949 Clark Ave W 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 hadas.hoffer@gmail.com PRESIDENT Stuart Haber stuarthaber@rogers.com GABBAI: Brian Callan callan.brian@outlook.com YOUTH DIRECTOR: David Toledano davidtoley@gmail.com SHABBAT HOSPITALITY Chani Rosenberg chanirosenberg@gmail.com Aish Thornhill Community Shul Shabbat Bulletin Chaye Sarah Nov 25/26, 2016 25 Chesvan 5777 Candle Lighting: Not Before: 3:45 pm - Not After: 4:25 pm Shabbat Ends: 5:31 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 4:30 pm D var Torah Rabbi Rothman Sanctuary SHABBAT MORNING IN THE MAIN SANCTUARY Midrash Class Rabbi Rothman 8:30 am Shacharis 9:00 am Torah Service: Chaye Sarah pg: 106 9:45 am Haftorah pg: 1136 Rabbi s Drasha Rabbi Rothman 10:10 am Mussaf 10:30 am Announcements / Adon Olam Stuart Haber 11:20 am SHABBAT MORNING THROUGHOUT THE SHUL Hashkama Minyan Cancelled this Week Kiddush & Class - Cancelled this JOIN US FOR THE UNITY Week Library Minyan - Cancelled this Week SHABBAT JOIN US FOR THE UNITY SHABBAT 7:30 am 9:20 am This Week s D var Torah Kiddush Jerusalem Hall ~12:20 pm NEW Early Mincha Sanctuary 1:00 pm SHABBAT AFTERNOON /GINZBURG LEARNING CENTRE Ginzburg Learning Centre Resumes in the Spring Mincha Sanctuary 4:05 pm Shalosh Seuda 4:35 pm Maariv - Tzaitz HaCochavim ( Night fall or 3 stars) Sanctuary 5:31 pm Havdalah LIFE CYLCE Mazal Tov Morris & Celeste Reef on the engagement of their grandson Shai Reef to Ahuva Ifrah of Toronto
KIDDUSH SPONSORED BY The Community ( see list on pg 4) in honour of our kiddush volunteers HASHKAMA KIDDUSH SPONSORED SHALOSH SEUDA SPONSORED BY Martin & Brenda Hoffman & Family in memory of Martin s father Yitzchak ben Mordechai YOUTH KIDDUSH SPONSORED BY CLASSES DURING MUSSAF BEGIN ~ 10:30 AM ALL CLASSROOM ARE ON THE 2 ND FLOOR UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED GIRLS GROUP GR 4 + Davening, Parsha, Games and Kiddush Carmel Room 10:00 am BACKSTAGE PASS Behind the Ethical Teachings of Judaism Conference Rm Ephraim Silver 10:30 am THE PARSHA PERSPECTIVE Understanding the Weekly Torah Portion, with Focus on Personal Development Moriah Room CANCELLED THIS WEEK 10:30 am GINZBURG LEARNING CENTRE: POST MUSSAF CLASSES BEGIN ~ 11:30 AM CLASSES END ~ 12:15 PM AISH CAMPUS Welcome Aish Leaders class Moriah Room 11:30 am NEW MOM & Kids Play & Moms Learn!! Meron Room CANCELLED THIS 11:30 am TOTS WEEK INTRODUCTION TO Stepping into Tur/Shulchan Aruch, The Laws Jerusalem Jonathan 11:30 am HALACHA of Havdalah (Hebrew text-based). Hall Sherrington SPECIAL How has Israel become a Synonym for Sanctuary Yifa Segal 11:30 am GUEST Atrocities, War Crimes & Human Rights Violations? GUY S THING Controversial Issues discussed Weekly Dr. M Rothman/ 11:30 am Rabbi Mitch Mandel DEPTH OF THE The writing of the Rabbi known as the Malbim Zion Room CANCELLED THIS 11:30 am MALBIM WEEK THE TALMUD Advanced Text based Jerusalem Hall CANCELLED THIS WEEK 11:30 am THE CHASIDIC MASTERS How Chasidic leaders view the holidays & seasons Conference Room THE JEWISH Judaism Unraveled: Proving Gd Exists Library QUESTION (What Every Jew Needs to Know) THE CHABURA Class for Teenage Boys Jerusalem Hall Dr. Martin Levin CANCELLED THIS WEEK Dani Meisels A number of our usual Shabbat classes have been cancelled by their teacher to enable the students to hear our Special Guest Speaker in the Main Sanctuary. Please Join the Community to hear Yifa Segal of the International Legal Forum present The Struggle Against BDS & the Anti-Israel Lobby 11:30 am 11:30 am 11:30 am
Weekday Davening Times: Sun Nov 27 Fri Dec 2, 2016 Shacharit : Sunday Library 8:00 am Shacharit. Monday Wed/ Fri Library 6:45 am Thursday Rosh Chodesh Kislev 6:30 am Mincha/Maariv : Sunday - Thursday Sanctuary 4:35 pm Next Shabbos Toldot Friday Mincha / Kaballat Shabbat / Maariv Sanctuary 4:30 pm Friday Dec 2 : Candle Lighting Not Before: 3:43 pm Not After 4:23 pm Shabbat Dec 3 Shabbat Ends 5:29 pm Weekday Classes Sunday : Library 8:45 AM Library Rabbi Rothman Thurs: Library 6:00 AM Halacha Rabbi Mordechai Cohen Wed: Conference Room 7:30 AM 10:00 AM Rambam s Mishna Torah Rabbi S. Schwartz Weekday Evening Classes Sundays Home Group @ 7:00PM Shabbos Kitchen Rabbi David Ostriker david.ostriker@gmail.com Monday Conference Room @7:30 pm Halacha Rabbi Cohen Tuesday Conference Room 7:00 PM Zion Room 8:00 pm Wednesday Night Home Group @ 6:30 pm Derech Hashem Plug into the Power of Prayer Can The Modern State of Israel Be The Beginning Of Redemption? Questions & Answers in Halacha Reb. Avraham Kleiman Rabbi David Ostriker david.ostriker@gmail.com
