1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Shabbat Shalom
ouka ,ca
January 24, 2015
4 Shevat, 5775
Beth David B’nai Israel Beth Am Synagogue
Affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Yishar Ko’ach to our Nosh ‘N Drosh leaders –
Cynthia Bielak, Aaron Daniels, Brian Hochman,
Naomi Nemirov, Ruth Shapiro, Allan Sheps
Parashah P. 374
Haftarah P. 395
bo
tc
The Illumination for Parashat ‘Bo’ is dedicated
by the Rubin Family on the occasion of the 74th anniversary
of Bernard Rubin’s Bar Mitzvah celebration.
Service Times
Friday ................................... 5:00 PM
Friday Candle Lighting........... 4:58 PM
Shabbat Mincha ................... 4:45 PM
Shabbat ends ....................... 6:03 PM
Sunday -Thursday.................. 5:15 PM
Mornings:
Shabbat................................ 9:00 AM
Sunday..................................8:30 AM
Monday-Friday...........7:00 & 8:00 AM
Junior Congregation:Chapel.10:00 AM
This issue of the Shabbat Shalom is sponsored by Jean & Chaim Bernholtz
in recognition of the 70th anniversary of Chaim becoming Bar Mitzvah.
Members are asked to refrain from
wearing fragrances in the synagogue
PLEASE TURN OFF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE IN THE SYNAGOGUE
55 Yeomans Road, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 3J7 | Phone: 416.633.5500
Fax: 416.633.1740 | www.bethdavid.com
Upcoming Events
THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS
Club Chaverut
Enhanced Kiddush Sponsor
Eric Epstein
Members: $7.00 Non–members: $10.00
Sunday, February 22, 2015 1:30 PM The Ganz Social Hall
THE COLUMBUS CONCERT BAND
“Back by popular demand, this forty piece band will play new
selections from the classics and Broadway musicals.”
RSVP to Rose Haspel at 905-764-8141 by February 16, 2015
brotherhood
BETH DAVID B’NAI ISRAEL BETH AM BROTHERHOOD
IN ASSOCIATION WITH BETH DAVID CELEBRATES ISRAEL
Proudly Presents
ANNUAL WORLD WIDE WRAP
With Special Guest Speaker Dr. Aaron Nussbaum
Speaking on History of Tefillin in Israel and Diaspora
Join us for breakfast on SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2015 AT 9:00 AM
in the board room following morning services
There is no charge for this event.
Please pre - register online at www.bethdavid.com
shinshinim programs for adults
UPCOMING MOVIE NIGHTS:
MORE
Sunday, January 25th at 7:30 PM
EVENTS
Join us for the hilarious movie — “A Matter of Size”
— about overweight people learning to accept themselves.
Sunday, Feb. 8th
Sunday, February 22nd at 7:30 PM
at 7:30 PM:
We invite you to watch— “The Schwartz Dynasty” — a drama
about a relationship between a religious guy and a secular girl.
Join Gal for a
Weekly Media Class on Wednesdays
musical program.
Join us as we watch Israeli TV shows and practice our
The theme will
Hebrew. All Hebrew levels are welcome.
be Idan Raichel’s
project as a mirror
January 28th at 8:00 PM
to the Ethiopian
February 4th at 7:00 PM **Note time change*
society in Israel.
February 11th at 7:00 PM
“Call for Megillat Esther Readers”:
Yes! It is that time of year to ensure you will
be among the record-breaking cadre of chanters
who will read from Megillat Esther this Purim
at Beth David. Whether you’ve read before or
never had the pleasure, be in touch directly with
Michael Rubin to guarantee your verses before
there are none left! We’re looking to surpass our
record of 55 from last year!!!
Simchat Purim Aleinu!
Enhanced Breakfast Sponsor
Zena Wise
Frances Borenstein
Breakfast Sponsor
Maxine, Matthew, and
Jessica Budin
Thank you to this week’s sponsors!
What a beautiful way to commemorate
a Yahrzeit, Birthday, Anniversary or any other
special occasion in your family’s life!
Sisterhood
Craft group - next meetings 8:00 PM
January 27, February 17 and March 17.
Willing to teach knitting, crocheting,
needlepoint & embroidery skills.
Contact Noreen Kasman - 905-881-2164
or [email protected]
Donations of worsted weight yarn or
funds always welcome.
