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A Heart of Many Rooms: The Visions of Ra...
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01:36:05
David Hartman: Life and Learning Session #1
Joy and Responsibility From Brooklyn to Jerusalem (with a decade in Montreal); Diaspora and Israel David Hartman was an American-Canadian rabbi and professor who became an Israeli thought leader and founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He reinvigorated Jewish thought by emphasizing the religious significance of the birth of the State of Israel, building intellectual bridges between Israeli and Diaspora Jews, celebrating the religious and cultural diversity of modern life, and advocating for a pluralistic Israeli society. Hartman’s teaching and writing brought classical texts and contemporary challenges into an rich conversation within Judaism and in dialogue with other faith traditions.
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01:34:52
A Heart of Many Rooms The Visions of Rabbi David Hartman 5/24/2023
God and ... Chosen and Choosing (Jewish People); Love and Terror (Prayer and Holocaust) David Hartman was an American-Canadian rabbi and professor who became an Israeli thought leader and founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He reinvigorated Jewish thought by emphasizing the religious significance of the birth of the State of Israel, building intellectual bridges between Israeli and Diaspora Jews, celebrating the religious and cultural diversity of modern life, and advocating for a pluralistic Israeli society. Hartman’s teaching and writing brought classical texts and contemporary challenges into an rich conversation within Judaism and in dialogue with other faith traditions.
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01:30:33
A Heart of Many Rooms: The Visions of Rabbi David Hartman with Rabbi Frydman-Kohl 5/31/2023
A Heart of Many Rooms: The Visions of Rabbi David Hartman with Rabbi Frydman-Kohl In Conversation with ... Maimonides and Halevi; Soloveitchik, Leibovitz and Berkovits; Kaplan and Heschel David Hartman was an American-Canadian rabbi and professor who became an Israeli thought leader and founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He reinvigorated Jewish thought by emphasizing the religious significance of the birth of the State of Israel, building intellectual bridges between Israeli and Diaspora Jews, celebrating the religious and cultural diversity of modern life, and advocating for a pluralistic Israeli society. Hartman’s teaching and writing brought classical texts and contemporary challenges into an rich conversation within Judaism and in dialogue with other faith traditions.
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01:37:33
A Heart of Many Rooms: The Visions of Rabbi David Hartman with Rabbi Frydman-Kohl 6/7
From Sinai to Zion A Living Covenant; Conflicting Visions; A Heart of Many Rooms David Hartman was an American-Canadian rabbi and professor who became an Israeli thought leader and founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He reinvigorated Jewish thought by emphasizing the religious significance of the birth of the State of Israel, building intellectual bridges between Israeli and Diaspora Jews, celebrating the religious and cultural diversity of modern life, and advocating for a pluralistic Israeli society. Hartman’s teaching and writing brought classical texts and contemporary challenges into an rich conversation within Judaism and in dialogue with other faith traditions.
Book and Film Club
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01:03:09
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: On Her Own by Lihi Lapid
Review led by Cynthia Good Watching her Russian immigrant mother, Irina, struggle to put food on the table, Nina, a beautiful and restless teenager, vows her life will be different. When a strapping older man in a fancy car appears at school one day offering her luxuries her single mother cannot afford, Nina believes he’s her ticket out of her dumpy little town. Ignoring the danger signs and her mother’s constant pleas—which end in exhausting screaming matches—she packs a suitcase and leaves home after one last fight. Ten days later, a terrified Nina, her dress torn, is hiding in the stairwell of a Tel Aviv apartment after witnessing a murder she cannot talk about. Set between the eve of Passover and Israel’s Independence Day, On Her Own is a tense and immersive psychological read about two families looking for redemption, the transformative bonds between strangers, and the unexpected places from which love can grow.
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01:07:46
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden
Elaine Newton reviews The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden. The review will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is preceded by lunch at 12:45 p.m. This program will also be available to join over Zoom. It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be—led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel’s doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season. Eva is Isabel’s antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn’t. In response, Isabel develops a fury-fueled obsession, and when things start disappearing around the house—a spoon, a knife, a bowl—Isabel’s suspicions begin to spiral. In the sweltering peak of summer, Isabel’s paranoia gives way to infatuation—leading to a discovery that unravels all Isabel has ever known. The war might not be well and truly over after all, and neither Eva—nor the house in which they live—are what they seem.
