Annex Shul is a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community for young professionals and young families, located in Toronto s Annex neighbourhood. We re a non-denominational, independent minyan, and we encourage everyone in our community to play an active role in our programming.
Welcome to Annex Shul Our motto Come as you are, Make it yours exemplifies our approach to building community. There is truly something for everyone at Annex Shul, and we encourage you to get involved in a manner that is meaningful to you, because only then can we continue to grow as a community. Propose and plan an event. Lead part of a service for the first time or the 50th time. Help us dream and re-envision our community as we grow and expand. At Annex Shul, we daven, learn, and share meals together. We volunteer together. We party together. Tov l hodot l hashem with thanks to God, together we celebrate milestones and mourn losses small and great. As a group we grapple with questions and dilemmas particular to the Jewish community here and around the world. We offer lively and participatory Carlebach-style services, discussion-based learning opportunities, social gatherings (such as our ever popular Shabbat dinners and holiday parties), Tikkun Olam projects, and leadership development opportunities. Although the majority of Annex Shul participants are young professionals, all are welcome, regardless of age or affiliation, and we make a point of ensuring that all our religious services and classes are financially accessible to all. 2
Why Join Annex Shul? FUTURE OF ANNEX SHUL For the past four years, thanks to a generous grant from UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, we have been working on becoming a self-sustaining community for young professionals. Throughout that time, we have implemented a membership structure, experimented with various fundraising events, developed important partnerships and offered inclusive, meaningful and interactive High Holy Day services. We are excited to share that this year, as our grant has come to an end, we are on target to meet our budget. However, without membership donations, we will not be able to sustain, let alone grow the incredible community that we have built together. VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND MEMBER INVOLVEMENT Annex Shul offers a wide range of programs from social action events to a weekly Torah study class, holiday parties, High Holy Day services, Shabbat dinners, and other learning initiatives centred around each holiday. Annex Shul members are encouraged to take an active role in the shul. MEMBERSHIP PERKS As a member you are entitled to the following benefits: Tax receipt for High Holiday tickets and Membership Donations Priority tickets to Holiday parties Access to Annex Shul Torah and Siddurim Free consultation with our Spiritual Leader to plan your Simchas Members only events such as, Shabbat dinners, brunches, guest speakers, dinners in other Annex Shul members homes, classes Discounts to Annex area businesses Shabbat Dinner Discount Payment Plan ANNEX SHUL COMMUNITY Annex Shul is an inclusive, warm, welcoming and non-denominational community. Whether you are familiar with Jewish prayers or it s your first day inside a shul, the Annex community will help you deepen and expand your Jewish connections. As a member, Spiritual Leader, Yacov, will offer you necessary resources to chart your Jewish journey and empower you to make it your own. Locked in membership rate through 2014 Priority on Annex Shul sports teams Discounted rates on Wolfond Centre space rental 4
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2013 NEW MEMBERSHIP RATES Individual $275 Family $400 Student $100 * High Holy Days discount prices only apply if you purchase your membership before September 4 th, 2013 2013 HIGH HOLY DAYS TICKET PRICES High Holy Days for Non-Members High Holy Days for Members Members Savings Individual $225 $175 $50 Family $425 $325 $100 Student $100 $100 - Partial High Holy Days for Non- Members (just RH or YK) Partial High Holy Days for Members (just RH or YK) Members Savings Individual $125 $90 $35 Family $225 $175 $50 Student $65 $50 $15 Full High Holy Days & Membership Partial High Holy Days & Membership Individual $450 $365 Family $725 $575 Student $200 $150 Payment Instructions: Membership & High Holy Days Donation can be made online at www.annexshul.com 5
Annex Shul Events Social Action Holiday Parties One of the most meaningful aspects of Annex Shul is our Tikkun Olam ( repairing the world ) Charity initiative. This initiative was launched in 2009 as a means of engaging enthusiastic members of the Annex Shul community through volunteer work that can truly make a difference in the world by helping those in need. Every month or two, a volunteer event is held with nonprofit organizations around the city. Annex Shul has a unique way of celebrating Jewish holidays, which can best be described as "Jewish ritual meets best party of the year". Our Hanukkah and Purim parties are held in trendy Toronto bars and clubs and are infused with meaningful Jewish practice. Have you ever been to party with 400 young Jews in an Ossington bar, headlined by soulful Megilla reading? Well, Annex Shul is the place to make that happen! If you would like to volunteer, please contact jordanlubek@yahoo.ca Education 6 Family Programming As many of our young professionals at Annex Shul have become young parents, we have begun to offer monthly programs for them and their young children. We offer dynamic family programs for parents and young children, including our popular Shabbat family services, family dinners, and holiday parties (such as at Hanukkah and Purim) that offer a fun and meaningful experience for kids and parents alike, and help to foster our own community as we grow ever larger. The education at Annex Shul is based on the belief that when you mix a thoughtful teacher with good coffee, an interesting piece of Jewish text, and open-minded people, something special is bound to happen. Our weekly classes and series are discussion based and interactive and we encourage you to grapple with the ideas presented. We learn in coffee shops, bars, the Wolfond Centre and anywhere else that has a good vibe, as we believe that Jewish learning can and should happen everywhere. Our past classes have included, the weekly Torah portion, Jewish history, cooking, Jewish Couplehood, davening and holiday classes. We are always open to new ideas, so please let us know what you would like to learn with us.
