News from Kol Ami

ARTICLES, FLYERS, EVENT INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Read about current events, articles on happenings around the congregation. To submit your article, please e-mail admin@kolami.ca

on Sunday, 22 November 2015.

Two weeks ago I attended the URJ Biennial in Orlando where 5000 members of the Reform movement gathered to study, learn, pray, sing and connect with likeminded Jews from around North America. What struck me about the Biennial was how we as a small community in Thornhill, Ontario, fit in with the wider movement and how our Reform movement has so much to offer Jews living in 2015, whether they are members of a synagogue or are currently unaffiliated. We are the movement that is fighting for religious plurality in Israel, that stands for the rights of those in our community regardless of sexual orientation or identification, and the movement that is welcoming of those in our community from interfaith families.

“Audacious hospitality” is the term the URJ is using to describe our efforts to engage seekers – Jews who are unaffiliated and under-engaged – and to help them find meaning in Judaism. This past Friday I met several people who, through our Meetup advertising, decided to attend our Rock Shabbat service. They were blown away by the experience and I hope they will be inspired to attend again in the future. It is our innovative approach, the welcoming nature of our community that will attract people to Kol Ami in the future and I thank you on behalf of the leadership for helping to make these newcomers to Kol Ami feel welcome.

If you would like to learn more about our movement I encourage you to watch the keynote speech given by Rick Jacobs, the URJ President to the attendees of the Biennial. 

L’Shalom,

Mark.

on Tuesday, 03 March 2015.

Its 7:00am on a freezing cold February morning at Toronto Pearson Airport. However, excitement and warmth are in the air as teens say goodbye to their parents and anxiously wait to board their flight to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the NFTY Convention. Our Kol Ami kids were joined by many of their NFTY friends from the region and were part of a one thousand strong delegation that attended the convention. Kol Ami has not sent any youth to the NFTY convention in many years but this year were fortunate to have Jessica Franzini, Adam Schierau, Sydney Kowal, Amy Wolpert, Raffi Caruso and Hilarie Stein attend.
The kids participated in worship and song, attended a service at the home church of Martin Luther King, made friends and learned about youth empowerment, leadership, and Torah. We are all proud of the commitment and dedication our Temple youth have to Jewish Youth programming.

If you are reading this and would like to enjoy a Convention for yourself, please consider the URJ Biennial that will be held in Orlando this November. The URJ is planning to offer discounts to Temple delegations that attend and it will be beneficial to have has many people from Kol Ami attend as possible. As was stated in a recent URJ Webinar, "when an individual attends Biennial, it benefits the individual, when a delegation attends, it benefits the entire congregation".

L'Shalom,

Mark Wolpert

on Monday, 29 December 2014. 

January is often a time of resolutions. We take stock, looking at who we were last year, comparing it with who and what we want to be. Then we make resolutions that get us closer to this ideal. Your Kol Ami leadership is doing the same thing. We’re not doing it because it’s the turn of the secular year. We’re doing it so we can continue to get closer to the ideal community. The first step is articulating what this ideal community is. These conversations took place frequently over the fall (even when we weren’t specifically aware that we were having them). We talked about what kind of school we want to have. We talked about how we want to welcome people when they enter our building, whether they are new to our community or have been attending services for years. We talked about how we want to strengthen our community, largely by building on all the amazing things we do – engaged learning at all age levels; ritual practice that is accessible to people of many different backgrounds and levels of education; music that gets us moving and stirs our souls. 

The elephant that is often in the background of all of these discussions is financial stability. How do we make sure we are financially sustainable? How do we make sure that our finances are transparent and accessible? While all the work that I’ve discussed above is critical to answering those questions in broader ways, the first quarter of 2015 is devoted in many ways to answering these questions more specifically. In February, our Finance Committee will lead a Town Hall that will be devoted to providing the financial update that was promised at last June’s Annual General Meeting. Of equal importance, is the work that is being conducted by our Dues Task Force, led by David Katz and overseen by the Finance Committee. This Task Force is looking at dues models across North America, learning best practices and helping to determine whether our current model is serving us best. They will report to the Board in late Spring. 

