Your Weekly BEBY Blast for Parshat Vayishlach and more!
03/12/2020 05:01:41 PM
Dec3
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WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 4
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
TONIGHT
6:00 PM - Mincha/Maariv Where: FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM Sponsor: Maariv is sponsored this evening by Helen Katz and family on the yahrzeit of Harry Lewkowicz ז״ל - beloved father and grandfather.
12:00 PM - Rabbi Morrison's Study Class - Parshat Ha'Shavua - The Weekly Torah Portion - CANCELLED
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
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5
9:30 AM - Shabbat service Where: LIVESTREAM Sponsor: Services this morning are sponsored by Bubby & Zaidy Carrel in honour of the 20th birthday of their granddaugther, Goldie Rice and by Ruth Schwartz and Bernie & Riva Schwartz to commemorate the 12th yahrzeit of Morris Schwartz ז״ל . May the memory of Moshe ben Eliyahu haLevi be a blessing for all who knew and loved him.
5:29 PM - Havdalah
After Shabbat - Havdalah Service Will include recitation of Sunday's yahrzeits as well as personal Kaddish Where: FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
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 today is sponsored by David & Micca Starr in loving memory of Marvin ז״ל and Roslyn Starr ז״ל .
1:30 PM - Greening Committee program -Decreasing Food Waste While Addressing Hunger Click here to register Where: ZOOM - link will be made available to registered attendees 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
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9
8:00 AM - Shacharit Where: FACEBOOK LIVEor ZOOM Sponsor: Shacharit is sponsored by Judith & Hymie Suraski and family in memory of Bayla Suraski ז״ל , beloved mother and grandmother, on the occasion of her yahrzeit.
7:30 PM - Music Committee Program with Josh Grossman - From Basie to Brookmeyer and Beyond Click here to register Where: ZOOM - link will be made available to registered attendees
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10
Chanukah Night 1 8:00 AM - Shacharit Where: FACEBOOK LIVEor ZOOM 12:00 PM - Rabbi Morrison's Study Class - Parshat Ha'Shavua - The Weekly Torah Portion Where:FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM
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 and Chanukiah lighting Join a different Beth Emeth family each night immediately following Maariv for Chanukah candle lighting Where: FACEBOOK LIVE orZOOM
3:45 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat service and early Chanukah candle lighting Mincha, Reading of the Shabbat Yahrzeits, and Kabbalat Shabbat (up to and including L'cha dodi) Join a different Beth Emeth family each night immediately following Maariv for Chanukah candle lighting Where: FACEBOOK LIVE or ZOOM 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
Faithful to our heritage wherever we live
Dear Congregational Family,
At the outset of Parshat Vayishlach, Jacob sends messengers to Esau, who is approaching him with armed men. Jacob instructs his messengers to inform Esau that he had been living at the home of his uncle Laban all this time. While the plain verse seems straightforward, our ancient commentators find additional insight and meaning in every letter and word of Torah. One particular Midrash quoted by Rashi notes that the letters comprising "Garti - I lived" are the same letters which comprise "Taryag," the numerical acronym for all six hundred and thirteen commandments deduced from the Torah. Thus, the Midrash states, "I lived (Garti) with the wicked Laban, but I observed the Taryag Mitzvot and did not learn from Laban's bad actions."
Whether or not we are to believe that Jacob literally knew or practiced all six hundred thirteen commandments at this formative time in Jewish history is not the point, in my opinion. The Midrash, cited by Rashi, is coming to teach us that wherever we live and even under challenging circumstances, every Jew is capable of being faithful to the commandments, customs, and traditions of Judaism. Certainly, Rashi and the authors of earlier Midrashim were conversant of the Mitzvot in Judaism. Many Midrashim were composed when the Jewish people were oppressed by foreign cultures in antiquity. Rashi, living in the 1100's, was witness to the Crusades of the Middle Ages. Notwithstanding the overwhelming challenges facing the Jewish people over the course of our history, the commentary I have shared is meant to encourage us to be faithful to that which defines us as a Jewish people - our Jewish way of life.
In Jewish tradition, Laban was considered evil. In the Biblical text, he takes advantage of and manipulates Jacob time and time again. In the Passover Haggadah, we read, "Go and inquire what Laban the Aramean intended to do to Jacob our Patriarch." That part of the Haggadah contrasts the overt wickedness of Pharaoh to the subtle wickedness of Laban. The term "Aramean" in the Haggadah can be spelled otherwise as "Ramai," translated as deceiver or Roman. Laban's name became a term symbolic of Roman oppression of the Jewish people during the Second Temple period and beyond.
Today, the opening days of December 2020 are marked by the unprecedented pandemic and in a time of the calendar where Judaism is clearly felt as a minority religion in the world. The interpretation on Jacob dwelling in Laban's house teaches us that regardless of circumstance, we can freely choose to be faithful to our heritage.
BEBY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Sunday, December 13, 2020
9:00 AM via Zoom PLEASE VISIT BEBY.ORG/AGM FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER
SYNAGOGUE NEWS
Please note the Synagogue office will be closed from Thursday, December 24th at noon until Monday, January 4 at 9am.
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
WE EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO:
Pearl Grundland, Batya Rottmann, Rabbi David Grundland, Yoni Grundland, Sam Grundland and families on the loss of their husband, father, and brother, Gidon Grundland ז״ל
The family of our member Ronald Jacobson ז״ל
Honi Sacks and family on the loss of her brother, Ernie Cooper ז״ל
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.
