News

Beth Israel Synagogue Updates

Shul News:

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Member News Articles:

We have many members both young and old who have accomplished much and who have experienced much: unique Jewish experiences in Portugal, volunteering in Israel, volunteering for AIDS in Africa, Honorary Achievement Awards, coordinating the efforts of United Way, much more!!!

This section will grow as their shyness and humility is worn down and we can convince them to tell the world about their accomplishment and offer them some warm fuzzys.

Make a suggestion: recognize congregants' accomplishments whatever they maybe.

Contact: info@bethisraelsynagogue.ca

Details of Shul News:

DANI Teens to visit the Shul

A group of 14 campers and 8 staff from DANI are going to visit Peterborough August 18th and 19th. They intend to visit the sites of Peterborough and spend time at Beth Israel to enjoy some movies and treats. DANI's motto is: "Children learn to read by reading. Children learn to write by writing. Children learn to include by including." More information about DANI can be obtained at their website.

If you wish to volunteer to help at the Shul or in any of their other activities (e.g., Lang Pioneer Village, zoo visit, swimming) please contact Joe Teichman.

Notes from the Annual General Meeting

  • BOARD CHANGES

    • Mark Siegel was elected as Vice President. Larry Gillman stays on as President.
    • Ralph Baehre has stepped down from the Executive, but will continue to remain very active managing our web site. Ralph, on behalf of the community, we wish to thank you for many years of wonderful service on the board.
    • Ken Greenberg has kindly volunteered to be the new secretary of the Board.
    • Our current board includes: Mac Allan - Treasurer; Karen Fisher; Mike Fox; Larry Gillman - President; Ken Greenberg as Secretary; Len Siegel; Mark Siegel – Vice-president; Sonya Sokol.

  • FINANCIALS

    Mac Allan recapped the financial position of the community. Of note we are running a very small surplus in our operating budget, however, there is real concern that we will run a deficit soon if we don't take corrective action. Of note, our member contributions have shrunk from $26,965 last year to $22,511 this year. Two notable items were raised including;

    • We should communicate a firm membership policy to the community, including fee structure and what it means to be a member.
    • We should consider hosting an evening to honor the old established families of the shul, especially those whom have left the community. We will further discuss this at our next board meeting.
    • General Manager. We discussed the responsibilities of Joe Teichman, and his accomplishments to date. His 3 key responsibilities include:
      • Building management and maintenance, including cost reductions.
      • Revenue generation, including building rental.
      • Community rejuvenation including special events.
      Joe has made good progress as we have reduced costs of building cleaning and waste disposal, energy efficiency, and building maintenance. We are very pleased with the progress Joe is showing.

  • WORK REQUIRED TO THE BUILDING EXTERIOR

    We discussed the estimated $50,000 of work that will be required to the exterior of the building. We are currently exploring several options to get the work done in a cost effective manner. These include available grants and cheap labor options. We will continue to work to keep and keep the community informed. Of note we will have to reduce expenses and raise more revenue to make this happen.

  • UNITARIAN LEASE RENEWAL

    We discussed that the Unitarians have now completed two, 3 year leases and that we are working on another lease renewal. It was pointed out that they have received a very favorable rent over the past 6 years, and that we need a renewal that is more reflective of the costs of running the building. We have a proposal in front of the Unitarian committee, and expect to hear back shortly.

  • KOSHER EVALUATION

    At our last meeting the board unanimously supported an evaluation of the shul becoming "kosher style" versus strictly kosher. The board agreed to talk with individuals in the community and assess the situation, but would remain kosher if it were a divisive issue. The building will remain strictly kosher. People who can help to keep the kosher standards of the kitchen were urged to step forward.

  • SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR

    The board was pleased to announce that Shalom and Marcy will return for year 7. The program for this year includes high holidays, plus 5 additional weekends and ongoing rabbinical support. This item prompted much discussion on what individuals would like to see this year. The idea of having a spiritual committee to work with Shalom, Marcy and the community was established. Karen Fisher, Dan Houpt and Lori Allan volunteered to meet and spearhead this initiative. They are looking for others to join them, so please contact Karen Fisher to volunteer or with any input. Also, attached please find the responses of the 18 people who responded to the recent community survey on our community needs.

