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Thursday, May 28th ~
EREV SHAVUOT SERVICE
7:00PM SHAVUOT Festival Service ONLINE
with Rabbi Jordan Cohen, Rabbi Stephen Wise, Cantor Paula Baruch &
Cantorial-Soloist Laura Wolfson
For Temple Anshe Sholom & Shaarei Beth El Synagogue & Friends
REGISTER HERE: https://zoom.us/j/2934993535
Thursday, May 28th-29th ~
NATIONWIDE CANADIAN REFORM TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT
7:30PM to 2:00AM ONLINE
Featuring an evening of study, song, movement, meditation and meaning with many of Canada's leading Reform Rabbis, Cantor and Educators.
REGISTER HERE: https://urj.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_imC6_RolTG-X5J7-ggaAQg
Friday, May 29th ~
SHAVUOT MORNING SERVICE
10:30AM SHAVUOT Morning Service ONLINE
with Rabbi Cohen & Cantor Baruch
REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsf-GtqzMjHNE--o-d29933ThD0JeYFcLf
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Friday, May 29th ~ KABBALAT SHABBAT
7:00PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service by ZOOM Meeting
with Rabbi Cohen & Cantor Baruch
Saturday, May 30th ~ SHABBAT Shavuot
10:30AM Shabbat Music & Torah Talk by ZOOM Meeting
Led by Cantor Baruch & Rabbi Cohen
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From Rabbi Cohen:
וַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיְהִי֩ קֹלֹ֨ת וּבְרָקִ֜ים וְעָנָ֤ן כָּבֵד֙ עַל־הָהָ֔ר וְקֹ֥ל שֹׁפָ֖ר חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ וַיּוֹצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֧ה אֶת־הָעָ֛ם לִקְרַ֥את הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ בְּתַחְתִּ֥ית הָהָֽר׃
On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder, and lightning, and a dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the horn; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses led the people out of the camp toward God, and they took their places at the foot of the mountain.
-Exodus 19:16-17
There is a Midrash (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 55-56) which suggests that the ancient Israelites almost overslept when the time came for the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai. The Midrash then goes on to connect this communal lapse with the passage in Exodus 19 which says that God sent thunder and lightning and the sound of the shofar to wake them up. Only then could Moses rouse the people from their slumber and bring them to the Mountain for the most seminal experience in the history of our people: Zeman Matan Torahteinu - the Giving of Our Torah.
In an effort to correct this error of our ancestors, the later mystics developed the tradition of the Tikkun Leil Shavuot – the “rectification” of the night of Shavuot - the late-night study of a cross-section of the texts of our tradition that focus on this experience of Revelation. The determination to study throughout the night demonstrates not only our continuing commitment to Torah, but also our desire not to repeat the same oversights as our ancestors. We will stay awake and be upright and eager to receive Torah once again into our lives.
In years past we have held all-nighters on the eve of Shavuot, but, I think, the Tikkun Leil Shavuot is a young person’s game. I must admit that, while the commitment of my soul is none diminished, the Hebraic machismo involved in actually staying awake all night to study Torah has long fled my body. And yet I still feel that there is something very spiritually fulfilling about recommitting ourselves to Torah every Shavuot, both personally and in the context of our people’s history. The truth of the matter is that we Jews have never been that great in upholding our covenantal commitment to our God, and an annual symbolic clap of thunder and blast of shofar effectively wakes us up and bring us to our senses. And a sense of awe. Because it is undeniable that we Jews are indeed blessed by the teachings of Torah that define our worldview and which have allowed us to thrive, despite great odds, for thousands of years. Torah not only defines the way we live our day-to-day lives but has also guided us though many periods of oppression and persecution, wars and exiles, plagues and pandemics. There is no question in my mind that it is Torah that is the secret of our survival and that without it, there would be no purpose for our people’s continued presence in this world.
