180 for $18”
• Book Club
• Permanent Fundraisers at The Continental and Now Butterfield's

Volunteer Opportunities

• It's Time to Move!
• Green Thumbs – or Any Other Thumbs -- Wanted
• High Holidays Food Baskets
• Pick Your Week to Host an Oneg
• Join the ADA Benefit Committee

Creative Worship & Ritual

• August 9: It's a Wedding!
• High Holidays: Torah Portions Available
• High Holidays Schedule Online

The Rabbi's Corner

• "Social Justice"

Adult Education

• Next Lunch and Learn, August  22 

Teen News

• Be Part of the Synagogue Dedication
• Teen Meeting August 26 -- Madrichim, BBYO, and More!

Community News

• “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, children's games, 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!

Call for Photos for Dedication Celebration

Time to dig through those old photo albums and find photos from Shir Hadash events--services, your kids' b'nai mitzvah, baby namings, religious school, picnics, etc. We'd love to use them in our Dedication slideshow so we can document the growth of our congregation. Bar and bat mitzvah photos especially needed! You can scan and e-mail the photos to photo@shir-hadash.org or else mail the actual photo to Rachel Schick Siegel, 3821 Cindy Lane, Glenview, IL 60025. All photos will be returned.

Welcome Tea for New and Prospective Members, August 8

New and prospective members are invited to a welcoming tea next Tueday at the home of Ken and Stacy Laner in Buffalo Grove. If you are a new member, we’d like to get to know you better!  Rabbi Eitan, Education Director Emily Ascher, and other congregation members will be there to answer any questions you may have about Shir Hadash.

Date: Tuesday, August 8 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Location: The Laners’, 1047 Shambliss Court in Buffalo Grove
RSVP: 847 498 8218 or office@shir-hadash.org

Please pass the information on to your friends, neighbors, and family members who are interested in joining a synagogue or finding out more about Shir Hadash. If you or your friends can’t make it to this one, we will be holding additional teas later this fall.

Update Your Membership Info Today!

Have you renewed your membership? 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.

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.
Kosher Honey for the High HolidaysIt's almost time to start a Sweet New Year.  Shir Hadash has arranged to obtain kosher honey with our logo on it.  Honey will be available for sale at the Building Dedication, $10 for one jar, $8 for 3 or more jars.  We will also be receiving a code that will allow people to purchase Shir Hadash honey online and have it shipped directly from the manufacturer to them or to family or friends. (Makes a nice New Year's surprise for kids at college!) Information about online ordering will be available shortly.  Funds from the honey sale benefit Shir Hadash.

August Dining for Dollars: Superdawg!

The August Dining for Dollars fundraiser will be at Superdawg(either location).  Anyone bringing in a flyer during the ENTIRE WEEK of August 19-25 will have 20% of the cost of their order go to Shir Hadash.  An electronic version of  the flyer will be made available to members shortly and will also be available on the Shir Hadash website by going to the Superdawg event on the Calendar.  Flyers will also be available at the Building Dedication on August 18.  As the summer starts winding down, it’s the perfect time to have a hot dog in the fresh air and at the same time support our community.

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 Fundraiser at The Continental and Now Butterfield's Too!

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

It's Time to Move!

The move to new home is planned for August 14 -- less than a week away!  We still need lots of help with unpacking on August 15 and 16in order to be ready for the dedication the following Sunday. Please contact Dan Wellisch and Suzanne Wexler ASAP at volunteer@shir-hadash.org to sign up for a shift.

Garden Cleanup

In preparation of our Dedication Celebration on Sunday August 18th, we want to make our synagogue grounds look as beautiful as possible! We are looking for people to help with cleanup of our garden beds, including pulling out those unsightly weeds.  This is a great opportunity for anyone available to help on Saturday August 10th from 10am until noon.  No experience necessary.  Children are welcome!  If you have your own tools, please bring them.

