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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
One-stop wedding planning at Marriott Yorkville
CAROLYN BLACKMAN
[email protected]
Y
ou’re in great hands when you book
a simchah at Toronto Marriott Bloor
Yorkville Hotel (416-961-8000), says Alicia
Bodanis, director of sales and marketing.
“Our certified event planners help to ensure flawless events.”
Each planner has completed coursework, she says, and is qualified to co-ordinate weddings of all types.
“They can help you determine an overall vision for your wedding and help you
execute each detail. That includes setting
an event budget, deciding on a menu, arranging table settings, and finding florists,
photographers, a band and other entertainment for the big day.”
What this means, she says, “is that you
can walk in the door or give us a call, and
the planning begins. It is a one-stop event.
Our team takes care of you from start to
finish. We can save you many hours of
work.”
Bodanis says that with the hotel’s brand
new function space, there are now 12,000
square feet of entertainment space available in nine rooms.
“You can host an intimate ceremony or
Forest Hill Ballroom
a grand Yorkville dinner-dance for up to
250 people. Valet parking is available at
reasonable prices for all the guests.”
Crisp, white table linen is provided,
and there are bud vases or candle centrepieces available. “When we say nothing
extra needs to be done, we mean it,” she
stresses.
For those who want their own touch,
however, the hotel is connected to many
outside decorators, and is happy to work
with others. “We want to make your party
the way you want it. You decide what’s important to you, and we help you accordingly.”
Kosher food is provided by an outside
provider she says, and for non-kosher
meals, customized menus are prepared
by Michael Picken, executive chef and
director of food and beverages, who has
worked in luxury hotels all over the world
including in Scotland and in Australia.
“He meets with all clients personally to
plan whatever type of meal they are look-
ing for,” Bodanis says.
Clients can choose plated or buffet dinners, or opt to have reception stations,
which include “the farm” with turkey,
beef, lamb; “the sea”; and the “market
garden,” featuring a caesar station, and
garden fresh vegetable crudites.
Plated dinners, which are a minimum
of three courses, start with salad or soup,
such as braised beef barley, fire roasted
tomato and pepper or potato leek and
fennel. Specialty entrees include roasted Canadian beef prime rib, pan seared
halibut, seared Lake Erie trout, or for the
vegetarians, Yucatan roasted corn and
black bean tart.
Bodanis says she always reminds clients
that they are having the event in a fourstar hotel, and they are happy to arrange
blocks of guest rooms. “We provide special rates for groups in our well-designed
and spacious rooms.
“We also offer hospitality suites for our
guests, and a two-level bridal suite, complete with French doors.”
Prospective hosts and hostesses merely
have to make an appointment, and their
simchah can be arranged from start to
finish. “We’re there from the first plan,
until the last guest leaves,” says Bodanis. n
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
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for all your
upcoming
holiday needs
From residential private
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entertaining we cater
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
The go-to store for
menswear
BARBARA SILVERSTEIN
Mitzuyan
Kosher Catering
UNDER SUPERVISION
Kosher at it’s best!
Now Offering
AN ALL INCLUSIVE
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STARTING AT $59
Mitzuyan understands how difficult and frustrating it can be to
plan a simcha for your family, friends or corporate gathering.
Mitzuyan Kosher Caterers combines their talents to find you
the perfect venue and design a menu package that will exceed
all of your expectations for your upcoming event.
Our mobile kosher kitchen allows us to prepare the freshest
and finest cuisine on site on the day of your function.
We are the exclusive kosher caterer for Beth Radom
Congregation, The Avenue Banquet Hall, The Boulevard. We
are the preferred kosher caterer at Angus Glen Country Club,
Paramount and Bellagio, The Manor, Spirale, Hazelton Manor.
Contact us at 416-419-5260 or email
[email protected]
to find out about our all inclusive promotions starting at $59
Special to The CJN
W
hen Sherri Wolfish took her son,
Max, 22, shopping for a suit this
summer, she decided to go to Tom’s Place,
the iconic discount men clothier in Kensington Market (190 Baldwin St.). She didn’t
know what to expect.
“An older woman assisted us and when
I first saw her, I thought what does she
know about fitting a kid like Max?” Wolfish recalls. “Turns out the woman was very
sharp. She sized him and much to my surprise she knew exactly what kind of suit
would work best for him.
“It was an incredibly satisfying shopping
experience.”
Owner, Tom Mihalik, 58, was pleased to
hear Wolfish’s positive review of his store.
“We have very experienced staff. They
understand styles and body types. Here
the customer is the king.”
For some time, Tom’s Place (416-5960297) has been Toronto’s go-to store for
well-priced menswear, particularly suits,
says Mihalik.
During the year, he also holds several
large warehouse sales at the International
Centre and at the Miles Nadal JCC (MNJCC).
Mihalik says the value he offers customers is key to his success. “There are some
great suits out there for $2,000 or $2,500,
but not everybody can afford to spend
that kind of money.
“At our store they can get a good suit for
$350 to $550. We are very price conscious.
We will find you a suit for your budget. We
will sell you a good suit at a reasonable
price. We only sell suits that are 100 per
cent wool.”
He also sells suits retailing for $250 to
$350 for younger men starting careers.
“These suits are very well made. You can
attend any function in those suits.
“You can’t go wrong with a good suit. It’s
the first thing people see when you go for
a job interview. You need to be presentable. A good suit always comes in handy.”
Mihalik says many younger men are very
stylish. “I have not seen so many young
men dressing as nicely as today.”
He says a sizeable portion of his stock is
geared to younger customers. “We carry a
lot of slim-fitting suits. We also understand
that not everybody can fit into a slim suit.
We have our garments moderately styled
and cut to give the illusion of a slim-fitting
suit.
“We also carry sweaters, sports jackets
and tweedy sports jackets for young men.”
Some men in this age range who are
more established are looking for high-end
suits, says Mihalik. “Luxury brands were
introduced in the store because more and
more young people are shopping for luxury European brands at affordable prices.
Most of these luxury brands are Swedish
or Italian.”
And he had to expand the store to accommodate the younger generation, he
says.“We took over one of the fish stores
and we did a major renovation. The footprint is larger now and the layout is much
better.”
Tom’s Place, originally called William’s
Bargain Store, was founded by his father, William Mihalik, in 1958, shortly after
he emigrated from Hungary. Mihalik and
his mother left Hungary to join William
in 1968, and he soon began helping his
father at the store after school and on
weekends. “Selling was something in me.
I loved doing it.”
Mihalik says the business continues to
be a family affair. His sister, his wife and
his oldest son, Tom Jr., all work at the store
and sometimes his two younger sons help
out as well.
“My mother worked the last days of her
life in the store. She died three years ago.”
Continued on next page
Tom Mihalik & Staff
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
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190 baldwin St., kensington Market
416-596-0297
www.toms-place.com
Men’S deSigner faShionS aT diScounT priceS
Y o u r i n v i tat i o n t o
BRIDAL HEAVEN
Tom Mihalik
Tom gradually converted the merchandise from second hand to discounted,
designer lines. Although he sold womenswear for many years, the store is now exclusively a men’s clothier shop.
“When our suppliers visit us from other
parts of the world, they can’t believe the
selection of suits we carry. We’re second to
none.
“We also have the largest selection of
shirts and ties of any place in the world.”
He notes that this year the big colour is
blue. “We sell 50 shades of blue.”
