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...

Beth Tzedec Congregation, The Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto, Holy Blossom Temple, and Toronto's greater Jewish community are anticipating another tremendous gathering on the evening Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 pm. The fall event, Part I of "The End of the Shul as We Know It?" with Professor Jonathan Sarna was so well received.  There was an impressive...

We are looking for host families for our new shinshim (Israeli Young Emissaries), Maya Schwartz and Barak Tal. Our two enthusiastic young Israelis can't wait to get to know the Beth Tzedec family and spend time with you and your children. Can you make a three-month commitment to welcome Maya or Barak into your home? To learn more about the opportunity to be a host family, please email Todd...

We are pleased and proud to welcome you to the new Beth Tzedec website. This site is the direct result of the thoughtful and considered advice, responses and suggestions – and the many, many hours of hard work – contributed by our devoted Klei Kodesh, professional staff, lay leadership and the many volunteers who lent their talents, professional expertise or brute force to this...

With Purim just past, and Pesaẖ looming on the horizon, things are as busy as ever at Beth Tzedec.Engagement When I last wrote, I was getting ready for our family’s first trip to Israel, and now that trip feels like a distant memory—an incredibly special memory. This family mission proved to be a fantastic experience for all five families who participated. For my kids, the...

I write this article fighting the bleary-eyed late afternoon jet lag that I am struggling to shake four days after returning from Israel. My week-long trip with over 35 lay and professional leaders involved in Toronto’s Shinshinim program—a collaboration between the Jewish Agency for Israel, UJA Federation,and over 20 schools, synagogues, and youth...

You can gain comfort in knowing that we are here for each other.If you have faced a moment of indecision, have been challenged by a personal struggle or have had to deal with a tragedy, you can begin to understand how important it is to be connected and be part of a community. People give, respond and are at their best when they deal with other people. People develop, and...

Israeli Rabbinical student, high school teacher and PhD joins us in March. This year, the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Fellow will be Dr. Naomi Dar. She is a rabbinical student at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Israel. She is a high school biology teacher at Meitarim Ra’anana, a pluralistic high school. Naomi holds a PhD in Philosophy of Evolution and has...

"Our Jewish backgrounds, rituals and customs instantly connect us." A hectic and fulfilling Purim season has just ended for me and Aliza. Our Beth Tzedec Purim Family Musical this year was dedicated to the memory of Jakob Ari Shapiro z”l, a beautiful and special 17-year old boy who was a part of our show for many years and who passed away last June. Jakob’s spirit was felt, and his...