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Beth Israel Board Welcomes New Directors

With two vacancies and three applicants (how lucky!) the Beth Israel Board wasn’t sure how best to proceed. However, at their December meeting Len Lifchus graciously offered to move up the end of his term, stepping down to become the Board’s Governance Advisor. Thank you Len for your service; we appreciate that you will continue to lead the Ritual Committee for the term. This made openings for the Beth Israel Board of Directors to appoint Alexandra (Alex) Rawek, Gabriele Zeh-Abramsky and Jennifer (Jenny) Katz to the Board.

Welcome! 

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Cantor’s Message for Chanukah 5785/2024

Dearest friends,
Most of us will know the origins of the holiday of Chanukah: in the 2nd century BCE, at the time of the Maccabean Revolt, the Seleucid Greeks sacked and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. When the fighting stopped on the 25 th day of the month of Kislev, the Temple was rededicated; but it was discovered that there was only one day’s supply of pure oil with which to light the Menorah. By a miracle (according to the Talmud), this oil lasted for eight days, which gave enough time to produce a new
supply.
 
I’ve been at the Rambam again (still my go-to Jewish scholar), and have been studying his interpretation of the importance of Chanukah. In his text Mishneh Torah, chapters 3 and 4, he confirms that lighting the Chanukiah is precious, and that the mitzvah is more essential than many others. But he then says something rather surprising: if a poor person has to choose between oil for a house lamp on Shabbat and a Chanukah lamp, or between oil for a house lamp on Shabbat and wine for Kiddush, the house lamp should have priority, for the sake of peace in the household. The Rambam then adds: ‘Great indeed is peace, forasmuch as the purpose for which the whole Torah was given is to bring peace upon the world, as it is said in Proverbs, Its ways are the ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.
 
It’s a strange way to end a discussion, by using the Chanukah candles as a foil to highlight the importance of keeping the house lights burning on Shabbat, so that the inhabitants can see; but the point is that a dark dwelling would disrupt the peace, and cause strife within a family. So to avoid such discord, we do all that’s in our power to maintain peace. It’s customary on Chanukah to have gatherings of family and friends; it’s a time to lay aside friction, quarrels, dissent and recriminations, and come together to share the miraculous festival of light, in order to reconcile whatever differences we may have had during the year.
 
For me this is the profound meaning of Chanukah which I share with you: while its origins in the 2nd century BCE may lie in a revolt against our enemies, we should, as a matter of urgency — especially given all the strife both at home and abroad — strive for peace and reconciliation.
I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Chanukah.
With love from Cantor Leon
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Children’s Program for Chanukah

Join us on Saturday, December 14 for the Beth Israel Children’s Circle! Children ages 5-12 learn the prayers over the candles, bake donuts and make beeswax candles! Younger children are welcome with a parent. RSVP here to help us ensure enough supplies. Note: this program is designed for children ages 5-12, younger children can attend with a parent.

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Beth Israel Membership for 5785: Renew! Apply!

Enquiring minds want to know: Where is my Membership Renewal Letter? How much are my Dues? Membership renewal notices will go out via email presently. To APPLY for or RENEW your membership for the 2024-25 year, please complete the complete this form. If renewing and none of your information has changed and you just want to send in your dues, please see the membership dues form and remit payment by Thursday, October 31st to remain a member in good standing. Information on how to pay is conveniently included via all of the links above. 

Thank you for being part of Beth Israel Congregation!

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Mark’s Rosh HaShana Message+

BIC Board President Mark Seigel shared his outgoing Rosh HaShanah address to the community, focused on inclusion and the ‘Big Tent’ approach he has championed during his tenure. Click here for the full content. Mark also highly recommends Meet Robert; Meet Jessica: The Challenge of Jewish Diversity During Difficult Times, a Rosh Hashanah sermon by Rabbi Mark Glickman of Calgary’s temple b’nei tikvah.

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Annual Meeting & Dessert Party

In accordance with Beth Israel’s By Laws, notice is hereby given for the 2024 Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 7 pm at Beth Israel, 775 Weller Street, Peterborough, Ontario. Voting members and guests will have the opportunity to receive updates on activities at the synagogue, receive the 2023-2024 Financial Statements and elect the Board of Directors for the coming year. The program will also include a presentation and discussion on the synagogue’s new Mission, Vision and Values Statement.
 