The fit of the suits are enhanced by the
handiwork of a skilled group of European-trained tailors, some with 20 to 40
and even 50 years of experience, he says.
“These traditional tailors will work on a
garment from start to finish. They can do
any kind of alteration.”
Mihalik says Tom’s Place is much more
than just a business.“Selling suits is a big
part of our lives. It’s an honour to work in
the market and be one of the Kensington
Market merchants.”
He points out that when he first started
working in his father’s store, Kensington
was known as the Jewish market. During
his early years in the business, Mihalik
was mentored by many of the local Jewish
store owners and over time he developed
close ties with the Jewish community.
He’s been a longtime member of the
MNJCC and although he is not Jewish, Mihalik sponsored a stained glass panel in
memory of his father in the JCC’s Michael
Bernstein Chapel.
He is also a supporter of many Jewish
charities, among them Mt. Sinai Hospital
and Baycrest Centre and he has even been
honoured by Chabad.
Mihalik recounts how he brought his
good friend, the late Canadian billionaire
Ken Thomson, to the Kiever Shul in Kensington Market so that Thomson could
learn more about the history of the community from shul president and lifelong
neighbourhood resident, Dave Pinkus.
The Jewish shopkeepers in Kensington
Market continue to be an inspiration for
him, says Mihalik.
“That generation of merchants, we will
never again see in our lifetime. They dedicated their lives to their businesses and
their families.
“Some of those men – they are in their
late 70s and 80s – now stop by the store
and they say, ‘Tommy we’re so proud of
you. Look at the business you built.’
“It makes me feel humbled by their respect for what we have accomplished here
in Kensington. We have also taken a page
from the Jewish immigrant dream to build
a business and a family.” n
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
William Ashley: your perfect registry partner
LAUREN KRAMER
purchased and who purchased them, allowing couples to ensure they receive the
items that are most important to them.
William Ashley offers delivery across
North America and provides couples in
the Greater Toronto Area with a complimentary delivery service at their convenience.
Often, not everything a couple wants
is purchased from the gift registry. The
company provides a registry completion
program offering the couple a 10 per cent
discount (five per cent in the Gourmet
Shoppe) on any outstanding items on
their registry for up to one year after their
wedding date.
As William Ashley wants to ensure that
couples use and enjoy their china and
stemware on a daily basis, it provides its
unique, complimentary “Everyday Entertaining Insurance.” If a piece breaks within
the first three years of use, William Ashley
will replace it at 50 per cent off the current
national suggested retail price or comparable regular value.
William Ashley also provides a full-service stationery boutique.
“In the boutique, we carry Canada’s best
selection of custom invitations which allows us to provide couples with an excep-
SPECIAL TO THE CJN
A
gift registry offers engaged couples an
opportunity to create the perfect wish
list for their home.
At William Ashley’s 55 Bloor St. W. flagship store (416-964-2900), couples can select from North America’s largest selection
of tableware, kitchenware and home décor
from all the leading, world-renowned
brands at Canada’s best prices.
“Professional registry consultants work
with couples one-on-one in selecting their
dinnerware, crystal, flatware and kitchenware, as well as home accessories that
will best reflect their combined lifestyle,
whether it’s modern or traditional,” says
registry consultant Fatima Pacheco.
“We make the process simple and
unique to each couple. Our best kept secret is our Gourmet Shoppe that carries
everything for your entertaining needs including small kitchen appliances, trendy
gadgets, pots and pans and chef’s knives.”
Couples can register online or by telephone, where friendly and knowledgeable
registry consultants are pleased to assist.
William Ashley’s gift notification service
informs couples of the gifts that have been
LOCATION
NEW
Holiday Gifts!
tional variety of styles and printing techniques for any special occasion,” Pacheco
says.
“A William Ashley invitation is not just an
invitation, it’s an expression of your special day.”
William Ashley is proud to be Canada’s
exclusive destination for world-renowned
Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland.
Teuscher’s handmade chocolates do not
contain any preservatives or additives.
They are prepared in Zurich, Switzerland,
and flown in weekly to arrive fresh for your
shower, engagement party, or wedding.
Made with the finest ingredients, their signature Dom Perignon Champagne Truffle
is world famous.
“Your selection of truffles can be packaged in individual gift boxes with a co-ordinating colour box and ribbon to match
your wedding colours. Each ribbon is
hand tied as an extra special touch,” she
says.
Additionally, William Ashley offers complimentary parking in the Manulife Centre with purchase for the couple and their
guests. Gifts purchased in store are packaged in William Ashley’s signature gold
boxes, free of charge.
Since 1947, William Ashley has been
WILLIAM ASHLEY PHOTO
bringing “magic to every day and every
occasion” by assisting couples to create
a gift registry that reflects their unique
taste and lifestyle. From unique kitchen
essentials to stunning table settings, William Ashley offers all you need to entertain your friends and family in style and
create special memories. William Ashley
is your best choice for the perfect registry
experience. n
WAREHOUSE SALE
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FOR SAFETY REASONS, STROLLERS AND CAR SEATS CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED.
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
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B’naiTzedek
Teen Philanthropy
Putting the mitzvah in bar and bat mitzvah
What’s it all about?
B’nai Tzedek enables teens to establish a tzedakah fund in their own name and support projects and causes
they care about.
Our teens become actively involved in philanthropy and feel good about their role in improving the world.
Jacob
B’nai Tzedek Member
“I am helping teens in Bat Yam, Israel participate in a music program. I chose to
do this because music is something I am passionate about. I can’t wait to jam
with them when I visit Israel with my family.”
“In lieu of a bat mitzvah gift, I asked my guests to donate to my tzedakah
fund, which will support programs that have personal meaning to me:
dance and camp.”
Talia
B’nai Tzedek Member
“B’nai Tzedek has enabled me to learn about the needs in the community,
to support important causes and to hold a leadership position at a young
age - now I am confident and proud to be an active member of Jewish life on
my University campus.”
Andrew
B’nai Tzedek Alumni
To learn more about our participants and to read their stories of impact
please visit
bnaitzedek.ca/Stories
A B’nai Tzedek tzedakah fund can be established with a minimum donation of $1,000.
facebook.com/bnaitzedektoronto
@BnaiTzedekTeens
Sherman Campus | 4600 Bathurst Street | Toronto, ON M2R 3V2
416.631.5703 | [email protected] | bnaitzedek.ca
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Windsor Arms is an ideal setting
for any simchah
STEPHEN SWEET
Special to The CJN
A
high quality hotel venue with topnotch kosher food?
Such a thing does exist in Toronto.
The Windsor Arms, with fancy hotel
rooms and beautiful party space to boot,
can provide the ideal match for the Jewish
community.
“Our big event space, the Courtyard
Cafe, has 50-foot ceilings, limestone walls
all the way around, and it’s perfect for
weddings, celebrations, bar and bat mitzvahs, whatever the special occasion,” said
Windsor Arms owner, George Friedmann.
“We have kosher and non-kosher options, and we have our own separate kosher kitchen here, where everything is
done in-house.”
For Friedmann, who bought the Windsor
Arms and restored it almost 20 years ago,
that is one of the big factors behind the
success of the simchahs there.
“When most people are going to do a kosher event, they’re usually looking at doing
it in a hotel or banquet hall,” Friedmann
said. “A lot of times, things are subcontracted out to a kosher caterer, and the
client has no clue where the food is coming from or what to expect.
“Odds are, the food is being cooked in
some warehouse and then being trucked
down four, five, or even 12 hours before
the function, where it gets reheated.”
