Come to our Hip and Haymishe Havdallah!  
 
This end-of-Shabbat celebration is being hosted by Daniela Gesundheit (our Chazzan and music director) and Dan Goldman.  

Come to their home in the Kensington Market area for music, food and shmoozing. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 @ 6 P.M.

More details to follow.

invites you to join us at our innovative, egalitarian and Shabbat Service

Saturday, March 3^rd, 2012 @ 10:30 a.m.

(Pre) Purim Shabbat

Celebrate Purim through song and story at our family-friendly March service, co-led by our chazzan, Daniela Gesundheit and long-time Shir Libeynu member, Eden Nameri.

Wear a costume and be prepared for music, merriment and the whole megillah.  

Get a head start on Purim laughs with Laughter Yoga, led by Helen Bauer, prior to our service on Saturday March 3^rd at 9:30 a.m. in Room 218 at the MNJCC.

Please bring a yoga mat or towel.

 FREE CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE DURING THE SERVICE.

A KIDDUSH LUNCH IS SERVED AT NOON.

Our Shabbat Services take place at:

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
750 Spadina Avenue @ Bloor and Spadina
(across from Spadina Station)
in the Michael Bernstein Chapel on the 3^rd floor

Other Upcoming Shabbat Services

Pesach Shabbat – Saturday, April 14^th

This last-day-of-Pesach service will include Yiskor, the memorial service traditionally held on this day. Please note that this service is being held in the middle of the month; there will be no service on April 8^th. 

Our services usually take place on the first Saturday of the month @10:30 a.m.

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

750 Spadina Avenue @ Bloor and Spadina

(across from Spadina Station)

in the Michael Bernstein Chapel on the 3^rd Floor

A kiddush lunch is served at noon.

Free childcare is available during each service.

For more programming at Shir Libeynu, check out Shir Libeynu All Year Long

In November 2009, the Shir Libeynu Fund was established. Proceeds from the fund go towards ensuring that Shir Libeynu continues to thrive while ensuring access to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. We hope that by establishing this fund, we will be able offer more to our members while also strengthening the ties between us all.

Click here to donate to the Shir Libeynu Fund (please note that we do not have credit card capability – just PayPal).

Alternatively, you can make out a cheque to Congregation Shir Libeynu (please write “Shir Libeynu Fund” in the “Memo” or “”Re” section on the cheque) and mail it to Congregation Shir Libeynu, P.O. Box 62, Station P, Toronto ON, M5S 2S6. Please send an email message to shirlibeynu@yahoo.ca stating the reason for your donation so we can acknowledge it in the Shabbat handout and on our website. Donations in any amount are welcome and income tax receipts will be issued.

We thank the following people for their donations to our congregation since September, 2011/5772:

IN MEMORIAM

Roberta Benson & Miriam, Jacob and Aviva Kaufman, In honour and in memory of Rita Friendly Kaufman

Marla Bond, In memory of Jerry Stessel

Simone Brightstein and Eden Nameri, In memory of Oscar Wolfman

Lovaine & Drew Cohen, In memory of Myra Cohen

Dianne Cullen, In memory of Bert and Vivienne Gruskin

Sonia Danzig, In memory of Boris Schneider

Harriet Eisenkraft, In memory of her sweet-hearted brother, Gary Eisenkraft, whose yahrtzeit we are commemorating at today’s service; died Dec. 20, 2004.

Harriet Eisenkraft and Gary Klein, In memory of Oscar Wolfman

Stephen & Barbara Forman, In memory of Rose Diamond

Harriet Friedmann, In memory of Shira Hannah (Shelley) Duke

Francine Gillis, In memory of Leo Herskowitz, her father

Tara Goldstein &, Audrey Lowitz, In memory of Sharon Rosenberg

Patti Kirk & Bill Elleker, In memory of Laura and Jack Kirk

Cecile Lapowich, In memory of Sam and Rose Lapowich

Gail Mentlik, In memory of Oscar Wolfman

David Milgram, In memory of Sylvia and Lou Milgram

Alice Newman, In memory of Jeannette S. Newman

Ron Rosenes, In memory of Bertha Astman (Meisel)

Dorothy Rusoff, In memory of her mother, Cecil Waldman

Wendy Reiner, In memory of Ruth and Julius Schneider

Michael Rothfeld & Erica Shuttleworth, In honour and in memory of Jack & Selma Rothfeld

Bonnie and Brian Smith, In memory of Ruth Silver, mother of their brother-in-law Arnold Silver

