BULLETIN - Amazon S3 · Book Launch - Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations, with Eli Rubenstein (see pg15) (Holocaust Education Week program sponsored

Schedule of Services and Events

Mazal Tovs! (see more Mazal Tovs on page 14-17)

Vol. 62 | No. 3| August to December 2015 / Elul 5775 - Tevet 5776

Sat. Sept. 5 10:00 am Bar Mitzvah of Zachary Rubin, son of Lucy and Geoffrey RubinMon. Sept 7 11:30 am Baby naming of Beatrice Penny Wilson-Zimerman, daughter of Britt and Aviv Zimerman

SEE HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE ON PAGE 2Sun. Sept 27 10:00 am Pizza in the Hut with the Jewish Heritage School see page 6Sat. Oct. 10 Havdalah Bat Mitzvah of Kay Goffenberg, daughter of Marjorie Kramer & Alan Goffenberg

Thurs. Oct 15 8:30 am B’nai Mitzvah of Evan & Alexa Davidson, children of Lauren Davidson & Hugh Davidson

Sat. Oct 17 10:00 am Bar Mitzvah of Jordan Sigel, son of Lisa & Jonah SigelSat. Oct 17 Havdalah-5 pm Bar Mitzvah of Zachary Schwartz, son of Dasi Moscovitch & Jeffrey SchwartzThurs. Oct 29 9:00 am Bar Mitzvah of Zach Morris, son of Jill Cohen-Morris & Danny Morris

Sun. Nov 1 11:00 am The Magician of Auschwitz, Author Kathy Kacer (see pg14) (Holocaust Education Week program sponsored by Habonim)

Sun. Nov 1 8:00 pm Film Premiere: Blind Love: A Holocaust Journey Through Poland wih Man’s Best Friend (see pg14) (Holocaust Education Week program sponsored by Habonim)

Sat. Nov 7 8:00 pmBook Launch - Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations, with Eli Rubenstein (see pg15) (Holocaust Education Week program sponsored by Habonim)

Sat. Nov. 28 10:00am Bat Mitzvah of Madeline Bickley daughter of Julie SolowaySat. Nov. 28 Havdalah Bat Mitzvah of Katie Woodside, daughter of Suzanne Hamilton & Terence WoodsideSat. Dec. 12 Havdalah Bat Mitzvah of Maliha Kollins, daughter of Anisa Khan & Garry Kollins

THIS IS THE 2015/5776 HIGH HOLIDAY BULLETINTICKET ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS ON PAGE 3

Mazal Tov to Elisa Goldman and Pedro Simoes on the birth of their daughter Daniela Tait. Mazal Tov as well to the proud grandparents Nanci and Issie Goldman & Anabela Simoes.

On May 25th, Rafael Gomez, Trisha Orzech and son William welcomed a healthy baby boy named Samuel Nicolas into the family.

Isla Rivkah Galati Diamond with her proud parents Jessica Galati & David Diamond, Eli and her aunts and uncles!

5 Glen Park Avenue · Toronto · Ontario · M6B 4J2B U L L E T I N

1

Service Date Early Service Late Service

Erev Rosh Hashana Sun. Sept. 13 6:00 PM* Rosh Hashana (First Day) Mon. Sept. 14 8:30 AM 11:00 AM Children’s Service (22 Glen Park) Mon. Sept. 14 9:00 AM*Rosh Hashana Second Day Tues. Sept. 15 10:00 AM* Kol Nidre (Erev Yom Kippur) Tues. Sept. 22 6:00 PM 8:30 PM Yom Kippur Wed. Sept. 23 8:30 AM 11:00 AM Children’s Service (22 Glen Park) Wed. Sept. 23 9:00 AM*Tashlich (at Alexander Muir Park) Wed. Sept. 23 4:00 PM*Mincha, Ne’ilah (services resume) Wed. Sept. 23 5:15 PM*Havdalah (children welcome) Wed. Sept. 23 Approx. 7 - 7:15*Pizza in the Hut with the Jewish Heritage School Sun. Sept. 27 10:00 am to noon*

Sukkot/Shmini Atzeret Yizkor Service

Mon. Oct. 5 10:00 AM*

Simchat Torah Mon. Oct. 5 7:00 PM*

* one service only, start time as indicated

Children’s Services: Habonim holds two children’s services at the church across the street, one on the first day Rosh Hashana and one on Yom Kippur. These services begin at 9:00 AM and are approximately 1 hr 15 minutes in length. The services are very participatory and hands-on. They are geared towards elementary school-aged children. Some older children might find the service engaging, while others will prefer the regular service. They are welcome to attend either. Note that children should not be left unsupervised at the children’s service. At least one adult is expected to attend the service with a child or group of children. No tickets are required for the children’s services however these services are open to member and Jewish Heritage School families only.