The executive thank all those who took time to attend the meeting. In addition, it was agreed that the results of the March 2010 opinion survey should be distributed to the community and they are attached in this mailing. Thanks to all who took the time to voice their thoughts on these important questions. Please note that all responses were anonymous. Thanks to Heather Pollock for setting this up. The executive will be using the survey results to guide their decisions to the extent possible.

Beth Israel has a General Manager

The new General Manager of Beth Israel Synagogue is Joe Teichman. Welcome Joe!!! The photo below shows Joe (on the right) with Rabbi Rabinovitch from Adath Israel Synagogue. Joe with Rabbi Rabinovitch Joe's responsibilities are to bring forth new and innovative ideas and implement them, if we give him the chance. So far, Joe has:

  • Implemented a weekly cleaning service which Community Living of Peterborough provides now for the past 2 months. The building has never looked cleaner!! BIS Community Cleaners BIS Community Cleaners
  • Contributed to the Abraham Festival days.
  • Participated in the annual board meeting.
  • Ensured the shul's gardens are flourishing.
  • Searched out new users for the shul as place of meeting for the community. Among others these include: yoga classes, seniors groups

Beth Israel's New Parking Lot

The parking lot has been completed and the operation has been handed over to the Beth Israel synagogue. The front lot operates on a card access system. The gate is open after 5 pm on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. During the week, the gate is down from Monday to Friday, from 6 am to 5 pm.

The community has five(5) access cards. These are currently with Mark Siegel, who remains custodian of the cards (or should we call him Ace of Gates) and will keep track of where the cards are. If you need regular access during weekdays, Mark will sign you out a card. You can make arrangements directly with him (contact m.siegel@sympatico.ca or 292-8349).

For irregular weekday access, you can also borrow a card from Mark, or you can park on the street. Arrangements are also under way to have some of the members living closer to the synagogue hold a few cards for daytime short-term access. Please watch this space for updates on this.

Please be especially CAUTIOUS when entering or leaving the parking lot.

Beth Israel Hanukkah Party - Note of Thanks

Just a short note to wish everyone a very Happy Hanukkah, and to thank you once again for a terrific simcha on December 4th. We were overwhelmed by your participation as 130 people gathered at the shul in the largest community celebration in recent memory.

Thanks to those individuals and families who cooked latkes and other delicious food, shopped, set up tables and cleaned dishes, played live music and set up games for the children, those who came and enjoyed each other, and the list goes on and on. There was so much joy and laughter.

It takes a real community spirit to put on an event of this magnitude.

Regards Larry

Abraham Festival

For the past five years, Beth Israel has participated in an educational and religious festival commemorating the common foundation of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Local congregations of the three faiths -- Beth Israel, Masjid AI-Salaam Mosque, and St. Alphonsus Catholic Parish engage in dialogue, and join together at religious services to learn, exchange ideas, and reinforce our common heritage. Click link HERE for more recent details and scheduled events.

The Need for Tolerance and the Struggle for Anti-Hate

February 2, 2007. B’nai Brith urges Yahoo GeoCities to remove convicted hatemonger’s racist website. Click HERE to read the communique from B'nai Brith. Individuals can report incidents of online hate, as well as a 24/7 community Anti-Hate Hotline 1-800-892-2624, allowing victims of hate crimes access to support from experts in the field. The website is www.hateontheinternet.com.

On November 21, 2006, Peterborough was very privileged to meet Nate Leipciger a Holocaust survivor who spoke to a high school group in the afternoon and a gathering at Beth Israel in the evening. Nate miraculously survived the Holocaust. He experienced the horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Fuenfteichen, Gross Rosen, Flossenberg, Leonberg , Muelldorf am Inn and Ampfing-Waldlager, the last two were sub-camps of Dachau. Nate and his father were liberated by the 3rd US army on May 2, 1945.

Beth Israel Synagogue

Quotes from the Peterborough Examiner summarize what Nate is trying to convey:

'"What was the underlying reason? Only one word and this is hate--hate of the person that is not like you, " he said. "That is why I am here to talk to you, to try and instill the idea that hate kills. You never know when it's going to come to haunt you."

He said that hate must end. "It is not enough to tolerate the person that is not like you...In order to fight hate, you have to accept them for who they are."'