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01:20:43
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: Fervor by Toby Lloyd
Review led by Janna Nadler Janna Nadler reviews Fervor by Toby Lloyd. The review will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is preceded by lunch at 12:45 p.m. This program will also be available to join over Zoom. Hannah and Eric Rosenthal are devout Jews living in North London with their three children and Eric's father Yosef, a Holocaust survivor. Both intellectually gifted and deeply unconventional, the Rosenthals believe in the literal truth of the Old Testament and in the presence of God (and evil) in daily life. As Hannah prepares to publish a sensationalist account of Yosef's years in war-torn Europe—unearthing a terrible secret from his time in the camps—Elsie, her perfect daughter, starts to come undone. And then, in the wake of Yosef’s death, she disappears. When she returns, just as mysteriously as she left, she is altered in disturbing ways. Witnessing the complete transformation of her daughter, Hannah begins to suspect that Elsie has delved too deep into the labyrinths of Jewish mysticism and gotten lost among shadows. But for Elsie's brother Tovyah, a brilliant but reclusive student struggling to find his place at Oxford, the truth is much simpler: his sister is the product of a dysfunctional family, obsessed with empty rituals, traditions, and unbridled ambition. But who is right? Is religion the cure for the disease or the disease itself? And how can they stop the darkness from engulfing Elsie completely? Alive with both the bristling energy of a great campus novel and the unsettling, ever-shifting ground of a great horror tale, Fervor is at its heart a family story—where personal allegiances compete with obligations to history and to mysterious forces that offer both consolation and devastation
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01:14:34
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: Film Review of A Real Pain
Review led by Dr. Gillian Helfield Gillian Helfield reviews A Real Pain (2024). The review will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is preceded by lunch at 12:45 p.m. This program will also be available to join over Zoom. Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Available for viewing on Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and Youtube.
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01:17:10
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor Review led by Cynthia Good
Cynthia Good reviews My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor. The review will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is preceded by lunch at 12:45 p.m. This program will also be available to join over Zoom. September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. Gestapo boss Obersturmbannführer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. Hunger is widespread. Rumors fester. The war’s outcome is far from certain. Diplomats, refugees, and escaped Allied prisoners flee for protection into Vatican City, at one fifth of a square mile the world’s smallest state, a neutral, independent country within Rome. A small band of unlikely friends led by a courageous Irish priest is drawn into deadly danger as they seek to help those seeking refuge. Book 1 in the Rome Escape Line Trilogy, My Father’s House is a powerful, heartbreaking literary thriller based on the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who risked his life to smuggle thousands of Jews and escaped Allied prisoners out of Italy under the nose of his Nazi nemesis. A deadly high-stakes battle of wits ensues in this astonishing, unforgettable story of love, faith and sacrifice, exploring what it means to be truly human in the most extreme circumstances.
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01:35:07
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: In Sickness and in Health & Yom Kippur in a Gym by Nora Gold
Dawn Promislow and Nora Gold join in conversation about Nora's novellas In Sickness and in Health & Yom Kippur in a Gym. The review will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is preceded by lunch at 12:45 p.m. This program will also be available to join over Zoom. In Sickness and In Health - Lily had epilepsy as a child, so her most cherished goal has always been to be "normal". By age 45 she has a "normal" life, including a family, friends, and an artistic career, and no one, not even her husband, knows the truth about her past. But now some cartoons she drew threaten to reveal her childhood secret and destroy her marriage and everything she has worked so hard for. A moving novella about shame, secrets, disabilities, and the limits and power of love. Yom Kippur in a Gym - Five strangers at a Yom Kippur service in a gym are struggling with personal crises. Lucy can't accept her husband's Parkinson's diagnosis. Ira, rejected by his lover, plans to commit suicide. Ezra is tormented by a mistake that ruined his career. Rachel worries about losing her job. Tom contemplates severing contact with his sisters. Then a medical emergency unexpectedly throws these five strangers together, and in one hour all their lives are changed in ways they would never have believed possible.
