< Previous Newsletter || Back to the Current Newsletter >

January 2010

DJC CHANUKAH PARTY!

A joyous celebration...

 

There were latkes and lights, music and menorahs. Despite the cold weather –- or maybe because of it -– dozens of DJC members of all ages (with a few new faces to add to the mix) were drawn to the warmth of our annual Chanukah celebration. Rabbi Lynn engaged young and old alike as she spun a story about the hapless villagers of Chelm. Cantor Lisa filled the ‘Bethminster’ auditorium with stirring Chanukah melodies. And if that wasn’t enough to soothe our souls (and it was), the evening was made richer still when Danny Greenspoon and David Buchbinder played guitar and trumpet music as if standing in the heart of a village square. Add some dollops of children’s laughter, sugar-coated sufganiyot and chocolate gelt and it added up to a sweet night, indeed. Special thanks to Galina Vaisman for pulling it all together.

Although we’ve yet to come through the other end of the intense holiday season that defines December, it’s not too early to think about what’s in store for January at the DJC.

JANUARY NEWS…At a glance

date	time	event/details	location
Friday, January 8	7:00 pm	Oneg Shabbat DJCYG & Grade 8’s	Location details TBD Contact: Facebook group “DJCYG” or e-mail: mika.gang@gmail.com
Friday, January 15	7:00 pm	Shabbat service Led by Cantor Lisa	Eastminster - Auditorium **HURNDALE ENTRANCE** Kiddush to follow service Free Child care provided
Friday, January 22	6:15- 8:30 pm	DJC YG volunteers: Out of the Cold	Eastminster - Hurndale Contact: Facebook group “DJCYG” or e-mail: mika.gang@gmail.com
Saturday, January 23	10:00 am- 1:00 pm	Hebrew Marathon (JS grades 5, 6, 7)	Riverdale Presbyterian: 662 Pape Avenue. Banquet room (basement) Contact/register: Nadya Burton 416.538.9949
Tuesday, January 26	7:30 pm	DJC Book Club The Holocaust is over we must rise from its ashes Avraham Berg	Location to Rsvps only Contact: info@djctoronto.com to register/ more information
Thursday, January 28	4:45 pm	Children’s Jewish Studies Guest storyteller: Judy Shier-Weisberg	Ms Miriam’s Stay & Play 583 A Danforth - *ring doorbell at the left of the door for entry Rsvp: info@djctoronto.com
Friday, January 29	7:00 pm	In Home Shabbat Host: Removed at member's request	See details in news Rsvp by Jan 27
Saturday, January 30	10:00 am- 1:00 pm	Hebrew Marathon (JS grades 5, 6, 7)	Riverdale Presbyterian: 662 Pape Avenue. Banquet room (basement) Contact/register: Nadya Burton 416.538.9949

STAY TUNED…

* January launch:
DJC MOVIE CLUB: “Encounter Point”
with moderated discussion following screening...
stay tuned for the details!

DJC B’Nei Mitzvah year party: (April- date TBA)

Here's a Photo Opportunity We Don't Want You to Miss!!!!

We're making a slide show for the party and we need your help!

So… please dig out your old DJC Photos folks, ‘cause we sure could use 'em! If you have any photos of DJC events from the past, we'd so appreciate borrowing them as a part a slide show we're preparing for the DJC Bar Mitzvah party! Think back...do you have any pics from Chanukah or Purim parties of the past, picnics in Withrow Park, Hebrew School events, skating Havdalla parties, Peace Walks, Retreats, Bar Mitzvah Celebrations, Youth Group gatherings, Sukkot celebrations, etc etc etc? We'd love to scan them for our presentation. If you have any photos that we can use, please contact Jacob Bali: phone 416.730.0036 or e-mail him jbali@rogers.com and he'll be happy to make any arrangements needed to get your photos into our spectacular show!!!
-Simmy Zaret

DJCYG ACTIVITIES

• Friday, January 8, 7:00- 8:30 pm Oneg Shabbat with grade 8s, Eastminster (310 Danforth) Auditorium, Hurndale entrance.
• Friday, January 22, 6:15- 8:30 pm Volunteering “Out of the Cold”, Eastminster (310 Danforth), Jackman St Entrance.