The Windsor Arms has its own kosher
kitchen, a rarity amongst hotels in Toronto.
“You can count them on one hand,” said
Friedmann with a laugh. “So everyone
else is relying on a kosher caterer that isn’t
a permanent fixture in that hotel or banquet hall.”
Another advantage is that the Windsor
Arms’s kosher kitchen is working consistently during the week, as they serve up
fine dining for patrons from Tuesday to
Thursday, and in the winter, after Shabbat.
“When people come in here, they don’t
have to tell us that they’re looking at doing an event,” Friedmann said. “They can
just come in and dine, and then they know
what the experience is and what a typical
person gets.
“With another hotel or banquet hall that
brings in the food, it’s almost like luck,
because you hope they’ll do a good job,
but you don’t know,” Friedmann added.
“There’s a lot less apprehension and uncertainty when walking into here than a
typical banquet hall or hotel, especially
one that doesn’t have their own kosher
kitchen.”
There are a few different spots for smaller events at the Windsor Arms, but the
Courtyard Cafe is the lone full-sized space,
and it comes ready to go.
“This room is designed to function as a
restaurant, so it has all the ambience of a
dining facility rather than a multi-purpose
room,” Friedmann said. “It saves the client
a lot of money and time.”
The Courtyard Cafe can hold cocktail
receptions for up to 500 people or sitdown dinners for about 250 individuals
(although most dinners are between 150200 people).
“Since we have only have one banquet
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
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hall, your event will be the only one going
on that day,” Friedmann said. “You won’t
be hearing Havah Nagilah coming from
the next room while you’re trying to do
your speeches.”
The Windsor Arms has been functioning
as a hotel since 1927, and it has been offering up luxurious rooms (at an average of
900 sq. ft.) to heads of state and celebrities.
There are 28 hotel rooms available at the
Windsor Arms, with five staff members per
every guest suite.
“Sometimes, I have to repeat that three
times, because most people say, ‘really?’,”
Friedmann said. “Most hotels are the other
way around.
“Whatever the client wants, if it’s legal,
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we can do it and get it done.”
The plethora of staff members can come
in handy if there’s any sort of last-minute
emergency with the function at hand.
“One real advantage for us is that, because we’re a hotel, we have everything
you need here,” Friedmann said. “If a
bride rips her dress 30 seconds before
she’s supposed to walk down the aisle, we
have a butler on staff that can sew a dress,
steam a dress, or provide anything else
that’s needed.” n
For more information about the Windsor
Arms and holding a function there, you
can call 416-971-9666 or e-mail them at
[email protected].
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Cupido jewelry is new,
fresh and unique
Tom’s
Place
at the
Miles
Nadal
JCC
DANIELLE KUBES
SPECIAL TO THE CJN
S
hopping mavens living in Kitchener and surrounding areas, will
be happy to note that Cupido has expanded with a third store at Fairview
Park shopping mall this year.
This mid to high-end priced
jewelry and watch store, with locations already in Vaughan Mills
and Bayview Village, sells trendy
pieces at moderate prices, which
make perfect gifts for bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, graduations
and other special occasions.
Christiania Patricia, head of marketing and public relations, says,
“What we try to do in the store is keep
current pieces in each brands collection so
that we’re always staying on top of everything. We don’t have the older products
sitting around.”
The owners, Jeff Karadjian and Haigo
Derian, also try to ensure that the necklaces and bracelets they load up on are
unique, she says.
“The owners of the store attend jewelry
shows where they’re able to see products
coming from different countries – whatever is new, fresh and unique. They bring
in different brands that you don’t typically
see around. Not your average – you can’t
get it everywhere,” Patricia says.
The most popular brand continues to be
Pandora, to the extent that they’ve opened
three stand-alone Pandora stores in Promenade, Sherway Gardens and Markville
shopping centres.
“Pandora has been one of our biggest
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750 Spadina Ave. (Bloor St. near Spadina Subway)
NOV 20-23: Th-F 11-7:30 · Sat. 10-6 · Sun. 11-5
For more info: 416-596-0297 • toms-place.com • TomsPlaceTO
A major portion of all sales will be donated to the programs of the Miles Nadal JCC • www.mnjcc.org
Oscar De La Renta necklace
CUPIDO PHOTO
brands. It’s kind of everywhere and I find
the brand is still going strong after so many
years,” Patricia says. “And what’s great is
that they continue to keep on trend and
really cater to our customers.”
Some new brands at the Kitchener store
include Oscar De La Renta, Miss Mimi,
Tissot, Breuning and Thomas Sabo.
But the number 1 focus at Cupido is customer service.
“We have built many relationships with
our customers, sharing in their joys and
sorrows. We can ensure our customers will
fall in love with our product,” writes Patricia in an email. “Our goal is ensuring our
customers are happy.”n
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
T
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it all starts with a little rock.
Congrats on the engagement! Now that you are ready to tie the knot,
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Kosher Caterer offers traditional
and ethnic foods
Vicky Tobianah
Special to the CJN
G
one are the days when the only kosher dining options for weddings and
bar/bat mitzvahs were the standard venue
food: a few appetizers, a main dish consisting of chicken or beef, and some typical
side dishes of rice and potatoes. In fact,
that’s exactly why Norman Kay, owner and
founder of Mitzuyan Kosher Catering (416419-5260; http://mitzuyankoshercatering.
com) decided to open his full-service kosher catering business in 2009.
“I was sick of eating kosher food that
tasted like kosher food. I said we can do a
lot better than this,” said Kay.
Indeed, they can and have. Although they
can cook traditional Jewish food, they also
offer a variety of ethnic cuisine to tailor to
their unique guests.
“We cook all the [typical] Jewish foods
you think of, but we also do East Indian
food, West Indian, Mexican, all kinds of
‘non-kosher’ food but we make it kosher,”
he said. Unlike many other kosher catering
companies, they also cook fresh on site.
“We don’t cook three days before your
event. Typically, if you had an event on
Sunday, you’d have to stop cooking on Friday at 2 p.m. so a lot of caterers prep ahead
of time and put it in their fridge or freezer
and do the final cooking on the day of,”
said Kay.
“We do all our cooking on the day of,
so all our stuff is fresh. We don’t buy any
ready-made salads, but we make them all
ourselves. We have a pastry chef that does
the baking.” Their mobile kosher kitchen
makes it easy for them to pack up, bring all
the ingredients needed for your function
and head to your event to cook on site.
The niche that Kay saw was definitely real
and his hard work has paid off. Mitzuyan
is the official kosher caterer for Beth Radom Congregation, The Avenue Banquet
Hall (an exclusive single event venue that
can hold up to 400 people) and the Boulevard (a single event venue which can accommodate up to 120 people). They’re
also the preferred kosher caterer at Angus
Glen Golf Club, Paramount, Bellagio, The
Manor, Spirale, and Hazelton Manor.
Continued on next page
WHERE YOU BELONG!
BETH TIKVAH SYNAGOGUE
Fashion labels you love
Stunning costume jewellery collections
Accessories and indulgences galore
Gorgeous giftware for any occasion
Home accents from around the world
One-of-a-kind artisan pieces
An array of fabulous finds
Complimentory gift wrapping
The most wanted Gift Cards
WE KNOW HOW TO TURN DREAMS INTO
UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES:
Our beautiful sanctuary and social hall are the perfect
venue to set the tone and mood for your event. We have
the choice of 3 outstanding caterers, providing options
for a variety of tastes and budgets.
