Spring/Summer 2016

Transcription

Spring/Summer 2016

spring / Summer 2016
nisan-iyar-sivan-tamuz-av
What’s inside
rabbi chaim strauchler........................................ 3
Dr. Elliott Malamet...............................................13
rabbi Noah cheses................................................... 5
youth Matters.........................................................15
rabbi Elliott diamond........................................... 7
Calendars – schedule of services...................29
from the executive director’s desk.................. 8
Photo gallery........................................................34
president’s message...............................................9
thank you................................................................45
Rabbi Grundland....................................................12
family news.............................................................54
Netivot HaTorah Day School
The Jack & Anne Weinbaum
Education Centre
Tel: 905.771.1234 | Fax: 905.771.1807
www.netivot.com
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North Campus
18 Atkinson Avenue
Thornhill, Ontario
L4J 8C8
South Campus
470 Glencairn Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5N 1V8
Rabbi chaim
strauchler
From the Rabbi’s Desk
In Defense of
Synagogue Politics
P
olitics, as Aristotle points out, is only one possible solution to the
problem of order. It is by no means the most usual. Tyranny is the
most obvious alternative – the rule of one strong man in his own
interest… The method of rule of the tyrant… is quite simply to
clobber, coerce or overawe all or most… other groups in the interest
of [his] own. – Bernard Crick, In Defence Of Politics
On the seder night, we discuss
slavery. We say, “Avadim hayinu – We
were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.” We
think about our oppressors, but we do
not always think about how they come to
oppress us. It’s a question worth asking,
“How do our enemies gain the power to
enslave us?”
The Torah offers some interesting
details when describing Pharaoh’s
machinations which led to Jewish
servitude. The Torah underscores three
techniques that Pharaoh used to clobber,
coerce and overawe our forbearers.
1.Fear of the other: Pharaoh speaks to
his people and describes the Jews as
a people for the first time, “Behold
the people of the Children of Israel
are more and mightier than we.”
Pharaoh created an “us” and a “them.”
Egypt was “us” and the Jews were
“them.” Pharaoh then imaginatively
concocted a frightening threat to the
Egyptian people, “Come let us deal
wisely with them; lest they multiply,
and it come to pass, that, when any
war should chance, they also join
our enemies and fight against us…”
2.Silence of dissenting voices:
Pharaoh speaks to his people, but
they do not speak back. Pharaoh’s
voice monopolizes the first chapter
of Shemot emphasizing that his voice
alone occupied the public discourse.
3.Threat of violence: Pharaoh speaks
of possible war and suggests that
the Jews might become a fifth
column ready to subvert Egypt. The
Egyptians respond by afflicting their
Jewish slaves, eventually murdering
Jewish children in the Nile.
“Bechol dor vador – In every
generation, we are to see ourselves as
if we left Egypt.” The Haggadah tells us
that we are to think personally about the
Egyptian experience. While we focus on
how our shackles came off, it behooves
us to also consider how our shackles first
came on. What could we have done to
forestall our enslavement? What can we
do to forestall future enslavement?
The political method of rule is to listen
to these other groups so as to conciliate
them as far as possible, and to give them
a legal position, a sense of security, some
clear and reasonably safe means of
articulation, by which these other groups
can and will speak freely. Ideally politics
draws all these groups into each other so
that they each and together can make
a positive contribution towards the
general business of government, the
maintaining of order. – Bernard Crick,
In Defence Of Politics
When God freed us from Egypt,
God did not simply remove the bonds
of servitude. God gave us an approach
to “the problem of order” that would
insure our continued freedom. The
Torah contains a philosophy for politics
that when properly understood forestalls
tyranny. As the Talmud says, “We are
meant to be servants to the Almighty
and not servants to other servants.”
The conduct of the seder embodies
this political ethos. When describing
the obligation to tell the story of our
departure from Egypt, the Torah
instructs us to respond to our children’s
questions. Everything on the seder night
is “so that the children should ask.” The
interaction between generations is not
the commanding voice of a dictator
who gives orders from on high. Rather,
we create the dialog of questions and
answers. We hear the voices of four
different children who each offer distinct
perspective on the night’s proceedings.
The sages are never content to tell a
simple story. They too, as recorded in the
cont. on page 4
nisan-iyar-sivan-tamuz-av 5776
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cont. from page 3
In Defense of Synagogue Politics
Haggadah, engage all night in the camaraderie of intellectual
disputation. We draw together multiple perspectives erasing a
sense of otherness as we form around the seder table a sense of
togetherness. The culture of freedom is the culture of political
discourse. These politics draw different people and groups into
each other so that they each can make a positive contribution
towards the general business of our joint identity.
This lesson is always important, but it is especially important
in this age of autonomy. Autonomy means to give oneself one’s
own law, and it drives our understanding of independence.
This preeminent philosophy of our day commits us to protect
the capacity of the individual to make un-coerced decisions
regarding one’s own life (and soon one’s own death, as well).
We enjoy this sense of autonomy as we gaze into the bright
screens through which we interact with our individual worlds.
We choose to listen only to the voices that we want to hear. We
choose our entertainment – we optimize our own experience
according to our taste. We experience this autonomy as a
feeling of power over our individual world, and we enjoy
this feeling.
This feeling of power negatively affects how we handle
“the problem of order.” We seek to make un-coerced decisions
regarding our own lives – yet our lives remain interwoven with
the lives of others. Whereas in the past, we would have been
educated in the art of politics – in how to balance our freedom
with the freedom of others, we now reject the compromises
necessary to achieve such a balance. When we tear ourselves
from our screens, we imagine that we can swipe this way and
touch that way to magically make the world the way we like it.
Yet, the world does not work the way that our devices do.
The rise of the political strongman represents the forward
march of the autonomous will against the rules of community.
The strongman’s brand yells the brutal truth come what may –
it’s “you’re fired;” it’s “you’re a stupid foreigner;” it’s “if you don’t
agree with me, then you should be roughed up.” Deep down,
there is something appealing about this. We all wish that the
world would do exactly what we asked it to. We all wish that we
could silence our critics and tell every heckler to go fly a kite.
There’s an autocratic two-year-old inside each of us.
The strongman attempts to end politics. His rise signals
the vanishing commitment to a sense of “us” that requires the
sacrifice of the “me” on behalf of the “we.” Our ability to “listen
to other groups so as to conciliate them as far as possible”
is slowly vanishing. The unbending demands of autonomy
slowly lead to the unbending impositions of autocracy. The “I”
demands more of the “we.” The “I” says that my rights must be
respected. The “I” says, “We can’t just all get along.”
So, what are we to do?
We must embrace the ethos of the seder. We must engage
in politics. Politics has become a dirty word. But it shouldn’t be.
We must stop using it as a curse. Politics is a blessing. Politics
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is the process of people working to resolve their differences so
that they can do great things together.
The seder’s evil son is not criticized for his contempt of God;
he is criticized for removing himself from the community. The
evil son rejects communal politics by saying “what is this for
you” and not “what is this for us.” We must do the opposite of
the evil son who removed himself from the whole – we must
move ourselves into the whole. We must recommit ourselves to
the joint project of family and community.
Now, what does this have to do with shul politics? I often
hear the following comment from well-meaning people, “I
could never get involved in synagogue leadership; there’s too
much politics.” The suggestion here is that we would prefer a
community without politics. We would like to show up in shul
and simply daven. We would prefer a community where one
man’s rule is law, no one disagrees, and services run on-time.
Such synagogues do exist, they may often be peaceful places to
pray. Yet, they achieve this peace by silencing discourse. Their
solution to “the problem of order” is tyranny.
Synagogues that have politics are annoying because being
part of a group is annoying. You have to listen to people who
you don’t like. Community requires restraint of the self. You
don’t get everything you want; you get some of what you want.
You have to compromise. You don’t compromise your core
values, but you sometimes have to compromise how they are
achieved. If we are to create a rich and meaningful Jewish
life that reflects our deepest values, we must engage in this
difficult process. Yet, a rich and meaningful Jewish life is worth
this price.
As part of a shul community, we are surrounded with love
when we suffer loss and when we celebrate our moments of joy.
As part of a shul community, we overcome economic and social
boundaries and meet people who enrich our understanding
of the world. As part of a shul community, we work together
to support families affected by recent Palestinian violence,
we work together to end the stigma of mental illness, and we
study Torah with some of the greatest minds of our age. As
part of a shul community, we do things together that we cannot
do alone.
As we gather around our seder tables with friends and
families whose members sometimes have different views, let us
appreciate the value of a togetherness devoted to God and the
Jewish people. Let us enjoy the beautiful smells of the delicious
foods and the engaging sounds of vigorous debate.
As we celebrate Pesach this year, let us commit to the art
of politics. Let us commit to thinking of politics as a blessing
and not as a curse. Let us engage in our nation’s political life by
volunteering to serve our city, province and country. Let our
best and brightest view Jewish community politics as worthy of
their time and energy. Let’s celebrate shul politics.
Avital and I wish you a Chag Kasher v’Sameach.
Rabbi Noah
Cheses
assistant rabbi
A Healthy Pesach
T
he new health mantra is “sitting is the new smoking.” Over the
last few years, the World Health Organization has determined
that spending too much time in front of a screen or at a desk is
the fourth greatest health hazard in Western Society. Our bodies
were made to move, to walk, to run. Depriving our body of its
need for movement causes it to break down.
As I was preparing with several
families from our shul to run the
Miami Marathon in support of Chai
Lifeline this winter, I reviewed a book
called Born to Run by Christopher
McDougal. The book begins with a
description of the author’s journey
through the copper canyons of North
Western Mexico, where he discovered
a reclusive tribe called the Tarahumara
Indians. There were three remarkable
things about this group: 1) they have
lived unchanged for the last 400 years,
without any modern comforts like
electricity, 2) they are free from all
modern ailments like cancer, heart
disease, depression, domestic abuse
etc. and 3) the entire tribe – men and
women, teenagers and the elderly, run
long distances every day.
McDougal suggests that number
two and number three are biologically
and psychologically related. A
more active lifestyle diminishes the
likelihood of so many of our modern
illnesses. He cites several scientific
and studies that indicate that human
beings are born to be physically active.
We were not made to sit still. Just pay
attention to kids who, without thinking
about it, race down the hallway and run
across the kitchen.
The central mitzvah of Pesach –
eating matzah – has much to do with
the virtue of movement. Chametz,
leavened dough, symbolizes stagnation.
The Sefer HaChinuch explains (Vayikra
2:11) that the requirement to use
matzah for the basic Meal Offering
brought in the Temple was to ensure
that we not become physically lazy
in our religious practices. Waiting
around and remaining static causes
fermentation, which disqualifies the
offering.
Similarly, on a historical level, we
consume matza throughout Pesach to
commemorate a pivotal moment in
our liberation narrative: to remember
when we were on the move: “They
were making dough into bread as they
prepared to leave Egypt but it did not
rise because they had to flee and could
not delay” (Exodus 12:39). Waiting in
Egypt just a few minutes longer might
have allowed for Pharaoh to change his
mind, and so we ran very quickly and
continued moving for the next few days
until reaching the Red Sea.
Physical movement – walking
quickly away from Egypt – was critical
for the initial formation of the Jewish
people. Walking was also critical at the
dawn of ethical monotheism; Avraham
was initiated as follows “Walk before
me and be virtuous” (Genesis 17:1).
Yaakov, is heavily criticized when he
remains physically idle. Rashi, cites
the Midrash on the verse “Va’Yeshev
Yaakov – and Yaakov sat” (Genesis
37:1) which records that Yaakov sat
in his tent trying to live in peace, and
that is when G-d brought upon him
the troubles of Yosef. The righteous do
not sit still; they need to be in constant
motion.
One of the most prominent theories
on the contemporary psychology of
cont. on page 6
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Pesach Shiurim
cont. from page 5
A Healthy Pesach
happiness is that of “flow,” a sense
of contentment that stems not from
passively receiving pleasure, but
from total absorption in an activity
that is physically and mentally
challenging. In 1998, scientist, Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi, published Finding
Flow: The Psychology of Engagement
with Everyday Life. He discovered
that participants in his study reported
their highest levels of happiness
occurred when they were in the midst
of challenging activities that involved
movement of their body. Common
sense would dictate that people would
report sitting on the beach doing
nothing as the most pleasurable, but
in fact taking a walk on the beach or
playing a game of frisbee on the beach
actually generates more happiness.
As we prepare for Pesach, I hope
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that we will experience this sense of
“flow” when we are busy doing good
things get our homes ready. When
Pesach arrives, the energy shifts from
more physical activities to spiritual
ones. Like our bodies, our hearts and
souls were not made for sitting still.
We were made for learning, searching,
striving, and growing. Discussing,
debating and singing around the Seder
table achieves this need for spiritual
exercise.
Sarah and I wish you a healthy
Pesach, a festival that nurtures our
spiritual and physical health. May
we take advantage of the warmer
temperatures and go for walks instead
of taking naps. May we sit on the edge
of our seats at the Seder tables and
engage fully in the tastes, smells and
sensations of liberty.
Rabbi Chaim Strauchler
Shabbat HaGadol – April 16
Part I – 11:15am
Part II – 6:30pm
Freedom and Extremism:
Pesach in an Age of Terror
Dvar Torah Market Place
April 23
Between Mincha and Maariv
Open Forum
– Bring Your Own Dvar Torah to Share
Rabbi Noam Pratzer
April 24
Between Mincha and Maariv
The Exodus in the Thought of Rav
Yitzchak Hutner: Bridging Creation
and Revelation
Elianne Neuman
April 30
6:50pm
Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart:
A Story of Teshuva
rabbi elliott
diamond
Pesach and
Escalators
W
atch the video. It’s called “Stuck On
An Escalator.” This clever production
shows two people silently riding an
escalator. Suddenly, the escalator jerks
forward and stops. After a moment one
of them says, “I don’t need this.” The two adults stand still,
and grumble and complain. At one point, they shout, “There
are two people stuck on an escalator and we need help!” The
video fades out as the pair stands on the escalator waiting for
an intervention.
In an educational setting, this video is often used to teach
perseverance. Even young children understand how easy
it would be for them to walk away from this predicament.
But when we enter into a state of helplessness, confusion
and despair can sometimes cloud our judgment. It is easy,
indeed, to get off a stuck escalator. We laugh at the premise
that someone needs to remain in place on an escalator till a
technician arrives and repairs the problem.
But helplessness is sometimes learned. Consider the
following basic explanation of “learned helplessness” taken
from the “abouthealth” website:
The concept of learned helplessness was discovered
accidentally by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven F.
Maier. They had initially observed helpless behavior in dogs
that were classically conditioned to expect an electrical shock
after hearing a tone.
Later, the dogs were placed in a shuttlebox that contained
two chambers separated by a low barrier. The floor was
electrified on one side, and not on the other. The dogs previously
subjected to the classical conditioning made no attempts
to escape, even though avoiding the shock simply involved
jumping over a small barrier…
Due to their previous experience, they had developed a
cognitive expectation that nothing they did would prevent or
eliminate the shocks.
