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February 2009
GAZA/ISRAEL DISCUSSION- Summary:
On Sunday, February 1st over forty DJC members gathered in the very comfy basement of Sheri Cohen's home and shared their feelings and thoughts on Israel/Palestine in a "listening circle" format which meant small groups of 5-6 people and sharing our personal thoughts without debate or judgement. Not an easy task or an easy subject since it cuts to the core of so many of us as Jews, Canadians and world citizens.
From that circle we found community consensus on the relief of having such a "safe space" for a range of voices, our desire for more education and our support for peace building activities and interfaith cooperation.
Those who participated would agree this was an important first step in understanding where this issue falls for us as individuals and for the DJC as a community.
Here are a few comments from some of the participants:
Jacqueline Swartz:
"It was a much-needed occasion to express our anguish about the events in Gaza. The turnout was large, and everyone there had something they were bursting to say. How we needed to have that event! Hopefully, the process will continue and DJC, as a faith community, will have a voice. The question I have is whether consensus is possible. But many thanks to the organizers and the host."
David Copelin:
"I was happy to have a place to express my anger, shame and outrage about the Gaza atrocities in an environment where my feelings were listened to and validated. Whatever practical steps the DJC decides to take, at least it's now clear that the elephant in the room isn't Dumbo."
Emil Sher:
"I found it inspiring to hear the women in my discussion grou—and I was struck how the vast majority who came to discuss peace were women—speak openly and honestly about this complex issue. None had an agenda, and all showed a willingness to not only listen, but to hear. One DJC member spoke of feeling helpless, and yet the consensus was that even a small, informal talk like ours is a small step toward a greater good."
…more to follow both in programming and shared resources for interested folks in the DJC.
FEBRUARY/MARCH CALENDAR…At a glance
| date | time | event/details | location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, February 10 | 7:30 pm | 1st gathering to meet/greet DJC members |  Home of Sheri Cohen: 4 Austin Crescent (Bathurst/Dupont) |
| Friday, February 27 | 6:00 pm | In-home Family/young children Shabbat | *RSVP required see Ad in news |
| Saturday, February 28 | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm | Hebrew Marathon (First day) |
Riverdale Presbyterian: 662 Pape Avenue *RSVP required- see Ad in news |
| Sunday, March 1 | 3:00 - 5:00 pm |
AGM | Eastminster: 310 Danforth Avenue Auditorium |
| Wednesday, March 4 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm |
An Evening with Israeli and Palestinian Peacemakers (Details TBA by e-mail) |
Eastminster
Auditorium |
| Thursday, March 5 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm |
*PURIM CARNIVAL* | Ms Miriam’s: 583 A Danforth Avenue *Ring doorbell for entry |
| Friday, March 6 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm |
Shabbat service Dessert Kiddush to follow |
Eastminster
Auditorium |
| Saturday, March 7 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Bar Mitzvah service (Community invited) | Eastminster Sanctuary |
| 10:00 am - 1:00 pm | Hebrew Marathon (Second day) |
Riverdale Presbyterian: 662 Pape Avenue *RSVP required - see Ad in news |
|
| 9:00 - 12:00 pm |
*DJC COFFEE HOUSE/FUNDRAISER* | The Trane Studio 964 Bathurst St *Prize donations needed see Ad in news |
|
| Sunday, March 8 | 10:00 - 11:30 am |
Exploring Judaism Theme: TBA |
Home of Sheri Cohen: 4 Austin Crescent *RSVP required Lisa: likes@primus.ca |
| Thursday, March 12 | 7:30 pm | DJC Book Club meetingThe Human Stain by Philip Roth Facilitator: Andrea Most |
*Rsvp required for location details: info@djctoronto.com |
If you’re new to the DJC, or not so new, but want to be more connected to the community - come and join an informal “meet and greet” evening. We are interested in what brought you to the DJC, what you would like to get out of your involvement, and what matters to you. We’ll be sharing stories, talking about our experiences and getting to know one another.
Join us…| When: Where: Time: Rsvp: |
Tuesday, February 104 Austin Crescent (Davenport and Bathurst) - Home of Sheri Cohen 7:30 pm Tanya Lewis: t7lewis@ryerson.ca |
And please mark your calendars for more “Meet & greet” dates…
Monday, March 16th
7.30 p.m.
