The Ritual Committee is extending their planned Oneg Shabbat Service and potluck into a festive Purim PartyFriday, March 6th at Beth Israel.
Ø 5-6 pm: Bring the kinderlach for Hamantaschen making and purim spiel practicing;
Ø Dan Houpt will lead an Oneg Shabbat with a Purim twist. Bring your noisemakers and singing voices. If there is sufficient interest, the service will be shared via Zoom.
Let Ron know if you are interestedin joining the service via Zoom;
Ø Potluck Purim Party – bring a dish and BYOB (and some to share. There will be games for all ages, music for dancing, and a purim spiel (play). Please email Karen to RSVP and let her know what dish you plan to bring to the potluck.
Join Jen L. and friends for a facilitated discussion, Saturday, March 14th (not 21st as originally posted) from 10am-noon. Bring a coffee, Jen will bring her semi-famous vegan, GF cookies, and we will learn together. RSVP here.
Thank you to everyone who came out to our January Exploring Judaism Peer group. We are planning our next meeting for March 21st and hope to see even more explorers.
Some questions came up out of our discussion that we would like to explore. Below are 4 questions, you can approach any or all of them from your personal perspective. When we meet we will share our thoughts and reflections and see where the discussion takes us. If you would like to bring an artifact or book from home to share, that is always welcome.
Lessons from History: How have Jewish communities managed to survive in the diaspora for 4,000 years?
The Power of Storytelling: What personal or family stories best illustrate your connection to the Jewish people’s history of migration, displacement, or resilience?
Reflecting on Roots: “Looking backward is another way of looking deeper into ourselves.” In what ways does knowing your ancestry “ground” you in your life today?
The Role of Memory: How do we, as a diaspora community, fulfill the duty of remembering our history (e.g., in the face of ongoing antisemitism)?
Join us for a Tu B’shevat Seder & Jewish environmental program Sunday, February 1st from 2-4pm at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre (2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough, ON – On Trent U campus). Come learn from our special guest educator from Shoresh (“Canadian Soil, Jewish Roots”) and enjoy fun and nourishment for the whole family! This event is free for BIC Members, and by donation (PWYC. Suggested $5-25 per person) for Non-Members. Please donate online here, or bring cash to the event. Thank you for your support of Ptbo Jewish community gatherings! RSVP For Feb 1st here – apprecaited, but if you haven’t RSVP’d, we would still be happy to see you :).
Trent U Max Eisen Lecture in Holocaust Studies – Jan. 20.
For more details and to register (free): Trent U link
BIC Field Trip to the Toronto Holocaust Museum Field – Sunday, January 25
The Holocaust Education Planning Group is offering shared transport to the THM on January 25th to attend the “Proof of Life” event, a commemorative event for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Click THM event. Please contact Ralph if you have questions and/or are wishing to attend the THM event on January 25th.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day – Tuesday, Jan. 27
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a globally recognized day comemorating the Holocaust and the millions of victims that experienced the genocidal brutality of antsemitism. January 27th, 1945 is the day the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp was liberated. To learn more about IHRD and antisemitism, here are some links: ENRS link; IHRA working definition of antisemitism; Gov’t of Canada’s Handbook on the IHRA definition. In commemoration of IHRD, the Toronto Holocaust Museum has a number of events. Click link.
BIC Holocaust Education Planning Group – Events in the Planning
During the upcoming months in preparation for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), April 13-14, we begin a journey of learning that is based on listening to voices of the past, present and future. Screening of films and documentaries are going to be a part of that: “The Listener“, the story of Dori Laub and his incredible work; “Remnants“, the moving solo play by Henry Greenspan; “White Bird: A Wonder Story“, a gripping story for the young and old. Each of these provide an opportunity for signficant discussion and learning about the Holocaust and its continued impact today.
The Beth Israel Board of Directors’ Big Tent Committee is a new standing committee to support ongoing learning and development guided by Beth Israel Congregation’s mission around inclusion and belonging. For the Committee’s current membership and Terms of Reference, click here.
Building Trust Event: Saturday February 21, 2026
The Committee would like to invite all members and former members to participate in a special event! The purpose is to build trust and inclusion within the congregation by developing our capacity for compassionate listening and robust conversations. The event features an engaging tool proven to build empathy, deep listening and mutual understanding.
In the first part of this event, we will learn an engaging tool: Who You Are Matters!,proven to build empathy, deep listening and mutual understanding. Engaging, effective and surprisingly fun, this facilitated experience will help you clarify your strengths, identify personal qualities, gain awareness of what you want, and strengthen your voice. You’ll engage with and learn about others in our unique community.
Building on skills and relationships developed in Part 1, the second part – Clarifying My Role Amid Community Tensions – will explore benefits from meaningful and respectful conversations; factors that influence your bias; reactions you are having to what’s happening in our community; and what you would like to see in the future to reduce the tension.
This is intended as a safe and structured experience. In small groups, participants will explore our own perspectives, receive targeted feedback, build emotional intelligence and communication skills, and encourage inspired action to take next steps. The goals is for everyone to feel included in this unique story-listening experience.
The Facillitator
This event will be facilitated by Mark Franklin, MEd, PEng. Mark teaches career management at University of Toronto, is CareerCycles practice leader, co-founder of OneLifeTools, co-authored Who You Are Matters!, and was the Stu Conger award-winner. Mark consulted in his earlier engineering career, before earning a Masters in counselling then leading universities’ student services initiatives. His insights appear on CBC, GlobalNews, National Post, Globe and Mail. Mark has led a similar Building Trust event for Toronto’s Danforth Jewish Circle.
BIC was supported in person by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith and Monaghan Ward Coun. Matt Crowley at the BIC’s Candle Lighting event, and by local faith communities, including this statement on Facebook by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph, along with moving phone calls from Peterborough MP Emma Harrison, the Curve Lake Christian Assembly of First Nations People, the Greek Church of Peterborough, the Board of Masjid al-Salaam, and numerous local individuals. We are very moved and grateful.
Following an excellent discussion, our growing Beth Israel Book Club will read The Girl in the Middle, Growing Up Between Black and White, Rich and Poor by Anais Granofsky, available from the Peterborough Public Library. We will meet and discuss on Thursday, March 12th at 5:30 p.m. (NEW TIME). All are welcome! If you have any questions, or to RSVP, please email bookclub.
