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Shir Chadash Newsletter
January 25 - January 31, 2024
15 Shevat - 21 Shevat 5784
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Security Reminder: Please be aware that due to security concerns, we are, for the time being, implementing a new security protocol in which we will require Photo ID from non-members or unfamiliar faces joining us for services. We hope you understand and still decide to join us in prayer as we observe and celebrate Shabbat. | |
Health Reminder: With the return of Winter, also comes the return of rising numbers of Covid, flu, and RSV in our community. If you are feeling ill, please consider staying home and participating in services online to protect those around you, especially the more susceptible members of our Congregation. | |
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Bruchim HaBa'im
ברוכים הבאים
Welcome to our new members!
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We welcome Rabbi David Cohen-Henriquez & Cynthia Castro,
Cindy & Avrom Denn, and Ali Perez to our Shir Chadash family.
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This past Sunday, January 21st, we held our Annual Congregational Meeting where our new Board was voted upon and installed. Let's wish them all - new and old - a big Shir Chadash welcome! | |
2024 Shir Chadash Board of Directors
(left to right) Rabbi Scott Hoffman, Jan Miller, Dr. Ed Bluth, Mark Schleifstein, Steven Lew, Karen Sher, Dr. Diane Africk, Peter Title, Laurie Sterbcow, Andrea Rubin, Bobby Garon, Ivan Brizzio, Julie Finkelstein Steinhaus, Laurie Klein, Barbara Kaplinsky, Esther Hendler, Hal Levkowitz, Lisa Sackett, Dr. Art Lustig, Juliet Lieberman, Rebecca Russell, and Harriet Hillson.
Not pictured are Ed Golden, Larry Lehmann, Danny Mintz, Dr. Jon Mizrahi, Justin Sackett, Josh Sands, Charisse Sands, and Jeremy Soso.
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Shir Chadash Executive Committee Members
(left to right) Rebecca Russell, Recording Secretary; Julie Finkelstein Steinhaus, Executive Vice President; Barbara Kaplinsky, Membership Co-Vice President; Karen Sher, Membership Co-Vice President; Hal Levkowitz, Treasuer/Men's Club President; Dr. Art Lustig, Financial Secretary; and Juliet Lieberman, Education Vice President. Not pictured are Dr. Jon Mizrahi, Ritual Vice President, and Charisse Sands, Sisterhood President.
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This past Sunday, prior to our Annual Congregational Meeting, we held our always popular Pancake Breakfast! A special thank you to Liza Feinstein, Lexie Toshav, Steven Lew, Robin Lew, and Sandy Lassen for all of their help in the kitchen to make this morning possible. Todah Rabbah!
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Dear Shir Chadash community,
Last week, I offered a few suggestions about supporting Israel through your advocacy. This week, I’ll focus on supporting Israel through our diet. Through our diet? Well, yes – every small step we take to live like Israelis, we’ll create another connection to the Israelis. This is especially germane because today is Tu B’shvat, the New Year of the Trees, when we celebrate the blessing of Israel’s seven native species.
First, you can’t go wrong with great hummus. While I don’t go to Whole Foods often, they now carry chef Michael Solomonov’s hummus, sold under the name Zahav and certified kosher. Can’t wait to get my hands on a container so I can try it. I know, hummus isn’t among the seven species, but in our day and age, it’s Israel’s answer to guacamole.
Next, you can buy wonderful olive oil from Israel and start incorporating it into your cooking. When we say you need to watch your intake of fat, that refers to saturated fat. Olive oil is high in healthy unsaturated fat, the kind you need for heart health. And of course olives are one of the seven species mentioned in the Torah, so you’re fulfilling today’s mitzvah.
And those of you who know me are aware that I enjoy a good glass of wine, and fortunately there are many fine Israeli wines available locally. Of course grapes, like olives, are again among Israel’s seven species, so again you are hewing to the requirements of Tu B’shvat.
There are so many wonderful Israeli foods and beverages to choose from, you won’t get bored or run out of options. As I always say, we can support our brothers and sisters in the land of Israel while having a positive experience at the same time.
Let’s just say that the approach works for me.
Of course, if you need additional help, the leadership of both Shir Chadash and of the New Orleans Jewish community, are here to assist you. Below, you will find a list of resources which can help, whether you are seeking pastoral support, an opportunity for pro-Israel advocacy, or a chance to help Israel financially. Please feel free to take advantage of these resources as fully as you like. And if you need additional help, please feel free to call us in the office.
