Our High Holy Days:
Report and Reminiscenes
Meaningful. Uplifting. Transcendent. Humorous. Better than ever. These are some of the words that our congregants used this year in discussing the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Shir Libeynu. With ritual leader and co-founder Aviva Goldberg guiding us, and Daniela Gesundheit leading chazzanut, the community participated in prayer, singing and discussion throughout the Days of Awe. We were inspired by the wise words of our sermon givers, including Aviva and other members. We thrilled to the sounds of Daniela's magnificent singing for and with us. The many children in our creative program produced challah, crafts and a number of young shofar blowers. Our musicians, including singers, guitarists, a fiddler and - back again to wow the congregation, our Kol Nidre cellist - were a highlight throughout the services. And our choir delighted us with an expanded repertoire of Hebrew and English songs. This year, we even heard a Yiddish tune from a soloist on the bimah.
In the weeks to come, we will post more news and stories about our services. If you have any comments, suggestions or questions about this year's High Holy Days, please write to us at at [email protected], with "I Want to Talk About High Holy Days" in the subject line.
Shana Tova to All.
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Our Next Service
invites you to join us at our innovative,
truly egalitarian and participatory
Shabbat service
A SUKKOT SHABBAT
Saturday, October 6th
10:30 a.m.
We will conduct a Sukkot-themed Shabbat service, shake the lulav and, weather permitting, visit the rooftop sukkah.
FREE CHILDCARE DURING THE SERVICE WILL
INCLUDE HOLIDAY-RELATED ACTIVITIES.
A KIDDUSH LUNCH IS SERVED AT NOON.
The Kiddush will be sponsored by Yona and Zev Frishman in celebration of their wedding anniversary and Yona's birthday.
EVERYONE WELCOME
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
750 Spadina Avenue @ Bloor and Spadina
(across from Spadina Station)
in the Michael Bernstein Chapel on the 3rd floor
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Save the Dates
Upcoming monthly Shabbat service at 10:30 a.m.:
Holocaust Education Week Shabbat Service
Saturday, November 10th
Our Annual Holocaust Education Week service
will honour survivor and philanthropist Alex Eisen
for his role in the Megillat Hashoah Project.
Please note this service is taking place on the second Saturday in November.
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
750 Spadina Avenue @ Bloor and Spadina
(across from Spadina Station)
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Erev Shabbat Dinners
♦ Friday, October 26th ♦
♦ Friday, December 14th (it's also Chanukah!) ♦
Greet Shabbat as a congregation at these catered communal dinners. Bring your friends and family. Make new friends there! Details regarding time, location and cost will be coming shortly
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Contemplative Jewish Services
Saturday, November 17th ♦ Friday, December 7th
Held later in the day than our monthly morning celebration of Shabbat, these services will include chanting, meditation and other creative techniques to help still the mind and focus on prayer. Led by Lorne Blumer, who has often collaboratively conducted services for us. Stay tuned for details about time and location.
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Shabbat Services: Winter, Spring and Summer
Save these Saturday morning dates:
December 1 * January 5 * February 2 * March 2 * April 6 * May 4 * June 1 * July 6 * August 3
and keep an eye out for further details.
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Shir Libeynu's 2012 Annual General Meeting
Please plan to attend our AGM on Sunday, December 2nd at 12:30 p.m. at the MNJCC (750 Spadina @ Bloor)
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Jewish Education at Shir Libeynu
*NEW *
Becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Shir Libeynu
At Shir Libeynu, bar/bat mitzvah-age children and their families have the opportunity to celebrate entering into Jewish adulthood at inventive and inclusive services that reflect their values as well as those of our congregation. Please visit our Jewish education page for more information about the support and guidance provided by our spiritual leader, Aviva Goldberg, the responsibilities of the bar/bat mitzvah and his/her family, educational options, and other details.
