IN THIS ISSUE: Message and Announcements from Rabbi David Torah Talk for your Table - BO: Timing Is Everything Upcoming Events for the BEBY NEXTgen Community (for all age groups): - BNAI MITZVAH PROGRAM UPDATE!!! - Havdallah, Pizza and Parshah BEBY NEXTgen Community Connection - Kids Pre-Shabbat Party with Morah Debbie - EVERY FRIDAY! - Virtual Tu BiShvat Tours of Israel with Betzalel Steinhartz from Ramah Israel - FJMC World Wide Wrap - Teen Community Service opportunity - NEW: Bialik Parent Speaker Series - Challenges Families Face During Covid
Shalom Everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy. I also know I'm not alone in my experience that life has felt overwhelming lately. Yet, I am so grateful for my family and friends who have really been there as a support for me, and even more grateful that I have had the opportunity to be a support for others.
As a community, our goal is to strive to support each other. If you need an ear to listen, help finding resources or other support your family needs, please don't hesitate to reach out. It is so important that we take care of our mental and physical health and your Beth Emeth community is here for you.
FLYERS FOR ALL UPCOMING PROGRAMS BELOW! (For programs from the broader Beth Emeth Community, visit the Beth Emeth website: www.beby.org.)
THIS SUNDAY we begin UNIT 2 of our all new BNAI MITZVAH EXPERIENCE!
This unit is called "The Mitzvah in Bnai Mitzvah" and we will be exploring and experiencing some of the most important aspects of living a Jewish life and creating a Jewish identity. While the sessions are geared to the Bnai Mitzvah kids, every session will be meaningful for the whole family; parents and siblings should feel welcome to join us on the journey. Flyer and regitration details below or click here!
NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT, January 30, join us for another HAVDALAH PIZZA AND PARSHA! See the flyer below or click here to register!
We are also looking to create a NEXTgen team of volunteers who are lookng to make things happen for the benefit of their friends, families, and our community in general. If you are interested in getting involved, pease let me know!
For more information about what is happening check out www.beby.org.
SHABBAT SHALOM!!!
Rabbi David, Director of Ritual and NEXTgen Community rabbidavid@beby.org
TORAH TALK FOR THE TABLE with Rabbi David
BO - Timing Is Everything
In this parsha we read about our Nation of Israel leaving slavery in Egypt. However, just before we left, HaShem gave us the first official mitzvah: the mitzvah to mark Rosh Chodesh, the new month.
That might seem like a strange place to start. Shouldn't HaShem have started with something like Shabbat? What about the rules of keeping kosher? Why didn't HaShem start by telling us to respect our parents?
Our rabbis teach us that there is one thing that truly separates a person who is free from one who is a slave: a free person is in control of their own time, and a slave has to do what their master says, when their master says.
When HaShem told us to start counting months according to the way the moon looks in the sky (new moon = new month) HaShem was telling us that we are in control of how we choose to spend our time.
The more time we spend bring goodness into the world, the more free we can all be.
Questions for Discussion:
Are you in control of your own time? If someone (parents or teachers for example) tells you how to spend your time, do you feel like a free person or a slave? Why? Why do you think it is important to have rules and boundaries about how we spend our time? How do you like to spend your "free time"?
UNIT ONE, Connecting to Israel and how that impacts Jewish Identity was amazing. You can watch the recorded programs here . UNIT TWO - The Mitzvah in Bnai Mitzvah will be starting at the end of January. Watch for the full program description and flyer, coming soon. Mark the following dates in your calendar for Unit 2 NOW!
January 24, 10am - Protecting Our World January 31, 10am - All about Shabbat February 7, 10am - Take a Trip Inside a Torah Scroll and Inside Tefillin Boxes February 14, 10am - Everything you need to know about Jewish History in 20 minutes
You can still register your kids for the rest of this year's Bnai Mitzvah Experience.
If you have a child who recently had, or is about to have their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, this program is for you. It will be fun, experiential, educational, engaging, thought provoking and will give your Bnai Mitzvah kids a real sense of connection to our local and broader Jewish community. Sign up here!
UPCOMING EVENTS
BEBY NEXTgen Community Connection
In this section we will be including programs, articles, links, and updates from our community members. It is one way we can all support each other - as a community!
Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue 100 Elder Street Toronto, ON M3H 5G7