PLEASE PLAY A ROLE IN OUR HOLIDAY SERVICES!High Holidays are just around the corner – and we are now making arrangements for members to help with the services.The type of help we require includes English readings, lifting the Torah, opening the Ark, and in some cases reading Hebrew for an Aliyah.To help make the job easier for board members to co-ordinate and to offer your help in one of these areas, please send a quick email to Joanie Smith at [email protected] with the following information:1. Your name and phone number

2. What you are willing to help with: Reading an English Prayer, Lifting the Torah, Opening the Ark, doing an Aliyah or ANY OF THE ABOVE

Schedule of 2015/5776 High Holidays Services

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

2

Congregation Habonim of Toronto

BULLETIN

How to Get Your 2015/5776 High Holiday Tickets

THE LINK WILL BE ACTIVATED WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2015

For the convenience of our members, Congregation Habonim offers two ways to order and receive High Holiday tickets. Please note that there will be no mail-in forms.

Method 1: Do it yourself, via the Web (preferred and easiest) At the congregationhabonim.org website, click on “Order High Holiday Tickets Here”

1) Please log in with any telephone number for your family in our records. 2) If this is your first time ordering tickets, please choose a password. If you have

used this system before, the password is the same as the one you used last year. If you have forgotten your password, click on “forgot password” and it will be emailed to you.

3) Choose your service preference (EARLY or LATE), click on DETAILS to update your family profile, enter your email address and submit. Your will be emailed to you.

4) Print your own tickets. (If printing is a problem, call the office at 416-782-7125)

Method 2: Contact Habonim Members without internet access can call the office at 416-782-7125 for help obtaining your tickets. If you reach voicemail, please leave a message.

CHOICE OF EARLY OR LATE SERVICE IS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS

(Please see schedule)

No Guest Tickets for 2015 As suggested in a notice to the Congregation in January, Congregation Habonim is not able to offer guest tickets for High Holidays this year. The Congregation has added a number of new members since last year, and in order to maintain a little room for new members, there is simply not any room to provide guest tickets for 2015. It is important for Congregation Habonim’s long term stability to give priority to members over guests.

Family Membership Ticket Eligibility A family membership consists of all family members including your children aged up to and including 25 years old. We ask that families with children aged 19-25 consider making a $100 donation to the synagogue on their behalf: www.congregationhabonim.org click on “DONATIONS” tab for form.

Young Adult Membership We have instituted a new Young Adult Membership for those aged 26 to 30. This is a single member category with a fee of $250. This new Young Adult Membership allows a member’s child an easier transition from being part of a Family Membership to being a full Single or Family Member in their 30s.

How to Get Your 2015/5776 High Holiday Tickets

3

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

Dear Habonim Members, Thank you to the one hundred or more of you who attended our Annual General Meeting last month. It is a testament to the strength of our Congregation that so many of you came to the meeting on a Thursday in July, after the meeting date had been moved once. For those of you who were not able to attend, this short note will provide a brief summary of the meeting. Please feel free to contact Ted Rechtshaffen or Eli Rubenstein with any questions or comments. Our contact information is noted below. The meeting’s business and a short summary of the discussion follow: i) Call to order/declaration of quorum ii) Approval of timing of this year’s Annual General Meeting

Because the timing of our AGM had been changed from the original June meeting date beyond the time limit permitted by Habonim’s by-‐laws, approval was required for the change of date. The members present voted in favour.

iii) Approval of 2014 AGM minutes iv) Discussion of misappropriation of funds

We communicated to all members on July 6th that a serious misappropriation of Habonim funds had recently come to light. This was the reason for the change of date for the meeting. All the details of the misappropriation, actions taken, controls put in place, and next steps were discussed. Those present asked many questions resulting in a very open and constructive discussion, one that revolved around our values as Congregation Habonim. Importantly, members were informed that virtually all the funds that had been misappropriated have been returned to the Synagogue. [As of this writing, 100% of the funds have been recovered. This includes the professional costs associated with resolving things appropriately.] To reduce the risk of a misappropriation from happening again, the following actions were taken: • The president/treasurer role was separated and on the date of the annual

meeting a new treasurer (Rick Glatt) was elected. • Signing authority was augmented. • Responsibilities of the general manager role were divided and a new

bookkeeper was hired. • Audited financial statements will be done annually. • The Board committed to undertake a governance review.

v) Presentation and approval of financial statements Financial statements for the 2014 were presented and approved. The statements show that Habonim is in a strong financial position with very healthy cash flow. Copies of the financial statements are available to any members who would like to see them. Please contact Ted if you would like a copy.

