1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Weekly Bulletin
February 14th, 2015 | 25 Shevat 5775
Amalgamated Hebrew Men of England (1975)
100 Elder Street, Toronto ON M3H 5G7 | 416.633.3838
Shabbat Shekalim
Mishaptim
www.beby.org
~The Congregational Kiddush will be held in the Foyer following services ~
Hertz Chumash
Torah Reading pp. 306-322
Haftarah pp. 323-324
Etz Hayim Chumash
Torah Reading pp. 456-480
Haftarah pp. 482-484
~ We extend a Mazel Tov to ~
Jacob Shapiro, son of Ilanit and Garry Shapiro and their family on the celebration
of his Bar Mitzvah on Monday.
Sunday! DON’T MISS OUT!
The Sefer Haftarah Parasha Mishpatim
is available for dedication.
Please call the office to inquire.
The Synagogue Office will be closed on
Monday for Family Day.
We reopen Tuesday morning, 9:00 am.
Services for Week of February 15th
Sunday .......................................... 7:30 & 8:30 am
Monday (Family Day)............................... 8:00 am
Tuesday & Wednesday .................. 7:15 & 8:15 am
Thursday & Friday (Rosh Hodesh) ..... 7:00 & 8:15 am
Sunday - Thursday ....................................5:45 pm
Friday evening...........................................5:45 pm
Shabbat Candle Lighting ...........................5:36 pm
Hashkama Minyan..................................... 7:30 am
Shabbat Services ........................................ 8:45 am
Continuing Ed presents:
Eli Rubenstein - Writer and Story Teller.
Significant Jewish Events in our Lifetime.
Sunday February 15th — 11:30 am
Join us for a delicious brunch and tales of Jewish Historical significance.
Limited seating- tickets available at the door. See you there!
Arback Hall. $10 pp.
~ Seudah Shlisheet is sponsored by ~
Madeline Halioua and family in observance of Yahrzeit for her mother Sylvia Michael l”z
Bette Barmherzig and family on the completion of 11 months of saying
Kaddish for their father, Alex Barmherzig l”z
~We extend our condolences to~
Brenda Staroselsky and Sam Pacht and families on the
loss of father and brother, Michael Pacht l”z
BEBY reserves the right to make copy & editorial changes.
DEADLINE THURSDAY NOON of each week.
Beyond that time we cannot guarantee that your
event will appear in the bulletin.
We regret any errors and omissions that may occur.
Please contact the office to make corrections.
Shabbat Study Group — 4:40 pm
Shabbat Mincha — 5:15 pm
Shabbat Ends — 6:30 pm
ALLERGY ALERT!! Many of our members suffer from asthma or other breathing difficulties. Please
be considerate of those who are chemically sensitive to fragrances and other scented products
- your discretion in applying scented products when attending Shul is appreciated.
HALACHA (JEWISH LAW) prohibits the use of audible beepers, cell phones, electronic games
and any type of photographic equipment on Shabbat and Yom Tov.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation in preserving the sanctity of Shabbat.
Yasher Koach and thank you to our Shabbat Greeters!
WEEKLY PROGRAMMES
SHABBAT
TISH & TORAH - Rabbi Lipson leads learning sessions for the Parashat Hashavuah at
10:00 am in the Boardroom.
RABBINICS STUDY GROUP – Daf Ha’Shavua - The Weekly Page of Talmud. For
beginning or intermediate students, study the first Tractate of the Talmud known
as Masechet Berachot. “The primary focus of the tractate is the myriad ways in
which a Jewish person expresses his faith during his life.” 35 minutes prior to
Mincha.
SUNDAY
FREE HEBREW READING CLASSES - LEVEL II WITH MICHAEL KINRYS: For those who
can slowly read Hebrew, this class will help them gain experience reading and
singing many of the daily and Shabbat prayers. Classes begin Feb 22 at 9:15 am
and run for six weeks. Call the office to register.
COMING
THE MARTY KESHEN CHESED COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!
If you would like to volunteer with home and hospital visits, Shiva calls,
etc. please call the office and leave a message for Rochelle Kerzner
Committee Chair or email [email protected]
SISTERHOOD KNIT/CROCHET AND CHAT GROUP. GOOD NEWS!
