949 Clark Ave West Thornhill ON L4J 8G6 www.thornhillshul.com PHONE 905-764-1891 FAX 905-764-1606 E-Mail: theshul@aish.edu RABBI Avram Rothman 905-764-1891 x 214 (C) 416-876-0691 arothman@aish.edu REBBETZIN Ruth E Rothman 647-989-5821 tcsrbtzn@aish.edu RABBI S ASSISTANT Hadassah Hoffer 905-764-1891 x 210 hhoffer@aish.com PRESIDENT Stuart Haber stuarthaber@rogers.com GABBAI: Jonathan Sherrington aishthornhillgabbai@gmail.com YOUTH DIRECTOR: David Toledano davidtoley@gmail.com SHABBAT HOSPITALITY Chani Rosenberg chanirosenberg@gmail.com Aish Thornhill Community Shul Shabbat Bulletin: Vayislach December 1/2, 2017 14 Kislev Candle Lighting: Not After: 4:23 pm Shabbat Ends: 5:27 pm ~ The ongoing mission of the Aish Thornhill Community Shul is to create a family-friendly community where Jews of all backgrounds can experience meaningful Jewish Living and Heritage in an inspiring, educational and welcoming environment. FRIDAY EVENING Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat / Maariv Sanctuary 4:25 pm D var Torah SHABBAT MORNING IN THE MAIN SANCTUARY Midrash Rabbi Avram Rothman 8:30 am Shacharis Brian Callan 9:00 am Torah Service: Vayislach 9:55 am Pg: 170 Haftorah pg: 1141 Rabbi s Drasha Rabbi Rothman 10:40 am Mussaf Noam Wolff 10:55 am Announcements / Adon Olam Stuart Haber 11:25 am SHABBAT MORNING THROUGHOUT THE SHUL Hashkama Minyan Library 7:30 am Kiddush & Class with Rabbi Yeres Jerusalem Hall 9:20 am Salt and Pepper in Kashrut Library Minyan Library 9:30 am This Week s D var Torah Adam Myerowitz Kiddush Jerusalem Hall ~12:20 pm ** Early Mincha Sanctuary 12:45 pm SHABBAT AFTERNOON /GINZBURG LEARNING CENTRE Ginzburg Learning Centre RETURNS IN THE SPRING Mincha Sanctuary 4:00 pm Shalosh Seuda Jerusalem Hall 4:30 pm Maariv - Tzaitz HaCochavim ( Night fall or 3 stars) Sanctuary 5:27 pm Havdalah MAZAL TOV Shawn & Lila Gabriel on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Adir ~ Mazal Tov to Dr. Michael Kirzner who was made an Assistant Professor by University of Toronto Family Medicine Department for his teaching & published research at Baycrest Hospital. *PLEASE NOTE CLASS LOCATION CHANGES THIS WEEK
KIDDUSH SPONSORED BY Shawn & Lila Gabriel in honour of Adir s Bar Mitzvah HASHKAMA KIDDUSH SPONSORED Irving and Rosalind Ginzburg & Ralph and Shana Ginzburg, and Families, for the Yarhzheit of Irving and Ralph s Father, Baruch Ruvein ben Yerucham & Ian and Dionne Liebenthal & Mark and Sharon Liebenthal in memory of Ian & Mark s father Avraham Ber ben Tzvi Yehuda SHALOSH SEUDA SPONSORED BY Last week sponsored by Murray & Barbara Nightingale in memory of Murray s father Yitzchak Dovid CLASSES DURING MUSSAF BEGIN ~ 10:30 AM ALL CLASSROOM ARE ON THE 2 ND FLOOR UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED GIRL S GROUP GR 4 + Davening, Parsha, Games and Kiddush Carmel Room Rebecca & Meira 10:00 am BACKSTAGE PASS Behind the Ethical Teachings of Judaism Conference Rm Ephraim Silver 10:30 am PARSHA PARENTING * INTRODUCTION TO HALACHA RABBI S CLASS GINZBURG LEARNING CENTRE: POST MUSSAF CLASSES BEGIN ~ 11:30 AM CLASSES END ~ 12:20 PM Using the subtle Torah messages on How to Parent in 2017 Stepping into Tur/Shulchan Aruch, The Laws of Havdalah (Hebrew text-based). Women & the Chanukah Miracles: What role did they play? Moriah Room Dr. Rothman 11:30 am Meron room Sanctuary Jonathan Sherrington Rabbi Avram Rothman 11:30 am 11:30 am Rabbi s class is sponsored by Colin and Janice Silber & Family in memory of Janice s father Avraham Ber ben Tzvi Yehuda GUY S THING Controversial Issues discussed Weekly Jerusalem Hall Dr. Kirzner & 11:30 am WITH THE RABBI Rabbi Mandel PARSHA CLASS Humans of Bereishit Zion Room Rabbi Sha anan 11:30 am Scherer * THE TALMUD Advanced Text based Carmel Room Dr. Alex Pister 11:30 am MESSAGES OF Revelation of the Depths Conference Dr. Martin Levin 11:30 am TORAH Room THE JEWISH What You Thought You Knew: Parsha Library Rabbi Stuart 11:20 am QUESTION Haber ISN T TIME TO Acquiring Skills in the Study of Mishna Jerusalem Hall Ian Liebenthal 11:30 am COMPREHEND MISHNA? * THE CHABURA Class for teen boys Lower level Social Hall Daniel Meisels 11:30 am Bar Mitzvah Guests; Please remain in the Sanctuary following the Services. Rabbi Rothman will be giving a class specifically for the friends and guess of the Bar Mitzvah
