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March 2009
A warm, welcome and lively DJC event…
On the very cold and snowy night of January 14, the DJC Book Club met at the home of Susan and Stephen Ginsberg for the first get-together of 2009. And what an interesting evening it turned out to be! Anna Shternshis who was born in Moscow, Russia, and is Assistant Professor of Yiddish Language and Literature at the University of Toronto, gave a very illuminating and interesting introduction to Ludmila Ulitskaya’s novel The Funeral Party.
By providing a many faceted context to the novel, and explaining the post-atheistic world and the attitudes of Russians, Russian intellectuals and Russian Jews living in the West, she opened totally new perspectives to our understanding of the book. The ensuing lively discussion warmed all our spirits, and certainly helped us to better understand this novel by an author few of us were previously familiar with.
The evening concluded with wonderful noshes - all prepared and generously offered by Susan.
A great thank you to everyone participating - well done!
(See details for the next meeting in the calendar and Ad in this edition)
*Cancellation* - March 4 session
An Evening with Israeli and Palestinian Peacemakers has been cancelled as they were unavailable at this time. We plan to re-schedule this session and we’ll keep you posted by e-mail...
Mark your calendars - DJC Community Passover Seder: Wednesday, April 15
The Danforth Jewish Circle is once again planning its pot luck community Seder on April 15, 2009 at 6:00 pm at Eastminster United.
If you are interested in helping with set up, or clean up or are willing to bring your Seder plate, please email Tanya Lewis at t7lewis@ryerson.ca. With lots of help this should be an event for all to enjoy.
More details will follow in the next newsletter…
MARCH CALENDAR…At a glance
| date | time | event/details | location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 5 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm |
*PURIM CARNIVAL* Prizes aawarded for creative costuming |
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 310 Danforth Avenue—Jackman entrance Auditorium |
| Saturday, March 7 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Bar Mitzvah service -a Community invitation- |
Eastminster Sanctuary Kiddush to follow in the Hurndale room |
| Doors open at 6:00 pm Showtime:8:00 pm-midnight |
*DJC COFFEE HOUSE/FUNDRAISER* | The Trane Studio 964 Bathurst St |
|
| Sunday, March 8 | 10:00 - 11:30 am |
Exploring Judaism Theme: Mystical dimensions of Purim |
Home of Sheri Cohen: 4 Austin Crescent *Rsvp required Lisa Kessler: likes@primus.ca |
| Thursday, March 12 | 7:30 pm | DJC Book Club meetingThe Human Stain by Philip Roth |
*Rsvp required Kathy Miller: info@djctoronto.com |
| Monday, March 16 | 7:30 pm | “Meet & Greet” DJC members | Home of Lorraine Diment: 39 Ferrier Avenue
(Danforth/Carlaw) |
| Thursday, March 26 | 4:45- 6:00 pm | DJC Children’s Jewish Studies *OPEN HOUSE* |
Ms Miriam’s: 583 A Danforth Avenue * Rsvp required - Kathy Miller: info@djctoronto.com |
| 6:45 - 7:45 pm | B’Nei Mitzvah *OPEN HOUSE* |
Riverdale Presbyterian
662 Pape Avenue * Rsvp required Kathy Miller: info@djctoronto.com |
Exploring Judaism - everyone is welcome!
Join us for a study of the mystical dimensions of Purim. Did you ever hear of the religious commandment to get so sloshed you can't tell the difference between Mordecai and Haman? The mitzvah is related to the kabalistic themes of hidden and revealed and dissolving the illusion of opposites with the magic of foolish play.
Bring a scarf, veil and funny hat and explore the depths of Purim, the last holy day of the year (if you count according to the calendar, Adar is the last month).
Please write to Lisa Kessler: likes@primus.ca to Rsvp.
Sabbath Services Friday evening
Join us for an evening of contemplative prayer, song, dance and story on the theme of joy.
PURIM CARNIVAL!
When: Thursday March 5
Where: Ms Miriam’s, 583A Danforth Avenue
Time: 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!
We encourage everyone to dress up as there will prizes awarded for creative costuming!
This years' line up includes Freylekh, music, a puppet show, games, prizes and much, much more!
