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April/May 2007
CONTENTS: Listening Campaign:
RABBI SEARCH UPDATE
As you may know, Rabbi Eli has decided to leave the DJC at the end of her contract on June 30 in order to further pursue her studies. If you want more information, please refer to the letter that is posted on our website (www@djctoronto.com).
We are actively looking for a rabbi and are considering all options: a part-time rabbi, a full-time rabbi, a student rabbi, and a rabbi for just the High Holidays.
We have placed notices in all the appropriate rabbinical schools and websites. We have made a number of calls and have emailed many contacts in the rabbinical community.
We have already received a number of responses and are currently conducting interviews.
We feel most hopeful that we will be able to find the right person.
Of course, if you know someone in the rabbinical community who you think would be a good fit, or if you have any questions, please contact us at info@djctoronto.com.
Many thanks,
The DJC Board
Beyond Listening
By Rabbi Eli Kukla
“Listen, Israel, the Eternal is our God, the Eternal is One... Inscribe [these words] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4,7)
These words from the Torah became the “Shm’a” one of the most central prayers of Judaism. Traditionally, this phrase is repeated every day in prayer when we wake up and as we fall asleep. The Hebrew word “Israel” used in this phrase can be translated into English as “anyone who struggles with God,” in other words, all of us who fight to be fully heard by other people and by the divine. We are taught to inscribe these words on the doorposts of our homes and on our gates. It makes sense to me that these are the words that are supposed to be written on our doorposts. Entryways can be places of expansion and possibility, but they are also locations of alienation and exclusion. Listening opens up the gates to our homes and communities.
Over the past seven months the DJC has been involved in a listening campaign. A team of 17 core members have been meeting with members and hearing our stories: what do we care about individually and as a community? What makes us angry, joyful and proud? Over the seven months that we have been listening to each other we have seen the doors of the DJC begin to feel a little wider – there are more of us at services and events and more of us feel like we actually belong here… that we are beginning to find a home.
We have completed about 80 conversations and themes are beginning to emerge. Common concerns that unite many DJC members that we have the power to take action on together to makes changes both within our community and in the world. As the next step of the Listening Campaign, you are invited to join us for small group discussions on these themes called “House Meetings” (because they usually take place in people’s homes.) House meetings are not forums for collecting data and they are NOT meetings or information sessions. They are another way to share people’s personal stories, build relationships and move towards common action and shared goals.
We have identified three themes that have come up in the lives of many different members and keep many of us up at night that we would like to keep talking about. 1) The Challenges of Aging: This theme includes caring for aging parents, finding support for care-giving and struggling to navigate inadequate elder care options. 2) The Challenges of Diversity: How can we strengthen the voice of diverse and marginalized populations in our community and in the world? This includes interfaith families and non-Jewish members, as wells lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. 3) The Challenges of Environmental Crisis: Anxiety about the state of the planet has begun to impact many members personally as they faced the reality of climate change this year. This theme includes examining how we relate to the environment in our practices within our community and in relationship. These themes are huge, and we will have to find ways to focus our action, but we would like to keep talking about all these topics and here more about how they impact community member’s lives and why we care about these issues.
If you are interested in a conversation about any of these themes and are willing to share your passion and stories please RSVP to the contacts within the newsletter. Also, mark your calendars now, on Friday June 8 during Shabbat services we will be reporting to the community about what we found in all of these conversations and the plans for moving forward.
My engagement with the Listening Campaign over the past year has inspired and strengthened my faith that the DJC really can build a different type of Jewish community with doors that are open. All of you have been building a space with “open gates” that welcomes and listens to those who have been marginalized by our tradition and by our world and I feel honored to have been invited into this process.
It’s a Wrap!
Two Passover events that infused the DJC with communal spirit
Tapping into the Judaica artist within…
Here's a question: what colours do you paint a menorah? alija's cup? A matzoh plate? On Sunday March 25 at The Clay Room in RIverdale, over 50 adults and children took brushes in their hands and made their choice in favour of blue, yellow, pink and other colours! The turn out was terrific and DJC members had fun personalizing their Pesach table while building their community ties. Here Here are some photos to tell the rest of the story!