And so, despite the fact that we will not be able to gather this year in our Temple home to celebrate this great festival together in person, together we will prepare ourselves to once again receive Torah. This year, through the miracle of Zoom, we will bring Torah out of the Sanctuary and into your home. Be sure to join us Erev Shavuot - Thursday, May 28th at 7:00 PM - for a brief evening service, followed immediately by an extraordinary opportunity to study with fellow members of our Canadian Reform Movement in a Nationwide Canadian Reform Tikkun Leil Shavuot. I have made great effort over the months of our isolation to bring this initiative to fruition and I am excited to be joined by over 35 Canadian Reform Rabbis, Cantors, Cantorial Soloists and Educators in sharing Torah online with many hundreds throughout Canada, and the world, during this time of physical distancing and quarantine. Please be sure to join us for some or all of the 14 sessions on offer. I know that the learning will be meaningful, spirits will be high, and that this Tikkun Leil Shavuot will inspire us to a thunderous re-connection with our community and tradition.
Take care and stay healthy. I wish you a joyous and meaningful Shavuot.
Rabbi Jordan D. Cohen
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From our Rabbi Emeritus, Bernard Baskin:
Old age is a time for remembering. I wonder how many of you recall the Friday evening services that were held at the Jewish Community Centre on Delaware Avenue while the Temple was under construction, and those High Holy Day services when we had to improvise with folding chairs, and the electric bulbs hung nakedly from the ceiling?
A number of special services are etched indelibly in memory. They include that last service at the Hughson Street Shul when the Torah scrolls were carried ceremonially from the Sanctuary and the Eternal Light extinguished.
And then there was that Friday evening in 1969 when Louis Rasminsky, Head of the Bank of Canada, spoke from the pulpit after he and I were awarded Honourary Degrees at McMaster University earlier that day.
Although I conducted about 300 Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies and officiated at 39 Confirmation ceremonies, those of my own children were of course personal highlights. If anyone would have told me as I took on the responsibilities at Temple Anshe Sholom that 60 years later I would look back on 1500 sermons and 500 addresses to the general community, I would have given up the job right then and there and offered it to another young eager Rabbi.
Rabbi Baskin ponders...
- In Naples, according to an old story, there was a man who could not shake off a feeling of deep depression. He went to a doctor for help. After a thorough examination, the doctor said to him, “There is really nothing physically wrong with you. May I suggest that you go to the theatre tonight to see the great comedian Carlini. He brings laughter to large crowds at every performance. He will surely drive away your sadness.” At these words, the patient burst into tears. “But Doctor,” he sobbed, “I am Carlini.”
- Before we become too envious of the other person who seems to have it all, we might pause to reflect that he too carries his own shabby secrets and dark sorrows, his own heavy, invisible handicaps.
- All human progress and achievements are accomplished, not in the absence of handicaps but in the face of them. “I thank God for my handicaps,” wrote Helen Keller, “For through them I have found myself, my work, my God.”
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These event boxes are all linked to the ZOOM registration. Just click and register to join the service or program.
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Join us for the Final Spring Session of
BREAKFAST CLUB
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IN OUR TEMPLE FAMILY
- Thank you again to Gillian Burman, Kim Bildfell and Jeremy Burman-Bildfell for caring for the Temple's lawns and gardens
- Thank you to Michael Silbert for delivery of Friday Challot from Con Gusto Bakery in St. Catherines. You too can order (two days in advance) at www.congusto.ca.
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COVID 19 UPDATE:
- Please stay home and self-isolate to minimize the spread of COVID 19
- Wash your hands, avoid touching your face and keep a distance of two metres from other people
- Hand sanitizer, gloves and a mask are recommended if you are out to purchase necessities
- Friday night services are now being held on ZOOM Meetings
- Shabbat Morning Music and Torah Talk are offered on ZOOM Meeting at 10:30AM Saturdays
- For young families, the Cantor offers an interactive ZOOM ROOM gathering each weekday morning from 9AM to 9:30AM
- During the week you can join Rabbi Cohen ONLINE Monday evenings and Thursday evenings for adult learning
- If you have limited or no access to the internet, all services and programs are also accessible by telephone. Contact Rabbi Cohen or Cantor Baruch for more information
Rabbi Cohen and Cantor Baruch are here to connect with you and assist you at this difficult time. We look forward to your phone calls:
Rabbi Cohen 905-906-3403
Cantor Baruch 905-906-3405
URGENT: Do you need help with food? We are ready to arrange delivery of a Kosher food basket to you. All you have to do is contact us!
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Call the Hamilton Jewish Family Services to be connected with opportunities to connect by telephone.
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