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Milibeynu מלבנו
From our Heart
December, 2023
Cantor's corner - from darkness to light
Chanukah celebration!
Annual Reports from the President & Treasurer
and more....
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President's Annual Report
Congregation Shir Libeynu's 2023 Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday, November 26. The following is the written version of President Karen Lior's Annual Report as given at the meeting.
Overall this has been a good year, although we’ve had our challenges. We have a small but mighty board who have tried very hard to respond to and meet all the various requests and demands. We have returned to in-person services and events, and I’m happy to say that it seems as though more people are attending in-person than online. Still, as accessibility and inclusivity are critical to our congregation’s values, we continue to provide an online option for those who don’t yet feel comfortable sharing space or who join us from a distance.
This past year we said goodbye to our longtime and much-loved Chazzan Daniela Gesundheit. She was an important part of our shul for many years and is missed. We are very grateful to those members who have stepped up to sing during the services. Your voices add a great deal to the beauty and spirituality of our services.
We are also grateful for the steady and generous leadership of Cantor Cheryl Wunch, who has been an amazing source of strength through these last few months. Many of you requested a copy of her sermon in which she read the poem about taking the side of peace. The sermon was sent out and posted on our website, thanks to our faithful and terrific administrator Amanda Christie, who is here this evening to help, and who deserves a great deal of gratitude for putting up with us; our conflicting demands; our crazy schedules. Thank you, Amanda. And Leslie Wolfe, who does a magnificent job on our communications and works closely with Amanda. Thank you Leslie.
While I’m at it, so many thanks to my sister board members in addition to Leslie; Karen Franklin for her precise and detailed attention to our finances, to Lia Milito for her invaluable development of our High Holy Day membership and registration forms; to Helen Spitzer for her determination and creativity; to Jamie Flagal and Penny Winestock for their leadership in organizing our High Holy Day services.
Not sustainable
This year, on our membership form, we asked about your interests and what you might be willing to do as a volunteer. Not surprisingly you have many interests: more speakers, a social justice committee, classes for young children, an education committee, a Torah chanting class, a food safety or food issues committee, a film series; all wonderful ideas but much, much more than a small leadership group can manage.
Many also signed up to help volunteer with various events and programs however, when we reached out to the people who volunteered to organize our Shabbat kiddush, to organize that roster, there was no response.
We have terrific volunteers who sing, dance and chant during services, but too few who are willing to step forward to take part in governance or organizing, and, I’m sorry to say, but this is simply not sustainable.
We are also involved in many community partnerships; The Downtown Jewish Community Council; LBGTQ at the J; Pride Shabbat; Ignite; Limmud; Tikkun Leil Shavuout; and the list goes on. We are asked regularly to participate in or to help organize community events, and, sadly, sometimes we say no because we just can’t do it all. It would be wonderful to have other members, aside from the board, who will take responsibility for representing us, or helping to organize these events. We do have our poets who have organized some wonderful sessions at these events, and we are thankful for their participation, but we need more willing heads, hands, and hearts.
We would like to bring more young families to Shir Libeynu but need programming to support their membership. There are definitely ways to do this, but we need more resources to introduce more programming. I am constantly worried that my own grandchildren won’t be able to come here and I love being together with my family at services.
Cantor Wunch does a great deal, probably more than we pay her for, and we are incredibly grateful. Her voice enriches all of our congregational and community events. Just last week she read a poem and sang at a multi-faith peace vigil attended by many members of the shul. After hearing her, people there indicated an interest in Shir Libeynu, so maybe we also need a new member committee. I don’t think these are pipe dreams, they are part of continuing our path toward being an even more engaging, innovative, inclusive community.
However, just to sustain our congregation, never mind to grow, we need your help; your commitment; your support; a little bit of your time; energy; and dare I say, money. The Pay What You Can is great, but many only the minimum, which is lovely, but may not actually be what they “can”, and doesn’t give us any cushion or room to expand. We are dipping into our reserves.
Thank you for being here, thank you to the small stalwart group that comes to everything, you know who you are. Please consider what I’ve said and think about how you can help.
B’tikvah/in hope,
Karen
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2023-2024 board of directors
With gratitude for the donation of their time and energy, the Annual General Meeting elected the following members to the board of directors for the 2023-2024 year:
Karen Lior
Lia Milito
River Oliveira
Furqan Qureshi
Helen Spitzer
Leslie Wolfe
The new board begins its term December 1st.
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2023 AGM Treasurer’s Report
The fiscal year we are looking at in this report ended June 30 2023 and Rebecca Sugarman was our treasurer for the first half of that fiscal year.
We had a very good 2022-2023, with much increased membership and revenue over the two previous pandemic years.