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01:04:09
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: Film Review of "Echo" with Dr. Gillian Helfield
Join us at Beth Tzedec as Dr. Gillian Helfield reviews Amikam Kovner and Assaf Snir's film "Echo". Avner suspects his wife Ella (Yaël Abecassis, LIVE AND BECOME) of having an affair. Secretly recording her telephone conversations, he turns into a spy in his own home, listening to them again and again. But while searching for one thing, he discovers another - the woman he listens to is a stranger to him, so very different from the one he thought he knew. He tries to understand that woman, to decode their relationship, but the more he knows, the less he understands.
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01:10:21
Beth Tzedec Book and Film Club: There Was A Time for Everything: A Memoir by Judith Friedland
Judith Friedland joins to discuss her recently released memoir There Was A Time For Everything. The review will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is preceded by snacks. Dawn Promislow, author of Wan, will join her for a conversation about the book. After the death of her mother when she turned ten, Judith Friedland learned to be resilient. She met the expectations for upper-middle-class women in Toronto in the 1940s and 1950s, which included post-secondary education, marriage, and motherhood. While raising a family and supporting her husband’s academic career, she continued her formal education through part-time study and gradually began a journey tailored to herself as an individual. In her forties, she embarked on her own academic career, rising through the ranks to become a tenured full professor and chair of the department of occupational therapy in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. In There Was a Time for Everything, Friedland reflects on her life and the fact that over time she managed to "have it all" – just not all at once. For Spring 2024 series — 3 sessions: $30 Beth Tzedec member / $40 Community member Individual sessions: $15 per session Judith Friedland grew up in Toronto where she attended John R Wilcox, Vaughan Road Collegiate – and McCaul Street Synagogue. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Diploma in Physical and Occupational Therapy in 1960 and returned to U of T over the years, completing a BA in 1976, an MA in 1981, and a PhD in 1988. She married in 1958—here in Beth Tzedec—and has three children, and eight grandchildren. She worked as an occupational therapist in psychiatric hospitals in Cambridge, England and Toronto before her children were born and returned to work, part-time, at COTA (Community Occupational Therapy and Associates), once they were all in school. At age 43, she began her academic career in occupational therapy, in the Faculty of Medicine, at U of T, rising through the ranks to Full Professor and chairing her department. Her main research areas have been in the psychosocial aspects of Illness, Injury and Aging and the early history of occupational therapy in Canada. Dawn Promislow was born and raised in South Africa and has lived in Toronto since 1987. She is the author of the novel Wan, which was a finalist for the Canadian Authors Association's Fred Kerner Book Award 2023, a Miramichi Best Fiction title of 2022, a CanLit Bookclub Pick in Zoomer magazine, and a finalist in the design category for an Alberta Book Publishing Award 2023. The novel was on several of CBC Books's recommended lists of historical fiction for 2022. Dawn is also the author of the short story collection Jewels and Other Stories, which was named one of the eight best fiction debuts of 2011 by the Globe and Mail, and was long-listed for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award 2011. She's had numerous award-nominated short stories, poems, and essays published in literary journals in Canada, the US, and the UK, and anthologized in books. She is working on a new novel.
Daytrips in Jewish History with Hana Wer...
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Day Trips in Jewish History with Hana Werner: Yochanan ben Zakkai
The mystery of our history is shaped by revolutionary thinking and practice that transformed adversity to resilience, and promoted the survival of our people. Yochanan ben Zakkai, A brilliant scholar with a new vision for Judaism. He reframed and transformed our religion in times of great trauma, when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple.
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Day Trips in Jewish History Technological: Innovation
Back by popular demand, Hana Werner presents snapshots of the Biblical and modern-day stories, scrolls and characters. WINTER SERIES The winter series looks at five biblical heroes who, in their life journey, demonstrated how real heroes are guided by hope, inspiration and determination in taking major risks. February 7: Tamar February 14: Jephthah February 28: Michal March 7: Jonathan March 14: Queen Esther In keeping with current Public Health recommendations and restrictions, this program will offered via Zoom. Pre-registration is required to access the link information. To register for the Day Trips series, please click here>> SPRING SERIES The spring series looks at five heroes of more recent times who, in their life journey, demonstrated how real heroes are guided by hope, inspiration and determination in taking major risks, and at the Israeli-designed technological innovations that have transformed Israel as a 'start-up nation'. April 25: Shimon Peres May 2: Al Schwimmer May 9: Theodore Herzl May 16: Technological Innovation May 30: Natan Sharansky
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Day Trips in Jewish History: Al Schwimmer
The spring series looks at five heroes of more recent times who, in their life journey, demonstrated how real heroes are guided by hope, inspiration and determination in taking major risks, and at the Israeli-designed technological innovations that have transformed Israel as a 'start-up nation'.