Call us at 416-221-3433 for more information to book your
lifecycle event at Beth Tikvah Synagogue.
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
T
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Mitzuyan Kosher Catering PHOTOS
G E T A H E A D S TA R T
ON A LIFETIME
O F M E M O R I E S.
Depending on the venue, basic menus
start at around $80 per person (including
hors d’oeuvres, a main meal and dessert).
Usually, the event must consist of a minimum of 50 people (but call to inquire).
In addition to providing world-class catering, Kay also busts some healthy myths and
shares recipes on their blog (mitzuyankoshercatering.com).
“A lot of people were asking me for recipes and advice and I figured I might as
well put it on the website,” said Kay. On the
blog, he discusses everything from kosher
issues – such as what makes wine kosher –
and health myths, such as is salami really
healthy?
If you’re searching for a caterer to prepare a meal based on your own tastes, then
Mitzuyan is ready to whip up something
for you. “We create menus according to the
client’s likes and dislikes. You don’t have to
just have what we have, you can tell us what
you like and we’ll create it for you. For a recent baseball bar mitzvah theme, we made
corn dogs and potato wedges for example,”
said Kay.
For a multi-cultural wedding merging
Russian and Canadian cultures, Mitzuyan
tailored the menu to have food representing
both cultures. “We’re also doing a lot of kosher vegan and vegetarian foods, there’s a
bigger demand for it now,” said Kay. “There
are lots of innovative meals we can do.” n
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Destination bar mitzvah
is an affair to remember
Vicky Tobianah
Special to the CJN
O
ver the past few years, elaborate bar
and bat mitzvahs have become more
commonplace, with families spending
thousands of dollars on just one night,
complete with expensive music, DJs, dining, and more.
As the bar/bat mitzvah party scene becomes a regular occurrence for today’s
12 and 13 year olds, some parents have
chosen to find a more unique way to celebrate their children’s entrance into Jewish
adulthood.
That’s what Lori Weiss did when it came
time to plan her youngest son’s bar mitzvah this past summer. For her last and final
bar mitzvah, Weiss, herself in the party
business (she runs a centrepiece company
called Behind the Scene Creations), decided to find a way to make her son Noah’s
night different than the usual stream of
parties his class was experiencing.
“We spent an exorbitant amount of
money on the first one, and it was a
beautiful affair, but I felt like I had postbar mitzvah depression,” said Weiss. “The
four hours just went by so quickly and
then it’s over. Even now, when bar mitzvahs are coming up, the kids are like ‘another one, another one’? It’s all the same
repetitive thing.”
That’s why Weiss decided to make her
son’s affair a little less traditional and a
little more meaningful, by having a destination bar mitzvah in Mexico.
“Instead of having a four-hour bar mitzvah where you’ve spent $30,000 to $50,000
for four hours, this was probably something that cost less than half of that but we
had a week away too – a continuous party
for a week.”
The family planned a week in Mexico,
where her son, Noah, read from the Torah
for a Havdalah service on the beach with
Rabbi Stephen Spiegel, originally from
Family centered congregation, friendly clergy, accessible services,
elegant banquet halls, central location, personalized service and
fabulous food prepared by Uptown Gourmet Catering.
Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue
100 Elder Street, Toronto ON M3H 5G7
beby.org | 416.633.3838 | [email protected]
T
Isn’t it time you
joined us?
Noah Weiss
Florida but who moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico to perform destination weddings. This was his first destination bar
mitzvah. Prior to arriving in Mexico, Noah
Skyped the rabbi once a week for a few
months to ensure everything would go
smoothly.
“It was different than everything else my
friends were doing,” said Noah. “It wasn’t
the same old thing as every other bar mitzvah.”
The Weiss’ were joined by a group of
their close family and friends who came to
share in their simchah, and each one took
part in the bar mitzvah, which made the
ceremony even more meaningful.
Weiss said, “When you go to a bar mitzvah here, I find it very cliché, very standard
the way rabbis perform the ceremony. The
way this rabbi did it was different – he
involved every single guest. The way my
husband, Joey, and I participated in the
service was beautiful – when it came to
Noah’s tallit, the tallit was in the rabbi’s
hands, then passed to Joey, and passed
to me, and being the mom who brought
him into the world, I placed it on him. Our
friends opened and closed the ark, and
held up the Torah. It was very meaningful,”
said Weiss.
Although it may seem complicated to
plan an affair from another country, Weiss
said that it’s not as hard as it seems, and
is worth the effort. “There’s so much available online, or from me if people want
help, it’s not as difficult as some make it
out to be. You just can’t expect everyone
to come. You do this for immediate family,
and everyone else who wants to come is a
bonus,” she said.
And when all is said and done, you have
an affair to truly remember.
“I remember just sitting there, watching
him with the water behind him, standing
on the bimah on the beach – it was just
really special,” said Weiss. “I’d definitely
do it again.” n
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
T
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CELEBRATE!
Treat your guests to the
total package
Proud S
BAR/BAT MITZVAH
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onsider throwing your next big bash
at Symposium Café, the upscale and
licensed restaurant which has popular
locations in Thornhill and at Yonge and
Sheppard.
“We have parties every day of the week,
because of the attention to detail we provide,” says Al Davis, head of marketing at
Symposium Café. “We take the worry out
of organizing a party.”
Symposium is experienced with facilitating a variety of occasions, from large
bar mitzvahs and weddings to small going
away parties and anniversaries. Many locations have a private room, and they can
create a special menu that includes wine
lists and desserts.
“We can craft a party to whatever the
needs are,” Davis says.
The locations are spacious and can accommodate a large number of guests. The
managers allow you to bring in your own
decorations and even some small foodstuffs for weddings.
But you may not even want to bring your
own decorations, as many patrons love
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the interior design and ambiance.
“The décor is very unique. There’s a mosaic of Renaissance paintings. People, as
soon as they walk in, comment on how
relaxing it is. The music complements the
atmosphere,” Davis says.
And it won’t break the bank – the prices
are reasonable. The average dinner entree
is $25, while the average lunch dish is $15.
Even for those without an upcoming
celebration, it may be worth dropping by
just for their weekly specials. Seven days a
week, a menu item is drastically reduced,
from $4 domestic pints on Monday to
two-for-one cake slices on Sunday.
Davis likes to call Thursday’s special
“date night” as you can get a 3-course
meal for two for just $44.
“You can get in and out of the restaurant
for probably $60 to $70,” including wine,
and post-dinner coffee.
Picky eaters and children are sure to be
satisfied with the extensive menu. “It’s the
total package,” he says.
The franchise chain originated in London, Ontario and is growing to five more
locations in the GTA next year. n
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
A full-fledged bowling party and more
Special to The CJN
B
owling is one of those activities that
both kids and adults enjoy, so it seems
like a great place to host a party.
And when it comes to a bowling celebration of any kind, Lucky Strike sees itself as
the top choice around.
“Lucky Strike is the leading boutique
bowling and entertainment brand in the
country, providing guests with the very
best entertainment, food and drinks,” said
Lucky Strike’s Brandon Thomsen.
“In addition to premier entertainment,
Lucky Strike is the innovator of bowling
cuisine, featuring a chef-driven, madefrom-scratch menu using fresh, high-quality ingredients.”
That can include anything from pizza to
mac n cheese bites to salmon lollipops,
and everything in between, depending on
your event.