Home of Dinah Power
94 Dearbourne Crescent (Broadview/Danforth)
Tuesday, April 21
Home of Karen Bernstein
7.30 p.m.
61 Hopedale Avenue (Pape and O’Connor)
For more information please contact Tanya Lewis t7lewis@ryerson.ca or 416.691.4209.
DJC In-home Shabbat for Families and young children
We welcome you to a DJC in-home Shabbat for families and young children on Friday February 27.
Feel free to bring little ones, Bubbies, Zaydes, and whoever wants to join us for a casual, cosy Shabbat. We will start at 6:00 pm and have brief services and a pot-luck dinner. We will have singing, crafts and fun activities for kids…
If you are interested please contact Julie: juliezikman@gmail.com to Rsvp and for more details (address, directions).
Announcement of the Danforth Jewish Circle
Annual General Meeting
Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will be held on Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m. at Eastminster United Church: Auditorium.
The AGM is an opportunity to hear an update on the DJC and elect members to the Board. An agenda will be sent to DJC members prior to the AGM.
We hope that you will consider coming to the March 1 AGM and give your input and show your support of the DJC.
Nomination Committee Report to the Membership
The Nominations Committee consists of two Board representatives and three community members who responded to a broad call for members. We were asked to reach out to the membership for recommendations, consider potential candidates, and present at the AGM a list of nominees to fill the vacant positions for a two year term.
There are four vacancies on the Board this year.
Two calls for recommendations of nominees for the Nominations Committee to consider were sent to the membership on November 28 and December 30, 2008.
The Nominations Committee considered the recommendations and is pleased to present a strong list of nominees:
Daphne Woolf (seeking a second term)
Josie Lalonde (seeking a second term)
Ian Werker
Tanya Lewis
We have attached an introductory paragraph for each of the nominees.
You also have the opportunity to nominate DJC members by contacting either of the Board Co-Chairs by February 9, 2009:
Daphne Woolf: daphne.woolf@sympatico.ca
Lynne Raskin: lraskin@srchc.com
We encourage all DJC members to come out to the March 1 AGM in support of members who have generously volunteered their time to serve our community by participating on the Board of Directors.
Your Nominations Committee,
Allen Flaming
Stephen Ginsberg
Joanne Hunter
Josie Lalonde
Debbie Plested
NOMINEES BIOS:
TANYA LEWIS
Tanya Lewis has been a member of the DJC for three years and is a Jew by choice. As part of the DJC, Tanya was involved in the Listening Campaign, the Diversity Group and attended the retreats. Tanya works at Ryerson in Student Services building partnerships with faculty to create student transition and success programming. Prior to going to Ryerson, Tanya worked in not-for-profit organizations overcoming disability related barriers. Tanya has a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from OISE/UT and is the author of Living Beside: Performing 'Normal' After Incest Memories Return.
Tanya has two grown children, and two kittens. She loves movies, good food and walking with friends.
IAN WERKER
Janet and I have been members of the DJC since its very early years. Our four children have all attended the Jewish Studies programs over the years. We have enjoyed the inclusive and welcoming philosophy of the DJC - which has been crucial to our initial interest and ongoing involvement. It will be my pleasure to serve on the Board and support the continued vitality of the community we very much appreciate.
In my professional life, I have been an employment and labour lawyer for 20 years, and have run my own practice for the last 15 of those. For fun, apart from family activities, I enjoy playing classical and jazz music.
JOSIE LALONDE
Eight years ago, Josie sought a Jewish community that would be a welcoming spiritual home for her interfaith family. She is grateful to have found the DJC and its Jewish Studies program, which her daughter has attended since Sr. Kindergarten. This community has been a gift to her family, and serving on the adult events committee, the Visioning Day planning committee, a rabbi search committee and the Board of Directors has been a rewarding and fun way to give back. As a Board member, Josie is committed to listening to our members and acting on our collective ideas to help the DJC thrive. She is excited to continue her work on the Board.
DAPHNE WOOLF
Daphne has been actively involved with the DJC for 12 years. She started by getting involved with the JK/SK program and then joined the Education Committee. Daphne spearheaded the integration of the JK/SK program into the mainstream Jewish School and served on the Education Committee for about 5 years. Daphne was asked to join the Board 2 years ago and since joining the Board has served as its co-chair. "The time I spend working with my fellow-Board members and congregants really rounds out my life. It’s my way of giving back to a community that gives me so much. I am honoured to serve the DJC community – and the laughter we have together and yummy noshes aren't so bad either."
