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AUGUST 2020 | AV 5780
COMMUNITY CALENDAR AUGUST 2020
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THE MONTH IN REVIEW. UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS.
TOGETHER TUESDAYS
The JRCC Women’s Circle’s “Tuesdays Together,” a series of dynamic and engaging virtual programs for women, continued in July. The events feature a various timely topics presented by a different guest speakers each Tuesday. Rona Milch Novick, Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at YU, spoke on the topic of “Parenting in a Pandemic.” The following week Mrs. Leah Rubashkin hosted a session on “Seeing the Light in the Darkness.” The JRCC Rebbetzins co-hosted a workshop of Shabbat cooking, and in the final installment for July featured master herbalist RH (AHG), classical homeopath, a board-certified lactation consultant, Sara Chana Silverstein, presenting her groundbreaking approaches to controlling moods and stress. This series is part of the JRCC’s efforts to keep people connected and maintain a sense of community during these times of (physically) social isolation.
2,000 JOIN VIRTUAL GIMMEL TAMMUZ EVENT
The JRCC was part of a group of ten Jewish Russian communities from across North America that hosted a special virtual gathering in honor of Gimmel Tammuz, a day special significance for the Rebbe. The event, titled “Ten Talks, Ten Niggunim, Ten Communities,” featured a series of ten short 15-minute talks delivered by representatives from each community, interspersed with Chassidic melodies. The general theme of the evening was unity, as befitting the Rebbe’s legacy, and the evening itself united community members and leaders from these ten communities, and beyond.
MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE
The JRCC and YEDI (York Entrepreneurial Development Institute) hosted a virtual lecture by Dr. Marat Ressin, President of YEDI. Harnessing his deep knowledge as a PhD in Economics and his vast business experience, Dr. Ressin spoke on the topic of “Management of Change,” which is especially pertinent today as organization have to be more agile and adaptive than ever. The virtual audience was particularly engaged during the interactive Q&A session that followed the lecture. YEDI, which was recently awarded Best Business Support Organization in Canada at the CanadianSME National Business Awards, is dedicated to providing education, training and mentorship in support of businesses and not-forprofit organizations.
JRCC SYNAGOGUES REOPENING
Following the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions by the Government of Ontario, and barring any further developments, the JRCC and its branches are planning to re-open facilities for synagogue services and other programs. The JRCC will strictly adhere to all health regulations, as well as listening to the concerns and needs of community members. If you are interested in attending, be in contact with your local JRCC Rabbi. As the situation is unpredictable, things may change quickly. Stay in touch with the JRCC to stay informed about the latest developments. You can join the email list at jrcc.org/subscribe, and join facebook.com/jrcc.org.
JRCC INCREASES VIRTUAL SENIORS PROGRAMS
As part of continued efforts to assist the most vulnerable in our community, especially seniors ages 70 and above, the JRCC is introducing additional virtual programming for seniors. In addition to the JRCC.help service that assists with grocery shopping, medications, and home welfare check-ins, the JRCC launched a series of weekly educational and cultural virtual gatherings to bring joy and alleviate social isolation, in partnership with the Bernard Betel Centre. On Wednesdays at 11am there is a live interactive virtual meeting comprised of three sessions – an engaging lecture on a timely and relevant topic by Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman, a live interactive musical concert with a professional musician, and a Russian literature session. In addition, on Mondays at 11am there is a class led by Esther Neft of the JRCC Rockford, followed by online sport exercises for seniors. Thanks in part to Bernard Betel Centre’s cooperation, over 7,000 seniors have utilized these new services thus far. If you would like to volunteer or donate to support this initiative, please contact the JRCC.
COMMUNITY ALERT: MISSIONARIES TARGETING SENIORS IN TORONTO
Jewish seniors, many of them from the former Soviet Union, who live in seniors’ residences along the Bathurst Street corridor, have recently once again been targeted by missionaries from the City of David “Messianic Synagogue.” This Christian church uses Hebrew and presents deceptive celebrations featuring “Tikvah,” their musical outreach arm. The missionaries conducted a deceptive bilingual missionary program, in English and Russian, under the guise of providing a Jewish event. Do not attend these events, and ensure your parents and grandparents are aware that this is a scam. If you see any advertisements or other materials, or encounter these missionaries, contact the JRCC or Jews for Judaism for assistance. See article on page 7.
