Beth Israel

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Beth Israel Book Club

Upcoming dates for April and May

Thursday, April 16, 6 pm:  Fleishman is in Trouble, by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Thursday, May 21, 6 pm: Songs for the Broken Hearted, by Ayelet Tzabari

Any questions or to RSVP, please email the bookclub.

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Big Tent Event #2 ” Holding Tension – Perspectives on Israel/Palestine”

Date:  Saturday May 2nd

Time: 1:00-4:00pm (including break and snacks)

Registration: Click here to register by Friday May 1st:  Register for Big Tent Workshop 2  

Many thanks to those who attended February 21st’s Building Trust Event.  (Report on Building Trust Event link). Encouraged by the positive feedback and the requests for deeper conversations, we are planning a second session to strengthen our skills in holding tension without tearing the fabric of our community.  

In these troubled times our congregation needs the capacity for good friction — the kind that sharpens understanding instead of burning bridges. The kind that allows disagreement without dehumanization. The kind that builds resilience rather than silence.

On May 2nd as we explore diverse perspectives on Israel/Palestine you will:

  • Engage in a structured conversation experience with built-in psychological safety
  • Explore how your perspective has formed and how it shapes reactions
  • Learn how to stay grounded when perspectives clash
  • Speak from your heart and share personal experiences, not just opinions
  • Listen with respect to understand other perspectives and experiences
  • Draft, share and get helpful feedback on a “clarification statement” emerging from your 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

BIC members at Building Trust Event in February 2026

 

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Commemorative Event for Holocaust Remembrance Day

(Yom HaShoah) on April 13-14.

Please join us, the BIC Holocaust Education Planning Group for the Yom HaShoah events:

Monday April 13th — a commemorative evening  (Theme:  Resistance and Reflection):

  •  Doors opening at 5:00 pm –exhibit viewing (Yad Vashem’s “Art in the Holocaust” and “The Anguish of Liberation as Reflected in Art”).
  • Candle lighting at 5:45 pm, followed by songs (BIC Choir!) of resistance and poems of reflection.
  • Conversation with Abe Jakob at 6:30PM.  We are privileged to have Abe as our guest.  He is a Holocaust survivor, willing to chat with us over Zoom about his life experiences.  Thanks to the Claims Conference for this opportunity.
  • Refreshments and further viewing of the exhibits until 8:30PM.

Tuesday April 14th —  Film screening of HIDDEN – The Kati Preston Story, a Holocaust docudrama to be given in-person by the producer and editor of the film, Jody Glover.  

  •  Doors opening at 6:00 pm – Exhibit Viewing.
  • Introduction and Film Presentation at 6:30PM

Please RSVP Ralph to let us know you can make it on the evening of April 13 and/or April 14th.

 

More about “HIDDEN – The Kati Preston Story”

(by Jody Glover)

Jody Glover is the producer and editor of the Holocaust docudrama called HIDDEN – The Kati Preston Story and lives in Cobourg!  The director is Daniel Matmor and he lives in Toronto.  They began creating this film about Daniel’s mother back in 2019 and are now finally screening it at various film festivals. They recently won Best Documentary Feature at the Canadian International Film Festival, which Christine attended! The film is based on Kati’s award-winning graphic novel called HIDDEN: A True Story of the Holocaust. Kati is now 86 years old and lives in New Hampshire.
 
The goal is to get this film into schools where kids can learn about the Holocaust directly from someone who has lived through it. Kati’s firsthand account is so important because it changes “history” into someone’s life. She tells her story from the perspective of her 5-yr old self, reliving all the moments that impacted her life so dearly. The film and her book also come with complimentary curricula written by Tom White – an expert in Holocaust and genocide studies. You can find them here: https://www.hiddenkatiprestonstory.com/education/holocaust-education.php
 
Here is the trailer to the film: https://vimeo.com/1074080088?share=copy#t=0
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Community Seder – Second Night, April 2, 2026

A community seder is being planned for the second night.  This will be in the same format as in past years with a reading of an abbreviated Haggadah, but to make planning easier and to keep costs down, the meal following will be pot luck.  So, please mark this event on your calendar.  Details will follow as they are firmed up.

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THREE Ways to Celebrate Purim with Us!

The Ritual Committee is extending their planned Oneg Shabbat Service and potluck into a festive Purim Party Friday, 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 interested in 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.

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Explore Judaism Peer Learning Group

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)?
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Tu B’Shevat Seder & Enviro-Learning THIS SUNDAY 🙂

Happy Birthday to the Trees! 

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 :).

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Holocaust Education Planning Group –

Event Notices

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.