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Dec 3 - Pre-Chanukah Havdalah Potluck 6pm at Temple Israel, details below
Dec 14 - Last Day Wednesday School
Dec 18 - Last Day Sunday School
Dec 18 - Chanukah Celebration at Temple Israel
Dec 19 - Last Day Monday School
Dec 20 - First Night of Chanukah
Dec 20 - Progress Reports to be Distributed
Jan 8 - Sunday School resumes
Jan 9 - Monday School resumes
Jan 11 - Wednesday School resumes
Jan 14 - Grade 10 Maftir reading at Temple, Parsha Shemot, read by David Pagurek Van Mossel
Jan 21 - Grade 10 Maftir reading, Parsha Va'era, read by Sam Ruckenstein
Feb 19 - No school due to family weekend
Feb 20 - No school due to family weekend
Feb 22 - No school due to family weekend
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Havdalah Potluck
Can't wait for Chanukah? Want to socialize with other families and enjoy an evening of schmoozing and great food? Here is the opportunity for a relaxed, joyful way to end Shabbat with a potluck dinner, on Saturday, December 3th at 6pm Temple Israel. RSVP is required! Please contact
Margaret Delicate at m.delicate@rogers.com or at 613-759-4339. Hope to see you there!
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Mazel Tov!!
A very big Mazel Tov to high school supervisor Dina who welcomed a new addition into her family this month. Lillian Tova Margaret Wilbur was born Sunday, November 6th. Congratulations to Dina and her family on this wondrous occasion!
 Dina with daughter Lilly
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TIRS High School Feeds Record Number of People at In From The Cold
Each year, Temple Israel High School students volunteer to serve meals to the poor and homeless at Parkdale United Churches 'In From the Cold' Program. The church needs 60 volunteers a week to run this program and without a doubt could not do it on their own. Temple Israel is proud to partner with Parkdale United for such an important program. On November 26, 8 students from grades 8-10 and two teachers served a record 153 hungry people. The students were kept running for hours ensuring guests had their four course meal that included salad, homemade soup, a meat dinner and dessert. Not only did the students serve all the guests efficiently, they were friendly, kind and took the time to ensure that every guest was happy. Following the dinner, the students had the responsibility to clean the entire hall. Again, our students were outstanding, taking the initiative and getting the clean-up done much faster than the Church staff had expected. The students were a great team and volunteer with enthusiasm. They are truly a role model to the younger students and in the community at large. Yasher Koach, Grades 8-10.
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Chanukah Fair
The TIRS Chanukah Fair will be on Sunday, December 18 at 11:00 to 12:30. It will include entertainment by Junkyard Jonny and Christiane Claude-mime, face painting, latkas, bracelet making, Chanukah card sending and many other activities.
Our homemade Hanukiot contest will be judged on December 18. Prizes for best use of materials, creativity and most unique will be awarded!
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Principal:
Rabbi S. Garten
Elementary Supervisor:
Penny Giaccone
High School Supervisor:
Dina Schneider
Newsletter Editor:
Melanie Paquin
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Shalom
Shalom
Chanukah is fast approaching and it is a wonderful time to remember that the tensions that arise when attempting to celebrate a Jewish identity in a new Jewish world are not new. Judah Maccabee and his followers fought the Greek Syrians and at the same time fought those Jews who wished to live simultaneously in the Hellenistic world and Judea.
This tension has never abided. You and I are always struggling with how to live in two worlds simultaneously. TIRS is a vehicle created to help your child successfully respond to the tensions. Our programmes, such as Jewish Book Month, tzedakah in the community, Torah study, current events, Israel study and travel, Jewish holiday celebrations, Shabbat celebrations, author chats, comparative religion and theology are all directed toward creating a healthy and positive Jewish experience. While others may believe that Christmas carols and merry Christmas signage can isolate our kids, we know that a strong Jewish education, not isolation, is the best response to living in a multi-cultural world.
Please enjoy our newsletter, celebrate Chanukah with us on December 18th, and continue to support our wonderful teachers and supervisors.
Chanukah Sameach.
Rabbi Steve Garten
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TIRS Elementary School Update
This has been an exciting month for the elementary school. Students have enjoyed Dr. Mort Berkovitch's dramatic storytelling. All ages were spellbound listening to his reading of The Best Gift. As well, Grade 4 and 5 classes participated in a program where they created their own inventive Hanukiot under the supervision of Shlomo Feldberg.
Guest Shlomo Feldberg helps students make hanukiot using wood, screws, and popcans
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Jewish Book Month at TIRS High School
November is Jewish Book Month and the High School started off the month with a program that covered grades 7-10. After an general overview of the book, the things a brother knows by Dana Reinhardt, Grade 10 students led small group discussions with the other grades to discuss the themes presented in the book. When thinking about heroes many students named a parent as their hero, some mentioned a sibling, while others named famous people. The book dealt with family relationships and students talked about challenges and joys of siblings. The discussion then moved to family relationships in the Torah and what we can learn from our sacred texts that are meaningful to our family relationships today.
Also during the month, two Jewish authors, Gabriella Goliger and Barbara Fradkin visited the school to talk to the students about being an author.
TIRS high school students enjoy the company of guest speaker Gabriella Goliger
Hannah and Gerald Halpern donate a siddur to each student of the B'nai Mitzvah class. These important books were presented to the students on the first Shabbat of Jewish book month
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Consecration-Confirmation Link
Each year at Shavuot, our Confirmands attach a link with their name engraved to the Chain of Tradition located on the bima. Before they do this, they make a commitment to be a part of the Jewish community, be a role model to their peers, and commit to Jewish values. Most remember the day they were Consecrated and received their mini Torah from the Rabbi and participated in the Hakafah. This year, as in years past, our Grade 10 students assisted the youngest members of our school with preparing for their Consecration. The Consecrants had the Confirmands help them to make a mini Aron HaKodesh (ark) which was personalized for their mini Torah. These were presented to the Consecrants in front of the community during the special Consecration Ceremony.
   Confirmands help the younger students prepare for Consecreation with their personalized Aron HaKodesh craft  The Confirmation class with the Consecration class
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