Weekday Davening Times: Sun December 3 Fri December 8, 2017 Shacharit: Sunday Shacharit: Monday - Friday Mincha/Maariv : Sunday -Thursday 8:00 am 6:45 am 4:30 pm Next Shabbos Vayeshev Friday Mincha / Kaballat Shabbat / Maariv Sanctuary 4:25 pm Friday Dec 8: Candle Lighting Not After 4:22 pm Shabbat Dec 9 Shabbat Ends: 5:26 pm Weekday Classes Sunday: Library 8:45 AM The Mitzvah of Kiddush HaShem Rabbi Rothman * *NEW Sunday: Sanctuary AFTER MA ARiV Haftorah Clinic Main Sanctuary Jonathan Sherrington Live from Israel with Rabbi Yair Spitz From Zion to the Zion Room We are pleased to announce that Rabbi Spitz will return to ATCS to conduct a weekly class exploring the Midrashim in the Torah. The classes will be run live via teleconference and allow the audience to interact with Rabbi Spitz in real time. The class will run Sundays at 4:00 pm in the Zion room, and will last for approximately 1 hour. The cost is $50 for the series of 10 classes. Payment can be provided when arriving. For anyone who finds payment difficult, please simply email Rabbi Rothman discreetly at: theshul@aish.com. We welcome everyone s participation Thurs: Library 6:00 AM Halacha Weekday Mornings Rabbi Mordechai Cohen 7:30 AM Rambam s Mishna Torah Rabbi S. Schwartz Wed: Conference Room 10:00 AM Women s Parsha class Rabbi Rothman Weekday Evening Classes Monday Zion Room @ 8:00 pm Conference Room @7:30 pm NEW Deriving Halacha, Developing Skills Halacha Rabbi Rothman Rabbi Cohen Tuesday Conference Room 7:00 PM Reb. Avraham Kleiman
Sholosh Seudot You Gotta be Kiddin Me Halacha Discussion Oren was a teenage boy froam a secular family who became a ba al teshuvah. He left his secular high school and went to study ina yehiva, where he slept in the dormitory throughout the week. His parents were understanding and supportive of his decision, but they asked him to come home each week for Shabbos and share dvrei Torah with them at the Shabbos table. Throughout the week he felt that he was growing in Torah and yiras Shamayim. When he came home for Shabbos, however, he felt a terrible drop. He met his siblings and old friendswho would tease him for doing teshuvah and mocked his Torah study and mitzvah observance. What are you wasting your time there for? they would ask him. You aren t going to be a rabbi anyway. Go do something useful. Sometimes their jibes just pushed him forward, as he realized how privileged he was to have left their society and study the holy Torah in yeshiva. Often, however their barbed words left their scars. He would return to the yeshiva feeling depressed and worthless. Oren decided that he would return home only once a month, but his parents called him in yeshiva and complained that they missed him. What should he do? Should he fulfill the mitzvah of honouring his parents by visiting home every week and sharing dvrei Torah with them at the Shabbos table, even though it was a danger to his own Torah observance? Or perhaps he should visit home only one in a long while. What is the answer? Find out with Rabbi Rothman during Shalosh Seuda Parental Supervision of Children & Related Policies While the policies below have been in place since the Shul s inception, shul members have requested a reminder. Our shul has invested a significant amount of money in both its upkeep and in its Youth Department, ensuring an ongoing enlightening and educational experience for our children. Below is a clear articulation of a number of policies which will engender a quality and safe experience for all patrons of our Shul. 1. Decorum in the Building: Youth Programs enable children to enjoy an enhanced shul experience and ensure an overall decorum throughout the building. Children (13 and under) must be either in a program or with their parents at all times. This policy is applicable from 7:30am Shabbat morning until Kiddush when Youth Programs terminate. Children must be supervised by their parents during Kiddush and thereafter. In the event that there are no Youth Programs operating (e.g., Friday night), Children must be with their parents. 