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October-November 2009
Although our commitment to Jewish life remains steadfast from one season to the next, our High Holiday services is a particularly special time when individual needs and communal values blend into an experience that we hope leaves us all a little richer for it. This year’s services built upon elements that soothe the soul (the divine music) and challenge the mind (the sermons and kavanot).
Thanks to Rabbi Lynn for applying experience and enthusiasm in equal measures as she wove all the parts into a gratifying and meaningful whole, and to Lisa Kent for suffusing the service with her beautiful voice as cantor. And speaking of beautiful voices: many felt that this year’s stellar choir outdid themselves, offering arrangements that are said to have left one angel green with envy and another scribbling notes. Thank you to choir members Lisa Kent, Kathy Miller, Ilana Waldston, Donna Goldenberg, Isabel Fryszberg and Saara Greene.
The voices of Alan Gotlib, Michael Kanter, Michael Morris, Reid Robbins and Aviva Rajsky made the services that much more resonant, and the music provided by Danny Greenspoon and Mark Zaret was icing on the spiritual cake. Thanks to Josie Lalonde and Larry Nussbaum for motivating us with music at the top of the services. For inspiring us with their insights and thoughts, we thank Marilyn Wilcoxen, Janet Saunderson, Sheri Cohen, Elisabeth Marks, Raphael Goldchain, Diane Wise and Josh Morris for their kavanot.
The closing Ne-ilah service was exquisite, thanks to music performed by Gary Labovitz and his children Nellie and Reuben, Michael Goldchain and Brian Katz. And this year children’s services left a mark with young and old alike thanks to Michelle Brown, Alysse Rich and Dana Brookman.
And behind the scenes? Don’t ask. They may not all be able to carry a tune but the following have all shouldered the responsibility of making the High Holidays what they were: Avrum “Screech” Jacobson, David Wyman, Sara Novak, Jacob Bali, Alex Lowy, Morgan MacKinnon, Harriet Chartash, Diana Chastain, Emil Sher, Karen Robbins, Tanya Lewis, Josie Lalonde, Laurie Weinberg, Warren Morris, Daphne Woolf, Allen Flaming, Ian Werker. As always, thanks to Kathy Miller, our ‘go-to’ administrator who always gets things done. Apologies to anyone we may have missed. Please let us know so we can acknowledge your contribution in the next newsletter.
With the High Holidays behind us, we’re casting our sights on the year ahead. As this is our Bar/Bat Mitzvah year, we’ll be throwing a roof-raising party in February (okay, so maybe not the whole roof). If you want to get in touch with your inner Martha Stewart and would like to join the party committee, please contact us at info@djctoronto.com
And when you get an unexpected, unsolicited phone call in November, please don’t hang up as you curse telemarketers. The DJC will be in touch about our need to raise some significant funds if we are to remain a significant part of your life.
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER CALENDAR…At a glance
| date | time | event/details | location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 28 | 7:30 pm | Book Club meeting: The Believers by Zoe Heller |
Location to Rsvp’s only Contact: info@djctoronto.com to register/ more information |
| Friday, October 30 | 7:00 pm | Shabbat service Led by Cantor Lisa Theme: welcoming new members to the DJC |
 Eastminster 310 Danforth Avenue Auditorium **HURNDALE ENTRANCE** Kiddush to follow service Free Child care provided (children ages 2-6) |
| Friday, November 6 | 7:00 pm | In Home Shabbat
Host: Sheri Cohen |
4 Austin Crescent Rsvp by Nov 2: 416-516-8330 |
| Sunday, November 8 | 7:00 pm | DJC YG goes Bowling | O’Conner Bowl Contact: Facebook group “DJCYG” or e-mail: djcyouthgroup@gmail.com |
| Friday, November 13 | 7:00 pm | Shabbat service Led by Rabbi Lynn & Cantor Lisa |
Eastminster - Auditorium **HURNDALE ENTRANCE** Kiddush to follow service Free Child care provided (children ages 2-6) |
| Friday, November 13 | 6:15 pm- TBC | DJC YG volunteers: Out of the Cold | Eastminster - Hurndale
Contact: Facebook group “DJCYG” or e-mail: djcyouthgroup@gmail.com |
| November 13-15 | Friday pm- Sunday | DJC Women’s Retreat (Rosh Chodesh) Rabbi Lynn joining retreat on Saturday |
Mysthaven Country Retreat & Spa Contact: Rosie Beitel: rosiebeitel@sympatico.ca to register |
ACTIVITIES/EVENTS TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR
- DJC Online survey: We value your voice and appreciate your input. Please take a few minutes today and help define who we are tomorrow. The online survey asks questions about the High Holidays, year-round programming, and where you would be interested in getting involved.
