This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Shir Hadash Newsletter, January 30, 2014

What’s Happening at a Glance

Membership News and Upcoming Events
  • Rabbi Eitan Joins JUF Delegation to Italy and Israel
  • Blood Drive, February 2
  • SHOP Seminar Update
  • Recap: Coffee House Open Mic Night
  • Shir Hadash Gala, February 22
  • Support the Gala with Silent Auction Donations
  • Check Out What’s New on Shir-Hadash.org
  • Book Club, February 25
  • NEW! MOSH Family Night at Chicago Wolves, March 2
  • Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
Creative Worship and Ritual
  • Shabbat Evening Service: “So What’s a Reconstructionist Anyway?” January 31
Music Notes
  • Purim’s Coming – Join Our Spiel!
  • Youth Choir Begins February 2 – This Sunday!
  • Be Part of Lahaka (Adult Choir)
Education
  • Visit the Education Director’s Blog
Teen News
  • Teen Ski Trip, February 21-22
  • BBYO Board Meeting, February 6
  • Midwest Regional Kallah, February 14-16
Adult Ed
  • The Book of Esther Interfaith Class
  • Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
  • Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
Community Events
  • Chicago A Capella Presents “Melodic Migrations”, February 15
  • NEW! Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4

Membership and Upcoming Events

Rabbi Eitan Visits Italy and Israel with JUF Delegation 
Our own Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow is participating in the annual JUF Rabbinic Action Committee Mission to Italy and Israel. The 19 rabbis in the delegation had the unique opportunity to be recognized by Pope Francis I in his homily to a weekly papal assembly on January 22, seated next to the dais during the Pope’s address. The group then moved on to Israel, where Rabbi Eitan placed a packet prayers from our congregation between the stones of the Western Wall. Click here for more details on the Rabbi’s JUF mission trip. 

Blood Drive, February 2 -- This Sunday!
LifeSource will be at Shir Hadash on Sunday, February 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a blood donation drive. The recent extreme weather conditions have prompted a significant decline in donations at all of LifeSource’s donor centers, so participation is more important than ever. Each pint of blood donated helps save three lives!
To schedule your appointment with LifeSource go to www.lifesource.org and use sponsor code 528B. Alternatively, you can email Mark Lenhart at mjlenhart@comcast.net, or register on the sign-up sheet in the Shir Hadash lobby during Sunday School hours.  If you have any specific medical questions, please call LifeSource at 877-543-3768 or 800-486-0680. Thank you for participating in this critical effort!

SHOP Seminar
Many thanks to everyone who came to our SHOP workshops last week! We hope that you can use the information to participate in our SHOP fundraiser easily (and frequently!) from home.
If you missed the workshops and would like us to schedule another session, please contact Lise Schleicher and Gina Zinbarg atSHOP@shir-hadash.org.

Recap: Coffee House Night -- Open Mic Style
Well, the inaugural Coffee House Night – Open Mic Style was magical!  This is what we accomplished on this special night:  17 amazing performers of all ages and talents from poets, to musicians, to vocalists and magicians:  check!   Fabulous accompaniment and support by our own Adrian Durlester for so many of our singers:  check! Awesome Bake/Bev Sale:  check!  Community involvement – we had about 80 people attending spanning the generations, members and nonmembers and friends we’ve haven’t seen in ages:  check!  Very generous donations in our baskets allowing us to continue offering Coffee House Night programming and other special creative programming:  check!  Behind the scenes support like reconfiguring our room to resemble a club atmosphere: check!  Day-of magic with a set-up team getting last minute details taken care of to be ready for our evening to begin: check!  Wonderful front-of-the-house support with sign-ins and welcoming our participants:  check!  Excellent tech support:  check!  Outstanding photographs by Ernest J. Schweit: check! A lovely supportive atmosphere with candlelight: check! Being surrounded by friends and family:  check! Plenty of schmoozing and that feel-good feeling when our evening concluded:  check!  PR, Newsletter and Web support:  check!  Bonus:  everyone helped put our Coffee House venue back in pristine, back-to-business order: double check, check! 
Thank you all for participating in our inaugural Coffee House Night.  So... do we want to do this again?  

 “Living the Chai Life” Shir Hadash Gala and Silent Auction, February 22
Get ready for our 2014 Fundraising Gala “Living the Chai Life!” on February 22 at the Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove. Join us as we celebrate 18 years as a community! The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres, desserts, a silent auction, raffle and live music by the Not For Profit Band! Tickets are $54/person now, $64/person after February 16. Visit our website  for details and tickets!

Support Our Gala with Silent Auction Donations or Sponsorships
Make our Gala a success by contributing silent auction items or becoming a Gala Sponsor.  If you have a quality items to donate, have a business with goods or services, or would be willing to purchase a gift card we could include in the silent auction, please make a tax deductible donationh, Consider asking your favorite businesses to donate an item! Sponsorship opportunities (which include a number of tickets) are also available.  All proceeds go to Shir Hadash, and every bit helps. Contract Glenn Graff at fundraising@shir-hadash.org for more information.

What’s New on Shir-Hadash.org
Our website is constantly being enhanced and improved with helpful info! Take a minute to explore some of our new features that enable you to:
  • Check out a list of the Gala’s exciting silent auction offerings, and buy your tickets
  • Learn how to participate in SHOP online
  • View the Shul’s wishlist for equipment we need
  • Reserve a room at the Shul for any event
  • And more!
Plus, we are looking to add things to the website that members want. Ask and ye shall receive! Questions and ideas can be sent toinfo@shir-hadash.org.

Book Club, February 25
Our next selection will be Second Person Singular by Sayed Kashua. The book is a story of identity, following two Israeli Arabs who are trying to define themselves in modern day Jerusalem. We will discuss this novel at our next meeting, to be held at the home of Melanie Andes on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:30. For more information, please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.