~ Rabbi Scott Hoffman
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PASTORAL CARE
These are unprecedented times and we understand that some may need an extra helping hand or someone to talk to. Whether you are one of the many in our community who have friends, family, or loved ones in Israel, or you need a compassionate ear to help come to grips with this past week's events, please don't hesitate to reach out to Rabbi Hoffman at the office, 504-889-1144, or by email at rabbiscott@shirchadash.org.
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RESOURCES
We are fortunate enough to have several Jewish organizations, both local and national, that are continually updating their websites with resources that may be helpful in navigating this difficult time. Please see some below:
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
For those who wish to directly serve the country’s needs in Israel, these short-term volunteer opportunities are currently available:
Jewish National Fund (four days of structured group volunteering per mission)
Volunteers for Israel (1-3 week stints of non-combat service on an IDF base)
Camp Ramah has scheduled Solidarity and Service trips to Israel for adults, teens, and college students - To Sign up to receive updates, fill out this form.
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The synagogues of West Esplanade, Shir Chadash, Beth Israel, Gates of Prayer, and Chabad, are joining together with a very special initiative to pray for Israel by collectively reciting the entire book of Psalms as a community each week that the Israel-Hamas war is ongoing.
Congregants are encouraged to sign up for one psalm each, which they will commit to reciting, in Hebrew or English, once weekly.
Together, with the power of our community and our faith, we can do our spiritual part to support Israel!
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JFS (Jewish Family Service) is offering free counseling to Israeli members of our Greater New Orleans community. Simply call (504) 831-8475 and ask for Michelle or email her at michelle@jfsneworleans.org. | | | |
Shir Chadash Calendar
All links have migrated to our webpage. Click here to get there!
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Friday, January 26th
6:15 pm, Shabbat Evening Services
Saturday, January 27th
9:30 am, Shabbat Morning Services, followed by Kiddush lunch sponsored by Sheryl & Peter Title in honor of Sheryl's birthday and Lisa & Elliot Finkelstein in honor of Julie Finkelstein Steinhaus’ Bat Mitzvah Anniversary
10 am, Babysitting
Sunday, January 28th
9 am, SHUL SCHOOL
9:15 am, Minyan with Men's Club, followed by breakfast
10:30 am, Sunday Mah Jongg - Open to all players of any experience level
11:30 am, Family Fun Fest (at the Metairie JCC) - RSVP HERE
Wednesday, January 31st
10 am, Sisterhood Class: The Bible Says...That?
Thursday, February 1st
8 am, Morning Minyan on Zoom
5:30 pm, MSJE King Cake Challah Happy Hour with YAS (Young Adults at Shir Chadash) - at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience - Register HERE
Friday, February 2nd
6:15 pm, Shabbat Evening Services
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Saturday, February 3rd
9:30 am, Shabbat Morning Services, followed by Kiddush lunch
10 am, Babysitting
6 pm, Mardi Gras Lock-In for 2nd-8th Grade - Register and learn more HERE
Sunday, February 4th
9 am, SHUL SCHOOL
9:15 am, Minyan with Men's Club, followed by breakfast
10:30 am, Good Lookin' Cookin' with Sisterhood: Hamantashen Edition (for ALL ages)
Tuesday, February 6th
7 pm, Great Jewish Novels (of the 20th Century)
"The Pagan Rabbi" by Cynthia Ozick -
email rabbiscott@shirchadash.org to RSVP
Wednesday, February 7th
10 am, Sisterhood Class: The Bible Says...That?
Thursday, February 8th
8 am, Morning Minyan on Zoom
5 pm, YAS Does Muses - at the corner of Napoleon & Prytania- RSVP HERE
Friday, February 9th
6:15 pm, Shabbat Evening Services
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Shir Chadash Events & Announcements | |
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Mix, sip, mingle and decorate a king cake challah at MSJE’s King Cake Challah Happy Hour with YAS! We’ll use edible glitter, icing, and sanding sugar to create the most deliciously decadent king cake challahs while sipping batch cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks. Plus, DIY a Mardi Gras beaded bracelet or two, or three! $20 entrance fee provides one mini king cake challah to decorate plus unlimited drinks.
Thank you to our community partners, SerenaBakesBread and MSJE, for making this program possible!