DJC COMMUNITY SEDER
Over 75 people gathered on April 10 at Riverdale Presbyterian to celebrate the end of Passover. It was a massive volunteer effort as many were called upon to bring shank bones, charoset, Seder plates, table cloths, decorations and more and themselves, to turn the space into a warm and welcoming haven. Rabbi Eli produced and led a Haggadah with input from a committee of DJC members to create a beautiful alternative service. We sang, we ate, and we discussed and were enlightened with a slide show on the history of matzoh!
Thanks to the community spirit of the DJC and guests, it was truly a wonderful, way to celebrate the last evening of Passover!
Shabbat Shalom!
What: Our next in-home Shabbat, at the home of Nicki Weiss and Mike Fox.
Where: 910 Carlaw Avenue [map] - first street west of Pape Ave, north of the Danforth, south of Mortimer Ave.
When: Friday, April 27, 7:00pm
Rsvp: 416.462.1940
Finger food contributions are most welcome.
If you would like to volunteer your home for a Friday evening service, please contact Diana Chastain at dianach@allstream.net or 416.465.0635.
LISTENING CAMPAIGN- House Meeting -
Diversity
On Tuesday, May 1, a house meeting on Diversity within the DJC has been planned. A house meeting is a "relational conversation" between 8-12 people who sit down together to share their stories, concerns, and dreams. The goal of these meetings is to help build and strengthen a vibrant, caring community with the capacity to act on the needs and values of its members. Aspects of diversity that have arisen to date are: interfaith relationships and families, interfaith dialogue within the community, gender & sexual orientation issues, race, class, ability, Israeli/Palestinian relations. The theme of diversity is a huge one and one that we know affects the DJC community, as diversity certainly defines us.
Come and join in the dialogue on diversity as you see it…
What: House meeting on Diversity
When: Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Where: Home of Julia Mustard & Alex Lowy - 1030 Logan Avenue, [map]
(One block north of Danforth, 2 blocks east of Chester subway station).
Please Rsvp to t7lewis@gwemail.ryerson.ca by April 27, 2007 to assist us in the planning.
LISTENING CAMPAIGN - House meeting- Aging
What: House Meeting on the Challenges of Aging (and caring for aging loved ones)
When: Monday May 7, 7:00- 9:00pm
Rsvp: Susan Friedman, friedmansusan@rogers.com
 Two-book Boxed Set |
Wednesday, May 9, 2007 “MAUS”, BY ART SPIGELMAN FACILITATOR: ANDREA MOST "Maus", by Art Spiegelman, is an extraordinary and unusual memoir of Spiegelman's father's Holocaust experience, rendered in the form of a graphic novel. When it first appeared, Maus sparked both outrage and admiration for its bold use of what Spiegelman calls "commix" to convey the complexity of Holocaust history, traumatic memory, and the difficulty of turning horror into art. "Maus" has been acclaimed as "a remarkable feat of documentary vividness...", and "a brutally moving work of art." Andrea Most, Assistant Professor of American Literature and Jewish Studies in the Department of English at the University of Toronto, is the 2004 recipient of the Polanyi Prize for Literature. Among her many published writings, her recent book "Making Americans: Jews and the Broadway Musical", won the Kurt Weill Prize for distinguished scholarship on music theatre. Please Rsvp to info@djctoronto.com for more information and if you’d like to attend. |
When Family and Community Intersect: An Invitation
Some communities feel like a family, and some families are shaped by community. And so it is that Kathy Miller and Emil Sher, who have been involved with the DJC from its earliest days, invite the community that has so enriched their lives to join them as their daughter Sophie is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Eli Kukla will officiate, accompanied by the beautiful voice of Lisa Kent.
Emil and Kathy extend an open hand to all who would like to bear witness to this milestone in their daughter’s life. The Saturday morning service will be held on May 12 at 10:00 a.m. at Eastminster United, followed by a Kiddush.
LISTENING CAMPAIGN - House Meeting -Environment
GO GREEN!
Earth Day, April 22, is a Jewish holiday, and one that we hope will last all year! How we treat our natural resources, in effect steward our planet Earth, is fundamentally a spiritual concern with real implications.