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Day Trips in Jewish History - Jonathan
JONATHAN: A man of exceptional character, Jonathan is the son of king Saul. He is a very brave soldier as well as a loyal friend to David. Forced to confront strife and injustice, Jonathan is a role model symbolizing that which is noble in the human character. In keeping with current Public Health recommendations and restrictions, this program will offered via Zoom. Pre-registration is required to access the link information. To register for the Day Trips series, please click here>> Presented as part of The Institute for Jewish Learning in memory of Anne and Max Tanenbaum
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Day Trips in Jewish History: Jepthah
February 14th, 2022 Back by popular demand, Hana Werner presents snapshots of the Biblical stories, scrolls and characters. The winter series looks at five biblical heroes who, in their life journey, demonstrate how real heroes are guided by hope, inspiration and determination in taking major risks. This series is offered via Zoom. For series information or to register, visit https://www.beth-tzedec.org/page/hub/category/event-hana-werner-lecture-series
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Day trips in Jewish History: Tamar
February 7th, 2022 Back by popular demand, Hana Werner presents snapshots of the Biblical stories, scrolls and characters. The winter series looks at five biblical heroes who, in their life journey, demonstrate how real heroes are guided by hope, inspiration and determination in taking major risks. This series is offered via Zoom. For series information or to register, visit https://www.beth-tzedec.org/page/hub/category/event-hana-werner-lecture-series
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Day Trips in Jewish History with Hana Werner - Kings and Queens
In many exciting and intriguing narratives, Biblical kings established a proud nation and a traditional "people of the book". Originally recorded November 8, 2021 Sponsored in memory of Cantor Joseph Cooper (z"l) Presented as part of The Institute for Jewish Learning in memory of Anne and Max Tanenbaum
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Day Trips in Jewish History with Hana Werner - Ba'al Shem Tov
A man of vision with an amazing legacy who brought a profound sense of joy to the suffering Jews of Eastern Europe, founding the Chasidic movement in the 18th century. Originally recorded November 1, 2021 Sponsored in memory of Cantor Joseph Cooper (z"l) Presented as part of The Institute for Jewish Learning in memory of Anne and Max Tanenbaum
Notable Speakers
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Hereditary Cancer: Know Your Risk
Did you know: Ashkenazi Jews are ten times more likely than the general population to carry mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that increase their risk for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. If you know: Understanding your genetic testing options can help you and your family make important decisions about how to manage any cancer risk. Join us at Beth Tzedec for a panel discussion with experts on genetic mutations to learn more. PANELISTS Dr. Kelly Metcalfe, Senior Scientist, Women's Collect Research Institute Dr. Steven Narod, Senior Scientist and Director of Familial Breast Cancer Research Angelina Tryon, Genetic Counsellor, Women's College Hospital Tamara Katz, Community member Presented in partnership with BAYT and Beth Tzedec Centre for Spiritual Well-Being
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Wise Aging: How to Prepare Now for a Vibrant and Healthy Aging
As we and our loved ones age, we worry about cognitive decline and maintaining mental sharpness. Professor Eitan Okun, neuro-immunologist, shares what his research has discovered about preventing and slowing memory loss, and what lifestyle choices each of us can make to have the best chance for maintaining strong cognitive skills as we age.
