If you can’t drive in the dark, or you’re without a car (or license) and you want to come to Temple for any reason (a program, a service) please call the Temple Office with as much notice as you can, but even if it’s for the same day, please call.
Susan Glait, our Programming VP has been, in her words: "busy, busy and more busy (and enjoying the results)." BUT, she can't do it all on her own. So, if you can help with either of the following, let Susan (susang@templeisraellondon.ca) or the Temple Office (519-858-4400 or office@templeisraellondon.ca) know:
• Make calls or email for sponsors for Kiddushim and Onegs on an every other month basis.
• Help pitch in for our Congregational Kabbalat Shabbat dinners
Members of Temple Israel take turns providing refreshments for Oneg Shabbat or Shabbat Kiddush. A great opportunity to honour a yahrzeit, a simcha, or other special person or event. Contact Temple Office.
Please join us for any Shabbat or Holiday service, for High Holy Days, and for any program that interests you. Contact office@templeisraellondon.ca or 519-858-4400.
Shabbat Services
Shabbat Services
Saturday, January 7, Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26 ) 10:00am - Shabbat Morning Service 12:00pm - Torah Study
Friday, January 13, Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1 ) 6:30pm - Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner honouring Temple Israel's New Members.
Saturday, January 21, Vayeira (Exodus 6:2-9:35 ) 10:00am - Shabbat Morning Service 12:00pm - Torah Study
Saturday, January 28, Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16 ) 10:00am - Shabbat Morning Service 12:00pm - Torah Study Please note the time change for Saturday Morning Services. Starting in January, the Morning Services will start at 10:00am and will be followed by the Torah Study Sessions. If you have any questions, concerns and/or suggestions, please contact Rabbi Debra Dressler (rabbi.dressler@templeisraellondon.ca).
The Honour Card System
The Ritual Committee of Temple Israel and Rabbi Dressler have decided to introduce something new to our Shabbat morning services. September 10, this system, labelled "The Honour Card System," was implemented for the first time.
Each Shabbat, Tom Casler or I will hand out honour cards to various attendees, each of whom will be given the task of leading an English reading, opening/closing the Aron Kodesh, carrying the Torah, lifting (Hagbah) the Torah, dressing (Glilah) the Torah, chanting the aliyah blessings, or chanting the haftarah.
The purpose of all the above is simply to have more people directly involved in our services. Participation is the key. If you do not wish to accept a card, that is perfectly okay. We will find someone else.
Let us know What you think. We are always looking for ways to improve.
Josh Dubitsky Co-Chair; Temple Israel Ritual Committee
Honouring our Torah Gibborim
When our Czech Torah required extensive repairs, many of our members responded generously. The "Gibbor" (Hebrew for "hero") program is intended to honour all those who donated $100 or more for restoration of the Torah. Each Gibbor or Gibbor family will be assigned a Parashah (Torah reading), and be acknowledged on the Shabbat when that Parashah is to be read.
If you qualify as a Gibbor and wish to have a specific Parashah, call the Temple Office or contact Art Benjamin.
Many other people contributed less than $100 to the fund and will be designated as "Shomer" (Guardian). We will eventually contact you as well, to honour your donation to the Torah fund.
If you don't remember how much you donated to the fund, or if you want to "top it up" to $100, please call the Temple Office, or contact our Treasurer Leeat Cribbs.
Shabbat Torah Study
Shabbat Torah Study
When there is no Shabbat service scheduled on Saturday (because there was one on Friday evening), the study session will begin at 10:30am, and it will run until noon. When there is a service scheduled that Saturday, Torah study will begin at 9:00am and it will end at 10:25am, after which services will begin. (As of January 2012 the Shabbat Torah Study will occur after the Shabbat Kiddush. Shabbat Services will be earlier, at 10:00am. Your input is welcome. Please contact Tom Casler.)
December Torah Study Sessions:
Saturday, December 31, 9:00 am - Torah Study led by Rabbi Dressler
January Torah Study Sessions:
Saturday, January 7, 12:00pm - Torah Study led by Rabbi Dressler
Saturday, January 21, 12:00pm - Torah Study led by Rabbi Dressler
Saturday, January 28, 12:00pm - Torah Study led by Rabbi Dressler
The JPS Audio Bible
The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) provides the current weekly Torah portion in audio format. Listen online here. Just click the "play" arrow to begin. If you wish to read along, you may view or download the text in PDF format by clicking the "full text PDF" button below the audio player.
