3:30 PM -Community Shabbat - Toronto's Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Featuring Live Music until the end of Lecha Dodi Click here to register 4:25 PM - Candle Lighting
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
9:30 AM - Shabbat service - Sermon Topic - Venturing into the unknown - again?! Where: LIVESTREAM Sponsor: This morning's service is sponsored by Mary & Don Carrel in honour of the 22nd anniversary of their daughter Karen and son-in law Marty Rice.
5:35 PM - Havdalah
After Shabbat - Havdalah Service Will include recitation of Sunday's yahrzeits as well as personal Kaddish Where: FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29
8:00 AM - Shacharit Where: FACEBOOK LIVEor ZOOM 10:00 AM - B'nai Mitzvah program - My personal Jewish IdentityClick here to register Where: ZOOM - link will be made available to registered attendees 6:00 PM - Maariv Where: FACEBOOK LIVE orZOOM
12:00 PM - Rabbi Morrison's Study Class - Pirkei Avot - The Wisdom of the Sages Where:FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM Sponsor: Rabbi Morrison's study class is sponsored by Leslie & Michael Kinrys to commemorate the 5th yahrzeit of Leslie's beloved mother, Eve Daniels ז״ל
3:30 PM - Virtual Coffee and Conversation Where: ZOOMThe passcode can be found on our website Join us in our virtual cafe. What are you doing during the day? Did you watch any good movies or TV series? Did you make a great recipe? How are you feeling? Say hello to your friends. 6:00 PM - Maariv Where: FACEBOOK LIVE orZOOM
7:30 PM - Continuing Education with Steve Long - Has Our World Gone Crazy? Where: ZOOM - link will be made available to registered attendees Click here to register
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3
8:00 AM - Shacharit Where: FACEBOOK LIVEor ZOOM Sponsor: Shacharit is sponsored this morning by Helen Katz and family on the yahrzeit of Harry Lewkowicz ז״ל - beloved father and grandfather.
9:30 AM - Tefillah Training with Rabbi David Where: ZOOM 1:30 PM - Lunch and Literature - The Art of Leaving reviewed by Ayelet TsabariClick here to register Where: ZOOM - link will be made available to registered attendees Sponsor: Lunch & Literature is sponsored by Mosaic Home Care
3:30 PM - Virtual Coffee and Conversation Where: ZOOMThe passcode can be found on our website Join us in our virtual cafe. What are you doing during the day? Did you watch any good movies or TV series? Did you make a great recipe? How are you feeling? Say hello to your friends. 6:00 PM - Maariv Where: FACEBOOK LIVE orZOOM
12:00 PM - Rabbi Morrison's Study Class - Parshat Ha'Shavua - The Weekly Torah Portion Where:FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM
3:45 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat service Mincha, Reading of the Shabbat Yahrzeits, and Kabbalat Shabbat (up to and including L'cha dodi) Where: FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM Sponsor: Kabbalat Shabbat is sponsored by David & Micca Starr in honour of Jacob and Shayna Starr 4:22 PM - Candle Lighting
KADDISH
Click here for a version of kaddish that can be said without a minyan
A SHABBAT UPDATE
Dear Congregational Family,
As we all know, safety concerns and regulations were made stricter this week in Toronto and elsewhere. In regard to religious services, a maximum of ten people in total is now allowed in our immediate area for religious services.
After considerable discussion with Beth Emeth clergy and volunteer leadership, we have decided to enact the following principles for the next two Shabbatot on a trial basis:
1) Services will be conducted from the Sanctuary with clergy only. (On December 5 a Bar Mitzvah boy and his father will complement the clergy).
2) The service will be conducted without the presence of a Minyan. The liturgy will comprise of Psukei Dzimra, Shacharit, Silent Amidah, Full Torah Reading, No Aliyot, Full Haftarah without blessings, Silent Musaf Amidah.
3) This practice will be observed for the next two Shabbatot and then assessed before making further decisions, taking into consideration Ontario and Toronto Public Health regulations and recommendations.
4) Some of the thinking that led to the current decision include the following: The requisite maximum number of ten would be limited to men, who comprise a Minyan. As a result, women would be excluded from attending. The ten attendees would have to be identified before Shabbat begins without the assurance that all would attend, such as one not feeling well in the morning. The new guidelines for the next month strongly discourage even ten people from sharing a physical space for a considerable period of time. With all of this in mind, we have decided to err on the side of safety in terms of numbers of people and time spent in the sanctuary.
5) Everyone is encouraged to participate from home via the Beth Emeth livestream.
6) For mourners and those observing Yahrzeits, please access the personal variation of the Kaddish which does not require the presence of a Minyan. This text is available in the weekly schedule on the synagogue website or here - Kaddish without a Minyan As you can imagine, we are not the only community who is struggling with these challenges. You may find this article by Naomi Baum of interest - Corona Kaddish
I encourage us all to be safe and healthy and to participate in virtual synagogue services and programming.
Sincerely, Rabbi Howard Morrison
FROM RABBI MORRISON
A Time for Healing
Dear Congregational Family,
This week, new health and safety measures have gone into effect in Toronto and elsewhere. For many of us, the new reality will remind us of the measures taken during the first few months of the pandemic. Sadly, over the course of the Corona Virus, some of us have lost dear ones directly or indirectly from this disease. Many of us are legitimately concerned about our own health and the health of family and friends. Given limited mobility outside our homes, feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and sadness may set in.
In Judaism, health concerns center around body and soul - the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental dimensions of our lives. Each day, we recite prayers regarding the physicality of our bodies, the daily renewal of our souls, a petition for the healing of ourselves and loved ones, and more.
It is no accident that the shortest prayer in the Bible, one which is easily memorized, is the prayer Moses offers when his sister Miriam takes ill: "El na rfah na lah - God, please heal her please."
On Torah reading days, we at Beth Emeth recite a Mi Sheberach healing prayer. Many names of men and women are publically listed at the request of the names mentioned or from family and friends. The circumstances which define one's personal situation are very broad, incorporating body, mind, and soul. In that prayer, we utter the words, "Refuat Ha'Nefesh U'Refuat Ha'Guf - Healing of the soul and healing of the body."
On Monday evening November 30 at 6:30pm (following Maariv at 6pm), I invite you to join me and Rabbi David Grundland on Zoom for a Beth Emeth Healing Service. This half hour together will include prayer, meditation, and song. All are invited for any reason.
The last several months have been challenging on many levels, and our concerns continue to exist. I strongly encourage everyone to abide by the new guidelines. We at Beth Emeth are here to support you in any way we can. Do not hesitate to call upon us.
BEBY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Sunday, December 13, 2020
9:00 AM via Zoom
Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available
SYNAGOGUE NEWS
YAHRZEIT NOTICES Yahrzeit notices will now be going out by email. During the transition (until the end of the calendar year) we will be sending them out by regular mail as well. If you received your notice by mail but not email, please let us know.
Would you like a misheberach said for someone who is ill? Please email Rabbi David
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.
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.