Sonia Schwartz, In memory of Harry Schwartz

Jenny Stimac & David Orenstein, In memory of Val Deitch

Adolf and Irene Wolfman, In memory of Oscar Wolfman

Paula Wolfson, In honour and in memory of David and Malka Wolfson

Jordan Worth, In memory of Earl Worth

HONOURS

S. Bear Bergman & J. Wallace, In honour of Oscar Wolfman

Barbara Center, In gratitude to Shir Libeynu

Arnell Goldberg & Judith Ross, In honour of Eden Nameri, Arnell’s daughter

Leah Richards & Brian Pearson, In honour of Alfred Richards

Jonathan Silin & David Townsend, A gift in this season to our Toronto family

IN HONOUR OF HARRIET EISENKRAFT’S RECENT BIRTHDAY

Simone Brightstein;Kim Bruce; Eden Nameri; Sandi & Steve Lash; Liora & Richard Salter; Dinah Rosen, Aviva Goldberg & family; Helen Sussman

MAZEL TOV AND MANY THANKS TO HARRIET EISENKRAFT

Eden Nameri, For becoming President of Shir Libeynu

IN HONOUR OF LORNE BLUMER’S BIRTHDAY

Eden Nameri, In honour of the 50^th birthday of Lorne Blumer, whose unique way of seeing the world keeps him young.

TO SHIR LIBEYNU

Gita Schwartz

Although Shir Libeynu has researched PayPal’s reliability, we cannot guarantee its security. Use at your own risk. When using PayPal here or anywhere else, please make sure you are on the genuine PayPal site. If you receive an email that says it is from PayPal, the safest course of action is to log on to the webpage https://www.paypal.com and see if PayPal has any message for you instead of clicking on the link provided.

HONOURS (i.e., bar/bat mitzvahs, birthdays, achievements, thanks, wishes of good health)

For publication in our hand out and on our website:

·         Name of honouree

·         Occasion (if any)

·         Your name

·         Honouree’s relationship to you

·         Descriptive details you wish to add (may be edited)

For private notification of honouree and for mailing of tax receipt:

·         Name and email address of honouree

·         Your name, email address and mailing address

OR

IN MEMORIAM (i.e. recent deaths; yarzheits)

·         Name of deceased

·         Date of death

·         Your name

·         Relationship to you

·         Descriptive details you wish to add (may be edited)

For private notification of family or friends and for mailing of tax receipt:

·         Name and email address of deceased’s family or friends

·         Your name, email address and mailing address

Unless you indicate otherwise, some of this information will appear on our website and in the handout at an upcoming Shabbat service and may also appear in our e-update. The amount donated is not published. Please let us know if you would prefer to remain anonymous or do not want certain details disclosed.

The evening began with kids’ activities run by madrichot (counsellors) from Camp Gesher. Two dozen children, ranging in age from toddlers to pre-teens, made Chanukah-themed fridge magnets, decorated cookies and heard Chanukah tales.

Our dairy buffet featured heaps of crispy latkes from Free Times Cafe. People caught up with old friends and made new ones while debating the virtues of apple sauce (homemade!) over sour cream as a latke topping.

Words of welcome and thanks were delivered by Justine Apple, executive director of Kulanu Toronto (and now a new Shir Libeynu board member) and Eden Nameri, president of Congregation Shir Libeynu. Eden then told Isaac Bashevis Singer’s story “The First Shlemiel,” which, like all tales set in the legendary village of Chelm, provoked much laughter.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by The Jewstice League and friends: band members Elise Eisenkraft Klein and Jesse Guttman, with Mitch Willer on piano and Nico Contreras on accordion. This cutting-edge folk group brought Yiddish culture to life for us. Their fresh take on a half-dozen Klezmer tunes inspired singing, clapping and much dancing between the tables. Such enthusiasm merited a longer set but as it was, Jesse missed the beginning of his own Chanukah party to come play for us, so they left us wanting more. We look forward to having them back soon.

(All photos by Daniel Eisenkraft Klein)

The children gathered around the many chanukiot people brought from home,* and, led by Terry Maiden, said the blessings and lit the candles. We sang Chanukah songs, accompanied by Elise on her violin.

(All photos by Daniel Eisenkraft Klein)

Our dessert table included hundreds of Amy Herskowitz’s famous homemade rugelach (a traditional Chanukah treat) and trays of Jason Gold’s crack — wickedly good chocolate and caramel brittle decorated with thematic blue and white sprinkles. Our younger attendees (and a few older ones too) received dreidels and Chanukah gelt as they left for home.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our third night of Chanukah such a warm and festive evening.

*If you left behind an iron, harp-shaped chanukiah, please let us know. It is safe and sound and waiting to be reclaimed by its owner.

On December 11, 2011, Shir Libeynu held an information session and discussion on the Jewish way of death and dying. About 40 people attended, and listened to our speakers, heard from various members about their own experiences as mourners in the past, and discussed possible plans for the future.