2. Admittance to Building: Children are welcome in the building and to participate in Youth Programs only if there is at least 1 parent or legal guardian on the TCS campus. Children without at least 1 parent or legal guardian cannot be supervised within the Synagogue. 3. Damage to Shul Property: Unfortunately there has been an increase in damage to the Synagogue and its contents. Parents are respectfully reminded that they are responsible for damage caused by their children 4. Restricted facilities: Children are not allowed to have access to the main floor kitchenette and its contents (including Milk, Tea, Coffee, etc.) for a variety of safety and other considerations. All consumables are for the use of adults only. NOTE: the Youth Program provides drinks and snacks throughout its operations. Shul Greeters and Board Members have been instructed to find parents and ask them to intervene should their children not comply with the above. We hope parents will respond favourably to these requests. If you have any questions feel free to speak directly with Stuart Haber, President, ATCS Board, or with any Board Member Thank you very much for your help in this matter.
Rabbi Becher is Comin To Town
Profiles This week, we continue our new feature in the bulletin with another installment of PROFILES Each week, we profile a different family in a (hopefully) fun and non-invasive mannerto help us get to know our fellow shul members. This week, we spotlight a new family to our community; the Gabriels, who will be celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Adir Baruch. The parents are Shawn and Lila and their children are Ryan, Shira and Adir. Shawn and Adir represented the family at the interview. not begin in Alberta. TCS: Welcome! So, you are new to Thornhill arriving just in time to escape the Edmonton winter. But we understand that your journey did Shawn: Our kids were all born in Israel, but Lila and I were born in Iran. Adir: We still have lots of family in Israel and one aunt in Iran. Shawn: When Khamenei regime came into power in 1979 the situation for the Jews dramatically turned for the worse. On the long term, things were looking really bad. So, our family paid hefty some of money to get us fake passports and left Tehran on Aug 1980. TCS: So how did you meet each other? Shawn: I moved to Toronto in 1985 to continue my education in Canada and live here until mid-1994. Then headed back to Israel. Both myself and my wife came to Israel at about the same time but from different places. She moved to Israel from Iran while I came from Canada. We met at a New Year s Eve party. TCS: But, you mentioned that you were both from Iran. Shawn: I moved to Toronto with my brother in 1985. He moved to Edmonton in 1988 for a job opportunity while I remained in Toronto. TCS: Do you still feel a strong connection to Israel? Shawn: Definitely. We have lots of family there and visit often. Adir: Since we moved when, I was 2 and a half, I don t remember much, but I definitely have new memories from our trips. TCS: What do you enjoy most in Israel? Adir: the Street that I grew up in Holon, and the Israeli Shwarma and Falafel. We have lots of family and there are so many stores close by. TCS: You were very young when you moved to Canada, but the move to Thornhill must have been very tough between leaving friends and going to a new school just before high school.
