5786

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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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BIC Community Groovin’ at Chanukah Party (5786)

Look at us boogie! On Instagram, check out this little video of BIC Chanukah party moves!

Thank you for helping us shake it, and sharing the video, Jenny!

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Happy Chanukah Graphic

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Chanukah Party Tickets – 

Get yours by December 17th!

Will you celebrate the miracle of light and the joy of Chanukah with your Beth Israel mishpacha, Saturday, December 20th? The fun starts at 11 am, with a latke lunch at 11:30 am, along with dreidel, songs, and Israeli / traditional dancing  at 1:00 pm. Tickets are REQUIRED. Get yours here before end-of-day December 17th. If $ is an issue, reach out. 

Can you help us make the party? Set up (Saturday, 9am), greeting guests, and/or helping clean up? Sign up here. Last minute helpers (Saturday at 9am sharp for set up, and clean up after the meal) are also welcome!

Do You Need Chanukah Candles or Gelt?

If so, Karen Fisher has some available as a fundraiser for the synagogue. Basic boxes of candles are $5 and small bags of chocolate gelt are $2 each. Email Karen to arrange pick up.

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Cantor’s Message
High Holy Days 5786/2025-6

Dearest friends,

Very shortly, the High Holy Days will be upon us. I am very very much looking forward to returning to Beth Israel in person, and spending this special time with you.

The theme that I have chosen to guide us in our worship is Jewish ideas of leadership. There are many aspects to this principle and role. We think, of course, of leaders of our government, communities, and places of work; but those represent only one type of leader. When we drill down into our closest relationships, we find that leadership is equally important: it informs how we relate to our families and friends on a daily basis, and how we interact with the wider world. We are all leaders – and followers – in some respect, and being Jewish should inform how we view this essential role.

In my short presentations on the High Holy Days, I will focus on a select number of biblical figures – both men and women – to bring out particular aspects of their leadership. I’m hoping that this will encourage you to reflect on what leadership means to you personally.

Leadership will also be the focus the spiritual exercise that I have set for this year. There are two questions that I would like you to answer: (1) Which Jewish leader (ancient or modern) do you admire most, and why? (2) How does being Jewish inform your own sense of leadership? We will discuss your responses at Mincha time on Yom Kippur (Thursday 2 October); I think the views you share will be of great interest! The worksheet that I have drawn up will present you with some resources to guide your thinking.

The materials for the exercise are attached to this newsletter or available by contacting gabbai@jccpeterborough.com.

We will, of course, have lots of music and congregational participation. I will be accompanied for certain portions of the services by the incomparable Dan Houpt, for whom I have written a number of new arrangements, including (another) special version of Adon Olam. At the pot luck this year at the Houpt farm, Dan and I will perform a series of ten pieces, mostly from the High Holy Day liturgy, for which I will offer some commentary, to help you understand the meanings behind these wonderful musical numbers. You might even sing along more when these occur in the services!

We begin on the evening of 22 September, at 7 pm. I hope to see you in the course of this joyous period in our liturgical year.

I wish you all a Shanah Tovah, and G’mar Chatimah Tovah.

With love from Cantor Leon