**A Call for volunteers - we need your help…
We urgently need 5 volunteers from 6:15 - 7:00 pm on Thursday to assist with running the games. Please write to Galina: gvaisman@sympatico.ca to sign up - thank you!
A community invitation…
One of the most important aspects of community life is welcoming a young person as an adult into the community. You may know the story of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, God asked the Israelites what they would pledge in return for receiving the Torah. The Israelites pledged their children, and the Torah was given. This story teaches us the importance of intergenerational connections in passing down the legacy of compassion and justice which are the hallmarks of our tradition.
Most of us only go to family Bnai Mitzvah. At the DJC we would like to affirm the tradition of being in community by supporting families and especially youth in one simple way: coming to their Bar Mitzvah celebration! For those of you who might be thinking about an individual Bar or Bat Mitzvah service at DJC in the future, the occasion of Lonya's Bar Mitzvah would be an excellent time to see what it might look like for your family.
Lonya also enjoyed going through a group process as well as preparing for his Bar Mitzvah on March 7th. He enjoyed taking more time to learn Hebrew, chant from Torah, engage in a creative project and lead the service. He also has challenging words for us in his sermon that are relevant to contemporary events. His portion includes the section on Amalek. Amalek is the tribe that attacked Israel's weakest members on the journey. There is a phrase which is read at this time of year which calls upon us to 'never forget to blot out the name of Amalek'. That is one of the reasons we make noise whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the megillah, as Haman is said to be a descendent of Amalek. I invite you to hear what Lonya has to say about the contemporary implications of this commandment.
See you at Shul Shabbat morning.
Rabbi Lynn
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 at Eastminster United Church. There will be a Kiddush in the Hurndale room following service.
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.
Doors open: 6:00 pm
Time: 8 pm (sharp start) to 12 midnight
Cost: $20 cover charge
PLUS – great prizes to be won including—a DJC membership, baseball tickets, iPod shuffle, an evening of babysitting, Shabbos on the Go bag, books for teens - and lots more!
All proceeds from the evening go directly to the DJC.
See you there!
DJC Book Club- March meeting:
 |
Thursday, March 12, 2009 Set in 1998, at the height of the culture wars, Philip Roth’s, The Human Stain is a remarkable book about what constitutes identity and how much freedom we have to choose who we are. One of Roth’s best novels, the book brings back his familiar alter-ego Nathan Zuckerman, now as observer rather than actor, of an extraordinary and often funny drama of New England academic life which pushes us to question our assumptions about what it means to “be” Jewish, or anything else, for that matter. “Philip Roth’s The Human Stain is the best novel he has written…Here, everything the writer has learnt and experienced within that indefinable form we call the novel….has come to full realization.” Nadine Gordimer, The Times Literary Supplement (International Book of the Year Selection). Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, and Britain’s W.H. Smith award for the Best Book of the Year. Andrea Most, associate professor of English at the University of Toronto, is the 2004 recipient of the Polyani Prize for Literature. Among her many published writings, her recent book Making Americans: Jews and the Broadway Musical won the Kurt Weil Prize for distinguished scholarship on music theatre. Last year she facilitated a terrific discussion of Maus for the DJC Book Group. |
**There are still some spaces left, please e-mail Kathy if you wish to attend (and for location information): info@djctoronto.com
The final session is slated for Tuesday, April 21. More information at website link: http://djctoronto.com/explore/education.php
“Meet & Greet” at the DJC
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: Monday, March 16
Where: 94 Dearbourne Avenue (Broadview/Danforth) - Home of Dinah Power
Time: 7:30 pm
Rsvp: Tanya Lewis: t7lewis@ryerson.ca
And please mark your calendars for one more “meet & greet” date:
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 Children’s Jewish Studies Program
Open House
Thursday, March 26
JK through Grade 6 and B’Nei Mitzvah program
We offer a program for children to learn not just the “what” but the “why” of Judaism with an emphasis on arts, music, culture and fun.
Location:Ms Miriam’s Stay & Play, 583 A Danforth Ave
Time: 4:45- 6:00 PM
For more information & Rsvp:
E-mail: info@djctoronto.com, phone: 416.580.1233
There will be an opportunity to drop in to a class in progress as per request.
