July 7, 2012 - Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Toronto

Welcome to...
Beth Tikvah
Synagogue
מה נשמע Ma Nishma
17 Tamuz 5772 ∙ July 7, 2012
Parshat Balak
Hertz Page 668, Etz Hayim Page 894
DAILY MINYAN
Please support our daily minyan by making an effort to
attend when possible.
Mornings 7:15 AM Monday – Friday
9:00 AM Sunday
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Toronto Kosher Inc., 3459 Bathurst Street, is
sponsoring a special Kiddush today.
Evenings 7:30 PM Sunday - Thursday CONDOLENCES
The family of our member Janet Sullovey.
SHABBAT SCHEDULE
Candle Lighting (July 6)
8:44 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv
6:00 PM
Shaharit (Sanctuary)
9:00 AM
Rabbi Grover’s Summer Talmud Series 7:35 PM
Minha/Ma’ariv
8:35 PM
Candle Lighting (July 13)
8:40 PM
TISHA B’AV PROGRAM -TREBLINKA: 70 YEARS
LATER
Sunday July 29, 7:00 pm
Special Skype video program with Prof. Michael
Berenbaum, Past Director of the U.S. Holocaust
Research Institute and leading expert on the
Holocaust. As we mark the anniversary of the first
deportation from the Warsaw Ghetto, Prof.
Berenbaum will discuss his documentary “The Story
of Treblinka,” a disturbing chronicle of the design
and operation of the two Treblinka camps.
TO HONOUR THE SANCTITY OF THE SYNAGOGUE
We do not permit smoking, photography, writing, use of beepers, cell phones or other wireless equipment in the synagogue
throughout Shabbat. At any time in the service when the congregation is standing in prayer, please refrain from moving
about. Applause is not customary at any time during the service. Any person coming up to the bimah must have their head
and shoulders covered and women’s dresses should be of modest length.
3080 Bayview Ave., Toronto, ON M2N 5L3 • Tel: 416-221-3433/Fax: 416-221-1602 • www.bethtikvahtoronto.org
Senior Rabbi (Interim): Howard M. Markose Hazzan: Tibor Kovari President: Robert Weill
Rabbi: Jarrod Grover Ritual Director: Irv Kirshenblat Executive Director: Doris Alter
Rabbi Emeritus Senior Scholar: Dr. Avraham Feder Choir Director: Klara Bagley-Heifetz Youth and Young Families Director: Sigal Tuch

JUDAICA SHOP
The Judaica Shop is closed for the summer but will
open by appointment. Please call the synagogue
office for further details.
CHIX WITH STIX
The next meeting has been changed to Thursday
July 12 th at 7:30 p.m.
HESED is still collecting eyeglasses to be distributed
abroad to those who otherwise face impaired
vision. They can be brought to the cupboard just
past the office.
BROTHER’S KEEPER FUND
Members who are experiencing financial difficulties
are eligible to receive help from this fund. This help
is readily available as a one-time, non-returnable
gift on a strictly confidential basis. To access
funding or for more information, please contact
Rabbi Grover. This fund is made available through
the support and generosity of our members. We
hope you will continue to recognize the importance
of this fund in assisting our members.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM
This 8 week program, designed to help begin the
healing process, will meet Sundays 10:00 a.m. –
11:00 a.m. beginning August 26 th . Annette Carsley,
our Bereavement Support Group Facilitator,
believes there is a fundamental need for our society
to increase support services available to bereaved
individuals. Annette holds an honours double
major Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and
Criminology. Free for Beth Tikvah members.
Contact Rabbi Jarrod Grover at
rabbigrover@bethtikvahtoronto.org for information
or download the enrolment form from our website
www.bethtikvahtoronto.org
LEARN TORAH READING SKILLS
Those with the ability to read Hebrew are invited to
come and learn how to read from the Torah. The
class, taught by Rabbi Markose, will take place, for
those who have already registered, one hour before
Shabbat Minha. Class meets July 21 and 28, August 4,
11 and 18, September 1 and 8.
LEARN HOW TO READ HEBREW
A Beginners’ Hebrew Reading class taught by Irv
Kirshenblat is being offered on Shabbat afternoons,
one hour before Shabbat Minha. This course resumes
today for those who have already registered.
RABBI GROVER’S SUMMER TALMUD SERIES
This class is offered every Shabbat during the summer
one hour before Minha.
CALENDAR DIARY
This is a great source of information about Jewish life,
our synagogue, and its programs! It can help you keep
track of your important occasions, events, and
commitments throughout the year. It provides an
opportunity to send New Year’s Greetings, whether
personal or corporate and it’s an easy way to send
greetings to friends and fellow congregants! Personal
Greeting Forms or Business Sponsor Forms are
available from the office or download them from our
website at www.bethtikvahtoronto.org Just fill
them out and return them before the July 31 st
deadline in person or by fax 416-221-1602.
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SPECIAL OFFER LUNCH & LEARN FALL 2012 SERIES
Please join us every Tuesday starting October 16th
for a terrific series that encompasses edu-tainment.
We are offering a special price of $99.00 for Beth
Tikvah members and $119.00 for community
members for a wonderful 8 part series, or for 4
sessions Beth Tikvah members $60, community
members $70. For this low price, available only until
August 31 st , you will enjoy a fine lunch, great social
interaction and the opportunity to hear some of the
finest presenters on the Jewish scene in Toronto.