PURIM CARNIVAL!
 |
When: Where: Time: |
Thursday, March 5Ms Miriam's, 583A Danforth Avenue 4:30-7:00pm |
The DJC Purim Carnival is just around the corner and the school council is planning another exciting Carnival to celebrate. Everyone is welcome! This year's line up includes Freylekh, music, a puppet show, games, prizes and much, much more! More details and a call for volunteers will go out in a few weeks. Stay tuned…
A community invitation…
You are invited to join us in honouring Lonya Ariel as he is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzva on Saturday, March 7th at 10:00 am. The service will be at Eastminster United Church, lead by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and will be followed by a Kiddush in the Hurndale room. Lonya has been in the DJC Jewish School for 3 years, and participated in the DJC's first B'Nei Mitzvah ceremony last spring. Our family takes great pleasure and pride in being part of the DJC community, and we would very much like this to be a community event. We would greatly welcome the presence and support of the DJC community at this meaningful moment in our family’s life.
Please contact nadya.burton@ryerson.ca if you need any other information. Nadya Burton and Gordon Thompson
Danforth Jewish Circle Coffee House
and Fundraiser
When: Saturday, March 7, 2009
Where: the Trane studio: 964 Bathurst St
http://www.tranestudio.com/: the Trane studio offers a fabulous Cajun/Caribbean menu and a fine selection of beverages, available for purchase.
Time: 9 pm to 12 midnight (Doors open at 8 p.m.)
Cost: $20 cover charge
…PLUS – great prizes to be won* including a DJC membership!!!
*We’re seeking items to be donated– anything helps! Your donations will help the DJC meet the growing requests from our community and congregation. Please e-mail: Dinah Power to drop off donation prizes: dnhpwr@sympatico.ca. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the DJC!
Format:
5- 15 minute performance pieces
Venue offers space for 120 (with seating for 80) and provides sound and light systems.
How to participate/details:
Do you sing, dance, write/read poetry, short stories or plays, play an instrument, do magic tricks or do anything else that would suit a coffeehouse format?
The planning committee will receive requests and, based on numbers, develop a program incorporating as many performance submissions as possible. Please submit your proposal by February 15, 2009. In the event we are inundated, we will have to, regretfully, limit the number of performers. We will get back to you no later than the end of February with our program and selected performers. Please understand that the choice will be based upon how many responses we get and what makes up a reasonable and well balanced 3 hour program.
Let’s make the 2nd DJC Coffee House even better than the first!!!
Interested performers, please write to Rosie Beitel: rosiebeitel@sympatico.ca with your name, whether or not you’re a DJC member (all are welcome) and a brief description of your performance piece (5 - 15 minutes).
Thanks in advance for your interest!
Greetings from the Danforth Jewish Circle Youth Group!!
As usual, January has been a hectic month of vacations and exams for high schoolers. However, we have still found time for the DJCYG to get together and have a good time. On January 16th, we opened up the question of ‘Why Jewish?’ through a humanistic Kabbalat Shabbat. We read texts from famous Jewish authors from the last couple hundred years and began answering the question of what makes us Jewish and more importantly – what keeps us Jewish. On January 31st the group met for a YouTube party and shared their favourite videos on a relaxing Saturday afternoon.
We will be running exciting programs for the month of February as well! We will begin our educational workshops on Darfur and genocide awareness, we will be sure to join the Eastminster Church for a Friday night Out of the Cold and we will of course, be having a lot of fun along the way! If you would like to join us for any of these activities, please email us at djcyouthgroup@gmail.com or join the Facebook group.
The DJCYG Team
HEBREW MARATHON
LEARN TO READ HEBREW IN 6 HOURS!!!
Once again, the DJC is offering a 6-hour “Hebrew marathon” taught by Nirit Gruber. This is a great opportunity for you to learn to read Hebrew and to launch any further Hebrew study you may be doing. The program is being offered through the DJC Jewish Studies program and is open to School children in grades 5, 6 and 7 and their parents, as well as anyone else in the DJC community who might be interested.
The program works especially well when kids and parents attend together - and so we encourage kids (grade 5 and older) to attend with their parents.
