Enjoyed our services? Want to find out more about us? Speak to one of our Board members following services or contact our office 905-889-0276 x31 or shalom@beitrayim.org www.beitrayim.org
2011 Judy Stein Volunteer of the Year Award Do you know someone from our synagogue who has been an outstanding volunteer this past year? Someone who has devoted much of their time and energy to the growth, development and day to day, week to week functioning of Beit Rayim? Please submit your nomination to the Synagogue office by e-mail to admin@beitrayim.org and tell us why this person deserves to be recognized for this prestigious award, which will be presented on Saturday, September 24 at Shabbat services. Deadline for nominations is August 19, 2011
Calling All High School Students If you would like to earn volunteer hours during the High Holy Days, please contact Tracy Handler, Youth Team Leader at mt_handler@sympatico.ca by August 15. Spaces are limited. Preference will be given to Beit Rayim Member Families in good standing, and who have children's programming experience. Coming Soon. Our exciting initiative to help grow our Congregation. Everyone can participate and we will all benefit from this program. Can’t wait? Email Larry at president@beitrayim.org
August 13, 2011 ~ 13 AV 5771 Shabbat Nachamu Parashat Vaetchanan
פרשת ואתחנן
M AZEL TOV TO KELLY AND MITCHELL ZISKINDER ON THE NAMING OF THEIR DAUGHTER. BEIT RAYIM WELCOMES MICHAEL JAY, RABBINIC INTERN OF CONGREGATION AGUDATH ISRAEL IN CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, TO OUR CONGREGATION THIS WEEK. The Congregational Kiddush will be held on Main Street following services.
שבת שלום
Today - Part III of “The Month of Av: Reproach, Lamentation, and Comfort”. presented by Michael Cole
Membership Renewal Information was mailed to you on July 4. If you have not yet received your package please contact the syngaogue office.
Please mark your calendars . Saturday, September 24, 2011 Special Shabbat to Honour our 2011 Judy Stein Volunteer of the Year Award winner, Volunteers and Chidon Hatanach Participants We want to stay in touch with you. Please make sure we have a current email address on file.
Annual Torah reading: Numbers 3:23 - 7:11 (Etz Hayim, p. 1005; Hertz, p. 755) Beit Rayim Triennial Reading: Numbers 3:23 – 5:18 (Etz Hayim, p. 1005; Hertz, p. 755) Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1 – 26 (Etz Hayim, p. 1033; Hertz, p. 776)
ANNOUNCEMENTS/הודעות
The Congregation extends its sympathies to Sharon Day-Feldman, on the passing of her father, Samuel th Day, z”l, on August 8 . The Congregation thanks Kelly and Mitchell Ziskinder for sponsoring today’s Kiddush in honour of the naming of their daughter. The Congregation thanks Steven Silverberg for making a donation to the Kiddush Fund in memory of his father, Morris Silverberg, z”l. The Congregation thanks Roslyn and Sydney Ticker for making a donation to the Kiddush Fund in memory of Sydney’s sister, Shirley Brothman, z”l. If you are receiving an Honour/Aliyah, please make sure to arrive at the beginning of the service and introduce yourself to the Gabbai at the door. This week: August 13, 2011– August 19, 2011 we remember
Rose Berg, z”l, aunt of Paula Silver Shirley Brothman, z”l, sister of SydneyTicker and aunt of Chuck Ticker Martin Ginsler, z”l, father of Irwin Ginsler Fanny Hamer, z”l, mother of Sharon Kaplan Roselind Shapero, z”l, mother of Rob Shapero Morris Silverberg, z”l, father of Steven Silverberg Gertie Solomon, z”l, grandmother of Ronda Goldberg May their souls be bound up in the bonds of eternal life, Amen.
