Hi! My name is Gabriel Barr, and from now until August 11th I’ll be helping out the Beth Israel Congregation as a part of the Canada Summer Jobs program! I am a Peterborough local and grew up as a member of the Unitarian Fellowship. For the past 3 years I’ve been living in Montreal studying communications/media production and biology at Concordia University. I’m looking forward to meeting you at the upcoming service & picnic, and at the AGM!
We invite you to join us to celebrate a most excellent year of Beth Israel religious and community programming and events, and to honour all those who have worked hard this year (gotten up and to school/your studies most of the time counts) Friday June 20th with a special Oneg Shabbat Service beginning at 5pm (note earlier time) followed by a picnic and songs at 6:30 at a another special venue. All are welcome. For more details please contact: Beth Israel . Please RSVP here for the event.
We are heartbroken to learn of the murder of Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, in Washington DC on May 21, 2025, outside of a diner for young diplomats, in what appears to be an act of political violence. At a time of tremendous turmoil, in which many are anxious about the safety of Jews in North America, this event has the potential to exacerbate these fears. While the Beth Israel Congregation contains diverse perspectives on the political situation in the Middle East, we all stand behind the principle of pikuach nefesh, the sanctity of human life, and deplore violence against civilians for political ends. We will continue to work within our congregation, within our community, and through our relationship with the land of Israel to promote a more peaceful world.
— The Beth Israel Board of Directors
Dear Beth Israel Congregation Members,
Your presence is requested for the Annual General Meeting for Beth Israel Congregation on June 24 from 6:30-8 pm at the synagogue. Please RSVP now (click the link) and plan to attend – 30% of all voting members are required for quorum. If you cannot attend, please complete the proxy form attached and send it with your proxy to the AGM.
Agenda to follow.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please see below for the Notice of Special Resolution and Proposed Amendment of the Beth Israel Congregation By-laws (2016) for Approval by Beth Israel Congregation Membership.
1) Special Resolution
Ontario Non for profit Corporations Act (ONCA) “statement of waiver” requirement to be approved:
In keeping with the rules and regulations regarding Audits and Engagement Reviews for not for profit organization and charities for the Province of Ontario, be it therefore resolved that Beth Israel Congregation members agree to waive the requirement and costs associated with both an Engagement Review and Audit for the fiscal year.
2) 2016 Beth Israel Congregation Bylaws amendment to composition of the Board of Directors
Current:
Board of Directors: The affairs of the Congregation/Corporation shall be governed by a Board of Directors (referred to in the Letters Patent of the Corporation dated May 28, 1953 as “the Committee of Management”), which Board shall be composed of eight (8) Voting Members. In addition, the immediate Past-President, if not re-elected as a Director, may act as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board for a term of one (1) year.
Proposed:
Board of Directors: The affairs of the Congregation/Corporation shall be governed by a Board of Directors (referred to in the Letters Patent of the Corporation dated May 28, 1953 as “the Committee of Management”), which Board shall be composed of nine to fifteen (9-15) Voting Members. The Board shall have the discretion to select the number of Directors within the range annually. In addition, the immediate Past-President, if not re-elected as a Director, may act as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board for a term of one (1) year.
For the complete Beth Israel bylaws, see, click here.
Mark Siegel, President
Beth Israel Congregation Board of Directors
Sarah Cartell grew up in the 1980’s and 90’s in a White supremacist family, controlled by her grandfather whose beliefs and violence mark them all. When an unexpected friendship with a Black boy, and the Jewish town librarian, open her mind and expose those beliefs as vile lies, Sarah begins digging up everything she can about the haters her family celebrates . . . and her grandmother and aunt who fled long ago.
Determined to dismantle the White supremacist network in Canada, Sarah infiltrates a Neo-Nazi gang. As she races to stop the tide of hate crimes, new friends are put in danger and a horrifying family secret begins to emerge. This unravelling lands her in a psychiatric ward, where her therapist forces the resistant Sarah to dig into pain she has ignored, and acknowledge being trapped in the belief that she is unworthy of the world she is fighting for. Can she ever escape the bonds of a hateful family?
Why WHITE is relevant today:
The book peels back the layers of hate and exposes the intimate and complex destruction it unleashes on believers, as much as those who are targeted. Any direction Sarah Cartell turns, something is lost. To choose empathy is to forfeit family and a sense of belonging. Merging two genres – domestic and political fiction – WHITE explores anti-Semitism, racism and the trauma of growing up with hate. What has changed dramatically since the 80’s and 90’s is the legitimacy of white nationalist beliefs and permission to wave that flag. What has not changed is clinging almost desperately to intolerance out of a misguided notion that it guarantees safety for those who fear losing their supposed birthright. In an increasingly polarized world, understanding hate and the divisions it perpetuates as not simply evil, is key to choosing trust over building walls. For Sarah, strong convictions battle her reticence to trust either others or herself. In times that drive us protectively inward, reaching across difference still remains the best way forward. But how do we do that when we feel under threat?
Link to the event post: https://jccpeterborough.com/bookclub-2/
Kindly RSVP here so we have numbers for food and drink.
Beth Israel would like to celebrate all those who have worked hard this year (gotten up and to school/your studies most of the time counts). Join us Friday June 20th for a special Oneg Shabbat Service beginning at 5pm (note earlier time) at Beth Israel, followed by a picnic and songs at 6:30 at the Heritage Pavilion (by the Peterborough Museum at 300 Hunter St. E.). RSVP here – and let us know who in *your* family we can celebrate.