Classes in Russian with Rabbi Asher Altshul Rabbi of Jewish Center “Nachalat Zion”, Brooklyn, NY. Classes on self-validation factors analyzing G-d, Cognitive Dissonance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. EVERY SUNDAY | 8:00pm
Classes in Russian with Rabbi Fishel Chichelnitsky Assistant to Chief Rabbi of Odessa and south Ukraine. Popular lecturer and specialist in Jewish History, Traditions and Chassidic Philosophy. EVERY THURSDAY | 8:00pm
FOR MEN AND WOMEN
Join zoom ID: 416.222.7105 www.zoomus/my/jrcchq Call from your telephone 647.374.4685 and enter 4162227105#
ОНЛАЙН ВСТРЕЧИ ДЛЯ СТАРШЕГО
КОРОТКИЙ УРОК С ЭСТЕР НЕФТ
КОРОТКИЙ УРОК С РАВ. ЗАЛЬЦМАН
ОЗДОРОВИТЕЛЬНАЯ ФИЗКУЛЬТУРА МУЗЫКАЛЬНЫЙ КОНЦЕРТ
ПРИСОЕДИНЯЙТЕСЬ К НАМ: Zoom.us/my/jrcchq Набирайте с телефона: 647-374-4685 Zoom ID: 416.222.7105 и введите 4162227105#
Информация по телефонам: JRCC - 416-222-7105, доб. 245 Bernard Betel - 416-225-2112, доб. 119
Tell us a little about your background and your studies.
I come from Rostov-on-Don, and my wife is from Dnepropetrovsk. We met in Austria, where we both studied at the Vienna International Institute of Applied Sciences. After graduation, I received a Master's Degree in International Marketing and Management. Upon returning to Russia I pursued a second degree in political science.
What did you do after graduation?
I worked at the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia. On behalf of Rabbi Berl Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, I helped communities in various cities across the country open youth clubs and establish processes for engaging the Jews in the community. Nine years ago in Rostov I organized the first Russian Jewish youth club, called “RoshTov,” which is a play on words that is consonant with the name of the city and also means “Good Head” in Hebrew. In addition, I organized large outreach seminars for young people. This initiative led me to visit several cities, including Ufa, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Tomsk, Krasnodar, Bryansk and others. Usually the seminar was held over the weekend from Thursday to Sunday. Youth from different cities in the area would join together, get to know each other, and immerse themselves in a Jewish atmosphere of study and personal growth, featuring leading Jewish lecturers from the US and Israel. They would also participate in outdoor adventure activities like skiing, snowboarding, jeeping and rock climbing. We created a balance of entertainment and educational programs in order to keep the young participants engaged. It was challenging and rewarding planning these weekend retreats well in advance for with a team of about ten people. My other responsibility was to develop connections with major sponsors of Jewish communities from different cities. To bring them together, I organized short trips, mainly to Israel but also to other places including Georgia and South Africa.
When did you arrive in Toronto and what brought you here?
My wife and I and our two children came to Canada from Rostov-on-Don seven months ago at the invitation of the JRCC, to take on the position of Program Director. As in my earlier stint with FJC in Russia, I also began to work on planning and organizing large events. My first project was Chanukah Wonderland, an annual family carnival which drew more than 1,100 participants this past year – more than it has in recent years. We also organized a soccer league and played with the guys every Monday. (I’m really looking forward to when we can play soccer again.) We also worked on several other community programs. Today I would like to talk about a unique project we are currently working on, something that has never been done in Canada before. In addition to my day-to-day responsibilities, I am developing a completely new initiative within the JRCC called JRCC.help. When fully operational, the project will include a wide variety of social programs – including helping seniors during COVID-19, tax clinics, legal consultation and more. Some of the projects are already in place, while others are in development. Two new projects have been recently piloted and are already successfully operating. The first is the “Newborn Baby Care Packages” project. Each Jewish Russianspeaking family that has a new child born receives a gift basket from JRCC with a generous selection of clothing, baby products and Judaica. The only thing the parents (or grandparents) need to do is call the JRCC and let know that the Almighty has blessed them with a new child and we will send them a gift package. The second project, which is less fun but no less important, is the funeral package. According to Jewish custom, it is very important to conduct all the rites associated with burial and mourning days correctly and in accordance with Jewish law – this is something of utmost importance for the soul of the departed. For this reason, we prepared a bereavement basket, including a guide for the mourners, a large memorial candle that burns for the seven days of the “shiva,” the first seven days after the funeral, a bottle of wine, a glass, candles, and some food for the mourners so that they devote more time to the spiritual practice of mourning and not be distracted with cooking. In addition, we give each family a voucher for a complimentary portrait of their deceased loved one. We just need a photograph, and we will order a high portrait professionally printed on high-quality canvas, which we will give as a gift to the family. These projects were launched about a month ago, but, unfortunately, information about the deceased comes to us more regularly than about newborns. I urge everyone to help make a difference. If you know someone who has a son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter, please let us know. Our goal is to accompany and serve every Jew throughout the lifecycle – from the moment of birth, the Brit Mila, the upshernish (inaugural hair cutting for a three year old boy), Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the Chuppa (Jewish wedding) and so on until 120 years. And for each such significant event, we want to prepare useful and memorable gifts from JRCC.
What are your plans for the future?
I look forward to when our synagogues can again be filled with Jewish families praying, learning and celebrating Jewish life together.
