In this Newsletter:
. Condolences to Erin Claman, Natalie & Mark Wallach and Family
. Speaker Series January 17: Dr. Mira Sucharov on Borders & Belonging
. Link to Daniela’s December 20 Concert
. Welcome to our New Administrator, Lillian Radosevic
. Community News
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Dear Members,
Welcome to a new year. We hope 2021 will usher in a new era in curbing the pandemic and returning to a new and different “normal,” a world touched and reconsidered by the ravages of the past year.
The board is looking forward to working with our new members Ellie Goldenberg and Rebecca Sugarman. With more people we hope to continue the work begun last year to build up our congregation. We have welcomed back members who have been away, been approached by several new families about membership and are always grateful for those of you who have continued to attend our services and other offerings.
Thanks to everyone who made last Saturday’s service beautiful and meaningful—Rabbi Dara Lithwick, Shabbat Chazzan Paula Wolfson, Penny Winestock and Lorne Gould, Zev Frishman and Jamie Flagal. Thanks, too, to Lorne Blumer for helping us catch our breath before the service. It was wonderful to see our B’nei Mitzvah teacher, Yonah Sienna, and families with children participating. If you missed the service or would like to view it again, click here.
We are pleased to provide you with the link to Daniela Gesundheit’s concert on December 20 after the AGM. Thank you, Daniela, for sharing it with members and for donating proceeds of the sale of your album to Shir Libeynu members back to the congregation. We appreciate you so much! To find out more about Daniela’s album, visit https://www.alphabetofwrongdoing.com
The board is continuing to search for a permanent rabbi. We received applications from many qualified candidates and will be interviewing four applicants in the coming weeks. We will keep you informed about the process through this newsletter.
We are also considering changing the newsletter back to once a month as it is a lot of work to issue it biweekly. If you would like to help with writing and editing, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
Our traditions sustain us and, perhaps, give us the ability to keep going, to make our lives meaningful. Marcia Falk writes in her Book of Blessings, “Recalling the generations, we weave our lives into the tradition. As we bless the source of life, so we are blessed.” We are blessed with the traditions we carry forward, and by the way in which our traditions allow us to create and innovate. In the midst of the pandemic, we are reimagining and reinventing so many aspects of our lives and communities. We are creating new traditions.
Health and strength,
Board of Directors
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We offer our deepest condolences to long-time congregant and friend, Erin Claman, whose father, Dr. Sheldon Claman, passed away on December 19, 2020 in Winnipeg. He was the father of Erin, Sara, Jeffery and Benny, who predeceased him. He was married to Louise for 56 years. May his memory be a blessing.
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Sara Wallach, the beloved mother and mother-in-law of Mark and Natalie Wallach, died on Thursday, January 7, 2021, in Toronto. We send our sincere condolences to Mark and Natalie, their sons and daughters-in-law David and Erin and Daniel and Lea, and to the entire family. May the memory of this dear mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother be a blessing.
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Dr. Mira Sucharov
Sunday, January 17, 10:30 am
To participate in virtual offerings, you need to have a Zoom account and register. See our website for more details.
Our Speaker Series resumes on Sunday, January 17, 2021, at 10:30 am, with Dr. Mira Sucharov, Professor of Political Science and University Chair of Teaching Innovation at Carleton University. She will be speaking about her most recent book, Borders and Belonging: A Memoir (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020)—a gripping and honest account of Mira’s search for a political and emotional home.
Mira’s parents divorced when she was five years old, triggering phobias and panic attacks. Jewish summer camp provided an emotional refuge, but the three years Mira spent living in Israel in her twenties shook her to her core. Ultimately, encounters with colleagues, students, friends and lovers force Mira to confront what it means to be able to write, advocate and teach about Israel/Palestine in a way that balances affirmation with authenticity.
An award-winning teacher, Mira has developed courses in Israeli-Palestinian relations, op-ed writing and social media engagement, and graphic novels and political identity. She approaches challenging issues with candour, nuance and a deep commitment to social justice and equality, even when it’s not convenient.
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Welcome to our New Administrator, Lillian Radosevic
We are pleased to introduce you to our new Administrator, Lillian Radosevic. Lillian joined us officially on January 1 but spent time with Natalie Wallach throughout December learning about the administrative role and our community. Lillian is a skilled administrator with extensive customer service and finance experience. Lillian worked at the MNjcc for about 20 years in various capacities until 2019. For the last seven years, she was the Director of Guest Services. She left the J to spend more time in the busy lives of her two boys who are almost six and four.
Lillian says she remembers selling Shir Libeynu High Holiday tickets at the MNjcc many years ago. She is thrilled to become our Administrator and get to know our members. If you need assistance at any time or want to introduce yourself, please feel free to email Lillian at: [email protected].
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Living Jewish Wisdom
Learn from Rabbi Emerita Aviva Goldberg & Others
Interested in learning about Judaism or preparing for conversion in a pluralistic setting? We invite you to explore your relationship to Judaism through a weekly course led by expert teachers from all major Jewish denominations, introducing the central ideas, practices, texts and experiences that form the foundation of Jewish life. Click her for more information: http://livingjewishwisdom.org.
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Movement and Dance with Shoshana
Monday: January 18; February 22
10:30 - 11:00 am
FREE – held on Zoom
Start your morning by awakening your body and moving to themed music. Being in tune with how your body needs to move and increasing your repertoire of movements with others is healing and energizing. This is an opportunity to have fun and connect with other JCC community members. All ages and abilities welcome! Led by Shoshana Fainsilber, a long-time community member of the Miles Nadal JCC.
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Seniors Support Group
Facilitated by social worker Zoe Levitt
Wednesdays: January 13 & 27
9:30-10:30am
FREE – held on Zoom
Are you a senior (65+) struggling with life during social isolation? Looking for a safe way to connect with other seniors to discuss your experiences and challenges? Just need a friendly shoulder to lean on?
We invite you to join our free bi-weekly virtual Seniors Support Group, to learn coping strategies and feel more empowered.
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Congregation Shir Libeynu
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