“Lucky Strike offers its guests a memorable visit by providing the best food,
drinks and entertainment in the most
electric venue in town,” Thomsen said.
Children’s parties are quite customiz-
able, allowing for any number of special
additions.
“Lucky Strike birthday packages include
two hours of bowling, along with shoe
rental, food items and soft drinks that are
replenished during the two-hour party,
served directly to the kids at the lanes,”
Thomsen said.
“Lucky Strike offers kid-sized shoes,
low-weight balls, bumpers, rolling ramps
and replenished menu items – along with
party [favours] kids will love.”
One of the most popular items for a child’s
birthday is the autographable bowling pin,
which acts as a keepsake from the event.
Other popular items to take away from
the party are things such as glow necklaces, bowling-themed swag bags, and
Lucky Strike gear like shirts, pens and
cups.
There is also access to things like a photo
booth, t-shirt and art stations, and even a
build-your-own sundae bar.
For teenage and adult parties, both the
menu and atmosphere are a little more
grown-up to suit their tastes.
“Lucky Strike offers upscale, state-ofthe-art private function party spaces, so-
Congratulations!
phisticated menus, full-service bars, and
cutting edge [sound and video] systems,”
Thomsen said. “Our party packages offer
food, beverage and entertainment options
to accommodate any party.”
The best food, drinks and
entertainment in the most
electric venue in town
Continued on next page
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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PROV.
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
T
B17
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ing, restaurants, bars, live music, dance
clubs, billiards and game rooms.”
The popular bowling alley can host parties for as few as eight people, or as many
as can fit comfortably in the venue.
“Regardless of the celebration, Lucky
Strike will personalize the event to fit the
size and budget,” Thomsen said.
For more information on booking par-
They can also host bar and bat mitzvahs, ed in 2003 by Steven and Gillian Foster
corporate events, fundraisers, and other and Kevin Troy, with the opening of Lucky
Strike in the heart of Hollywood,” Thomcelebrations.
As a premier place for bowling and par- sen said.
“Lucky Strike Entertainment is the creties, Lucky Strike now has over 20 locations across the United States, along with ator and operator of a variety of entertainment concepts throughout the world that
its lone Canadian spot in Vaughan Mills.
to any age, featuring premium bowl“Lucky Strike
Entertainment
was
found8499.2_JN Ad_FUNE.pdf
8/16/10
1:30:36cater
PM
www.funerestaurant.com
8499.2_JN ad_yamato.pdf
8/13/10
ties, you can call one of Lucky Strike’s professional event planners.
For a large party, you can reach Angela
Koziej at 905-760-1868, or for a smaller
event, as well as for a child or teenager’s
birthday celebration, try Denise Aquila at
905-760-8307.
There is also lots that can be found on
the website, at bowlluckystrike.com ■
12:10:35 PM
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Where Active 8 is,
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Shopping
for the Perfect
Wedding Gift
Call Today! 416.565.1620
Please contact Morris Kast at [email protected]
Open late weeknights and Saturday Nights!
LAUREN KRAMER
SPECIAL TO THE CJN
jacobsdeli.ca | 1470 Centre St | Thornhill | Ontario | L4J 3N1 | 905-597-1127
Chabad
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legant New Banquet Hall
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tailored to any Simcha
Define your moment, describe the
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905.886.0420
[email protected] | [email protected]
F
inding the right wedding gift can be a
tricky endeavour, which is why most
of us resort to the registry, when there is
one, or the ‘flat gift,’ a cheque that gives
newlyweds the chance to buy precisely
what they want. While these gifts are easily executed, what they lack is a personal
touch. And for some weddings, for those
special couples in your life, you want and
need that personal touch in a gift, something you know will last much longer than
a cashed cheque. Here are some top picks
for wedding gifts.
Enrobed
Some clothing items go out of style but
one that’s timeless is the terry cloth robe.
It’s no secret that newlyweds spend more
time in bed than the rest of us. But when
they do get up, how about enrobing
them? There’s nothing like the feeling of
a soft, high quality terry robe against your
skin, and all the better when it’s personalized with the recipients’ name, initial or
a matching set of “his” and “hers.” High
end stores offer meticulously crafted imported robes made from Egyptian cotton
and personalized with custom mono-
gramming. Monogram colour, precise
monogram and gift packaging are easily
selected online.
Wood Signs
Marriage is something to be proud of, so a
truly personal gift would be a rustic wood
sign that proudly announces the establishment of a new family and the date of
its founding. There are several artists on
etsy.com that offer signs like this. Browse
the website for more interesting, personalized gift ideas, including cutting boards
engraved with the newlyweds’ initials.
Info: etsy.com
Cooking Companion
Any newly wedded couple is going to need
to learn their way around kitchen sooner
or later, and who better to teach them
than Jewish cookbook author Susie Fishbein? Fishbein’s Kosher By Design series
of cookbooks is a fantastic addition to any
kitchen and ArtScroll has conveniently
packaged five of them into a perfect gift
set ($157.49). Fishbein’s recipes are easily
executed, well explained and accompanied by exquisite, mouthwatering photographs. They range from fancy meals that
will impress guests, to everyday quick dinners and everything in between. ■
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
T
Camp Gesher wedding
BARBARA SILVERSTEIN
SPECIAL TO THE CJN
T
he matchmaking efforts of mutual
friends sparked the nine-year courtship of Gabriel Pickus and Shira Bromberg.
When Pickus went on an organized trip to
Israel for 16-year-olds from Habonim Dror
camps, he became friends with the group
from Camp Gesher in Ontario.
Two of the Gesher girls told Pickus, a Chicago native, that he would get along well
with their friend, Shira Bromberg, he says.
She and Pickus – both are 27 – met about
six months later at a Habonim-Dror winter
seminar in Maryland.
Pickus was smitten that first weekend.
“We had a great time and I knew I wanted
to stay in touch with Shira.
“Subsequently I took trips [to Toronto].
We hung out with our mutual friends. I
made my feelings for Shira pretty clear.”
Bromberg and Pickus’ long-distance relationship continued throughout their college years. She studied nutrition at Ryerson
University, while he was a religion major
at Goucher College in Maryland. He also
worked at Camp Gesher for a couple of
summers.
After his graduation, Pickus got a job in
Baltimore. He’s an educator for underserved youth. The couple say they were
tired of the long separations. In April 2012,
they had a civil marriage so that Bromberg
could become a legal U.S. resident. But
they still wanted a Jewish wedding.
“One night I had a dream about getting
married up at camp. Gesher is a special
place. Nothing can compare to it.”
She woke Pickus up at three in the morning, he laughs. “She said, ‘We have to have
the wedding at Camp Gesher.’”
The camp was not initially available in
2013, Bromberg says. “All the weekends
[after camp ended] were booked. There
was the Alumni 50th anniversary reunion,
a rental on Labour Day weekend and the
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chagim were very early that year.
“And then the rental was cancelled. We
had a small window to work with for the
Labour Day weekend. I wanted a Shabbaton and wedding all together. It turned
out to be the perfect scenario.”
The setting was very dramatic, she says.
“Everyone was facing the lake for the ceremony. The lake was the backdrop for the
chupah.
“A lot of people came on Friday and by
Saturday night, half the guests had arrived.
“We had Havdalah on the basketball court.
That’s how camp does it. Then we had a
campfire. Everybody enjoyed it.”
A kosher caterer precooked all the food
and had it delivered to camp. “We served
all the food family style, just the way we do
at camp,” she says.