NEW: NEWBORN BABY CARE PACKAGES
Each life is a reason to celebrate. Each new child is a gift for his or her family, their community, the Jewish nation and the entire world. Maimonides teaches that anyone who saves one life, it’s as if he saved
For this reason, and to increase the unity and camaraderie in our community, the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario recently launched a Newborn Baby Care Packages project to deliver packages to families post-birth. It is partly a social service to help those in need, and partly a community outreach project to make everyone feel connected to their community.
“We want family to know that their child is precious not only to them, but also to our community and to the Jewish people,” explains Dovid Faynberg, JRCC Program Director and the one responsible for rolling out the new initiative. “This is the motivation behind this project, especially now when we need to find more ways to connect to one another and to our community.”
In the first month of the program, which launched in June, several families received gift packages, with demand expected to increase significantly as people become more aware of the project. The package includes everything necessary for the baby for the first few months, such as baby clothing, a blanket, diapers, wipes, baby toiletries, and several baby-related Judaica items, books and toys. Specific items included may vary depending on needs and availability.
The complimentary packages are available to families of immigrants from the former Soviet and their descendants residing in Ontario during the first month after the birth. Anyone can request a package on their behalf to have a package sent – the parents themselves, grandparents, relatives or friends – by contacting their JRCC branch rabbi or calling 416-222-7105, ext. 245.
FURNITURE DEPOT
JRCC Furniture Depot | 1416 Centre St | Vaughan, ON 416-222-7105 ext. 500 | www.jrccfurnituredepot.org
WE ARE REOPENING AND IN NEED FOR YOUR DONATIONS MORE THAN EVER
Donate your furniture to those in need!
Call us @ 416-222-7105 ext. 248 to get a quote for pick-up
Partly funded by The Regional Municipality of York
JRCC Directory
416-222-7105 | www.jrcc.org
Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario
5987 Bathurst Street, #3 Toronto, ON M2R 1Z3 Canada Office Hours: Sun: 12 — 5 Mon to Thurs: 9 — 6 • Fri: 9 — 3hrs before Shabbat
JRCC BRANCHES
JRCC of Ontario: 5987 Bathurst St., #3 Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman x278 Roi Aftabi, COO x257 JRCC Woodbridge: 25 Sandwell St. Rabbi Avrohom Yusewitz x261 JRCC S. Richmond Hill & Maple: 9699 Bathurst St. Rabbi Avrohom Zaltzman x247 JRCC Concord: 411 Confederation Parkway, #14 Rabbi Avraham Weinstein x 249 JRCC Affiliate CRC of Thornhill Woods: 8808 Bathurst St. Rabbi Chaim Hildeshaim x224 JRCC West Thornhill: 1136 Centre St., #2 Rabbi Levi Jacobson x240 JRCC East Thornhill: 7608 Yonge St., #3 Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman x227 JRCC South Thornhill: 1 Cordoba Dr., Party Room Rabbi Levi Blau x288 JRCC Steeles & Hilda: 175 Hilda Ave., Party Room Mr. Melekh Brikman x282 JRCC at Rockford: 18 Rockford Rd. Rabbi Shmuel Neft x235 JRCC Affiliate Jewish Gorsky Assn.: 465 Patricia Ave. Rabbi Dovid Davidov x255 Downstairs JRCC Willowdale: 5700 Yonge St. Rabbi Yisroel Zaltzman x231
JRCC Sheppard & Bathurst Senior’s Building
4455 Bathurst St., Party Room / Mr. Roman Goldstein x221
JRCC Lawrence & Bathurst Senior’s Building
3174 Bathurst St., Party Room x221
JRCC AFFILIATES Danforth Beaches
Rabbi Shalom Lezell (416) 809-1365
Durham Region
Rabbi Tzali Borensein (905) 493-9007
Georgina, Ontario
Rabbi Yossi Vorovitch (905) 909-8818
Hamilton Region
Rabbi Chanoch Rosenfeld (905) 529-7458
London, Ontario
Rabbi Lazer Gorgov (519) 438-3333
Niagara Region
Rabbi Zalman Zaltzman (905) 356-7200
Ottawa, Ontario
Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn (613) 218-8505
Waterloo Region
Rabbi Moshe Goldman (519) 725-4289
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS L&M Gelfand Daycare
JRCC Daycare and Preschool x501
JRCC Hebrew School
Sunday and after-school program x225
Institute of Jewish Studies
Classes & Lectures for Adults x221
Exodus Magazine
Monthly Publications in Rus & Eng x222
JRCC Bookstore & Library
jrcc.org/bookstore x221
SOCIAL PROGRAMS
Furniture Depot: 1416 Centre St. #6 x500 jrccfurnituredepot.org Hospital & Jail Visitations x221 Family Counselling & Legal Advice Holiday Programs x234 Events, Parties & Holiday Awareness Jewish Identity Verification x237 Mazal Makalski jewishidentity@jrcc.org Simcha Gemach x234 Chanie Zaltzman chanie.zaltzman@jrcc.org Volunteering x254 Get involved in your community!
YEDinstitute – Entrepreneurial Mentorship
x221 yedinstitute.org