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CLASSES WITH RABBI HOFFMAN | |
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Great Jewish Novels
(of the 20th Century)
Once a month, Tuesdays, 7 PM
@ Rabbi Hoffman's Home
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Next Class: February 6th
"The Pagan Rabbi"
by Cynthia Ozick
The twentieth century saw the flourishing of multiple genres of Jewish literature. Great novels were written in pre-war Europe, the newly-established state of Israel, and the first immigrant generation in the United States. Come and discuss the ways in which this literature shaped, and was shaped by, our Jewish world.
Please RSVP to Rabbi Hoffman at rabbiscott@shirchadash.org
Click here for the full 2023-2024 schedule and book list
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Lunch & Learn:
Codes of Jewish Law
With gratitude to the Nat Leon Fund
Once a month, Tuesdays, 11 AM
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Next Class: February 20th
Join Rabbi Hoffman for a one-hour session followed by a delicious catered lunch, provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the Nat Leon Fund. We will be looking at the various codes of Jewish law and see how Jewish sources have wrestled with questions both timeless and current. You do not need to bring anything but a hunger to learn – and perhaps a hunger for lunch. Translations will be based, wherever possible, upon the materials found in www.sefaria.org.
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Sisterhood Class: The Bible Says... That?
Wednesdays. 10 AM
In-person and available on Zoom
The so-called “historical” books of the Bible – that is, Judges, Joshua, I/II Samuel, and I/II Kings are filled with exciting and colorful stories. But are these stories satirical? Are they filled with hidden messages? Are they both didactic and entertaining? Come and join us for an exploration of these books of the Bible and learn that our ancestors’ tastes were not always far removed from our own. All materials will be provided, so just come and enjoy.
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Minyan will be in the Chapel
at 9:15 am, followed by breakfast.
Zoom participation remains an option.
Everyone welcome!
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Thursday Shacharit Minyan | |
Join us at 8 am for our
virtual weekday minyan.
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Click here for the most recent
Family Newsletter
to learn more about upcoming
children's programming!
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Click here for the most recent Shul School Recap!
If you have not yet registered your child(ren) and wish to enroll them,
please do so HERE or contact
Chaviva Sands at educationdirector@shirchadash.org.
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Top 10 Reasons to Join Sisterhood! | |
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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)
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It’s time to order your 2024 Mah Jongg cards. A portion of each card sold is donated to Shir Chadash Sisterhood. Thank you for your support!
The selling of Mah Jongg cards last year earned $365 for Shir Chadash Sisterhood.
Regular cards are $14 and large cards are $15.
To order a card, please send a check made out to:
Harriet Hillson
4839 Bissonet Dr.
Metairie, LA 70003.
The deadline for ordering cards is Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
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Come play Mah Jongg at Shir Chadash once a month on Sundays at 10:30 AM!
New and experienced players are welcome!
Upcoming Dates: January 28 | February 18 | March 17
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UPCOMING CLASSES & PROGRAMMING! | |
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Rosh Chodesh Gathering & Learning
As advertised, Sundays at 10:30 AM
Next Session: April 14th
Rosh Chodesh is a special time for women to gather and learn. This year Sisterhood will be studying the Girls in Trouble curriculum, a project of Alicia Jo Rabins. We will follow individual women through their stories in the Torah by engaging in studying Torah text, considering the story’s relevance to our own lives, and generating our own creative interpretations. This curriculum brings biblical women to life, demonstrating the power of these often understudied stories and highlighting the ways in which they can help us navigate our own complicated lives.
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Community Events and Announcements | |
In 2012, a casual conversation between Atlanta orthopedic physician Dr. Reuben Sloan and his patient Gail Cohn would go on to change both their lives, revealing an incredible shared connection to the Holocaust and World War II that reached back through a painful yet inspiring family history. The two began sharing the story of their unbelievable discovery with audiences all over the country in an emotional live presentation called “Corresponding Angles.” In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Dr. Sloan and Gail Cohn are bringing their program to MJSE. | |
Now on exhibit at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, “A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America” is an evocative series of black-and-white photographs by Andrew Feiler memorializing the Rosenwald schools, a network of nearly 5,000 modest schoolhouses built to educate underserved Black students in the segregated south. The project, the joint dream of a Jewish philanthropist and a Black educator, narrowed the Black-white education gap that plagued Southern and border states, strengthened Black-Jewish relations, paved the way for the civil rights movement, and helped to build a new African American middle class. | |
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Contact Us
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM
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