HHD 2020 KOLEINU LITE FOR PRINT

Shanah Tova To all of our members and their families,

May this year be a sweet year with lots of love, healthy and

happiness.

Volume 69 No. 1 September 1, 2020 - March 12, 2021 ♌ 12 Elul 5780 - 28 Adar 5781

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As we prepare for the upcoming Yamim Noraim – Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur, we are still adapting to our new coronavirus reality.

Normally many people would be off on vacation during the summer months, yet the virus has caused most people to choose to stay closer to home. They call it a “staycation” when you take a vacation but stay at home, but even staycations are strange in these times when we’re all mostly staying at home all the time anyway.

At Shaare Zedek, we have been hard at work keeping our synagogue functioning and delivering our services which are more essential now than ever. This has been a real team effort. I want to firstly thank, our Daily Minyanaires for their dedication and commitment, keeping our daily minyans going, even if it means meeting in cyberspace. Our incredible Board of Directors has been working behind the scenes non-stop to help us navigate these uncharted waters. A mega thanks goes to our office staff, and maintenance staff head by our incredible executive director. Without the commitment of, Billy, Wendy, Sara, Lili and Roberto I have no idea how we would have succeeded in the progress achieved.

High holiday services this year will be a very different kind of experience than anything any of us has ever had before. I could not have ever imagined having to diversify and re-work our traditional services to meet the new needs of you our beloved congregants. Different, however, does not mean less holy.

The word kadosh, usually translated as “holy” also has an implication of set aside or set apart. If you are going to be joining our services from home, I encourage you to try and make the experience as holy as possible, by creating a makom kadosh – a holy place within your home. You can do this quite simply by setting aside a special designated place to pray (see page 6), just as you no doubt have your special place (seat) in shul. It will help feel more like the Days of Awe if you dress as you would for yom tov, and don’t tune in to services dressed in your pj’s or sweatpants.

“Watching from the comfort of your own home” is the antithesis of what the holidays stand for. It’s a time when ideally, we are together with family and community, and there should be things in our prayers that make us a little uncomfortable as we reflect on the past year and consider where we may have come up short. After all, now that it is the month of Elul, we blow the shofar (virtually) every weekday morning in our minyan, a sound intended to awaken us from our slumber.

I would like to conclude my message by thanking each and every one of you, our committed members for your unerring support in maintaining the viability of your shul. It would have been easy, yet unjustified to say, “I’m not going this year, so I am not paying”, but the majority of you did not take that attitude. To you I offer the bracha that we say every Shabbat – ‫וכל מי שמייחדים בתי כנסיות‬ .‫ הקדוש ברוך הוא ישלם שכרם‬....‫לתפילה‬And to those joining together to support the maintenance of the synagogues..... God will pay unto your reward.

May the blowing of the shofar this year also herald the coming of a New Year when we may all arouse from our collective slumber, as there is much in these unusual times that feels like a bad dream at times. May 5781 bring us a vaccine, the pandemic brought under control, and with it the opportunity for us to come together physically as a community once again!

Shannah Tova Umevurechet Im briut shleyma, umetukah – Wishing you all a year of filled with blessing, health and sweetness.

Rabbi Alan W. Bright, Elizabeth and the family.

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SHAARE ZEDEK COMMUNITY SELICHOT PROGRAM SATURDAY NIGHT – SEPTEMBER 12 HAVDALLAH – 8:00PM GUEST SPEAKER – PROFESSOR CHARLES SMALL – 8:15PM SELICHOT SERVICE – 9:30PM ROSH HASHANNAH 5781 FIRST NIGHT SEPTEMBER 18 CANDLE LIGHTING – 6:41PM FRIDAY EVENING SERVICES – 6:00PM SECOND NIGHT SEPTEMBER 20 CANDLE LIGHTING – 7:41PM SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICES – 7:00PM SUNDAY NIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 MINCHA AND MAARIV SERVICES YOM TOV TERMINATES – 7:40PM ROSH HASHANNAH MORNING SERVICES - 10:00AM – 12:00PM SEPTEMBER 19 AND SEPTEMBER 20 FIRST DAY ROSH HASHANNAH

SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANNAH

(SOUNDING OF SHOFAR OMITTED DUE TO SHABBAT)

TORAH READING

10:00AM

TORAH READING

10:00AM

MUSAF

10:45AM

SHOFAR SERVICE

10:45AM

SERMON

11:30AM

MUSAF

11:00AM

ADON OLAM

12:00PM

SERMON

11:45AM

ADON OLAM

12:00PM

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YOM KIPPUR 5781

YOM KIPPUR EVE – SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27 KOL NIDRE SERVICE

5:45PM

CANDLE LIGHTING

6:24PM

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

6:25PM

MAARIV

6:35PM

RABBI’S SERMON

7:15PM

YIGDAL (Conclusion)

7:45PM

YOM KIPPUR DAY – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28 Service times TORAH SERVICE

10:00AM

SERMON

10:45AM

YIZKOR

11:15AM

MUSAF

12:30PM BREAK – 12:30PM – 6:00PM

NEILAH and SERMON

6:00PM

HAVDALAH / SOUNDING OF SHOFAR

7:23PM 5

How does one create a meaningful High Holy Days experience in front of the screen? Here are a few suggestions that I urge you to try.

Dress up! – Yes, we all enjoy staying in our comfortable sweatpants 24/7, and online retailers report that they are selling a lot of business shirts but very few pants…

Tempting as it may be, staying in ‘home clothes’ is not a great way of creating a festive experience. Dress for online services the same way you would if they were in person.

You will feel completely different.

