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June 2008

 

ONE PLANET, MANY FAITHS… a triumphant celebration!

On May 4^th the DJC made Danforth-Riverdale History, co-hosting the first multi-faith earth celebration of arts and culture. Along with our partner the Eastminister United Church we reached out to the diverse faith congregations of the Danforth to create an engaging and highly entertaining event of song, poetry, theatre, comedy, dance, and drumming.

Many of the participants expressed enthusiasm for doing another event next year around Earth Day.

More than one hundred and thirty people attended. Beyond the numbers, there was a feeling, expressed by many, that there needs to be a place for spiritual expression of the care and concern that we feel for our shared planet at this time in our history.

DJC was impressively represented on the podium by Lisa Kent (soulful incantations), Emil Sher and Ilana Waldston (original theatrical material, making us laugh so hard we could kvel), and Shirley Kumove (reciting her translated poem by the great Yiddish poet, Anna Margolin), and Dylan Gold (who recited an original poem inspired by our event). We are such a talented bunch!

We were honoured to share the stage with The Toronto Baha’i Congregation, Dare, Eastminister United Church, Metropolitan Community Church, Ruah, the Seventh Day Adventists, and the Community of L’Arche.

DJC’s Go Green! Group is proud to have been a catalyst to this pioneering event. We came to see that we are truly “One World, Many Faiths”.

Joel Kumove

*Please go to here to view more photos from this event.

On Saturday, May 31, you are invited…

DJC B’NEI MITZVAH CEREMONY

You are invited to the Danforth Jewish Circle's first B'Nei Mitzvah ceremony; details as follows:

When:	Saturday, May 31
Where:	Eastminster United - Sanctuary [map]
Time:	3:30 PM

The DJC Jewish Studies program is proud to announce its first B'Nei Mitzvah class. Being honoured:
Abe Brath, Dylan Gold, Jacob McCall, Jemma Israelson, Lonya Burton, Rachel Carnat, Samson Weiss, Zachary O'Brien

We would welcome the presence and support of the DJC community at this ceremony. For more information, contact Nadya Burton at nburton@ryerson.ca or 416•538•9949.

* Please not: there is an Open House on June 12 for our 2008/9 B’Nei Mitzvah program - see the notice here in this newsletter.

CURRENT NEWS & DJC ACTIVITIES FOR JUNE

Welcoming Rabbi Lynn

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, Shabbat service 6:30 PM, Eastminster United- Auditorium [map] (Day care available); Kiddush to follow in the Hurndale room

SATURDAY, JUNE 7 Torah Study 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Eastminster United - Board Room [map]

SATURDAY, JUNE 7 Family celebration 2:00 - 4:00PM, with Rabbi Lynn in Daphne Woolf’s backyard: 19 Playter Boulevard [map]. This will be an opportunity for families and kids to meet and greet Rabbi Lynn and take part in fun, food and stories.

*Please look for a final e-mail the week of June 3 for final details/confirmation about these events: what to bring, where to bring it… 

DJC B’NEI MITZVAH PROGRAM

OPEN HOUSE

B’NEI MITZVAH PROGRAM

The Danforth Jewish Circle is offering a one-year program culminating in a group B’Nei Mitzvah ceremony held in the spring (May 2009). This program is open to all girls and boys wanting to participate in a group Bar or Bat Mitzvah. In keeping with the philosophy and approach of the Danforth Jewish Circle’s Jewish Studies program, the B’Nei Mitzvah class will address issues of Jewish identity, tikun olam and social justice, and will foster connection to Jewish peers and community. The B’Nei students will each prepare a D’var Torah (which involves researching and writing a short speech on a topic related to Judaism) and a Torah Portion/Parasha will be shared among the group.

Please join us at the Open House with any questions you may have and for more information about next year’s program.

Contact: Nadya Burton at nburton@ryerson.ca for more information.

DJC CHILDREN’S JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM

2008/9 REGISTRATION

Our Fall registration is now underway for our 2008/9 year. We’d like to invite any new (and returning families) to register at this time. For more information and/or to register your children in our Jewish Studies grades SK- 7, please write to info@djctoronto.com. An Early Bird special applies if you register or place a deposit by June 25/08.

In addition to our regular Thursday class, we are very pleased to offer a new program scheduled for after school on Mondays beginning in the Fall: a Hebrew whole Language program. Please read on…

Dear Community Members:
 
We are growing!!! The DJC Children’s Jewish Studies program is pleased to announce the beginning of a new Hebrew whole Language Instructional program. Our approach, like our teaching philosophy, is geared to give our students “a positive Hebrew language experience” in a fun, supportive and interactive learning environment.

We are pleased to introduce a program that will engage students in conversation, children will learn in a meaningful way based on real life situations. Our teaching perspective is to develop a love for a living and vibrant language that links us to our heritage and culture.

Please feel free to forward any queries regarding this new and innovative Hebrew program.

Thank you,
Michelle Brown (Principal)

For more information and details of Hebrew language program: phone: 416•580•1233; e-mail: info@djctoronto.com.

JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR DJC TEENS - 2008/9

Do you know someone from age 14-18 who is great with kids?

