On Thursday, February 4 at Shaarei Shomayim, Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl participated in an important panel discussion with community and spiritual leaders as well as medical experts in the areas of adolescent, adult and geriatric psychiatry. This important community conversation was a first step in beginning to explain and break down the stigma of mental illness within the Jewish community.To view...

As we plan for the arrival of the Syrian refugee family we are sponsoring, we have identified three ways our community can help them integrate and adjust to life in Toronto:Housing—We are looking for an affordable two- or three-bedroom apartment in the Lawrence and DVP area of the city. If you own, manage or are aware of a building with a vacancy, please contact me.Electronics—We are in need...

A year ago, I embarked on a project into the as-of-yet unexplored possible. In Toronto, could four rabbis— Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist—sit together and discuss substantive issues of modern Jewish life in a public forum? The result was Young Rabbis Speak. What started as a one-time, exploratory event looking at a range of topics turned into a...

Nn a January 29 eblast to the Congregation, I was pleased to announce that Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl has agreed to defer his retirement by two years, to July 2019. Over the past 22+ years, Rabbi Frydman-Kohl has provided tremendous leadership to our congregational family. As our spiritual leader, he has celebrated with us in times of joy and has provided guidance in times of sorrow. Under...

Thirty years ago, our son lost his cherished nounours in the pedestrian mall in central Jerusalem. He was inconsolable. A friend, coming to visit us for Passover, brought a similar teddy bear from the same manufacturer. But there was no special attachment to the new bear, who remained without a little boy to love it. If I had been Franz Kafka, the story might have had a different...

March 11, 2016—There is a lot happening at Beth Tzedec and below is a review of initiatives that relate to medium and long term planning. As always, please feel free to share your comments and questions by email to me at president@beth-tzedec.org. Strategic Plan – Over the past two years, the Strategic Planning Committee, co-chaired by Larry Wallach and Carolyn Kolers,...

For the past decade, we have enjoyed the cantorial and creative music of our Senior Cantor, Cantor Simon Spiro. In August 2016, at the conclusion of his contract, Cantor Simon will be completing his tenure at our synagogue.During his time at Beth Tzedec, Cantor Simon has provided unique musical direction and has become a friend to many in our community. We all join in wishing Cantor...

I am pleased to announce that Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl has agreed to defer his retirement by two years to July 2019. Over the past 22+ years, Rabbi Frydman-Kohl has provided tremendous leadership to our congregational family. As our spiritual leader, he has celebrated with us in times of joy and has provided guidance in times of sorrow. Under Rav Baruch’s leadership, Beth Tzedec continues to...

The recent policy change for weddings outside of Beth Tzedec has generated discussion about how our rabbis and cantors balance preserving traditional norms while attempting to meet people where they are. In place of a derashah (sermon), Rabbis Frydman-Kohl and Cutler will be joined by Yacov Fruchter, Director of Community Building and Spiritual Engagement to discuss the context,...

“Don’t do for others what they can do for themselves”—this is the iron rule of community organizing. What do you think about this statement? Some believe that embracing this statement is at the core of a successful engagement strategy that is focused on empowering active participants. What does a thriving Beth Tzedec look like to you? Most of us would likely answer...

In my three and a half years so far at Beth Tzedec, I have been fortunate to participate in a number of professional development gatherings with other synagogue educators, both locally and from across North America. Regardless of the purpose of our gathering, be it improving teacher supervision, exploring new ideas in experiential education, or learning how to be better recruiters and...

After graduating high school, i spent a year studying at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, situated just outside of Tel-Aviv. Gap years were not yet de rigeur, and it took a little bit of convincing before my parents sanctioned the trip. Cost was of course a concern, as was academic recognition by a Canadian university upon my return. Ultimately, the school accepted...

They say that all good stories start with "Once upon a time”, so here is my short story for today: Once upon a time two downtown synagogues, part of a budding Jewish community bursting with potential, decided it was time to come together and grow up—moving north. It was time to expand their vision and create a future filled with promise and potential as an integral part of the fabric...

I have devoted most of my bulletin columns as President of Beth Tzedec to delivering messages of which the dominant theme has been transformation. I have described the selection of Hariri Pontarini as the architects of our building renovation, the forthcoming changes in the shul building and personnel, our re-affiliation with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and our array of...

As Jews and Canadians, we face many challenges. We are called to broaden access to Jewish education, creatively continue our tradition, attend to our elderly, support Israel, and defend democratic and free societies. In addition, we must care for poor Jews and provide humanitarian assistance to those who are outside the borders of our community. Having grown up in poverty, I am...