“We had 210 guests, and more than half of
them came from out of town,” says Pickus.
The couple rented a school bus to transport their friends from Toronto up to Gesher.
“We had representatives from every
Habomin-Dror Camp. Our friends from
Baltimore and Chicago are real movers and
shakers. Shira’s friends from Toronto asked
us if we had hired professional dancers,” he
says.
Pickus’ parents live in San Francisco.
“They loved the wedding,” he says.
Bromberg says Shaul Zobary, the executive director of Camp Gesher, made the
wedding possible. “Shaul was extremely
supportive. He wanted us to have a Gesher wedding. We brainstormed everything
together.
“And he was there with his wife to celebrate with us. It would not have been a Gesher wedding without him.”
Bromberg says she is very grateful to
friends and family who came early and
stayed late. “The wedding really was a
community effort. It would not have happened the way it did without our family and
friends.” n
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Shira Bromberg and Gabriel Pickus stand under the chupah at Camp Gesher.
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[ CEL EBR AT IONS ]
T
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Say ‘yes to the dress’ at Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay
Vicky Tobianah
Special to the CJN
F
or Canadian brides-to-be who spent
hours watching TLC’s Say Yes to the
Dress, and dream of shopping for their
special day in the iconic Kleinfeld bridal
store, that dream can now be a reality.
The store has partnered with Hudson’s
Bay Canada to bring the bridal store to
the Hudson’s Bay flagship store on Queen
Street in downtown Toronto.
Now, Canadian brides, too, can say yes to
the dress – without the TV crew, however.
On the seventh floor of the flagship store
is a 20,000-square-foot bridal boutique,
featuring dresses from more than 50 designers and brands, many of which are exclusive to Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay in Canada (thebay.com/kleinfeld), ranging from
some of the best Canadian to internationally known fashion and bridal designers.
Considering the average Canadian bride
spends approximately $1,800 on a bridal
gown, about $500 more than the average
American bride spends (according to a recent Weddingbells survey,) ensuring they
find the right one is important to every
bride – and is something that Kleinfeld
specializes in.
“What makes us different is the truly
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Continued on next page
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
B21
T
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K l e i n f e l d B r i d a l . C a
Photos courtesy of Kleinfeld
[We also have] beautiful accessories, including shoes, jewelry, lingerie and everything for your wedding day,” said Evelyn
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Their assortment is sure to fit any body
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While brides may envision themselves in
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When do you know you’re ready to say
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Some brides may like to visit many
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T
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
A good value for bar mitzvah parties
STEPHEN SWEET
Special to The CJN
C
hances are, you or someone close to
you loves to eat at Pickle Barrel.
So why not have a bar or bat mitzvah
there, too?
Pickle Barrel has two spots ready to host
a special event – its main banquet hall in
Markville Mall, and the renovated Rose
Room in the Leslie Street location.
“The main advantage here is price,” said
Pickle Barrel president Peter Higley. “We’re
not reliant on our banquet sales for profitability, so we’re able to charge a lot less
than a guy just running banquets all of the
time.
“Our prices are probably 30 to 50 per
cent below the market.”
The Soupcoff Room in Markville Mall,
at the corner of Highway 7 and McCowan Road in Markham, can hold up to 220
people, while the Leslie Street spot seats
roughly half of that.
With the connections that Pickle Barrel
already has, it can make for some very
light planning on the part of the parents.
“We have a package which is all-inclusive where we provide the DJ, invitations,
and we do the room,” Higley said. “The
room is kind of cool, because we have a
lot of LED lights, so you can change the
colour around on them to suit the mood
or your colour scheme.
“We put chair covers on the chairs if they
want to theme it colour-wise.”
Pickle Barrel is open to it, as well, if you
don’t want to go with any of their packages.
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“You can simply rent it out and bring in
your own DJ and such,” Higley said. “You
can go with an a la carte menu or a buffet
[and] bring in your own people.
“It’s priced favourably the other way
though, because we have a relationship
with Bounce Entertainment and he gives
us very [good] pricing, since we use him
most of the time.”
And since it’s Pickle Barrel, you know the
quality of what you’re getting to eat.
“We’re food guys, so we offer a lot of
choices and we give a lot of food, Higley
said.
“It’s kid-friendly, too,” he said, also mentioning that Pickle Barrel has a separate
catering division for these events. “We
Continued on next page
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
B23
[ CEL EBR AT IONS ]
T
Historic
wedding
in Poland
RUTH ELLEN GRUBER
JTa, WROclaW, pOlaND
W
ThE picKlE BaRREl phOTOS
make sure the kids have what they want
to [eat] and then there’s the adult piece, so
there’s a lot of variety and a lot of cool stuff
for everyone to eat.”
Higley said that most of the bar and bat
mitzvahs that Pickle Barrel hosts are focused on the children.
“Parents use us for more of a kid’s bar
mitzvah rather than an adult kind of
venue,” Higley said. “There’s immediate
family and close friends, but mainly, it’s a
fun kids party with the DJ’s, and they bring
in dancers and things like that.”
Higley recommends booking the venue
early, especially during prime bar and bat
mitzvah season.
“People are booking a year or two
[ahead] for the popular times, usually
May to June and October to November,
depending on when the holidays are,”
Higley said. “If you go on our website,
you can look at menus and set up an appointment to look at the room and get a
quote.”
Most people see it as an ideal choice
where there is plenty to eat.
“We have real, fresh food and make
everything from scratch, and that’s a big
bonus for people,” Higley said. “We have
a nice, big facility to have it in, too.
“People spend a lot on bar mitzvahs,
and we’re that value player.” ■
For more information, you can visit their
website at picklebarrel.ca
or give the banquet manager a call
at 416-984-5348.
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hen Katka Reszke and Slawomir
Grunberg tied the knot at the historic White Stork synagogue in this southwestern Polish city, they were determined
that the occasion would be more than just
a wedding.
They wanted it to be a symbol of how
thousands of Polish Jews, like themselves,
have found their way back to Judaism and
Jewish identity.
The couple, who are based in New York
but spend part of each year in their native
Poland, also wanted the ceremony – the
first religious Jewish wedding in Wroclaw
in 14 years – to be a learning experience for
both local Jews and non-Jews.
To this end, they opened their recent
ceremony to everyone in the city and
turned their nuptials into an hours-long,
open-air public event with klezmer bands,
kosher food, two officiating Orthodox
rabbis and loudspeaker explanations of
each step in the traditional wedding ritual.
“Jewish community members told us
that they had never been to a Jewish wedding, so we made it into a sort of festival,”
said Reszke, 35, an outgoing woman with
spiky reddish hair who was born and grew
up in Wroclaw. “By explaining the wedding
to everyone, we’re trying to break down the
mystery that separates people.”
The couple’s personal histories drove
their desire to make a statement and
vividly reflect the complex dilemmas of
post-Holocaust and post-communist Jew-
ish experience in Poland.
Reszke is a photographer, writer and Jewish studies scholar who in 2013 published
Return of the Jew, a book about the country’s post-communist Jewish revival – a revival that shaped her own life.
Since she was a teenager, Reszke said,
she had felt strongly connected to Judaism.
“I had a hunch I was Jewish,” she said –
but no proof.
Reszke earned a diploma in Jewish studies from the Oxford Center for Hebrew and
Jewish studies, lived in Israel, obtained a
doctorate in Jewish education from Hebrew University and underwent formal conversion. But it wasn’t until last year that
she learned that her mother’s family had
actually been Jewish.