Our Jewish Studies program is looking to hire a few assistants to support our teachers.
We need people with: 

• storytelling skills
• leadership qualities to work with ACTIVE children
• students who have completed LIT or CIT camp positions who can bring singing and cheering and group entertaining skills to the classroom
• someone who is great at arts and crafts and can help with art activities and instruction team players who can be part of a team work environment
• Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn

 

VOLUNTEERING: Looking to complete your community service hours?
Send us a description of why you would like to complete your hours at our school.  What can you bring that will help our program?  What would you like to learn about working with children in a school setting?
Thank you. Please send all queries to Michelle Brown at JS_Lesson_Plans@yahoo.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

In celebration of spring, I will be performing a rare Toronto concert on Saturday May 31st. The concert will take place at the beautiful Edward Day Gallery.

Seating is very limited, so reservations are encouraged…

What: A Special Concert by Songwriter and Banjoist Danny Bakan accompanied by Tom Leighton on keys, accordion, bazouki and more.

When: Saturday May 31st - 8 PM - Doors open at 7:30 PM

Where: The Edward Day Gallery 952 Queen St. W. Suite 200 (Queen West between Shaw and Ossington)

Tickets: Advance tickets are $15, Tickets at the door are $20.

For reservations email: info@dannybakan.com or call 416 462 2800.

For more about Danny


An exceptionally solid and entertaining recording... a talented songwriter... outstanding songs... a pleasurable discovery - Sing Out! Magazine

...a combination of warmth, humor and honesty that is a rare gift... I marvel at the inventiveness of his songs and performance. - Ron Olesko WFDU Teaneck, NJ

He really got the audience going and kept them in the palm of his hand with his humor as well as his sensitive songs - Rich Warren, Midnight Special WFMT Chicago

...nothing short of amazing!- Jim Marino, CFMU Hamilton

For reservations emailinfo@dannybakan.com or call 416 462 2800.

For more about Danny
Danny Bakan - songwriter, performer, educator and banjoist
danny@dannybakan.com
http://www.dannybakan.com

“The insecurity of prayer: Who is speaking? Who is listening?”
A one day Conference on Judaism and Healing
Tuesday June 17th, 2008 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Beth Tzedec Congregation 1700 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M5P 3K3

Jewish healing seeks to strengthen the spirits of Jews dealing with pain, illness, loss, despair, and disruption. It seeks to further a sense of wholeness, connectedness, well-being, comfort, guidance, support, insight, meaning, purpose, direction, and/or hope through the spiritual riches of Jewish tradition and Jewish community. It draws on a wide range of activities- including but not limited to prayer, support groups, study, counselling, song, meditation, ritual, and social action- encouraging us to live through and build upon the remarkable repertoire of Jewish life evolved through the centuries. It views us all as being on a continuum that takes us through experiences of sickness and suffering, and stresses the roles we must all play in healing ourselves, our community, and the world.
-Rabbi Simkha Weintraub, 2000

9:15 Introduction Dr. Richard L. Cummings, Executive Director of Jewish Family and Child Service
9:30 Keynote Speaker Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Senior Rabbi
Beth Tzedec Congregation Keynote Address “The insecurity of prayer: Who is speaking? Who is listening?”
10:45 - 12:15 WORKSHOPS
1:30 - 2:45 WORKSHOPS
3:00 - 4:00 Service of Healing Rabbi Daniel Komito-Gottlieb, Temple Kol Ami Dawn Bernstein, Cantorial Soloist Temple Kol Ami

Cost: $130.00 ($110.00 if paid by May 31st, 2008) includes workshops, materials, lunch and refreshments.

If you haven't seen it yet, or even if you have, why not treat yourself to this dark comedy about Lucrezia Borgia, the most reviled woman of the Italian Renaissance?
Burning Passions Theatre and Some Strange Reason Theatreworks Inc. present…

BELLA DONNA by David Copelin
A tale of the most reviled and desired woman in Renaissance Italy

Set in Renaissance Italy, David Copelin's Bella Donna is a funny, sexy and intriguing story about Lucrezia Borgia, the most infamous woman of her time. The play is a two-act dark comedy, set in the early 16th century, which dramatizes a legend about Lucrezia and a mysterious child. Excommunicated by her father's successor as Pope, weary of her husband's infidelities, Lucrezia finds passion with Giovanni, a young soldier she meets while both are in disguise. As war looms, the irony of unintended consequences reveals a long-buried secret that tests everyone in the play. BELLA DONNA dramatizes a world where religious faith takes surprising forms, lies fuel history, and gossip might as well be truth.
Friday, May 16, 2008 to Saturday, June 7, 2008
Mon - Sat at 8PM; Sat Matinee at 2pm.
The Berkeley Street Theatre (Upstairs)
26 Berkeley Street
TICKETS: by phone: 416•368•3110; by email: boxoffice@canstage.com; online: https://bx.canstage.com/Online/calendar.asp
$25 - Tues to Thur Eve Show &  $25 - Tues to Thur Eve Show & Sat Mat $28 - Fri & Sat Eve Show PWYC - Mon Eve (Suggested Ticket Price $10) $5 - Eye Go Program, HIP Tix 10% Discount - Students, seniors & Groups Same Day Half Price - TO Tix

Sunday Jazz at Gate 403
with
Ros Kindler
*******************************************
June 15, 2008
5 - 8 pm
*****************************************************
Featuring two of Toronto's
most talented and busiest musicians!
Ross MacIntyre - Bass
Mark Kieswetter - Keys
*******************************************
Gate 403
403 Roncesvalles Avenue
Toronto, ON M6K 2N1
416•588•2930
http://www.gate403.com

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