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The Israel We Imagine
The Israel We Imagine: When Visions Confront Reality In addition to being a real country with real people and real problems, the State of Israel serves as a powerful symbol to Jews around the world. Different Jews expect the State of Israel to serve different purposes in the world and in Jewish life. In this lecture we will explore the varied ways that people envision Israel’s purpose and meaning and how these visions can conflict with one another. We examine how we arrive at our sense of what Israel’s purpose should be, and how that imagination colors our responses to messier realities. And throughout, we will consider the roles of both humility and activism in our relationship to Israel. To register for this program, which will be offered both in-person and online, please complete this form: https://bethtzedectoronto.shulcloud.com/form/the-israel-we-imagine ___________________________________________________________________ Dr. Elana Stein Hain is the Director of Faculty and a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she serves as lead faculty, directs the activities of the Kogod Research Center for Contemporary Jewish Thought and consults on the content of lay and professional leadership programs. A widely well-regarded teacher and scholar, Elana is passionate about bringing rabbinic thought into conversation with contemporary life. To this end, she created Talmud from the Balcony, an occasional learning seminar exposing the big ideas, questions, and issues motivating rabbinic discussions; she leads the Created Equal Research Seminar which considers the relationships between gender consciousness and Jewish thought; and she co-hosts For Heaven’s Sake, a bi-weekly podcast with Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi, exploring contemporary issues related to Israel and the Jewish world. Elana earned her doctorate in Religion from Columbia University where she wrote her dissertation on the topic of legal loopholes as a prism for understanding rabbinic views on law and ethics. She is an alumna of the Yeshiva University Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies (GPATS) as well as the Consortium in Jewish Studies and Legal Theory Graduate Fellowship at Cardozo School of Law. She also served for eight years as a clergy member on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, at both Lincoln Square Synagogue and the Jewish Center, has taught at the Wagner School at NYU, and sits on the board of Sefaria: A Living Library of Jewish Texts.
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Notable Speaker Series - Travel Writer Toby Saltzman
Award-winning travel journalist Toby Saltzman will present a visual tour of Germany along with her experiences as a Jewish travel writer exploring the country. Highlights will include her visit to the recently refurbished Gorlitz Synagogue, the only synagogue in Germany’s Saxony region to survive Kristallnacht.
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Notable Speakers with Dan Falk - Oct 28-20
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Notable Speakers - May 13
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Notable Speakers Nov 4 - Sandra Martin
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Notable Speakers - June 3
Abraham Joshua Heschel Spiritual Grandeu...
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Abraham Joshua Heschel: Spiritual Grandeur and Human Dignity 4 Jan 2023
On the 50th anniversary of Rabbi Heschel’s death, we will examine major moments in his life story, explore the breadth of his theology, and consider his pursuit of social justice and interfaith dignity. Rav Baruch was one of Rabbi Heschel’s last students.
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Abraham Joshua Heschel Spiritual Grandeur and Human Dignity 11 Jan 2023
On the 50th anniversary of Rabbi Heschel’s death, we will examine major moments in his life story, explore the breadth of his theology, and consider his pursuit of social justice and interfaith dignity. Rav Baruch was one of Rabbi Heschel’s last students.
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Abraham Joshua Heschel with Rav Baruch (Jan 18)
On the 50th anniversary of Rabbi Heschel’s death, we will examine major moments in his life story, explore the breadth of his theology, and consider his pursuit of social justice and interfaith dignity. Rav Baruch was one of Rabbi Heschel’s last students.
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Abraham Joshua Heschel Spiritual Grandeur and Human Dignity 25 Jan 2023
On the 50th anniversary of Rabbi Heschel’s death, we will examine major moments in his life story, explore the breadth of his theology, and consider his pursuit of social justice and interfaith dignity. Rav Baruch was one of Rabbi Heschel’s last students.
Originals
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Mizmor Monthly: Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Lyrics: https://www.beth-tzedec.org/upload/media/3467/mizmor-monthly-sivan-lyrics-2022.pdf Join Cantor Sidney Ezer and Asher Farber on the first Tuesday of every month revolving around Rosh H̱odesh. We will explore many Jewish musical themes and genres, one for every month of the Jewish calendar.
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Mizmor Monthly: Rosh Hodesh Iyar
Lyrics: https://www.beth-tzedec.org/upload/media/3439/rosh-hodesh-iyar-lyrics.pdf Join Cantor Sidney Ezer and Asher Farber on the first Tuesday of every month revolving around Rosh H̱odesh. We will explore many Jewish musical themes and genres, one for every month of the Jewish calendar.
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Mizmor Monthly Nisan 5782
Lyrics: https://tinyurl.com/nisan5872 Join Cantor Sidney Ezer and Asher Farber on the first Tuesday of every month revolving around Rosh H̱odesh. We will explore many Jewish musical themes and genres, one for every month of the Jewish calendar. This session will focus on Passover
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Purim 2022
Join us for our Purim spoof of the famous song from the Village People.
