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Purim spiel - a Mama Mia Megillah extravaganza!
Machane Lev March break & summer camp registration
Interfaith outreach & other board news
Purim - it's not just for children
Paula Wolfson sings & we're all invited
Shabbat, Lunch & Learn and more...
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Many thanks to Lorne Blumer
Over the past many years congregant Lorne Blumer graciously led meditation sessions before our Shabbat Services. Prior to COVID they were well attended. However, since moving to online and then to hybrid services, while still meaningful to those who participated, the numbers have dwindled to a point where the program is no longer viable. We want to thank Lorne for all he has offered and look forward to his involvement in other ways.
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Board vacancy
Another thank you goes out to Ariel Blau. Ariel recently came on to the Board with a variety of skills and experiences, but has had to end his commitment. As a result we have a vacancy. Being a member of our board is an opportunity to meet new people in a supportive environment while at the same time having an opportunity to add your perspective to help shape the direction of Shir Libeynu’s future. If you are interested, or have questions, please reach out to the board at slboard@shirlibeynu.ca, with BOARD MEMBERSHIP in the subject line.
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Purim spiel
A third thank you goes out to all of you who have stepped up to participate in our Purim Spiel and especially Ellie Goldenberg who generously offered her time once again this year to create and direct the production. We hope everyone will put on your dancing shoes and join in the merriment on Monday, March 6th @ 7:30 PM This is an online-only event which means you can sing to your heart’s fulfilment.
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High Holy Days, 2023 planning under way!
While many of you are starting to think about Passover, the Board has begun to think about the High Holy Days. We are delighted to inform you that Trinity St. Paul’s (TSP) was able to offer us their sanctuary space for Kol Nidre and Yom Kipper this year. Being forced to move from the First Unitarian was difficult. It had been our home for many years. The sanctuary at TSP is a beautiful space with comfortable seating, good sound, and a warm environment. We think you will like it a lot.
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Interfaith outreach
The Board is ready to begin to implement our plan to use the Interfaith Outreach grant money that we earned last year. We will be reaching out directly to those of you in interfaith relationships with more information, an opportunity to participate in focus groups either online or in person, and a questionnaire. We hope everyone in our community who is a part of an interfaith relationship will complete the questionnaire, and we look forward to seeing some of you at our focus group events as well.
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Planning and priorities - if you have ideas, let us know!
In addition to our regular monthly meetings and sub-committee meetings, in April the Board will meet to set our priorities for the next year. If you have ideas you would like us to consider, we would like to hear them. We can’t guarantee anything but if you don’t let us know, we won’t know. Email us at slboard@shirlibeynu.ca with 2023 PLANNING in the subject line.
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Please join us in wishing only the best of what life has to offer to George Saltzberg and Tim Swift who will be married on March 5th. | |
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Purim. It's not just for children
Purim is here! What a fun, happy, exciting time! We get to dress up, and sing, and indulge! We get to cheer for the heroes and boo at the villain! It is a time of extravagance, a time of frivolity, a time of joy, and a time of celebration. Purim is one of those holidays that many of us probably remember from our childhoods – memories of costume contests, carnival games, and, of course, hamantaschen... but Purim is not just for children. On Purim we are instructed to drink ad lo yada, until we can no longer tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman. We are supposed to be so intoxicated that we can’t distinguish good from evil or blessing from curse. The instruction, if taken literally, is to be so intoxicated that we can’t distinguish good from evil or blessing from curse. I believe that at its essence, through this instruction, we are being told to eschew some of our inhibitions.
Time to let loose & celebrate!
Generally we spend a good amount of time following the rules. We do our jobs, pay our bills, take care of our families, and generally live upright, respectable lives and keep relatively low profiles. On Purim though, we intentionally turn our worlds upside down. We allow ourselves to let loose, and we truly, exuberantly, celebrate our survival. We fully let down our guards for just this one day, and express our delight and gratitude for the miracles that have kept our people alive for so long. We allow for a day of excess as focused acknowledgement of all we’ve overcome as Jews … and hey…everyone deserves a little party once in a while!