Looking for a few good “Shabbat Buddies”
We are looking to create a roster of drivers who would be willing to pick up and take home some of our members who can no longer drive to services. If you would be willing to “Buddy” up with a member, please contact Fran at the synagogue office: admin@beitrayim.org / t.905-889-0276 x31
Ushers and Set-up Volunteers needed for the
High Holy Days. Please contact the synagogue office: dmin@beitrayim.org or 905889-0276 x31 Donate a Chumash or Siddur in honour or memory of a person or a special event. Contact the office for details: shalom@beitrayim.org or 905-889-0276 x31
Please circle your calendars August 19, 2011 Last date for nominations for the Judy Stein Volunteer of the Year Award Friday, August 15 Deadline to apply for Youth Volunteer hours during High Holy Days September 1, 2011 Renewal Deadline to have tickets Mailed Thursday, September 8, 2011 First Day of Beit Rayim Hebrew School (Grades 2-7) Sunday, September 11, 2011 First Day of Beit Rayim Hebrew School (JK-Grade 1) Saturday, September 24 Volunteer and Chidon Participants Honouring Shabbat – 9 AM Selichot – 11 PM Wednesday, September 28 Erev Rosh Hashanah
Excerpted from PARASHAT Vaetchanan - Prepared by Rabbi Joseph Prouser (Courtesy of USCJ) As always, parashat Vaetchanan is read on the first Shabbat after Tishah B’Av. That Shabbat is called Shabbat Nachamu, taking its name from the opening words of its special haftarah. In this parashah, Moses continues addressing the Israelite nation, recalling his plea – which God rejects – to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Moses delivers an eloquent oration, adjuring the Israelites to observe God’s commandments, neither adding to them nor subtracting from them. He gives special attention to the prohibitions against idolatry and the creation or use of graven images for idolatrous purposes. All of this is linked explicitly to Israel’s historic experience following the departure from Egypt and the revelatory encounter with God at Sinai. Following a brief recap of the prescription of the three cities of refuge, the theophany at Sinai is recalled. The Decalogue is repeated – with subtle changes in language and phrasing from the Exodus version. It is further recalled that the Israelites, fearing a direct revelation from God, plead with Moses to act as intermediary, delivering God’s commandments to the nation in a less awesome and lethal manner. God assents to this method of transmission. Moses further adjures the people to be faithful in obeying God and in upholding the covenant. The parashah continues with the famous passage, familiar from the daily liturgy that is known as the Shema and V’ahavta. God’s uniqueness – and Israel’s imperative of exclusive devotion to the Almighty – are declared. The following verses prescribe Israel’s duty to love God (V’ahavta), as well as providing the source for the observance of tefillin and mezuzah and recitation of the Shema. Of this critical Scriptural passage, Solomon Schechter wrote in 1907: “For more than twenty-three centuries the world has been busy with the interpretation and translation of Scriptures, and yet no agreement has been reached as to the exact rendering of the fourth verse of the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy containing the confession of Israel’s creed. But the Jew reads the Shema Yisrael and does know it. He cannot translate it, but he feels it and is it.” The commandment to transmit the story of the Exodus from Egypt to your children is prescribed. The Israelites are warned not to test God’s patience or tolerance, but to “do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord.” Israel is commanded not to enter into treaties with the Canaanites and not to marry them; their idolatrous altars and sanctuaries are to be destroyed. God’s faithfulness to those who love and obey Him, as well as His promise of punishment to those who reject Him, is re-emphasized, as are God’s reasons in choosing Israel: His love for the Israelite nation and the merits of their ancestors.
Beit Rayim Babysitters Club Want to attend our programs but need a babysitter? Our babysitters are members of Beit Rayim and would like to be of assistance. Syvanne Avitzur Julian Binder Savannah Binder Maya Brooke Erica Presement Rebecca Gutman Elliot Polster Rachel Szereszewski Please call the synagogue office for their contact information. Want to Join the Babysitters Club? You must be at least 12 years old and have passed the babysitter’s course or equivalent. Call or email the Beit Rayim Synagogue office 905.889.0276 ext. 31or admin@beitrayim.org.
Celebrate your birthday, anniversary or other simcha with your Beit Rayim Family. Receive a special blessing at Shabbat services. “Sponsor” a Congregational Kiddush for $360. or “Co-Sponsor” the Kiddush for $180. (This rate does not apply to the added cost for guests who you invite to attend that week and does not apply to Bar or Bat Mitzvah Kiddushim). “Donate” to the Kiddush is still at a variable rate of your choice. Donations are tax receiptable. Call: 905.889.0276 ext. 31or admin@beitrayim.org
An initiative of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), with the support of the Government of Israel, Holocaust Era Asset Restitution Taskforce Project HEART — aims to provide the tools, strategy, and information to enable the Government of Israel, the project, and its partners to bring about a small measure of justice to eligible heirs of Jewish victims, the victims themselves, and the Jewish people. Please go to www.heartwebsite.org for more information. Deadline to apply is December 1, 2011 The PRIDE OF ISRAEL KOSHER FOOD BANK helps 100 Jewish Welfare families per week. They desperately need non-perishables such as canned goods, pasta, peanut butter and powdered milk. These items should be marked kosher. Or send a cheque to: PRIDE OF ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE KOSHER FOOD BANK OF PRIDE OF ISRAEL 59 Lissom Crescent, Toronto, ON M2R 2P2 Founding Rabbi Rabbi Sol Tanenzapf, z�l Clergy Cantor Eli Bard President Larry Miller Immediate Past President Irv Siegel Chairman of the Board of Directors Shelley Isenberg 209 - 1118 Centre Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 7R9 t. (905) 889-0276 x31 shalom@beitrayim.org www.beitrayim.org www.facebook.com/beitrayimshul
Gilad Shalit
With more than 11 million people across East Africa devastated by drought and famine, United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto has established the African Famine Relief Fund to help relieve their suffering. Fund donations will be sent to IsraAID: The Israeli-based Forum for International Humanitarian Aid which, with the cooperation of the Government of Israel, has already deployed a team of specialists to Kenya, to which 1300 refugees a day are escaping from Somalia. In Kenya, IsraAID will ensure that food and medical relief is deployed as quickly as possible. In addition, the Government of Canada has announced that it will match an equivalent amount to drought relief, for every dollar an individual Canadian donates to eligible registered Canadian charities. The Government of Israel has also been providing ongoing humanitarian assistance to Africa for many years. The United Jewish Appeal African Famine Relief Fund is not part of the annual UJA Federation campaign. 100% of proceeds raised will be designated for IsraAID.
ujadonations.com/AfricanFamine or by calling 416-631-5705.