Click here to take the survey.
If you have questions about the survey, please send them to info@djctoronto.com. The survey will be available on line until October 31, 2009. - DJC B’Nei Mitzvah year party: To celebrate our 13th year, we’re planning a big party in February. All those interested in joining our party committee please contact Kathy at info@djctoronto.com
- MARK YOUR CALENDARS: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 DJC COMMUNITY CHANUKKAH PARTY. Please contact info@djctoronto.com to help plan this event.
- We will be conducting a telephone fundraising campaign in November. Please start thinking now about what this community means to you!
OCTOBER - NOVEMEBER SERVICES/ EVENT DETAILS
OCTOBER, NOVEMBER SHABBAT SERVICES
Eastminster: 310 Danforth Avenue
auditorium
| When: | Friday, October 30 |
| Time: | 7:00 PM |
| Theme: | Welcoming new members - Led by Cantor Lisa - |
| |
| When: | Friday, November 13 |
| Time: | 7:00 PM - Led by Rabbi Lynn & Cantor Lisa - |
*Free childcare (ages 2-6); Dessert Kiddush following services
**Please use the Hurndale entrance for both services as “Out of the Cold” is using the Jackman street entrance. Hurndale entrance is situated at the corner of Jackman & Hurndale Avenue.
IN HOME SHABBAT SERVICE
| When: | Friday, November 6 |
| Time: | 7:00 pm |
| Location/Host: | Home of Sheri Cohen: 4 Austin Crescent situated north of Davenport and east of Bathurst. |
| Details/What to bring: | Sheri will prepare a large salmon and welcomes any additions to the buffet following service. Children are welcome. Rsvp’s required. Attendance cap: 20. |
*Must RSVP by November 2, call Sheri: 416.516.8330.
DJCYG UPDATE
“WE DAY”
As it was the first time the members of the DJCYG attended the 3rd annual We Day, we didn’t know what to expect. With a packed stadium filled with thousands of students and adults of all ages, We Day is the largest event of its kind, celebrating the power of young people to change the lives of others, not only in Canada, but all around the world. Featuring a series of inspirational and motivational speeches by the top social activists and speakers, we were lucky enough to be able to hear from people such as Spencer West, Pinball Clemons, Paul Martin, and Auschwitz survivor, Elie Wiesel. Not only was this experience educationally rewarding, we had a lot of fun dancing and singing along to well known musical artists and groups like Hedley, Justin Bieber, Lousie Kent and a special surprise performance from the Jonas Brothers. The highlight of the event however, was of course listening to the real “rockstars”: Craig Kielburger and his brother and co- founder of Free The Children, Marc. I think that we can all agree that the we, the DJCYG, and all the other young audience members left We Day today with fresh inspiration and a new passion to create change for a better world.
- Nellie Labovitz
UPCOMING DJCYG ACTIVITIES:
Activities planned for November include bowling on Sunday, November 8 and volunteering at Eastminster Church “Out of the Cold” on November 13. Details are still being finalized, check out Facebook group “DJCYG” or e-mail djcyouthgroup@gmail.com for more details and if you want to join us!