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Mizmor Monthly Adar 2: Purim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yOuehfLFryboYrW18b7E31voZ85wgmJs/view?usp=sharing Join Cantor Sidney Ezer and Asher Farber on the first Tuesday of every month revolving around Rosh H̱odesh. We will explore many Jewish musical themes and genres, one for every month of the Jewish calendar. Mizmor Monthly will be streamed to Beth Tzedec's Facebook page and YouTube channel. Registration is not required.
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Mizmor Monthly: Adar 1
Join Cantor Sidney Ezer and Asher Farber on Facebook & YouTube for a musical exploration of the themes and genres of Rosh Hodesh Adar.
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Sh'vat
Cantor Sidney Ezer Asher Farber - Piano MIZMOR MONTHLY is a musical performance, offered every month in the Jewish calendar, revolving around Rosh Hodesh (the beginning of the month).
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Mizmor Monthly: Tevet
Cantor Sydney Ezer Asher Farber - Piano Lyrics: https://tinyurl.com/mrywzknw MIZMOR MONTHLY is a musical performance, offered every month in the Jewish calendar, revolving around Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the month). This month, for the month of Tevet, we will be performing Lekha Dodi Yigdal Tzur Mishelo Mah She’akhalnu Bendigamos Yisrael B’tah Badonai Vayhi Vishnat Ha-t’shi-it Bahodesh Ha’asiri Afafuni Ki Hilatzta Nafshi Hall’lu Et Adonai Hodu Ladonai Ki Tov Barukh Haba Ein Keloheinu Adon Olam This performance was recorded in the Hendeles Chapel at Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Conversations over Coffee
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Conversations Over Coffee with Reb Steve: Jay Solomon
Antisemitism on Campus May 30 2022, 12:30PM to 1:00PM in the Facebook and YouTube. Rabbi Steven Wernick gathers a cadre of community leaders for a series of conversations on politics, culture, social existence and Jewish life. Each session will be streamed over Zoom and broadcast to Facebook and YouTube. Grab a cup of coffee and log on to join us. Reb Steve will share coffee with Jay Solomon, Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer, Hillel Ontario. They will have a discussion about Antisemitism on Campus. This week's conversation will be broadcast live to the Beth Tzedec Facebook page and YouTube channel. Comment with your questions for Jay on either platform! Jay Solomon is a seasoned Jewish community leader, with significant expertise in stakeholder cultivation and management, communications, public affairs, strategic planning, corporate governance, and professional coaching. He currently serves as the Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer for Hillel Ontario; the largest Hillel in the world. A graduate of York University, with degrees in both Political Science and Education, Jay has proudly served the Canadian Jewish community in various professional and volunteer roles over the past fifteen years.
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Conversations over Coffee: Mike Katz
Jews in Sports: Jews and Basketball Jul 04 2022, 12:30PM to 1:00PM in the Facebook/YouTube. Reb Steve will share coffee with Mike Katz, former head coach of the University of Toronto's Varsity Blues, the Humber College men's basketball team and an assistant coach of Team Canada's men's basketball squad at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. They will have a discussion about Jews in Sport: Jews and Basketball. This week's conversation will be broadcast live to the Beth Tzedec Facebook page and YouTube channel. Comment with your questions for Mike on either platform! Mike Katz is the former head coach of the University of Toronto's Varsity Blues and the Humber College men's basketball team. He coached his teams to five national championships and received three Coach of the Year awards during his coaching years. Katz was also Canada's head coach for the Maccabiah Games in 1992, as well as head coach of the World Student Games in Sicily, Italy in 1997. He was an assistant coach of Team Canada's men's basketball squad at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was inducted into the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Conversations over Coffee: Brandon Ambrosino
Rabbi Steven Wernick gathers a cadre of community leaders for a series of conversations on politics, culture, social existence and Jewish life. Each session will be streamed over Zoom and broadcast to Facebook and YouTube. Grab a cup of coffee and log on to join us. Reb Steve will share coffee with freelance news writer Brandon Ambrosino.