To make it easier for you to donate to us, you can now make donations
directly to the BEBY Chesed Knitters via the shul office. We are forever
thankful to the men and women who attend the morning minyans for their
generous donations - helping us to continue knitting baby blankets and hats
for the Soldiers. Join us at 10 am - every Monday morning!
THE LIBRARY ~10 am - 12 noon. Drop by and peruse our many fabulous new
titles! Bible Stories for Jewish Children by Ruth Samuels; Prisoner 88: The
Man in Stripes by Roy D. Tanenbaum.
TANACH STUDY GROUP - February 22nd at 7:30 pm. At the home of Bernie & Cyril
Shoub, 258 Armour Blvd. Studying Beresheit Ch. 23.
MONDAY - NO MAH JONGG & NO CLASS - DUE TO FAMILY DAY
MAH JONGG AT 12:00 NOON. All welcome. Call the office 416-633-3838 to join.
Donation of a Toonie. Refreshments served. FREE Mah Jongg Lessons! Call for info
and to register!
RABBI’S STUDY CLASS: PROBING THE PARSHA: A detailed study of a particular theme
emanating from the weekly Torah portion. Each theme is linked to an essay topic
found in the new book, The Observant Life - The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism
for Contemporary Jews. The book is encouraged but not required for participants.
Boardroom. 7:15 - 8:15 pm.
TUESDAY
SISTERHOOD STUDY GROUP - 10 - 11:30 am | Rabbis Morrison and Lipson
alternate weekly. Ask The Rabbi with Rabbi Morrison: Brief English responsa to
modern halakhic questions from the perspective of Conservative Judaism. Topics
will cover Bible, ethics, gender, interfaith, symbols, conversion, kashrut, lifecycle,
holy day cycle, women’s issues, theology, and more. Rabbi Lipson’s Weekly Topic:
Studying the Book of Shmuel (Samuel) and the Book of Kings — Politics & Power in
Biblical Israel.
FRUMBA - WOMEN’S CARDIO DANCE FITNESS - Sponsored by Sisterhood. 7:45
pm. All ages and fitness levels welcome. No Previous dance experience is
needed. Come join us! Its FUN, elevates your mood and gets you FIT fast and
ENERGIZED!! Contact Bette at [email protected] for drop in and try it
rates, package pricing and full schedule updates.
WEDNESDAY
TALMUD CLASS WITH DR. AARON NUSSBAUM | 9:15 am. Chapel.
MAH JONGG AND RUMMIKUB HOSTED BY SISTERHOOD. Games begin at 12:30 to
3:30 pm. Donation of a Toonie. Refreshments served. Mah Jongg Games and
Rummikub games needed. If you have one to donate, contact the office. FREE
Mah Jongg Lessons! Call for info and to register!
SISTERHOOD PRESENTS ISRAELI FOLK DANCING WITH SHOSHANA FRANK. Beginners 7
pm • Intermediate/Advanced. 8 pm. $8.00 per class. Info? Call Shoshana Frank at
905.889.9419.
THURSDAY
NASH & DRASH 2015 - February 19, March 26 (Pre-Pesach Nash & Drash with the
Cantor), April 23 and May 21. $13 pp.
Please pick up a flyer or check our web site /facebook page for more information on our upcoming events.
The KADIMA CENTRE: 2-3:30 pm. For info on student registration, contact Marcel
Cohen at 416.633.3838 or [email protected]. More info available from
www.beby.org. We are looking for adults to volunteer who are compassionate,
patient and positive.
FEBRUARY EVENTS & MORE
Eli Rubenstein - Brunch
Sunday February 15th
Girls Night Out
Thursday February 26th
Les Miz Gilla According to Judge Judy
Wednesday March 4th
Les Miz Gilla According to Judge Judy
and Annual Purim Carnival
Sunday March 8th
Leon Eisner Memorial Lecture
Monday March 9th
Mens’ Club Bourbon Tasting
Wednesday March 11th
Shabbat Across Canada
Friday March 13th
Reel & Spiel
Wednesday March 18th
Rouhama Danto
Michaelangelo & Sistine Chapel Jewish Symbology
Wednesday March 25th
Pre-Passover Nash ‘n Drash
Thursday March 26th
Sisterhood Girls Night Out
Thursday March 26th
Passover Workshop
Sunday March 29th
Earth Day
Monday April 20th
60th Anniversary Scholars Weekend
April 24th-26th
David Anisman Dinner Draw
Thursday May 7th
CHAZZAN’S CORNER
Davening Class - Chazzan Edwards offers an informal,
hands on practical class - Monday evenings
following Mincha services.