**Check out Facebook group “DJCYG” or e-mail mika.gang@gmail.com for more details and if you want to join us!

LEARN TO READ HEBREW IN 6 HOURS!!!

As part of the curriculum for the grade 5, 6 and 7 classes this year, we are 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 in preparation for bar/bat mitzvah - or just for the pleasure of learning the language.

The program is free for all DJC students in the final three years of the program. The program works especially well when kids and parents attend together - and so we encourage students to attend with their parents (who also can participate at no cost).

When: Saturday, January 23 & Saturday, January 30
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (both days)
Cost: Free to all students and families
Location: Riverdale Presbyterian Church
662 Pape Avenue: Enter via the side door, go down the steps, and turn right- to the large room in the basement

*To register & for any further information please contact Nadya Burton at 416.538.9949 or by e-mail: nadya.burton@ryerson.ca

DJC CHILDREN’S JEWISH STUDIES: SPECIAL JANUARY EVENT...

We are looking forward to an amazing new year with some new programs that will continue to engage our children.

On January 28, we are excited to offer a performance by Judy Shier-Weisberg, a charismatic storyteller deeply rooted in Toronto's Jewish storytelling community.  She will lead our students on a magical journey into a world and a time "When Trees Dance...” which will tie in nicely with our programs for Tu Bshvat and Tikkun Olam - repairing the world.

On behalf of the parents and students, education committee and teaching staff, I would like to extend an invitation to community members ages 4-12 to join us for Judy's presentation.
—Michelle Brown

When: January 28, 4:45 pm
Where: Ms Miriam’s Stay & Play, 583 A Danforth Avenue - *ring the doorbell at the left of the door to enter

Details: Invitation extended to children ages 4-12 (as well) not currently enrolled* in the JS program.
* Must accompanied by parents or caregivers

Rsvp: info@djctoronto.com if you’re planning to attend

BOOK CLUB NEWS: Please Rsvp to info@djctoronto.com

LOCATION DETAILS WILL BE SENT TO THOSE WHO RSVP BY MID-JANUARY.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 THE HOLOCAUST IS OVER; WE MUST RISE FROM ITS ASHES, BY AVRAHAM BURG; FACILITATED BY DEREK PENSLAR Modern Israel and the Jewish Community are strongly influenced by the memory of Hitler and the Holocaust. Avraham Burg, who comes from a traditional Zionist background, and is a leading political figure in Israel, argues that the Jewish nation's trauma has disallowed it from trusting itself, its neighbours, and the world around it. And he shows that this has caused the growing nationalism and violence that is plaguing Israeli society and reverberating through Jewish communities world-wide. Thought-provoking, compelling and original, this book is bound to spark a heated argument when it is read. "Burg takes a blunt, loving painful and desperately important look at the state of the Jewish soul today. Anyone who cares about the future of the Middle East and the fate of victimized peoples needs to read this book and think hard." (J.J. Goldberg, author of Jewish Power: Inside the American Jewish Establishment, and Editorial Director of "The Forward"). Derek Penslar is Samuel Zacks Professor of Jewish History and the director of Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. His publications focus on Jewish political, economic and cultural life in modern Europe, particularly Germany, and on Zionism and the state of Israel. Among his many books are Shylock's Children: Economics and Jewish Identity in Modern Europe (2001), and Israel in History: The Jewish state in Comparative Perspective (2006).

Websites of interest for perusing over the holidays:

Peace Now: www.peacenow.org

Haaretz: www.haaretz.com

Rabbis for Human Rights: rhr.israel.net

Download a PDF file of the Newsletter [1.1Mb]

Download a WORD file of the Newsletter [1.3Mb]

< Previous Newsletter || Back to the Current Newsletter >

Privacy