Annex Shul Leadership Team Elana Metter, Chair Heidi Friedman, Education Born and raised in Toronto, Elana has been involved with Annex Shul since 2007 in various capacities. She works in business development and is involved with a number of community organizations. Elana is interested in growing and strengthening the Annex Shul s membership, enriching the current programming and strategic development. Elana has six siblings and 12 nieces and nephews. Hyla Korn, Hospitality Hyla is thrilled to have found the Annex Shul, upon returning to Toronto from Law School. She is excited to be part of such a warm and inviting community. Hyla works as a civil litigation lawyer specializing in insurance defence. She has previously worked at UJA Federation and the Toronto District School Board teaching Yiddish. Hyla is passionate about Jewish learning and completed a Masters in Religious Studies at the University of Toronto. Hyla was involved in the Jewish Community while growing up in Toronto with organizations such as Hillel, UJA Federation, Hadassah, Beth Emeth Synagogue and United Synagogue Youth. Next time you re at the Annex Shul she invites you to come and say hi! Yacov Fruchter, Spiritual Leader Born, raised and inspired Jewishly in Montreal, Yacov has spent the last 7 years working as an informal Jewish educator. After attending McGill, Yacov worked as the Director of Advocacy and Programming for Hillel Montreal. He then moved to Toronto to work as the Director of Emerging Campuses and Jewish Educator for Hillel Canada, a department of United Israel Appeal. Since August 2009 Yacov has served as the Spiritual Leader of the Annex Shul. Yacov is married to Ryla Braemer and is the proud father of Sheelo Netta, his new baby girl. Yacov and his growing family enjoy living in the heart of the Annex and are proud to contribute to the vibrancy of Jewish life South of St. Clair.Yacov is always available for a conversation about any Jewish topic that is important to you. He believes that there is no such thing as a silly or inappropriate Jewish question and is always excited to help individuals and families make meaningful Jewish decisions. Heidi believes passionately in the vision of Annex Shul, and is deeply committed to creating a thriving non-denominational community in downtown Toronto. She is a dedicated Jewish educator who has worked as vice-principal of a vision led, non-denominational Jewish day school, and brings her knowledge of running a vision led organization to the Leadership Team. She sees herself as always learning, she has spent time in Israel studying Judaic topics, is always reading multiple books, taking a class, or learning with a chevruta (learning partner). Heidi loves to create an inclusive learning environment which welcomes individuals from across the spectrum of Jewish observance and experience. She believes in authentic, meaningful and rich dialogue, in respecting a multiplicity of interpretations, and that when we do so we enrich our own knowledge and religious experience. Heidi currently works at the Toronto Heshel School. Jordan Lubek, Tikkun Olam Jordan has been a member of Annex Shul s community since the first year of its existence. He has increased his involvement in the community throughout the years. In 2009, he initiated the Tikkun Olam/Charity Initiative, which has continued to grow and has brought a strong social action component to Annex Shul. Jordan s professional background is in Finance/Business. Lea Konforte, Operations Lea Konforte thinks that Toronto is a better place because of a friendly and welcoming space for young Jews like Annex Shul. She comes from a family with a long tradition of involvement in Jewish community, and plans to continue this family tradition by joining the Leadership Team When not climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or spending time in her kayak she fills her day hours working as the Head of School Wide Technology at Runnymede. C.I. She s been a high school teacher for the past six years. Prior to teaching she worked in the inter-company accounting, corporate sales and real-estate consulting. She loves being involved and sits on a few educational advisory boards. Her goal is to leverage her finance and operational experience to help make Annex Shul financially sustainable. Meredith Krangle, Finances Meredith is a Chartered Accountant and spends her days helping her clients be efficient and smart with their hard earned money. Meredith grew up attending Holy Blossom Temple and spend her summers attending Canadian Young Judea camps in Canada. She credits her many summers at camp for her interest in Judaism and the Jewish community. Meredith was looking for a way to get involved in the Jewish community when she discovered the Annex Shul. Meredith felt right at home after her first Shabbat Dinner with the Shul and since then she has been involved with Purim parties, the 5 th Anniversary dinner, shulcooked meals just to name a few. 7
Become a member today and join a community to grow with! lorem ipsum [Street Address] [City], [State][Postal Code] [Web Address]