The impact of learned helplessness has been demonstrated
in a number of different animal species, but its effects can
also be seen in people. Consider one often-used example: A
child who performs poorly on math tests and assignments will
quickly begin to feel that nothing he does will have any effect
on his math performance. When later faced with any type of
math-related task, he may experience a sense of helplessness.
downstairs minyan
Rudolf Dreikurs, the American psychiatrist and
educator who developed psychologist Alfred Adler’s theory
of behaviour into a pragmatic method of understanding
behaviour, explains that learned helplessness is itself a form
of misbehaviour. The child who presents as inadequate
believes that he or she is imperfect and as such doesn’t really
belong in the group. Their mistakes put them outside of the
collective so there is no point in trying to integrate into the
larger social cluster. Ultimately, perhaps subconsciously, the
child who presents as helpless wants to be encouraged and
accepted but struggles to express this need in a meaningful
and positive way. The condition of learned helplessness also
suggests that while alternatives to the current situation exist,
there may be some benefit for the individual to persist in his
inadequacies since, after all, people often feel sorry for him
or her.
Pesach celebrates the transition from slavery to freedom
on a national level. The Chasidic master, the Sfas Emes,
understands that Pesach also represents the personal
redemption of the individual and his release from the
constraints that bind him. The Sfas Emes explains that the
word “Mitzrayim” which is the name for Egypt, derives
from the Hebrew word “meitzar” which means constraint.
The exodus from “Mitzrayim” teaches that whereas a slave
is the ultimate example of a helpless person who has no
independent chance of escaping his station or destiny,
Hashem created each of us with the ability to shed our state
of helplessness and to deliberately and consciously release the
constraints that bind us. The Sfas Emes declares that, through
this deeply personal effort, we fulfill the requirement of the
Hagada that in “every generation we must see ourselves as
having personally left ‘Mitzrayim’.”
In only very rare circumstances are we ever really
helpless. Our lives are filled with choices. But sometimes
we slip into a state wherein we only see the constraints that
surround us and we subsequently respond with resignation.
“There’s nothing we can do!” “It’s not my fault!” or “If only
things were different…”
We don’t have to be stuck on an escalator. We can get off
if we want to. Pesach reminds us to keep moving.
Chag Kasher v’Sameach.
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From the Executive Director’s Desk
Nicole toledano
O
Beyond Pesach
ften, Pesach is stressful for some and lonely for others and too
much of a spending frenzy for the majority. It needn’t be. Pesach
is also a time when we gather with those closest to us. It is the time
for family and friends to come together.
For some, it’s the process of
cleaning – though we often use the
opportunity to do our spring cleaning,
it is far beyond this. It is the time when
my children, husband and I have to
work together. To look at all we have
and really decide if it is something that
is needed.
We look beyond the superficial
appearance of things and really discuss
their necessity. Though tiring and
draining, it helps focus on Pesach and
what it really means.
It is a time to hear again the same
story about the Jewish people and their
perseverance – the miracles of God –
and giving of the tenets that govern our
actions. The story takes us beyond the
appointment of who gets to be the wise
son or the simple son (though this is
something my husband relishes every
year), to something much deeper.
There are actually three other names
for the holiday: Holiday of Matzot,
Holiday of Freedom, and Holiday of
Spring. Most of us experience a sense
of awe and wonder when we consider
the miracles of the plagues. Though we
hear the story every year, there always
seems to be something new to take
from it. We are moved again by the
memory of that experience. And as we
feel it, we are invited to look beyond
the Haggadah and to catch a glimpse
of God. We are invited to look beyond
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what we see, however bleak it might
seem, to discover signs of goodness and
beauty, of hope, of joy, wherever people
are trying to do their best.
I like to use a Haggadah that goes
behind the telling of the Pesach. There
are often snippets of information that
really make you think. The Artscroll
Children’s Haggadah by Shmuel Blitz
has some insightful comments:
Did you know:
• The Jews were really in Egypt for only
210 years. Hashem had pity on us and
began counting the years of slavery
from the birth of Yitzchak, instead of
when the Jews arrived in Egypt.
• Moses’ staff was the same staff used by
Adam, the first man Hashem created.
This same staff was also used by
Avraham, Yizchak, Yaakov, and Yosef.
After Moshe used it this staff was set
aside for King David, and was then
passed on to all the Kings of Yehudah.
Mashiach will be given this staff and
will use it to destroy all the enemies of
Israel.
For me, Pesach is a confirmation
that no matter where, the holiday of
Pesach is the same. No matter the
traditions (whether you make your
charoset out of dates, prunes or apples),
the content of the Pesach seder is the
same. Having been brought up in an
Ashkenazic home and then marrying
into a Sephardic family show me that
no matter what, we Jews are all the
same. Our Hebrew is the same and our
holidays are the same, no matter where
we come from.
When we accept the invitation to
look beyond the surface, we become
open to signals of hope for ourselves,
our families and our world. This is part
of God’s miracles that are recounted on
Pesach. We retell the story year after
year to acknowledge and understand
that ultimately Hashem is in charge.
Hashem rules the world and we retell
the story and sings songs to remind us
of this fact.
May your Pesach overflow with
happiness.
May you always be blessed with
peace, prosperity and togetherness!
Wishing you a Chag Kasher
v’Sameach.
Chag Kasher v’Sameach to our members,
friends and the entire Jewish community.
Joyce Eklove
President’s Message
I
t is with a deep sense of pride that I approach the
end of my term as President of Shaarei Shomayim,
and become part of a distinguished list of past
presidents. Each one of us feels the responsibility and
honour in serving our congregation and being part
of its history.
Each year as our family gathers around the Seder table,
my husband Arthur begins by reminding those assembled
that we are not alone at this table. We bring our past, by
virtue of the fact that he can remember celebrating Pesach
with his grandfather, as well as our future, as G-d willing our
grandchildren will celebrate with their grandchildren, and
this spans at least seven generations. He stresses that each one
of us is an important link in the chain of Jewish continuity
and each one of us has the responsibility of lengthening
the chain.
Like family, a synagogue too has the responsibility to
provide from generation to generation, and I feel a great
deal of satisfaction in what we, the current leadership, have
contributed during the last two years. This has really been a
team effort and I am extremely impressed and inspired by the
many members who give of their time in order to make our
synagogue a special home for all.
Looking back to 2014, we began by transforming our
building into a beautiful edifice. The Design Committee,
led by Benny Osher, Charlene Arje, Wendy Kauffman, Cliff
Korman, Hananel Segal and Haim Hirshberg, devoted so
much time and love to this project and achieved magnificent
results. The construction period was difficult, but we managed
to carry on with very few disruptions, and we finished on
budget and on time. This renovation, coupled with our new
caterer, Menchens, has once again made Shaarei Shomayim
into a most desirable venue for celebrations.
Education is a very important aspect of our shul life.
This past year we continued to have an outstanding ScholarIn-Residence program. I want to thank David and Bernice
Walerstein for sponsoring this year’s Walerstein Scholar
– Professor James Diamond. We also welcomed Dr. Elliott
Malamet a number of times, and I would like to thank the
many members who sponsored his visits.
We can also take much pride in the fact that Shaarei
Shomayim addressed three very important contemporary
issues. In February a group of doctors spoke on “Breaking
the Silence: Depression and Suicide in the Jewish Community,”
(page 51) and in March a town hall forum was held dealing
with the implications of the federal government’s committee
report on physician-assisted suicide (page 40). We also hosted
Guila Benchimol, who discussed abuse in Jewish community.
I am grateful to Rabbi Strauchler for facilitating discussion on
such vital issues of concern to us all.
Of course, above all, the learning of Torah is of prime
importance and we are privileged to have Rabbi Strauchler,
Rabbi Cheses, Rabbi Diamond, and Rabbi Grundland as
our teachers.
Our Chessed Committee, co-chaired by Dalya Hakimi,
Alan Burger, Sari Rosenblum, and Shirley Schildkraut,
continues to reach out to families by sending shiva meals,
providing meals for new parents, sending birthday cards,
visiting and phoning members, acting as greeters in the shul,
organizing Mishloach Manot, always responding to the needs
of our members in times of celebration and in times of need.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Sari and Dov
Rosenblum Tzetchem L’Shalom as they solidify their plans to
make Aliyah this summer.
Our Young Professionals Committee, co-chaired by Ilana
Arje- Goldenthal, Rachel Libman and Sara Lass, continues
to play a very important role in our synagogue. They are our
future leaders and through their varied activities they bring
a real vitality to our community. Whether it is through their
Living Room Learning Series sessions that deal with serious
social or halachic issues, their chessed involvement or their
coming together for lunches and kiddushim, they create a
social atmosphere that attracts many people who want to be a
part of this very committed group.
I want to also acknowledge our Young-Young
Professionals, co-chaired by Nilah Zeifman, Jackie Silver and
Hillel Bierbrier. This committee has mobilized many young
Jews in their 20s to form a micro-community within Shaarei
Shomayim. There has been a series of Shabbat dinners that
cont. on page 10
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cont. from page 9
have attracted over 70 participants.
There was also a ski trip to Horseshoe
Valley which was a lot of fun.
The popularity of our Youth Program
is an indication of its great success. Cochairs Bonnie Langer, Naomi Mansell
and Emily Hershtal along with Jacob
Posluns, our Youth Director, Noa
Bordan, Assistant Youth Director and
Debra Posluns, Head of Nursery, have
created programing which has kept our
children involved and interested. It is
always very satisfying to walk through
the shul on a Shabbat morning, seeing
the children happily engaged in their
activities.
I want to thank Koby Spiegel and Eli
Minkowitz for working with our Teen
Minyan and for being such superb role
models. As well, Todah Rabah to Noa
Voss who meets with our Middle School
aged young women each Shabbat.
Our Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program,
under the leadership of Rabbi Cheses
and Avital Strauchler respectively, was a
big success, and I want to wish a Mazal
Tov too all who participated. Thank you
as well to our Bar/Bat Mitzvah youth
who made and delivered sandwiches
to the homeless as a Chanukah project.
Our acts of Chessed continued as Carol
Handelman and Michael Bernstein
organized a group of volunteers who
assembled and packed food for the
needy at the Harvest Food Bank.
This past year we welcomed our
Shinshinim, Noa Voss and Yoni Hadar.
This program is a UJA initiative which
is designed to bring a taste of Israel to
our members. Yoni and Noa spent their
gap year at our shul with the purpose
of helping our members feel an even
deeper connection to Israel though
their weekly D’var Israel, involvement
with our youth, and outreach to our
membership. I am so grateful to
both Yoni and Noa for the wonderful
contributions they have made. As this
is a one year commitment, we will soon
be saying good-bye to them, but look
forward to greeting Ori Lasla and Bitya
10
Semla who will serve as our Shinshinim
for the coming year.
Our Lunch & Learn and Torah
‘n Tea programs chaired by Carol
Handelman provide the opportunity
for our members to come together to
socialize, enjoy lovely food, learn Torah
or talk about current events. We very
much appreciate Rabbi Strauchler’s
ability to provide interesting topics
from Torah to politics and to create an
atmosphere where everybody is able to
participate in the discussion.
We now have a very beautiful, newly
decorated Bride’s Room, thanks to Katy
Korman and her Sisterhood Committee.
I want to thank the Sisterhood for
“I am also very proud of
how our synagogue has
reached out beyond our
four walls to Israel and
the larger community.”
sponsoring this initiative. I would like
to commend both Katy and Robert
Klein respectively for doing an excellent
job in bringing both the Sisterhood and
Brotherhood back to life. I want to also
commend the Brotherhood for initiating
The Terror Victim Support Fund. This
fund is to be used for families in Israel
who have suffered as result of terrorism.
I am also very proud of how our
synagogue has reached out beyond
our four walls to Israel and the larger
community. It is our honour to have
once again hosted the Peace of Mind
Program. I want to thank David Ulmer,
Aviva Zieleniec, Akiva Aronson, and
many others for spearheading this
experience for the shul. This is a unique
program developed by the Israel Centre
for the Treatment of Psycho-Trauma.
They arranged for an IDF unit to spend
a week in Toronto, using our building as
the location for their therapy. It is also
an opportunity for the soldiers to enjoy
themselves by taking advantage of the
sights in our city. This was facilitated by
the generous donations of our members.
As I write this, we are looking
forward to the arrival of the Christian
Armenian family from Syria, who
a number of families at our shul
sponsored. We are working with JIAS,
and I extend a Yasher Koach to all our
members who have volunteered to
serve on the welcome committee to help
integrate the family.
Our activities are endless and I
could go on and on. It takes many hours
from dedicated members to carry out all
the varied and interesting programing
that takes place in our synagogue. As
mentioned before, I am constantly
impressed by the number of people who
are involved in so many ways in our shul.
I want to recognize all those who have
taken on responsibility and contributed
in such a positive way. Brian Cantor,
Michael Heilbronn and Brian Lass cochairs of Budget and Finance; Michael
Goldrich and Sol Zeifman, co-chairs
of House; Alan Burger, Dalya Hakimi,
Sari Rosenblum and Shirley Schildkraut
co-chairs of Chessed; Donna Starkman
Shiff, Dov Begun and Elie Roth cochairs of Constitution; Joel Monson
and Benny Osher co-chairs of Dues and
Collection; Brian Cantor, Cemetery;
David Ulmer, Malka Lewittes and
Beth Singer, co-chairs of Israel Action;
Hartley Perlmutter and Matt Reingold,
Adult Education; Naomi Glustein,
Rachel Libman and Benny Osher, cochairs of Membership; Jay Stochinsky
and Sam Moscowitz, co-chairs of the
Minyan Committee; Larry Zimmerman
and Hyim Bessin, co-chairs of
Religious; Bonnie Langer, Naomi
Mansell and Emily Hershtal, cochairs of Youth; Ralph and Kitty
Wintrob, Book Club co-ordinators;
cont. on page 11
cont. from page 10
Lori Disenhouse, Judy Laxer and
Michael Goldrich co-chairs of Catering;
Jerry and Sandy Genesove as chairs
of Entertainment and Culture; Hyim
Bessin High Holiday Chair; Robin
Gofine, Inclusion; Carole Freeman and
Rachel Libman co-chairs of Marketing;
Stephen and Carol Handelman, Senior
Activities;
Ilana
Arje-Goldenthal,
Rachel Libman and Sara Lass co-chairs
of Young Professionals; Nilah Zeifman,
Jackie Silver and Hillel Bierbrier cochairs of Young Young Professionals;
Francine Goldrich and Amanda Salem
Kiddush co-ordinators; thank you for
the contribution that each one of you
has made to Shaarei Shomayim over
the past two years. Your efforts are very
much appreciated.
I thank not only those chairs
mentioned above, but also all who
volunteered in any capacity in the
shul. Your contributions were noticed
and very much appreciated. I am
grateful to have had the opportunity of
working so closely with many of you
and we can all take pride in what we
have accomplished. I would also like
to acknowledge the wonderful support
we received from our membership and
say that one of the bonuses of being
president is the opportunity of getting
to know so many of you.
Accepting a Board position is a
statement that a person is willing to
take on a leadership role in directing the
shul, and I thank each one of you who
served on the Board of Governors with
wisdom and dedication. Thank you to
the following Board Members for your
commitment and willingness to make
decisions on behalf of the membership
for the good of our synagogue:, Charlene
Arje, Dov Begun, Naomi Glustein,
Michael Goldrich, Jonathan Grauman,
Michael Heilbronn, Aaron Hershtal,
Jeffrey Hertz, Haim Hirshberg, Wendy
Kauffman, Rachel Libman, Naomi
Mansell, Samy Ouanounou, Jonathan
Parker,
Avi Romberg, Elie Roth,
Daniella Silver, Donna Starkman Shiff,
David Walerstein, Sol Zeifman, Larry
Zimmerman, Sam Moskowitz, Katy
Korman and Robert Klein.
