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Health & Fitness

Shir Hadash Newsletter, March 6, 2014

What’s Happening at a Glance

Membership News and Upcoming Events
  • Important All Synagogue Town Hall Meeting, March 9
  • Save the Date: Passover Second Night Seder, April 15
  • Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
Creative Worship and Ritual
  • Tot Shabbat and Family Services –Beginning this Week
  • Shabbat Evening Service, March 7
  • Upcoming: Shabbat Service with Special Guest Speaker, March 21
Music Notes
  • Purim Online
  • Lahaka Adult Choir
Education
  • Visit the Education Director’s Blog
  • Purim Festivities, March 16
  • Purim Bake Sale
  • Yom Tikkun Olam, April 13
Teen News
  • Purim Carnival, March 16
  • Shir Hadash Ra'am BBYO Board meeting, March 6
  • Bowling Night Recap
  • Junior High “Late Night” at Skokie JCC
  • JRF National Kallah, March 21-23
The Rabbi’s Corner
  • “Modern Sacrifices Make Life Holy”
Adult Ed
  • Crash Course in Basic Judaism
  • Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
  • Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
NEW: Welcome to the SH Wellness Section
  • An Introduction from the SH President
  • This Month’s Wellness Tip
Community Events
  • Congregation Or Chadash Explores “Judaism with a Queer Perspective”
  • Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4


Membership and Upcoming Events

Important – All-Synagogue Town Hall Meeting, This Sunday, March 9
The entire Shir Hadash Community is invited to a Town Hall meeting on Sunday March 9 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the synagogue.  The leadership will share important updates, review our accomplishments in our first year in the building, and discuss plans for the coming years that will impact all our members.  Your input and ideas are needed! Please make time in your schedule to participate in this important discussion.  For more information contact Jeff Wallk, at president@shir-hadash.org. 

Save the Date: Passover Community Second Seder, April 15
Everyone is invited to share in the annual Shir Hadash Community Second Seder, to be held at the synagogue on Tuesday, April 15 beginning at 6:00pm. Watch your emails and future newsletters for more details. Questions? Contact Melanie Andes,fmandes@comcast.net.

Hungry Before or After Religious School (or Anytime)?
The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove or Butterfield's 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 and Family ServicesFirst Tot Shabbat of the Spring is this Friday!
This Spring, Shir Hadash will host several early Friday evening services, perfect for families with younger kids!  Tot Shabbat is for kids up to age 6, Family Services are geared to grades K-3.  Each service has stories, songs and special activities designed for these age groups. Invite your friends! These family services are a great way to introduce young families to Shir Hadash; all are welcome.
These special services are at the kid-friendly times of 6:15 - 7 pm on selected Friday evenings:
  • March 7-- Tot Shabbat
  • April 4 -- Family Service
  • May 2 -- Tot Shabbat
  • June 6 -- Family Service

We also need families to volunteer as greeters for these services, to welcome guests and let people know all about the Shir Hadash community.  If you can help with this important mitzvah, please contact Suzanne Wexler, volunteer@shir-hadash.org.

Shabbat Evening Service, March 7, 7:30
Following the Tot Shabbat service, our regular Shabbat service begins at 7:30. The theme is: "Uncovering the Book of Esther: It's Not a Children's Story."  Join Rabbi Eitan as he reveals some of the lesser known parts of the Book of Esther: intrigue, sex, violence, and a cliffhanger ending - all the elements of a great Hollywood blockbuster. Remember to bring along a treat to share at the pot luck oneg.

Upcoming: Special Guest Speaker for Shabbat, March 21
On March 21, Shir Hadash welcomes a very special guest speaker for our Friday evening Shabbat service. Matt Rothschild is the Publisher and Senior Editor of The Progressive magazine (and web site - http://www.progressive.org).  The Progressive is a prominent liberal publication that has been around for more than a hundred years, speaking out on many critical issues.  Matt happens to be the brother of our member Katy Zwick, and he has agreed to come and talk with us about a very current subject: "Our Vanishing Civil Liberties."  What better topic as we approach Passover, our festival of freedom?  Bring a friend to hear what Matt has to say!

