BIC Newsletter Posts

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More about Aviva Rubin’s Visit on June 5th and her book entitled: WHITE

The Beth Israel Book Club

Organizers request that everyone RSVP here so we have numbers for food and drink. The event is at the synagogue at 6:30pm. 
 
Please join us for a visit from Toronto author, Aviva Rubin, who will discuss her book, WHITE, (no, you don’t have to have read it) and it’s relevance in our world today. Aviva is an engaging and entertaining speaker and all are welcome to attend. Come and show your support for a local Jewish author. You can read about her: avivarubin.ca and look for her on social media.
 
As written up on Aviva’s website, here are more details about WHITE:

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.

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Honouring the Students in *Your* Family?

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.

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Hebrew Refresher Course Online 

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.

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Beth Israel is Hiring a Summer Community Worker (9 weeks)

  • Are you 15-30 years old? 
  • Do you have a valid Social Insurance Number and are you legally entitled to work in Canada?
  • Would you like to work for Beth Israel Peterborough on the projects outlined below?!

If so, Beth Israel Congregation is now accepting applications for the position of Community Worker

Hours: 30 hours per week, over 9 weeks. 

Rate of Pay: $18.20 per hour 

Location: 775 Weller Street, Peterborough 

Start Date: Between May 12 and mid June (Flexible) 

End Date: Depends on start date: candidate must work full 9 week contract

For the full Job Description, see: Community Worker Job description

 

To Apply 

Please forward your resume or CV and cover letter expressing your interest in the job, and names and contact information of two (2) references to: bethisrael@jccpeterborough.com. For the subject line please use “Community Worker Application: Your Name”, entering your name in the applicable spot. We will be accepting applications until the position is filled. Posting will be taken down when the position is filled. Apply now!

 

Contact Info

Name: Miriam Liba 

Website: www.jccpeterborough.com 

Phone: 705-745-8398

 

While we appreciate all applications, only those selected for an interview will receive a response to the application.

Thank you to the Canada Summer Jobs Program for funding support for this position

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Order Memorial Board Plaques Now

If you would like to order a memorial board plaque to honour a loved one, please email Ron before July 15.  This will ensure that the plaque can be produced and will be available for an unveiling with Cantor Leon Litvack officiating following the Yom Kippur Musaf service. The cost of each plaque is $260, and the following information is required:For details on what information is required:

1) Full English Name

2) Full Hebrew Name with mother’s name if possible, so Abel/Rachel ben/bat Aaron v’Eve

3) Date of Death in the Gregorian calendar, and if known, whether the death occurred before or after sunset on that day.

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Family Friendly Lag B’Omer in the Country 

Dr. Dan Houpt and family invite the community to join them for a Lag B’Omer celebration, including potluck and bonfire, Saturday (note correct day), May 17th from 3pm on at their farm. For more information (including the address), email us.

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Would YOU Help Us ZOOM or Record Beth Israel Events?

We would love to connect more with those members of our community who are unable to make it to events in-person, and are looking for a few people to help in this effort by attending and recording and/or zooming events. If this might be you, or you know someone who would be able to serve in this way (volunteer or possibly paid), please email us.

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Call for Proposals:

Events, Activities, Services at Beth Israel for 2025-26

In the interest of continuing to offer meaningful and interesting events for our community, in addition to our current program, we are inviting proposals for additional events / activities / services that you would like to add June, 2025-June, 2026 (inclusive). Proposals will be received by the BIC Events Committee via this form until Friday, March 28th. For more information or to apply, click here. We look forward to receiving your proposals!  
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Beth Israel Rideshare 

Do you generally drive to events at Beth Israel? Do you have room for a passenger(s)? There are a few lovely folks who would like to attend events at Beth Israel but don’t always have a ride. If you’d like to offer – or ask for a ride, and haven’t already, kindly email Chad

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Guest Leader: Laura Wolfson 

**Join Us for a Shabbat Morning Service (w/Bar Mitzvah!), Kiddush &/or Afternoon Program May 24th** 

Members and friends are invited to join us as Beth Israel welcomes Guest Leader Laura Wolfson on Saturday, May 24 for a Shabbat Morning Service at Beth Israel (and via Zoom – email us for the link), beginning at 10 a.m. and including Benji Beavis being called to the Torah as Bar Mitzvah, Kiddush, sponsored by the Beavis family. These are all-ages, family-friendly events. Click here for details and to RSVP for the Kiddush (required).

 

About the Mosaic-Making Project

RSVP Required – Click here.

From 1 – 3:30 p.m. Laura will facilitate a Mosaic-making Project for the community. This will be a continued exploration of the contemporary themes evoked in the weekly Torah portion, through a process of collaborative design. Inspired by an interactive Torah study session (this will include a musical and poetry component, discussion, and might even include a scavenger hunt), we will create a beautiful glass tile mosaic, which will then become a treasured piece of art for our community. This project can be worked on together by adults of all ages, and children as young as preschoolers. Laura will facilitate the design process and teach everyone how to work with the mosaic materials. She will bring all the required materials for the project. 

NOTE: please bring an apron to protect your clothes, or clothes that can get messy/dirty for the afternoon program. RSVP Required. Click here.

 

Bio of Guest Leader Laura Wolfson

Laura Wolfson is a part-time Cantorial Soloist at Shaarei Beth El Congregation in Oakville, ON. She has also been a professional Jewish Educator with a Masters Degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College for 30+ years. Most summers she spends time at URJ Camp George as a member of the Faculty, and she has facilitated Jewish learning activities at too many Jewish family programs and retreats to count! Her specialty area is developing and facilitating collaborative intergenerational educational community projects using a variety of media including music, visual arts, drama and storytelling.