It is with a great deal of HaKarat
Hatov that I thank my incredible
Executive,
David
Ulmer,
Lori
Disenhouse, Brian Cantor, Judy Laxer,
Irving Benmergui and Benny Osher.
You have been exemplary in everything
you have done, never losing sight of
our task and always taking your role as
leaders seriously, focusing on what was
best for our shul. You have inspired me
with your wisdom and dedication. I
thank you for always being available to
me for discussions and advice, and for
being my true partners.
The backbone of any synagogue is
its Klei Kodesh. Rabbi Chaim Strauchler,
Rabbi Noah Cheses, Rabbi Elliott
Diamond, Cantor Zvi Katzman, Ralph
Levine, and Rabbi David Ely Grundland
are an exceptional team. I thank them
for their spiritual leadership, guidance,
teaching and commitment. They never
cease to amaze me with their dedication,
whether teaching Torah, participating
in lifecycle events, being available to
our members or participating in shul
activities. As a congregation we are
fortunate to have such devoted clergy.
In the last two years, it has been
my utmost joy and privilege to work
closely with Rabbi Strauchler. From
the day that Rabbi Strauchler arrived
at our shul, I have been impressed by
his total commitment. By working so
closely with him, I have been able to
gain the understanding that he does
not see us simply as his congregants.
He sees us as family, and as a result
his concern goes way beyond his
professional connections. He is a very
caring and compassionate man who
gives of himself entirely to the needs
of each one of us. I want to thank not
only Rabbi Strauchler, but his wife
Avital as well, as together they have
devoted their lives to making Shaarei
Shomayim a synagogue that caters to
the needs of its members.
Everything that we do and
everything that we accomplish could
not be done without the help of our
wonderful office staff: our Executive
Director Nicole Toledano, Office
Coordinator Jennifer Alexandroff,
Office Adminstrator Miriam Price,
Accounts Receivable Joven Pinol and
Accounts Payable Lejla Petrela. I thank
you for being the people to whom we
can always turn and for always getting
the job done. I thank as well our
excellent maintenance staff who keep
our building in top shape.
Although the past two years
have kept me very busy and I did not
spent as much time as I once did with
my family, my confidence in family
relationships was restored when my
seven year old granddaughter related
the following story to me. She told
me that her friend was bragging that
her grandmother owned a candy
store and that her birthday party was
going to be held there. To which my
granddaughter replied, “That’s nice,
but my grandmother is the president of
an Orthodox shul.” I so appreciate all
the support I received from my family
and thank Arthur for his patience in
listening to me and understanding as I
spent hours on the phone and looking
at my emails.
I thank you for giving me the great
honour of serving as your president for
the last two years. It has been a privilege
and I am delighted to be able to pass
the torch on to Brian Cantor. Brian
brings years of shul involvement to the
job. He has a real understanding of the
workings of our shul, and I know that
he and his team will continue to build
on to the glorious history of Shaarei
Shomayim. I wish Brian much success,
and I look forward to continuing to
work with him.
On behalf of Arthur and my
family I wish you all a Chag Kasher
v’Sameach.
11
rabbi grundland
E
Pesach:
Returning to the
Future of Freedom
very year, at the conclusion of the Pesach seder,
everyone says “L’Shanah Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim
– next year in Yerushalayim”. This statement
is traditionally made two times a year: at the
conclusion of the Pesach seder and at the conclusion of Yom
Kippur. Pesach is a time for reflection on national freedom
and Yom Kippur is a time for reflection on teshuvah and
forgiveness. One can ask, why are these the two times when
we pray for “L’Shanah HaBa’ah B’Yerushalayim”?
The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 11b) brings a disagreement
between Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yehoshua. According to
Rabbi Elazar, the redemption from Egypt was in Nisan,
but the future redemption will be in Tishrei, because the
shofar is a sign of the new year and also of the redemption.
Rabbi Yehoshua says that just as the first redemption was in
Nisan, so too will the final redemption be in Nisan, because
the redemption is called “a guarded night” and the final
redemption will be a time when we are guarded from those
who wish to cause us harm. The Talmud agrees with Rabbi
Yehoshua, but perhaps, this is the source of stating “next year
in Yerushalayim” at those two times.
Rabbi Moshe Matt (16th century Poland), notes the text
and flow of the Pesach seder in Mateh Moshe (661). In his
edition, the statement “L’Shanah Haba’ah B’Yersushalyim”
appears an additional time. The Maggid portion of the
Haggadah included “Ha Lachma Anya – this is the bread
of affliction”. Part of that paragraph is the statement “now
we are slaves; next year we will be free.” The Mateh Moshe’s
edition however states simply “This is the bread… eaten in
Egypt; next year [we will be] in Yerushalayim”. For the Mateh
Compliments of
GESMA PRINTING
905-764-6017
[email protected]
12
Moshe the concept of freedom is being in [a redeemed]
Yerushalayim and if we are not there, we are not truly free.
However, the Talmud (Yoma 86a-b) notes that the
redemption is not a result of freedom, but a result of
teshuvah. “Rabbi Levi said ‘great is teshuvah which reaches
the Heavenly throne’… Rabbi Yonatan said ‘great is teshuvah
which brings the redemption’” (see haGahot haBach 1). This
is based on the verse from Yishayahu 59:20 “A redeemer will
come to Tzion and to those who return (ie. teshuvah) from
sin”. Therefore, based on the Talmud, the future redemption
will be in Nisan and it will only happen because of teshuvah.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (Likutei Moharan 49:6) based
on Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Shaar HaKavanot 82) reframes the
whole discussion. He teaches that there are two ways to bring
redemption: singing and speaking. Tishrei is from ‘shirah’ –
singing, and Pesach is from ‘Peh Sakh’ – a conversing mouth.
He explains that our teshuvah is a song which reaches the
Heavenly Throne, and the consistency in which we speak
words of teshuvah is what will bring the redemption.
Pesach is a holiday of discussing the redemption(s) of
the past, the present and the future. We discuss how HaShem
is involved in our lives and experience freedom through
that recognition. Returning our words to reflect and relate
HaShem’s everyday miracles is truly an act of teshuvah. May
we be blessed that stating “L’Shanah HaBa’ah B’Yerushalayim”
will not only be the conclusion of the seder, but will also
return us to the desire for the ultimate freedom. Let us
merit celebrating Pesach together, in a rebuilt Yerushalayim,
speedily, in our days!
Is Religion Another
Form of Slavery?
Dr. Elliott Malamet
Judaism and the Problem of Freedom
Y
ou may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
– Bob Dylan, “Gotta Serve Somebody,” 1979.
Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik observes that there are two
ways to talk about slavery. One can be seen in the words of
the Haggadah:
“We were slaves to Pharaoh.” The second is reflected in a
verse from Bereshit 24:34, “I am Avraham’s slave” (literally “a
slave to Avraham am I”). Rav Soloveitchik points out that the
phrase in the Haggadah implies that “I am my own person,
and I happen to be a slave to Pharaoh at present.” But the
second expression means that my very essence is inextricably
linked with my master. In other words, is being a servant what
I do, or is it what I am?
Religion, we are often told, is just another form of
slavery, almost cult-like in its enforcing of rituals among its
participants, who sacrifice their freedom and ability to make
truly autonomous decisions. The most famous advocate of
this critique in the last decade was Christopher Hitchens:
Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender
of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us
different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and
to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning
to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or
something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed
virtues, faith must be the most overrated… Take the risk of
thinking for yourself, much more happiness, truth, beauty, and
wisdom will come to you that way.
As a corrective to mindlessly relinquishing one’s capacity
to think in the face of crude religious superstition, there is
much in Hitchens’ idea that is commendable. But as Dylan
– one of the great prophets of the modern world, (I say
this without irony) intimates in the lyric above, the idea
that a different kind of life, where one is not bound by a
religious code, which is the supposed gateway to freedom, is
without question a mythical proposition. Regardless of one’s
profession, religious affiliation, education, socioeconomic
status – you are going to serve something, often in ways
where you do not even realize how in thrall you really are.
A case in point: I have been increasingly paying attention
to my rueful lack of attentiveness in certain situations, as
the assault of distraction, first experienced as external and
then inevitably internalized, becomes a daily battleground
for me. I was reading part of the philosopher Matthew
Crawford’s book The World Beyond Your Head, in which
Crawford argues for a concerted effort to tackle what he
calls the “cultural problem” of attention. Crawford’s book
attempts “an ethics of attention for our time,” and his ideal
ethos is “the right to not be addressed.” He further argues
that we have stopped seeing our own attention as something
to be defended, and instead succumb to the “mechanized”
demands made on our attention from afar:
The ever more complete penetration of public spaces by
attention-getting technologies exploits the orienting response
[of humans] in a way that preempts sociability, directing us
away from one another and toward a manufactured reality,
the content of which is determined from afar by private parties
that have a material interest in doing so.” He goes on: “The
valuable thing that we take for granted is the condition of not
being addressed. Just as clean air makes respiration possible,
silence, in this broader sense, is what makes it possible to think.
He offers many examples of this bombardment. The one
I found most tragicomic was the following: Dunkin’ Donuts
interrupts people’s morning commutes by releasing coffee
scents from the ventilation systems of public buses in Seoul,
South Korea, to alert passengers when they approach one of
the chain’s locations.
Some of what he is examining are the way our
distractedness is being prompted and accelerated by
capitalism:
In a public place, like in an airport and CNN is chattering,
it’s pretty hard to escape. You can sort of shift in your seat and
avert your gaze, but the fields of view that haven’t been claimed
cont. on page 15
13
YOM HASHOAH
V’HAGVURAH 2016
Taste
of
Israel
Struggling to Maintain the Human Spirit
during the Holocaust
Join Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for
Holocaust Studies (FSWC) and the Sarah and
Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre
for a community-wide event to commemorate the
victims of the Shoah and to honour our survivors.
Featuring an original dramatic
production commissioned by FSWC
“Reflections of Anne Frank”
DESSERT RECEPTION & ART MARKET
The Shinshinim, Yoni and Noa, in partnership with the Sisterhood, invite you to
an elegant evening of delicious desserts and flavourful Israeli wines. Please
come and enjoy an open market featuring local and Israeli artists and vendors.
SHAAREI SHOMAYIM LOBBY
MAY 17TH | 7:30-9:30 PM
$54 GENERAL ADMITTANCE
$36 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS / SENIORS
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE:
$180 EVENT SPONSOR
(INCLUDES 2 TICKETS)
PROCEEDS GO TO
ILAN
$500 EVENT PATRON
Israeli Foundation for
Children with Disabilities
(INCLUDES 4 TICKETS)
Contact: Katy Korman at [email protected] or
Stephen & Carol Handelman at [email protected]
for more information
SHINSHINIM FUND
RSVP AT:
WWW.SHOMAYIM.ORG/TASTEOFISRAEL
REGISTER BY MAY 13TH
With:
• Jewish War Veterans March of Colour
• The Passing of the Torch
• Holocaust Survivor Candle Lighting Ceremony
• Bialik Day School Youth Choir
Details:
Date: Wednesday May 4, 2016
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge St.)
Cost: Free of Charge (Four ticket limit per person)
To Register Contact:
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center
for Holocaust Studies:
Tracey Steyn 416.864.9735 x 21
[email protected]
Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust
Education Centre:
Mary Siklos 416.631.5689
[email protected]
Participating Organizations: B’nai Brith Canada, Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, Canadian Jewish
Holocaust Survivors and Descendants, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Consulate General of Israel,
General Wingate Branch 256 Royal Canadian Legion, Hillel of Greater Toronto, Jewish War Veterans of
Canada, The Azrieli Foundation, Toronto Board of Rabbis, Toronto Council of Hazzanim, Vaad Ha’Rabbanim
14
Jacob Posluns
youth director
Youth Matters
T
hanks to all of you, Shaarei
Shomayim is having a super
year of youth programming
and youth engagement. Our program
includes our weekly Jewnior Games,
Tefilla and prizes, Shinshinim talks
about Israel, Birthday Club magic
shows, the new Stay and Play, Camp
Aim partnership, Adom Olam on the
big bima, Parent / Child Learning,
Sukkah Hop, Simchat Torah Danceathon, Chanukah Chesed Program,
Purim Party, and much more.
I am so proud of our youth leaders
who arrive each Shabbat morning ready
and eager to help our youth shine. On
behalf of Noa Borden, our Head of
Tefilla, and Debra Posluns, our Head of
Preschool, I want to give a huge shout
out and round of applause to our teen
youth leaders and our youth program
participants!
Our youth leadership team is busy
getting ready for our spring events. In
the works are a pre-Pesach model youth
Seder, special Chol HaMoed activities,
and of course Leil Shavuot learning.
Parental support is very important
to us, and input from parents on our
programming is always appreciated!
Save the Dates
Monday April 26Special Chol Hamoed Activity
Friday April 29Pesach Performer
Thursday May 26 Lag B’Omer
Saturday June 11
Leil Shavuot
We also want to recognize and thank
those parents who have contributed
to our “Birthday Club.” The Birthday
Club brings in a special entertainer one
Shabbat each month in honour of all the
kids who have birthdays in that month.
Thanks as well to our Youth Committee
and the clergy for all of your support
and guidance.
Keep reading our Youth Matters
weekly e-blast to learn more upcoming
events. If you are not receiving the
weekly emails but would like to, please
contact me at [email protected].
Chag Kasher V’ Sameach!
message from the shinshinim
.‫החוויה בקבוצת הילדים כל שבת היא חוויה נהדרת‬
,‫הזדמנות נפלאה להיות עם הילדים של הקהילה‬
!‫לשחק וללמד אותם על ישראל אפילו בשבת‬
cont. from page 13
Is Religion Another Form of Slavery?
for commerce seem to be getting narrower and fewer, with ever
more aggressive attempts to appropriate our attention.
Some of his “solutions have to do with becoming
engrossed with meaningful activity, such that distraction is
no longer an issue:
I think the remedy is rather to be absorbed in some
worthy object that has intrinsic appeal, the kind that elicits
our involvement in such a way that our mental energies get
gathered to a point. And once that gets under way, I think it
feels more like abandon than self-control. I work on motorcycles
and make parts for them, and when I’m in the shop, hours go
by without any sense of distraction. I get really, really into it.
I do not mean to compare this to the actual brutality
of physical slavery. It is one thing to be distracted by your
Samsung or I-Pad, quite another to be sold as a sex slave.
Every year, right now in 2016, tens of thousands of people
are being bought and sold by other human beings, trafficked
for money. One ought to consider this as well on Seder night.
But for most of us, thankfully, our slavery will come in other
forms, and it would behoove us to pay attention to what it is
in our present circumstances, whatever they are, that keeps
us bound or stuck. And what it is, therefore, that could set us
free.
The Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz, in a
Dylanesque vein, was fond of quoting a Talmudic statement
that “one is going to be a vessel for something; one should
thus be a vessel for God.” Or to put it another way, we have
one life and it is short, so reach for the highest values you
can. Anything less is unworthy of your ultimate time and
attention.
15
Hi Noa how are you? Are you ready for
Passover? Where are you going to be
Hey Yoni! Don't you remember I'm going back to
Israel for Pesach?? I'm getting home right after
all the cleaning is all finished 
When is your family coming to Toronto?
Ohh you remember my family is coming. 1-0 to u.
They are coming two days before 
They are going to clean the house in Israel,
this year it’s not my job… I'm here
What do you usually do for Pesach at home?
Usually? I don’t have usually at my home. Every
time it’s different, special! But usually we host
my parent’s siblings or they host us.
Do you have any Pesach traditions?
Absolutely! Totally different! I was scared
about everything. My English, our institutions
and Komuna. But I have to say I’m so happy
right now. We got wonderful host families! We
love the community and people know us! I
think we have a big influences! And the
English? It’s just a way to communicate.
Think how many activities we did! How many
Dvar Israel we wrote and how many people
we met. And we just got here in September!
I didn't know how much I would manage to
connect to people in such little time but I really
feel like I met amazing families and people!
I think Pesach in Israel is the best.
Everyone’s on vacation and families
travel together. The weather is amazing
and everything is green.
I would go camping up north with my family.
We packed up the car, drove 3 hours north
and set up camp. It seemed like the whole
country moved up north for Pesach!
Wow you’re right! All the flowers on
Pesach! It’s amazing! Do you have a
picture of that to remind me?
My parents always argue about what the Seder should
be like. My mother likes the festive meal but my father
always says how he would be happy just having
Matzah & cheese because until you get to the real food
it's already 12 AM.
But obviously my mother wins every year and we have
lots of great food (as good as Pesach can get).
Actually I have to say Pesach is a funny holiday. For my
family -ashkenaz family every year we discuss if this year we
will eat "kitniot" or not. At the end of the day we end up eating
potatoes…
I remember that conversation! We had just known each
other for about 2 months and we were trying to imagine
what our year in Toronto would be like. We've been here
for half a year! Has it been different than you thought it
would be?
16
Do you remember the first morning after
Pesach? The smell in the air is so good! The
smell of the fresh bread that we missed from
the bakeries …
And the  is also lots of fun!
Peoples' houses are all lit up and filled
with the best Moroccan food 
Rabbi Noah
Cheses
Rabbi Cheses Reflects
assistant rabbi
Young Rabbis Speak
A
year ago, I embarked, together with several
colleagues in Toronto, to model the power
of interdenominational conversation and to
facilitate a wide spectrum of Jews talking to
each other about big ideas. Could four rabbis – Orthodox,
Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist – sit together
and discuss substantive issues of modern Jewish life in a
public forum? The result was “Young Rabbis Speak,” a fourpart series, focusing on Jewish Text and Authority; Jewish
Identity in a Hyphenated World; Judaism, Gender; and
Sexuality, and Israel: The Four Rabbi Solution.
The conversations have been deep and delicate. We
have demonstrated the capacity to disagree candidly, to
care differently about the Jewish future and to do so across
abiding friendships. The dialogue has surfaced fissures along
several fronts. My views on Revelation, Heteronormativity
and Patriarchy may be hard for someone else to accept but
still possible to respect.
After each session, there were breakout groups for the
audience to process the panel and continue the conversation
in a meaningful way. I have observed several relationships
develop between engaged and thinking Jews of all
denominations. My hope and prayer is that this effort helps
bring more Jews to own their Jewishness and that the Jewish
people can grow closer together.
17
T
A Great Year for
Our Bnot Mitzvah
avital strauchler
hank you to all the participants in this year’s Bat
Mitzvah program. Ten thoughtful and perceptive
young women joined together in text-based learning
and in-depth discussions of topics such as community,
leadership and tzedakah. Participants included: Ariella
Aronson, Millie Heller, Aviya Krauss, Dalit Nathanson,
Zehava Ross, Lea Shoub, Leora Tenenbaum, Raya Traubici,
Gabriella Treitel, and Rosie Wise.
As they discussed our modern Jewish communities,
it became evident that these young women and their
friends have the skills and desires to stand up and lead
our communities. Here are some small excerpts from their
reflections:
“We spent time learning with accomplished women in
our communities and participated in activities that combine
thought and fun. Our visit to Baycrest and visits from
Camp Aim gave us the opportunity to include others in our
preparations for becoming a Bat Mitzvah.”
“Our closing ceremony with a fancy breakfast at the shul
allowed each of us to reflect on leadership, role models and
chessed in our lives as we prepare for our bat mitzvah.”
What a Bat Mitzvah Means to Me
Ariella: “I am now a Jewish woman who makes her own
religious decisions and follows Jewish customs. My parents
cannot do this for me anymore. My Bat Mitzvah is a very
important stage of my life. It is exciting, because I get to share
this time with my family including my parents, siblings and
grandparents.”
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof – Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue
Dalit: “There are many ways to help, including raising money,
collecting and donating clothing and other necessities, and
volunteering my time. I also hope that through my actions, other
will be inspired to take on these important mitzvot as well.”
Gabriella: “As I am become a Bat Mitzvah, I am spending
more time thinking about the various organizations that
inspire me such as Camp Aim. In our Bat Mitzvah program,
we learned about advocating for a cause that we believe
in. I would like to continue to raise awareness of the joy of
including kids of all abilities. I want to add them into all our
conversations and to show how we are more the same than
different.”
Raya: “The cause I have chosen is the idea of sending
underprivileged kids to a summer camp. The idea is
important to me, because I love summer camp more than
any time of the year… I chose to donate to the IDF legacy
program and Tim Hortons’ Send a Kid to Camp Foundation,
because it gives underprivileged children a chance to get to
feel like everyone else, by going to camp during the summer
and having the ultimate camp experience.”
Role Models in Tanach
Zehava: “During the first class of the Bat Mitzvah Program
we learned about Avigayil… She inspires me, because she is
described as tovat sechel, which I interpret as smart with a
good sense of judgement… I aspire to be able to stand up to
people and be persuasive just like Avigayil.”
Leora: “Chana’s story really inspired me… The reason we
daven Shmoneh Esrei silently is because of Chana. Chana
was a strong woman and had faith in Hashem. When she was
hurt, she turned to Hashem, and Hashem gave her what she
wanted. She was an amazing woman and I enjoyed learning
about her.”
Aviya: “From studying the book of Esther I have learned
about what it takes to have the courage to step out from being
a bystander and taking the necessary risks to be a hero. I am
just at the beginning of my journey, and I couldn’t honestly
say that I have the courage of Esther, but I do have some of
the things to help me grow in that direction. I have a heritage
filled with values that give me strength. I have many people
who are rooting for me, and I know that I am not alone.”
Who is a Role Model to Me?
Rosie: “For this program, I was asked to write a reflection
paper on a role model in my life. I chose my great Bubie
Sylvia. My Bubie was 95 years old, when she recently passed
away in December. She was a great role model, because if
cont. on page 19
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cont. from page 18
you had the privilege to meet her you
would know she always had a smile
on her face. If you met her, you would
know she had an amazing heart and an
amazing soul. A few lessons that she
taught me were: to always to be kind no
matter what, to always give to others,
and most importantly to always keep a
smile on your face…”
Lea: “Right away I knew, I had to
choose my great grandmother, Babi
(Margaret Brand). She had a very hard
but fulfilling life… Throughout her life,
she maintained a strong devotion to
Hashem. She prayed three times a day
and baked challah until she was 100…
She was a special person to me and a
loving and caring person to everyone.”
Millie: Re: a great teacher: “She is
a modern day role model, because
instead of going to university or
college, she came to my school to help a
special student for the year. She saw an
opportunity to be helpful to someone,
and I think it is a special thing that she
did.”
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Words of Reflection from
Our Bar Mitzvah Boys
T
hank you to all the participants in this year’s Bar Mitzvah
Club: Jacob Ringle, Jacob Bloom, Isaac Mansel, Isaac
Begun, Bob Allen, Zev Bell, Eliyahu Freudenstein, Josh
Posel, and Isaac Golembek.
Isaac Begun: “Awesome. Cool. Life changing. Amazing. I
wish the program was longer. Thank you.” These are just some
of the words and phrases my friends and I used to describe
the Shaarei Shomayim Bar Mitzvah Club experience during
our celebratory Shabbat dinner at the end of the 2015-2016
Bar Mitzvah program.
At dinner, each boy spoke about his top memorable club
moments. The highlights that brought the most cheers from
the group were: making hundreds of sandwiches together
to distribute on the Ve’ahavta Van, and learning how to
tie tzitzit, which led to actually wearing tzitzit. At the end
of Shabbat dinner, it was the sight of the nine boys, now
buddies, singing zmirot and swaying together with Rabbi
Cheses that many parents told us was actually the best part.
In fact, here is how my parents actually described it: ‘the
club was formative part of the boys’ spiritual development
as they approach their individual bar mitzvahs over the
next year. The fact that they were able to have an interactive
session with members of DANI, make a mezuza out of
Lego, and learn Torah while watching a Raptors game is a
wonderful example of how to live a modern life filled with
Torah and Chesed.’
Eliyahu Freudenstein: The boys in the Bar Mitzvah
program recently went on the Ve’ahavta van, to give food and
warm clothes to those who need it. It was truly an amazing
experience to be able to put a smile on the faces of many
downtown Torontonians. It was so much fun to make loads
of food on Motzei Shabbat, and then to give it to people in
need. I loved being able to connect with the homeless, and
hear about their experiences. They were so happy when
they received the food and clothes. Even though it was very
cold outside, we felt warm inside because we were able to
make others happier. I never knew there were so many
opportunities to give, and now, because of going on the
Ve’ahavta Van, I want to continue doing that both now, and
after I become Bar Mitzvah.
However, those two fantastic experiences were not the
only ones that I enjoyed with the Bar Mitzvah program.
The Havdalah and Hockey / Havdalah and Hoops unit was
20
also spectacular. We had such a fun time learning about
sportsmanship and Havdalah with each other. Now, I
understand why it is so important to be nice and friendly
during competitions, even if it means losing the game. We
also went to a Raptors game, which was an amazing group
activity.
The Tefillah and Tefillin unit was great, too. We all got to
learn together about what it means to become Bar Mitzvah,
and the responsibility of being an Jewish adult. Also, we
learned about the mitzvah of Tefillin, and why we will be
wearing them. We also learned about tzitzit, and how
wearing tzitzit can remind us of Hashem and the mitzvot.
We even got to make our very own, and that was amazing to
do by ourselves. My favourite part of that unit was meeting
a Sofer Stam, how told us about the long process of making
Tefillin. I hope we can all use these lessons like giving and
kindness when we make the transition of being kids to Bnei
Mitzvah.
Anonymous: Over the past nine weeks, I have worked
with the bar mitzvah program and done some pretty
amazing things. My number one experience was delivering
sandwiches to the homeless. It was boring at times and
even a bit scary, but thinking about it, I decided that it was
incredible how people can survive living on the street. I
admired each individual I met for multiple reasons: 1) They
stayed to talk to me after I gave them chili, coffee or clothes,
2) They were nice to me. They said thank you almost every
time I gave supplies to them, 3) They were sane. I think that
after living on the streets for so long, it’s a miracle that they
are sane. What I took out of the bar mitzvah program was
that deep down, everyone is human and we all deserve to
have a good life.
More Than a Village…
J
Zachary Perlmutter
udaism prides itself on helping the needy, the
disadvantaged and the stranger. Simply put, there’s a
basic obligation to help those who are in need of help,
not because they’re outsiders, but because it’s what God
expects of us. It doesn’t matter how it’s accomplished,
either by befriending the individual, or by helping the person
move up in life, the expectation is that he or she is a human
being and-therefore-deserves validation.
It’s also something that’s always struck me on a personal
level. I have both Asperger’s Syndrome and Tourette’s
Syndrome. The former was diagnosed when I was in Grade
5, though I’d known I was different for many years prior.
The latter I suspected I’ve had since middle school, although
it wasn’t confirmed until many years later. Regardless,
growing up was difficult, as I often found myself struggling
to understand basic concepts (math, colours, social cues,
simple patterns) that everyone else took for granted. I look
back on it now and laugh, but when you’re 6 years old, you
find it more tedious than humorous.
Which is why I’m so relieved that I had such strong
support to keep me growing. An old African proverb states
that “it takes a village to raise a child”. I found that to be literal
and figurative at the same time. On one hand, my family,
particularly my mom, was incredibly accommodating and
adaptable to my unique situation. If I wasn’t progressing
efficiently in school, they’d teach me at home after school
hours were over. If I wasn’t developing social skills efficiently,
they’d send me to a specialist for hands-on training. If I,
essentially, felt like I was useless, they were there to remind
me that I wasn’t.
What also helped was the strong, communal support
offered by the Jewish framework I mentioned above. Systems
like one-on-one remediation, shul activities, social outlets
for individuals like myself, breaking up tasks more efficiently,
social work and, of course, changing schools helped me along
the way. I wasn’t succeeding in a regular, Jewish day school,
so my parents transferred me to a Jewish school for children
with special needs. Initially, I was a stubborn bud, refusing to
grow and sprout leaves in the sun. But my support kept on
watering me patiently, so I eventually sprouted.
These days, social interaction isn’t as hard for me as it
was when I was younger. That doesn’t mean I don’t still get
my foot caught in the door on a regular basis, because I do,
but it’s not as difficult to correct. Still, there are definite areas
of improvement that I could benefit greatly from, and I’m
always grateful to the Jewish community for helping me out
along the way.
Which brings me to something that I feel needs to be
addressed more: helping individuals with disabilities. I’m
not talking serious disabilities, because that’s a given, but
rather those with more invisible disabilities, who may need
some assistance managing within society. Judaism preaches
heavily about the need to help anyone who’s disadvantaged,
regardless of whether or not it’s obvious at the outset. I see a
great deal of support going in to help extreme cases, while
the moderates aren’t really attended to. And I think that’s a
shame, as there’s real potential in the more obscure examples
that need mining. All you need to do is look at me to see that.
So let’s focus on continued integration. How can we
ensure individuals like myself transition into adulthood like
their peers? What are some ways for the Jewish community to
invite higher-functioning individuals with special needs into
larger social networks, the workforce or the dating sphere?
I credit Yachad for helping me in some of those areas, but I
don’t think it’s enough to rely on them alone.
God made everyone in His image, and individuals
with disabilities are human beings too. The sooner we can
collectively acknowledge and appreciate that they need a
little guidance, the more likely that they’ll become active
participants in Jewish communities and, ultimately, society
as a whole. Because, while it might take a village to raise a
child, I think it takes a supportive, Jewish community to
raise someone like me. And I think that makes a world of
difference.
21
katy korman
F
Shaarei Shomayim
Sisterhood
ive years ago, almost every room in the lower level
of the shul was devastated by a flood. Under the
leadership of our past Presidents, Charlene Arje,
Brian Lass and Benny Osher, along with some
very dedicated volunteers, the lower level was completely
renovated. We added a beautiful Beit Midrash and a
commitment to a master plan for the rejuvenation of our
shul. We turned misfortune into an opportunity and, in the
process, we have brought new life into the shul.
