Shir Chadash Newsletter

September 22 - September 28, 2022

26 Elul 5782 - 3 Tishri 5783

Counting Down to the High Holidays!

Reminder for attending High Holiday Services:

For security reasons, please use the side door attached to the parking lot to enter the building.

The High Holidays are here! Be prepared and stay up to date with all of our 5783 High Holiday services by clicking the buttons below.

Adult Services
Children's Services

TZEDAKAH OPPORTUNITY

Vanessa Cohen is an early childhood educator at the New Orleans JCC. This will be her sixth year teaching there. Vanessa was recently diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. She is taking at least the first semester off from teaching to undergo aggressive cancer treatment which includes radiation and chemotherapy. If you know Vanessa, then you know she is one of the most caring and loving humans on this planet. She takes an interest in every single student. Teaching young and curious minds is Vanessa's greatest love, so for her to have to take extended time off of work must have been an especially challenging decision for her. As a teacher at the JCC, Vanessa has always supported her students and their families with so much enthusiasm and warmth. 


Even with health insurance, Vanessa will have many medical bills and extra expenses as a part of her treatment. FMLA will not be enough to support Vanessa with all of her routine and extra expenses. Now is our time to give back and show our support for Vanessa. Please donate if you can and please feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be willing to help.  

DONATE HERE TO HELP VANESSA IN HER TIME OF NEED
Shir Chadash Calendar
All links have migrated to our webpage. Click here to get there! 

Friday, September 23rd

6:15 pm, Shabbat Evening Services


Saturday, September 24th

9:30 am, Shabbat Morning Services followed by Kiddush lunch


10:30 am, Children's Services


Sunday, September 25th - Erev Rosh Hashanah

NO SHUL SCHOOL


9:15 am, Minyan with Men's Club followed by breakfast


8 pm, Rosh Hashanah Evening Service followed by dessert reception sponsored by Past Presidents of Sisterhood


8 pm, Children's Erev Rosh Hashanah Activity


Monday, September 26th - Rosh Hashanah, Day 1

8:30 am, Rosh Hashanah Morning Service


10:30 pm, Babysitting & Children's Services


11 am, Teen Learning


5 pm, Tashlich (meet at the Rabbi's house)


6 pm, Minchah/Ma'ariv - at the Rabbi's house


Tuesday, September 27th - Rosh Hashanah, Day 2

8:30 am, Rosh Hashanah Morning Service


10:30 pm, Babysitting & Children's Services


Wednesday, September 28th - Fast of Gedaliah

8 am, Zoom Shacharit Minyan for Tzom Gedaliah


Thursday, September 29th

7 am, Morning Minyan (special IN-PERSON minyan for the Yahrzeit of Lisa Finkelstein's father, Sidney Aron)


Friday, September 30th

6:15 pm, Shabbat Evening Services

Saturday, October 1st

9:30 am, Shabbat Morning Services followed by Kiddush lunch


10:30 am, Children's Services


Sunday, October 2nd

9 am, SHUL SCHOOL


9:15 am, Minyan with Men's Club followed by breakfast


11 am, Prayers at Chevra Thilim Memorial Park Cemetery (5000 Iberville St., NOLA 70119)


12:30 pm, Prayers at Tikvat Shalom Cemetery

(11316 River Rd., St. Rose, LA 70087)


4:30 pm, Teen/Tween Learning


5 pm, Torah on Tap with YAS (Young Adults at Shir Chadash) at Bayou Beer Garden - Register HERE


Tuesday, October 4th - Erev Yom Kippur

6 pm, Minchah


6:15 pm, Kol Nidrei


6:15 pm, Babysitting & Children's Services


Wednesday, October 5th - Yom Kippur

9:30 am, Yom Kippur Morning Service


10:30 pm, Babysitting & Children's Services


11 am, Teen Learning


4:30 pm, Minchah


6 pm, Neilah/Ma'ariv/Havdalah followed by Break the Fast


Thursday, October 6th

8 am, Zoom Morning Minyan

COVID-19 UPDATE
Our Health Committee update as of August 12, 2022 is as follows:

In the last 2-3 weeks, we have seen a precipitous drop in the rate of positive tests in the New Orleans area, and we are starting to see a drop in the hospitalization rate as well. In addition, our community threat level has been reduced from "High" to "Medium." All very encouraging news!

Unfortunately, we have also learned that with the recent highly contagious variants, vaccination does not prevent infection nor the ability to transmit the virus to others. However, it does continue to help protect against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Therefore, vaccination remains important for one's personal protection but is less essential to the community's health at large.  

As a result, the Health Committee has recommended that we lift our vaccine requirement for shul entry, and the recommendation was approved by the Board on Monday, August 8th. This decision is also in keeping with current local guidelines for schools and businesses.  

We do continue to encourage everyone to be vaccinated, if eligible. The CDC recommends COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, a booster for everyone ages 5 years and older, and a second booster for everyone ages 50 and older. Please note that special rules apply to those who are immunocompromised. Please visit the CDC website to learn more about staying up to date with vaccination.