Summary of Annual General Meeting

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

4


BULLETIN

vi) Approval of auditor Members approved the appointment of Chaplin and Company as auditors for the 2015 fiscal year.

vii) Confirmation of acts The actions of the Board of Directors since the last annual meeting were ratified.

viii) Nomination and election of Directors Marie Finkelstein, Nadim Wakeam and David Goldfarb, who left the Board this year, were thanked for their service to the Congregation. The following were elected for two-‐year terms as directors: Rick Glatt (new), David Gotfrid (new), Joel Kwinter, Susan Leibel (new), Brett Saitowitz and Joanie Smith. The following were elected for one-‐year terms as directors: Adrienne Chajes, Dianne Erdos-‐Rush, Sander Gibson, Shelly Haber, Ted Rechtshaffen and Paula Schipper.

ix) Discussion of membership dues Concerns were raised that membership dues were raised earlier in the year without ratification by the members as set out in the by-‐laws. Members were informed that the governance review will address, among other governance issues, the current timing dilemma whereby fees are announced and collected several months before a fee change is approved by members.

x) Cemetery update Penny Balberman reviewed that members prior to the year 2000 and still in good standing are owed cemetery plots by Habonim. The recommendation is that Habonim commit to purchase 30 to 40 plots every five years. This should be manageable financially for the Congregation and would approximate the number of plots Habonim is using annually to fulfill its obligations to pre 2000 members.

xi) Building update In October a special meeting of the members will be called to discuss the building. Work is being done by the Building Committee involving the city, city planners, and fundraising. Timing has become an issue as the building plan must be approved by May 2016 in order that our zoning as “religious institutional” may be grandfathered under city by-‐laws that have changed.

xii) AGM adjournment xiii) Board meeting A board meeting was convened and the following officers were elected: Ted

Rechtshaffen as President, Rick Glatt as Treasurer, and Dianne Erdos-‐Rush as Secretary.

Ted Rechtshaffen, President [email protected] 416-807-6222

Eli Rubenstein, Religious Leader [email protected] (416) 605-0850

Summary of Annual General Meeting - continued

5

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

The Jewish Heritage School NoticesRegistration for the Jewish Heritage School is full for 2015/2016, for both the Sunday and the Thursday classes.

Sunday classes begin September 20th 9:30 AM - 12:00 noon

[Ed. The mailed version of the Bulletin reads the 13th, sorry for the error!]

Thursday classes begin September 24th 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Our Sukkot celebration "Pizza in the Hut" will be on Sunday, September 27th from 10:00 AM to 12 noon. Everyone is welcome, but an RSVP is required to Cathy at [email protected] on or before Sunday, September 20th.

Donations

In memory of Esther Ghan Firestone ❖ Peter & Bonnie Levy ❖ Eva & Gabriel Vadasz & family ❖ Clifford Lax ❖ Felicia Cukier ❖ Gloria & Norbert Medline

In honour of our board and volunteers ❖ Eli Rubenstein

Religious Leader’s Discretionary Fund ❖ Selma Lis

Thank You to the Habonim Bridge Clubs!Thanks to Enid Roitman, Lee Daugh-erty, Wayne & Joyce Ruttan and Babara Seagram and Alex for sponsoring a huge Bridge Day & Silent Auction Fundraiser with all proceeds, including registration and administrative fees going to Congre-gation Habonim. Thanks especially to all the players who made donations to support Habonim’s good work in the community. The funds raised were well beyond all ex-pectations and are greatly appreciated.

Governance ReviewAt the Annual General Meeting on July 9th, the need for a governance review was confirmed in the wake of a misappropriation of funds (now repaid) at the synagogue that came to light in June. The goal of the governance review is to examine and fine-tune the interplay among the membership, board and operations to ensure accountability and effective oversight of Habonim’s affairs. A governance review committee will look at our processes, by-laws and current compliance and suggest improvements. The Board is very grateful to the following members who are set to undertake this task: Stephen Halperin, corporate lawyer who will be guiding the process; Shelly Haber, board member; Gabor Herczeg, management consultant; Cliff Lax, lawyer; Ted Rechtshaffen, President.

SYNAGOGUE BUILDING UPDATE: By Ted Rechtshaffen, President

As you know, Congregation Habonim continues to work towards a new building. Before we hold a general meeting of the members about building plans in the fall, a number of steps are taking place in preparation. Much of the work at this point revolves around working with the City towards a May 2016 goal of having a building permit. Planning is also underway around a detailed budget and business model. We are also in early discussions with possible day school or day care tenants. We will be sharing more regular updates in the coming weeks and months as more news develops on this exciting stage in Habonim’s development.

(If you made a donation and an acknowledgment did not appear in the Bulletin, please accept our apologies and notify the office at: 416-782-7125 or [email protected] and it will appear in the next Bulletin)

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

6


BULLETIN

When Your Bus Buddy Is Esther Fairbloom - By Emmy GnatYou might be wondering why I haven’t posted for the past two weeks, even if you’re not wondering, I’m going to tell you anyways. I’ve been in Poland and Israel traveling with the March of the Living to learn about the Holocaust, the Jewish people, and Israel. I could give you the play by play of each day and what I saw, but I thought I could focus on something from my trip that will stick with me forever.

