I learned to play guitar on my Dad's $20 bargain purchase from Eaton's.

It was collecting dust in his closet, and I thought I would give it a go. I really just wanted to play some of the old Peter, Paul, and Mary songs that he was so fond of so that we could sing together. I never thought of the possibilities or where that old six-string might take me.

When I was growing up, Jewish music was the sole purview of men. Even in my Reform synagogue, I had never seen a woman sing on the bimah (pulpit), with the exception of a choir solo or two on Yom Kippur. Men were the cantors, and young men were the song leaders.

And then one day, my parents gifted me with the album Songs NFTY Sings, and I heard her voice. Debbie Friedman, z"l, opened up the world to me. Here was a woman unapologetically singing, writing, and song leading in a way that moved people to think about Jewish music in a whole different way. Through that album, she told me that I could do it, too.

When I first attended Jewish summer camp in 1975, I was enthralled by the music and the young men who were leading it. I heard Debbie's songs but I couldn't see Debbie in their faces and I couldn't hear her voice. I loved each and every one of them who became my guides and my teachers but I had to ask: "Where are the women?" "Where are the girls?" "Can I do that, too?"

It was Ron who encouraged that simmering Jewish musician in me. He mentored me, pushed me, and set me up with a line of teachers whom I will carry with me forever. I admit that he had some initial reservations about my small stature and whether or not I could be seen during a Shabbat song-session in the chadar ochel (dining hall) or if my voice could carry, but together we proved that girls with guitars could rock Jewish summer camp. In 1983, I became the first female head song leader in history at my camp, URJ Goldman-Union Camp Institute, and the pride and joy that I feel when I see young women today lead in the chadar or the beit t'filah (chapel) is overwhelming.

At Reform Jewish summer camps, music is a defining core value.

When we sing as a camp community, we open ourselves up to the depths of our Jewishness. We find common ground in our spirituality, our language, and our love of the Divine Spirit. I never set out to be a trailblazer, but watching and hearing all of those girls with guitars who lifted up their voices after me and found inclusion in the music - that's something I will always cherish.

Shiru l'Adonai shir chadash, may we sing unto God a new song.

Dawn Bernstein was the first female songleader in the history of URJ Goldman-Union Camp Institute, a Reform Jewish summer camp in Zionsville, IN.

How often has someone asked, “What’s New?” and you’ve replied, “Not Much”? It’s true that a lot of our daily routines are, well, routine. Yet, this month I could not honestly answer, “What’s new?” with “Not much”. Rather, it would be the opposite, perhaps I would reply, “A whole lot of something”.

By now, most of you have heard of the plan for Kol Ami and Neshamah to combine into one congregation at the end of this month. This is by no means a small undertaking. While Kol Ami and Neshamah are both Reform congregations based in Thornhill, we each had a religious school. Each congregation had its own prayer books, textbooks, and locations; each congregation had its own tunes to the same prayers, its own social agenda and, of course, its own Rabbi.

While the decision to keep Rabbi Streiffer as the leader of the combined congregation was an easy one, all the other factors and issues have required extensive discussions, Zoom meetings, e-mails and conference calls. Many of these have been successfully resolved, such as the decision to keep both schools open for the upcoming 2018-19 school year. Other decisions, such as how to combine the schools for 2019-20, will require a lot more discussion.

The other major news item that you have heard about for the last several months is our move to the Voluntary Community Support (VCS) model instead of fixed membership dues amounts. As part of the transition to the VCS model, we have been explaining the true cost of running our congregation, and we are asking our members to pay this cost to the best of their abilities. VCS also eliminates barriers to joining the congregation and increases membership engagement.

These two projects can best be described as “a whole lot of something” new, but neither is official yet. Both items must be voted on at our upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, June 11 at 7:30 pm. Please make sure to attend, or if you are unavailable, please make sure to submit a signed voting proxy.

I look forward to seeing many of you there and working with you on the successful completion of both projects.