Create a Sacred Space! – do not be tempted to participate in the service from your office, or from your kitchen. Set up your laptop, your tablet in a nice, comfortable area in your home, or use your living room television. Face East if at all possible. Put on a nice, white tablecloth with candle sticks, a kiddush cup, and a shofar if you have one. Get some pomegranates, apples and honey, and place them in a visible spot. Your environment matters.

Minimize Distractions! – If using your computer, close all your browser tabs. Emails and social media can wait. Change your phone setting to “do not disturb.” We are used to being available 24/7, but trust me, the world will continue to turn if you allow yourself to be 100% present for a couple of hours. You are not missing out on that much!

Use your Books! – while we will still have the text in front of you either on screen or in print, we will also be distributing our High Holy Days machzors to the entire congregation either in print or electronic. Allow yourself to read beyond the particular spot we are in – whatever page you are on is the place you need to be in!

Sing! – You may be muted, and maybe nobody else can hear you, but this does not mean you cannot sing out loud. Remember that third grade chorus teacher that told you to move your lips and make no sound? Now is your chance to sing as loud as you want without any fear of judgement.

I am aware that none of these suggestions will make the Holy Days feel normal. There is nothing normal about them. But normal is not always what we need. Maybe being forcefully removed from our comfort zone is just what we need at this particular time. In any case, what do we have to lose?

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Elizabeth Bright, and her children, with the support of her husband, Rabbi Alan W. Bright delivered supplies, licensing animal supplies and pharmaceuticals to some families on lockdown. It was a typical day of deliveries bringing food, friendship and comfort. Mrs. Bright has also transformed her practice of 17 years of awareness lessons on Tanach, the ′′ Hebrew Bible ", into remote sessions via Zoom due to the onset of Covid –19. Elizabeth says “that the people I ‘hold hands’ with...think I do it for them; I do it for myself ". It's worthy of a real hero! Mitch Garber donated $500 to Safeguard (Hatzoloh), a community emergency medical assistance service Hassidic from Montreal, on behalf of our local heroine, Elizabeth Bright.

We are so delighted that Elizabeth Bright was recognized in this way from the city, as in our home, our shul, she has always been a heroine, giving of her time, and continues to lead by example with all the Bright children.

Thank you Elizabeth!

Lili Nusbaum Yesovitch believes in setting an example.

When called upon to help lift the spirits of front-line healthcare workers, Lili turned her passion and experience as a professional baker into providing healthcare workers with a sweet treat every week.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lili has been baking between 200 and 300 biscotti a week. The biscotti are delivered to Feel the Love for distribution among the west-end CIUSSS de l'Ouest de l'Île de Montréal hospitals and long-term care homes.

With a daughter who is a doctor (and son in law!) and another daughter who is a mental health therapist, medical professionals are near and dear to her heart.

“I’m a feeder,” laughs Lili. “It was natural for me to start baking when I was asked to help. It is so important that we acknowledge the doctors, nurses and orderlies. Really all the people who make our health care system work. I hope the little treat they receive gives them a boost.”

From the beginning, but, especially, during the onset of Covid - 19, whilst transitioning our shul to meet the Since retiring from her baking and fabric businesses needs of our SZ community, and needing to abide by without a plan (she jokes), Lili has dedicated herself to both the provincial and federal government guidelines, demonstrating that a small act of kindness can make a Lili volunteered her time, and recruited a team of huge difference in the life of someone. She and her volunteers to make calls to the elderly community who husband are residents of Côte-Saint-Luc and have been were isolated in quarantine, to simply ‘check in’ on very involved in the Shaare Zedek Congregation for years. them. Thank you Lili for all you do!

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Dear members of the Shaare Zedek Congregation, Do you think your president has lost his mind? Is the pressure of navigating through the Covid-19 pandemic to great to bear? Despite what we have all gone through, I somehow feel that this may be the most gratifying and satisfying year I have experienced over my long association with the synagogue.

To quote Rocky Balboa: “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.’

As your president I can not express how proud I am of all of you. Despite everything that was going on, the Shaare Zedek never closed. We continued to provide all services both to our congregants and the community at large without skipping a beat.

This cannot be accomplished by one person. It takes a committed team working together for the welfare of all. I must thank Rabbi Bright, as the sole clergy, for stepping up. I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank Elizabeth and the entire Bright family for their intimate involvement, particularly with the community at large. Our Executive Director, office and maintenance staff all rose to the challenge. My Board of Directors and Executive team who were tireless in their commitment to the synagogue. Lastly and perhaps most importantly I need to thank you, our congregants, for your support during this trying period.

As we could no longer meet in person, we had to adapt. Except for Saturday morning, all services were conducted online. The congregations support and participation has been overwhelming. Your support gave us the energy to constantly strive to do better. The attendance for services has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Your synagogue team is working on delivering a High Holiday experience that I believe we will all enjoy. Depending on government regulation, we plan on a hybrid service. We hope to have both an in-person service as well as live streaming.

We are purchasing equipment and enlisting experts to ensure that our live streaming will be first class. This investment will also pay dividends in the future. Many of our learnings will be incorporated to better service our congregants when we return to the new normal.

In order to survive one needs to adapt. I think we have all done well and will come out of this even stronger than before.

So, call me crazy if you want, but I will take that as a compliment.