There’s a lot going on! If you have questions or want to get more involved in any of these activities please don’t hesitate to contact me at gabnick2004@yahoo.ca. We have so much to be proud of. We received positive feedback all through High Holidays and the fall about what a warm, welcoming place we are. I’m so delighted to be a part of this community. 
L’shalom,
Nicole Arnold

on Saturday, 29 November 2014. 

BY MARLEINE KAY

“If you offer your compassion to the hungry and satisfy the famished creature, then shall your light shine in darkness.” –Isaiah 58:10

Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold (OOTC) Programs provide hospitality and emergency shelter in York Region to the homeless or those in need of food and clothing. Overnight shelters are operated on different nights of the week from November to March by various communities. Over the years, Kol Ami has become increasingly involved by partnering with Temple Har Zion (THZ) who host Wednesday evenings.

On average 70-120+ guests arrive by shuttle bus and volunteer cars to enjoy a hearty 3 course meal, bingo, an art class run by Kolamite Melanie Samara, and a chance to “shop” for free clothing and toiletry items. Over 20 homeless guests sleep overnight and awaken to breakfast and a packed lunch.

This Yom Kippur appeal, Kol Ami raised $3,500.00 for OOTC. WOW! This money helps pay for food, long johns, underwear, socks, gloves, toiletries, etc. Since government funding was slashed by 30%, Kol Ami has positively enhanced the program.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Volunteer to help set up or clear away at THZ, serve meals or help guests with clothing.
• Help cook part of the Kol Ami sponsored OOTC dinner for December 17th. Please contact Miriam Amon at miriamamon@bell.net. The Amon family are the originators and organizers of this wonderful mitzvah.
• Help source URGENTLY NEEDED items:
  • Men’s boots size 12 triple D fitting plus sizes 10-13.
  •  Ladies boots all sizes
  •  Men and women’s coats 2XL and 3XL. Guests literally arrive with open torn shoes and coats.

Volunteering with OOTC is also about listening and caring. For those of us who volunteer every week, we get to really know the guests year after year. One young teenage mother tearfully threw her arms around Kolamite Eva Kay and thanked her for the advice on how to reconcile with her estranged mother. It worked! Kolamite Andie Wilson brings clothing each week to suit specific guest sizes.

Volunteering with OOTC tends to make one feel humble and very touched. It makes the words of Modim Anachnu Lach all that sweeter and meaningful- and it lets us live Isaiah 58:10.

For additional information on OOTC please contact, ASAP, Marleine Kay, Social Action Co-Chair at 905 763 1136 or marleine@rogers.com

Because we are Kol Ami, TOGETHER we CAN make a difference

on Wednesday, 12 November 2014.

Wednesday evenings-November 12, 19, and 26 at 6pm

What do Jews believe about God?
Are bagels and lox really Jewish food?
How do the Jewish denominations differ?

These questions and more will be answered as Kol Amioffers a chance for those who are “curious” to come and learn about Judaism. The free three-part course, called “A Taste of Judaism: Are you Curious,” will explore the modern Jewish take on spirituality, values, and community.

The “Taste of Judaism” program has attracted more than 70,000 participants across North America over the last 15 years. It is designed for “beginners” – Jewish or not – to explore matters of Jewish faith and history.

Rabbi Micah Streiffer will be teaching the class and explained:

“There is absolutely no expectation of prior knowledge. Participants come from all kinds of backgrounds, and they come to learn for all kinds of reasons. Some are interested in becoming Jewish. Others are married to or dating Jews. Still others are exploring the Jewish roots of their Christianity. All are welcome!”

The classes are being offered on Wednesday evenings November 12, 19, and 26 at 6 pm, at Kol Ami. For more information or to register to attend call Ella Mendelovitz at 905-709-2620 x3 or admin@kolami.ca. The program is sponsored by the Union for Reform Judaism.