Shir Libeynu held a special screening of

Terezin, I Love You,

with filmmaker Ethan Schiff

When 25-year-old videographer Ethan Schiff set out for the Czech Republic with his family last summer, his intention was to make a film about his grandparents’ experience at the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust. His grandmother, Vera Schiff, had met his late grandfather there in the 1940s and the story of their romance and their subsequent survival and arrival in Canada after the war was supposed to form the nucleus of his movie, “Terezin, I Love You.” And Ethan, now 26 years old, with several films to his name, and about to enter law school next September, did make that movie. However, along the journey of retracing his family’s history, they encountered intergenerational conflict over politics, religion and multiculturalism.

This is the film that Ethan is now entering in festivals around the country. It examines Vera’s personal story along with her family’s feelings about the questionable ethics of modern day tourism, the concentration camp’s preservation as a memorial and the difficulties with returning to a home that is reminiscent of tragedy. The film also explores Ethan’s feelings of alienation from the events of the Holocaust and the inability to connect on the same emotional level as his elders.

Shir Libeynu was pleased to be the first congregation in the world to screen this 23-minute film, with Ethan Schiff there to introduce it and answer questions afterwards. 

Look for “Terezin, I Love You” on Facebook and IMDb.

If you would like a copy of the film, or the other version (more a personal family history), or both:

Send a cheque: (1 copy for $15 and 2 copies for $25):

Ethan Schiff
5 Kenneth Ave. Apt. 507
Toronto, ON
M2N6M7

Please specify your address where you wish the DVD(s) shipped, how many copies wanted and also your preference for which version of the film you wish to buy.

If you have questions, e-mail Ethan at ethanschiff@gmail.com.

]]> http://shirlibeynu.ca/2012/05/07/special-screening-of-the-film-terezin-i-love-you-may-5th-115-pm/feed/ 0 http://shirlibeynu.ca/2012/04/29/oscar-wolfman-1956-2011/ http://shirlibeynu.ca/2012/04/29/oscar-wolfman-1956-2011/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:45:25 +0000 shirlibeynu http://shirlibeynu.ca/?p=4143 Oscar Wolfman

Later in the evening, Daniela led a beautiful Havadallah service. I loved how she explained the purpose of Havdallah and the meaning behind the braided candle and spices. Providing us with transliterated prayers ensured that everyone, no matter their level of Jewish observance or Hebrew, could get involved. Giving us shakers and tambourines to use during the service was a lovely way to encourage more of us to participate. All in all, it was a lovely, heimishe evening filled with good people, good food, and great prayer. Maria and I look forward to the next one!

(Justine Apple, Board Member, Shir Libeynu)

Our Monthly Services Take Place

 On The First Saturday Morning of the Month

10:30 a.m.

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

750 Spadina Avenue @ Bloor and Spadina

(across from Spadina Station)

CHILD CARE AVAILABLE DURING SERVICES

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

750 Spadina Avenue @ Bloor and Spadina

(across from Spadina Station)

Congregation Shir Libeynu will be well-represented at this year’s night-long celebration of learning. Our leader, Dr. Aviva Goldberg, will be presenting “The Art of Midrash: A Photographer’s Queer Perspective.” This workshop will examine and critique contemporary Midrash as expressed through selected works of our late member, Oscar Wolfman. Oscar’s Midrashic photographs present a unique and important contemporary perspective building upon and adding to classical Rabbinic, feminist and Queer Jewish commentary.

Other presenters from our congregation are long-time members Charlie Lior and Eden Nameri. Charlie’s session, “Where Is Hillel the Elder Now That We Really Need Him?”, will draw on the work of Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Hillel, If Not Now When, and will begin a discussion about if and how Hillel’s message can speak to us inToronto today.

Eden’s session, “Shavuot Poetry/Story Slam: Stories of Sexuality and Survival,” will include her retelling of the story of Ruth, a stranger and a widow trying to survive in a world full of assumptions about women’s sexuality and security. There will be an open mic segment, so please let us know if you would like to share your own stories and poems related to Ruth and Naomi or other themes of Shavuot.

Please stay tuned for further details of this FREE event, including scheduling and activities for children and teens.

The whole megillah and then some.

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

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

Our family-friendly Shabbat service, was co-led by our chazzan, Daniela Gesundheit and long-time Shir Libeynu member, Eden Nameri and featured our choir, who celebrated Purim through story and song.

The Purim Celebration featured:

* The entire Story of Esther including booing you-know-who

* Kids in child care made owngroggers for the Megillah

* Morning merriment began with Laughter Yoga at 9:30 a.m.

* Homemade hamentashen at our Kiddush

* Our congregants in costume

Our Pre-Purim Service was dedicated to Women of Courage, Past and Present

Personal videotaped thank you message from Anat Hoffman, founder of WoW.

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.