Reclamation: A Concert in Support of the Renewal of the Czech Sefer Torah

Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue and Toby & Saul Feldberg & Family are proud to present Reclamation: A concert in support of the renewal of the Czech Sefer Torah and Beit Halochem Canada.

Featuring: 

Cantor David Guber
Moshe Hammer, Renowned Violinist
Cantor Daniel Gildar, Accompanist
The Lachan Choir conducted by Cantor Beny Maissner
Rabbi Dr. Allan Nadler, Master of Ceremonies

Thursday, October 18. 7:30 pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR : 

General Admission  $54  ($36 NOW SOLD OUT)
Reserved Seating $108, 180 + includes reception and mention in program

Sponsorships available and welcomed. Please call Rabbi Leslie Lipson at 416-633-3838.

Call the office for tickets: 416-633-3838 

ABOUT THE CZECH SEFER TORAH

Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda recently acquired and has begun restoring a very special Torah Scroll with an extraordinary history. This Torah Scroll is over 300 years old, surviving both World Wars. It comes from Bohemia which, at the time of the Torah’s writing, was a kingdom of the Roman Empire, and is now in modern-day Czech Republic. The splendour of our Czech Torah Scroll is in its ktav — script. The ktav is written in the flowery Bohemian style with letter shapes, flourishes and tagin (crowns) that have fallen into disuse. But what is even more profound is that our Czech Torah Scroll survived the Holocaust. In 1942, members of the existing Jewish community in Prague brought a large collection of Judaica — which included over 1500 Torah scrolls to the Central Jewish Museum in Prague from synagogues and communities in Bohemia and Moravia that were destroyed at the hands of the Nazis. In cataloguing and storing these Torah scrolls, the members of the Jewish community recognized the impending doom of Jews and Judaica in Nazi Europe, and hoped that someday and somehow these Torah scrolls would return to Jewish communities. At some time after the War, this Torah Scroll was separated from that collection and found its way to our shul where we are cherishing it and fulfilling the hope of the Jewish community of Prague. 

Learn more about the project: beby.org/czechitout

ABOUT BEIT HALOCHEM CANADA

Beit Halochem Canada, Aid to Disabled Veterans of Israel, is committed to rehabilitating, rebuilding and enhancing the lives of over 51,000 Israelis who have become disabled in the line of duty or as victims of terror. Beit Halochem Centres in Israel provide specialized sports, recreational and therapeutic programs. Caring for disabled veterans and giving them the help they need is Beit Halochem’s top priority. It is a place where the disabled and their families can regain dignity and quality of life. Our synagogue has had a strong relationship with Beit Halochem, including having the honour of hosting the visits of  disabled veterans.

Visit beithalochem.ca to learn more.

PERFORMERS

David Guber

Cantor Guber proudly continues his family’s heritage of three generations of Chazzanim. David was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and made Aliya to Israel with his family in 1995. After completing his active service with the elite IDF 890 Paratrooper Brigade, David continued his education and began to develop and grow his skills and craft under the tutelage of his father, Shlomo. David became a clergy member for Temple Hillel in North Woodmere, Long Island, New York and Montreal. In May 2017, he joined Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue.

Moshe Hammer
Admired for his artistic style, unique interpretations and vibrant tone, Hungarian-born violinist Moshe Hammer, was raised in Israel and studied there with Ilona Feher.  As a student of Jascha Heifetz he was a medal winner at the Concours Jacques Thibaud in Paris. Hammer is a dedicated advocate for children in the arts and in 2007 launched his project, The Hammer Band - From Violence to Violins, bringing free music lessons and violins to school children in ‘at risk’ areas.

Benjamin Maissner
Cantor Maissner has been cantor and music director of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto since 1979.He has been a featured soloist in such theatres as the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem Theater, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 1996 he performed with the San Francisco Symphony under the direction of Michael Tillson Thomas, which was a collaboration with the San Francisco Youth Orchestra and the “Grateful Dead.” He has also served as musical consultant for documentaries including To Mend the World and The Man Who Hid Anne Frank. In March 2001, he was recognized with an honorary doctorate in music from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.

Lachan - Toronto Jewish Chamber Choir
Founded in 1993 by Cantor Maissner, Lachan consists of enthusiastic Toronto-based musicians who share a love of music.  The Choir is known for its musical virtuosity and its comprehensive repertoire and has earned an impressive reputation. It is best known for its “Sounds of Healing Project” in Nuremberg, Germany in 2000. In 2006, Lachan was privileged to participate in the worldwide “Olympic Choir Games” in China. In 2008, marking the seventieth anniversary of Kristallnacht, Lachan was invited to Hanover, Germany to participate in the commemoration of this tragic event.

Daniel Gildar
Cantor Gildar is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, majoring in piano, theory and voice. In addition to his cantorial duties, he has an international reputation as an accompanist of both cantorial and secular music. He has participated in seven historic missions to Eastern and Central Europe under the auspices of the Chaim and Gila Weiner Society for the Advancement of Cantorial Art. Cantor Gildar has been the accompanist for every concert produced by Cantors of the World.

Allan Nadler, Master of Ceremonies
Rabbi Dr. Nadler is a Montreal native, graduate of the city’s Adath Israel Hebrew Academy and McGill University. He completed his MA and PhD at Harvard University, and was ordained by both Yeshivat Merkaz Ha-Talmud of Montreal and the Rabbinical Court of Massachusetts, in Boston. He is Wallerstein Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies at Drew University, where he taught for twenty years since 1998, before retiring at the end of 2017.  In 2005, and again in 2011 and 2012, Dr. Nadler was Visiting Professor of Jewish Studies at McGill University in Montreal, where he had previously been a full-time faculty member from 1982-1984, and an adjunct professor from 1984-1990. Rabbi Nadler served the Charles River Park Synagogue in Boston (1977-1981) and Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Westmount (Montreal), Canada (1981-1991).