Our 2022-2023 year encompassed the 2022 High Holy Day Services which were, for the first time since 2019, back in-person. New in 2022 was the Pay What You Can (PWYC) membership contribution model designed to be respectful and consistent with the values of Shir Libeynu, encouraging members who could afford more, to contribute more, and allowing the shul to offer those in more restricted circumstances the opportunity to contribute less. This experiment seemed to work out well, although it is difficult to make direct comparisons to the previous two pandemic years. We continued with PWYC for this current year (save for a few small adjustments and improvements to the on-line experience of signing up) and will be in a better position soon to evaluate the results. Please let us know if you have any feedback.
Membership numbers in 2022-23 were much improved over the previous year (240 vs 170) and revenue for that year totalled $123,000 – Up from $78,000 in 2021-22
Profit and Loss Report (click here for the full report)
Revenue for 2022-23 included:
· Membership Fees of $89,500,
· other donations of $8,400, including fundraising for our new Torah Ark,
· $13,600 for B’Mitzvah Classes (we had a record year of 15 students),
· $5,300 for B’Mitzvah Services, and
· a $6,000 DJCC Grant for Interfaith Outreach (which was not drawn down on until this current fiscal year).
Our Expenses totalled $105,200 resulting in an excess of revenue over expenses amounting to $18,100.
We started the year with a healthy bank balance and added to it such that at year-end we had $105,500 in the bank, with very little in liabilities.
Here are a few additional finances-oriented, behind-the-scenes recent activities:
· We moved our banking from TD to a credit union, Alterna Savings,
· We started a Cantor’s Discretionary Fund, and
· reorganized expense categories to be able to track and budget by type of program rather than type of expense. For example, we can now have a budget for High Holy Day Services including venue, musicians, kiddush etc. rather than having, for example, all venue expenses for all activities lumped together.
2023-2024 Budget
For the first time in at least a few years, we have a budget! (Click here to see the 2023-24 budget).
In June, the Board approved a budget for the year of $134,400 in expenditures on services, programs, staff and administrative costs. This is of course higher than was spent last fiscal year but takes into account a number of new or more expensive undertakings including increased venue and personnel costs for High Holy Days, and our beautiful new machzors. Also, we now have a paid bookkeeper; we are once again having in person kiddush and incurring the cost of the food and drink;, and we are paying increased rental fees for our spaces at the mnJCC, where last year we had a deep discount as a result, still, of the pandemic.
Our projected revenue on which our current budget for 2023-24 was based is $104,000. So far, revenue is only at about $94,000. This reduced projection includes a reduction in revenues due to a smaller B’Mitzvah Class cohort – 4 students this year; the conclusion of the Interfaith Outreach grant and the conclusion of our campaign to raise money for the new Ark.
We are hopeful however, that members will continue to contribute to our Machzor dedication fundraiser, or consider making contributions to our General and Adult Education Funds to recognize significant occasions in their lives. However,without any further contributions, the Board is projecting a deficit for this year of $30,000.
We can sustain a few years of modest deficits if needed because of the cushion created in previous fiscal years, but this is not sustainable in the long-run and we will have to consider new or better fundraising and membership drives or other options like strategic partnerships or adjustments to programs and services.
Before I conclude, I’d like to offer my deep gratitude to Mary Wunch who has acted as our volunteer bookkeeper, and Amanda Christie, our Administrator, for all their support during this past year.
It has been an honour serving the Congregation as Treasurer and being a part of this small but mighty Board of Directors. However, after an intense few years, I have decided to step down from the Board. I wish you all, and the new Board, my best wishes for a successful and meaningful year. Shalom.
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Congregation Shir Libeynu Family Chanukah Party
Join Cantor Wunch, the Congregation Shir Libeynu board and members of our community as together we light this year's last Chanukah candle, and celebrate Jewish resilience!
Bring your Chanukiah & candles. We'll light the last candle together!
Thursday, December 14, Trinity St. Paul's Church, 6:30 PM in the Chapel
RSVP HERE no later than Monday, December 11
Fun and treats for all!
If you are able, please make a donation to Chai Lifeline's Toy Drive by shopping directly, here. Learn more about Chai Lifeline here.
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Donate to Congregation Shir Libeynu today and receive a tax receipt
Looking for the perfect gift for the person who has it all? Or even for the person who doesn’t? Look no further than your wonderful congregation!
We offer a number of different accounts to which you can make a donation, all of which are tax deductible. Check out the possibilities for giving here!
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From darkness to light
בָּאנוּ חוֹשֶׁךְ לְגָרֵשׁ, בְּיָדֵינוּ אוֹר וָאֵשׁ .כָּל אֶחָד הוּא אוֹר קָטָן וְכֻּלָנוּ אוֹר אֵיתָן .סוּרָה חוֹשֶׁךְ הָלְאָה שָׁחֹר! סוּרָה מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹר
Banu choshech l'gareish, b'yadeinu or va'aish.
Kol echad hu or katan, v'kulanu or eitan. Sura choshech hala sh’chor! Sura mipnei ha’or!