DJC’s Annual Women’s Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Retreat November 13 – 15, 2009
Mysthaven Country Retreat & Spa
Stouffville, ON
Rest and renew your body, mind and spirit…
Join Rabbi Lynn for a weekend of ritual, study, relaxation and rejuvenation at the beautiful Mysthaven Country Retreat & Spa in Stouffville, Ontario. The weekend will include peer-led Shabbat services, study and ritual led by Rabbi Lynn, as well as free time to explore the spa’s beautiful 55-acre property, relax in front of the fire or meditate, do yoga or drum. We hope to explore female aspects of Judaism as well as offer a wonderful opportunity for participants to connect and reconnect with other Jewish women in a relaxed, beautiful country setting.
Mysthaven will be providing gourmet meals and shared accommodation, with some private rooms available upon request. Spa services are available and can be booked on arrival.
For more information and a registration form, please e-mail Rosie Beitel at rosiebeitel@sympatico.ca. If you have already signed up, please make sure that you have completed your registration by sending Rosie your registration form and payment.
DJC BOOK CLUB NEWS
Now in its sixth glorious year, the DJC Book Club is a favourite among our book-loving members, bringing us together throughout the year for interesting and animated discussions about a variety of books that touch on Jewish themes. And of course, when we’re done there’s always a little “noshe”. After all, this is a Jewish book club!
The Danforth Jewish Circle Book Club is open to all adult DJC members at no charge. We do “cap” our numbers for each session so that we can continue to meet in the warmth and intimacy of fellow DJC members’ homes. To join the book club all you need do is drop us a line (by phone or e-mail: 416.580.6303, info@djctoronto.com to let us know you want to join us for the 2009/2010 season.
We will let you know that you are part of this year’s book club via e-mail sometime after Yom Kippur. The book club “kicks off” this year is on Wednesday, October 28th with one of our favourite facilitators, Cynthia Good, discussing Zoe Heller’s The Believers. It promises to be a lively and memorable evening.
Based on the book club calendar, meeting notices and reminders will be sent out to book club members via e-mail, requesting an Rsvp for each session. Names will be accepted on a “first come, first served basis”, according to the number of people each venue can accommodate. Members who have “Rsvp-ed” will be informed about the details of time and location for the evening via e-mail.
To see the full roster of meetings for the year, please click here.
Happy Reading!
Your Danforth Jewish Circle Book Club Organizing Committee
IT’S A WRAP!
2nd ANNUAL DANFORTH MULTIFAITH PEACE WALK
Sunday, October 4th was the day of our second glorious! Danforth Multifaith Peace Walk when members of the Danforth Jewish Circle gathered alongside people from other Christian and Muslim faith communities to share our joint belief in peace and our mutual respect for each others' religions and culture.
The group pilgrimage started at Glen Rhodes United in "little India" which is also the home of the Pakistani Community Centre and took participants on a three kilometre route from there to the Madinah Masjid on the Danforth; finally landing at Eastminster -- home also to the DJC. Of course our very own Rabbi Lynn (the founder of "Muslim-Jewish Peace Walks" in the United States) was there to lead the Jewish contingency which this year included members from the reconstructionist synagogue "Darchei Noam" (thanks to Danny Schild).
Throughout the event there was friendly discussion, singing and great food (sounds like any Jewish event, no?) but in this case we had: fragrant kashmiri tea and samosas in the mosque; bubbly chatter even in the rain; and joyous singing and prayers for peace as we culminated our event at Eastminster. And thanks to the very moving voices of our Cantor Lisa Kent, plus DJC-ers Josie Lalonde and Larry Nusbaum, the crowd was spurred to join hands and parade around the sanctuary!
Other highlights from this year's walk included: a joint meeting of all the spiritual leaders held in the mosque just days before the peace walk (where Rabbi Lynn chatted Torah and Koran with the Imam); and a great end-of-walk gathering in the basement of Eastminster where toasted bagels and cream cheese from the DJC "poker guys and mah-jong mavens" added to the delectable feast and interfaith "schmooze". Some described the experience of the peace walk as an "act of hope" where each could share their concerns and also just everyday "chit-chat" with neighbourhood folks from other faiths. The sense of optimism and good will was palpable and the beginning of new friendships apparent.