In May 2014, under Joyce Eklove’s leadership the renewal
campaign continued. Included in the “Retire Renew Rebuild”
mandate was the creation of a new Sisterhood. Joyce asked
me to be Sisterhood President. The thought was extremely
scary for me. Where do I start? After more than a 10 year
absence how do I start? I learned very quickly that I couldn’t
do it alone and put together a committee of 14 incredible
women.
The year 2015 started out with a successful “Pizza In the
Hut” program and ended with the closing dinner honouring
our three Rebbetzins. There was something more important
than the monetary success of the events. Women of all ages
participated and there was a unity in the shul that hadn’t
been felt in many years. Funds we raised have completely
refurbished the bridal room, contributed towards the Impact
India trip, the Grand Re-Opening dinner, supported the
22
Jewish Food Bank, and brought the play Dead End to our
congregation. These small milestones, and the chevra we
created by bringing together women of all ages, show what a
wonderful thing the Sisterhood can be.
I would like to thank Joyce Eklove for giving me the
honour of starting the New Sisterhood and having faith in
my committee. I also want to thank Judy Roth and Daniella
Silver for stepping in and working on the Ladies Who Lead
Dinner. Judy was also there to help out with the “Bubbie and
Me” program.
With my term as President of the New Sisterhood
coming to an end, I want to thank from the bottom of my
heart the group of talented, committed women who have
created a new space for women of the shul to come together.
Amanda Salem, Avis Osher, Brenda Lass, Beth Singer, Carol
Handelman, Francine Goldrich, Jackie Zimmerman, Lily
Steinberg, Nanci Turk, Naomi Goldstein, Raquel Milgrom
Benmergui, Ruth Podeswa, Shana Aronson, and Yvonne
Goldberg. I could never have done it without you.
A special thank you goes to the women of the
congregation who came to the events and supported the
Sisterhood over the past two years.
My family and I wish you and yours a Chag Kasher
Sameyach.
richmond
kosher bakery
Shaarei Shomayim
Brotherhood
T
Specializing in •
Organic Breads
Gluten Free Products
Sugar Free Products
Wedding Cakes
Special Occasion Cakes
Picture Cakes
•
he 2016 Brotherhood is in full
swing with various activities
planned for the remainder
of the year. We would like
to thank our past executives for their
hard work and dedication, most notably
Michael Bernstein, the former President
of the Brotherhood. We would also
like to thank Peter Klemensberg for
his continual support as the Secretary
of the Brotherhood. Our new team of
executives include myself, Robert Klein
as President, Akiva Aronson as Vice
President, Eric Ohayon as Vice President
and Jonathan Grauman as Treasurer.
The new Brotherhood brings a fresh and
dynamic perspective to the shul with an
objective to unite the Brotherhood, raise
funds for the shul, target charities, and to
have a ton of fun.
Our first Brotherhood event was a
Bills Tailgate Party. It was a blast and a
huge success. Participants of the event
arrived at the shul where a fully-equipped
limo bus loaded with bagels, coffee, milk
and cookies was waiting to take us to
the game. A caterer met us at Ralph
Wilson Stadium in Buffalo and served
a steak lunch with all the fixings. We
watched the game, laughed and enjoyed
the sunshine. After the game, the caterer
had prepared a buffet dinner which we
enjoyed while we played ball, had a few
drinks and began the journey home. In
true Brotherhood spirit, no one lifted a
finger, other than to open a few bottles of
scotch. It was a great bonding experience.
We expect an even better time next year!
At the end of 2015, under Akiva
Aronson’s leadership, we launched the
Terror Victims Fund charitable initiative.
A huge Yasher Koach to Akiva and
all the donors for raising in excess of
$35,000 for the fund. Our first donations
have gone to the Don, Kaufman and
Beirmacher families, all victims of recent
terror. We are in the process of releasing
the remaining funds to other families
over the next couple of weeks. With the
unabating terror in Israel, we would like
to remind all congregants that this is an
ongoing initiative and further donations
are encouraged and welcomed.
The 2015 programming concluded
with an exclusive advance screening of
Star Wars: The Force Awakens with all
proceeds to the Terror Victims Fund. More
than 130 people from the shul attended
the event and it was a huge success.
We are very excited about the
Brotherhood’s 2016 events, which will
include a 2016 pre-Pesach family skate,
Brotherhood Hockey Night, poker night,
fishing trip, scotch night and more. Stay
tuned for information on all these events
and initiatives from the Brotherhood in
2016!
4119 BAthurst Street
Toronto
647-776-5995
23
Team Shaarei Shomayim
Runs Miami Marathon to
Support Chai Lifeline
T
ogether with Rabbi Cheses, fifteen members of our shul took advantage
of the warmer than usual winter by training to run the Miami Half
Marathon in January. The team trained together for several months
leading up to the race and became a tightknit community of runners. Together
with many supportive spouses and family members, we joined Team LifeLine
for an extraordinary Shabbat experience in Miami. The pre-race pasta party
injected us with extra inspiration to make it to the finish line. We heard from
parents and children who have benefited from Chai Lifeline’s Camp Simcha.
We learned that Chai Lifeline is an organization that fights illness with love.
All together, we raised over $70,000 to help support local children who
are affected by serious illness. The funds that we collected help make sure
that children and their families have the services they need to cope with the
diagnosis, treatment, and repercussions of pediatric illness.
Several families plan to continue participating the Chai Lifeline marathon
in Las Vegas in the fall and again in Miami next winter. Please consider joining
us, as we sweat for a cause and help restore hope and happiness to families who
really need it.
yizkor
memorial
book
We are now in the planning stages
for our 2016 / 5776 Yizkor Memorial
Book.
For more than 20 years, Shaarei
Shomayim’s Yizkor Book has
been an important part of our
community’s remembrance of loved
ones and observance of the Yizkor
prayer. Published every Shavuot, the
book contains the prayers recited
during memorial and remembrance
services, and the names of the
departed in whose memories we
recite Yizkor. This year, the Yizkor
Book will be available for use by
the congregation at the following
services:
2nd Day Shavuot June 13, 2016
Yom KippurOctober 12, 2016
Shemini AtzeretOctober 24, 2016
8th Day of PesachApril 18, 2017
On the facing page, is our Yizkor
Book Inclusion Form. If you would
like a loved one to be remembered
in the Yizkor Book, please complete
the Yizkor Book Inclusion Form and
return it to our office. Should you
have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact Miriam in the
office ([email protected] or
416-789-3213). You will also notice
various sponsorship opportunities
which will, of course, be recognized
in the Yizkor Book.
We invite the entire congregation
to be part of this important annual
project. Your support is vital to the
continuation of this very worthy
endeavor.
Thank you for your participation.
24
25
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Various banquet halls in Toronto
Customized creative menu planning with our artistic team of chefs
Phone: 416.638.8381
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.menchens.ca
COR
26
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
at Shaarei Shomayim
Aleh Canada in partnership with Shaarei Shomayim
hosted Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks for a public
lecture on March 16. Over 1,000 people filled the
Sharp Sanctuary and Banquet Hall to hear the former
Chief Rabbi. Rabbi Sacks was introduced by Rabbi
Strauchler. Rabbi Sacks spoke about anti-Semitism
and the importance of working with Christians
and Muslims in the fight against the hatred for our
people. Thank you to Miriam and Yedidia Koschitzky
for arranging Rabbi Sacks’ visit.
ralph etigson
In 1965, Ralph Etigson embarked on his career at
Shaarei Shomayim.
He was a Board Member for many years, Chairman
of Israel Bonds for four years (doubling the pledges
and receiving a metal plaque of appreciation for
this), Brotherhood President for two years (the limit
allowed in the Shul’s Constitution). He wrote the
shul’s constitution.
The first picture is of a cheque for $50,000 which
was raised by the Brotherhood. The other photo is
of Ralph when he was President of 18 Brotherhoods
for five years, meeting monthly and getting mostly
Jewish celebrities to speak to audiences of 100 to
400 people.
On October 1, 2015, Ralph celebrated his 100th
birthday with a beautiful family party. Ralph remains
an active member of Baycrest, taking a leading role
in the Theatre Group at the Terraces. Ralph is an avid
Scrabble player.
27
FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS
Wishing you good health, happiness and peace
www.verveseniorliving.com
28
Purim party
34
Purim party
35
Young young professionals ski trip
The Young Young Professionals have organized
several well-attended Shabbat dinners for
young Jews in their 20s. This growing group
within Shaarei Shomayim also put together
a ski trip to Horseshoe Valley with a burst of
Torah during lunch from Rabbi Cheses and
Rabbi Grundland.
Young professionals living room learning
36
Mi’shenichnas Adar Marbim B’Simcha
Shaarei Shomayim welcomed Adar Aleph with a wonderful family weekend event at Rinx. Over 50 kids
and their parents enjoyed an evening of bowling, mini golf and laser tag. It was fun for families to spend
time together and kids to spend time with their friends. Shaarei Shomayim received a nice compliment
from the Rinx staff. They said that the Shaarei Shomayim event was great, because the kids were wellbehaved and respectful – what Nachat!
37
yocapella
On January 23, the Yeshivat or Chaim Acapella group, Yocapella, led our shul in a beautiful Shabbat Shira
davening. As a thank you, Rabbi Strauchler brought donuts for the whole school on February 9 and gave a
Dvar Torah after morning services. Pictured with Rabbi Strauchler, Yocapella is made up of (from left): Zev
Wiesenthal, Ariel Markus, Shaya Lexier, Raphi Singer, and Yoni Bean. Not pictured: Avi Stopnicki and Eli
Weltman.
Babysitting Course
On January 31, Shaarei Shomayim hosted a sold-out babysitting course. We had 20 participants for a full
day course with St. John’s Ambulance. Topics ranged from diaper changing and discipline to first aid.
Looking for a babysitter? We have lots of newly certified babysitters for you!
38
trivia night
On February 6, the Young Professionals hosted a hilariously competitive Trivia Night. The evening offered
something for all of the 150 participants, with categories that included everything from music and art to
Tanach quotes and rabbinic figures. Congratulations to the Trivia Night winning team and to all of the
participants at the event!
mishloach manot
More than 90 shul members received Mishloach Manot, lovingly prepared and delivered by the Chessed
Committee and the Young Professionals. The two committees joined together for breakfast, learning and
packaging, bringing Simchat Purim to members of our community.
39
the canadian jewish news - march 10, 2016 • 30 adar i 5776
Orthodox Doctors Wrestle with Ethics of ‘Assisted Suicide’
Barbara Silverstein
Dr. Albert Kirshen said it’s just a
matter of time before one of his patients
asks him for assistance to die. Kirsehn,
an observant Jew who is a physician at
the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative
Care at Mount Sinai Hospital, said he is
bracing himself for the inevitable.
Kirshen Is “personally conflicted”
and struggling with the new Supreme
Court-mandated policy that will permit
physician-assisted death (PAD), he said,
explaining that while the medical college
will require him to accommodate a
patient’s request to die, Jewish law does
not permit him to make a referral for the
termination of a life.
Kirshen spoke to the issue at a town
hall meeting on “the implications of
the proposed federal assisted suicide
legislation on the practice of medicine,”
held March 7 at Shaarei Shomayim
Congregation in Toronto. About 300
people, many of them physicians, packed
the shul’s social hall to learn more about
the issue from an Orthodox perspective
that reflected the views of rabbis,
physicians and a legal expert.
Presenters included Kirshen; Dr.
Nathan Herrmann, head of geriatric
psychiatry at Sunnybrook Health Sciences
Centre; Charles Wagner, a lawyer who
specializes in estate and trusts; and Rabbi
Mordechai Torczyner, rosh beit midrash,
Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Beit
Midrash Zichron Dov.
Rabbi Chaim Strauchler of Shaarei
Shomayim introduced the issues, Rabbi
N. Daniel Korobkin of Beth Avraham
Yoseph of Toronto Congregation
(BAYT) gave closing remarks, and Dr.
Janice Halpern, a psychiatrist affiliated
with Mount Sinai and the University of
Toronto, moderated the discussion.
Rabbi Strauchler explained that the
town hall – jointly held by Shaarei
Shomayim and the BAYT – was organized
because many observant physicians have
been approaching their rabbis to ask
about their options as doctors and Jews
40
as they confront the upcoming new legal
reality, and they want to know how the
Jewish community can address it.
“We are wrestling with difficult emotional
and ethical challenges,” Rabbi Strauchler
said. “Physicians are asked to control the
dying process. They are gatekeepers of a
new right to die.”
Although conscientious objection may
be legal, he said there might be cultural
pressure on physicians to comply with
what could become the norm.
Wagner said the law must balance
freedom of conscience, which is protected
under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
and a person’s legal right to die.
He explained that the Supreme Court’s
landmark decision in 2015 (Carter vs.
Canada) gives competent adults with
intolerable medical suffering the right to
seek physician assistance to die, as long as
the patient’s consent is clear.
He pointed to the discrepancies between
the Carter ruling and the more recent
parliamentary report, which he likened to
the European model of PAD.
While the American model is limited to
severe, terminal illness, the parliamentary
report has expanded the parameters
of PAD to allow competent minors to
terminate their lives after three years, as
well as people with severe depression.
Herrmann said people with depression
should not be candidates for PAD, because
in most cases, depression can be treated with
drugs and most people improve over time.
As well, advanced Alzheimer’s disease or
other types of severe dementia should also
not be criteria, even if people have given
such directives, he said. While their quality
of life may be limited to music and food,
Left: Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, Rabbi N.
Daniel Korobkin, and Rabbi Chaim Strauchler
they’re not unhappy. “The vast number
of patients do not suffer. Their families
suffer.”
Kirshen told the physicians in
attendance to start devising a strategy
for dealing with the new reality. “You’re
going to be asked, so be prepared by
sorting out for yourself what your answer
will be.”
He stressed the importance of
investigating the reasons why a person
would want to end his or her life without
being judgemental. “Look for what
makes the person vulnerable.”
When receiving a request to die, he
said physicians should let their patients
know their wishes will be respected.
He also advised physicians to keep
written records of such encounters and
to consult with colleagues and rabbis.
Rabbi Torczyner discussed several
rabbinic opinions on PAD. He said
according to one, physicians should not
jeopardize their ability to make a living
by refusing to make a referral for it, as
they’re stipulated to do by their medical
colleges.
“It’s not ideal… It doesn’t mean it’s
morally permissible. It doesn’t mean we
should welcome it,” Rabbi Torczyner
said. “You don’t want all the observant
physicians to resign. There’s a great
communal need for observant doctors to
serve.”
Rabbi Korobkin urged people to fight
the legislation and oppose it publicly.
“We are not yet at the point where the
rules are set in stone… A society that
sanctions death is not a society.”
The Pesach Seder:
Feeling As If We Left Egypt
W
rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Rothman
ith Pesach approaching, we
begin to look towards the
end of the school year and
it is a great opportunity to reflect on
our accomplishments. The teachers and
administration at Netivot HaTorah Day
School strive to inculcate our students
with a passion for Torah, love for Israel
and to develop a deep commitment
to Derech Eretz. Our South Campus,
housed here at Shaarei Shomayim is
an integral part of our institution. Our
school has grown from 500 students last
year to 575 this year, and we expect to
break 600 for the 2016/17 school year.
