60 SECONDS FOR 60 YEARS

The Israel Affairs Committee/Men`s Club has instituted a new Programme to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel. It is called ``60 Seconds for 60 Years of Israeli Statehood.``
On Shabbat, prior to Hatikvah, a speaker will come to the Bimah, and in sixty seconds, relate a personal vignette or some history about Israel. If you would like to participate, and have an interesting personal story to tell, and would like to share it, please contact the Synagogue Office at 416-221-3433.



HESED OPPORTUNITIES

HESED exists for all shul members and continues to try to respond to your needs related to illness and bereavement. Please keep the shul office informed if you wish to receive a call or card.

Food Drive We have ongoing Kosher Food Drives. Cheques are encouraged. Please make them out to Pride of Israel Synagogue and send them to The Beth Tikvah office care of Edda Laxer. Please note that a Food Drive through the use of the Armoire is also an ongoing project. When you attend an event at the Shul, please bring a non-perishable food donation. Yishar Koah to our dedicated Hesed members who helped create a friendly, caring attitude among the Synagogue members and beyond.

Our Monthly Sabbath program at Carefree Lodge for the Jewish residents now generally takes place on the last Friday of the month between 2 - 3:30 pm. We need volunteers who can help bring residents to the program (i.e. push wheelchairs) and/or serve grape juice, challah and fruit on Jewish holidays. Please phone the Synagogue Office at 416-221-3433 if you can help.

We welcome back all Synagogue members, including the volunteers who greet people arriving for Sabbath and holiday services, and those volunteers who carry out the many unseen tasks undertaken by Hesed.

“There is a single Jewish world — intertwining and interconnected.” (R.I. Goldman Vice-President. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)
Be part of Beth Tikvah’s Jewish world. Call us for help or to be helpful.Your Hesed Committee is always working for you! Volunteers are always needed. Below are some of the things to do and who to contact.

Our programs:

1. Greeting people as they enter the Sanctuary for Shabbat or Holiday services.

2. Telecare – reaching out to recently bereaved members of Beth Tikvah.

3. Making Shiva calls, in conjunction with Sisterhood.

4. Contacting synagogue members who have advised the synagogue re an illness or hospitalization.

5. Carefree Lodge - Prepare and present a monthly Shabbat program and service for the elderly residents.

6. Collecting gently used clothing to be deposited in the JFCS yellow box near the south entrance of synagogue.

7. Kosher Food Drive - Arranging and carrying out our twice-annual Kosher Food Drive. Drivers and telephone canvassers are always needed.

8. Providing guidance for members who are considering organizing another Haverah.

9. Providing “Jewish Light” pamphlets, which address personal difficulties. These are located on a wall rack near the cloak room door.

If you have an interest, and time to make a difference by helping with any Hesed Projects, please contact the Synagogue Office at 416-221-3433







WOMEN`S SUPPORT NETWORK
The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Toronto Section is sponsoring a Women`s Support Network. If you are looking to be part of a women`s support group to network, share and address concerns and have fun in an informal and friendly environment, this is the group for you! Join the group every second Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at Council House, 4700 Bathurst Street (Bathurst South of Finch. TTC and wheelchair accessible. Free Parking). For additional information please leave a message for Rachel at Council House 416-633-5100. This program is free, on-going and is open to all women in the community. Email info@ncjwc-ts.org


FULFILL YOUR DESIRE TO HELP ISRAEL...COME AND HELP ISRAEL WITH YOUR OWN HANDS!

SAR-EL, the National Project for Volunteers for Israel, was founded as a non-profit non-political organization providing world Jewry with an opportunity to participate ``hands on`` in helping Israel. It began in 1982 in response to a manpower shortage caused by the war in Lebanon. Since that time, SAR-EL has grown to become active in 30 countries worldwide, offering year-round opportunities to be involved in supporting and strengthening Israel in a variety of ways.
SAR-El volunteers work on IDF supply and maintenance bases alongside army personnel and reservists. Tasks include packing food rations or medical kits, painting and refurbishing small electronic equipment.
In these stressful times, SAR-EL volunteers perform tasks usually done by reservists, thus allowing these reservists to remain at their careers and at home with their families. SAR-EL also saves the Israeli Government the reservists` salaries. In 2002, Canadian volunteers alone saved the Israeli Government $400,000 U.S.
The departing volunteer leaves behind a little bit of him/herself in the work performed for Israel, and becomes a good-will ambassador as he/she returns home with newly-acquired insights into Israeli life.
The SAR-EL Program offers the volunteer a unique opportunity for intensive and realistic exposure to contemporary Israel and personal contribution to the continuity of Jewish heritage. Volunteers must be in good general health and are required to pay a $100 registration fee. Programs are of 2 or 3 week`s duration, with a 5 day workweek; Shabbat is free for touring and visiting. Volunteers live, work and eat on the base during the week, in which time tours and educational opportunities are often included. Uniforms are provided.
Recently the SAR-EL Canada Program Development Committee was founded to help create innovative programs to attract all ages.
- The Canadian Spring Group begins May 3, 2004.
- As an incentive to young volunteers, SAR-EL Canada is happy to announce a pilot project:
Students (18-24) will receive a $200 rebate upon successful completion of a two or three week volunteer program beginning May 9, 2004. This is a unique opportunity for Canadian youth to work alongside their Israeli brothers and sisters!
A Family Program takes place June 20-July 2, 2004. This is a special opportunity for families to spend 2 weeks volunteering together in Israel. One or two parents or grandparents must accompany children age 14 and over.