“My mom told me that her grandmother
had confided on her deathbed that she was
Jewish but made her swear not to say anything while my own grandmother was still
alive,” Reszke said. “She finally told me a
week before my book was launched.”
Grunberg, 63, is an award-winning documentary filmmaker raised by a grandmother
who also rejected her Jewish identity.
“She used the term ‘Jewish’ as an epithet,” he said. “I learned that being a Jew
was something bad, something scary –
something not to be mentioned.”
After finding out that he was Jewish as
a teenager in the 1960s, Grunberg said, “I
did everything to reject this. I didn’t want
to be a Jew. To be different in Poland in
those days was no good – to be Jewish was
worse.”
Continued on page 27
B24
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
T
Meet the Jewish matchmaker-in-chief
BETH KISSILEFF
JNS.ORG
T
ova Weinberg will do anything to make
a match – even adopt a dog.
In an interview from her home in Pittsburgh, Pa., Weinberg, the matchmaker
who co-founded the Jewish dating website SawYouAtSinai.com (SYAS), recalls her
confusion when a man whom she thought
was in a relationship asked to come to her
Chanukah party for singles. Asked why he
would attend a singles party, the man said
he wanted to marry the woman he was
dating, but he hated her dog. Weinberg
called the woman to let her know that
her boyfriend wanted to marry her – sans
the dog. When the woman balked, Weinberg said, “I’ll take the dog.” Within a few
months, Weinberg was a pet owner, and
the couple was married.
Launched in December 2003, SYAS was
one of the first Jewish dating websites. The
site’s approach is unique in that it fuses
the old-school shidduch strategies with
new-school Internet dating. Unlike most
dating sites, in which users independently
browse profiles, SYAS relies on a team of
volunteer matchmakers who scour databases of users and suggest matches to the
users they represent. Only matchmakers
who are married and willing to devote
at least six hours per week to the project
are eligible to volunteer. SYAS now boasts
more than 30,000 users, and nearly 1,000
matches resulting in marriage have been
made since the site’s inception a decade
ago.
At the helm of the operation is Weinberg,
who works from what she calls “command
central,” a small desk area in her kitchen.
That space is where the “magic” happens,
she says.
As a shadchan (matchmaker), Weinberg
deals with all kinds of clients with special
needs, from Asperger’s syndrome-spectrum individuals, to widows and widowers,
to divorcees. She believes her toughest
customer is a 30-year-old [Orthodox girl]
who is looking for a “Tom Cruise lookalike
who says Tehillim (Psalms).”
Weinberg has also had male clients tell
her that they are gay but haven’t come out
yet to their parents. Other men have told
her they aren’t interested in her matchmaking services because they have a
non-Jewish girlfriend they don’t want their
families to know about. In those cases and
similar ones, Weinberg stays quiet, doesn’t
make a match, and leaves the client to sort
out his or her issues.
In fact, Weinberg got into matchmaking,
not to help Jews who are already observant, but to help prevent intermarriage.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
[ CEL EBR AT IONS ]
T
It is the matchmaker’s
touch to perceive
aspects of others’
character and the
reasons why two
people would work
together
Her matchmaking career had unofficially started before she moved to Pittsburgh. When she lived in New York in
her early 20s, she got to know a philanthropic woman named Else Bendheim,
who would host single men and women
– 30 of each gender at a time – at Shabbat dinners. Bendheim told Weinberg that
she would sponsor more singles events if
Weinberg would host them. The first of
Weinberg’s parties was an unbelievable
success: she connected Debbie Atlas with
Mark Goldenberg, and the next day they
both called her to tell her they liked each
other and that it might turn into marriage.
Tova Weinberg
That was Weinberg’s first unusual success
story, after which point she continued to
make seemingly unmakeable matches. She
recalls having one wealthy client who did
not want to marry someone who needed
him financially. She thought the wealthy
man and one of her other clients had a future together, so she lied to the man that her
other client was an heiress. The match was
successful, and the man thanked Weinberg
for lying because he would not have gone
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out with the woman he loved if he had
known she was actually penniless. Weinberg explains that it is the “matchmaker’s touch” to perceive aspects of others’
character and the reasons why two people
would work together, even if the attributes
perceived aren’t on the “list” of what a single person says he or she is looking for in a
partner.
Asked about the role of technology in
dating, Weinberg says there is a “sickness”
B25
in that singles think more potential mates
can magically appear, and dismiss suggested matches for trivial reasons like a
girl’s hair being too curly. She says there
are those who think online dating is as
simple as Starbucks: “Take skim milk with
caramel and a dash of Splenda, [and] they
are getting all they want.”
Regarding her own marriage of more
than 30 years, Weinberg first says, “I had
to settle.” Then she amends her statement.
“I didn’t really settle,” she says. “Physically he had no hair, he was thinner and
the same height as me. If I would have
met him when I was 19, I would not have
looked twice.”
Instead, she met her husband at age 24,
when she “realized what was out there.”
Though Joel wasn’t her ideal match physically, Weinberg says her future husband
had “everything else” – brilliance, integrity,
and the refusal to take no for an answer.
Weinberg has five married children and
13 grandchildren. A large family photo in
her home was taken at her youngest son’s
recent wedding. How did the couple meet?
“He ran after her on the street,” she says
proudly. For those not bold enough to
make such moves, there are matchmakers like Weinberg and dating websites
like SYAS to help Jewish singles do what it
takes to find their soul mates. ■
B26
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T
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
Putting the mitzvah in bar mitzvah
JUDY LASH BALINT
JNS.ORG
I
t’s 9:30 a.m. on a sunny Monday morning in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s
Old City. Two large groups of revellers
almost collide in the alley leading to the
main square.
Both groups are accompanied by a clarinetist and a drummer belting out traditional simchah tunes, and in the middle
of both are 13-year old boys dancing with
beaming grandmas and uncles under
a small chupah as they make their way
under the stone arches from the Western
Wall.
It’s the Israeli version of the bar mitzvah extravaganza, and it’s repeated every
Monday and Thursday (days when the
Torah is read) throughout the year. Boys
from all over the country get called up to
the Torah for the first time at the Wall, and
then get danced up the steps to the Jewish
Quarter and on to a lavish breakfast at one
of the many restaurants or halls dotting
the area.
But not every bar or bat mitzvah age teen
in Israel is fortunate enough to have that
kind of experience. For the tens of thousands of youths who are cared for in residential facilities all over the Jewish state,
it’s often Diaspora Jews who make the difference between having no bar/bat mitzvah at all, or having a meaningful transition into Jewish responsibility.
Zemira Ozarowski, co-ordinator of
donor relations for AMIT, a network of
educational programs that serves 28,000
Israeli children, is responsible for the
twinning program that encourages North
American bar and bat mitzvah kids to
share their celebration with needy Israeli
kids.
Some come over with their families to
take part in the simchah they have sponsored, Ozarowski explains, while others
conduct fundraising projects at home and
send over funds to help support AMIT’s
efforts to inject joy into the lives of Israeli
kids from difficult backgrounds.
Part of the donation is designated for the
Israeli “twin” to receive a traditional bnei
mitzvah gift of a siddur or tefillin.
Some lasting relationships have been
forged, Ozarowski notes, and the program
was recently expanded to include twinning between Israeli pre-teens from established Jerusalem neighbourhoods and
kids in AMIT’s Beit Hayeled facility in Gilo.