Downtown Jewish Community School
Congregation Shir Libeynu recommends the Downtown Community School (DJCS) as its first choice for quality education in supplementary Jewish school. Conveniently located at the Miles Nadal JCC, where we hold our Shabbat services, DJCS is inclusive, egalitarian and diverse.
Running from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 7, DJCS offers a Jewish Studies program with an optional Hebrew component beginning in Grade 2. In Grade 7, the bar/bat mitzvah year, the focus is on understanding and performing mitzvot (good deeds). High-school aged students can participate in the DJCS once-a-month Sunday brunch high school discussion group.
Tuition fees are fully tax deductible and include a free MNJCC membership for each enrolled child. For more information, visit the Downtown Jewish Community School's website or LIKE it on Facebook.
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Other Shir Libeynu News |
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Attention All Shir Libeynu artists, sculptors, photographers, storytellers and writers.
Juried Group Art Exhibition
In remembrance of our late member, Oscar Wolfman, Queen Gallery, which hosted his first two exhibitions, is following through with a curatorial project Oscar began before his death in late 2011.
Members of the Shir Libeynu community are being offered an opportunity to be a part of this juried group exhibition. Fire & Renewal hopes to feature some of Oscar's work as well as artwork that he too would have chosen and admired. The show will take place in December, 2012, on the longest night of the year, just as he requested.
Queen Gallery would would like to encourage any art-related recommendations you might have that would make this tribute to Oscar -- an artist who accented our lives and memories with his life and artwork -- even more colourful. Please send your ideas, questions or suggestions to [email protected]
For more information on Fire & Renewal 2012 and instructions on submitting your work for theexhibit, please click here.
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Other Items of Interest
(Items listed in this section have been included at the request of Shir Libeynu participants and/or are considered to potentially be of interest to our congregation. Listed items are not necessarily endorsed by Congregation Shir Libeynu or its members. Listings appear at the discretion of the newsletter editor.)
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Sukkahville 2012
This pop-up Sukkah Design Exhibition by Kehilla Residential Programme is in support of affordable housing in our community. Five architecturally unique Sukkahs will be on display. There will also be a hands-on build by Habitat for Humanity, free snacks, family activities and music by Klezconnection at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge Street) on Sunday September 30th from 12:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. The exhibit will be on until Oct 3rd.
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The Centre for Jewish Studies
The Centre for Jewish Studies at university of Toronto offers a series of lectures throughout the fall.
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Shir Libeynu Fund
Proceeds from the fund will go towards ensuring that Shir Libeynu continues to thrive while ensuring access to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Click here to donate to the Shir Libeynu Fund (please note that we do not have credit card capability - just PayPal). Alternatively, you can make out a cheque to Congregation Shir Libeynu (please write "Shir Libeynu Fund" in the "Memo" or "Re" section on the cheque) and mail it to: Congregation Shir Libeynu,
P.O Box 73509
Toronto, Ontario
M6C 4A7
Please send an email message to [email protected]
stating the reason for your donation so we can acknowledge it in the Shabbat handout and on our website. Donations in any amount are welcome and income tax receipts will be issued.
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The congregation holds Shabbat services on the first Saturday morning of each month, in the Michael Bernstein Chapel, on the 3rd floor of the Miles Nadal JCC, followed by a Kiddush. Free childcare is available during the services. We also offer adult education workshops and programs, the possibility to participate in our choir and chanting events, as well as holiday celebrations and Oneg Shabbat dinners throughout the year.
Congregation Shir Libeynu is unaffiliated, liberal, inclusive and egalitarian. Our participatory services combine tradition and innovation. Shir Libeynu is Hebrew for "song of our hearts," and our services include prayers and music both ancient and modern. Our diverse community is a welcoming one.
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Need more information? Please contact us at:
[email protected] or at (416) 465-5488
Congregation Shir Libeynu
Our New Mailing Address:
P.O Box 73509
Toronto, Ontario, M6C 4A7
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