B’Nei Mitzvah Open House
Thursday, March 26
Location: Riverdale Presbyterian, 662 Pape Avenue
Time: 6:45 - 7:45 pm
For more information/ Rsvp:
info@djctoronto.com phone: 416.580.1233
A Calendar of upcoming DJC YG Events:
**For more information or to join us, please email us at djcyouthgroup@gmail.com or join the Face book group.
March 1st (completed): Darfur Workshop 2:30-4:30
Learn about the genocide that is going on in Darfur. What are the problems and what can you do to help? This will be lead by Nogah Kornburg of the LEAD project, which will soon be implemented in public schools across the country.
March 6th: Out of the Cold 6:15 - 8:30 pm
Help serve the homeless supper for a night. This is lots of fun, not hard and you can get community service hours. Afterwards, we will get together at one of our houses for some more fun.
March 27th: Potluck Shabbat dinner 6pm
Do what the DJC does best... potlucks: So why not get together on a Friday night and share your best potluck dish with us all?
April 13th: Iron Chef - Passover edition
Remember last year? Well this year it will be even better. Bring your best Passover dish (make sure it is all kosher for Passover...) and have it be judged.
April 25th: Outdoor adventure 12:00-3:00
An outdoor adventure in Toronto in commemoration of Earth Day!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Yoga for the Immune System
An 8-week yoga series focused on health through Kundalini Yoga Practise!
Support body renewal and healing by learning yoga for the immune system. In the dark of winter, with the cold pressing in, Immune System efficiency drops, and we are more prone to body dis -ease. Start spring by supporting body renewal and healing! You will learn various yoga exercises that help remove body toxins and improve glandular function. You will learn both relaxation techniques and ways to be energized.
“Research shows that the body/mind/spirit dimensions play intimate roles in Immune System Health.” Using yoga exercises, learn to listen more deeply to your body/mind/spirit “wisdom”.
Learn:
- Yoga exercises—how they improve lymph and immune function
- Breathing methods—how they support immune function
- Meditation techniques—specific to needs of participants—such as anxiety or sleep difficulty, or depression or anger, etc.
When: 8 week series begins: Sat. March 21/09 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Village Yoga Studio/329 Lonsdale (Spadina and St. Clair Ave. W. area)Cost: $110/for series of 8 classes; $18/drop-in class
THE FIRST CLASS IS FREE TO DJC MEMBERS WHO SIGN UP FOR THE SERIES.
Teacher: Deborah Stewart Finestone, R.S.W., M.Ed., RYT, has 18 years experience as a body/mind psychotherapist. Deborah’s recovery from metastasized cancer in 2003 was enabled by a daily practice of Kundalini Yoga. She became certified as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher in 2006. She is certified to teach Healthy Breast Yoga through renowned Yoga Teacher, Sat Dharam Kaur, ND.
To inquire, call Deborah at 416.859.5063 or email deborahstewfine@rogers.com. The class size is small to accommodate individual differences, so call early with inquiries.
ARK COLLECTIVE PRESENTS
Mourning Dove
by Emil Sher
Offering a 15% discount to the DJC community from April 3-12, read on…
Do a parent’s responsibilities and a child’s needs always intersect? Could taking a child’s life in the name of love ever be justified? Who gets to play God? These are some of the questions posed in Mourning Dove, an acclaimed play by DJC member Emil Sher that’s having its Toronto premiere at Tarragon Theatre’s Extra Space (“a must-see evening of thought-provoking theatre.”)
The Ark Collective is staging the show and offering a 15% discount to the DJC community on all tickets for the first week of the run (April 3 – April 12). True, this happens to fall during the first two nights of Passover: we can’t offer you matzo but believe the play will give you much to chew on. If you’re feeling pinched financially, all tickets on April 3 and April 10 can be had for $15.00 (discount doesn’t apply).
Call the Tarragon box office at 416.531.1827 for more details. If you want to learn more about the Mourning Dove, visit Emil’s website at www.emilsher.com and follow the Stage Plays link.
Thanks to DJC member David Wyman at wymandesign.ca for the beautiful poster design.
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