Come and join us on THURSDAY, MAY 31 for an evening House Meeting we’re calling GO GREEN! to talk about what matters to us about our local environment. O yes, we'll fres/eat together too! What's a gathering without food?
We’re giving a special shout-out to teens as well as adults to gather and listen to each other's stories, hopes and concerns so that we blend our energies to make a difference in an area of our choosing. Many congregations of all stripes across North America are getting together to 'green' Tikun Olam. We want to bring this energy to the Danforth and the DJC.
For further information, or to say you want to be there on May 31st, please email sheila@leadership-gold.com. Attendance is limited due to space.
DJC Night Out!
Our Grandmothers’ Stories
Our Grandmothers’ Stories is a fun, interactive, community building theatrical experience facilitated by theatre artists Jessica Bleuer and Josh Bloch.
What: Our Grandmothers’ Stories: An interactive theatrical evening
Where: Eastminster United, 310 Danforth Avenue [map] - Hurndale Room
When: Saturday, May 26, 7:00 pm
Admission: $15
In this workshop we will be exploring the stories of our bubbies/ grandmothers through bibliodrama – a celebratory art form that uses music and theatre to tell stories communally. Stories from the community will be explored through theatre games, song and role-plays. Bibliodrama will be used to honour the stories of our predecessors, investigating meaning, bringing out their humour, and creating a collective history around our grandmother’s experiences.
In preparation for the event please spend some time thinking about your grandmother…
Did your Bubby have a sentence or a saying she was fond of using? What idiosyncrasies made her unique? Did she pinch your cheeks, scowl, have a nickname for you? What is the wisest thing she ever said?
For more information about this evening and preparation for your grandmother/bubby stories, please e-mail: info@djctoronto.com.
Our selected theme for this fun event will serve as a launch of a DJC Grandmother to Grandmother Chapter for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Come out & learn more! Or visit
www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/grandmothers.htm
DJC EVENTS: APRIL AND MAY AT A GLANCE…
Friday, April 27 - In-home Shabbat, Home of Nicki Weiss and Mike Fox, 7:00pm, 910 Carlaw Avenue [map].
Tuesday, May 1 - House meeting on Diversity, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, 1030 Logan Avenue [map]. Please RSVP t7lewis@gwemail.ryerson.ca by April 27.
Friday, May 4 - Friday Shabbat service, led by Rabbi Eli Kukla, 6:30pm, Eastminster United - Auditorium, 310 Danforth Avenue [map]. Kiddush to follow. Free childcare provided.
Saturday, May 5- Torah Study with Rabbi Eli Kukla, 10:30am, at Riverdale Presbyterian, 662 Pape Avenue [map] (side door, follow steps down to the basement).
Monday, May 7- House meeting on Aging, 7:00- 9:00pm.
Rsvp (for location and details), friedmansusan@rogers.com
Wednesday, May 9 - Book Club meeting- “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, facilitated by Andrea Most. Rsvp info@djctoronto.com for location and information.
Saturday, May 12 - An Invitation: Saturday service, honouring a Bat Mitzvah, Sophie Sher- 10:00 a.m., Eastminster, 310 Danforth Avenue [map], Sanctuary. Rabbi Eli Kukla leading. Kiddush to follow in the Hurndale room.
Saturday, May 26 - Our Grandmother’s Stories, and interactive theatrical evening, 7:00pm, Eastminster, 310 Danforth Avenue [map], Hurndale room. Admission: $15. For more information, e-mail: info@djctoronto.com
2007 UJA WALK—Sunday, May 27, 10:30am.
The fabulous Kick-Off Party takes place from 9:30 - 10:30 at Coronation Park, and the Walk itself begins at 10:30 sharp. We will wind our way through the beautiful streets of downtown Toronto and end with our amazing carnival at the Automotive Building at Exhibition Place.
Thursday, May 31 - House meeting on Environment GO GREEN!, For more information and to Rsvp, e-mail: Sheila@leadership-gold.com.
Looking forward: please mark your calendars!
Friday, June 8- Listening Campaign Congregational Report and Celebration
Shabbat services, 6:30pm, (more information in next newsletter).
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