Adir: Not really. I looked forward to meeting new friends and the Jewish community has so much more here. Things have gone well so far and I already have a good group of friends. TCS: Any hobbies? Adir: I enjoy following and playing basketball. My favourite player is KyleLowry.I did go to an Edmonton Oiler hockey game but it was boring except for the fights. TCS: Huh, so you enjoy the fights. You should check out our youth program. Shawn: I like to play basketball, and my wife Lila likes volleyball. We both love cooking. TCS: Adir, which subjects do you enjoy the most in school? Adir: I enjoy Math and Gym. In Gym, I especially enjoy basketball and soccer. I hope to try out next year for the school teams. TCS: Tell me about your siblings. Adir: My older brother Ryan is on a gap year at Ohr Sameachin Yerushalayim. He was the co-president of Canada NCSY and is a great role model. My sister Shira works at Towns Shoes in the Promenade and is one of top salespeople, just as she was back in Edmonton. TCS: Do the kids get along? Shawn: It depends on which day of the week. TCS: So why leave Edmonton? Shawn: There is no Jewish future for our children. The Jewish schools are so short on students that they keep combining grades. It was tough leaving my brother, but certainly not the -45 C weather. TCS: As cold as minus 40 C? At a certain point are they not just making numbers up? Who could tell the difference between 45 below or 200? Shawn: You get used to the cold and just stay indoors past a certain temperature. TCS: It s still a big move, so who pushed the idea or did the family decide as one? Shawn: The idea was there for a while given the lack of Jewish resources and opportunities.so, we took a trip right before Pesach. We stayed with some great friends and they set up everything for us. We looked at synagogues, schools and when we returned to Edmonton we immediately started packing. TCS: So, you and Lila were both on the same page. Shawn: Lila was quicker to turn the page. I was comfortable with my cozy life in Edmonton, but Lila is the risk taker and she really led the charge. Of course, now I am very happy that we made the change. TCS: Adir,who did you learn with for your Torah reading? Adir: I learned with TzviTabakman. He was terrific. It was fun and I have a really close friendship with him. TCS: And your occupations?
Shawn: I am an office manager for a business that handles everything related to immigration. Lila works at Winners. Previously, she was a special education teacher. Adir: And I am unemployed. TCS: Does anyone in the family play instruments or like to sing? Shawn: No, I guess we are only half Sephardic. TCS: And, how did you choseaishtcs as your Shul? At best, we are Sephardic wannabees but clearly Ashkenazi. Shawn: My family is very happy at AISH. We went shul shopping for a while, but the members here were warm, and the Rabbi is so kind,so it suits us. After 37 years away from Iran, I have grown accustomed to the Ashkenazi way. TCS: We are indeed a warm Shul, at least warmer than -40 C. TCS: Stuart is away this week attending the annual Shul Presidents Spa weekend. You are the President for the week so what changes might we expect to see at AISH TCS? Shawn: Bigger kiddushes. TCS: I see that you are one president that does not make idle campaign promises as it looks like we will have a fantastic kiddush this week. Shawn: You do realize that we are sponsoring for our son s Bar Mitzvah. TCS: All the same to my tummy. Shabbat December 8-9: Unity Shabbat For our next Unity Shabbat we are featuring a Friday night dinner, a series of lectures by speaker & author Rabbi Mordechai Becher and the first International Kiddush. This month we will hold the British Kiddush. In order to make it as special as possible, we are asking community members to consider sponsoring the kiddush for $36 per family. All sponsors will be listed on the Honour Roll and posted at the kiddush and in Shul. Just $36 will make it possible to add the International Kiddush to the schedule of what promises to be an extraordinary Shabbat. Please write or call the office to be a sponsor. theshul@aish.com
Ongoing Classes
PROGRESSIVE DINNER 2018 Call the office at 905-764-1891 to reserve now and be entered in our weekly half price raffle