Thursday, December 31, 2020 | 16 Tevet 5781
Friday Night Candle Lighting 4:10 PM
Saturday Night Havdallah 5:010 PM
Next Week
Friday Night Candle Lighting 4:17 PM
Saturday Night Havdallah 5:17 PM
D’var Torah for Vay’chi – Cantor Jason Green

In this week’s parashah, Vay’chi, Jacob blesses his grandsons, Menashe and Efrayim. The words he used are the basis for the weekly blessing that we give to our children at the Shabbat dinner table – “Y’simcha/Y’simeich Elohim…” The Torah says that Jacob “blessed them that very day”.

Why did it need to say “that very day”? – seemingly unnecessary words. Rabbi Asher of Stolin offers that the blessing was not about when he blessed the children, but rather with what; he posits that the actual blessing is the concept of “that-very-day-ness”, of being truly present in the moment.

We spend so much of our energy these days either dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It’s only in the present, in the moment where we find ourselves right now, that life truly takes place. That’s where we can find each other, and meet up with God (does God have a Zoom account too??).

Speaking of meeting each other and God during these difficult times, I want to remind everyone of our early-pandemic motto, “The Building is Closed but our Congregation is Open”. If you are among those who are particularly sensitive to our more “rulesy” messages, the distanced seating in the sanctuary, the phone calls that can take some extra time to return… please know you are heard and we care how you feel. Of course, we have our members’/visitors’ safety at heart, but what I feel might be missing from our messaging is “Dear friends: you are warmly welcome at KBI”.

For the week ahead, think about joining us for our daily Zoom minyan services and live-streamed Friday Evening and Shabbat morning services. Our small groups (Daf Yomi, Grief Support, Women’s Torah Study, and more) still meet virtually too; and the choir is preparing a virtual choir video for Shabbat Shirah. 2021 will also see the start of our highly-sought Intro-to-Judaism course, and a speaker series welcoming the “Leading Lights of the Conservative Movement” to our screens. Visit www.kehillatbethisrael.com/virtual for all the details and links.

Come live in the moment with your KBI family – no matter what happens with the rules and safety measures at a given moment, you’re warmly welcome here!

Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Green
KBI ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFICE PHONES
Please note our office phones are being serviced and may be down for a portion of the day this coming Monday, January 4th. If there is an emergency and you must get in touch with us please contact Rabbi Eytan Kenter at 613-868-6546.

KBI OFFICE CLOSURE
Please note the office is closed on Friday, January 1st.
Our clergy and staff will continue to work throughout the current lockdown, though they will be doing so from home, therefore the shul office will be closed. The best way to reach any of our office staff, clergy, or lay leadership is via email and all of the relevant synagogue email addresses are listed below. The phones will not be answered; however, messages will be checked at least daily to assure that the office is able to respond, though it may take a little bit longer than usual. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Rabbi Eytan Kenter rabbi@kehillatbethisrael.com
Rabbi Deborah Zuker rabbizuker@kehillatbethisrael.com
Cantor Jason Green cantor@kehillatbethisrael.com
Laura Dimitroff laura@kehillatbethisrael.com
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who donated to our CHANUKAH CONCERT... VIRTUALLY! With your generous donations, we are able to continue running incredible programs such as these in the future. If you did not have a chance to donate and would like to do so please click here

Sandy Bregman
Joan Brodie
Arie Chark & Susan Landau-Chark
Howard & Catherine Cohen
Devra Freedman
Lara Kehle
Frances Freedman-Kesler
Agnes Klein
Maxine Kossy
George & Vera Gara
Sabina Green
Arlene & Gabby Green
Evelyn Greenberg
Ralph Anzarouth Ralph & Sally Hawks
Kenneth & Linda Mirsky
Carol & Laurie Pascoe
Frayda Raber
Irving Solman
Myra Sverdlove
Helen & Rick Zipes
We would also like to extend a very special thank you to everyone who helped make calls to check in on our members and wish them a Happy Hanukkah. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

Lisa Abott Moore
Paula Agulnik
Michael Aranoff
Roz Fremeth
David Goberman
Alan Halpern
Les Kom
Devorah Krebs
David Lyman
Chuck Merovitz
Carol & Laurie Pascoe
Victor Rabinovitch
Anita Rosenfeld
Sharon Rosentzveig
David Sachs
Art Saper
Donna & Jessica Strauss
Laurence Wall
Helen & Rick Zipes
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Please visit our KBI Virtual page for a listing of all our virtual programming!
ONLINE SERVICES SCHEDULE
*Special timing for upcoming Stat Holiday
Morning services will start at 8:30 AM on January 1.

Morning Services
Weekdays - 7:30 AM (Zoom)
Sundays - 8:30 AM (Zoom)
Anyone can join on ZOOM at https://zoom.us/j/886548503 or dial-in by phone at 647-374-4685 then input the meeting ID (886 548 503). Press *6 to mute and un-mute yourself when calling in.

Evening Services
Mondays & Wednesdays - 5:45 PM (Zoom)
Anyone can join on ZOOM at https://zoom.us/j/886548503 or dial-in by phone at 647-374-4685 then input the meeting ID (886 548 503). Press *6 to mute and un-mute yourself when calling in.