Arriving off the packed ELAL plane, we all shuffled down the stairs, disoriented and nauseas but excited knowing how much was ahead of us. Being the bus sick traveler I am, I opted for a seat at the front of the bus to avoid any potential disasters. Unfortunately, all seats were taken by the time I managed to stuff my luggage into the bus. Anxious and confused, I timidly asked my chaperon for a seat at the front of the bus. She looked at me with pity and asked “how’s row five going to be?” when she saw that the seats had all been filled with security and tour guides. I paused nervously and accepted the offer. I began shuffling back when I heard a voice call out “there’s an empty seat beside me.” I turned back and was surprised to see that the Holocaust survivor on our bus, Esther Fairbloom, invited me to sit with her. I politely denied her offer assuming she would actually want both seats to herself, but she demanded, in the most loving way, I sit next to her. I was nervous. What was I supposed to do? Should I introduce myself ? Ask her about her flight? Is it rude if I listen to music? Maybe I should start a conversation? So I did. We talked until we arrived at our first stop of the day. She began to tell me a bit about herself. She is a mom, a Bubbie, and a devoted wife. She has worked 35 years at Baycrest Hospital in Toronto, and this was her second year on the March of the Living.

Everyday I looked forward to getting on the bus and sitting next to my bus buddy. She would tell me stories, give me chocolate, and always be there with tissues. She was a shoulder to cry on and there with open arms for anyone to run into. She never failed to be a comfort and hold your hand

tight until she knew you were okay. It amazed me to see her be so strong, after all this was equally, if not harder for her than for us, to go to these places of evil. Even when she didn’t want to go into a part of the camps, she would hold my arm tight and say, “I’m going where my kids go” and together we would walk through the most appalling and terrifying places. Even after everything we saw though, she was thinking about everyone else. She was giving everyone hugs, holding the kids who were sobbing, she put everyone before herself.

Every so often on the bus, Esther would tell me parts of her story. I thought I had heard it all, but little did I know how much more there was. When it came time for Esther to share her story with the entire Toronto delegation, I expected to hear the unbelievable story I had heard pieces of on the bus. She started out, and I thought I knew pretty well what she was going to say, she talked about how she was hidden in a nunnery by Polish and Russian nuns and how whenever the Nazis would come, they would

hide her in a desk because she had red hair and they would know she was Jewish. The story began to take a turn when she started talking about her life after the war. I knew pieces of it, but then she started talking about something I had never heard her say.

Esther was not only a Holocaust survivor who lost her parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, but she was also a stage four liver cancer survivor. She was diagnosed just months before her granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah and was determined to be able to live to see that. After aggressive chemotherapy Esther had lost so much weight and all of her hair, she stood in front of a mirror and looked at herself with disgust. She told us that she knew this is what her family looked like when they were dying in the camps during the war. She told us she was broken and felt like this was the end and she couldn’t go on, but then she found the strength within her to keep pushing through.

7

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

When Your Bus Buddy Is Esther Fairbloom - continuedI was shocked. I stood in front of her in silence as she spoke. She told us that even after all she’s been through and suffers with today, she continues to live a positive life. How could someone stay positive when there has been so many terrible things done to them? How do they not give up? She told us straight out, life is unfair, but that doesn’t mean that you have to project that in yourself everyday. You can choose, if you want, your life to be miserable and live everyday like the world is out to get you, or you can choose to love. You can love the people around you, love the things you do everyday, find things that make you smile, and do things that make other people happy.

Esther doesn’t see herself as strong though; she sees herself as a human. In my eyes, Esther is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She has the side of her that takes care of her family, babysits the grandchildren, raises money for their schools, and cooks anything and everything they want. She also has the side of her that was stricken with a terrible disease and has suffered through excruciating physical and mental pain in her life. It takes courage and tenacity to come on this trip and relive the horrors of her early life, it takes grit and persistence to get out

of bed every morning with aching bones, and it takes strength to be able to look at your life, misfortunes and all, and decide that you can be happy. Esther taught me that life may be unfair, but you have to remember that you’re still here, and

being mad at the world is just a waste of your time. If you spend everyday angry, than you’re missing out on all the love around you. Even when it’s hard and you feel like you should just give up, you have to remember to stay strong for those around you because there is always someone who loves and cares about you.

Esther – I usually have to sit beside a first aid kit or water bottles when I get stuck at the front of the bus, exciting I know. How grateful I am that you called me over and let me sit beside you. I have never been so lucky to have a better bus buddy than you. You not only taught me so much about the past but have given me lessons to carry on into the future. You inspire me everyday

and I am so glad I got to sit beside you for the past two weeks. Thank you for all the chocolate, hugs, stories, and of course lots of Kleenex.

Emmy

Top row from left: Tom Bellman, Jedediah Kliger, Sam Finkelstein, Ellie Finkelstein, Samantha Kettner, Noah Draper, Joshua Zweig, Aviva Rajsky, Melissa Muskat Bottom row from left: Emily Gnat, Jamie Albert, Maddie Tanenbaum, Lexie OlinAbsent: Leora & Jonathan Berman, Gwen & David Cole, Eynat Katz, Debbie Mecklinger, Eli Rubenstein, Michael Soberman

The largest Habonim contingent in history on March of the Living 2015

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

8


BULLETIN

Remembering Esther Ghan Firestone (1925-2015)

Habonim Youth Choir Conducted by Esther Ghan Firestone Performing at Dedication of Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Earl Bales Park, Toronto, Canada. June 2, 1991