Music Notes – News and Ideas from our Music Director

More Purim Online
One of my favorite Jewish performers, Shira Kline, aka ShirLaLa, has a blog called "Blog Sameach" on which she features all sorts of holiday ideas especially for parents and teachers of young children. Her assortment of blog posts and projects for this year is wonderful. Check them out! Visit her homepage, or go directly to her pages for Purim, including costumes and cutouts andnoisemaker projects. Purim can sometimes be a difficult holiday to talk about with children, so Shira has some great advice on dealing with this problem in her post To Boo or Not to Boo:Purim M’gillah Talking Points For Your Youngest Children.  Be sure to check out Shira's music too. 
Akhla's Purim site is another great place to explore Purim with young children: 
Finally, as I've mentioned before, if you're looking for all things Purim online, then don’t miss Jacob Richman's Purim Holiday Hotsite for 2014/5774, filled with educational, musical, video, and all sorts of resources from around the world.

Lahaka (Adult Choir)
Our adult choir, Lahaka is 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 Adrian Durlester, atmusic.director@shir-hadash.org

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 hereto see it all. 

Sunday School Purim Festivities, March 16
We are thrilled to announce a Shir Hadash Day of Purim Festivities! Teachers and Students are encouraged to wear costumes.Schedule for the Day:
  • 9:15 a.m. -10:15 a.m Purim Studies (students go to their classrooms)
  • 10:20 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. Purim Shpiel (All Members Welcome), Costume Parade (with Prizes), and More
  • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Shir Hadash Youth-Run Purim Carnival – see Teen News below for ticket information.
Join in with the fun! Any parents, members, or students interested in helping with any aspect of our Day of Purim Festivities, please email Education Director Emily Ascher at eddirector@shir-hadash.org or Music Director Adrian Durlester atmusic.director@shir-hadash.org

Purim Bake Sale
As part of our celebration on March 16, we will have a bake sale to benefit our education programs!  If you’re interested in donating your favorite treat,  please contact Katy Zwick at (text or call) 847-606-7432 or (email) katyzwick@gmail.com.

Yom Tikkun Olam, April 13
The Education Committee is looking for help with our Annual Yom Tikkun Olam (Day to Repair the World), to be held on Sunday, April 13th. If you have ideas and/or would be available to lead a group that Sunday, please contact Education Director Emily Ascher at eddirector@shir-hadash.org.

Teen News


Purim Carnival Sponsored by Shir Hadash Ra’am BBYO, March 16
Our first Shir Hadash BBYO-run Purim Carnival will be held from 11:30 to 1:00 on Sunday, March 16, after a shortened Sunday School day (featuring a Purim spiel and Megillah reading). We will offer a pizza lunch, bake sale, games, and prizes. Tickets will be sold in $5 increments.

Shir Hadash Ra'am BBYO Board meeting, March 6
The Ra’am BBYO Board will meet on Thursday, March 6th at 7:00pm in the Shir Hadash Board Room.  All members are welcome to attend.

Bowling Party Recap
40 teens from Shir Hadash and two other BBYO chapters braved the snow storm last Saturday night to make Shir Hadash Ra'am's Bowling Night a huge success. The kids had a great time socializing, bowling, and snacking. Our first "social" turned out to be so much fun the kids are already adding more programs into the schedule. Watch for details for our next event, coming soon!

6th-8th Graders--This is for You!
On Saturday, March 8, from 7-10pm, Jewish students in grades 6-8 are invited to take part in laser tag, swimming, and cupcake decorating, and more at the Skokie JCC.  Other activities will include a game room (card and board games) and basketball. You can come anytime during the evening and leave whenever. You can also participate in any program for as long as you want -- you can play laser tag for three hours with no rest! Cupcakes and soda will be provided. If you plan on swimming, please provide a towel. Admission is $25; sign up by March 8. Click here for more information. Sponsored by Great Midwest BBYO.

JRF National Kallah
The weekend of March 21 - 23, 8th - 12th graders from Reconstructionist congregations across North America will have the opportunity to attend the exciting No'ar Hadash North American Teen Kallah -- to be held this year in Chicago! This amazing weekend will be a great opportunity for you to meet other teens, have fun, take part in experiential Jewish learning, sing and dance, hang out, explore Chicago, and be part of our exciting youth movement.
REGISTER NOW! Included in this amount are accommodations at the Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown/Lakefront, meals (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast), and all program and entry fees. Click here for registration and more info.


