News from Kol Ami

on Sunday, 25 May 2014.

BY MARLEINE KAY

The Kol Ami Singers

Phil Tinianov, Anita Small, Sharon Harding, Karen Paikin, Melanie Tinianov, Paul Harding

They played, they sang, they swayed, they rocked and they brought so much joy to the residents at Sunnybrook Hospital, Veteran’s Wing and to the residents at Thorn Mills Retirement Residence in March and April respectively, singing wonderful folk songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

 The melodious Kol Ami Singers, put together by the one and only Anita Small, includes superbly ever talented Phil Tinianov, Sharon Harding, Karen Paikin, Melanie Tinianov and Paul Harding. They rehearsed for months in advance to put together a marvelous repertoire of popular songs from yester-year. The audience at Sunnybrook Veteran’s Wing enjoyed their performance so much that their encore lasted a full 20 minutes. Over 250 residents and their families, together with Kolamites Eva Kay, Marleine and Alan Levin, clapped, cheered and sang along to the many familiar songs. They were so well received that they were asked to come back and entertain the Jewish veterans at Channukah.

The visit to Thorn Mills was as ecstatically received by a packed room of delighted residents, who joined in the singing of folk, Yiddish and Hebrew songs. What a beautiful mitzvah, bringing so much happiness to seniors. What made the performances so special was all the energy, kindness and love that The Kol Ami Singers put into each performance.

Kol Hakavod Anita, Melanie, Sharon, Karen, Paul and Phil.

You are amazing!

Because we are Kol Ami – TOGETHER we can make a difference!

on Thursday, 02 January 2014.

BY MARLEINE KAY

Harriet Brav-Baum

As we know, a mitzvah means commandment of the Jewish Law, and it also means a good deed. Danny Siegel (www.dannysiegel.com) bestselling author of numerous books about tzedakah and Tikkun Olam quoted from Ecclesiastes 3:5:“A time to embrace” and then he remarked: "If you see a group of Tzaddikim - Good People standing near you - stand up and hug them and kiss them and hug them again."

Well, I guess that’s why every time I see Harriet Brav-Baum in shul, I just can’t wait to hug and kiss her. However, there is usually a line-up to hug her. Just being around Harriet makes you feel good.

Harriet, a retired art teacher, makes giving and caring a true work of art. She has a natural way of listening to others and warming them with the genuine light of her neshama. Unpretentious, Harriet exudes a sincere desire to see people whole and happy. That is why Harriet has introduced a wonderful new spiritual opportunity to Kol Ami - The Spirituality and Healing Chavurah, which meets once Sunday evening a month in the sanctuary or in various homes. Dates and times are always listed in the Kol Ami calendar.

Based on a process of Jewish meditation and prayer, the chavurot sit together in a warm soothing circle to meditate and pray for each other’s physical and emotional good health and wellbeing, as well as for others not in the room. This Chavurah has already brought much comfort to those attending.

Harriet’s goodness doesn’t just stop there. She is always one of the first to quietly donate to a worthy cause or anonymously donate tickets so that someone else may be able to attend a special event. Some time ago in shul, when I mentioned that I was having difficulty finding boots large and wide enough to fit a homeless man who literally lived on the rafters under the Gardner Expressway, Harriet relayed the story to her husband George. Within minutes, exceptionally quietly so that no one would notice, Harriet handed me a cheque large enough to cover a new pair of boots. The homeless man could not believe that people from my synagogue paid for him to get a new pair of warm winter boots to replace his worn out shoes, stuffed with old newspaper. He kept repeating “G-d bless this lady and her man”.

Well, that’s just the kind of person that Harriet is. She does mitzvot quietly, unassumingly and from her beautiful heart. 

on Friday, 27 September 2013.

BY MARLEINE KAY, SOCIAL ACTION CHAIR

At Kol Ami we have many wonderful memberswho go out of their way to do something really special to help others. Every month, in The Voice, we are going to highlight a special human being, or two, who have walked their talk and made our shul proud with their beautiful act of Tikkun Olam.

Every week for the past 4 years, Rachelle Zwaigenbaum has coordinated a weekly mitzvah, which is now in its 8th successful year. Rachelle organizes a devoted team of volunteers, which includes this year so far, in addition to Rachelle herself, Eve Lipsyc, Audrey and Peter Diamant, Janey and Barry Freud, Nicole Arnold, Errol and Annette Seef and Sylvia Starosta.

