Oct 25, 2013 | Pillar Rosh Hashana 2013
I have always believed that a Shul must play an important part of a Jewish family’s life. From my roots on the West Island, Shul life has always played an important role in who I am. It is my hope that we continue to see the renaissance we have experienced over the last number of years.
The more active a Shul is on a daily basis with activities and programs the better it reflects a rich active community rich in Jewish life.
In hopes of having the pleasure of wishing you a L’Shana tova, tikatavu, v’taychamu.
Oct 24, 2013 | Pillar Rosh Hashana 2013
I am an optometrist, practicing in Dollard. I have 3 daughters who grew up in this community, but have left the area. A significant part of my life takes place at Beth Zion.
You can find me on Shabbat and on Yom Tov, davening with the Rinat Yisrael minyan. I am often with the main minyan for Shabbat mincha as well.
Also, my husband, David, and I and participate in many shul activities. Holiday meals, shabbatons, scotch tasting, and Shavuot learning are just some of the many enjoyable activities we have been happy to take part in. I have also enjoyed Israeli Folk Dancing with Steve and Esther Csillag and Sisterhood activities, including book reviews, pre-Chanuka Boutique Fairs, and Sunday breakfasts with speakers. I really enjoyed the women’s study class with Rabbi Perton too.
I try to fulfill my responsibilities of Secretary of the Board to the best of my abilities. Please join me in any of the above activities and make Beth Zion a focal point of your life too.
L’Shana Tova
Oct 23, 2013 | Pillar Rosh Hashana 2013
Looking around the shul on a Shabbos morning, I have noticed with time many of the faces that we have grown accustomed to seeing aren’t there any more. It is no great coincidence that Beth Zion’s misheberach list has grown correspondingly longer over the years. People are getting sick and that is where the Beth Zion Chessed Committee comes in, and that is where you come in.
The mitzvah of bikur cholim is of paramount importance in the life a Jewish person. Every morning we read in Birkhat HaTorah a quote from the Gemara in Shabbos 127a, “These are the things whose fruits man enjoys in this world but whose principal remains intact for him in the World to Come, … Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick)”. What a good investment! I think if a financial advisor were to offer any of us stock where we would live off the interest now and have the principal guaranteed to be given back to us later, we would be crazy not to sign! Same for the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim, we would be “crazy” not to do it!
Of course, we are warned by Antigonus, leader of Socho in Pirkei Avot (1:3) to not be like servants who serve their master for the sake of receiving a reward, but instead be like servants who serve their master not for the sake of a reward. Aside from the obvious benefits to the infirmed and their family, there is something particularly special about this mitzvah.
In Sotah 14a, the Gemara says that G-d himself visited the sick: “Hashem appeared to him (Avraham) in the plains of Mamre” following his brit milah.
The Gemara tells us that we should emulate G-d’s compassionate ways, just as He visited the sick, so should we visit the sick. Similarly, we know to clothe the naked because G-d clothed Adam and Chava after they sinned, we know to comfort mourners because G-d comforted Isaac when Avraham died, and we know to look after our dead because G-d himself buried Moshe Rabbeinu.
Admittedly, Bikur Cholim is not an easy mitzvah to perform, but it is one that we must do. The Chessed committee needs your help. We need more members as there are a lot of people to visit. If you are afraid to go alone, then I would be happy to go with you. I am grateful to the support Rabbi Shoham and Rabbi Perton have given me in guiding me with this mitzvah.
May all of our sick at Beth Zion not be forgotten, and may G-d grant them a full and speedy recovery.
Elliot Silverman
Oct 22, 2013 | Pillar Rosh Hashana 2013
Building on the successes of last year, we’re planning to have learning and dinner events centered on the חגים (holidays).
Rabbi Perton will continue his series of lectures for women. The Daf Yomi takes place every weekday morning and in the afternoon on Shabbat, as does Rabbi Wolf’s halacha class on Saturday afternoon. There is a lecture series for women on Shabbat afternoon, the location and times being announced in the weekly bulletin. Our Monday and Wednesday classes are going strong. The Monday שיור(class) with Rabbi Binder has recently finished the Talmud Tractate Sotah and has started on Shabbat.
The Wednesday שיור with Rabbi Gimple continues to work through the parts of the Aurech HaShulchan dealing with the laws of Jewish Jurisprudence.
The Shavuot program and our Scholar in Residence, Rabbi Natan Slifkin were well attended, and Rabbi Slifkin proved to be an interesting speaker, dealing with a wide range of contemporary issues, some of which were controversial. We’re hoping to find someone as good for next year.
This year’s High Holiday Chazzan is Reverend Yechezkel Klang who was here last year and who has a magnificent voice; he will be an inspiration for our davening.
Stay tuned for more religious programming announcements.
Finally, let us take this opportunity to wish you a happy, healthy, and successful New Year, a שנה טובה ומתוקה , and a כתיבה וחתימה טובה
David Ronis & Zigui Levkovich