MOSH Family Hockey Night at Chicago Wolves, March 2
Everyone is welcome to join MOSH (Men of Shir Hadash) for a family hockey event when the Chicago Wolves take on the Iowa Wild at Allstate Arena on March 2 at 3:00pm. We will have a block of great seats near center ice on the lower level. Tickets are $24.50 (parking at Allstate is an additional $13 per vehicle). For more info or to RSVP, contact your MOSH coordinators Sean Fisher-Rohde, Doug Tashma and Harry Goldman at MOSH@shir-hadash.org.

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

Shabbat Evening Service:  “So What’s a Reconstructionist Anyway?” January 31, 7:30
This Friday is a fifth Friday, so we have a Learner’s Service!  We will have a regular service, but we’ll stop periodically to talk about the prayers, so we can understand what we’re reading – and why we read it.  In doing that, we’ll talk about the special aspects of our Reconstructionist prayer book, and how Recon – and its prayer book – differ from Conservative, Reform and Orthodox.  If you’d like to know how to explain to your friends what Shir Hadash is all about, and why we do things a little differently, this is the service to attend.  Plus, we have great onegs – don’t forget to bring something to share!


Music Notes – News and Ideas from our Music Director

Purim's Coming-Share Your Inner Thespian/Comedian/Singer/Dancer/Techie/Gleek!
Purim starts Saturday night, March 15. Rehearsals will be starting soon for our Purim shpiel. Only a minimal commitment is needed, we promise. If you like to sing, act, write parody, or enjoy making other people laugh, come join our crew of merrymakers for this year's Purim shpiel. We need not only performers, but writers, instrumentalists, and help with costumes, scenery, etc. Sometimes, being part of the Purim shpiel is more fun than watching it! Why not give it a try? If you're interested, contact Adrian Durlester or Rabbi Eitan.

Rehearsals for Youth Choir (Kolit) Start Sunday, Feb. 2 at 8:45am
Does your child like to sing? Encourage them to be part of the Youth Choir (aka Kolit.) We will be meeting to rehearse the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 8:45am. Singers, drummers, guitarists, pianists, clarinetists, horn players, instrumentalists of all kinds are welcome. For more information contact Mr. D.

Lahaka (Adult Choir)
Our adult choir, Lahaka will be meeting regularly on the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 7:30pm. If you like to sing and be part of a warm, friendly, fun-loving group come join us.  For more information contact Mr. D.


Education

Visit the Education Director’s Blog
Education Director Emily Ascher’s blog has loads of pictures and news about everything happening at Religious School. Click here to see it all. 


Teen News

Youth Ski Trip, February 21-22
Hit the slopes with Shir Hadash! All teens who are at least 14 years old and who have completed 8th grade are invited to come on an overnight ski trip to Cascade Mountain near Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, Feb 21 and Saturday, Feb 22. Drop off will be at 5pm on Friday night in Northbrook.  On Saturday, teens will be dropped off at their homes so that parents are able to attend the Shir Hadash Gala on Saturday night. Click here for detailed information on costs and registration or contact Sandi Schleicher, 800‐897‐0533 (voice & fax).

BBYO Invite Convention Recap
Ra'am BBYO chapter sent six members to the Great Midwestern Regional BBYO Invite Convention. The teens had a great time meeting other Jewish teens from the region, spending Shabbat together and winding up the weekend by participating in all the competitions among chapters, winning second place overall! The mighty Ra'am members definitely made a huge impression on the region and had a super time at our first regional convention.  A big THANK YOU to Lauren Tashma and Joanne Litman who bravely chaperoned the event.  Kol hakavod to our teens who worked as a beautiful team in all the invite competitions. Way to go!. 

BBYO
Board Members: see you at our next Board meeting, Thursday, February 6 at 7:00pm at Shir Hadash.


Adult Education

The Book of Esther – An Interfaith Class
Our examination of the Book of Esther is on a brief hiatus while Rabbi Eitan is out of town. We will resume classes on February 4and continue every Tuesday at 9:30 am through the end of February. Led by Rabbi Eitan and Our Lady of the Brook’s Deacon Peery Duderstadt, “The Book of Esther: Yours, Mine and Ours” offers an in-depth examination of the story of Esther from both Jewish and Catholic perspectives. All classes are at Shir Hadash, and newcomers are welcome. Click here to register. 

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Due to the Rabbi’s travel schedule, there will be no lunch and learn sessions on January 29. In February, join Shir Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion.  This informal group meets on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/Café. All are welcome.

Sunday Morning Adult Ed
We hope you will join us 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.


Community Events

Chicago A Capella Presents “Melodic Migrations”, February 15
The Chicago A Capella vocal ensemble presents “Melodic Migrations: Global Jewish Music” on Saturday, February 15. This new program shines a spotlight on emotionally powerful and beautiful Jewish a cappella music from around the world, including South Africa, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. Benjamin Rivera, who has served as Shir Hadash’s High Holidays music director in the past, is a member of this excellent ensemble. The concert will be held at 7:30pm at the Nichols Concert Hall, 1690 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.Click here to visit the event website, , or contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com for more information.

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4
Our Lady of the Brook parish invites Shir Hadash members for a special “scholar in residence” program featuring Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, author of The Misunderstood Jew – The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus. Dr. Levine will speak on Thursday evening, April 3, and Friday morning, April 4, at OLB, 3300 Dundee Road in Northbrook. More details on times will be coming soon.
Dr. Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, and Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Science. Professor Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist and homophobic theologies. Click here to learn more about her work.   Her presentations are free of charge and open to all. For more information, contact Deacon Peery Duderstadt, peery@olb.org.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?