Each Sunday at 4.00 p.m., rain, snow or shine, a member of this incredible team takes a turn collecting donated fresh food, from various vendors at the Thornhill Farmers Market on Yonge Street, and delivering them to the Yellow Brick House Women’s Shelter in Aurora. This special act of Tikkun Olam helps the busy shelter stretch its budget that little bit further.

The Yellow Brick House helps battered women and their children find a safe haven from their abusive spouses and partners. They aid the women and children in their recovery, help them regain their confidence and assist them in finding their way once more in the world. If you would like to join this outstanding team, please contact Rachelle at rhrocky@hotmail.com. Your time commitment is minimal (approximately 1 ½ hours) and your assistance would be greatly appreciated by all.

Now, if you hear of someone at Kol Ami who has done something really spectacular in the name of humanity, please email Marleine Kay at marleine@rogers.com with the details. The entire shul also wants to feel proud of that person.

on Monday, 09 September 2013.

FROM TAL SCHIERAU

Let me start off by saying "Shanah Tovah" to you. Yes, High Holy Days are upon us and it's time to get together as a community for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur once again. For many of us, this time seems to arrive before we know it. But did you know that many of our fellow members have worked over the past several months to make the necessary preparations to ensure that we have the most beautiful and moving experience possible?

It all starts with our planning committee, led by Elaine Winick, who makes sure that all of the details are in place on time. Believe me, there are many details, from set up and decoration of our sanctuary, ensuring we have all necessary ritual items, to arranging security and music set up, along with many other details that are taken care of prior to High Holy Day services.

Then there are the ushers who help us with seating, ensuring we all have siddurim and an overall good experience. This team, led by Alan Breznick and Ashley Winick, coordinate well in advance to ensure that we have ushers at each and every service.

Even our Social Action Committee makes plans to ensure that bins for our annual High Holy Day food drive are ordered, delivered and picked up on time. This committee, led by Marleine Kay, works to help those who are in need throughout the year, starting with our food drive.

Then there is our choir, led by Joy Vanek, who have been practicing for months to prepare the songs that will help to move us and enhance our worship experience.

This is also a very busy time for the Kol Ami staff and clergy. Our office manager, Ella Mendelovitz, has worked hard during the past few months to process our renewals and get our High Holy Day tickets to us. Judy Silver has been working with her team to prepare interactive and fun family activities that relate to this time of year. Dawn Bernstein has been working closely with the choir, madrachim, Rabbi and our Torah readers, in addition to all the preparation she does each year. Finally, there is our Rabbi. He works with everyone involved to provide guidance and direction, and he has been preparing D'varim that will speak to us as individuals and as a community.

It takes a considerable amount of planning by many people to prepare for services at this time of year. I wish to personally thank all of those involved. It is a wonderful mitzvah that you are performing for our congregation.

Tal Schierau, President

on Thursday, 22 November 2012.

ONE MORE FROM BEIT AMI'S "JEW BLOG?"

Our Beit Ami "Jew Blog?" has one final post for all. Given the recent hostilities in the the Middle East, they have created individual Prayers of Peace. These are remarkable and sensitive young people. We should all be proud.

I pray for the people in the Middle East. That they can make it through the difficulties presented to them and that through them they learn to appreciate the quiet rest of a morning woken up to peace. That they can experience what we get to constantly, all while revelling and loving what we all take for granted. "If your heart wears thin, I will hold you up. And I will hide you when it gets too much. I'll be right beside you." from Beside You by Josh Ramsey (sung by Marianas Trench) ~Sydney Gr.10

"Imagine all the people, living life in peace." John Lennon

One day we'll start to care, but by that day it will be too late. We need to think outside the box, and do as much as we can, because although we're not there, we can still pray.

I pray that by the end of today, the bombs will stop, and the lives will stay. I pray by the end of the week, that the peace will begin. I pray that by the endo of the year, that all the was and hatred will disappear. I pray that by the end of my lifetime, the government and populations will change their minds. And finally....there will be peace. ~Jessica Gr.10

"Waiting on the World to Change" John Mayer

Allow the children

Allow the elderly

Allow the adults

To live in peace and strive in health

~Jordan Gr.9

I wish for no more rocket fire,

I wish for no more war.

I wish that no one has a bomb

Fly through their front door.

"You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one.

I hope some day you'll join us,

And the world will be as one." John Lennon

~Tsipporah gr.10

We pray for an end to fear

We pray for an end to conflict

We pray for an end to rockets

We pray for an end to hatred

We pray for a start to peace.

~Jordan, Avi, Adam Gr.9