BEBY Blasts

WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR 
​​​​​​​THE WEEK OF MAY 8

JOIN THE CLERGY FOR DAILY SERVICES & CLASSES STREAMING ON FACEBOOK LIVE AND ZOOM!
*Please note that you do not need a Facebook account in order to view our Facebook page
 Click here for a version of kaddish that can be said without a minyan 

TONIGHT

FRIDAY, MAY 8​​​​​​​

8:00 AM - Shacharit with Rabbi David
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE   or  ZOOM

12:00 PM - Pirkei Avot - The Wisdom of the Sages with Rabbi Morrison
Where: FACEBOOK LIVE   or  ZOOM
Sponsor: Today's class is sponsored by Malcolm Weinstein in honour of Rabbi Morrison on his Special Birthday!

5:00 PM - Young Families - Songs 'n Stories with Rabbi David and Bryna 
Where:  ZOOM

6:00 PM - An early Kabbalat Shabbat service (up to and including Lecha dodi)
with Cantor Guber 
Where:   FACEBOOK LIVE 
Sponsor: Kabbalat Shabbat is sponsored this evening by Howard & Charna Nightingale and family in memory of Frances Nightingale ז״ל

8:11 PM - Candle Lighting 

SATURDAY, MAY 9

9:12 PM - Havdalah
After Shabbat - Musical Havdalah Service with Cantor Guber
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE  
Sponsor: The Havdalah service is sponsored this evening by Howard & Charna Nightingale and family in memory of Frances Nightingale ז״ל

SUNDAY, MAY 10
Happy Mother's Day!

8:00 AM - Shacharit with Rabbi David
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE or  ZOOM

8:25 PM - Mincha/Maariv with Rabbi Morrison
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE  or   ZOOM

MONDAY, MAY 11
Lag B'Omer

8:00 AM - Shacharit with Rabbi David
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE  or  ZOOM

12:00 PM - Pirkei Avot - The Wisdom of the Sages with Rabbi Morrison
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE  or  ZOOM

7:00 PM - The Cantor, the Emisarry, and the King with Cantor Guber
A behind the scenes look at a cantor's role in High Holiday services
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE
Sponsor: Tonight's program is sponsored to mark the 1st yahrzeit of Helen Mlotek ז״ל by her children Michael, Steven, Barbara and Jeffrey and families and her sister, Frances Griesman

8:25 PM - Mincha/Maariv with Rabbi Morrison
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE  or ZOOM

9:30 PM - Virtual Lag B'Omer Bonfire with Rabbi David
Where:  ZOOM
Sponsor: Tonight's program is sponsored by Cynthia & Ben Gasner in honour of their 40th wedding anniversary!

TUESDAY, MAY 12
Lag B'Omer

8:00 AM - Shacharit with Rabbi David
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE ​​​​​​​ or  ZOOM ​​​​​​​

4:00 PM - The Music Committee presents A Mother's Day & Lag B'Omer High Tea ft. Reuven Grajner
Where:  ZOOM
Sponsor: Today's program is sponsored by Susan Colomby, Ilene Kuchinsky, Bernice Levine and Marlene White
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8:25 PM - Mincha/Maariv with Rabbi Morrison
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

THURSDAY, MAY 14

FRIDAY, MAY 15

8:00 AM - Shacharit with Rabbi David
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE or  ZOOM ​​​​​​​

12:00 PM - Pirkei Avot - The Wisdom of the Sages with Rabbi Morrison
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE or  ZOOM

6:00 PM - An early Kabbalat Shabbat service (up to and including Lecha dodi)
with Cantor Guber 
Where:  FACEBOOK LIVE 

8:18 PM - Candle Lighting 

COMING SOON

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL COMING SOON. 
THIS YEAR MEMBERSHIP STATEMENTS WILL ARRIVE BY EMAIL! 

BECOME A SPONSOR

In our new norm with online Clergy led private services, Divrei Torah, Torah Readings, Cantorial Music, Rabbi Lectures and Classes, you too can also sponsor one of these weekly online live sessions in honour of your Simchas or in memory of your loved ones for a donation of $54.00. 

Your generous sponsorship will be included in the weekly e-blast, as well as mentioned by the clergy at the beginning and end of the online live session you are sponsoring. While we are temporarily closed due to this health crisis, it is imperative we continue to keep our synagogue operating at this time thereby ensuring we are able to once again open our doors to you - our dedicated members, and to the Jewish community when it is viable to do so.
 
The Executive, Board and Clergy thank you for your continued support during this difficult time. Best wishes for a healthy and safe Shabbat.

CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

FROM RABBI MORRISON

Dear Congregational Family,
 
"A Seemingly Irrelevant Torah Law Is Now Relevant"
 
Whereas last week's Torah portion of Kedoshim detailed laws of holiness for the entire people of Israel, the beginning of this week's Parsha of Emor details laws of holiness directed specifically to Kohanim.
 
At the very outset, a Kohain is forbidden from defiling himself by being in close proximity to a corpse. Since the Kohain had to maintain a strict level of ritual purity in order to fulfill his priestly duties, he was not allowed to become ritually impure which would happen with being in close proximity to the deceased.
 
As Jewish Law developed, a Kohain could attend a funeral for only his immediate relatives. He could not simply attend another's funeral or visit graves at a cemetery. In order to attend another's funeral, visit a grave, or attend an unveiling, a Kohain has to stand at least eight feet away from any grave. 
 
For this reason, at many cemeteries, the row for deceased Kohanim and their families is right off the roadside so that Kohanim can maintain the requisite distance from all graves. Similarly, funeral homes provide a separate Kohain room under a completely separate roof from the rest of the establishment so that Kohanim may attend funerals while not being in the same physical presence as the deceased.
 
In contemporary Jewish life, the priestly rules of purity and impurity for Kohanim are inoperative. Nevertheless, many Kohanim honor their status by observing the classical restrictions.
 
Nevertheless, for most Jews, these priestly rules have seemed irrelevant, at least until nowadays. With the health concerns presented by covid-19, funeral homes are closed. Cemeteries are open only for small graveside funerals. We are prohibited from holding unveilings or visiting the graves of loved ones. The concern of contagious disease prompts us to stay pure versus impure, in modern terms.
 
For the time being, all Jews can now relate to the laws pertaining to Kohanim. While the Torah metaphorically refers to the entire Jewish people as being a Kingdom of Kohanim, today's reality was not envisioned.
 
Certainly, Parshat Emor is more than an instruction manual for Kohanim. Also, the middle section contains a digest of all the Holy Days. The source for counting the Omer, as we do now, is found in this week's Parsha. I encourage us to devote some time before Shabbat and during Shabbat to explore the relevance of Torah in our lives.
  
Shabbat Shalom, 
Rabbi Howard Morrison

KEEPING UP

 Click here to read Rabbi Morrison's daily blog 
Click here to read Rabbi Lipson's blog Ripple in Still Water
Click here to read Rabbi Lipson's weekly blog Drinking Wisdom
​​​​​​​

Click here for a beautiful cantorial performance of Avinu Shebashamayim in honour of Yom Ha’atzmaut - Israel’s 72nd birthday! Featuring Beth Emeth’s own Cantor David Guber!

SHABBAT TIMES

Parshat Emor

Friday Candle Lighting - 8:11 PM
Shabbat Ends — 9:12 PM 

Shabbat Shalom!

WE EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO

• Felecia Goodman and family on the loss of her sister, Jacquie Korn ז״ל
• Sheila Alexander and family on the loss of her husband, Keith Alexander ז״ל

APEX KOSHER CATERING

Shabbat Take-Out Menu for Friday, May 15