Photo by Harold Lass

A Bitter Sweet ServiceTonight is a bitter sweet service… It is the first Friday night service since the passing of Esther Ghan Firestone, who was our cantor for 30 years. But it’s sweet since we have a baby naming for the child of Elisa and Pedro, whose wedding I had the privilege of officiating at a few years ago. Elisa also has a strong connection to Esther – Esther performed her Bat Mitzvah & Elisa sang in Esther’s choir for many years. So later in the service, we will hear Elisa sing a few songs, some of which she learned from Esther at Habonim when she was part of the choir and attending services that Esther sang at.I do want to share one more memory of Esther, I did not share at the time of her funeral.I remember it was the first High Holidays when Esther Ghan Firestone was no longer the main cantor.Esther was sitting in the front row, and the other cantors - Aviva, Lisa & Kim - were doing the bulk of the service. And I said to myself, this has to be hard for her. For almost 20 years, she was the main person on the Bima – and now she is stepping aside, and others are filling the role that was hers for so many years.Then my mind drifted elsewhere, and suddenly later in the service, during one of the songs I heard the most sublime harmony emanating from the front row – and it was Esther singing along with Aviva, and she continued to do so for the rest of the service – every song that the cantors sang, with a voice as pure as only Esther had, harmonizing so beautifully from her seatThe point of the story is this: Esther was music – she lived and breathed it. And no matter what she may have been initially feeling, as soon as the music began, she had to join in, she had to be a part of it – that was her true and deepest essence.What a gift she was to Habonim and so many others. Her pure and captivating voice will lovingly be remembered within the walls of our synagogue long into the future.Excerpt from remarks by Eli Rubenstein June 2015 Kabbalat Shabbat service (read the full Eulogy online at http://goo.gl/00NLTM )

9

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

In Memory of EstherAs long time members of Habonim for over twenty years, we always admired and felt Esther’s energy and musical versatility. We remember her beautiful voice when she sang to our daughters, Julie and Emily, “You Shall Be a Blessing” during their bat mitzvahs. Her outstanding range, and her high heeled shoes will be missed.Susan Liebel &Gabor Herczeg,

Paul & I were so sorry to hear of the loss of our beloved cantor... Sheprovided us with years of comfort and spiritual grace during Rosh Hashonahand Yom Kippur...we wish her family and friends peace and healing... Ronnie & Paul Borins

Hi Eli,Wanted to send you a quick note as I read Esther’s eulogy and thought it was beautiful. I remember standing on the Habonim bima at my Bat Mitzvah and being blessed by Esther. There is also no one who will deliver the Kol Nidre as powerfully as Esther. I always looked forward to that moment during the high holidays. It truly was a moving experience. I feel privileged to have heard her beautiful music. Kind regards,Jillian Crangle

The whole process of a child becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is very moving for a parent. When my husband and I stood on the bima and held our daughter’s and three years later, our son’s hand while Esther sang “May You Be Blessed”, I cannot describe the bevy of emotions that I felt at the particular moment in time. Esther brought me to tears and I will always remember this as a pivotal points in my children’s lives. Joanie Smith

Hi Eli, I wanted to tell you that I was so moved by the the eulogy you wrote for Esther. It was very powerful and so from the heart. I’m sorry that we were out of town for her funeral. The tributes, music and photos of her - what a beauty she was - really showed what a gifted musician, and loving mother that she was. Though I didn’t get to work with Esther very much, I enjoyed being around her, and appreciated her clear lovely voice. We should all be so lucky to maintain our voices into our 80’s! It must be hard to have lost such a dear friend, and longtime partner at the shul. I’m really sorry for your loss Eli.Warm regards,Lisa Kent

One of the most beautiful memories we share as a family was the magnificent voice that graced our three sons Bar Mitvahs at Habonim. Esther was able to melt all of us into puddles of tears as she blessed each of our sons with her lyrical benediction. Rest in peace Esther, The Iscoe family will collectively remember your remarkable voice forever.Thank you for sharing your gift of song.AffectionatelyAndrea Freedman Iscoe We are very saddened by Esther’s passing. She was not only such an inspiring figure with a beautiful voice but a real leader of the Congregation and an example to the choir. We are away and therefore couldn’t attend the Memorial Service or funeral .We would be grateful and if you would give our condolences to Esther’sfamily and tell them about our sadness and our gratitude for all the joyousoccasions we shared with Esther over many years.Best regards,Patricia and William Singer

Remembering Esther Ghan Firestone (1925-2015)

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

10


BULLETIN

From the Archives…..A Letter from Gangolf Herman, Holocaust survivor and former President of Habonim, after Esther’s first High Holiday Service

11

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

(This is article is dedicated to the memory of a beautiful soul, that of Esther Ghan Firestone, whose prayers in this world, through her unearthly voice, led all of ours through the front gates of the heavens.)

There is the Gregorian calendar which the world generally follows and then there is our own personal calendar.