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Conversations over Coffee: Dr Helen Fry
Thomas Kendrick: The “Oskar Schindler” of Vienna Apr 25 2022, 12:30PM to 1:00PM in the Facebook and YouTube. Rabbi Steven Wernick gathers a cadre of community leaders for a series of conversations on politics, culture, social existence and Jewish life. Each session will be streamed and broadcast to Facebook and YouTube. Grab a cup of coffee and log on to join us. Reb Steve will share coffee with Author and Historian, Dr. Helen Fry. They will have a discussion about Thomas Kendrick: the “Oskar Schindler” of Vienna. He was also a spy who, in WW2, was commanding officer of the German-Jewish secret listeners who bugged the conversations of Hitler’s captured generals. This week's conversation will be broadcast live to the Beth Tzedec Facebook page and YouTube channel. Comment with your questions for Dr. Fry on either platform! Dr. Helen Fry has written numerous books on the Second World War, with a specialism in British intelligence, spies, espionage and prisoners of war, and also the 10,000 German-Jewish refugees who fought for Britain. Her latest book, Spymaster: The Man who Saved MI6 has become a bestseller about the MI6 spy Thomas Kendrick. Her acclaimed book, The Walls Have Ears: The Greatest Intelligence Operation of WWII was in the Daily Mail’s Top 8 ‘Books of the Year on War’. Her book, MI9: Escape and Evasion: The Secret Service for Escape and Evasion in WWII was shortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal in Military History 2021. Helen has appeared in numerous documentaries in the UK as well as in the USA, including David Jason’s "Secret Service", "Spying on Hitler’s Army" and "Home Front Heroes". She is an Ambassador for the Museum of Military Intelligence.
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Conversations over Coffee: Alon Tal
Environmental and Climate Impacts on Health Apr 18 2022, 12:30PM to 1:00PM in the Facebook and YouTube. Rabbi Steven Wernick gathers a cadre of community leaders for a series of conversations on politics, culture, social existence and Jewish life. Each session will be streamed over Zoom and broadcast to Facebook and YouTube. Grab a cup of coffee and log on to join us. Reb Steve will share coffee with Prof. Alon Tal, Chair, Knesset Subcommittee for Environmental and Climate Impacts on Health. They will have a discussion about "Environmental and Climate Impacts on Health"
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Conversations over Coffee: Special Report From Poland
Reb Steve is in Poland with a small group of Jewish leaders from our Toronto Jewish community, led by Beth Tzedec member and UJA President and CEO Adam Minsky. The Russia-Ukraine War has created the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War generating some four million refugees and millions more displaced people in Ukraine. To better understand the situation on the ground, our "Conversations Over Coffee" session will be streamed lived from Poland. You can connect with Reb Steve via Beth Tzedec's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
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Conversations over Coffee: Judy Librach
Reb Steve will share coffee with Judy Librach, TV host, life coach, author and columnist, who is the creator of "Finding Your Bliss". They will have a discussion about Finding Your Bliss. This week's conversation will be broadcast live to the Beth Tzedec Facebook page and YouTube channel. Comment with your questions for Judy on either platform! Judy Siblin-Librach is the host of the weekly radio show and podcast "Finding Your Bliss" on Zoomer Radio AM 740/FM 96.7. She is also an author of two books, The Toronto Wedding Handbook, and Love Mommy, Writing Love Letters to Your Baby. Judy wrote a column for the CJN (Canadian Jewish News) for six and a half years called "The Life Coach Corner" and she is also the creator of the online magazine Finding Your Bliss, (findingyourbliss.com) as well as being the host of "The Bliss Minute", a daily dose of happiness and positivity on the Instagram and Facebook accounts @theblissminute. Judy has been an on-camera host and reporter for numerous TV shows, both local and national, including her own show “In the Spotlight” (a showcase for Canada’s performing artists) which won Best Arts Program in North America by the Hometown U.S.A Video Festival. As well, she won a CBC Telefest Award for her documentary called “It Has A Name...Neurofibromatosis.” She has also been a Managing Editor for a performing arts magazine called Toronto Tonight, where she wrote theatre reviews, a "Theatretalk" column and a regular celebrity dining column. She has also written for major newspapers and magazines all across Canada. Judy is also a meditation teacher and you find some of her meditations on the free Insight Timer Meditation app. She is currently working on her third book. She lives in Toronto, with her husband Dr. Clifford Librach and their two children, (Max and Lily), who are Judy’s real bliss!!!
