Hassidic Nigunim—bringing ecstasy into our services
We will look at the Chassidic approach to music, and the Modzitzer Chasidim in particular. Then we will learn and sing together some Chassidic and neo-Chassidic melodies that can bring special kavannah to our Shabbat services and experiences.
Joel Yan was the first Canadian to attend the Imun program offered through the USCJ. Joel loves to sing and share prayer melodies and has been in choirs for many years. He regularly leads services at Adath Shalom congregation in Ottawa.
The mystical and musical that is Kabbalat Shabbat
Last summer Aviva taught us songs of praise. This will focus on songs of love in Kabbalat Shabbat—with, of course, praise and gratitude. We will also look at the background on this service and there will be lots of singing.
Aviva Chernick is a Cantorial Soloist and facilitator of Tefilah in Toronto and area as well as the lead singer in several Jewish and World Music Projects. http://www.avivachernick.com.
Nobody expects the Mexican Inquisition
Learn the story of the First Jewish Writer in the New World. We will look at the memoirs, letters & last will & testament of Luis de Carvajal the Younger, condemned by the Mexican Inquisition in 1596 as a persistent, relapsed Jew.
Shelley Costa Bloomfield is a published short story writer with a Ph.D. in English. She teaches screenwriting and playwriting at the Cleveland Institute of Art.
The idea of the Chosen People: Can we live with it? Can we live without it?
We will be studying various biblical, rabbinic, & liturgical texts on the theme of chosenness. We will attempt to understand what this idea meant in its original context, as well as what it might mean for us today in our egalitarian, multicultural society. An important focus will be on whether this idea is essential to Judaism, or if it is something that can be dispensed with in response to changing times.
Rabbi Ed Elkin serves as the rabbi of the First Narayever Congregation in Toronto.
What should we eat?
Explore Jewish texts through Hazon's Food Curriculum—what do they teach us about local/organic food, bottled water & ethical eating? Make a difference with every meal.
Diane Saxe has a PhD. in Law, is a well recognized Specialist in Environmental Law and is an active member of the Narayever Congregation
God and Jewish ritual practices for the Sefat Emet
The Torah interpretations by Rabbi Judah Aryeh Leib Alter are found in his book, the Sefat Emet. We study the Gerer Rebbe's commentaries on the book of Numbers, written while his Hassidim confronted a modernizing Poland around World War I.
Roger Kohn has a PhD in medieval Jewish history. He catalogs Hebrew books at the Library of Congress, lives in Silver Spring, MD., and regularly practices meditation.
Biblical poetry
For many of us, exposure to biblical poetry comes through our liturgy & often, poetry in a Shul setting is sung or recited rapidly under the breath, with the final lines sung or chanted out loud. Based on the work of Robert Alter's The Art of Biblical Poetry, this workshop will look at the structure & language of biblical poetry, taking time to hear the beauty of the rhythm & the language. Knowledge of Hebrew most helpful, all are welcome.
Cecile Shmookler will sometimes make a foray into an aspect of Jewish scholarship & then likes to share it. She loves languages and knows several and enjoys the interplay of words and meaning.
The benefits of prayer: Three Jewish examples
Prayer, like other spiritual practices, can lift our spirits. But Jewish prayer has many other specific benefits. It can connect us in our daily routines and situations to the world beyond ourselves. We'll walk through the Hebrew texts and translation of the early Morning prayers, and the Night prayers, as well as some themes of our core prayers, to see benefits we may not have seen before.
Alan Livingston makes Jewish prayer accessible. He holds degrees in Comparative Religion and Education.
Israeli folk dancing: Celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary
On Saturday night, after Havdalah, let's dance together. We will learn several dances that show the development of Israeli Folk dancing from before and after 1948, Israel's Independence year. We will emphasize the various influences that shaped Israeli dance and we will perform a few of the dances. No auditions required; just come prepared to have fun. Children and teens welcome.
Yael Greenberg has taught Israeli dance at a Hebrew day school for several years & makes it easy. She loves the Hebrew words & music & the way they connect you to the history of our ancient/new land.
Instee-choir!
Take some accessible music, add one part talent to 99 parts enthusiasm, stir and allow Shechinah to suffuse the mixture. Voila! Instee-choir! We will learn and rehearse on Saturday afternoon and perform on Sunday morning. Come sing with us!
Cantor Susan Wehle has been serving Temple Beth Am of Williamsville, NY since 2002. She has a new CD out called Shirei R'fuah v'Tikvah—Songs of Healing and Hope.
Erev Shabbat Program (Friday night 9:15 pm): Welcoming Shabbat with Story and Song
Bobby Minkoff will tell stories holy and humorous.
Joel Yan will enrich with songs of praise and uplift.
All are invited to join, as listeners, singers or storytellers—or all three.
Kehillah: An ethical analysis of the akedah
One of the seminal sections in all of Biblical literature is the akedah, or binding of Isaac. Few lessons in faith, patrimony & theology are more basic than a willingness to sacrifice one's child. Recent books about the dangers of religion (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion; Christopher Hitchens, God is Not Great) are the basis for discussing several ethics-clarifying & faith-reaffirming questions.
David Nitkin is the founder and President of EthicScan, one of Canada's leading firms in the field of business ethics, organizational integrity assurance, and ethical investing. David is also very active in Toronto synagogues and Jewish life.