Thursday, May 28, 2020 | 5 Sivan 5780
Erev Shavuot (Thursday, May 28)
Candle Lighting 8:23 p.m.
Shabbat Candle Lighting 8:24 p.m.
Havdallah 9:24 p.m.
Next Week
Candle Lighting 8:29 p.m.
Havdallah 9:29 p.m.
" SHAVUOT -in-a-Box" YouTube Playlist, with your clergy and member volunteers

RABBI KENTER'S DVAR

Tonight, we will begin the holiday of Shavuot. On Shavuot, we commemorate receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. According to the Talmud, the words were emblazoned in black fire on white fire. The rules are given and they are precise. There is clarity of exactly what is and is not allowed. Don’t Murder! No Stealing! Honour Your Parents! These commands are quite famous and appear quite clear.

But when life is actually lived, life gets much more complicated. How do I honour my parents when they ask me to violate the Torah? Can I kill someone if my own life is at risk? Can I rob a truck to feed a starving family? What the rules are and how we are to interpret them is full of nuance and complications. The Torah and our tradition, therefore, provide us with guiding principles that can help us decide not only what we can do but also what we should do.

As we navigate our new reality, our synagogue has been constantly wrestling with the questions of what is allowed versus what is most prudent. As we struggle with these challenges, we are guided by a number of core principles. They include:

1- Pikuach Nefesh. The preservation of human life and even the possibility of the preservation of human life takes precedence over (just about) everything.

2- “We don’t always have to be right, but we can’t afford to be wrong.” We will always err on the side of caution and would rather start a practice too late than too early.

3- Inclusion. What is the best way to make sure the maximum amount of people are able to participate.

So, as challenging as it may be for so many of us to remain physically isolated, we at KBI remain committed to making sure that everyone is healthy and safe. We will continue to do our best to allow access to our activities to as many people as possible. And we will not gather together until we are convinced by Public Health and other medical experts that it is absolutely safe to do so. While obviously not the same as in person experiences, we remain committed to offering amazing virtual offerings and when the time comes, gathering together once again. May it come speedily and soon (but most importantly safely).

Chag Sameach
Please visit our KBI Connect page for a listing of all the virtual programming happening at Shul
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
Executive Director  ■  Rena Garshowitz
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
Anniversaries
Mazal Tov to Judith & Jonathan Bosloy, Iris Arnon & Andrew McGregor, Rochelle & Brian Pearl, Erhan Asliturk & Miriam Rabkin, Frances & Morton Ross, Julia Waserman-Shapero & Howard Shapero, on their wedding anniversaries!
Yahrzeits
May 30 to June 5
Parshat Shavuot

Ernest Bennett
David A. Binder
David Bogdonov
Joseph Bokhaut
Jennie Bronstein
Michael Eisenstat
Sam Epstein
Judith Friend
Kay Garshowitz
Harold Goldstein
Sarah Gordon
Luisa Kalman
Blanche Kaplan
Ida Keeb
David Keeb
Rose Lebovic
Marie Levy-Gradwol
Sylvia Marlow
Charna Mayberger-Kuttas
Gordon Merovitz
Sam Molot
Ida Morin
Haskell Moskovic
Moshe Moskovic
Rifka Moskovic
Brandel Moskovic
Laya Moskovic
Esther Pomerlian Black
Harold Shaffer
Henry Torontow
Louis Weiner
Nathan Wolfe

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.
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!

Please  click here  to make an online donation, or call the Shul office at 613-728-3501 x225
BREAKFAST FUND
In memory of Esfir Gritsmakher z"l
Zinoviy Mozenson

CANTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In honour of Cantor Green for all your hard work
Nathan Bregman

GENERAL FUND
In Memory of Kenneth Katz z"l
Leonard Katz

OTTAWA KOSHER FOOD BANK
In honour of our children
Barbara & David Slipacoff

In Memory of Sophie Shlachter z"l
Ralph Shlachter

Mazal Tov to Andrea Shabinsky Borer on the birth of your grandson
Carol & Laurie Pascoe

In honour of Jackie Gorenstein's special birthday
Jeanette & Arnold Finkelstein

In honour of Sharonne Katz’s special birthday
Stephanie Simard
Tyleen Katz

In honour of a wonderful niece, on the occasion of her birthday 
Sheila Esar

In memory of Stella Beck z"l
Brian Mordfield

Mazal Tov to Yaffa Greenbaum and Jack Shinder on your very special anniversary
Paula & Emanuel Agulnik

In honour of Stacy Goldstein and her marathon run
Rabbi Reuven Bulka
 
Thank you for your generous donation:
Debbie Baylin

RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In Honour of Rabbi Kenter in appreciation of his Daf Yomi class
Catherine & Howard Cohen


KBI apologizes for any errors or omissions.
Important information on visitation at the Bank Street and Osgoode Cemeteries Click Here

A COVID-19 Protocol Announcement from Jewish Memorial Gardens - Click Here
KBI OFFICE

As our building remains closed for the time being, a rotation of staff is set in place to assure that mail is received and phone messages responded to. We are attempting to do our best to maintain the outstanding service you've come to expect from our congregation, but it is still likely to take a little bit longer than usual to respond to requests and we ask for your patience as we do our best to pivot to this new reality. During this time of moving much of our operations to virtual platforms, the best way to get in touch with any member of the staff is to email them. A staff directory can be found here . As a reminder, while staff may be present in the building at times, we still ask that you not "drop by" as we are attempting to limit everyone's exposure.  
Have a specific question? 
Please go to  "CONTACT US"  at

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