EL AL has offered all SAR-EL volunteers a 15% discount in the past please check with them to confirm any current discounts when booking your fare. You may extend time in Israel before or after the program.
Please consider giving your time for a unique, adventurous and fulfilling experience in Israel!
Canadian Volunteers for Israel SAR-EL Canada looks forward to hearing from you at cvitor@idirect.com or 416-781-6089.

Havurot at Beth Tikvah
We now have 3 groups up and running, the latest being the one catering to 35-55 year old members. The March meeting was at the home of Amos and Susan Gol and an Israeli film ``Broken Wings``, winner of 9 Israeli Film Academy awards was shown.
The February meeting of Helen Greenberg`s group was shown an American Jewish film ``Shalom Y`all``. New members are invited and we welcome our new members to participate in Hesed. Please call Henry Alkin at the synagogue to indicate your interest.

MEMORIAL PLAQUES

Honour the memory of a dear one, a most fitting, traditional and dignified remembrance is through a Memorial Plaque and Lamp.

Each Memorial Plaque, bearing the name and yahrzeit date, is mounted on the bronze tablet in the Sanctuary. It is lit on the Shabbat of the week of the Yahrzeit, on the day of the Yahrzeit and on the four festivals during the year when Yizkor is recited.

If you are interested in purchasing a Memorial Plaque please call the Synagogue Office at 416-221-3433 ext. 303 to fill out a form.

MERCAZ CANADA

Mercaz-Canada will offer $200 scholarships for up to 3 young adults from Beth Tikvah Synagogue. This subsidy is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Zionist Arm of the Conservative Movement
is pleased to be a partner with Beth Tikvah Synagogue
in providing MATCHING SCHOLARSHIPS for the following Israel programmes:

Camp Ramah Seminar
Camp Ramah High School
USY “Classic” Israel Pilgrimage
USY Poland/Israel Pilgrimage
USY Spain/Israel Pilgrimage
USY Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage
USY Etgar
Nativ (Year in Israel)
USY Hechalutzim Seminar

For more information please contact:
Norman Stern, President
MERCAZ-CANADA
1000 Finch Avenue West, #508
Toronto, ON M3J 2V5
Tel: 416-667-1717
Fax: 416-667-1881
Toll Free: 1-800-419-5666
EMAIL: mercaz-masorti@intrr.net

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE
BETH TIKVAH OFFICE

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE LIMITED

BETH TIKVAH ENDOWMENT FUNDS
There are many ways we choose to celebrate life milestones. Often in our busy world we make hurried decisions on important topics, such as how to recognize the passing of a loved one, or how to celebrate a simha such as the birth of a child or grandchild. We have a solution to help you solve these problems. Call the synagogue office at 416-221-3433 ext. 0 and ask to be contacted by a member of the Endowment Committee. You’ll be glad you did.

MEDIA ACTION GROUP
Join the Media Action Group! Contact the Synagogue Office at 416-221-3433.




WHAT`S IN A NAME?
By Maurice Kulik, Chair, Beth Tikvah Fundraising

What’s in a name? An opportunity to honour our founding Rabbi and Cantor — and to support youth and young family programming

In the early years of our synagogue, we didn’t use facilities naming opportunities as fundraising tools. It was considered somehow improper to affix one individual’s or family’s name on our synagogue’s doors and walls. Instead, we relied on the generosity of many donors who contributed to dedicate the synagogue’s Chapel, Choir Room, Assembly Hall, and other rooms in our building.

Times have changed.

“Naming” the facilities of public buildings has become a well accepted method of honouring important members of our community who have devoted their careers to the improvement of their organizations. Naming has also, it must be said, become a valuable and respected method of raising funds.

For these reasons, the Renewal and Hope Fundraising Campaign has decided to harness the value of naming and dedication by offering several such opportunities, which are listed in the Campaign brochure.

As part of the Campaign, the Rabbi Feder Tribute Committee came up with a wonderful idea: to name Beth Tikvah’s Chapel the Rabbi Avraham Feder Chapel. The Tribute Committee has also undertaken to raise the funds required for this purpose. This proposal allows us to honour our founding Rabbi and Cantor, whose vision and dedication helped establish Beth Tikvah’s position as a leader in the Conservative movement. Such an honour is long overdue. The proposal also allows us to raise funds — $250,000, to be precise — to support youth and young family programming. Rabbi Feder sees these younger generations as Beth Tikvah’s “future builders”; their strong dedication to the synagogue and its centrality to their lives is his passion and cherished interest. It is also key to Beth Tikvah’s vitality and viability in the decades ahead.

The decision to name the Chapel was not made lightly. Many families have contributed generously over the years to enhance our beautiful Chapel, and the Renewal and Hope Committee and the Board of Governors felt strongly that such a change could not go forward without their approval. The Rusonik, Shapiro, and Schaeffer families have graciously given their permission to name the Chapel in honour of Rabbi Feder, and we are grateful for their continued generosity. The proposal was approved by the Board of Governors at their meeting on January 24, 2008.

A naming ceremony for the Chapel will take place in the spring of 2009. All donations to the Rabbi Feder Tribute Fund will be acknowledged in a unique and beautiful graphic creation to be unveiled at the ceremony. The display will particularly acknowledge the generosity and commitment of the families who contributed so much to the beauty we enjoy in our Chapel today.

The members of the Rabbi Feder Tribute Committee will be delighted to tell you more about their plans, and about how you can participate in the Rabbi Feder Tribute Weekend, April 5 and 6, 2008. For more information, please call the Synagogue Office at
416-221- 3433 x301.


*** Last Updated 2009-09-01 ***