This Shabbat we are pleased to welcome Rabbi Shai Held, one of the founders of Yeshivat Hadar, a traditional egalitarian yeshiva in New York. Rabbi Held has a new book out titled Judaism is About Love. In it he deftly argues that we Jews need to reclaim Judaism’s essential commitment to love. Yes, we are committed to Halakhah, to Jewish Law, but Jewish Law does not negate nor...

Beth Tzedec Congregation is proud to participate in the Simchat Torah Project, a global initiative that unites the Jewish world and honours and remembers all of those we lost on October 7, and the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for Israel. In early September, Rabbi Fryer Bodzin flew to Israel to bring home a Torah mantle, one that is nearly identical to over 1000 Torah mantles that...

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֣ בְכׇל־הַטּ֗וֹב אֲשֶׁ֧ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּלְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ אַתָּה֙ וְהַלֵּוִ֔י וְהַגֵּ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃ And you shall enjoy and rejoice in, together with the [family of the] Levite and the stranger in your midst, all the bounty that...

David Matlow’s assembly of Herzl memorabilia and artifacts exhibited at Temple Emanu-El’s Streicker CenterDavid Matlow, Beth Tzedec member and curator of the world's largest collection of Theodor Herzl memorabilia, says that the notion of displaying his collection first occurred at Beth Tzedec. “It was my mother’s idea,” Matlow recalls. “She suggested that I do an exhibit at...

Generations Member “pays it forward” to Beth Tzedec Jonathan (Jonny) Ain For Mitchell Rattner, a lawyer, husband, and father of two young daughters, donating to Beth Tzedec is more than just a way to give back—it’s an  investment in the future of a community that has become an important part of his family’s life. “The Generations Membership Program has opened the...

Congregants often wonder why, if they already pay their regular membership dues, Beth Tzedec requests additional philanthropic contributions through the Annual High Holy Day Appeal. The answer lies in the evolving needs of our community and the limitations of the traditional "dues-based" funding model, which was designed for a much simpler synagogue experience of the 1970s. But today, Beth...

This year's Appeal goal set at $650,000Beth Tzedec is on the verge of something extraordinary. Our Annual High Holy Day Appeal has already seen remarkable generosity from our community, pushing results beyond the $400,00 mark. Thanks to the unwavering support of the Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation, our lead donors who are matching contributions up to $150,000, we are well...

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?Beth Tzedec Congregation is continuing its no-fee membership program for those under 40.Click here>> to confirm your no-fee membership now. Or keep reading below for more details about this breakthrough initiative in Toronto’s Jewish community. What’s the Catch? There isn’t one. Beth Tzedec's mission is to inspire members to live meaningful...

This week’s Torah reading, Ki Teitzei, contains the most Mitzvot (Commandments) of any weekly Torah reading. According to the traditional count of there being 613 Mitzvot in the Torah, 74 of them (12%) appear in this week’s reading. The subjects of these Mitzvot are all over the place, ranging from how to treat captives in war to rules about forbidden mixtures, from property law to...

Beth Tzedec Bulletin - Fall/High Holy Days EditionThe latest edition of the Beth Tzedec Bulletin is available for download. Let's celebrate, learn, pray and connect as a community with the many opportunities offered throughout our quarterly catalogue of programs, events and articles.Don't miss any of the news and excitement, including:Celebrating Selichot with Rabbi Shai Held (page...

This coming Sunday and Monday, September 8 and 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Beth Tzedec invites you to add to your Judaica collection. The remaining pieces of our museum collection will be available for sale including unique artwork and ritual objects. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own a piece of our history. Well, not every remaining piece. Some things are not to be sold. One...

We express our profound sorrow and sadness in learning of the murders of six hostages – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi. We join with Israelis and the Jewish people globally in expressing our condolences, love, and support to the families amidst the horror of Hamas' ongoing brutality and violation of...

“The road is long with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows where. But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him. He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.” These lyrics, from a 1969 song by the English rock and pop band The Hollies, are based on a story from a Boys Town orphanage in 1918. Back then, a boy named Howard Loomis was abandoned by his mother at Father Edward J....

Although we are in Canada, I am sure that many of you have been keeping tabs on the upcoming U.S. election, perhaps even watching the televised national conventions. As an American citizen living abroad, I can’t help but turn some of my focus home, thinking about the future of my country and its impact on the world.Aside from my love of the show The West Wing, I would not consider myself a...

Michael (Mickey) Kaplan has been a member of Beth Tzedec (Goel Tzedec) for 83 years. He is retired now from his accounting practice and spends his time travelling, oil painting and enjoying his family. He and his wife wife Phyllis (nee Miller) were married at Beth Tzedec 60 years ago.My name is Michael Kaplan, and I would like to tell you about my family and its long-standing relationship...