Amy Kronish, a world authority on Israeli films,  gave a lecture and presented movie clips on War and Peace: Changing Attitudes. She had an excellent rapport with the audience, engaging them in a lively discussion and leaving them wanting more. Speaking to Young Professionals on the provocative theme of The Jewish Mother in Film: Shrieking, Hysterical and Overprotective, Kronish...

Speech ContestThe Beth Tzedec Men's Club and Sisterhood recently concluded their second annual Speech Contest. The top student speakers (in alphabetical order) are Noam Cotton, Hannah Saffer Spiro, Asher Zeldin, Eton Ziner-Cohen, Tiphaera Ziner-Cohen and Zach Zittell. Presentations will be made at the Annual Awards Breakfast on Sunday, June 9 at 9:30 a.m. The first-place...

Beth Tzedec families celebrated Israel @ 65 with a trip back in time to experience the magic momentsof each decade since the creation of the Modern State of Israel in 1948. The exciting events helped inspire fun activities for children to expand their knowledge about Israel and grow their love for our homeland.How did we relive Israel over the last 65 years? 1940s—Israel celebrated Independence...

Four years ago, when I became chair of Beth Tzedec’s Board of Governors, there were so many things I hoped to accomplish, in partnership with then incoming President Norman Kahn and the support of our new  Executive and Board. Thanks to your participation in Town Hall meetings, surveys, focus groups, emails and  informal discussions, we identified a number of goals  and...

Well, many thought it the best show yet. With Purim being early (our things are always early or late), the wizards (Cantor Simon and Aliza Spiro) pulled off a spectacular coup: A gallop through the very best of the last seven years, moving from Disney to Vegas and the Wild West, the Austrian Alps, and passing through the Roaring Twenties on the way to Scandinavia,...

Those are the words to a Thomas Morley English madrigal that Aliza had to perform for Mother’s Day when she was in second grade. She still sings that every May. Indeed, there is a merry spirit to the month of May and it makes me want to celebrate, preferably with all of you. The month of May has been declared Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario. Thanks to the work of MPPs Mike Colle, Peter...

The snow is really gone, the rain is falling and the spring has finally sprung. If you are like me, you get a lift when you see spring flowers poking through the last snow, and you delight in hearing and seeing so many birds – including the ones that are nesting in the soonto- be-fixed light fixture over my porch. The Pesaẖ dishes are stored; I have done my counting of the omer up to Shavuot;...

It is so hard to believe that the end is near. We wanted to be able to say goodbye to all of Beth Tzedec and thank you for an incredible year.Coming to Beth Tzedec, we didn’t expect that the Jewish community here would be so warm, inviting and welcoming towards us. Our expectations were that we would work, plan programs and have a new experience. We expected to give to...

Calling all 2013-2014 High School students (Grades 9 to 12): Would you like to volunteer on the High Holy Days? We are looking for volunteers to help in the youth activity rooms and other places in the Synagogue. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Youth Director Aily Leibtag at 416-781-3514 ext. 239. You...

Out of the ColdThe fourth annual Out of the Cold Art Show and Fundraiser was held on Sunday, April 14 at Beth Sholom Synagogue. The artwork that is painted by our guests every Tuesday evening during our winter program was displayed and available for sale. The event was a huge success. Thirteen of the artists attended the show and in addition to their artwork, they each wrote and displayed a...

Beth Tzedec Congregation, The Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto, Holy Blossom Temple, and Toronto's greater Jewish community are anticipating another tremendous gathering on the evening Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 pm. The fall event, Part I of "The End of the Shul as We Know It?" with Professor Jonathan Sarna was so well received.  There was an impressive...

Out of the Cold It is hard to believe that the 15th season of our Out of the Cold program has almost ended. The Out of the Cold program is a volunteer initiative that consists of congregations from faith groups, community members and advocates who provide safe refuge, hospitality and emergency shelter to the homeless community throughout the City of Toronto. Our joint venture with Beth...

We are looking for host families for our new shinshim (Israeli Young Emissaries), Maya Schwartz and Barak Tal. Our two enthusiastic young Israelis can't wait to get to know the Beth Tzedec family and spend time with you and your children. Can you make a three-month commitment to welcome Maya or Barak into your home? To learn more about the opportunity to be a host family, please email Todd...

We are pleased and proud to welcome you to the new Beth Tzedec website. This site is the direct result of the thoughtful and considered advice, responses and suggestions – and the many, many hours of hard work – contributed by our devoted Klei Kodesh, professional staff, lay leadership and the many volunteers who lent their talents, professional expertise or brute force to this...

“It is not what one says, but rather what one does,that makes all the difference in the world.” (Pirkei Avot 1:17) The volunteer experience is something remarkable for families. In the cold of winter, Beth Tzedec families come together to lend a helping hand. On Tuesday nights, with smiling faces, they roll up their sleeves to prepare and serve food to those less...