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Conversations over Coffee: Joel Chasnoff
Mar 21 2022, 12:30PM to 1:00PM on Facebook and YouTube. Rabbi Steven Wernick gathers a cadre of community leaders for a series of conversations on politics, culture, social existence and Jewish life. Each session will be streamed over Zoom and broadcast to Facebook and YouTube. Grab a cup of coffee and log on to join us. Reb Steve will share coffee with Joel Chasnoff, comedian and writer. They will have a discussion about 'A funny thing happened on my way to… Comedy as a coping and healing strategy'. This week's conversation will be broadcast live to the Beth Tzedec Facebook page and YouTube channel. Comment with your questions for Joel on either platform! Joel Chasnoff is a stand-up comedian, TV and podcast host, and author of three books, including the bestselling memoir The 188th Crybaby Brigade. Since 2001, Joel has performed his unique brand of clean, cutting-edge comedy at more than 1,000 events in 10 countries.
Professor Berk Lectures
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Prof. Berk: The Islamic Republic
Professor Berk is a professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and faculty advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985) and is currently writing Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965. In 1996, Professor Berk received the prestigious Holocaust Memorial Award from the Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center for his "years of dedication to understanding and education as a worldwide lecturer and spellbinding speaker on the lessons of the Holocaust and its meaning for today". In 2010, he was designated an Israel Hero for his defence and advocacy of the State of Israel by JERNY the Jewish Educational Resources of New York.
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Prof. Berk: From Emperor to Ayatollah
Professor Berk is a professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and faculty advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985) and is currently writing Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965. In 1996, Professor Berk received the prestigious Holocaust Memorial Award from the Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center for his "years of dedication to understanding and education as a worldwide lecturer and spellbinding speaker on the lessons of the Holocaust and its meaning for today". In 2010, he was designated an Israel Hero for his defence and advocacy of the State of Israel by JERNY the Jewish Educational Resources of New York.
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Prof Berk: Putin, Biden & Ukraine
Professor Berk is a professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and faculty advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985) and is currently writing Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965. In 1996, Professor Berk received the prestigious Holocaust Memorial Award from the Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center for his "years of dedication to understanding and education as a worldwide lecturer and spellbinding speaker on the lessons of the Holocaust and its meaning for today". In 2010, he was designated an Israel Hero for his defence and advocacy of the State of Israel by JERNY the Jewish Educational Resources of New York.
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"Ukraine and the Jews: A Complicated History" with Prof Stephen Berk
The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has unleashed a humanitarian crisis throughout Europe, destabilizing worldwide security partnerships and markets. With one of the largest Jewish populations outside Israel, the Jews of Ukraine are also facing threats to their safety, security and well-being, forced to flee to other nations or to take up arms against the aggressors. Professor Stephen Berk joins us via Zoom to look back through the thousand-year-long complicated history of the Ukrainian Jews, times of cultural, religious and economic achievement and others of persecution and discrimination, and the implications of that history on our current relationship with Ukraine and Russia in light of current events. Pre-registration required to access the Zoom link information. To register, click here: https://bethtzedectoronto.shulcloud.com/form/berk-lecture-mar-27-2022.html Presented by Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda, Beth Tzedec, Beth Tikvah, Pride of Israel and The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto
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The Rebirth of Jewish Life in Eastern Europe with Professor Stephen Berk
Feb 23 2022 In the second of his three part 2021-2022 lecture series, Prof. Stephen Berk will explore how Jewish life is reviving in a number of Central and Eastern European cities and countries. Why is this happening, and what can it tell us about the Jewish and secular societies of these places only 75 years after the Holocaust? PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue Beth Tzedec Congregation Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto Dr. Stephen Berk is the Henry and Sally Schaffer Professor of Holocaust and Jewish studies at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He is the former Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russia and East European Studies and helps advise the Hillel organization at Union. Professor Berk is considered an absolutely superb lecturer and teacher. His lectures are outstanding and he is in high demand as a guest speaker. He is always informative, interesting and entertaining. He is widely known for his expertise on the Holocaust, Russia, the Middle East and a variety of Jewish subjects.
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75 Years Later: The Nuremberg Trials - with Prof. Stephen Berk
In the first of his three part 2021-2022 lecture series, Prof. Stephen Berk revisits the Nuremberg Trials of 1946 and share what we can still learn from them 75 years later. Originally recorded on December 15, 2021
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The New Middle East with Prof. Berk
Feb. 23, 2021 Prof. Stephen Berk analyzes the ongoing changes to the Middle East's political landscape and shares the implications for Israel and the Arab & Muslim states in the region.
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