Our South Campus has played a key role
in this growth. With our pre-nursery
and nursery classes full to capacity and
next year’s JK class already full, we have
high hopes for the future longevity of our
South Campus.
‫מצות סיפור יציאת מצרים כדי להרגיש‬
‫כאילו הוא יצא ממצרים‬
The ‫ הגרה‬states that “even if we were all
wise,” we’d still have to discuss the story
of ‫יציאת מצרים‬. One might look at this
line with bewilderment and question,
what would have ever made me think
that wise people do not have to discuss
the story of the Exodus? Are they not
Jews with the Biblical obligation of ‫מצרים‬
‫ ?סיפור יציאת‬Perhaps one might have
thought that wise people only have the
daily obligation of ‫זכירת יציאת מצרים‬,
but since the ‫ תורה‬says ‫ והגדת לבנך‬and
‫והיה כי ישאלך בנך‬, perhaps the obligation
on ‫ פסח‬night is just to teach people who
do not know the story of the Exodus.
For this reason the author of the ‫הגדה‬
says: Afilu kulanu chachainim, kulanu
Nevunim to teach us that even those
who know every detail of the story must
spend the night engrossed in the details
of the story. A proof to this comes from
the ‫ הגדה‬itself, when ‫ רבי אליעזר‬and the
other Rabbis were up all night, they were
alone, as it says ‫עד שבאו תלמידים‬, until
the students came in, implying they had
not been there previously.
It is still possible to ask why are
wise people obligated if they already
know the story in full detail. The answer
to this question, which is found in the
‫גמרא‬, can really teach us the whole
point of the ‫סדר‬. The ‫ גמרא‬on :‫דף קטז‬
of ‫ פסחים‬says, “‫דור חייב אדם לראות את‬
‫עצמו כאלו הוא יצא ממצרים בכל‬,” “In every
generation, everyone must see himself as
if he had gone out of Egypt.” This means
that the ‫ עיקר מצוה‬of ‫ פסח‬is for man to
understand the concept of reward and
punishment. As the ‫ רמב’’ן‬says in the end
of :‫פרשת בא‬,
‫ ויענש‬,‫כי מתברר שיש לעולם מנהיג ומשגיח‬
‫ והטיב לעמו ישראל‬,‫למצרים על זדון לבם‬
‫ וזעקו‬,‫ ושמרו משמרתו‬,‫בעבור ששבו אליו‬
,‫ והיה דבר שהיה לפני כמה שנים‬,‫אליו‬
‫שתעשה עליו רושם ההתפעלות הזאת‬
.‫שראוי להתפעל מזה‬
So ‫ חז’’ל‬gave us a way to feel this
by painting a picture, our own picture
of “what it would be like if I were to be
a slave? Then, how would it feel to be
freed, what would I be thinking about? I
would ponder the greatness of the One
who freed me.” This is the way to fulfill
the ‫מצוה‬. Not by actually feeling as “if I
left,” which is only possible for the great
Rabbis of the generation. But for me, the
average Jew, my obligation is to bring
the miracles of ‫ יציאת מצרים‬as close to
me as possible through painting my
own individualized painting. This point
is echoed in the writings of the ‫רמב’’ם‬
where he uncharacteristically deviates
from the exact language of the ‫ גמרא‬and
writes B’chol dor v’dor chayav Adam lharot
et atzmo, etc. The ‫ גמרא‬had said ‫לראות‬, to
see. The ‫ רמב’’ם‬is saying ‫להראות‬, which
means to do actions which will make us
think and feel that we have gone from
slavery to freedom. These actions are the
‫ – מצוות הלילה‬,‫ י’’מ‬,‫ סיפור‬,‫ מרור‬,‫ מצה‬and
even reclining is done to help develop
this feeling inside of us. To feel as if right
now it is happening to us and by feeling
this it should be ‫ מחזק‬us in our Kabbalat
Avodat Hashem.
The ‫ הגדה‬furthers this point by
saying: Vkol hamerabeh l’saper b’yetziat
mitzrayim harei zeh meshubach that “the
more one tells about the exodus, the more
he is praiseworthy.” Most ‫ מפרשים‬explain
the word ‫ משובח‬to mean he is praised, but
‫ רב ירוחם‬the ‫ משגיח מישבת מיר‬explains it
in a completely different manner. ‫משובח‬
comes from the ‫לשון משביח‬, that anyone
who is ‫ מרבה ביציאת מצרים‬he himself is
actually uplifted. This is because he has a
clear picture in his mind and he reviews
the details of the Exodus and this brings
him to a ‫ הרגשת הלב‬that he has become
a new and improved person.
Finally, once we have achieved this
new level, we recognize what we must do
next: Anachnu chayavim l’hodot v’lehalel
lefikach this helps us really feel the words
of thanks to ’‫ה‬. It is no longer just an
abstract statement of seeing yourself
come out of Egypt. It is now a growth
experience of feeling the presence of ’‫ה‬
by doing the actions that help us paint a
picture as if we actually are leaving Egypt
at this very moment. May we all be ‫זוכה‬
to grow to such a level so that we can
show ’‫ ה‬that we not only feel as if we left
Egypt, but are also prepared to leave this
‫ גלות‬and return to our home in ‫ירושלים‬.
41
Rabbi Strauchler, Akiva, Nicole, and our friends at Shaarei Shomayim,
On behalf of all of us at OneFamily Canada and Israel, I wanted to thank you, the Brotherhood, and the entire
congregation for your generous donation in support of the recent victims of terror in Israel. Your kindness will
help numerous families cope with their pain and trauma as they move forward to rebuild their shattered lives.
Sadly as you know, this past year in Israel has been one of the most terrifying ever. The recent series of attacks,
beginning in September 2015, has seen 35 people killed and almost 300 wounded – 26 of them seriously. Over
40 children have lost parents. There have been more than 100 stabbings, 40 shootings and 22 car rammings,
resulting in a huge influx of people requiring the help of OneFamily, lending an urgency to the tireless work of
our staff and volunteers in Israel.
Thank you for helping us help them and to continue to make a difference in the lives of over 12,000 people –
over 4,000 families – men women and children, bereaved and injured who have been torn apart by the trauma
of terror and war.
With warmest regards and much gratitude,
Gary Tile
GARY HYDE
Sales Manager
Office#
416-742-2777 ext. 215
Mobile# 416-275-8936
106 Vulcan Street, Toronto, ON M9W 1L2
PAPER PRODUCTS
FOOD SERVICE
CHEMICALS
SAFETY SUPPIES
www.royturk.com
42
Shaarei Shomayim
Cemeteries
Brian cantor, cemetery committee chair
Our shul operates four cemeteries
• Mt Sinai – Wilson Avenue, just east of Keele
1.Palmerston/Shaarei Shomayim Section (Section 5)
2.Old (Section 19)
• Bathurst Lawn – Shaarei Shomayim Section,
on the east side of Bathurst Street, just south of Steeles
• McCowan Road – McCowan Road,
just south of Eglinton Ave E.
cease to be members are no longer eligible to be buried in
those cemeteries. We do accept burial of non-members at
McCowan. Those individuals must be halachicly Jewish. In
the case where a person with a reserved plot decides that the
reservation is no longer required, the current price of the lot
can be refunded. As mentioned previously, there are other
component prices besides the lot price, and those items are
not refundable.
What members are entitled to
All members in good standing are entitled to a lot
at time of need, in a cemetery assigned by the Cemetery
Committee. Currently, all lots are assigned at the McCowan
Road Cemetery. There is no charge for the lot itself, there
are other charges for such items as care and maintenance
fund, permit, administration fee, cement foundations, etc.
As of this writing, the total amount of the other charges at
McCowan is $1,062.
It is not automatic that when one spouse passes, the
adjacent lot is reserved for the surviving spouse. If the next
lot is not reserved at that time, then that lot will be used
for the next burial. A spouse can choose to reserve the lot
adjacent to a deceased spouse at the time of death or soon
after. In the case where a spouse wants to reserve the adjacent
lot, the full standard rates will apply.
Pricing
There are several components to the price of a cemetery
lot, they are:
• Interment Rights represents the cost of the lot plus the
trust fund component: The trust fund amount is dictated
by the provincial government and is currently 40% or $150
(in the case of lots provided at no charge). For example, a
$5,000 lot is comprised of $3000 for the lot and $2,000 (40%
of $5,000) for the trust fund. For a lot given to members
at no charge, there is still a $150 amount that must be
deposited to our trust fund. The trust fund is a separate
account the shul maintains into which we deposit the
amounts collected. We do no touch the principle; we use
the interest to help cover the cost of cemetery maintenance.
The goal of the trust fund is to provide for the cemeteries
should Shaarei Shomayim ever ceases to exist.
• Foundation cost is the amount it costs to pour the concrete
foundation on which the headstone rests.
• Ontario charges a fee of $12 per burial. The Administration
fee is to try to help recover some of the extra, and often
overtime work, required for preparing for a burial.
• A complete price list is available on our website at
www.shomayim.org/cemetery or in the office.
• Besides the fees one pays to the funeral home, there are
other costs one should expect for a burial, such as the fee
required to prepare, dig and cover the grave. This fee is
paid directly to the cemetery association or the ground
keeping service and is not controlled or managed by the
shul. These fees are in the neighbourhood of $1,000 to
$1,500 depending on the cemetery and time of burial.
Reserving a lot
Members may reserve a lot at any time. When reserving
a lot, the full standard rates will apply, as per the current price
list. Currently, there are a small number of single lots available
at Bathurst Lawn, less than 40 at Mt Sinai Palmerston/
Shaarei Shomayim, a few at Mt Sinai - Old, and over 1000
at McCowan Road. There is a waiting list for the Bathurst
Lawn Cemetery, but at this stage, it is unlikely that anyone
currently not on the list will get a spot at Bathurst Lawn.
Who
Our rules state that only members can be buried in
our cemeteries at Bathurst Lawn and Mt Sinai. Those who
43
we’re here to
serve you better!
Did you know that you can now
make donations, sponsor kiddushim /
breakfasts, make a payment on your
account, etc. online – right from our
website, anytime you want!
Donate
Shomayim.org/donate
Sponsor
Shomayim.org/sponsor
Make a payment on account
Shomayim.org/pay-bills
44
Thank You
Thank you to all our volunteers who gave of their time
so we could enjoy the following programs and events:
Babies and Me
Bar / Bat Mitzvah
Programs
Breaking the Stigma:
Suicide and Depression in
the Jewish Community
Brotherhood Advance
Screening of “Star Wars:
The Force Awakens”
Brotherhood sponsored
Breakfast presentation by
Lara Bloom, CEO of EDS
Brotherhood Tailgate Party
Building Spiritually
Chai Lifeline Marathon
Chanukah and Chessed
Chanukah Lunch Party and
Sing Along
Chumash-Rashi shiur with
Melech Halberstadt
Community Gathering in
support of Israel – evening
with Eli Beer, president
and founder of United
Hatzalah of Israel
Daily Gemara shiur with
Rabbi Strauchler and
Rabbi Cheses
Divrei HaYamim with
Rabbi Strauchler
Dr. Elliott Malamet’s
“Pray & Learn” series
Dr. Shoshana Zolty’s
Mekorot Classes
Family Night at Rinx
Havdalah Concert with
Shlomo Katz
HEW Closing Night
ceremony
Impact Ethiopia
Impact India
Israel Solidarity – Colonel
Grisha Yakubovich of the
COGAT Brigade
Rabbi Mordechai
Torczyner’s YU Community
Beit Midrash nights
Sisterhood Pizza in the Hut
Jewish Heritage Project:
“A Night of Gratitude
Commemorating 40 Years
of Jewish Resettlement of
Judea and Samaria”
Rabbi Strauchler goes to
Western University
Sisterhood sponsored
Live Theatrical
Performance of Dead End
Jewnior Games
Kids’ Sukkah Hop
Kids’ Purim Carnival
Lulav, Etrog and Hoshanot
Sales
Lunch N Learn with Rabbi
Strauchler
Medical Town Hall on
Physician-Assisted Suicide
Mishloach Manot
packaging and delivery
Nishmat Women’s Health
and Halacha Day
North Meets South
Singles’ Night
Rabbi Torczyner’s
Book of Iyov
Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon,
Rabbinic Head of Jerusalem
College of Technology,
“IDF, Ethics and the Fight
Against Terrorism”
Scholar in Residence
Guila Benchimol
Justice Richard Bernstein
Michael Hattin
Rabbi Alex Israel
Shuli Taubes
Sisterhood sponsored
Sarah Chana Radcliffe
St. John Ambulance
Babysitting Course
Teen Minyan
Terror Victim Support
Fund
Torah In Motion Renewing
Our Spirit
Torah N Tea
Volunteer Day at Harvest
Food Bank
Walerstein Scholar
Professor James Diamond
“Where Words Matter”
book club
Yachad Shabbaton
Seniors Exercise
Young Professionals Living
Room Learning Series
Shaarei Shomayim and
Associated Hebrew
Schools Shabbaton
Young Professionals
Trivia Night
Young Rabbis Speak
Perfect Purim Seudah
with Shaarei Tefillah
Camp AIM Shabbaton
Young-Young Professionals
Shabbat Dinners
Post-Hashkama shiurim
with Rabbi David Ely
Grundland
Netivot Shabbaton
Young-Young Professionals
Ski Trip
Shabbat Itanu
Purim Party
Shabbat Youth Programs
YU Beit Midrash
Yarchei Kallah
Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schachter
Community Aseret Yemei
Teshuva Lecture
Shabbat Project with
Shlomo Katz
Peace of Mind
Peer-to-Peer Infertility
and Pregnancy Loss
support group
Rabbi Lord Jonathan
Sacks
Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner’s
Legal Ethics Series
Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner’s
Medical Ethics Series
Selichot Kumzitz program
Shabbat Shira with
YOCapella
Simchat Torah Hakafot for
Young Professionals
YU community Lecture by
Rabbi Herschel Schachter
YU Shabbaton of Thought
and Inspiration
Ziedenberg Summer
Lecture Series
Sisterhood Bubbie and Me
Sisterhood Ladies Who
Lead
45
470 GLENCAIRN AVENUE | TORONTO ON M5N 1V8 | PHONE: 416-789-3213
WWW.SHOMAYIM.ORG
46
‫בס”ד‬
47
pesach art
by Ariella Korman
by Sigalle Fialkov
by Sofia Freudenstein
48
BAT MITZVAH GIRL COMES OF AGE WITH
A GENEROUS DONATION TO MEIR PANIM
ByTsivya Fox January 13, 2016
“He that is gracious unto the poor lendeth
unto the LORD; and his good deed will He
repay unto him.” Proverbs 19:17 (The Israel
Bible™)
Lee Nadler celebrated her Bat Mitzvah
in Israel on December 26, 2015 along
with numerous other Jewish girls coming
of age in the Holy Land. What made
this celebration so unique was that Lee,
a native of Toronto, Canada, asked all
who wanted to get her a gift, to donate
to Meir Panim Instead. Meir Panim is a
charity organization which offers realistic
solutions for Israel’s growing poverty
crisis by providing both immediate and
long-term relief to impoverished young
and old.
Through the UJA Federation of
GreaterToronto, which partners with
B’naiTzedek Teen Philanthropy, Lee
perused through 38 charitable causes, all
located in either Toronto or Israel, to find
an organization in line with her desire to
pay goodness forward. She chose Meir
Panim.