FYI: Please be aware that in the event of a medical emergency, our Security Personnel are
EVENTS
YOUTH & YOUNG FAMILIES
BETH EMETH GREENING COMMITTEE
Junior Congregation
Shakin’ Up Shabbat!
from the Ministry of Energy:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Seal windows and doors with weather stripping and reduce energy
needs by up to 25%
Keep curtains & shades open during the day to allow natural
sunlight to warm up home
For every lowered thermostat degree; save up to 3% in heating
costs
Using lids when cooking and the right size pot on the right size
burner does not waste the burner’s heat
Each time an oven door is opened; 2% of heat escapes
By reheating leftovers in a microwave, 75% less electricity is used
than in stoves
every Shabbat at 10 am with a fun activity
led by Elie Morrison and Samara Gottesman
or by Omer Itzhak, our Shinshinit. New program with
lots of fun activities and games! See you there!
Sam Kotzer Shabbat & Festival Gan Program
OPEN YEAR ROUND FOR NURSERY SERVICES.
10 am - 12 noon | BEBY Babies Room (lower level)
Structured weekly Shabbat programming
for children ages 1 through JK,
including Tefillot, songs, games, and healthy snacks.
Hilda Swirsky, RN, BScN, MEd, Chair,
[email protected] or Fay Rakoff, [email protected]
Contact DALE at [email protected] or
call 416 633.3838 for MORE INFO or to
RSVP to any program.
Coming soon...
Sisterhood presents Girls Night Out
Thursday Feb 26th - Downton Abbey evening. Wear your
favourite fascinator and white gloves, sip tea and nibble
on scones and party sandwiches as we watch one of TV’s
favourite British comedies. Cheerio! TTFN!
YOUTH EVENTS
Wednesday March 11th - 6:30 pm - Men’s Club Bourbon
Tasting: $60 pp N/M $78.
OPEN MIC NITE! APRIL 8TH
GOTTA DANCE! GOTTA SING! ....
IF YOU HAVE TALENT
-
don’t hide it away.. here’s your chance to shine!
Perform for us during Hol Hamoed Pesach!
Along with the Klez Konnection - we are presenting an entire
evening of music and entertainment.
Please call the office if you would like to participate.
MISHLOACH MANOT CARDS
Now available for Purim!. In lieu of gift baskets make a donation. Call the office to purchase.
DON’T MISS THE ANNUAL PURIM SPIELER!
LES MIZ GILLA ACCORDING TO JUDGE JUDY!
Tickets on Sale now! Call the office to purchase.
Two performances: Wednesday March 4th following the Megillah
Reading at 6:30 pm and Sunday, March 8th at 1:30 pm
Tickets $5 pp or family price of $20 (2 adults - 3 children)
To book a Youth Kiddush please send an email to [email protected].
Monday March 9th at 8 pm - Annual Leon Eisner Memorial
Lecture with Mordechai Ben-Dat. Thinking About Mendel
Beilis.
PJ PLUS IS A PARENT (OR GRANDPARENT!) AND TOT
PROGRAM for 1.5 -3 years old. This 10 week program runs
Sunday mornings right here at Beth Emeth! Your first class is FREE!
9:30 - 10:45 am in the BEBY Babies Room. Winter session now
underway!
CHILLIN’ N’ CHOLENT FOR TEENS!
Calling all Beth Emeth Teens! Chillin’ n’ Cholent is back! Join us
following services (approx 12:30 pm) in the boardroom for Rabbi
Lipson’s famous cholent (and other goodies!) Next Date TBA.
RSVP to Dale, 416-633-3838 x229 or email [email protected].
ANNUAL PURIM CARNIVAL!
Sunday March 8th at 2:30 pm. Don’t miss out on all the fun!