Ely Bagelman
Alice Ballington
Marilyn Beder
Anne Birbrager
Sonja Boruscvsky
Bertha Citrin
Bertha Cohen
Ralph Cohen
Sarah Davine
Amelia Denton
Ida Diamond
Julius Elias
Rose Enchin
Leslie Erlick
Josef Feintuch
Andrew Flynn
Ze’ev Foxman
Sarah Freedlander
Annie Freedman
Eva Freedman
Helen Goldberg
Saul Goldstein
Annie Goodman
Rose Goodman
Nathan Goody
Reva Gorman
Dorothy Green
Jack Gross
Reuben Gryfe
Alex Handelman
Carl Hartman
Helen Hoffman
Joshua Jacob Hyams
Harry Kalles
Sara Anne Kasman
Maurice Katz
Marshall Kirsch
Anne Kirshenblatt
Frances Kleinberg
Gloria Kurtz
Gerta Leighton
Albert Levine
Ya h r z e i t s c om m e m o r at e d t h i s w e e k :
Sunday January 25, 2015 1:30 PM Sisterhood Hall
JOHN MORELLO
“ A Tribute to Dean Martin”
Max Lightstone
Aaron Lockett
Fanny Lutrofsky
Rubin Bernard Marks
Morris Miller
Morley Mogul
Rose Mosher
Sharon Ozier-Fisher
Beverley Pancer
Marilyn Pollock
Eugene Ringwald
Carey Adam Risman
Beatrice Rittenberg
Albert Robins
Henry Rotberg
Rita Rotman
Harry Sachs
Levi Schiller
Mendel Schlanger
Shirley Schwartz
Hymie Shore
Ruth Shuster
Nathan Silverberg
Miriam Singer
Isaac Sobel
Miriam Sokoloff
Nathan Speisman
Nathan Stein
Chaim Steinberg
Rebecca Steinberg
Rachel Suckonic Eisen
Albert Tobis
David Vilensky
Hyman Louis
Wasserman
Joe Weinstock
Etta Zacks
Ada Zeppieri
Mary Zimmerman
Sarah Zinman
Adult Education
youth/families
Our Women’s Study Group
Led by Rabbi Philip Scheim and
Ritual Director Michael Rubin
Topic for 5775:
“Genesis: The Beginning of
Desire”
Books
A year-long course
are available
(based on the writings of
for purchase in
Avivah Zornberg) exploring the roles and
the office for
traditions of women in the Book of Genesis.
$20
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Upcoming ClassesTuesdays, February 3rd & 17th, March 3rd, 17th & 31st
Admission free Open to all
Upcoming Date: January 24th
Yiddish Literature -
Group Reading Yiddish Literature in the original
MONDAYS: Boardroom, 10-11 AM Open to all
Register online at www.bethdavid.com
Join us for a Dinner Lecture with
DR. SHAWNA DOLANSKY,
Scroll and Spade:
Where the Bible and Archeology
Do-and Do Not- Intersect
Sunday, March 22, 2015
at 6:00 PM
Contact the Synagogue office
or register online at
www. bethdavid .com
Dr. Shawna
Dolansky is adjunct
Research Professor,
College of the
Humanities & Religion
Program, Carleton
University, author
of 2 books and
scholarly articles as
well as a contributor
to The Women’s
Torah Commentary,
Encyclopedia Judaica,
Advanced registration is
required.
Cost for dinner $36.
FINDING OUR WAY in TRADITIONAL PRAYER
With Our Clergy, Rabbi Scheim, Cantor Loomer and
Ritual Director Michael Rubin guiding our exploration and
understanding in a 4-part series, Thursdays at 7:30 PM
January 29: Geography of the Siddur
February 5: Language of the Siddur: Avoiding Everyday
Errors
February 12:Prayer and Song: Understanding the Modes of
Tefillah
February 19:PRAYER IN PRACTICE
Learn how to pray and deepen your spiritual experience
through prayer!
Register online at www.bethdavid.com
SHABBAT
SIDRA LUNCHEON
Saturday
February 7th :
Following morning services.
Sharon Swartz will
lead a discussion
of Yitro and the
accompanying
Haftarah.
Advanced registration
for luncheon required:
$10.00 by Tuesday
February 3rd.