Thanks go to DJC peace walk volunteers: Eve-Lynn Stein; Janna Flaming; Alan Gotlib; Susan Friedman; and Lynne Raskin. Plus a special thanks to Janna whose video (check it out here) of last year's peace walk and messages on Facebook helped spread the word. For those on Facebook, check out the "Danforth Multifaith Peace Walk” group for lots more pictures. Some photos can be found here.
Thank you as well to all our wonderful volunteers who also served as "peace monitors" and drove peace vans and to those who contributed great food for our feast at the end of the Peace Walk. If you have a comment or suggestion about the peace walk please send it directly to: Karen Robbins at: karenmrobbins@aol.com.
Shalom -- Saalam!
Kulanu Toronto Shabbat Dinner with guest speaker Martin Gladstone LLP
When: Fri, October 16, 2009
Time: 7:00pm (to start at 7:15pm sharp)
Where: Wolfond Centre, Resource Room (36 Harbord Street at Huron)
Cost: $20 non-students, $15 students
Payment methods: By Pay Pal (go to kulanu_events@live.ca) or by cheque (made out to “Kulanu Toronto” and mailed to 30 Holly St. # 1706, Toronto, ON, M4S 3C2) by October 12.
Rsvp deadline: Monday, October 12/09 to kulanutoronto@gmail.com. Please let us know if you require a vegetarian meal and/or if you have any food allergies.
For more info, please visit our Kulanu Toronto website at http://kulanutoronto.blogspot.com
An Afternoon of Jazz 'n Laughs with Ilana Waldston
Autumn greetings!
This is just a quick note to invite you to a fun, casual afternoon of music at Ten Feet Tall.
I'll be accompanied by two of the very best musicians Toronto has to offer and will play three sets in one of my favourite venues. Ten Feet Tall is a hidden gem in the east end; an easy-going neighborhood bistro with delicious food at reasonable prices. Speaking of prices, there is no cover for the show but a $10 minimum order of food or drink is in place and, of course, tips for the band are always welcome. Details are as follows:
An Afternoon of Jazz 'n Laughs with Ilana Waldston
with Mark Kieswetter on piano and Ross MacIntyre on bass
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ten Feet Tall (www.tenfeettall.ca)
1381 Danforth Ave. near Greenwood
(416) 778-7333
No Cover ($10 minimum order)
I hope to see you there but if the date isn't convenient, please note that my next show will be at another Toronto venue on Friday, November 27th.
All the best,
Ilana Waldston
NOT TO BE MISSED:
Dr. IZZELDIN ABUELAISH to speak at Beth Tzedek,
November 17, 7:30pm.
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish will speak on November l7, at the the Beth Tzedek Synagogue. Come and see this unique Palestinian voice for peace.
For decades, the Harvard-trained Gaza physician was known in Israel as a champion of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Relentlessly optimistic, using his long experience as a doctor, he spoke of his physician's quest to heal Israeli-Palestinian relations.
He has put his beliefs into practice, working in Israeli hospitals, speaking publically, and hosting visitors in his house in Gaza.
On January l6, during the bombardment of Gaza, three of his daughters and a niece were blown to bits by an Israeli shell. The drama was broadcast live on Israeli television, capturing for the first time the lethal toll the battle was taking on Gaza's civilian population.
Astonishingly, Dr.Abulaish insisted on continuing on his journey to heal and reconcile the two sides. '"I had two choices: the path of light or the path of darkness", he said, explaining that the latter leads to rage, depression and illness. A foundation has been created to honour Dr.Abuelaish's daughters and his vision; it will promote education and leadership programs for girls and women in the Middle East.
Dr. Abusaish is currently an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.
The event is sponsored by Beth Tzedek, Canadian Friends of Peace Now and several other partners.
EASTMINSTER GREEN TEAM
The Green Team brings two green events:
- Options for Green Energy: Tuesday October 27th 7:30 pm in the Jackman Room.
- The Eastminster Green Team has made arrangements with Eric Novak, a representative of Climate Project Canada. This is a joint venture between Al Gore and the David Suzuki Foundation to present trained speakers to public audiences throughout Canadian towns and cities about the challenges of climate change. Wednesday, November 18th 7:30 pm in the Jackman Room
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