B’shalom,

Elliot

Last month I promised you that I would continue the list of exciting events and activities happening this year. The Coffee House is one of our most popular events each year. Mark your schedules for Saturday, May 5^th and come listen to the many talented amateur performers in our congregation. Maybe you have a hidden talent and were waiting for the right opportunity to demonstrate it? Coffee House is the right place: a receptive audience and you won’t hear “No” from any judges.

Adult Education is always one of our busiest committees, and this year is no exception. In April alone we have a session on Judaism and Organ Donation, dispelling the myths about restrictions on Jewish organ donors, and a study session led by student Rabbi, Jesse Paikin, titled, Old World, New Vision: What a 1,500 year old Text can teach us about Modern Zionism. In honour of Israel’s Independence Day, we will take a look at four stunning texts from the Talmud that have the power to define and inform a progressive religious approach to Israel.

If you like learning while eating, there’s Sushi and Study on April 19 and, of course, every Saturday morning we have Torah Study with free breakfast. Stay tuned for exciting news about this year’s Scholar in Residence program!

Finally, on a political note (not really, it’s actually a fiduciary item, but “political” attracts more attention), keep your schedules open on Monday June 11, which is our Annual General Meeting. This year we will have some very important projects to discuss, including the Voluntary Community Contribution model, so make sure you come and make your votes count.

Finally, if you are interested in serving on the Board next year, please let me know. We are about to form the Nominating Committee and would love to have people to talk about behind their backs.

Happy Passover. Chag Sameach.

Elliot

It seems hard to believe that one year ago your Executive was embroiled in lease and contract negotiations with Leo Baeck Day School and Zareinu about our future in the building at 36 Atkinson Avenue. As you may remember, the last stumbling block was removed on June 30, 2017, Mark Wolpert’s last day in office as President of Kol Ami, and we have settled in for the long term.

Without residency issues to worry about, we have been actively expanding and improving our congregation every day. Membership has increased by 12 families over last year, and we have had a corresponding increase in school enrolment.

Saul Cohen and Caryn Silver’s Education Task Force has presented a number of recommendations to improve the long-term viability of our school. Anita Small, Norm Rosenblum and the Interfaith Committee have led us through a series of discussions on how we can become a more inclusive congregation.

The Kol Ami Choir is not just for special occasions anymore. We have been fortunate to hear them perform at Shabbat services, including Shabbat Shira, as well as their monthly Kabbalat Shabbat appearance. They keep introducing new music, so check the Calendar on our website (or HaShavua or the Voice) for the next time you can enjoy the music.

There’s much more going on, which I’ll update you on next month.

Happy Purim,

Elliot

Happy Secular New Year!

In mid-December, I had the honour of attending the URJ Biennial in Boston. For those unfamiliar with this event, it is a bi-yearly (hence, the name) gathering of thousands of Reform Jews for a few days of celebrating, learning, socializing and re-energizing. Despite the relatively small size of our congregation, six delegates proudly represented Temple Kol Ami. Congratulations, team!

Since I was not raised in the Reform movement, the URJ Biennial was an eye-opening opportunity to personally experience the music and spirit that characterize it. The positive energy starts in Reform movement camps and youth programs, and carries over to adult programs. I was moved to be one of nearly 6,000 people who celebrated Kabbalat Shabbat with an 80-person choir and professional band that felt like a sing-along version of Les Misérables.

At URJ President Rick Jacobs' keynote sermon on Shabbat morning, and at sessions that I attended on Sunday, a common theme was strengthening the bonds between North American Reform Judaism and Israel. I would like to share with you some of the key points:

It is possible to be supportive of Israel, while at the same time critical of some of its policies.

• There are many facets to the Israel discussion: Peace/Land with Palestinians is only one. Social equality (e.g. Women of the Wall) and the Orthodox monopoly are among other issues in the discussion about Israel.
• In their new book, A Fragile Dialogue: New Voices of Liberal Zionism, Rabbis Stanley Davids and Lawrence Englander explain how to talk to others about Israel, including the need to be willing to engage ideological opponents, and to be willing to learn from the dialogue or exchange.

Let me know if you would like to learn more about this topic or any of the other sessions we attended.

Shalom!

Elliot