On behalf of myself and my family I wish you all a Shana Tova Umetukah, a sweet, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Benjamin Topor President 8

Ben Topor

Judy Pell

Michael Wiseman

Nancy Cooperberg

Mac Brotman

Judy Hagshi

Mark Merson

Shawn Martel

Diana Schweitzer

Marion Caplan

Miles Herer

Carole Burke

Milton Joseph

Bebe Newman

Len Miller

Erin Slater and Joseph Battat

Lisa McBride and Wade Boroff

We are so delighted to

Elsa Mennasemay and Alain Elkaim Barbara Kaminer

Welcome over twenty

Stephanie Lipstein and Glenn Katz

new Families to

Sandra Levine Julian Lewin

Shaare Zedek

Cara Merson and Celso Louro Jeni Dorinbaum and Denis Roger

this year.

Corinne Gutman and Charles Rowniak

Andrew Sable

Thank you all so much

Paula Sacks Barbara Siegel

for being part of a very special place to be -

Dena Siegel Barrie Siegel and Jeffrey Tenser

Shaare Zedek.

Carol and Donald Slater Norm Spatz Samarra and Daniel Wolff

Welcome!

Ann Zilberbrant Srey Saphan and Scott Arkin 9

July 27, 2020 Once upon a time, in the not so distant past, our synagogue community was the very essence of social proximity. Hugs and kisses were the norm—to provide comfort in times of sadness and share joy in times of celebration—with members congregating freely without fear for their health. It’s incredible the simple things that we took for granted in the past, but now that it’s gone, we clearly long for what we had.

To say that 2020, thus far, has been strange and challenging would be a gross understatement.

Although the Shaare Zedek building has been closed, our administrative operations, behind the scenes, have continued unabated. Our dedicated staff have adapted to the new reality, working harder than ever to ensure our congregants needs are met.

In the past, great preparation was required for the High Holidays, but we had decades of experience to guide us. This year, as we prepare for the Holidays, we face many new obstacles and uncertainties.

Will we be able to physically gather in the Sanctuary? If so, how many of the 780 seats will we be able to utilize? Rest assured, we are putting together protocols that follow strict guidelines to ensure your safety when we are permitted to open.

Our plan is to put together a hybrid service that includes both physical attendance and live streaming. We have already invested in the technology and personnel to make sure that whatever we do will result in a first-class experience. To do this, and to emerge ready for the new reality of running a thriving community such as ours, we need your immediate support.

If you are financially capable, please pay your membership for which you have already been invoiced.

For the High Holiday seats, here is an invoice for the same number of seats that you had last year.

Note, we need and ask you to pay for these seats regardless of whether they will actually be used — this is critically needed by the synagogue in order to allow us to re-launch post-Covid. And yes, I am personally leading our Kol Nidre appeal, but in a different way than usual given our hybrid virtual approach to the Holidays this year.

You can pay online: https://www.shaarezedek.ca/member Login with your own email address. Set your own password or call the office at (514) 484-1122 For those of you who are impacted, either physically or financially by Covid, we are here to support you. Just reach out to me, Rabbi Bright, or our Executive Director, Billy Booth, to discuss your particular situation.

The pandemic, like all things, will pass. I am hoping that “Once Upon a Time” ultimately ends with “Happily Ever After”. This, my friends, in large part, is up to you. Thank you as always for your continuous, generous support both financially and spiritually.

Ben Topor President president@shaarezedek.ca 10

In the wake of our unfolding reality implemented from the Montreal Board of Rabbis and the Provincial and Federal Governments, that we could not gather together in our Shaare Zedek home, it was an almost immediate response put forth by Rabbi Bright, our Executive Director and the Board, to continue services online.

Our members continued to join us for morning and evening services and we welcomed many new faces to our virtual services.

Our regular scheduled services went from gloom to ZOOM! The SZ Hebrew Program 4 Kids continued learning online.

Elizabeth Bright’s continued, and still does, each and every Wednesday, without pause, to teach her longstanding Torah class.

New Programs were birthed from the virtual platform Teen Schmooze, Coffee with Caryn, Open Mic with Brahm Canzer and Rabbi Bright, Financial Concerns in Uncertain Times with SZ's Board Member, Shawn Martel , Virtual Talk One day at a time; dealing with Covid - 19 hosted by Dr. Jon Davine, amongst many others that developed with a need to connect with all of you, despite our distance and isolation. Many programs to continue...stay tuned!

A huge thank you to the Bright Family. During these unprecedented times, they opened up their homes on the festive occasion of Passover so that no one should be alone in their homes to celebrate without their family and friends. They invited everyone ‘into their home’ to join them at their seder, in prayer, in song. This was no small feat, yet absolutely a reassuring warm welcome, that no matter if we could not all be together...we were definitely not alone with the Brights’ inviting us into their home for Passover. Thank you.

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The pandemic certainly changed things for everyone. It seems like a distant memory when we would parade the Torah on Shabbat with hugs, shaking hands not to mention double-cheek kisses. Covid shut things at Shaare Zedek like everywhere else. Fortunately, we have a resilient team of volunteers and staff that rose to the challenge and found new ways to get things done.

Within 48 hours we made the transition to virtual services via Zoom. While this was new for most people, the acceptance has been tremendous. In fact, attendance is way up at our daily services and people want the virtual option to continue even when we are allowed to fully open.

To say that this has been a success would be an understatement.

As the weeks have turned to months, we learned quite a bit about streaming services and explored many options. Shaare Zedek has just purchased a full range of audio-visual equipment including high resolution 4K cameras, microphones, computer, and streaming software to equip the main sanctuary and chapel to broadcast services 365 days per year. This is one of our most progressive steps that will allow us to stream weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, brises, baby namings, and all services. The equipment is quite sophisticated requiring special cables that connect from the main Bimah to the top level of the building and everywhere in between.

Along the way, we installed a new phone system, upgraded our wifi and connectivity and set up some new offices and conference rooms. There was also a massive cleanup of the physical space in every nook and cranny. For those of you who ever walked behind the Bimah, the choir loft was a dumping ground for whatever did not have a home. As such, far too much accumulated over the years. Roberto Ortiz and his team worked tirelessly to organize that space and much more throughout the building.