Register online at
www.bethdavid.com or
call BDBIBA at
416-633-5500 or
e-mail
[email protected]
T his week’s Torah reading:
BO
tc
Parashah P. 374
Haftarah p. 395
parasha includes the final three
of the first-born),
Today’s
plagues (locusts, darkness, killing
the expulsion of the Israelites
from Egypt, the preparations for the exodus, the
instructions for the celebration of the Passover in
Egypt and in later generations. We read as well of
the redemption of the first-born and the mitzvah
of Tefillin.
Much effort has been expended to show
how each plague could come about by natural
forces (e.g. darkness from a total eclipse of the
sun, etc.). It is important to realize, however,
that, from the Torah’s point of view, these plagues
had to come outside of the natural order. The
message of the plagues is clearly stated: “And
Egypt shall know that I am the Lord.” It is precisely
the miraculous features of the plagues that
are stressed. They are non-accidental, and the
deliberate doing of God. Classical commentators
have differed as to the precise nature of these
miracles. Included in the list of miracles
attached to the plagues are the plagues being
predicted, their removal at Moses’ order, and their
affecting the Egyptians and not the Israelites. All
commentators agree that the plagues are sent not
merely as punishment, nor as encouragement
for Pharoah to free the Israelites, but essentially,
as demonstration to Pharoah and his people
of the existence of a God in the world more
powerful than they. Blinded by arrogance, Egypt
had failed to recognize this reality and needed
“encouragement” to do so.
The laws of Pesah Mitzraim (the Egyptian
Passover) given in today’s parasha include
the slaughtering of a lamb, the covering of
the doorposts with its blood, and the speedy
consumption of its roasted flesh. For seven
days, they are to eat only unleavened bread.
Louis Kaplan explains why these laws were given
while the Israelites were still in Egypt: “It is a
reminder that freedom alone was not enough.
Even as free people, you must live under the law.”
These laws also remind us that we were slaves
in Egypt. We are loath to forget our painful
past, so as to be sensitive to the sufferings of
others. The laws of Pesah enforce a definite,
positive memory of a very negative period in
our people’s lives.
Rabbi Philip S. Scheim and
Rabbi Asher Ostrin
Unfamiliar Places of interest
in ISRAEL
Saddle up to Israel’s
only cowboy-themed
bar for a hearty
(and kosher) steak
Located on a kibbutz that offers
a number of traditionally Western
pastimes such as horseback riding and cattle wrangling, the Habokrim
Restaurant tries to provide a real Wild West experience while keeping
to Jewish law.
Despite being located in a tumultuous area of Golan Heights near
the Syrian border, the ranchers of the Merom Golan kibbutz continue to
raise beef cattle in much the same fashion as Western cowboys have for
over a century. The area’s unique climate and flora make it an ideal spot
to raise the livestock and also tends to attract a number of tourists to the
area. For those visitors who don’t want to get their hands dirty in the
actual farm, the kibbutz offer the Habokrim Restaurant which has all the
theme with none of the mess.
The eatery is located inside of a modern-built wood building, meant
to look like a log construction from the 1800’s. Inside, diners can sidle
up to the rustic tables and take in the Old West themed decorations. The
menu offers hearty cowboy fare such as steaks, kebabs, and grilled lamb
chops, all kosher and made from the fresh meat of the local livestock.
The Habokrim Restaurant sits right next to a working horse corral so
diners might even get to eat along with some actual Israeli cowboys, an
experience most Wild West enthusiasts haven’t even considered.
Dear Members,
When calling the office for your various Synagogue activities and needs,
please note the extensions listed below for our office staff. This will help make
your office experience more efficient.
Cari Kozierok Bahar (ext. 22),
Robyn Zajac-Cooper (ext. 35), Jeev Logan (ext. 27),
Helene Jacobs (ext.28), Faye Major (ext. 0),
Simmi Toby (ext. 24),Thanuja Perera (ext. 25)
Philip S. Scheim - Rabbi | Marshall Loomer - Cantor | Michael Rubin - Ritual Director
Cari Kozierok Bahar - Executive Director
David Bienstock - President
Andy Pascoe - Vice President, Finance and Administration
Madeleine Sarick -Vice President, Programming and Ritual
Steven Risenman - Vice President, House and Property
Karen Bernstein - Secretary
Jerry Paskowitz - Treasurer
Ettie Schimmer - Past President
Steven Risenman - Brotherhood President
Lisa Levine - Sisterhood President
Chairman of the Board - Barry Levine