In Netanya, the Beit Elazraki Children’s
Home run by Emunah, a prominent religious Israeli women’s movement with
worldwide supporters, hosts many bar
and bat mitzvah twinning events. North
American b’nei mitzvah and their families
have sponsored several major projects at
the home, which houses almost 300 children whose families cannot care for them.
Back in 2011, a group of budding musicians from Teaneck, N.J., raised more
than $20,000 as their bar mitzvah project,
which funded new equipment for the
music therapy program at Beit Elazraki.
Several times a year, North American and
British b’nei mitzvah join their peers at
Beit Elazraki for a lively party that always
features loud music and a festive meal.
A popular b’nei mitzvah activity for institutional groups as well as individual
families is a visit to the Yad Lashiryon
Latrun Tank Museum a few miles west
of Jerusalem. Elisha Kramer, a U.S.-born
graduate student, spent part of his army
service as a tour guide at the museum.
“Some weeks there would be two or three
bar mitzvah groups every day,” Kramer
recalls.
“It’s a great place for kids to learn about
the need for a strong Israel and the legitimacy of fighting for Israel,” Kramer adds
regarding the outdoor museum where
more than 150 armoured vehicles are on
display along with a moving memorial
complex dedicated to fallen Israeli soldiers.
Many b’nei mitzvah want to take an
active role in their celebration, and Jerusalem Scavenger Hunts provides creative
opportunities for learning and fun in and
around Jerusalem.
Founder and director Tali Tarlow explains that Israeli kids can train to guide
their friends and family on a fun-filled,
educational, thematic navigation through
the city as they engage with its history and
figure out their place in its future. The
program is tailored to the interests of each
child, who works with one of the Scavenger Hunt professional guides and educators to develop a presentation at one of
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Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, director of the deaf programming division of International Young Israel
Movement (IYIM), leads a 2013 bar mitzvah for 63 deaf and hard of hearing children.
JUDY LASH BALINT PHOTO
the stations used in the hunt.
“We believe a bar or bat mitzvah should
be a special occasion and an opportunity
for a meaningful experience,” says Tarlow,
a longtime informal educator who made
aliyah from South Africa.
Any family that’s been part of the package from Home Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Project would agree with that sentiment.
Started by American immigrant Barbara
Silverman at the beginning of the second
intifadah in 2000, the volunteer-run program prepares and sends tens of thousands of care packages to Israeli soldiers,
focusing particularly on lone soldiers (soldiers without family in Israel) and wounded soldiers. B’nei mitzvah in the United
States can raise money for the project,
and those visiting can take part in the
packaging and distribution of everything
from warm clothing to toiletries to snacks.
Each package includes letters of appreciation for the soldiers, which kids are encouraged to write.
For children with physical as well as
emotional challenges, it takes a special
effort to create a bar or bat mitzvah program they can relate to. At a recent ceremony in a Jerusalem synagogue, 63 deaf
and hard of hearing children were called
to the Torah in front of parents who were
visibly moved by the moment, which was
sponsored by the International Young
Israel Movement (IYIM) and its deaf programming division in co-operation with
the Jewish Agency. Boys with cochlear
implants opened up the brand new prayer
shawls provided by the IYIM with a flourish, while groups of girls chattered in sign
language and waited for their turn to recite a special blessing for becoming a bat
mitzvah. Ben Zion Chen, the head of the
Association for the Deaf in Israel told the
kids, “I grew up with hearing parents and
didn’t know what Torah was. You are all
very fortunate.”
“It’s important that you know your
rights and how to deal with your deafness
as you grow up,” Chen added, while a sign
language interpreter translated his words
to the attentive students.
“He didn’t sleep all last night,” said Orna
regarding her son Shai, a deaf 13-year-old
from Ramle. “He’s gone through so many
operations, and had so many difficulties
in his short life – it’s a joy to be here with
him and see how happy he is,” she exclaimed as Shai took his place under the
prayer shawl spread over his group, while
Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, director of the
IYIM deaf programming division read the
Torah portion. In true Israeli b’nei mitzvah style, the kids and their families, who
had come from all over Israel, were treated to a celebratory lunch and a tour of the
Old City to mark the day. n
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B27
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T
Wedding sign of life and hope
Continued from page 23
It was only after immigrating to the United
States in 1981, Grunberg said, that he began
learning about Jewish culture, digging into
his past and “becoming comfortable” about
being Jewish. Many of his films over the
past two decades have centred on Jewish or
Holocaust themes.
Reszke noted the irony that growing up,
Grunberg “was doing his best to hide his
identity and roots, while at the same time I
was doing my best to discover them. Today
we are together and are celebrating.”
The two met more than seven years ago,
Reszke said, when she contacted Grunberg
after seeing a post on a Polish Jewish Internet site that he was making a documentary
on Polish Jewish identity.
“For me it was love at first sight,” she said.
“Now we are working on a film together
called I am a Jew.”
At the wedding, hundreds gathered in the
spacious courtyard outside the White Stork
synagogue.
Poland’s chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich,
and Wroclaw’s Rabbi Tyson Herberger officiated under a tent-like chupah held aloft
by friends of the couple on a raised platform
set up in front of the elegant facade of the
synagogue, which was rededicated in 2010
after a full-scale restoration.
Before and after the ceremony, klezmer,
Yiddish and folk bands from Poland, the
United States, Italy and Cyprus performed
on a second stage.
Among the guests were Ellen Friedland
and Curt Fissel, American documentary
filmmakers whose own wedding in 2000 had
been the last Jewish wedding in Wroclaw
and, at the time, the first there in decades.
They had produced a film about Wroclaw
and the White Stork synagogue, and they,
too, had wanted to make a statement about
Jewish revival by holding their wedding
there, though the synagogue at the time was
dilapidated and they brought a rabbi from
the United States to officiate.
Friedland and Fissel’s wedding was an inspiration, Grunberg said. He and Reszke used
the same chupah as the American couple.
Before World War II, Wroclaw was the
German city of Breslau, with its Jewish
population of more than 23,000 making it
the third-largest Jewish community in Germany. Breslau was a centre of the Reform
movement, and the renowned Breslau Jewish Theological Seminary was located across
the street from the White Stork Synagogue.
The synagogue, completed in 1829, was
Friends, family, the public and media crowd in in front of the chupah at the wedding in
Wroclaw, Poland, of Katka Reszke and Slawomir Grunberg outside the city’s White Stork
synagogue. Ruth Ellen Gruber photo
not destroyed on Kristallnacht in 1938 because of its proximity to other buildings. But
it was desecrated and used by the Nazis as an
auto repair shop and storage place for stolen
Jewish property. The Nazis herded Wroclaw
Jews into the synagogue courtyard before
deporting them to concentration camps.
Wroclaw became part of Poland after
World War II, and today, with some 350
registered members, the organized Jewish
community is the second largest in Poland
after Warsaw.
The synagogue restoration was spearheaded by a foundation established by the
Wroclaw-based Norwegian Jewish singer,
Bente Kahan. The building now anchors an
educational and cultural centre that also includes a smaller prayer room.
Rabbi Herberger said he viewed the public wedding as “a sign of hope and life.”
“It may have been the first wedding here
since Ellen and Curt’s, but in two weeks we
will have a bat mitzvah,” he said.
Reszke said, “Over the past 25 years, thousands have discovered their Jewish roots,
but thousands haven’t,” she said. “A display
like this may or may not encourage them –
but it can’t hurt.” n
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
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