To add to the celebrations the Board is throwing a dessert party for attendees. All individuals who have paid their 2024 dues by June 25 shall be entitled to vote at the AGM. Nominations for Director positions close on June 11, 2024. Nominees/nominators must be voting members of Beth Israel. For details on the positions open and the nomination process, click here.
 
Come out and join in the celebration for another successful synagogue year!
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Nominations Now Open for Beth Israel Board of Directors

 
The Beth Israel Board of Directors Nominating Committee is now accepting Nominations from interested Voting Members (current members in good standing) to join the Beth Israel Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term. There are 4 positions available for election – 3 directors (Mike Fox, Heather Pollock and Sandra Grainger) are seeking renewal for an additional 2 year term and there is 1 vacant director’s position. This is an excellent opportunity to help shape and guide the future direction of Beth Israel. The Board meets once a month and all Board members are expected to serve on at least one committee.
 

In accordance with Beth Israel’s By Law 6.2, 6.3 and 6.5, the Nominating Committee is now accepting Nominations from interested Voting Members (current paid members) to join the Beth Israel Board of Directors for the year 2024-2026. Nominations close on June 11. Nominations are not permitted from the floor of the AGM.

Criteria for Nominees

Nominees must be a Voting Member in good standing, not be an employee of the Congregation, not have an undischarged bankruptcy and be legally competent under the laws of Canada and its Provinces to conduct business and enter into contract.

About the Beth Israel Board

The Beth Israel Board of Directors is composed of 8 directors. They are responsible for holding regular meetings to deal with the business of Beth Israel Congregation, and appointing its executive officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary). Board meetings may include governance and financial issues, oversight of committees and programming, and much more! The Board helps shape the future of our synagogue.

To Nominate Someone

Any two members may submit the name of a Voting Member for nomination to the Board. The nomination may be made via email to the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Mark Siegel president@jccpeterborough.com or by mail to: 775 Weller St., P.O. Box 144 Peterborough ON K9J 6Y7.

For information on the Annual General Meeting and Dessert Party, click here.

 
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Yom HaShoah Events

Learning about the Holocaust and Its Meaning Today

Below are a set of links to Yom HaShoah events of note for our local community. 

Online participation is possible. 

Click on the links below to reach the event or learning materials.Yom HaShoah Candles

Yizkor:  Our Commitment to Remember

6 million worlds extinguished.

6 million pairs of hands that could no longer be held

6 million lifetimes of stories that could no longer be told

We cannot undo these horrors

What we can do is honour

We honour 6 million worlds in our candle lighting

We honour 6 million worlds in our remembering

We honour 6 million worlds by saying Never Again

We honour by bearing witness, by teaching this difficult history to our children. We honour by asking:

Where is the seed of this hate?

How was it made to blossom?

How was this hate elected?

Who is feeding it today?

To every soul that perished in the Nazi Holocaust, Jewish, Roma, disabled, gay, trans, to the millions of universes we can no longer explore,

To each of you, we pledge: We will keep learning, we will keep teaching, we will keep speaking, we will keep thinking, we will keep loving, we will keep building relationships across difference

We refuse to believe that we are powerless against hate, we refuse to abandon faith in humanity, we refuse to take anything for granted. In your memory, in the shadow of 6 million worlds, We will do everything we can to make never again mean never again.

 

Beth Israel News Prize

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How do I get a Beth Israel News Prize?

To be eligible for a Prize, all you need to do is submit something to the Beth Israel News. For Editorial Guidelines on what we do (and don’t) publish, click here. Your item can be big or small, one time or every week; it can be notice of a typo, words of thanks, or beyond. Every time someone sends in a contribution, their name is entered to win. Once a month (or so), we will draw a name at random, and pick a – perhaps equally random prize.  

Mazel tov, Eitan! You are the winner of the Beth Israel News for this month. Your prize is a bag of Munchos (chips, donated to Beth Israel by a kind member, excited about the Ladino nature of their name). To be eligible for a Prize, all you need to do is submit something to the Beth Israel News. For Editorial Guidelines on what we do (and don’t) publish, click here. Your item can be big or small, it can be notice of a typo, words of thanks, or beyond. Once a month (or so), we will draw a name and award a prize.