Wendy Tessler has kept things running smoothly with our weekly Shabbat newsletters and updates on our website and social media, amongst several other tasks. Sara Watson spear-headed our effort to organize our books in preparation for the auditors, amongst several other tasks as well. Much of their work had to be done from home during the Covid outbreak making things more difficult. The list of board members and volunteers that help behind the scenes in so many ways is quite long.

Thank you to everyone for your constant support. Special shout out to Rabbi Bright who ensured that our daily services has kept up unabated. Transitioning to zoom was done quickly and seamlessly.

Good things are happening at Shaare Zedek these days and more to come‌ Shana Tova from my family to yours.

Billy Booth By now, may of you have begun using ShulCloud which is the software for our daily operations. It is very powerful and allows you access to view your account, make donations and pay for events. All transactions are encrypted and completely secure. https://www.shaarezedek.ca/member Login with your email address Set your own password 12

www.facebook.com/shaarezedekmtl/ @shaarezedekmtl https://twitter.com/SZC_Montreal shaarezedekcongregationmtl

Rabbi Alan W. Bright:

rabbi@shaarezedek.ca

Benjamin Topor, President:

president@shaarezedek.ca

Billy Booth, Executive Director:

execdirector@shaarezedek.ca

Wendy:

wendy@shaarezedek.ca

Sara:

sara@shaarezedek.ca

Roberto, Building Supervisor:

roberto@shaarezedek.ca

Please note: as mentioned on the inside cover, in the wake of these unprecedented times, events being rescheduled, working with a skeleton staff, the full Koleinu will be available in a couple of weeks digitally, sent to you by email and on our website. The full Koleinu version will include most of our regular features; Funds, Yarzheits, Weddings, Anniversaries, Bar-Bat Mitzvahs, etc. Thank you for your understanding.

5305 Rosedale Avenue Montreal, QC H4V 2H7 Tel: 514-484-1122 Fax: 514-484-1454 shaarezedek@shaarezedek.ca www.shaarezedek.ca Rabbi President Parnass

Alan W. Bright Benjamin Topor Dr. Michael Wasser

Founding Rabbi Cantor Emeritus Choir Director Executive Director

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A. Bernard Leffell, z�l Mendel Fogel z�l Dr. Earl Karanofsky Billy Booth

Capital Campaign Renovations Phase One It’s been a whirlwind of activity at Shaare Zedek since we started the renovations in November 2019.

Over 6 months of work and virtually everything is complete. The main areas of improvement are new washrooms on the main sanctuary and upper levels which desperately needed updating. We now have handicap accessibility. There is also a new Bridal room, so we look forward to booking weddings.

The top level of the building saw massive changes in our kitchen that has doubled in size with new equipment, cabinets and state of the art exhaust system. The Upstairs Reception Hall has been redone with a beautiful new ceiling and lighting. The highlight is the sliding glass windows that run across the room giving full visibility to the sanctuary but allow a quieter setting for meetings and events.

Many thanks to Bruce Vineberg of Vicon Construction who was the General Contractor overseeing every element of the project. Robert Wong, the Foreman on site, was omnipresent in our building for many months. Their years of experience helped avoid problems and opened other possibilities that might have not been thought of. If you like the new lighting and sliding windows, thanks go to Bruce for his creative eye.

Thus far we have received pledges totaling $1,731,000.Our goal was to raise $2 Million.

Phase Two is primarily the 14 windows in the main sanctuary.

This is by far the single largest renovation cost. We are studying

$2 000 000 $1,731,000

various options to try and bring the costs in line. As this was a 4 year Capital Campaign commitment, most pledgers have either honored their first 2 installments, or in some cases the pledges were paid in full up front. We will not be able to commence Phase Two until we get closer to our Capital Campaign Goal and money has been collected to pay for the renovation costs.

We still need your support as we move into Phase 2 of the renovations. It would be great if every congregant contributed to the best of their ability. As a team we can accomplish great things.

All donations are fully tax deductible.

On the next couple of pages you will see some highlights of all the work that went into the last 6 months with demolitions, renovations,

and Phase I results.

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In the beginning, there was demolition and framing

Then there was removal of debris and asbestos which required building a controlled air system for safe removal. Walking down the office corridor was like being in Star Wars!

Walls were erected, electrical and plumbing replaced. There was no shortage of something going on at all times, and people who were the experts in their fields worked diligently, whilst we were able to continue to work through the renovations.

Even Charlie managed through the demolition process...not that he has a bad colour, but isn’t red a nice look for him?

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Corridor to Men and Ladies Washrooms Main Sanctuary Level

Men Washroom - Main Sanctuary Level

Both Men and Women’s washrooms are handicapped accessible and, both have a baby changing tables.

Ladies Washroom - Main Sanctuary Level

New Bridal Room (former storage area) Our new glass windows that overlook the main sanctuary from the upper level reception hall are magnificent. They have enhanced this incredible renovated space, to make this pièce de resistance, even that much more beautiful.

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Dear Friends, Last year, I was privileged to lead the High Holy Day services at Shaare Zedek Congregation’s overflow services along with Yosef Robinson who led the Shacharit (morning) services and read from the Torah so beautifully. I was so looking forward to returning to serve you once again during the upcoming Days of Awe, but due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, that will not happen.

COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it. I was actually planning to drive from Arizona to Montreal via Minneapolis, Minnesota where my son Aaron was scheduled to be married just before Rosh Hashanah.