Sholosh Seudot You Gotta be Kiddin Me Halacha Discussion Once there was a doctor whose concern for the health and wellbeing of his patients knew no bounds. Well past the hours of his workday, he would treat and advise the steady flow of people who constantly passed through his home. He received each request with a warm and friendly smile, since he sincerely was happy to help them. His wife worried that his dedication to healing others would eventually damage his own health. Therefore, she started telling patients who came to their house that the doctor was not available and they should try somewhere else. When people called, instead of handing him the phone, she said that he was not in. (Of course she never turned away anyone in a life-threatening situation.) All this was done behind her husband s back. Had he known, his compassionate heart would never have allowed her to turn away any request for help. The wife s conscience began to plague her, so she decided to ask R Zilberstein shlita if she was doing the right thing. On the one hand, she had her husband s best interests in mind. On the other hand, what right did she have to decide for him how much kindness to dispense? What is the Answer? With Rabbi Rothman during Shalosh Seuda
This week s Kiddush is sponsored by: Gilbert & Rivka Allal Anonymous Stephen & Talya Beker Steven & Nicola Fleischer David & Ilana Grabel David & Talya Gryn Stuart & Michele Haber Shawn & Shelley Harris Bill & Shelley Herman Ilana Hoffer Newton & Hadassah Hoffer Avraham & Moshe Alter Kleiman Daryl & Ingrid Kruger David & Honey Levy Alfred & Shelley Lindo Ron Mandel Robert & Doris Morris Wayne & Andrea Nathanson Murray & Barbara Nightingale Morris & Celeste Reef Rabbi Avram & Ruthie Rothman Brian & Neilia Sherman- Waterman Laurence & Claire Sacks Jonathan & Amanda Sherrington Chaim & Freda Shiel Ephraim & Frumie Silver Brian & Sharon Taylor Gary & Mandy Taylor In honour of the volunteers who set-up and organize the weekly Kiddush
Profiles This week we continueour new feature in the bulletin with another instalment 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 Beth and Jeff Bernholtz. TCS: Let s start by wishing you a Mazel Tov on your 10 th wedding anniversary. How did you guys celebrate? Beth: With lots of coffee. Jeff:Literally. We bought a Nespresso machine. And we have a second chance, Tuesday is the Hebrew anniversary, TCS: You both always look like teenagers on a great 2 nd date. What is your secret? Jeff:The Hebrew work for love Ahava has hav as its root which means I will give.i spoke about this at our wedding and all the woman sighed and then turned and hit their husbands. Beth:Jeff makes my happiness his priority. And we never judge each other. TCS: There is no way in H-E-double hockey sticks that I am letting my wife read this profile. TCS:Beth you grew up in St. Louis and Clearwater, Florida. What s the story with the famous arch? Was that really the intended final product? Perhaps they were planning a bungee cord jump Beth: Yes. You can actually take a ride up to the top and see all of St. Louis. TCS:How would you compare Clearwater to Toronto? Beth: They are very different. I feel like I found my home in the Jewish community here in Toronto. Jeff:Beth s nephew came up to Toronto for the wedding. He was so strongly influenced by the community that soon afterwards at his Bar Mitzvah he asked Mom to kasher their kitchen. He wanted the type of Jewish lifestyle that he saw in Toronto. TCS:Thanksgiving is huge in the U.S. We need to know: Stuffing or cranberry sauce and pecan or pumpkin pie? Beth:I love stuffing. And Pecan pie. Jeff: Both. And Both. TCS:Jeff, you have been described as shul in a box, the man of Shabbos Steel, the Talis-Caped Crusader,the Swiss Shul Army Knife. How do you manage to have the stamina to do so much week in and week out? Jeff:Stamina is not the issue. I respect other people s decision to allow me to lead and so I try to carry out that responsibility to the best of my ability. That is my driving force. TCS: You are a disciple of Mr. Zucker who is responsible for a sizable flock of leiners throughout the city. Jeff: Yes and even though he is well into his 90 s at least as recently as a few years ago he was still leining in the nursing home where he lives. He established the foundation for me and from there I can sum it up best by the adage the first 1,000 times are the hardest and then it gets easier.