By that I mean, specific dates occur within a 12-month period which are unique to us and which we circle on the calendar. Some of these dates are commemorative, like the date of our first kiss or when we got zoning for our pioneer property. Other dates we share with our community and our people, like the Yomim Na’royim (the High Holidays), when we remind ourselves of the importance of our attendance in shul.

This article is not about my first kiss (which I attribute to Colleen Winn in the playground of Shepherd Public School in Kitchener. I was five) but instead is about the three days the vast majority of Jews highlight on their lu’ach (Hebrew for calendar) and believe to be sacred -- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I write about this now as we are less than eight weeks away from these special days and I am feeling nostalgic.

Over the past few years, I have been honoured to stand on Habonim’s pulpit with a dear friend and a special leader, Eli, and the wonderfully talented cast he has assembled. What a tremendous opportunity this has been, sharing thoughts about the Days of Awe and singing in a collective like no other time throughout the year. As the shul is now hiring a much-needed assistant rabbi, I will no longer be leading services so I want to recall a couple of those thoughts and express my feelings.

One particular idea I believe has been helpful to many of us is that prayer comes in a variety of ways to different people. My sister, Chavi, who lost her beloved husband David to a violent death, was told her tears replaced the words of the prayer book when she was unable to speak to God in a traditional way. In essence, pray in the way that works for you.

Every year I liked to remind the Congregation as well about the great Rabbi Soloveithchik who told a group of elderly men the most important word in the entire High Holiday liturgy is the ‘amen’ following the she’hechiyanu prayer we say on Yom Kippur. The Rabbi stated that saying ‘amen’ is in essence declaring, “I’ve made it, I survived the year. My name was written in the Book of Life.” This singular word was an expression of thanks to God or the universe. It is also an existential breath recognizing life is tenuous and that our survival for another 12 months is embedded in the quark of truth.

As we approach Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, I would also like to thank Eli and the board for the number of times you let me play a role in our High Holidays, a significant time on the calendar. I extend my gratitude to all the membership for being so inspirational, graciously listening to my High Holidays ideas, and being understanding of my leadership.

Habonim, its leadership and membership, will always hold a special place in my heart. I have metaphorically pasted my many shul memories into a scrap book of life. I will tell my son the stories of Ne’ilah, the concluding service, when the sun would go down and tiredly but with a spiritual gusto we would sing that stirring song, Avinu Malkeinu, and soon afterward watch the children hold the havdalah candles in a darkened sanctuary and bid the Days of Awe farewell.

I pray all of us make it into the Book of Life, and that Habonim and its glorious spirit continue to illuminate the Jewish people and the world we are repairing.

L’shana tova,

AvrumAvrum Rosensweig is the Founding Director and President of Ve’ahavta, Canada’s only Jewish humanitarian and relief organization.

Habonim: The High Holidays and Nostalgia - By Avrum Rosensweig

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

12


BULLETIN

On Monday, August 10, Congregation Habonim hosted a special guest from IsraelMichelle Rojas-Tal - Diaspora Education Director, StandWithUsnamed one of Jerusalem Post’s 25 ‘Women to Watch in 2014’, gave a dynamic and eloquent speech about the current BDS campaign to deligitimize Israel.

StandWithUs, is the global pro-Israel education and advocacy organization that educates students to counter BDS, the movement that seeks to undermine Israel with misinformation and negative rhetoric on campuses.

AnnouncementsRabbi Noam Katz: Congregation Habonim welcomes Rabbi Noam Katz. Noam will be helping Eli to lead High Holiday services and will fill in on occasion when Eli is unavailable.

Baby Naming: Beatrice Penny Wilson-Zimerman, daughter of Britt and Aviv, granddaughter of Anona and Larry Zimerman, and Nancy and Kevin Wilson. Great grandparents are Isaac Zimerman, Mr. Wilson, and Mrs. Durette will be given her Hebrew names Hanna after her great grandmother Hella Friedmann, and Pnina, after her second cousin Pnina Zimerman - Habonim - Monday Sept 07 11:30am

Computer Courses for Seniors: Member Dianne Erdos-Rush is Co-ordinator of the Computer Learning and Resources Centre at the Betel Centre (Steeles and Bathurst). The Betel Centre will be offering a large number of computer classes aimed specifically at seniors (anyone 55 plus): Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, iPad, Word/Excel, and lots more. The next series of classes begins after the high holidays on October 13. Call Dianne for more information at 416-225-2112 ext. 128 or email her at [email protected].

We invite members to send us announcements for the Bulletin by sending submissions to Paula Schipper at [email protected]. Paula may use her discretion to refuse or edit submissions as necessary..