Indulge yourself; give more to others
Another way that we participate in the excess of this holiday is by giving more than we normally do. One of the main obligations of Purim is to give gifts. We are supposed to give mishloah manot, which are gifts to our loved ones, and we are also supposed to give matanot l'evyonim, which are gifts to the poor. Even though the Purim “requirement” is that we give two gifts to two people in need, we are taught that in this case as well, more is definitely better. In the Shulchan Aruch (The Shulchan Aruch sometimes dubbed in English as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Judaism) we are told that "One is not exceedingly precautious with money on Purim. Rather, everyone who puts out a hand [in need], we are to give to that person." We lower our inhibitions not just as a part of our merriment, but in our charitable acts as well. Of course, we are never supposed to give so much that we ourselves are harmed, but what a lovely opportunity to be generous to others.
Purim is a time when we are expected to let our judgement be ever-so-slightly clouded, so that we may enjoy ourselves to the fullest, and also help others to do the same. Our joy always increases as we share it with others.
May you all have a chag purim sameach and may each of you find your own way to let your guard down, and truly appreciate the miracles we celebrate during this festival.
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Join in the fun at our Purim spiel!
We hope you will join in our all-ages, community-wide Mama Mia Megillah Purim spiel on Monday, March 6th online! Thank you to Ellie Goldenberg and all of our volunteers for what I know will be a spectacular show!
No need to register. A Zoom link will be sent in a separate email before the spiel to all members.
If you have not received the email with the link by 2:00 on Monday, March 6, please contact our administrator, Amanda.
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Upcoming Jewish & Community Celebrations
All festivals begin at sundown on the first date, and end at sundown on the last date.
- Purim, March 6 - 7
- Passover, April 5 - April 13
- Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 17- April 18
- Lag BaOmer, May 8 - May 9
- Shavuot, May 25 - May 27
For a complete list of Jewish dates of significance for 2023, click this link.
For summary information about any of these days, click this link.
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Please join the Shir Libeynu community on Saturday, March 4th at 10:30 AM, for our monthly Shabbat service being held in person at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNJCC), Room 318, and online via Zoom.
Masking required. If you feel at all unwell, please join us via Zoom.
The Zoom link, prayer book and supplemental materials will be emailed on Friday, March 3rd. If you have not received this email by 2:00 PM, please email our Administrator Amanda at shirlibeynuadmin@gmail.com.
No registration is required. Please either come to the MNJCC, or join via Zoom.
We welcome new attendees!
If you know of anyone who wants to attend our services, please ask them to email our Administrator at shirlibeynuadmin@gmail.com.
Save the date
March Shabbat service: Saturday, April 1st at 10:30 AM.
Did you know?
Did you know that you can find Shabbat and Havdalah start times as well as the weekly Torah portion on our webiste? To find this information, click this link.
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Catch Your Breath
With deep gratitude to Lorne Blumer for the many hours of focus he has provided to members over these past months, we are using this space to inform you that the Shabbat meditation is going on indefinite hiatus. Please see the board report above.
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Are you interested in learning (more) about Torah?
Join Cantor Wunch on Tuesday, March 18th as she hosts an online conversation about a parsha from the Torah. No prior Torah experience necessary!
No registration required. Zoom link will be sent to all members prior to the date.
Save the date now for future Lunch & Learn Tuesdays:
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March Break with Machane Lev
Connect with the Queer and Jewish communities in new ways and develop your leadership skills through visits to Jewish spaces and queer institutions, community guest speakers, reflection and journaling workshops, facilitated dialogue, and peer-led activities with the traditional camp flare of games.
Date: March 12-15 (This is a day program with no overnight component)
Location: Toronto - Pick-up and drop-off for 3 days will be at 788 Marlee Avenue and on 1 day will be at the Prosserman JCC.
Program: The group will be visiting Jewish and Queer institutions around Toronto via the TTC
Who: LGBTQ+ Jewish Youth & Allies in Grades 9-12
Cost: $350 (subsidies available upon request)
REGISTER HERE
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Paula Wolfson sings for Parkinson’s and we are all invited!
Paula Wolfson, once dubbed “the Shabbat Chazzan” by Rabbi Emerita Aviva Goldberg, and a Dora Mavor Moore Award winning theatre artist is also the founder and conductor of Singing With Parkinson’s.
On Sunday, April 2nd, members are invited to enjoy the musical talents of Paula Wolfson and friends in support of Singing With Parkinson’s.
To attend, make your $20 minimum donation in advance here, or you can donate $25 at the door (cash/credit).
Sunday, April 2nd, 2PM, Performing Arts Lodge Green Room at 110 The Esplanade.
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