But the wedding was understandably postponed until next Fall. As a “shul-going Jew”, I am used to attending synagogue every Shabbat, but it has not been safe for synagogues to hold in person services since March. I have attended “virtual services” all around the world, but it is simply not the same as sitting in the pews and chanting our age-old melodies. We Jews are used to praying, celebrating and mourning among others.

Our faith is not one of solitude or isolation. It is no wonder then that Jewish prayer generally requires a Minyan, a quorum of ten Jewish adults, for we know that we strengthen one another with our physical presence and we believe that our prayers are enhanced and magnified as a congregation. This is traditionally preferable to praying “B’Yichud” - as individuals.

The rabbis had a term for exigent circumstances. They called it “She’at Hadechak” or “times of emergency.”

During a pandemic life is hardly normal. We must separate ourselves from friends, family and fellow congregants for our own safety (and theirs), we travel as little as possible, and we pay extra attention to personal hygiene and wearing masks whenever necessary. For the foreseeable future, most Jews will attend religious services via Zoom and Facebook and even in areas where public worship is allowed, only a handful of congregants will be present. Nobody enjoys these restrictions, but we must err on the side of caution.

I have heard that there are some Jews who will “opt out” this year. They ask themselves “Why should I support my synagogue or Jewish community center when I can’t even make use of them physically?” The answer is clear.

If you don’t support the institutions which have nurtured Jewish life for generations during these unique and challenging times, they will not be there for you in the future.” If that were to happen, God forbid, it would be an incalculable loss to the entire Jewish community for generations to come.

I have followed the activity and religious life at Shaare Zedek since last Fall. Like most synagogues, your doors have been physically closed to in-person religious services, but I know that your beloved Rabbi Bright has been working harder than ever to connect with members, young and old. He has continued to teach Torah, and has also continued to fulfill the essential and time honored Mitzvah of Brit Milah (ritual circumcision). In reality, Shaare Zedek was never closed and has never failed to be there to serve you.

I spent less than two weeks at Shaare Zedek Congregation last year, yet I was so impressed with the family spirit and shared purpose of one of Montreal’s leading congregations. I know that those of you who have been members of Shaare Zedek for years, if not decades, know how precious your synagogue is and how it enhances your lives. Therefore, I trust that you will all step up and support Shaare Zedek this year - emotionally, spiritually, and materially.

Nobody knows how long this pandemic will last, but I can assure you that it cannot last forever. In the meanwhile, I can only greet you from afar. Please God, next year, I will be able to rejoin you once again so that I can teach Torah and praise God with song in your presence. May we all be blessed with a good, safe, and healthy Jewish Year, 5781! And may we all be written and sealed in God’s Book of Life.

L’Shalom, Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky Phoenix, Arizona 17

Dear Members of Shaare Zedek Congregation: Who could have predicted where we would find ourselves in this year of Covid 19 Virus? What a change this has made to our lives, both Personal and Shul! Shaare Zedek has picked up the baton and joined us all together via Zoom to maintain the warm and inviting Congregation we are. Every morning and every evening we meet to pray together, see each other and make sure we are all well.

As well we are invited to participate in person at the Synagogue on Monday and Thursday mornings when the Torah is read.

Kudos to Rabbi Bright who has been doing an outstanding job keeping up with all the new and different forms of Davening on Zoom. His Shabbat Service on Friday evening is a very welcome beginning to Shabbat.

Thank you to Elizabeth Bright and the entire family for their constant participation with us.

Our High Holyday Services will be a new and different way of celebrating our heritage. There will be live streaming as well as persons attending in the Sanctuary, with masks and personal space separations clearly visible. Our Succah will be up on the lawn to continue our traditions. We hope to have you all participate in one way or another and have a memorable Rosh Hashanah this unusual year.

A heartfelt thank you to my entire Committee for their continued support through these trying times. You are very much appreciated. A very special shout out to Billy Booth, our Executive Director and the staff for all their hard work keeping us in the picture, and to Miles Herer who has gone beyond the call to ensure that we will have the best Holyday services, I send him a huge Yasher Koach. From myself and all my family Shana Tova, may we all go from strength to strength and continue our wonderful friendship through the Shaare Zedek Congregation.

Sincerely, Nancy Cooperberg, Chair

Covid-19 and Social Distancing Shaare Zedek is ready to welcome our members and follow all social distancing guidelines. Hand sanitizers are distributed throughout the building.

Floor signage has been placed. Protocols are in place to ensure everyone’s safety.

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RABBI BRIGHT

SENIOR RABBI, SHAARE ZEDEK

Rabbi Alan W. Bright will continue to lead our services with the passion, knowledge and grace we have all grown accustomed to for almost 20 years.

Please join the Rabbi for what promises to be a High Holy Day service like never before. Even in these different times, we will come together, even if we all might not be in our Shaare Zedek High Holy Day home.

BILLY BOOTH

BA’AL TEKIAH

Billy loves music and plays trombone in numerous styles including classical, jazz, R&B and Klezmer. He is active in sports; swimming, skiing, roller-blading and cycling. Billy is periodically called upon to chant the Haftorah during the year as well as blow the Shofar at the High Holy Days in the Main Sanctuary, and has been blowing the shofar for all to hear during the livestreamed services.

EARL KARANOFSKY

CHOIR DIRECTOR

My association with the Shaare Zedek Congregation Choir spans more than half a century. From its inception, under the direction of Samson Rosemarin, I began my singing career as a child soprano in the original choir. When my fourteen-year hiatus with Shaare Hashomayim Synagogue choir ended, I returned to sing with our synagogue choir along with my late father, Saul. I was particularly blessed to be able to sing alongside him and one of my sons, three generations of one family in the same synagogue choir, for more than twenty years. Our choir is really a family and I am honoured to have been the director of it for the past twelve years. We are a dedicated group of volunteers, who with our love of singing and music, work very hard to embellish the High Holy Day Services at SZ, despite these unprecedented time, our choir under the direction of myself, will continue for these High Holy Day Services. Shanah Tova.