Aviva Goldberg conveyed the rites, rituals and responsibilities inherent in the process. This included information about the care of the deceased, funerals and shivas.  She also discussed what we as a community can do to help grieving family members and friends, including attending and participating in shivas and sending condolences.  We discussed the concept of chesed shel emes, or the ultimate good deeds, as those who perform them can never be repaid for their kindness, or thanked in the cases of tahara (washing and dressing of the body) and shemira (watching over the deceased).

Several people relayed their poignant memories of how gracious and appropriate support from their communities, including Shir Libeynu, made a difference, after their loved ones died.  Then Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, of Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel, gave us information about the services that her Jewish mortuary provides, and some protocol issues around burial.  We also heard about the various burial options available inTorontofor the array of needs we face: for both Jewish and interfaith couples, whether straight or same sex, and those who wish a cremation. We discussed the many needs in the community and how we can support each other, as well as the possibility of our buying a funeral plot allotment as a group.

As a result, and due to the response of our members there, and afterwards, Shir Libeynu is forming a mutual care group which will encompass the following components:

Bikur Cholim (visiting the ill), which will help members of the community in need during sickness, including but not exclusive to the palliative state;

Chesed (loving kindness, sometimes called gemilut hasadim), which will help members of the community during their mourning process, including aid during funeral planning and shivas (participation in Kaddish services*, arranging food and other care for the bereaved);

Chevra Kadisha (sacred society), which will deal with the rituals around care of the deceased, including the tahara* (washing and dressing of the body) and shemira *(watching over the body until the funeral);

Burial Plots Allotment: Several members of our community, including our treasurer, Zev Frishman, will look into the costs and other logistics involved in procuring burial plots for our congregation inToronto.

We invite members of Shir Libeynu to get involved in one or more components of our mutual care group by sending in your contact info,  telling us to which initiatives you wish to contribute your time and skills in the future.  NOTE: because of the serious nature of the issues around illness, death and mourning, and in order to ensure that our members are supported during their times of need, we will be asking for a definite commitment of volunteer time,  as well as attendance at orientation workshops.  Those components marked with an asterisk (*) will also require training sessions.

There are many ways to contribute as a volunteer to Shir Libeynu.  Serving in groups that help with the dead and dying and their loved ones, as well as those who are ill, either temporarily or during their final days, is not for everyone. If you feel that this kind of volunteer service calls you, write to us at shirlibeynu@yahoo.ca, with “Mutual Aid” in the subject line, and be specific with your information, please (i.e. I am interested in the Chesed component, particularly in leading Kaddish. I can commit to three hours a month).

On December 11^th, right after our AGM, starting at 2:30 pm, Shir Libeynu will be holding an information session and discussion on our community’s approach to death and its rituals and the options available to us. Aviva Goldberg will speak alongside other members of the Toronto community who have experience in these matters. We will also explore the possibility of forming a chevra kadisha (burial society to support members of our community during their bereavement process)

Shir Libeynu All Year Long

 Shabbat Morning Services

(Usually) The First Saturday Morning of the Month at 10:30 a.m. 

Michael Bernstein Chapel in the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

750 Spadina Avenue (Bloor and Spadina)

Kiddush will follow in the boardroom immediately after each service.

Child care will be available during services.

Upcoming Shabbat Services

2012

(Pre) Purim Shabbat – March 3^rd

Celebrate Purim through song and story at our family-friendly March service, co-led by our chazzan, Daniela Gesundheit and long-time Shir Libeynu member, Eden Nameri. Wear a costume and be prepared for music, merriment and the whole megillah.

Get a head start on Purim laughs with Laughter Yoga, led by Helen Bauer, prior to our service on Saturday March 3^rd at 9:30 a.m. in Room 218 at the MNJCC. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.

Pesach Shabbat – April 14^th 

This last-day-of-Pesach service will include Yiskor, the memorial service traditionally held on this day. Please note that this service is being held in the middle of the month; there will be no service on April 8^th. 

Stay tuned for further details on 2012 spring and summer services:

May 5^th • June 2^nd • July 7^th • August 4^th • September 1^st

Keep Checking for More Information About….

Erev Shabbat Dinners ♦ Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop ♦ Holiday Celebrations ♦ Aviva’s Educational Events ♦ Musical Offerings with Daniela ♦ Children’s Programs ♦ Cultural Happenings 

To volunteer to organize or host an event, send an e-mail to shirlibeynu@yahoo.ca or give us a call at (416) 465-5488. We would love to discuss the possibilities with you.

Congregation Shir Libeynu, P.O. Box 62, Station P, Toronto, Ontario, M4J 5C1

(416) 465-5488 ● shirlibeynu@yahoo.ca ● www.shirlibeynu.ca