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 UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS
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Children's Chanukah Program and Pizza Supper
Friday evening, December 11th at the
MNJCC
: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Join Rebecca, our children's programmer, as she leads a holiday activity in Room 305, followed by a delicious pizza supper. Recommended for children ages three to eight years old, and their adults. We will finish at 6:30 p.m. so children can join in the family-oriented service (see below), to which all are welcome.
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Chanukah Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Celebration for All Ages
Friday evening, December 11th at the
MNJCC
: 6:30 p.m. in the chapel
ALL in the community are welcome to join us at the service led by Rabbi Goldberg and Chazzan Gesundheit. Then join us for an after-supper light kiddish of sweets, fruit and latkes. We will light candles on this sixth night of Chanukah. The event is for the young and the young at heart, because who doesn't love Chanukah!?
Remember, you don't have to be a member to attend any of our Shabbat services throughout the year.
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IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAZZAN
To the Shir Libeynu Community,
As many of you have heard by now, I have made the difficult decision, for personal and professional reasons, to move back to Los Angeles where I am from and where much of my family resides. I am honoured and thrilled that I will maintain my role as chazzan for Shir Libeynu, co-leading the High Holy Day services with Aviva, advising from afar and co-leading occasional Shabbat services when I come to Toronto. In addition, I am excited to announce that our chazzanut team, which includes cantorial soloist Paula Wolfson, and our lay chazzanim (Lorne Blumer, Justine Apple, Harvey and Ariela Weisfeld, Ellie Goldenberg, Jamie Flagal, and Helen Bauer) will be present leading the chazzanut throughout the year at various times for Shabbat services, holidays and Bar/Bat Mitzvot. They are each extraordinary musicians who contribute their time and talent for the benefit of the community.
I want to thank you each for becoming my mishpachah away from home, for welcoming me into your fold and allowing me to share in your simchas, your sorrows, and everything in between. I have the deepest respect and admiration for each of you and the many ways you contribute to such a thriving, essential and joyous community. I have learned and grown in ways I could not have foreseen when I signed on eight years ago. Most of all, I am simply a Shir Libeynu fan, and I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to steer the musical ship here for these past years. I look forward to continued meaningful involvement in the coming years.
Philosopher J Krishnamurty noted that it seems to be much easier for humans to commune with nature than with one another. After my eight years at Shir Libeynu, I beg to differ. I have experienced countless times on the bimah when we start to melt into one another through song and prayer, swaying to ancient melodies. This is in no small part because of the presence, curiousity, and openness that you each bring to our services.
Respectfully,
Daniela Gesundheit
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Sunday, December 20th: 2-4 p.m.
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Got some chanting in your system that needs to express itself? Great! Supplementing our contemplative chanting services, Chants ReEncounters is an informal opportunity for us to chant and sing in community. Our first gathering was in October, and all those present left wanting more. So more it is! Please join us on Sunday, December 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 at Dorothy Rusoff's home. To RSVP and for location details, contact Dorothy at
[email protected].
For questions about Chants ReEncounters in general, get in touch with Lorne at
[email protected].
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Save The Dates
January - March, 2016 Services @ 10:30 am at the MNJCC
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- Shabbat Morning Service, January 2
- Contemplative Chanting Service, January 16
- Shabbat Morning Service, February 6
- Shabbat Morning Service, March 5
- Contemplative Chanting Service, March 19
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| CREATING OUR FUTURE: OUR DIALOGUE CONTINUES |
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A community-wide discussion/dialogue that took place on November 29 attracted more than 40 people who are interested in the future of our shul. The facilitator (and long-time Shir Libeynu member), Danny Nashman, guided us through a presentation of themes and ideas. Many of us shared moving and meaningful anecdotes to illustrate the significance of the shul community in our lives, and our visions for its future.
We went away with commitments from most of us there to discuss this with and interview at least one, but with hope more, members, occasional congregants and others over the next six weeks. The people who were at that dialogue will be receiving the questionnaire by email. For those who were not able to attend, but are interested in being an interviewee so you can contribute to the visioning exercise, please write to [email protected]
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We will pair you up with a designated interviewer. We do not need more interviewers at this stage. Attaching your name to the answers is optional.
On January 17, we will re-convene for a summit examining the answers that participants are generating from this process (place tbd). We will be discussing many issues, including: What are the opportunities we see for Shir Libeynu to play an even more meaningful part in the lives of our members and congregants? What would we most want to participate in, and/or be part of orchestrating for our shul?
During the next six weeks, we hope you will answer "yes" if asked, "Have you been part of the Shir Libeynu dialogue on creating our future?"
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MILESTONES
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If you wish the community to know about significant milestones in your life, particularly the death of a loved one, please write to us at:
[email protected]
or phone and leave a message at 416-465-5488. You may also contact Rabbi Goldberg directly at:
[email protected].
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COMMUNITY/PROMOTIONAL PARTNER NEWS
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Shema & Iqra': The Jewish-Muslim Text Project presents:
Blood, Milk, and Tears: Menstruating, Nursing, and Mourning in Islamic and Jewish Sources
Tuesday, January 26-March 8. 2016
Multi-Faith Centre, Multi-Purpose Room, 3rd floor, 569 Spadina Road
Text-study: -8:30 p.m.
Arts collaboration 8:30-9:30 p.m.
This seven-week text-study course for Muslim and Jewish women will explore issues of gender and embodiment in Jewish and Islamic texts. The group will also form the basis of an arts collective featuring the art, music, and writings of participants.*
Students - free; co-curricular credit also available; Others - $15 per class
Taught by Shari Golberg, PhD, in collaboration with guest artists
Shir Libeynu is pleased to be a promotional/community partner of this event
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