Jewish Braille Institute
The Jewish Braille Institute provides Torah, Haftarah, liturgical and life cycle materials (as well as other materials of general interest) in large-print, audio, or Braille formats at no charge to visually challenged members worldwide.
Torah Portions
Torah Portions
(Va-y'chi, Genesis 47:28-50:26)
Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh. (48:1-20)
Jacob's twelve sons gather around his deathbed, and each receives an evaluation and a prediction of his future. (49:1-33)
Joseph mourns his father's death and has Jacob embalmed. Jacob is buried in Hebron in the cave of the field of the Machpelah in the land of Canaan. (50:1-14)
Joseph assures his concerned brothers that he has forgiven them and promises to care for them and their families. (50:15-21)
Just before he dies, Joseph tells his brothers that God will return them to the Land that God promised to the patriarchs. The Children of Israel promise Joseph that they will take his bones with them when they leave Egypt. (50:22-26)
(Sh'mot, Exodus 1:1-6:1)
The new king of Egypt makes slaves of the Hebrews and orders their male children to be drowned in the Nile River. (1:1-22)
A Levite woman places her son, Moses, in a basket on the Nile, where he is found by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised in Pharaoh's house. (2:1-10)
Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian. (2:11-15)
Moses marries the priest of Midian's daughter, Zipporah. They have a son named Gershom. (2:16-22)
God calls Moses from a burning bush and commissions him to free the Israelites from Egypt. (3:1-4:17)
Moses and Aaron request permission from Pharaoh for the Israelites to celebrate a festival in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and makes life even harder for the Israelites. (5:1-23)
(Vayeira, Genesis 18:1-22:24)
Abraham welcomes three visitors, who announce that Sarah will soon have a son. (18:1-15)
Abraham argues with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (18:16-33)
Lot's home is attacked by the people of Sodom. Lot and his two daughters escape as the cities are being destroyed. Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt. (19:1-29)
Lot impregnates his daughters, and they bear children who become the founders of the nations Moab and Ammon. (19:30-38)
Abimelech, king of Gerar, takes Sarah as his wife after Abraham claims that she is his sister. (20:1-18)
Isaac is born, circumcised, and weaned. Hagar and her son, Ishmael, are sent away; an angel saves their lives. (21:1-21)
God tests Abraham, instructing him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. (22:1-19)
(Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16)
God sends the plagues of locusts and darkness upon Egypt and forewarns Moses about the final plague, the death of every Egyptian firstborn. Pharaoh still does not let the Israelites leave Egypt. (10:1-11:10)
God commands Moses and Aaron regarding the Passover festival. (12:1-27)
God enacts the final plague, striking down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt except those of the House of Israel. Pharaoh now allows the Israelites to leave. (12:29-42)
Speaking to Moses and Aaron, God repeats the commandments about Passover. (12:43-13:16)
Upcoming Special Shabbats
Shabbat is always a very special time, but sometimes Temple Israel finds ways to make it EXTRA SPECIAL!
Shabbat Morning Service with Allan Gould orginally scheduled for January 7 has been postponed to the weekend of February 11-12, 2012
Allan Gould, from Toronto, will be our guest speaker during the weekend of February 11th-12th. Allan is an author, lecturer, humourist and lover of Jewish history, ethics, literature and the arts. He has a doctorate in English and Theatre. He will add some insights for our morning service, plus give a talk after Kiddush on Saturday morning. That evening he will add humour to a pot luck dinner (details to follow). On Sunday morning he will be available for a discussion with parents of the TI Religious School children, before addressing the students on Mitzvot and Tzedakah. Mark your calendars so you can take full advantage of this dynamic speaker who combines secular scholarship, Jewish learning, and comic delivery
Shabbat Book Chavurah
Shabbat Book Chavurah
Saturday, February 25th, 1:00pm Time is approximate. Shabbat Book Chavurah will begin immediately after Kiddush Lunch following Shabbat Morning Service.
We will be reading The Gifts of the Jews by Thomas Cahill, which is available from the public library.
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As always, everyone is invited to join in the discussion. If you wish, bring along a snack to share for tea time.
Everyone is welcome, whether or not you have attended previous sessions. Bring your suggestions for future good reads