TCS: But it was not always a smooth path. Jeff: That is true. I was turned down from leining at the BAYT because they thought I was not good enough despite having had years of experience by that point. But a friend called me up to tell me about a cozy new minyan called AISH. The catch being that they needed a leiner. And so a shidduch was made. TCS: You were cut by the BAYT? Jeff Bernholtz told that he could not make the roster? That is more insane than Michael Jordan being cut in high school. TCS: Truth time. Don t you ever get up on a Shabbos morning and think for a second that this week you are going to show up late, daven, schmooze, have a few l chaims and let others run the show? Beth:Jeff never disappoints. He is the definition of integrity and so the thought does not cross his mind. Jeff:With my sense of responsibility It really never is a temptation. Same goes for work. I only missed one day of work and that was when I broke my elbow and could not figure out how to close the car door and drive to work. TCS:Shul contracts are not publically disclosed but word on the bimah is that the shul, citing salary cap constraints, was only willing to pay you a whole pot of nothing (and we are not talking the tasty kichel with sugar nothings that I grew up on). Jeff: Perhaps I need a new agent. TCS:Your Torah insights and attention to detail is extraordinary. You once told me that you are blessed with a great memory and that If you hear something once it stays with you. Jeff:I am fortunate that I retain things. Part of medicine is to recall in order to diagnose. My memory is not photographic but I have the abiility to recall details then associate it with other things and put it into context. TCS:Are there drawbacks to having such a memory like Beth expecting you to remember everything she has ever told you? Jeff: That s a given. Being in a position of having knowledge puts you into a position of responsibility. If you know something and don t teach it then you are putting a stumbling block in front a blind person. Rabbi Mandel taught me this and it encouraged me to come out of my shell and give over more. Every week by phone I give something to Zoë in Montreal. Beth: My daughter Zoë wanted to create a stronger connection with Jeff and came up with the idea for Jeff to give her a dvar torah every week. Jeff: It has encouraged me to always be learning and always finding ways to share insight. TCS: Beth you are preparing for your Licensing Exam but you already have a Doctorate. Tell us a little about it and your plans once you are done. Beth: I work with adults as a psychologist in supervised practice. My doctoral thesis title was reallylong, so I won t confuse you with the details. In a nutshell (TCS Editor: nut-free shell), ahuge amount of communication is non-verbal and so I studied the relationship between vocal quality and effectiveness of psychotherapy. TCS:Changing gears. You blew the doors off the Dessert portion of the Progressive Dinner last year. Do you realize how difficult you have made it for the organizer to keep those standards? Beth:We had a lot of fun. A while ago, we came to the realization that the trick to keeping things exciting was to never make something twice. So there is risk inherent in that approach. We definitely go through a lot of planning. Jeff: Cuisine is something to explore. If you are going to do something then you do it right and do it big. TCS: Not that you would have any free time between work, studying and doing so, so much for the shul but if you had another 6 hours in the day what hobbies would you enjoy?
Beth:We love crafts. I have a collection of vintage sewing patterns. Jeff is a calligrapher. This past summer we decided that we need to see nature and planned a couple of trips to park. The first one went well but the second time we were swarmed by gnats and ladybugs. TCS: Nature is so annoying. Much like editors. Jeff:We like looking for hechshers on strange things. Cactus brine was one of our treasured discoveries. Know any recipes? TCS: Who doesn t? I will hook you up with my Mom who has a killer matzoh cactusball recipe. Jeff: I also teach a 3 hour weekly class to children of a father who wrote a book on the meaning and significance of notes in the leining.and I love exploring caves. TCS: I love man caves too. Still working on getting the wife to agree to letting me have one. Jeff:No, real caves. Beth: We have a favourite charity Ulpanat Dolev in Israel. It is a school for girls from dysfunctional situations who can t live at home anymore. The town of Dolev has thrown all their resources into integrating these girls.we donate, hold fundraisers, and want to be directly involved in helping in retirement. We even made it to their promotional material. TCS:It has been 10 years. Do you even remember how you met and any highlights from the courtship? Jeff: Dr. Ron Nussbaum set us up. Beth:Jeff took me to Niagara Falls casino on one date and to see a Gilbert and Sullivan musical on another. Each of our dates lasted 5 hours long. TCS: Some marriages don t last that long. TCS:So Stuart is busy this week practicing as he has been asked to handle the ceremonial Grey Cup kickoff duties? That leaves you as president for the week so what changes might we expect to see from both of you? Jeff: In Basel, Switzerland, we went to a shul which had a rotation of people to welcome newcomers. It was a great experience and something we would love to see at TCS. TCS: Thank you and look forward to seeing you continue your 2 nd date. We think he is a keeper.
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