Email helen@bethtikvahtoronto.org or call the
Lunch & Learn Hotline at 416-221-3433 x352 until
August 31 st to take advantage of this amazing offer.
We accept VISA or MC.
Single tickets can be ordered at $20 per session
starting September 1, 2012.
BONUS of a Jar of Israeli Jam for 8-pack series
purchasers
Thank you to Helen Stollar whose generous
donation enables us to present this program.
Oct. 16. Dr. Karen Mock, former National Director
of the League for Human Rights B’nai Brith Canada,
will share her expertise in countering anti-Semitism
and the challenges of a long, varied career including
running for the Liberal party. What’s a nice Jewish
progressive Zionist girl, doing in a place like this?
Oct. 23. Dr. Ron Pruessen professor of American
Culture and Politics. The American elections 2012:
What Will Happen to President Obama?
Oct. 30. Noah Richler, author and documentary film
maker and literary columnist. In his new book, What
We Talk About When We Talk About War, he raises
important questions about the changes in Canada
from a peacekeeping nation to one involved in war.
What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
Nov. 6. Dr. Doris Bergen, Chair Holocaust Studies at
U of T. will examine and contrast perpetrators who
refuse to accept responsibility and survivors who are
guilt-ridden and feel blameworthy. I am (Not) to
Blame: Remembering (and Forgetting) Guilt in
Eyewitness Accounts of the Holocaust
Nov. 13. Norm Gardiner a principal with the
International Police Training services, will be talking
about Jews from many countries who were warriors
from ancient times, two World Wars, Korea, Viet Nam
and today in Afghanistan. A History of Jews in the
Military
Nov. 20. Gerald Ziedenberg Casablanca is arguably
the greatest movie ever made. Gerald talks about the
involvement of Jews in everything from writing,
directing and acting in it. The Jewish Connection in
Casablanca
Nov. 27. Liz Pearl an educator and therapist will
inspire us with tales from Living Legacies - A
Collection of Inspirational Contemporary Canadian
Jewish Women. Living Legacies
Dec. 4 Bill Gladstone a writer, editor, publisher,
genealogist, weekly columnist for the Canadian
Jewish News and head of a publishing company, will
be discussing Toronto’s Jewish community from its
beginnings to the early 1950s. The Jews of Old
Toronto - From The Ward to Spadina Avenue
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YAHRZEIT
The following members are observing Yahrzeit this week:
July 7th: Barbara Hendelman, Gary Kirsh, Gordon Orriell, Linda Orriell, Marilyn Braverman, Ian Snitman
July 8th: Norman Grill, Jerry Levine, Jerry Gula, Paula Kirsh
July 9th: Kay Wasser, Bonnie Gremont, Carol Freeman, Stephen Freeman, Alan Hoffman, Marcia Bernick, Beatrice
Kirshenbaum, Morris Kreidstein, Sheldon Manly, Joy Shanfield, Gertrude Michael, Earl Weiner, Alex
Zilberberg
July 10th: Bernard Cooper, Michael Garbary, Livia Friedberg, Fern Dolman, Rosalie Nepom, Ronald Morris, Harvey
Orfus, Esta Pomotov, Irving Starkman, David Zarek, Harry Zarek
July 11th: Andrew Braude, Ilse Braude, Albert Fletcher, Ruth-Anne Cohen, Marilyn Mandel, Julius Needleman, Robert
Schneider, Stephen Usprech, Jennifer Walsh
July 12th: Jerry Kalpin, Murray Kideckel, Norman Shanker, Leslie Davis, Michele Allen
July 13th: Adela Birenbaum, Irving Storfer, Simon Talsky, Ellen Rosenthal, Aaron Wolkoff
WEEKLY/MONTHLY SCHEDULE
All evening meetings and programs begin with services at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise listed.
Thursday July 12 Executive Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Chix with Stix (changed from July 10)
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday July 17 Nominations Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m.
Saturday July 21-28 Torah Reading Skills with Rabbi Markose Resumes 7:25 p.m.
Tuesday July 24 Board Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday July 31 Nominations Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m.
RABBI GROVER’S TORAH ON TOUR
HOME BEAUTIFUL
The blessing that the non-Jewish biblical prophet Balaam offers to the Israelites as he witnesses their encampment has
a rather important place in Jewish liturgy. In fact, it's supposed to be the first thing we say when we enter the synagogue to
prepare for the morning prayers. Why, of all prayers, do we begin our service with the blessing of a foreigner?
Among the different explanations is an unexpected interpretation by one Hasidic rabbi. He explained that the answer
to the above question can be found by examining the words of Balaam's blessing: How goodly are your dwellings O
Jacob, your sanctuaries O Israel. Notice that the people's dwellings are praised first, even before their sanctuaries.
There are religions that confine godliness to temples and holy places. And we might think, upon entering the
synagogue that this is the only place where spiritual encounters happen. That's why every time we enter we remind
ourselves that Balaam first noticed and blessed our homes.
Indeed there can be no recourse, within and beyond the confines of our spiritual lives, when our homes are not full of
goodness.
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