Specific questions should be addressed to Stacy Laner (847) 204-6368 stacy.laner@gmail.com. General RSVPs should be sent tovolunteer@shir-hadash.org. And if you find you have time at the last minute and didn’t respond, feel free to join us!

High Holidays Food Baskets -- New Packing Time!

Once 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.  There are two different ways you can help, either packing food boxes or delivering them. 

PACKING will take place on Sunday, August 18th from 9:30 to 10:15a.m.  (Note the time change – still plenty of time to make it to the synagogue dedication!) The address for the packing is 5990 W. Touhy, Niles, IL. 

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 on one or both of these dates, 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

If this is your area of interest or expertise, we would love to have you!  Please contact Jeffrey Wallk (president@shir-hadash.org) for more information.

CREATIVE WORSHIP & RITUAL

Friday, August 9 – It’s a Wedding!

This Friday night, August 9, we do NOT have a Friday night Shabbat service (since it is a 2nd Friday), but we do have a very special Jewish service: a wedding!  It will be the first special event at our new building, and we expect many more to come.  And it’s one of our officers - Shir Hadash's Executive Vice-President, Glenn Graff - who is getting married on Friday, to Chantal Kessel.  The wedding, officiated by our Rabbi of course, will start at 5:30 pm.  There will be a light oneg afterward.  All members are welcome.  So come and celebrate with Glenn and Chantal!

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 all of you who have signed up as a Torah readers 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 atfandes@btlaw.com or 773 354 3100.

ADULT EDUCATION

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan

Due to the upcoming office move, the 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 9-10, 2013 / 4 Elul 5773
Shabbat Shoftim
Torah Portion:  Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 / Haftarah Portion:  Isaiah 51:12-52:12
“Social Justice”

Dear Friends,

My experience in India over the past two weeks was eye opening and inspiring.  I joined with a rabbinic delegation from the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) to Lucknow, a city and state capital in northern India.  While there we studied, met with leaders of various non-government organizations, and volunteered in a service project at a local village school.

If one word could capture the focus of my trip, it would be ‘justice.’  In essence our presence was to study and witness efforts to bring justice to the oppressed and impoverished of India, from those of the untouchable caste to abused women and children seeking education.  It is quite an effort, seeing that 80% of India’s population lives in rural villages.  Many migrant workers to the cities live in crowded and often slum conditions.  Our work was not with Jews, but with all those in need.

The injunction for us to get involved with anyone in need comes from this week’s Torah portion and the verse – “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice shall you pursue.”…

To read the rest of The Rabbi’s Corner, click here to visit our website.

TEEN NEWS

Be Part of the Synagogue Dedication!

Come join the members of Shir Hadash as we dedicate our new building. The event will begin with some members of the congregation walking the Torah(s) from our old offices on Dundee Road to the synagogue.  At noon, there will be a dedication ceremony to welcome the congregation to our new home. After the ceremony (about 12:45) there will be music, food, tours, & fun and games for the kids. That is where you come in!

Date: Sunday, August 18, 2013
Time: Noon - 2:30 (approximately--games will be from 12:45-2:15 or so)

We need at least 10 to 14 teens to help with the following games:

Bouncy House (2-3 volunteers needed)
Badminton (2-3 volunteers needed)
Bean Bag Toss (2-3 volunteers)
Ladder Game (2-3 volunteers)
Bucket Game (2-3 volunteers)

Please RSVP to youth@shir-hadash.org ASAP. See you there!

Teen Meeting on August 26: Madrichim and More!

8th through 12th graders: please save the date for an exciting meeting at the synagogue.

6:45 - 7:15 pm: Mandatory meeting for madrichim7:15 - 8:00 pm: BBYO introduction:

We are excited to be starting our own chapter of BBYO, an international organization that sponsors social, philanthropic, and leadership opportunities for students. All teens and their parents are invited to learn all about BBYO. For more info, contact Carole Mostow at youth@shir-hadash.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Theater Recommendation: “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.