The Rabbi’s Corner

March 7-8, 2014 / 6 Adar II 5774Shabbat VayikraTorah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 / Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23
“Modern Sacrifices Make Life Holy”
Dear Friends,I am attending the AIPAC (America-Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference in Washington DC.  The first two days offer a series large event and small workshop sessions about the Land and people of Israel and the fostering of a strong connection between Israel and the United States.  On the third day, the more than five thousand delegates will head to Capital Hill to meet with members of Congress to discuss our views on how important it is that the United States stand with Israel through both the best and the most challenging of times.
People come to AIPAC from all over the United States.  Delegates include Jews and Christians, White and African-American leaders, and even university student  leaders.  We come together from the political right and left, Democrat and Republican.  We are united in our love of Israel and our desire to see her succeed amongst the family of nations and to see the bond between the United States and Israel grow ever stronger and closer….
Click here to read the rest of The Rabbi’s Corner on the Shir Hadash website.

Adult Education


NEW! Crash Course in Basic Judaism
Monday evenings  (3/31. 4/28, 5/26, and 6/9), 8 to 9:30 p.m.Taught by Rabbi Eitan Weiner-KaplowIn this free, five-part crash course, Rabbi Weiner-Kaplow will explore: Belief in God, Prayer, The Shabbat, Jewish Observance and Sexuality. Participants will learn the basics of Judaism and receive a free copy of the Companion Guide chock-full of thought-provoking, extra-curricular reading to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the depth and breadth of Judaism. This program is presented in conjunction with the National Jewish Outreach Project. All are welcome: members and non-members, Jews and non-Jews, family and friends.Our next class will be March 31. Click here to view our program flyer. 

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
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.


NEW: Welcome to the SH Wellness Section

An Introduction from the SH President
Hello members and friends of SH who read this wonderful newsletter. We know how important food is to our Jewish traditions and everyday life, within the synagogue and outside. Our congregation has grown over the last few years and we are seeing an increasing need to ensure our spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. To address our physical (and nutritional) well-being, we will begin posting information “bites” about nutrition for kids, young adults, and families. We’ll post recipes that conform to healthy and safe nutrition needs as that actually taste good. We’ll still offer chicken soup for the soul, but we’re also going to provide nutrition and wellness advice and guidance to ensure a long and healthy life for yourself and your families.

This Week’s Wellness Tip -- Walk Every Day
You don’t need to buy a gym membership, a set of weights, or expensive DVD sets. Just get out and walk. Walking strengthens the legs, improves cardiovascular circulation (blood flow to heart from the extremities), reduces stress, burns calories, improves digestion, enhances immune function, and gives you an opportunity to get outdoors. The warm weather is coming to actually walk outside!

Delicious Low Carb Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:½ cup rolled oats              1 ¼ cup flour½ tsp baking soda            ½ tsp salt¼ cup extra-light olive oil3 T unsalted butter, room temp.½ cup sugar        ¼ cup dark brown sugar1 large egg          1 large egg white1 ½ tsp vanilla extract½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread oats on baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes. Remove and turn oven off.2. Mix flour baking soda, salt. Set aside. In large bowl, beat together oil, butter, sugars. Add egg, egg white, and vanilla; beating until well combined. Fold in oats, flour mixture and chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate dough for 1 hour.3. Reheat oven to 350 degrees. Place heaping teaspoon of dough 2 inches apart on 2-layered parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake, rotating sheets ½ way through, for 10-12 minutes until cookies are set and golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes on sheets and transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 32 cookies. Can substitute ½ of the oil with applesauce to reduce fat by 1 gram per serving (the cookies will be more dense and cake-like). Splenda instead of sugar is not recommended; only saves you 1-2g carb per cookie and does not taste as sweet.Many thanks to SH member Jennifer Dumrauf for this wellness tip. Watch future issues for more great ideas!

Community Events

Congregation Or Chadash Explores “Judaism with a Queer Perspective
Congregation Or Chadash will present a free seven-session course, “Hidur Keshet: Strengthening the Rainbow-Judaism with a Queer Perspective,” beginning March 20, at 5959 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago. The presentations will run on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00pm from March 20 to May 8 (excluding April 17, the week of Passover). The course will create an affirming space for students to discover, celebrate, and intertwine Queer and Jewish identities. It is open to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, interested in exploring the topic of Queer Jewish thought and practice. Registration is due by March 18. For more information, click here

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, Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and 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. Her presentations are free of charge and open to all. For more information, contact Deacon Peery Duderstadt, peery@olb.org
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