As a new Hebrew school year approaches quickly we find ourselves living through difficult times. Many parents are anxious as to how things will develop in the classroom with respect to Covid-19. We have listened to these concerns and as a result have decided to adopt a LATE START approach to Hebrew classes.

If all goes well in the schools we are hoping to have children back in the synagogue for Hebrew classes. All of the government guidelines will be followed in terms of hand sanitizing, social distancing and wearing of masks. We are also entertaining the possibility of Zoom classes if parents are more comfortable with this approach. Zoom classes can be created for a group of children that prefer this method.

The welfare of the children is our primary concern! We are all in this together and together we will make things better.

At this time I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year which we will be celebrating in very different ways than we have in the past. I wish that this new year brings you new beginnings filled with health, peace and understanding.

Shana Tova, Adelia Bensoussan adelia@shaarezedek.ca 19

In early 2020 the Shaare Zedek marketing committee was established. Our goal was to develop a strategic plan that would re-energize our participating and non-participating members, create larger sense of community all while appealing to our younger membership, our future. With the help of Jill Kopnick, Craig Steinberg, Billy Booth and Wendy Tessler a comprehensive plan was developed. The strategy was threefold:

Gary Ornstein

• Create a new synagogue logo and revamp our weekly newsletter.

•Promote the new branding for Shaare Zedek on all our social media platforms.

•The launching of community style events geared towards our younger members.

In the very near future our new LOGO will be release as well as our updated newsletter. The weekly newsletter is very important because it serves as the primary link between the synagogue and our membership. It has important dates, milestones, upcoming events, links to our website and shul cloud which allows our members see their account in real time (I am not sure if this is true or not) . We also added video links to the Rabbi’s sermon and the newest feature called “ask the Rabbi”. This allows the reader to ask Rabbi Bright a specific question. This can be done anonymously or not. We look forward to your input.

We will continue to promote our synagogue, revealing our brand new SZ logo, on social media. This includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc. When you see us please “like us” and share us with as many followers as possible. Unfortunately, in Early 2020 Covid-19 changed our world forever and the third most important aspect of our strategy had to be put on hold. We look forward to seeing you at these events in the near future.

Shaare Zedek’s New Logo We are very proud to launch our new logo and re-brand. Congratulations to Gary Ornstein, chair of the Marketing committee, for tremendous work over many months to build a marketing plan that will drive us into the future. We are looking at innovative ways to engage young families to build for tomorrow. One of the first steps was to update our look in our weekly newsletters, web site and social media. Craig Steinberg is a talented designer who did a terrific job creating our new logo and help us with social media.

Considerable effort went into the selection of fonts, colours, and proportions to ensure continuity with a contemporary look.

Original logo

Current logo

New Logo

Did you know?

The name of our congregation is found in the book of Psalms, Psalm 118 v9 wherein we find the following Pitchu Li Shaare Tzedek - Open the gates of Righteousness for Me. Thus extracting the words Shaare Zedek – Gates of Righteousness from the sentence leaves our Shul’s name and all that we should strive to be, righteous, (not self-righteousness G-d forbid) a place of warmth and kindness.

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Dear Shaare Zedek community, First and foremost, I hope that you and yours are doing well through the events of COVID-19 and are staying safe and healthy.

As a reminder, we have launched a Legacy committee with the sole objective of securing a brighter future for Shaare Zedek with your help. A Legacy gift can be a gift in your will, a life insurance policy and more, given to Shaare Zedek to help ensure our prosperity and ability to Sara and Shawn Martel’s 3 girls: Jordyn 4, Hannah 2 & Abby 3 months

provide a place for our future generations to pray, celebrate and congregate at. The beauty of a legacy gift is you can make a huge

impact without paying a single dollar out of pocket today.

We have had tremendous success so far with our Legacy initiative this year. As part of the Montreal cohort of the Life & Legacy program, Shaare Zedek is eligible to receive grants from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), based on the amount of Legacy gifts we can secure. Our base goal for the year was 18, which would secure a grant of $7,000 and our stretch goal is 25, which would bump that amount up to $10,000. I pleased to announce, that at the time of this writing, we have surpassed our base goal of 18 Legacy gifts and have secured a grant of $7,000. On behalf of the Legacy committee and the entire Board, we would like to thank each person who has committed to a bright future for Shaare Zedek,

with Legacy gifts currently totaling over $380,000.

Our work is not done. We are looking to pass our stretch goal and secure more funding today, while simultaneously building a strong future. As such, we are encouraging anyone who may already have Shaare Zedek in their will, life insurance policy, or other, to please let us know, as existing commitments can secure us grants from the HGF. At the same time, if you have not considered a Legacy gift before and would like to, we would be more than happy to set up some time to discuss the benefits and impact with you.

On behalf of myself, my family, the Legacy committee and the Board, I wish you and yours Shana Tova

and a happy and healthy year ahead!

Shawn Martel Chair of the Legacy Committee

BEQUEST ♦ LIFE INSURANCE ♦ CASH or SECURITIES ♦ CHARITAL REMAINDER TRUST (CRT) 21

*The picture on the right page of SZ’s Raffle Co-chairs, was taken in our newly renovated Reception Level on SZ’s Upper Level.

This space has been completely revamped, from floor to ceiling, to glass windows overlooking our beautiful sanctuary.