13

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

Ruby Tennen Bat Mitzvah

❖ Poonam Puri & Elian Terner on the Bat Mitzvah of Jaiden

❖ Odette Soriano & John Monger on the Bat Mitzvah of Hannah

❖ Elana & Jeff Gorman on the Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin

❖ Michelle & Jason Tennen on the Bat Mitzvah of Ruby (see photos below)

❖ Susan Wowk & Harold Niman on the Bat Mitzvah of Lucy (see photos on pg 15)

❖ Alison Smith & Billy Tishler on the Bat Mitzvah of Jacqui

❖ Michelle Persyko & Allan Newman on the Bat Mitzvah of Joelle (see photos pg 15)

❖ Julie & Kenny Albert on the Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin

❖ Liza Mauer & Andrew Sheiner on the Bat Mitzvah of Sophia & Bar Mitzvah of Charles

❖ Penny & Scott Goodman on the Bar Mitzvah of Jake

❖ Daryl & Derek Erdman on the Bar Mitzvah of Zachary (see photos pg 15)

❖ Susan Abramovitch & Michael Bryant on the Bat Mitzvah of Sadie

Mazal Tovs on Recent Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

14


BULLETIN

Bat Mitzvah of Sophia Sheiner & Bar Mitzvah of Charles Sheiner

Bat Mitzvah of Joelle Newman

Bar Mitzvah of Zachary Erdman Bat Mitzvah of Lucy Niman

15

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

Wedding of Sophie Green and Matt Kliegman

Wedding of Stephen & Briana Lengyel

Seth Zuk and Carly Gallinger

Mazal Tovs on Recent Weddings ❖ Seth Zuk (son of Liz and Len Zuk and

Carly Gallinger (daughter of Hanita Tiefenbach & Mitchell Gallinger) ❖ Stephen Lengyel & Briana Yates Lengyel -

children of Carolyn & Gary Lengyel and Toni & Evan Yates, grandchildren of Jenny Galanis and Anne Rosen & Jerry Yates (deceased), long time Habonim member, Elsa Allen, Leonard Allen (deceased), Andrew Lengyel, Judy Lengyel (deceased), Beverly Tarshis

❖ Sophie Green and Matt Kliegman children of Don & Denyse Green and Jeffrey & Merri Kliegman

❖ Miriam Sherkey & Andrew Yolles (Son of members, Tova & Kenneth Yolles)

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

16


BULLETIN

Special Recording of Israeli Peace Song, “Lay Down Your Arms”To mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe, the March of the Living Children’s Choir, joined by the Habonim Youth Choir, recorded a special version of the Israeli peace song, “Lay Down Your Arms”, first recorded in Toronto in 1992 by the Habonim Youth Choir conducted by the late Esther Ghan Firestone. (See 1992 version: https://youtu.be/_hNF9FGkgo4 ).

Habonim’s Cantor Aviva Rajsky and guitarist Tom Bellman, who both accompanied this year’s March of the Living, composed a new arrangement for the song, which premiered at the Holocaust Remembrance Day, March of the Living ceremony in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

It may be seen here: https://youtu.be/9x4S50d_vLQ

Cantor Aviva Rasjky leads March of the Living Choir at 2015 Cer-emony in Auschwitz-Birkenau

The last line of the song, “And love will some day set us free”, is a poignant counterpoint to the cynical slogan over the entrance to Auschwitz, “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Makes you Free). As David Matlow, an adult March of the Living participant wrote, in a poem inspired by the trip, “It’s love, not work, that sets us free.”

In a world still scarred by war and violence, with the threat of further turmoil looming on the horizon, the message of “Lay Down Your Arms” is as timeless and as needed as ever.

Quotes from Habonim Youth Choir Members

Emmy Gnat: “I think the message of the song is the simplicity of how easy it could be to stop war and care for one another like normal human beings, and to just treat everyone with humanity and respect.”My favourite lines in the song are, “Every hand that holds a sword can hold a baby.” And, “every heart can learn to love”, [because] it outlines how easy it would be for people to just to put away their weapons…The people who are fighting are still people and the people who are losing their lives are still people. And sometimes we get lost in the numbers, and we get lost in the idea of a war, when we don’t think it’s a person, it’s a family.”

Theadora Draper: [When I sing Lay Down Your Arms] I feel filled with pride that we are capable of compassion and love towards anybody and everybody. My favourite line in the song is. “Every heart can learn to love”, because it’s saying that no matter how much hate one person may have, that they are still capable of love. With everything that is going on in the world around us, I feel it is important for everyone to know that they don’t have to hate. They don’t have to be violent against their fellow man. That they all have the capacity to love one another as if they were their brother or sister. Dr. Paula Draper, Theadora’s mother (& prominent Holocaust historian):The song resonates with Jewish history and ethics. In Modern Israel, a soldier echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah, who presented the Jews of Ancient Israel with a plea for a world without hate, war, loss and mourning. We listen to our youth repeat that same plea, for a world of peace long overdue, and we place our hope in their hands.

Special Recording of Israeli Peace Song, “Lay Down Your Arms”

17

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

Holocaust Education Week Events at HabonimSunday, November 1, 11:00 a.m.The Magician of AuschwitzIn this picture book, award-winning author Kathy Kacer shares the true story of Werner, a boy alone in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Separated from his family, he doesn’t have a friend in the world. He shares his bunk with a quiet man named Herr Levin, who seems too gentle for this terrible place. One night Werner is woken by the sound of prison guards yelling. But it’s not Werner they want, it’s Herr Levin. “Do your magic!” they order him. Magic? In Auschwitz? Werner never expected to meet a magician in such a sad and frightening place. Nor did he expect that his life could be changed, not just by Herr Levin’s gift of magic, but by his gifts of hope and friendship.