“I feel very strongly about helping
people who do not have enough to eat,
especially in a world where many have so
much,” Lee explained to Breaking Israel
News. “I wanted to help the hungry in
Israel so that they can live in our homeland
in a fuller way.”
In order for guests to know Lee’s wishes,
the following note was included in her
invitation along with the details to make
a donation: In honour of my Bat Mitzvah,
I would like to take this opportunity to
help those less fortunate. Meir Panim is a
charitable organization that fights poverty
in Israel. Their aim is to alleviate and
diminish the harmful effects of poverty
on men, women and children, and to help
Israeli families break out of the cycle of
poverty. To reach this goal, I ask that you
please make a charitable donation to The
Lee Nadler Tzedakah Fund.
Lee is the fourth child in the Nadler
family to choose a charity in which to
donate their Bar and Bat Mitzvah gifts.
However, Lee’s father, David Nadler, told
Breaking Israel News that
supporting Meir Panim was a particularly
meaningful experience.
“Part of Lee’s celebration took place
in Israel,” explained Nadler. “My family
volunteered in the Meir Panim Jerusalem
branch free restaurant style soup kitchen
where we got to see first hand where the
donated money went.”
This made a lasting impression on Lee
as well. “What touched me the most
[when working in the restaurant] was that
all the needy are welcomed, no matter
what background. They have a place at a
table and they are served in a respectful
way. Everyone who comes in has their
dignity maintained, restored and even
uplifted,” she said to Breaking Israel News.
Nadler added that everyone in the
family felt that volunteering made them
understand better the plight of poverty
stricken people in Israel. ‘’In Israel, it
was clear that most of the people at the
restaurant were just
regular folk who, for
whatever
reason,
need to get food
from a soup kitchen.
When people talk
about living below
the poverty line,
it is very hard to
understand what that
means. Seeing it first
hand, made a lasting
impression.’’
As part of Meir Panim’s efforts to
treat partons respectfully, diners are
served their meals through volunteers
as opposed to having to wait on line to
receive a hand-out. Arabs, Jews and nonJews are all treated equally. Everyone who
visits is served without being questioned
about why they are there.
The Nadler’s shared that the other
charities who received their children’s gifts
did not provide a first hand experience
for where the money was going. “It was
so special to see the direct result of our
donations and that the money is actually
used in practice as we are told,” he said to
Breaking Israel News.
“There are so many people in need,”
Lee continued to Breaking Israel News.
‘’You look at many of them and might not
even know that they don’t have a place
to live or a meal to count on. This Is eye
opening and gives the work Meir Panim
does greater importance.”
Lee finished sharing her experience to
Breaking Israel News by stating. “I would
really encourage others to donate money
and time to this worthy cause. Whatever
you can contribute goes a long way. You
touch people by helping out and they
know that they are not alone. It makes
you feel like you have made a difference
in someone’s life. This experience will stay
with me forever:
Wise words from a young lady who
seems to have truly come of age.
49
Consulate General of Israel
The Community is invited to attend
Yom Hazikaron
The Official Memorial Ceremony for Israel’s
Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 AT 7:30 PM
Doors open at 6:45 PM
Beth Tzedec Congregation • 1700 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Program in Hebrew and English
The ceremony will be followed by an evening of Israeli songs
Coming together to honor Israel’s fallen
For Generations...
a Trusted Name for Insurance.
Business • Home • Auto • Life • Group
Wishing you a
Happy Passover
50
the canadian jewish news - february 9, 2016 • 30 shvat 5776
Panel on Depression and Suicide ‘Strikes a Chord’
Jodie Shupac, Staff Reporter
The turnout alone for an event at
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation titled
“Depression and Suicide in the Jewish
Community” was quite telling.
Roughly 450 people packed the
synagogue’s main sanctuary Feb. 4 to
listen to a panel of speakers discuss the
causes, symptoms and consequences of
depression and suicide as it manifests
in adolescents, adults and seniors, and
to stress the need as a community to
eradicate the stigma associated with
mental health issues.
“The topic clearly strikes a chord,” said
Molyn Leszcz, psychiatrist-in-chief at
Mount Sinai Hospital and moderator of a
panel that consisted of Danielle Berman,
founder of a campaign to raise awareness
for mental illness and suicide called Ride
Away Stigma; Marshall Korenblum,
psychiatrist-in-chief at Hincks-Dellcrest
Centre for Children and Families; Lesley
Wiesenfeld, deputy psychiatrist-in-chief
at Mount Sinai; and Jonathan Golden,
director of clinical service at Jewish
Family & Child (JF & CS).
Rabbi Noah Cheses of Shaarei
Shomayim told The CJN that the event,
initiated by several congregants from
Shaarei Shomayim and Beth Tzedec
Congregation, was co-ordinated “in
reaction to occurrences that struck and
rattled us.”
He said a number of his congregants
and members of the broader Jewish
community were affected by suicides
that occurred over the summer.
He also referred to an incident last fall
in which a young man who had attended
Camp Ramah and was known by many
of his teenage congregants took his own
life.
“[These
events]
precipitated
conversations, but these weren’t
happening at the Shabbes table. They
were hush hush. So we felt a responsibility
to bring to the forefront a community
conversation and shed light on an area
that’s long been in the shadows,” he said.
The talk was sponsored by the two
synagogues, as well as Camp Ramah, JF &
CS, Mount Sinai, and UJA Federation of
Greater Toronto.
Leszcz gave an introductory address,
emphasizing the need in Canada for a
concentrated effort by communities,
schools, workplaces and governments to
invest in mental health prevention and
treatment.
Governments are falling short, he said,
noting, “Canada should be spending 13 per
cent of its health-care budget on mental
illness, and instead it spends seven, the
lowest among virtually all the world’s
wealthy countries. Yet we know that every
dollar invested in mental health care
returns a fourfold increase in productivity
and lowers health costs.”
Further, while progress has been made in
terms of greater discussion of mental health
issues in the media and popular culture,
Leszcz stressed that a stigma prevails and is
extremely destructive.
“It’s a form of discrimination, and we
know that being an object of discrimination
is poor for mental health,” he said.
Stigma contributes to individuals’
unwillingness to seek treatment, he said,
and the outcome of that can be lethal.
“Suicide takes the lives of 15 out of every
100,000 people in this country and is the
leading cause of death for males between
the ages of 10 and 49… despite advances in
mental health care over the years, suicides
have not declined.”
Leszcz pointed to the risk of depression
going untreated, explaining that each
untreated episode increases the likelihood
of having another one.
Countering
stigma
requires
comprehensive intervention tactics that
address prevention and early recognition
of mental illness, holistic treatments and
maintenance of care, he said.
On the prevention side, for example,
schools can work to create healthier
environments that are more accepting of
diversity,because there’s a toxic connection
between bullying and depression.
“And we need to take pressure off our
Front row, left: Rabbi Chaim Strauchler,
Marshall Korenblum, Lesley Wiesenfeld, and
Danielle Berman; back row, left: Rabbi Baruch
Frydman-Kohl, Rabbi Noah Cheses, Jonathan
Golden and Molyn Leszcz
young folks. Kids need to know they can
be good and successful without being at
the very top [of their class],” Leszcz said.
Workplaces should promote greater
psychological safety, and more advocacy
is needed to increase research and
funding for mental illness.
“Forty years ago, we declared a war on
cancer. We need to do the same now with
mental illness,” he said.
Wiesenfeld
spoke
about
how
depression affects older adults, pointing
to loss, declined physical health and
a sense of being invisible or socially
isolated as common contributors.
It’s important for family members
of older adults to urge loved ones to
seek treatment if they have signs of
depression, she said.
Korenblum addressed what depression
looks like in adolescents, highlighting
its range of causes, symptoms and the
crucial need for accessible treatment
options.
Leszcz told The CJN there’s a strong
possibility the organizers will plan
more events on mental illness in the
community.
He said he hopes the audience’s
biggest takeaway is that the community
should feel a sense of responsibility
every step along the way, “from birth of
a child through development, school,
organizations, synagogue life, etc., to
create psychologically safe environments
that promote strong connections, build
resilience and recognize when help is
needed.”
51
ﬁle:///Users/Marty/Desktop/Marty's%20Pickles%20Pictures/New%20Dills%20Sharei%20Shomayim.svg
52
1/1
53
Family News
from december 5, 2015
We wish Mazal Tov to the following:
to march 26, 2016
Births
RABBI CHAIM and AVITAL STRAUCHLER
on the birth of their nephew, Aharon Noam
Goldfischer, in Teaneck, NJ, and in honour of
Rabbi Strauchler serving as sandek at the
bris.
ALAN and ETTA SUGARMAN on the birth
of a new grandson, Jackson Sam. Proud
parents are Bram Sugarman and Tamara
Green. Proud grandparents are Lisa and
Barry Green and families.
AKYVA and GILA SPIEGEL on the birth of
a son, Arley Zev. Excited grandparents are
REUVEN and DEBBIE SPIEGEL and Leigh
Ann and Cyril Brenman. Excited great
grandparents are HARVEY and YETTA
BRENMAN, Avron and Rochelle Slutsky,
Elaine Medwed and Beatryce Spiegel. Mazal
Tov to all the aunts and uncles as well.
JOHN and HELEN PETO and Paul and Abby
Brumer on the birth of their grandson, Ethan
Robert (Eitan Mordechai), born to David and
Bracha Peto in Los Angeles, CA. Mazal Tov to
all the aunts and uncles as well.
HARRY and SANDRA ARONOWICZ and
Larry and Sandy Martin on the birth of a
grandson, Leo Noam Martin, born to Miriam
Aronowicz and Brent Martin. Thrilled siblings
are Orly and Ezra.
DAVID and CHANTAL ULMER on the birth
of a daughter Dorian. Excited siblings
are Adley, Jaren and Emanuelle. Thrilled
grandparents are JOHN and LORI ULMER
and Tobie and Meira Tugendhaft. Ecstatic
great grandparents are Charlotte Reytan and
Ahuva Tamari.
ELFRIEDA VALE on the birth of a great
grandson, born to Sholom and Elisheva
Posner. Excited grandparents are Richard
and Devorah Vale and Moishe and Nicole
Posner.
DAVID and ELISSA ELHARAR on the birth of
a daughter, Adi. Excited sister is Michal. Proud
grandparents are SHOSHANA ELHARAR and
Marty and Renee Banach. Thrilled uncles and
aunts are Mayer Elharar, and Ryan and Mindi
Banach.
Our Best Wishes
for a
Happy & Healthy
Passover
SUSAN GOLDSTEIN and DODO COHEN on
the birth of great granddaughter Cesi. Proud
parents are Dani and Ariella Goldstein.
Thrilled grandparents are Zev and Shaindy
Goldstein and Brian and Simmi Kleinberg.
COREY and RACHEL LEVMAN on the birth
of a son, Noah. Excited grandparents are
DANNY and ELAINE SHIFF and Howie and
Penni Levman. Ecstatic great grandparents
are DOROTHY SHIFF, Isaac and Basia Jesin
and Molly Silverstein. Mazal Tov to uncles
and aunts: Jeremy, Benji and Sarah Shiff, and
Ryan and Amy Levman.
Just a few of
the reasons why,
“We’ll suit you”.
YOSEF KRINSKY on the birth of a
granddaughter, Ayela Zelda, born to Chayim
Avrohom Tsvi and Bruria Krinsky.
Our prices and incentives will suit you.
GERSHON and HEATHER HURWEN on the
birth of a son, Jake, brother to Noah. Proud
grandparents are DAVID SOCKEN and GALE
BORISON-SOCKEN and Jennifer and Aubrey
Hurwitz of South Africa. Proud uncles are
Allan Socken and Daniel Socken and ecstatic
aunts are Sarah Hurwitz and Michelle Stone.
Our attention to fit, details and
alterations will suit you.
54
Our selection of labels will suit you.
Our staff, their knowledge and service
will suit you.
And the way Tom personally treats you
will more than suit you.
We’ll suit you.
Tom’s Place
Kensington Market
416-596-0297
190 Baldwin Street, Toronto
M-W 10-6 | Th-F 10-7 | Sat 9:30-6 | Sun 12-5
www.toms-place.com
TomsPlaceTO
RICHARD and RENA LEVY and Lou and
Honey Elmaleh on the birth of a grandson,
Amiel Aharon, born to Russell and Miriam
Levy in Ra’anana, Israel. Thrilled siblings are
Gershy, Yehuda, David, Ezra and Adira. All
the aunts, uncles and cousins are ecstatic.
DANIEL HELD and ARIELLE BERGER on
the birth of a daughter, Gavriella. Excited
big sister is Reva. Thrilled grandparents
are Steven and Barbara Held and JOE AND
IDA BERGER. Ecstatic great grandfather is
Sandor Deutsch.
IRVING and SHARON KNOPMAN and Stan
and Marilyn Abel on the birth of a grandson,
Evan Liam, born to Jason and Jolene
Knopman.
MATT REINGOLD and CHANI GREENWALD
on the birth of a daughter, Sloan. Proud
grandparents are Carol Handelman, Jay
Reingold, and Kenny and Reena Greenwald.
Excited great grandparents are Hart and
Clare Rotenberg.
BARRY and NELLY ZAGDANSKI and Barry
and Elaine Kuretzky on the birth of a
grandson, Henry Joseph, born to Joshua and
Jennie Zagdanski. Proud great grandparents
are ERNEST and HELEN SINGER. Excited
siblings are Tamar and Max Weisbrod, Ari
Zagdanski, Joshua and Anndra Kuretzky,
and Peter and Naomi Kuretzky.
JEREMY and HADASSA PERTMAN on the
birth of a daughter, Ayla. Excited big sister
is Sorelle. Proud grandparents are Eli and
Renee Rubinstein of Toronto and Asher and
Sharon Pertman of Edmonton.
JEREMY and JENNIE KELLERSTEIN on the
birth of a daughter, Leah Aliza. Thrilled
siblings are Coby, Shiri and Adina. Proud
grandparents are Sidney and Irene Papernick,
Howard Rothberg, and Fay and Martin
Kellerstein. Excited great grandparents are
PHILIP and HELEN ZUCKER.
RABBI CHAIM and AVITAL STRAUCHLER on
the birth of a nephew, Meor, born to Gershon
and Gaby Strauchler. Excited siblings are
Efrat and Alon. Proud grandparents are
Irving and Roberta Strauchler and Cary and
Elizabeth Glass.
AARON and BETHA LANG on the birth of
a granddaughter, Naava Yael Lang, born to
Yehuda and Esther Lang. Excited siblings are
Hillel, Sara and Maayan.
RACHEL WINEGUST (Jack Winegustz”l), and
Sam and Rita Eisenberg on the birth of a
great granddaughter, Chanina Sarah, born to
Moshe and Tamara Lakser. Excited big sister
is Nicole Josephine. Proud grandparents
are Fred and Rena Winegust and Harry and
Leona Lakser.
MINDY GREEN on the birth of a great
granddaughter, Shayna Perl, born to Rabbi
Elazar and Shira Green of Lancaster, PA.
Excited siblings are Estee, Divi, Menachem
Mendel and Miriam.