Our newly state of the art kitchen on the upper level, allows for a smooth process in delivering your catered event with complete ease.

Shaare Zedek’s newly renovated Reception Hall - Top Floor 22

We welcome you to host your next Simcha in this amazingly transformed space.

Raffle 2020 People make the difference. And, in a pandemic situation where usual-type meetings are impossible and moving freely, as we are accustomed to, is equally difficult, we come to rely on the people of the Shaare Zedek to save the day.

We can liken our Raffle 2020 to the building of the Mishkan where the response was so overwhelming that the people were asked to please stop donating. Our Raffle produced a similar situation. We sold out our tickets but people kept buying and we couldn’t supply tickets. They did not care and designated the money to the raffle as a donation. An amazing and somewhat miraculous happening that will go down in the annals of the Share Zedek that we can only hope to experience again.

Our Raffle committee co-chairs, Jack Cooperberg, Manny Vineberg, and Howard Braziller, could not be more thrilled over the success of the project, originally faced with great reluctance.

With the support of our President Ben Topor, SZ Executive Director, Billy Booth and the shul staff of Wendy Tessler, Sara Watson and Roberto Ortiz, the committee forged ahead and persevered through to the big night on August 17, a Raffle evening like never before, when we went virtual and came up with a trio of winners who shared the big prize of $15,000, 3 ways.

We have to thank Mark Merson, Ben Topor, Manny and Debby Vineberg, Lili Yesovitch, Dorel, Gary Ornstein, Irving Rabinovitch, Mac Brotman, Rabbi Bright, and Milton Joseph, who, together, accounted for about 410 tickets plus thousands of dollars in outright donations. And, of course, there is everybody else in our Congregation who accounted for the rest of the sales. A true Mishkan- replicated event that will make our year a lot easier to progress into the future.

And, now, we look forward to the miracle of the High Holidays.

Yasher Koach to one and all, and, please stay safe and healthy.

A big THANK YOU to you all!!

Jack Cooperberg, Manny Vineberg, Howard Braziller Raffle Co-chairs 2020

Next year’s RAFFLE event will take place on June 17, 2021 23

Shaare Zedek Sisterhood has existed since the Congregation began. This year we were ready with all our usual programmes and some new ones which we hoped would draw large audiences. The virus thought otherwise and we were locked down along with everyone else!

Perhaps this might be a good time to remind ourselves of who we are and what we do!

We are a multigenerational group of women who get together for programmes and for service to the shul and the community. We do not look at ages! If you have a little bit of time to spare or a programme you would like to see happening we would welcome you with open arms! If you are already a member we thank you! If not come and join us! We would love to have you!

We serve both the shul and the wider community. From the beginning we have provided material things like the doors on Rosedale, the screens which let people in the office know who is outside. More recently we bought the stoves which are in the renovated kitchen. We bought the cutlery for the downstairs kitchen.

The beautiful plants which adorn the shul during Shavuot come from Sisterhood funds. Way back when, Sisterhood paid for the decoration and furnishing of the Bride's Room.

We look forward to receiving a project so that we can contribute further to the Shul!

Because we are part of an International Group called Women's League for Conservative Judaism we contribute to Torah Fund which finances Conservative Seminaries in North America, Israel and Europe.

The rabbis, cantors and lay teachers from these Institutions are our pride and joy.

We are also twinned with a group in Israel.

We have always contributed to those in need in the larger community of Montreal. Every year an event called The Toy Tea takes place in December. A day long event that gives us an opportunity to provide soft toys, non-violent toys and gift cards for distribution in the women's shelters in the city. The directors of the shelters take the gifts to mothers who wrap them for their children.

Each month there is usually a Rosh Chodesh Service to which all women and children are invited. Breakfast is served afterwards. We are looking forward to the time when this will resume. Our Book Club and Movie Club are on hold at the moment. We look forward to their return. This year we offered Chair Yoga, and after lockdown Caryn Roll offered a zoom series on nutrition.

I HAVE SAVED THE BEST UNTIL LAST. EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE GEORGE GERSHWIN EVENT WITH CRAIG MORRISON BEGGED FOR ANOTHER SHOW.WE ARRANGED FOR HIM TO DO AN EVENING ON THE ‘50’S. HAPPILY THIS WILL TAKE PLACE ON ZOOM!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7 AT 7:30 PM This will be a free gift from Sisterhood. Please watch for further details.

We are living in very strange times but we are here to support each other at a distance, in masks or on the phone.

Your Sisterhood wishes you Shana Tova!

Stay safe!

Shaare Zedek Sisterhood 24

An affiliate of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism Shaare Zedek Sisterhood TORAH FUND B'Yachad - Together", our Torah Fund theme for 2020-2021!

This past July, we celebrated our shared yerushah (heritage), as more than 500 Jewish women affiliated with the Conservative/Masorti Movement, participated, virtually, in our Women's League all day convention The thrill of being together, although virtually, mirrors the joy of sisterhood members, who work together year-round to make important contributions to their Conservative synagogues in Canada and the United States.

Our pride in being Jewish shows in everything we do. We are high achievers in our professional and personal lives, and we accomplish even more together. Each of us is one small nugget of gold, but together, our gifts reflect and refract the light inside us and help each other to shine.

Since 1942 the modest contributions from thousands of individuals to this grassroots fundraising effort called Torah Fund, have helped to educate and train each generation of rabbis, cantors, scholars, educators, summer camp directors, chaplains, campus Jewish life staff, and committed lay leaders.

These are the people who guide and teach, console and uplift our people, one soul at a time.

We make this happen together!