Click HERE to learn more about the Toronto Holocaust Centre, a place Nate co-founded to encourage respect for diversity and prevent acts of discrimination.

On November 7, 2006, as an event of the Holocaust Education Week program at Beth Israel Synagogue in Peterborough, an educator from the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre spoke about "Digital Hate on the Internet". Michael Ettedgui showed examples of web sites that promote anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, white supremacy, ethnic intolerance and terrorism. He talked about strategies used by groups that use the internet to further their causes. And he spoke about legislation and strategies being used to curtail them. Canada is considered to be one of the most progressive countries as far as upholding human rights but also removing 'hate' content such as found on the internet and prosecuting the perpetrators. Mr. Ettedgui warned that educators and parents must be careful in allowing students to do research on-line. Often the 'hate' sites present a facade that students may not be able to intepret at first as containing 'hate' content.

What you can do.

If you come across a Web site which you believe promotes terrorism or hate you are invited to send the URL to: digitalhate@wiesenthal.net which is monitored directly by the Centre's researchers. Law enforcement officials can contact the Centre in Toronto, directly.

Copies of the Digital Terrorism and Hate 2006 report are available free of charge to law enforcement officials, educational institutions and the media, and can be purchased by anyone directly from the SWC online store at: http://www.wiesenthal.com/.

On Sept. 2 2006, a Molotov cocktail was used to cause serious and malicious damage at the Skver-Toldos Orthodox Jewish Boys school in Outremont, Montreal during the early hours of Saturday morning. B'nai Brith makes available a 24/7 community Anti-Hate Hotline at 1-800-892-2624 if any anti-hate activities are expected or discovered in our community.

In April 2004, the President of the Beth Israel Congregation in Peterborough responds to recent acts of the racially motivated firebombings, vandalism and desecrations. See article from Peaceful Communities.ca.

AIDS in Africa Benefit Concert at Beth Israel

April 8, 2006. On behalf of the doctors, nurses and patients at Howard Hospital in Zimbabwe , AASK (Africa AIDS Support of the Kawartha's) would like to thank everyone who supported last weekend's event at the synagogue.There were over 125 people in attendance of all ages. A great time was had by all as they danced the night away to 3 great musical acts. A special thanks to The Indian River Band (with our own Dan Houpt) , The Unionist Ministers, and Micheal Morit.Thanks to everyone's support, the evening raised $2,500, which is a significant sum to a Hospital that constantly runs out of basic supplies that we take for granted in our hospitals. Thanks to all and we look forward to talking more about our work in Zimbabwe. See link to details about AASK's efforts: AASK.

Little Lake Cemetery

In September 2005, a new building was proposed at Little Lake Cemetery near to the Jewish section of the cemetery. Concerns have been expressed by members of Beth Israel about the possible infringement on the physical and spiritual disturbance of the Jewish gravesites. See recent article from CJN.

Trillium Foundation

On Aug. 20th 2005, Beth Israel Synagogue received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/) of over $70,000. The money has been used to make the synagogue fully accessible to members of the community with physical disabilities. The restoration will allow the synagogue to open its doors to community groups that require meeting space and supporting facilities.

The Jewish Community Diversifies (Or Pardes)

In 2005, a new Jewish Congregation is established in Peterborough that includes a regular Chavurah (meeting of friends) to celebrate the Sabbath, holidays, and engage in Torah study. For more information on Or Pardes, contact : Christine McIntyre at 652-7584, or email orpardes@cogeco.net .

Peterborough Flood

On July 15 2004, Peterborough experienced 200 mm of rain in less than 24 hours. Due to the flooding, Beth Israel was seriously damaged at an estimated cost of $60,000. Although no major structural damage was incurred at the synagogue, it was nevertheless closed and remained unusable until restoration of the lower level, comprised of the kitchen, meeting and storage areas. Major contributions and assistance to restore Beth Israel came from many diverse sources, Jewish, Christian, and others.

Unitarian Fellowship and Beth Israel Synagogue

In June of 2004, the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough became a co-tenant, sharing the Beth Israel facility. The Beth Israel congregation overwhelmingly agreed to the partnership, coming to agreements on issues of timing of religious observances and maintenance of a kosher kitchen. See link: Unitarians.

 

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