LORRAINE and Larryz”l NATHANSON
and IRVING and Lilz”l REISS on the birth
of a great grandson, Yoel Asher, born to
Shua and Aylana Mandel of Israel. Excited
grandparents are ALLAN and GRETA REISS
of Thornhill, and Steven and Marlene Mandel
of Chicago. Delighted big sister is Lia Rachel.
BARBIE COHEN and Marlene and Larry
Green on the birth of a granddaughter,
Samantha Riley, born to Melanie and David
Green. Excited great grandfather is RALPH
ETIGSON. Thrilled siblings are Shoshana and
Sheldon, Melissa, Josh, and Caryn. Mazal tov
to all the cousins.
ROZ FINE, John and Ellie Wright, and Alan
Fine on the birth of a granddaughter, Megan,
born to Brett and Katie Fine.
MIRIAM ROSENTHAL on the birth of a great
granddaughter.
GERALD
HOLLINGER
and
PHYLLIS
WISEMAN and Rabbi Shmuel and Simcha
State on the birth of a grandson, Yitzchak
Zev, born to Rabbi Robin (Chaim) and Sara
Shifra Hollinger. Proud siblings are Yoseph
Shlomo, Yisachar David, and Yehoshua Leib.
bris milah
BRIAN and RACHEL JACOBS on the bris of
their son, Max Barnett Simcha (Moshe
Dov Simcha). Excited sister is Samara.
Thrilled grandparents are Ernie and Bonnie
Singer, and Ron and Gloria Jacobs.
bar / bat mitzvah
IAN and HEATHER RINGEL on the bar
mitzvah of their son, JACOB. Proud
grandmother is Lorraine Ringel.
MYRA MECHANIC on the bat mitzvah in
Israel of her granddaughter Channa Rifka
Swirsky, daughter of Jason and the late
Rachel Swirskyz”l, and great granddaughter
of CYNTHIA GASNER. Excited aunt and
uncle are MEYER MECHANIC and DEBORAH
MECHANIC.
CHAIM BELL and SHARON CHODIRKER
on the bar mitzvah of their son, Zev Bell.
Excited siblings are Samara, Talia, and Galit.
Proud grandparents are OLIVE and the
late WILLIAM BELLz”l, and Rachelle and Bill
Chodirker.
55
LARRY and SARAH KRAUSS on the bat
mitzvah of their daughter, AVIYA. Excited
brothers are Noteh, Hudi and Elisha. Thrilled
grandparents are Joe and Helen Casse and
Kato Krauss.
DOV and BONNIE BEGUN on the bar mitzvah
of their son, ISAAC SAM. Mazal tov to the
entire family, especially, YAKIRA, TAMAR,
and ADIN, and proud grandparents, Janice
and Howard Langer, Debby Begun and the
late Irving Isaac Begunz”l.
engagements
SHELDON and LORI DISENHOUSE on the
engagement of their son JOSHUA to TALI
SILBERMAN, daughter of Iris and Henry
Silberman. Thrilled siblings are Sari, Yael
and Michael, Eitan and Yael, and Tamir
and Emma. Proud grandparents are Malka
Nachumovitch and Richard and Dora
Silberman. Super excited nieces are Emily
and Maeva.
KENNETH and ORITTE NOVACK on the
engagement of their son, JORDAN to
JORDANA KASHIN, daughter of Brian and
Alison Kashin. Proud grandparents are
MIRIAM MOZES, Diane Novack, Marion and
Ron Kashin, June and David Davis. Thrilled
siblings are DANIEL NOVACK serving in the
IDF Kafir Brigade, COREY NOVACK, and
Andrew Kashin.
DAVID SOCKEN and GALE BORISONSOCKEN on the engagement of their son,
ALLAN to MICHELLE STONE, daughter of
Howard Stone and Shelley ZimmermanStone. Thrilled siblings are: HEATHER and
GERSHON HURWEN, Daniel Socken, Tanya
Stone and Matthew Solomon, and Joshua
Elliott and Samantha Stone. Super excited
nephews are Jake and Noah Hurwen.
SAM and SHELLY MOSKOWITZ on the
engagement of their daughter, AMANDA to
JASON ROSEN, son of Matt Rosen and Joyce
Bennett Rosen. Thrilled siblings are Brian,
Natalie, and Josh Moskowitz, and Jessica
and Jaclyn Rosen. Excited grandparents
are Irving Reisman, and Edward and Gilda
Bennett. Proud uncle is Stanley Reisman.
RALPH and VICKY LEVINE on the
engagement of their granddaughter,
Ariella Schwebel to Heshy Bauer of
New York. Thrilled parents are Rabbi Shmuli
and Deena Schwebel and Bentzy and Goldie
Bauer.
marriages
MICKEY and AURELIA OSTRO on the
marriage of their son, JONATHAN to TSIONA
TASPAY, daughter of Tzila and Shalom
Taspay of Kiryat Gat. Thrilled grandmother is
CELIA OSTRO. Delighted siblings are Daniel
and Reena Ostro, Eitan Ostro, Shalom, Nava,
Smadar, and Bracha Taspay. Excited nephews
are Adriel and Aiden Ostro.
BRENDA and BRIAN LASS on the marriage
of their daughter MELISSA to ROSS LINKER,
son of Paul and Michal Linker. Proud
grandparents are CYNTHIA GASNER, Mervin
and Myrna Lass, Shaul and Elisheva Kilion.
Excited brother and sisters are JORDAN and
SARA LASS, SHIRA LASS, and Wallis Linker.
JEFFREY LIPTON and ELLEN WARNER on
the marriage of their son EIRAN , to ROCKY
LIPSKY, daughter of Roz Feder and Marvin
Lipsky. Proud siblings are SAR, NECHAMA,
and YOSSI LIPTON. Thrilled grandparents
are Sam Warner and Ella Lipsky.
DAN and GLORIA ZWICKER on the
engagement of their daughter, CANDACE
to ARI UNROTH, son of Harold and Laureen
Unroth. Mazal tov to all the siblings.
YOSEF KRINKSKY on the engagement of
his daughter, HADASSA BROCHA, to IDF
Lieutenant Shaked Levi-Carmel, son of Ziv
and Lilach Levi-Carmel of Kibbutz Tirat Zvi.
MICHAEL and FRANCINE GOLDRICH on
the engagement of their son, YAAKOV to
TAMARA ELITUV, daughter of Randi and
Nadav Elituv. Thrilled grandparents are
PEARL GOLDRICH, David Alloul, Norman and
Maureen Feder, and Esther Goldberg. Elated
siblings are Yechiel and Lana Bobrowsky,
KAYLA and JOSH BERNICK, SHIMON
GOLDRICH, Meira Elituv, Uriel and Hayley
Elituv, and Noam Elituv. Excited niece and
nephews are Naomi, Ari and Max Bobrowsky.
56
BRIAN and ROBBIE SCHWARTZ on the
marriage of their daughter, SHIRA to
NESANEL GREENBERG, son of Gerry and
Madelaine Greenberg. Excited siblings are
RABBI SHMUEL AND ELANA SOROKA,
Rabbi Ryan and Naomi Spodek, Moshe and
Maya Schwartz, Binyamin and Michaella
Rapaport, Elisha and Shifra Greenberg,
Aryeh and Rahma Bloom, and Immanuel and
Gemma Greenberg. Thrilled grandparents
are Mozel Kanner and Lyla Schwartz.
anniversaries and birthdays
Mazal Tov to IAN and TOBE TWEYMAN on
their 45th wedding anniversary.
Mazal Tov to RALPH ETIGSON on his 100th
birthday! Good health and happiness to a
special and wise father, grandfather and
great-grandfather.
Mazal Tov to JERRY GENESOVE on his 85th
birthday!
special announcements
Mazal Tov to JACQUELINE CRAIG, currently
at Queen’s University, for winning the William
Young Award for Academic Achievement,
Leadership Skills and Involvement in School
Activities.
Mazal Tov to TOM MOOS upon being one of
the first thirteen graduates of the inaugural
Kashruth Council of Canada-COR, Liaison
College and Restaurants Canada Mashgiach
Supervision Course in Kashruth Training and
National Food Safety in North America.
Congratulations to the Shaarei Shomayim
Half-Marathon Team which participated
in the Chai Lifelife Half Marathon in Miami
to support the efforts of Chai Lifeline. The
team raised over $66,000 for Jewish kids
in Toronto with cancer and other special
needs to attend Camp Simcha. Thank you to
all those who contributed and partnered to
make this happen: Rabbi Cheses, Naomi
Mansell, Lisa Switzman, Susan Osher,
Dalia Yunger, Rachel Wald, Yael
Katzman, Sophia Spiro, Emily Hershtal,
Ilana Levovski, Avital Sandler, Akiva
Sandler, Josh Mangerel, and Yummy
Schachter.
Mazal Tov to Dr. David Herbert, son of Dr.
Paul Herbert, who has won a University of
Manitoba Faculty of Science Interdisciplinary/
New Directions Research Collaboration
Initiation Grant to study the functionalization
of silicon microwire arrays for chemical
production using renewable energy sources.
condolences to
Family of RENEE COHENz”l on her passing.
LILLIAN COOPER and her children, Fern,
Sharon, and Stephen on the passing of their
husband and father, BERNARD COOPERz”l.
HELEN FRIEDMAN and family on the passing
of Helen’s husband, JACK FRIEDMANz”l.
HONOUR THE MEMORY
OF YOUR LOVED ONES
BY DEDICATING A
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
ELAN PRATZER and MALKA LEWITTES,
Aviva and Matt Renick, Rabbi Noam Pratzer,
and Ariella Pratzer on the passing of their
father, father-in-law, and grandfather, Isy
Pratzerz”l.
OR A LEAF ON OUR
TREE OF LIFE
REBECCA LAUFER and family on the passing
of Rebecca’s husband, SID LAUFERz”l.
Arthur, Barry (Cindy), Glenda Stein, Blanche
Licthen, Fay (Al) Sandler and David
Silverhart on the passing of their mother and
sister, RUTH STEINz”l.
LIDDY BECK and STEVE GOTTESMAN, and
their children, Elizabeth, Sophie, Jonathan,
and Madeleine on the passing of their father,
father-in-law and grandfather, H. Thomas
Beckz”l.
NEIL and JORDANA SMILEY, Jared and Erin
Smiley, Fern Smiley, Rabbi Mark Smilovic
Smiley and Aviva Silverman on the passing of
their father and grandfather Sam Smilovicz”l.
FOR DETAILS,
PLEASE EMAIL NICOLE AT
[email protected]
YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov of Toronto
Evening of Tribute
Honouring:
Alan Litwack
Steve Roth
Keynote speaker: Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff
Judaic Studies Faculty, Stern College for Women
and author of JEW GOT QUESTIONS
Farewell to our graduating Avreichim:
Rabbi David Ely Grundland
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Rosenzweig
WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
470 Glencairn Avenue
For more information call 416-783-6960
57
professionally we serve
specializing in pre-arrangements
905-881-6003 | www.steeles.org
professionally we care
58
59
Dates to Remember
470 Glencairn Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5N 1V8
Telephone (416) 789-3213 • Fax (416) 789-1728
www.shomayim.org • E-mail [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday..............................................8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday......................................................................... 8:30am - 2:00pm
Shabbat, Sunday.........................................................................Closed
WHO’S WHO
Rabbi...........................................................................Chaim Strauchler
Assistant Rabbi............................................................... Noah Cheses
Shamash / Baal Koreh..................................................Ralph Levine
Cantor.................................................................................. Zvi Katzman
Rabbi, Downstairs Minyan..................................... Elliott Diamond
President............................................................................Joyce Eklove
Executive Director................................................... Nicole Toledano
Youth Director...............................................................Jacob Posluns
Bulletin Contributor...............................................Lawrence Savlov
DONATIONS
Capital Fund.........................................................................$18 and up
Library Fund.........................................................................$18 and up
Philip Zucker Torah Fund.................................................$18 and up
Phillip Wintrob Youth Fund............................................$18 and up
Rabbi’s Charity Fund.........................................................$18 and up
Volunteer Appreciation Fund........................................$18 and up
Beit Medrash Book Fund................................................$36 and up
Chessed Fund......................................................................$36 and up
Memorial Plaques..........................................................................$400
Tree of Life: Leaf.......................................................................... $1,800
Tree of Life: Stone...................................................................... $5,400
SPONSORSHIPS
Regular Shabbat Kiddush.........................................................$780*
Shabbat Mevorchim Kiddush.................................................$1,100*
Downstairs Minyan Kiddush.......................................................$275
Hashkama Minyan Kiddush.......................................................$200
Seudah Shlishit...............................................................................$200
Teen Minyan Kiddush...................................................................$200
Chessed Fund Sponsor a Meal.................................................... $72
Flowers for the Sanctuary.............................call for more details
Youth Kiddush....................................................................................$54
Weekday Breakfast: per day........................................................ $72
Weekday Breakfast: per week.................................................. $250
*Partial sponsorships available........................... starting at $195
To make a donation or arrange for a sponsorship, please call
the shul office or go to www.shomayim.org. Tax receipts will
be issued.
ENDOWMENTS
Endowment funds can be set up to suit your individual
requirements. For further information, please contact the
shul office.
may 4
Community Yom HaShoah Ceremony
may 5
Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day
may 6-7
Netivot Shabbaton
may 10
Yom HaZikaron Official Memorial Ceremony
at Beth Tzedec Congregation
may 11
Yom HaZikaron – Israel Remembrance Day
may 11
Mizrachi Canada Community Yom HaZikaron and
Yom Ha’Atzmaut Commemoration and Celebration
may 12
may 13-14
may 14
Yom Ha’Atzmaut – Israel Independence Day
Shabbat Itanu Scholar-in-Residence
Justice Richard Bernstein
Shabbat Itanu Panel Discussion:
Human Dignity, Disability, Jewish Values and Community
may 15Yeshiva University Kollel Midreshet Yom Rishon
may 16Medical Halacha with Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner:
Treating the Enemy
may 17Taste of Israel: Dessert Reception and Art Market
may 21Todah to the Leadership of the Youth Program
may 26Lag B’Omer
may 28March of the Living Shabbat
may 30Legal Ethics with Rabbi Torczyner:
Access to Justice – Pro Bono vs Quid Pro Quo
june 4
Pray & Learn with Dr. Elliott Malamet
june 5Yom Yerushalayim
june 11Youth Leadership, Grad Shabbat and Shinshinim Kiddush
june 11Erev Shavuot / Tikkun Layl Shavuot
june 12
1st Day Shavuot
june 13
2nd Day Shavuot - Yizkor Service
june 15Bnei Akiva Graduation
june 16Tiferes Bais Yaakov Graduation
june 21Netivot Graduation
june 24-25Scholar-in-Residence – Rabbi Azarya Berzon
july 13Summer Biography Series Lecture by Gerald Ziedenberg:
Natan Sharansky
Vasily Grossman
july 24Fast of Tammuz (postponed from July 23)
Janus Korczak
Aug. 3Summer Biography Series Lecture by Gerald Ziedenberg:
Yoni Netanyahu
Dr. Jonas Salk
Aug. 14Fast of Tisha B’Av (postponed from August 13)
Menachem Begin
Sept. 5Labour Day

Spring/Summer 2016

Transcription

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