We also continue to encourage everyone to mask while indoors, most especially for those at risk of serious disease (e.g. those who are moderately/severely immunocompromised).

Please click HERE to read our guidelines in full.
Shir Chadash Events & Announcements

Come join the Young Adults of Shir Chadash for a drink and some Torah study led by our Rabbinic Student David Kaplinsky. First drink is on us! See y'all there!

REGISTER HERE!

SAVE THE DATE!

Stay tuned for more information!


CLASSES WITH RABBI HOFFMAN

Great Jewish Books

(of the Last Decade)

Once a month, Tuesdays, 7 PM

@ Rabbi Hoffman's Home

Next Class: THURSDAY, October 20th

"Letters to My Palestinian Neighbors" by Yossi Klein Halevi


Numerous Jewish books are published every year, and many are of a very high quality. But what about the most important books, those that make a deep impact on the American Jewish community? In this course, led at Rabbi Hoffman’s home (aka the parsonage) one Tuesday evening per month, we will review a book together.


Please RSVP to Rabbi Hoffman at rabbiscott@shirchadash.org


Click here for the full 2022-2023 schedule and book list

Lunch & Learn:

One Hour Responsa

With gratitude to the Nat Leon Fund

Once a month, Tuesdays, 11 AM

Next Class: October 25th


Join Rabbi Hoffman for a one-hour session followed by a delicious catered lunch.  They will take a look at contemporary issues through the lens of Jewish sources. You don’t need to bring anything to class but yourself and your appetite – everything will be supplied to you. The course is based upon the responsa writings of Dr. David Golinkin of the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem.

Sisterhood Class: The Land of Truth

Wednesdays. 10 AM

Currently on hiatus through the High Holidays.

Will resume on October 19th



Join us on Wednesday mornings at 10 for lively teaching and discussion with Rabbi Hoffman of Jeffrey Rubenstein's book The Land of Truth.


The Talmud has numerous stories which address everyday life. Rather than being historical in nature, these tales are didactic, intended to teach an important lesson. The question is always what lesson are the Sages trying to teach?  


All materials will be provided - come join us for an exploration of Talmudic texts in translation and enjoy! 

Sunday Shacharit Minyan
Minyan will be in the Chapel
at 9:15 am, followed by breakfast.
Zoom participation remains as an option.

Everyone welcome!
Thursday Shacharit Minyan


Join us at 8 am for our

virtual weekday minyan.


This upcoming Thursday, September 29th, please join us at 7 am for a special IN-PERSON minyan for the Yahrzeit of Lisa Finkelstein's father, Sidney Aron

A Zoom option will also be available.

Click here for the most recent Family Newsletter

to learn more about upcoming children's programming!


If you are interested in volunteering to assist with High Holiday Children's Programming, please click here to learn more

Click here for the most recent Shul School Recap!


If you have not yet registered your child(ren) and wish to enroll them,

please contact Chaviva Sands at educationdirector@shirchadash.org.

Sisterhood Corner
Top 10 Reasons to Join Sisterhood!
10. Sisterhood needs & values you 
  9. Interesting discussions & conversations
  8. Opportunities to learn new skills
  7. Being a part of something bigger than yourself
  6. Connections to individuals around the world
  5. Longest ongoing Torah study class in NOLA
  4. Innovative programming
  3. Increased longevity & decreased stress
  2. Unmatched support system 
  1. Lasting friendships 
 
For details about membership, dues payments, or contributing, please click HERE.

Information and/or questions, contact Charisse Sands at 504-231-6464 or annsandsc@aol.com (Sisterhood in subject line)
Community Events and Announcements
RSVP HERE

Celebrate Sukkot with MSJE and

Jewish Rockstar Dan Nichols!

Come celebrate Sukkot with MSJE, Thursday, October 13th, at 5:30 Central, and welcome Dan Nichols back to New Orleans! Dan will share memories of Road to Eden, the film he made ten years ago during his Sukkot tour of the deep South. Together, we'll explore what Sukkot means to Southern Jews today–and of course, sing along with Dan!

 

WHAT: Dan Nichols Program and Community Concert

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2022, 5:30 Central

WHERE: MSJE, 818 Howard Ave.

TICKETS: $5 for Members; $10 for general admission.

 

Seating is limited. Members get first chance to purchase tickets.

Purchase Tickets Here

Immigrant Resettlement. Touro Synagogue continues its collaboration with Home is Here NOLA (www.homeisherenola.org), an organization working with a network of community support groups such as Touro for the resettlement of asylum seekers. Volunteers provide a wide variety of support to new community members, with the ultimate goal of facilitating self-sufficiency. Touro welcomes non-Touro members for this important effort. If you are interested in volunteering or just learning more, please contact Jill Israel (jisraelnola@gmail.com).


Contact Us
Scott Hoffman
Rabbi

Ricardo Totah
Executive Director 
Chaviva Sands
Director of Education & Programming

Sarah Lustig
Office Manager

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