We have come to banish the darkness; in our hands we have light and fire. Each one of us is a little light, and together we are a magnificent light. Leave darkness! Go away evil forces! Be overpowered by the light!
This popular Chanukah song perfectly encapsulates how I’m feeling right now.
I think it’s clear that we are living through dark times, and many of us are feeling mired in despair. We are worried, we are afraid. Our relationships are strained by political debates, and none of us know how long this tragic war will last. We must find ways to survive this difficult time and stay as strong as we can for ourselves, our families, and our community.
In a recent B’mitzvah class, we were discussing the Jewish value of Shmirat HaNefesh, or “guarding our souls.'' The students brainstormed ways that we can all take better care of our emotions and protect our spirits. One idea that they came up with is to spend time with family and friends. As always, our youth are our truest teachers. We need each other right now. We need community; to be together; to sing together; to dance together; to eat together; to play together. We need to combine our lights to banish the darkness, if just for one evening.
To this end, we are hoping that you will all attend our Chanukah celebration at 6:30 pm on December 14th at Trinity St Paul’s in the Chapel. There, we will light the last Chanukah candle, and together we will fill our hearts with light, and find a few moments of resilience and joy. Together, we will protect our souls and create that magnificent light.
Please RSVP here to join in this celebration.
As a Chanukah treat, I want to share with you all a video that I’ve shared in years past – my favourite interpretation of this song. If you’re unfamiliar with the musician and composer Noah Aronson or the group Banot, I highly recommend taking some time to check them out by clicking here. I hope they bring light to your days, and I look forward to seeing you all as we celebrate the miracle of Chanukah.
If you need to talk, please contact me at cantorwunch@gmail.com, or make an appointment at https://calendly.com/cantorwunch
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Please join the Congregation Shir Libeynu community on Saturday, December 2nd at 10:30 AM for Shabbat morning services being held in person at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNJCC), Room 318, and online via Zoom.
Masking is not required, however we encourage those members who would like to continue to wear a mask to do so. As always, if you feel at all unwell, please join us via Zoom.
The Zoom link, prayer book and supplemental materials will be emailed on Friday, October 6th. 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 in person 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, Amanda, at shirlibeynuadmin@gmail.com.
Did you know?
Did you know that you can find Shabbat and Havdalah start times as well as the weekly Torah portion on our website? To find this information, click this link.
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Are you interested in learning (more) about Torah? Join Cantor Wunch on Tuesday, December 12th at noon on Zoom as she hosts this month’s conversation about a parasha 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
Jan 16
Feb 20
March 19
April 16
May 21
June 11 (note - 2nd tuesday of the month)
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IGNITE!
Tikkun Leil Chanukah Festival of Jewish Culture and Learning
Proudly co-presented by Congregation Shir Libeynu
Where light and darkness meet, let's begin Chanukah together in a community-wide gathering.
IGNITE! opens with an intergenerational, songful candle-lighting, then breaks into a choose-your-own-adventure of arts-based workshops, performances and Jewish study sessions. Throughout the night, enjoy short concerts inspired by the themes of the season, curated by the Ashkenaz Festival. Come early or late, stay a little or stay the whole time!
Kosher food for purchase.
The Family/Kid's Track admission provides access to the inter-generational communal candle-lighting at 6:00 p.m. and to a shorter program for families with kids ages 5 to 12, with a light kosher dinner included.
Watch this space for the full schedule of the night's events.
Cost
Adult and Teens Track - Suggested $20 per person (To register, click here>>)
Family Track - $30 per family of four (To register, click here>>)
Jointly presented by Beth Tzedec Congregation, The Holy Blossom Temple Centre for Arts and Culture, Beth Torah Congregation, Annex Shul, Ashkenaz Foundation, City Shul, Danforth Jewish Circle, First Narayever Congregation, Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism, Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, Congregation Shir Libeynu and the UJA Committee for Yiddish
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Gila Münster's 5th Annual
8 Gays of Channukah
Queer Jewish Variety Show
benefiting Machane Lev!
Proudly Co-sponsored by Congregation Shir Libeynu
This fundraiser for Machane Lev, a one week, Jewish overnight camp for children and youth who are LGBTQ+ or who come from LGBTQ+ families/communities, is back again by popular demand! It always sells out so get your tickets today!
Sun, Dec 17, 2023 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Longboat Hall, 103 Dovercourt Road, Toronto
Tickets for this year's show on sale NOW!
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Upcoming celebrations-at-a-glance
All Jewish festivals begin at sundown on the first date, and end at sundown on the last date.
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Chanukah Celebration Thursday, December 14
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New Member Welcome Shabbat Saturday, February, 3, 2024
Watch for new events to be added here as dates are confirmed!
For a complete list of Jewish dates of significance, click this link.
For summary information about Jewish dates of significance, click this link.
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