Kabbalat Shabbat
5:30 PM (Live-Stream, www.kehillatbethisrael.com/livestream)

Hachanah L'Shabbat
9:30 AM (Live-Stream, www.kehillatbethisrael.com/livestream)

Shabbat Morning Services
10:00 AM (Live-Stream, www.kehillatbethisrael.com/livestream)

Havdallah
5:10 PM (Facebook Live, www.facebook.com/kehillatbethisrael)
OUR LEADERSHIP
Senior Rabbi ■ Rabbi Eytan Kenter
Associate Rabbi ■ Rabbi Deborah Zuker
Cantor ■ Cantor Jason Green
President ■ Judah Silverman
Gabbai Rishon ■ Norm Ferkin
Ba'al Koreh ■ Kalman Estrin
Interim Executive Director ■ Elisheva Brantz
LET US KNOW
Please notify the Shul office of any congregant and/or family member who is ill or hospitalized; or, if you know of an individual who has moved or entered a residential placement. Additionally, please let us know if you or someone you know may require some additional support in this challenging time. Your call will ensure that our Clergy can follow up with visits, calls, and healing prayers 613-728-3501 Ext. 221
ANNIVERSARY
Mazal Tov to Francine & Norman Lieff &
Elissa Lieff & David Resnick, on their wedding anniversary!


YAHRZEITS
January 1-8

David Abony
Arnold Abrahamson
Lawrence Bilsky
Sarah Cantor
Doris Cohen
Albert Dunkelman
Israel Engel
Morris Garfinkel
Terry Garman
Tilly Gershon
Herbert Goldenberg
Malca Goldstein
Lillian Belle Hirsch Jaffee
John Holzman
Morris Karanofsky
Leon Katz
Jimmy Latsonas
Sima Mlynarski
Rose Molot
Norma Pivnick
Anna Goldberg Platt
Bessie Resnick
Harry Robbins
Herbert Saslove
Abraham Saslove
Mary Shaffer
Sammy Taft
Louis Vorner
Sadie Waserman


Ha Makom Yenachem
DONATION LISTING
Please note that only email donation cards will be sent until the KBI office is back up and running full time. When making a donation please include the recipient's email address.

Please click here to make an online donation, or call the Shul office at 613-728-3501 x221
or email Ilana Goldfarb:

There are many blessings that happen in all of our lives such as the birth of a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild; the engagement or marriage of a loved one; or a promotion at work or a volunteer award.  These events lend balance to times of sadness, such as the death or illness of a loved one. We at Kehillat Beth Israel are grateful for the opportunity to share these moments with you - to be a source of community in both times of celebration and times of sorrow.  Below you will find some of the events in our community from the last few weeks. Please continue to share with us your happy occasions so that we may share them here in the future.  

ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם הטוב והמטיב
 Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha-olam 
Ha-tov V'hameytiv
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe
Who is good and bestows good
z"l
And in the spirit of gratitude, we also take this opportunity to thank the members of our community for their charitable gifts to the synagogue. We could not do the important work that we do at Kehillat Beth Israel without your generous support. We are so thankful for your continued contributions that allow us to grow and thrive. Todah Rabbah!
LESLIE SHINDER CHOIR FUND
In memory of Melvyn Schwey z"l
Linda & Kenneth Mirsky
Irving Solman

In memory of Laurence Kaminsky z"l
Linda & Kenneth Mirsky


OTTAWA KOSHER FOOD BANK
Thank you for your generous donation
Sandi Shinoff & Mordechai Brodt
Al Garman
Grace and Jim Hillel
Heni Nadel
Lauren & Sander Shaps
Clifford Sosnow
Larry Tarof

In honour of Carol & Evan Diamond on their daughter, Miriam Diamond, being award the Polanyi Prize for physics
Marcia & Richard Zuker

Refuah Shlema to Rabbi Bulka
George & Vera Gara
Hennie, Allen, & Mark Honigman

In memory of Zivan Saper z"l
Marilyn Binder
Edna & Seymour Eisenberg
Ted & Toby Nathanson

In memory of Laurence Kaminsky z"l
Molly Hirsch & Eric Elkin
Rosalind & Stanley Labow

In memory of Phyllis Cleiman z"l
Lawrence and Gail Blackman

In memory of Melvyn Schwey z"l
Hennie, Allen, & Mark Honigman
Rosalind & Stanley Labow
Linda & Stephen Weiner

In memory of Rose and Joseph Cooper z"l
Hyman Cooper

In honour of the Podolaks on their 50th anniversary
Jeanette & Arnold Finkelstein

In honour of Maxine and Arthur Rabinovitch’s grandson Aryeh’s Bar Mitzvah
Helaine & Jack Gould


RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In honour of the KBI Congregation who have always welcomed us at services with great warmth whenever we're in town visiting our children.
Lawrence and Gail Blackman

In memory of Laurence Kaminsky z"l
Francoise & Ronald Vexler


KBI apologizes for any errors or omissions.
COMMUNITY NEWS
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