Torah Fund Pin for 5781 (2020-2021)

Every contribution in support of Torah Fund, counts and is appreciated! However, with a contribution of $180.00, you will received this year's B'Yachad pin as our gift to you.

For further information, please contact our Sisterhood Torah Fund Co-Chairs: Dorothy Tonchin - 514-487-3234 or Lorna Gerson-Goldig - 514-481-6904 1950s Pop Hits and Their Roots Some pop songs in the 1950s were based on earlier recordings. You will hear the hits and the sounds and stories of where they came from, including “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Love Letters in the Sand,” “Cara Mia,” and more!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7 AT 7:30 PM This event will take place via Zoom and is a free gift from the Shaare Zedek Sisterhood to all of you.

Watch for details on how to register.

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I bought the tablet in 2017. I only needed it for email and to read a number of British newspaper in the lead up to Brexit. Then I noticed that it had a camera! I took numerous photos! My twelve year old cousin showed me how to forward the photos by email. I thought that I was so 21st century!

Then I discovered the selfie! It was such an accident. The last thing I wanted was a picture of my horrified face! More by luck than judgement I got off selfie and photographed the table I was trying to show my cousin. Later that year, in England ,my eight year old nephew showed me how to control the camera.

And so I went on happily photographing my balcony flowers, a whole saga in England for my 80th birthday, receiving a record of family doings. I even printed the photos at Jean Coutu! Well, truthfully, a very kind shop assistant told me which buttons to press!

I discovered the cell phone camera could become a video, again, by accident. But I have lovely pictures of an afternoon in Hampshire among English primroses. I could even hear my cousin speaking! How 21st century!

In March 2020 as I was planning my annual trip to England the world turned upside down. We were locked in. The planes stopped. We were masked. But I am a prewar baby! With kind help from Elizabeth Bright and deliveries from Fruiti Maruti I could do this. In the meantime how would I see my relatives? I reluctantly joined Facebook. I did not put my picture on, I do not initiate anything, I can't write on anyone's timeline but I have been rewarded by a huge commentary of family doings and my young relatives are growing and changing out of all recognition.

A strange message appeared on my screen telling me that all my messages would be transferred to Messenger. I ignored it until I received a phone call from my cousin asking why I had not replied to anything! There was nothing on my email. My patient cousin told me to look on my tablet. There it was! Messenger! I read all the messages I had missed. My nephew in Scotland explained that it was a kind of email.

Shortly after that I was going to use messenger to write my cousin when I noticed a camera-like icon on the top right hand corner of the screen. I pressed it. Fiona was working from home and suddenly THERE SHE WAS like a genie out of a bottle! When I asked how she had arrived on my screen she explained that all my Facebook contacts could be reached this way! I could SEE my family members as I spoke to them. Oh 21st century had come to Sunnybrooke!

I called everyone! I showed them my balcony, the lovely parkland across the street, my new comforter! There was no stopping me! They called it Aunty Carole's new toy!

And so we come to ZOOM! I had seen a blue bomb shaped thing on my tablet but I had not taken any notice! Well it has been the most wonderful support system I could have ever imagined. The worst thing about lockdown was the fact that we were confined indoors and could not see our friends, our families or go about our usual pursuits. Prewar babies could compare it to the mental discipline of that time although, thank goodness, nothing was raining down from the skies on us. Zoom came to the rescue!

I cannot initiate a meeting and there are times when my screen seems to slip around but I can press in numbers. I can mute and unmute, although this morning I forgot, couldn't get the mute symbol to behave when I remembered, and was grateful that the host did it for me!

On ZOOM I can see my friends in shul in the morning and for Kabbalat Shabbat, I can see my Sisterhood friends at our Board meetings. Women's League for Conservative Judaism conducted our entire convention on a day long zoom. This week our region has a book review on zoom and that will link us with our friends in Toronto and New York State.

I received a message from my cousin asking if I could zoom with her son who had a project on French speaking places outside France. The young man who appeared on my screen looked nothing like the little boy whose Bar Mitzvah I attended last year. The entire family joined in but we did do enough work so that he received a good mark. I went to a birthday party in England. I went to a bris in Toronto.

Pesach would not be the same this year but I remembered years when, not only was my father absent, but we did not know where he was or even if his ship was still sailing. It would be what it would be. Then Rabbi Bright and Elizabeth invited us to zoom with them and a cousin sent me a number so that I could zoom to England on the first night. I was reunited with close cousins. Of course, the Seder would be at 1:30pm our time but who cared! How 21st century!

I was born only months before the world was plunged into turmoil such as the adults had never envisaged. Now, once again, we have been subjected to a situation beyond our imagination. Yet , this time, we have so many technical aids to make things easier. Slowly, painfully, making mistakes along the way, this prewar baby is indeed learning new tricks.

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Ruth Harris David Kahn Paul Pinsler Wendy Stratton Tesher

Irwin Waldman Dr. J. Bernard Tonchin Ron Brownstein Cynthia Cooper Melamed

Frances Fogel Avrum Nadler Lila Strezavsky Brotman

Dora Singerman Sonny Booth Rose Wolfstein

Leona Eligberg Norma Gradinger Moscovitz

Leon Penn Richard Davine

If you would like to memorialize your loved one at Shaare Zedek Congregation, you can purchase a Memorial Tablet that can be mounted on the Congregation’s Memorial Board.

The cost for each plaque is $395.

You can also purchase a ‘Reserved’ tablet as well to ensure the space is available on the Memorial Board.

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Host your next Simcha at Shaare Zedek… Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Bris, Baby Naming, Events And so much more!

Contact our Executive Director, Billy Booth at: 514.484.1122 ext. 105 execdirector@shaarezedek.ca

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