Music. Food. Carnival Games. and much more! In advance: $7 per
person / $30 family (5 people max)
At the door: $10 per person / $45 family ( 5 people max)
Volunteers Needed! Contact Dale.
CAMP RAMAH SUBSIDIES 2015 - deadline for applications is
Monday March 16th. Contact the office.
Café Shinshinim:
Join Omer for a lively bi-weekly program
covering a range of current topics. Join us
Tuesday, February 17th for movie night.
Jerusalem U - at 6:30 pm.
Graduation Shavuot 2015
To show our appreciation and gratitude to you and your children Beth Emeth
will once again be holding our annual Graduation Recognition Program on
Sunday May 24th. Please call Freda at the Synagogue office
if you have a child graduating from a Hebrew School in 2015 to make sure
your child is part of this wonderful day.
YIZKOR BOOK - 2015: If you wish to have your dedications
included in this year’s Yizkor Book, please call the
office and speak to Freda at 416.633.3838.
CPR trained. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to seek out their services.
MISHPATIM
by Rabbi Joel Alter, Director of Admissions
Jewish Theological Seminary JTS - www.learn.jtsa.edu
A rabbi and an astronomer have the middle and window seats on a
long-haul flight while the fellow on the aisle is a champion sleeper. As neither of
our sophisticated travelers is taking a stroll anytime soon, the astronomer begins
to talk: “Tell me, rabbi. What, essentially, is Judaism for?” The rabbi thinks a
bit, casting about for a reasonable response. He offers a few broad strokes and
believes he’s done about as well as might be expected. The traveler responds, “All
these rules and teachings and traditions, rabbi! Can’t it all be boiled down to ‘Be
Nice?’” The rabbi nods and says, “All these galaxies and black holes and neutrinos and supernovas . . . professor, can’t it all be boiled down to ‘Twinkle, twinkle
little star?’”
I returned to this (very) old nugget at the opening of (the older) Exodus 23: No spreading false rumors. No conspiracies of false testimony. Resist
mob-think and hold to the truth as you know it, especially in adjudicated cases.
Do the poor person no favors by skewing a case his way; just rule justly. When
you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey gone astray, lead the beast back to its
owner. When your enemy is struggling to lift his animal, which has collapsed under a heavy and unbalanced load, resist the inclination to whistle on by. Rather,
join your enemy in redistributing the load and righting the animal on its legs.
Stay far from falsehood. Do not execute the innocent. Take no bribes. Do not
oppress the outsider among you.
Can’t it all be boiled down to: Be Nice. Be Fair. Do Right.
Well, sure. But that hardly touches on the complexity of realizing this
bottom line in practice. In these short verses, the Torah addresses each individual
Israelite, calling on him or her to consistently act in the right way in his or her
own sphere. Everett Fox, in his translation and commentary on the Torah, notes
that through v. 12, with the exception of that portion of v. 9 that cites that communal experience of slavery in Egypt and the communal norms that flow from it,
this passage is rendered in the singular. Of course the laws in our passage apply
to everyone. Yet the Torah chooses the singular voice to press home the significance of each person’s role in establishing a just and sacred society.
The Torah recognizes that each of us is an independent actor and that
the fabric of society depends on each of us, singly and individually, to do the
right thing. We are enjoined to do the right thing not only when it will make
a difference, but even when it won’t. The Bekhor Shor, a12th century French
commentator famous for distilling the plain meaning of the text, writes of v. 2,
in which we are cautioned against hiding behind a decisive majority that makes
BEBY Continuing Education & Morasha present:
Feb 25 to March 25 - Rabbi Torczyner’s Sociology and the Synagogue in
five classes, (including The Synagogue Kiddush, Creating a Society of Trust,
Communal Prayer, The Needs of the Many and the Needs of the Few, Splintering
Synagogues). 10:00 -11:00 am at Beth Emeth
If you are away and want to be included on the mailing list in order to receive
the audio, you can do so for $25.00. Pick up a registration form from the foyer.