Registration: To register and confirm space in the workshop, please contact Chantal Bassous at bchantal@sympatico.ca or phone: 416.693.9829.
When:
|
Saturday, February 28
10:00 am - 1:00 pm (both days) |
COMMUNITY NEWS
Neshama Carlebach will be performing on behalf of YONA (Your Outreach Network of the Arts), an organization devoted to building bridges through the arts. This will be a free unity concert open to the general public at University of Toronto’s Hart House Music Room on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 12:00PM - 1:30PM.
The concert is promoting peace in the Middle East through mutual understanding and shared joy. This will be a gathering of different people sitting together in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere of entertainment.
Please come and bring your friends, relatives and colleagues.
Free entrance with a suggested donation of $18 to YONA.
Neshama Carlebach is a wonderful performer who composed so many exceptional spiritual melodies and I would love to see you there supporting this cause.
Please call Marcel Cohen at 416.358.6789.
For more information on this event, you can also e-mail me at marcel@yonatalent.com or marcelcohen2003@yahoo.ca.
Happy Groundhog Week (well, they extend Boxing Day, don't they?)!
I don't know about you but sometimes I feel that I can't stand another 6 hours of winter, much less 6 weeks. As a result, I've created a show to take us all on a virtual vacation: "Let's Get Away From It All" is a cabaret of songs about anywhere-but-here.
A peck of Latin rhythms, a pinch of pathos and a good sprinkling of comedy is my recipe for escape. Combine that with the sophisticated intimacy of the Upstairs Cabaret at Statlers (along with a couple of their renowned martinis) and you're sure to forget about the snow.
To help us on our journey, we have two very talented musicians: Mark Kieswetter on piano and Brendan Davis on bass, both of whom accompanied me at my last two sold-out gigs.
So, book now because there's no last-minute deal on this trip and seating is limited. Here's your itinerary:
Ilana Waldston in
"Let's Get Away From It All: songs to escape the winter"
Upstairs Cabaret at Statlers
Saturday, February 21st, 2009
8:00 p.m. sharp
487 Church Street (south of Wellesley)
Reservations highly recommended: 416.962.1209
Cover charge: $12 + $10 minimum food or beverage order
I hope you can join me but if you should be one of the lucky ones, who actually WILL be away at that time, please pass this e-mail on to someone else who could use a break from the weather; we'd both be grateful!
New DJC members Jim and Stacy Reichert have a house to rent in New York, details as follows:
As you may know, Stacy and I moved to Toronto, Ontario, last August.
We have been renting out our house in Westchester County.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, it will be available for lease again beginning in early February.
The address is 107 Orchard Road, Mount Kisco, New York.
5 bedrooms., 3 baths, 10 minute walk to Metro North (Harlem line, approx. 50 minutes to GCT), Bedford Central School District.
Rent is $4250.00/month.
If you, or anyone you know, are interested, please contact me.
All Best,
Jim Reichert
JimReichert@alumni.upenn.edu
125 Hazelton Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2E4
647.350.5672
REGISTER TODAY!!!! Call 416.630.9313 or email miriam@jwicanada.com! Check out divaday.ca for complete event info.
Event: Diva Day 2009
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009
Place: The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (Don Mills & Eglinton)
Time: 10 am - 3 pm (come for an hour or stay for the day!)
Diva Day Registration Includes: breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee, tea, workshops, fitness classes, 2 spa treatments, a unique marketplace and an awesome gift bag.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- workshops with Rose Reisman, Rosalie Moscoe, Lisa Borden
- hip hop with dance guru Shawn Byfield; salsa with Roland Semprie
- the Lotus Room featuring yoga and pilates classes
- get pampered at our spa with services such as massage, manicure, pedicure, facial
- shop at one of our 22 unique vendors
- food from Toben Food by Design, Whole Foods, Pain Perdue, JK Gourmet
- specialty coffees and teas from Dark City and Faema; Greens+ smoothie bar
Together, we can end violence against women.
Warmest Regards,
Jodi Tanenbaum
Chair, Diva Day 2009
Jewish Healing Program presents...
Facilitated by
Rabbi Reuven Tradburks & Yehudit Judy Shier Weisberg
|
When: Time: Place: Cost: |
Sunday, March 1, 2009 3:00 - 4:00 pm Kehillat Shaarei Torah2640 Bayview Avenue, North York No Charge - Wheelchair Accessible |
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