Do you have a basic level of Hebrew reading ability (i.e. can identify names and sounds of most/all Hebrew letters, can read words with up to five letters unassisted), and would like to brush up? Students will refresh their learning and get familiar with common blessings through practice exercises using the Hebrew in Harmony book. Email us to express your interest. Class may run this spring.
October 26 – Simchat Torah
Kids Krew had a very meaningful first gathering with 6 children from 4 families coming together to celebrate Simchat Torah. We learned about this important holiday, learned a lot about Torah, such as how a Torah is scribed and put together, learned a new song (Moshe Emet), and practiced old ones. Thanks to Alvin Gallay’s help, we were able to open the ark, and look at a Torah. The children brought their own tiny Torahs and took turns reading the text from the very last chapter of the Torah, and then re-rolling their Torah, and reading from the very first chapter. We danced the Torahs around the sanctuary 7 times.
November 30 – learning about Hanukkah
December 21 – Hanukkah prep…bake cookies for the Hanukkah Party at Beth Israel
In 2020
Contact: email Ziysah or Corinne at getinvolved@jccpeterborough.com
Our first Jewcrew Kidsclub (offical name TBD) was great fun. We read books, played games, learned some Hebrew words, and celebrated Tubishvat by each planting our own parsley seeds, which will hopefully grow just in time for the Pesach seder!
Watch out for upcoming meeting dates for the Jewcrew Kidsclub (offical name TBD) Get together with other young Jewish families who have kids for a little learning, a little singing and a lot of fun. Future gatherings will take place one Saturday a month from 2-4 pm at the synagogue. Dates will be confirmed asap.
All Jewish families/kids are welcome to our next gathering Saturday, March 9 from 2-4pm at the synagogue. This time we will be celebrating PURIM. Please come in costume as a character from the Purim story (or as anything at all and we’ll find a way to fit you into the story. 🙂 ) Future gatherings will take place one Saturday a month from 2-4 pm at the Synagogue. Dates will be confirmed asap. If you have any questions, ideas, or would like to help out, please be in touch with Ziysah or Corinne at bisptbo@gmail.com
All Jewish families/kids are welcome to our next gathering Saturday, March 9 from 2-4pm at the synagogue. This time we will be celebrating PURIM. Please come in costume as a character from the Purim story (or as anything at all and we’ll find a way to fit you into the story. 🙂 ) Future gatherings will take place one Saturday a month from 2-4 pm at the Synagogue. Dates will be confirmed asap. If you have any questions, ideas, or would like to help out, please be in touch with Ziysah or Corinne at bisptbo@gmail.com
Starts: Saturday, January 19th, 2019 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Where: Beth Israel Synagogue
The first meeting of the BIS kids program will take place Saturday, January 19 from 10 am-noon, and will feature learning about the holiday of Tubishvat.
This monthly get-together will be a chance for children and families to share space, learn about Jewish culture and holidays, sing songs, and also learn a bit of Hebrew. All are welcome to contribute ideas and teaching at future gatherings.
All Jewish children and their caregivers are welcome. The program is geared to all children under bar/t mitzvah age.
Please contact Ziysah or Corinne at bisptbo@gmail.com if you have questions or ideas or would like to help out in some way.
The success of this initiative depends on you. We saw clearly at the Chanukah celebrations that once again (and for the first time in many years), we have in the Peterborough area a good number of young Jewish children or children with Jewish family connections. What a great way to get together with families like yours, for adults to meet and for kids to get to know each other and participate together in fun learning activities. Mark you calendar and be there with your kids – grandparents welcome. Support this very worthwhile initiative.
Our community includes several families with young children. We do our best to make shul events relevant for children, by including crafts, play space, and age-appropriate activities.
We also organize our own informal get-togethers, especially during Jewish holidays.
Begins: 10:00 a.m.
Come one, come all this Saturday June 11 at 10 am to Beth Israel Synagogue for a morning of Hebrew Song. Dr. Dan will be teaching songs new and old; this event is directed towards families with children, but all are welcome. Coffee/tea and juice and munchies will be provided. Song sheets will be also be provided.
January 25 – Tu B’shevat
Kids Crew is meeting Saturday, January 25th 2-4 pm, to learn about and celebrate the “New Year of the Trees”, Tu b’Shevat.
February 29 – Purim
CANCELLED: March 28 – Pesach
Kids Crew Saturday is March 28, 2020, 2-4 pm at the synagogue, when the kids will be learning about Pesach.
Please RSVP if possible to Ziysah at getinvolved@jccpeterborough.com.
April 25 – Shabbat
May 30 – Shavuot
Details to follow.
As a special Chanukah treat, we would like to take this opportunity to show you the artwork that the children of Beth Israel’s “Jew Crew Kids’ Club” submitted for the production of gorgeous Chanukah holiday cards, under the direction of Marty Clearly who coordinates the club’s activities. We are sending the cards to our interfaith friends, and to local dignitaries such as City Council. We have also been selling the cards on a pay-what-you-like basis, with all the proceeds going to children’s programming at Beth Israel. Thank-you to the children, and to Marty too! You bring such joy to the congregation!
Below are some pictures of what the cards look like all together, and also some close-up views of the individual pieces of art. We are sure that this wondrous Chanukah artwork will warm your heart.
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