A new future King of England has been born in the country of my birth. I am English, although I haven’t lived full-time in the UK in decades. Since 1980, I have traveled the world as a singer and as a cantor, and in the words of Johnny Mercer, “There’s such a lot of world to see.” I have lived in Canada since 2005. After repeatedly renewing my work permit, I am now in the process...

Jakob Ari Shapiro z"l  performed in the Beth Tzedec Purim Family Musical for four years. During that time, he made an incredible impression on everyone who knew him. He was talented and easy-going, positive and agreeable, and took initiative to help in all areas even without being asked. Jakob was beloved by his fellow cast and crew members, and was hugely admired by the other children in...

Last year saw the creation of Beth Tzedec’s children’s choir, the Voices of Tomorrow (VOT), a 10-voice ensemble made up of children ages 7 to 12. Under the dedicated leadership of Cantor Simon Spiro, VOT began rehearsals in the fall, with a Synagogue bimah debut in January on Shabbat Shirah morning. Helping Cantor Spiro lead Musaf, they sang with the Beth Tzedec Singers and introduced...

On Thursday, May 23, The Great American Jewish Songbook concert was held at the George Weston Recital Hall (Toronto Centre for the Arts). The sold-out show featured medleys written by some of the world’s most popular Jewish artists, including George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Neil Diamond and Carole King.Beth Tzedec’s Cantor Simon Spiro performed alongside five talented Broadway-style singers...

The prayer Aveenu Malkeinu— our Father, our King—is one of the more familiar pieces of High Holy Day liturgy. We recite it in the concluding sections of many of the prayer services during Rosh Hashanah and every weekday morning during the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah—the ten days of penitence. Most dramatically, Aveenu Malkeinu concludes the I service on Yom Kippur, offering us one final...

Monday to Thursday, August 19-22 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Friday, August 23 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Sunday, August 25 – 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Monday to Thursday, August 26-29 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Friday, August 30 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Sunday, September 1 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Monday, September 2 (Labour Day) – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Tuesday September 3 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00...

Beth Tzedec’s Mishpacha program: Toddlers, Tunes and Treats (for children ages 1 to 3 with a parent, grandparent or caregiver) is now open for registration for the Fall and Winter sessions. Classes will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., led by Tobie Seligman. Come play, sing and create arts & crafts around a different theme each week. To...

Amy Kronish, a world authority on Israeli films,  gave a lecture and presented movie clips on War and Peace: Changing Attitudes. She had an excellent rapport with the audience, engaging them in a lively discussion and leaving them wanting more. Speaking to Young Professionals on the provocative theme of The Jewish Mother in Film: Shrieking, Hysterical and Overprotective, Kronish...

Speech ContestThe Beth Tzedec Men's Club and Sisterhood recently concluded their second annual Speech Contest. The top student speakers (in alphabetical order) are Noam Cotton, Hannah Saffer Spiro, Asher Zeldin, Eton Ziner-Cohen, Tiphaera Ziner-Cohen and Zach Zittell. Presentations will be made at the Annual Awards Breakfast on Sunday, June 9 at 9:30 a.m. The first-place...

Beth Tzedec families celebrated Israel @ 65 with a trip back in time to experience the magic momentsof each decade since the creation of the Modern State of Israel in 1948. The exciting events helped inspire fun activities for children to expand their knowledge about Israel and grow their love for our homeland.How did we relive Israel over the last 65 years? 1940s—Israel celebrated Independence...

Well, many thought it the best show yet. With Purim being early (our things are always early or late), the wizards (Cantor Simon and Aliza Spiro) pulled off a spectacular coup: A gallop through the very best of the last seven years, moving from Disney to Vegas and the Wild West, the Austrian Alps, and passing through the Roaring Twenties on the way to Scandinavia,...

Those are the words to a Thomas Morley English madrigal that Aliza had to perform for Mother’s Day when she was in second grade. She still sings that every May. Indeed, there is a merry spirit to the month of May and it makes me want to celebrate, preferably with all of you. The month of May has been declared Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario. Thanks to the work of MPPs Mike Colle, Peter...

The snow is really gone, the rain is falling and the spring has finally sprung. If you are like me, you get a lift when you see spring flowers poking through the last snow, and you delight in hearing and seeing so many birds – including the ones that are nesting in the soonto- be-fixed light fixture over my porch. The Pesaẖ dishes are stored; I have done my counting of the omer up to Shavuot;...

It is so hard to believe that the end is near. We wanted to be able to say goodbye to all of Beth Tzedec and thank you for an incredible year.Coming to Beth Tzedec, we didn’t expect that the Jewish community here would be so warm, inviting and welcoming towards us. Our expectations were that we would work, plan programs and have a new experience. We expected to give to...

Calling all 2013-2014 High School students (Grades 9 to 12): Would you like to volunteer on the High Holy Days? We are looking for volunteers to help in the youth activity rooms and other places in the Synagogue. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Youth Director Aily Leibtag at 416-781-3514 ext. 239. You...