Feb 25 to April 1 - York University Professor Emeritus, Barrie Wilson’s
Secrets of Early Christianity, The Lost Gospel in six classes. A Jewish
perspective on Early Christianity focusing on such questions as, How did early
Christians understand the Hebrew scriptures? Why do some Christians reject the
idea of a human, Jewish, married Jesus? How did the Christian scriptures come to
be? and much more. The course will use Prof Wilson’s recent international bestseller The Lost Gospel, as a way into the secrets of early Christianity including the
social, family, and political side of Jesus. 11:15 am - 12:15 pm at Beth Emeth.
For more information and to register, call Loretta Tanenbaum at 416-789-7400
or email [email protected]. BEBY Members receive price discount.
Flyers and registration forms available from the foyer.
Consider a Weekly Bulletin Sponsorship!
Call the office to arrange your dedication.
We would love to announce your BREAKFAST SPONSORSHIP right here in the
weekly Bulletin! Whatever the occasion - birthdays, anniversaries, births, graduations, and in memoriam. Please call the office for information and to reserve.
*The Bulletin deadline is THURSDAY NOON of each week.
Beyond that time we can not guarantee placement.
LARGE PRINT
SIDDURIM
available.
Ask an usher.
what one knows to be the wrong decision. When
polled, one must state one’s contrary position
even though one knows it will be outvoted and
ROSEN JUDAICA
not acted upon.
GIFT SHOP
Most interesting in this passage is how
HUGE PRE-PASSOVER
at the same time the text calls on each of us to
pre-inventory blow out
take individual responsibility and do the right
sale! Begins March 1st.
thing, it also pushes back against our inclination
to be rogue actors in the name of justice. On v. 3,
Call Sonia Hendler
which instructs us not to hold up the poverty of
at 416 633.3838 x 224
a poor or underprivileged person as a legitimate
factor in his favor in his dispute (perhaps advoWednesday mornings
cating on his behalf in a way that falls somewhere
10 am - 12:30 pm
between pity and affirmative action), the Bekhor
or by appointment.
Shor comments, “don’t be over-righteous and
think, ‘This fellow is poor. It would be an act of
tzedakah to acquit him.’ Favoritism has no place
in justice.” The courts are not the place the do
tzedakah. Rather, they must be the place of tzedek—justice—in each individual
case adjudicated in them. Systemic injustices and inequities are addressed in
other ways. In our own passage, we read that for six years one is to work one’s
land, vineyards, and olive groves, but that in the seventh year one must leave
them fallow and permit the poor to eat what grows without cultivation . They
eat from hand to mouth and don’t have a store of food to carry them through the
year (vv. 10–12).
In the matter of one’s enemy’s animal that has collapsed under its load,
we should recognize first that it’s taken for granted that one would assist a friend
in that situation. The Torah is making the point that even in the situation where
one might self-righteously think that the fool got what he deserved for overloading his animal, that he’s made his bed and now he’s going to sleep in it—that is
precisely the situation in which one must act in the most responsible way. One
must assist the owner in unpacking the animal’s load and then in repacking it.
The Talmud and other sources debate whether the reason for this obligation is
out of concern for the animal or to take the opportunity to overcome one’s most
negative impulses. Maimonides concludes (Laws of Murder and Preservation of
Life, 13:13) that the core motivation here is the latter. We are to walk into a situation that will challenge us deeply precisely because that is the case. We have to
get over ourselves in order to make ours the kind of society it’s meant to be.
Our passage, then, calls on each of us to do three things, none of
which is easy and each of which is in some tension with the other two: always
to act as an individual, to recognize the significance each of us can play in every
situation, even if it is only to speak our truth; always to act in the interest of the
community of which we are a part—as we experienced slavery together, we need
to sustain a society that tolerates no oppression; even as we need always to be
vigilant and present, we need also to get out of the way because most of the time,
it’s not really about us.
The astronomer and rabbi on the plane are an updated version of the
famous Talmudic passage (Shabbat 31a) in which Hillel boils down the Torah to
this: What is hateful to you do not do to your fellow. There, as here, the kicker is
in his next instruction: The rest is commentary, so zil gemor—Go and learn. Be
nice, indeed.
Hashkama Minyan Sponsorships
Meir, Lorene, Daniel and Elly Richmond in observance of the 8th
Yahrzeit for their beloved father, Sam Richmond l”z
Now on Twitter too!
Read the weekly blog - penned by Rav Yitz!
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