Kathy Kacer is the author of books for young readers, including The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, Clara’s War, The Underground Reporters, Hiding Edith, The Diary of Laura’s Twin, Shanghai Escape and her latest book The Magician of Auschwitz. A winner of the Silver Birch, Red Maple, and Jewish Book Awards in Canada and the U.S., as well as the Yad Vashem award for Children’s Holocaust Literature in Israel, Kathy has written unforgettable stories inspired by real events. Her books are stories of hope, courage, and humanity in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Co-sponsored by Second Story Press. This program is suitable for adults and families with children ages 9+. Book signing to follow the lecture.

Sunday, November 1, 8:00 p.m.Film Premiere: Blind Love: A Holocaust Journey Through Poland wih Man’s Best FriendThis 28-minute documentary film recounts a 2013 trip to Poland of six blind Israelis and their guide dogs who took part in the annual March of the Living. The film poignantly captures the special bond between individuals and their guide dog companions.

This program features three additional short films from the March of the Living Digital Archives: Twice Liberated, recounts Joe Mandel’s reunion with a member of the American Forces who liberated him from the Gunskirchen concentration camp. In Reunions, Sidney Zoltak reunites with the Polish rescuer who saved his life. Cszeslawa & Olga details a Polish rescuer who visits Israel to see, for the last time, the woman she saved.Co-sponsored by Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Centre for the Blind; Toronto Jewish Film Festival; March of the Living Digital Archives Project.

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

18


BULLETIN

Holocaust Education Week Events at Habonim - ContinuedSaturday, November 7, 8:00 p.m.Book Launch: Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations, by Eli RubensteinHolocaust survivors are ageing. Once they are no longer able to who will tell their stories? For more than 25 years the March of the Living has brought together survivors and students from all over the world to ensure that first-hand accounts of the Holocaust are not lost. During their visits to Poland where millions of innocent people were enslaved and murdered by Nazi Germany during WWII survivors those who helped them and liberators all share their memories with young people. As they walk through concentration camps ghettos and towns depleted of Jewish communities a special bond forms as the original witnesses to the Holocaust pass their mantle to a new generation whose task it is to remember what they hear and see. Moving photographs and firsthand accounts show us the remarkable passing of the torch to the young of many faiths and cultures who become the new witnesses carrying the torch toward a future of peace. The book is based on acclaimed exhibition that appeared at the United Nations and at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Several survivors and students featured in the book will be in attendance. In addition, several video clips from the March of the Living Digital Archives Project – which correspond with the stories of the survivors who appear in the book – will be screened.

The books will be available at the program.Co-sponsored by Second Story Press.

Please contact us : [email protected]

If you are a high school student who loves working with kids while having lots of fun, we are looking for you!

The position requires working on Sundays between 9:30-12:00

If you are looking to fulfill community service hours

The Jewish Heritage School is looking for volunteers!

19

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)


BULLETIN

Yahrzeits The complete yahrzeit list for all loved ones from Congregation Habonim who passed away since the Congregation was founded may now be found online at: www.congregationhabonim.org Please click on the CALENDAR tab. If you do not have access to the internet, please call the Habonim office 416-782-7125 for assistance.

PresidentTed Rechtshaffen, 416-322-0749

Habonim OfficeOffice: 416-782-7125

Email: [email protected]

Religious LeaderEli Rubenstein, 416-398-2615


CantorsCantor: Aviva Rajsky

Contact: [email protected]

Associate Cantor: Kim DoronContact: [email protected]

Jewish Heritage School PrincipalYodfat Snir Mandil

Contact: [email protected]

Information and contributions to THE BULLETIN.Contact: Paula Schipper, [email protected]

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION www.congregationhabonim.org

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL http://www.schoolrack.com/jewishheritageschool/

To SEND TRIBUTE & CONDOLENCE CARDS and to MAKE A DONATION:

Call Rhoda Sion at (416) 782-9663 or write to:716-660 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto M5N 1C3

Are you MOVING, CHANGING your ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL?

Call the Habonim office: Tel: 416-782-7125 or


David AzrieliAnn Silver

Harold MartinFaye ZionceIrene Fink

Leah Lily Goodman

Hans SchaferHella Friedmann

Maureen DeFreitasHarry (Hush) Sherman

Harry WaisglassRhona Goldstone

Max GluskinGrace HillmanElaine Posluns

Jack SteinJames Ruderman

Sam Iscoe

Mike WolfishSydney Barwin

Lynn AlbertJeff Lyons

Alice LiebermanEdith Klein

In Memoriam:Mourning those who passed away in the last year:

Vol. 62 | No. 3 | Aug - Dec 2015 (5775/6)

20


BULLETIN

BULLETIN - Amazon S3 · Book Launch - Witness: Passing the Torch of Holocaust Memory to New Generations, with Eli Rubenstein (see pg15) (Holocaust Education Week program sponsored

Documents