SOUTH SHORE JEWISH COMMUNITY

President
Beryl Tovim
514-877-5000 and then
450-247-2686

Past President
Mark Covet
450-462-1409

Vice-President
Alain Assor
514-726-2470

Treasurer
Rosalie Miller-Hodson
450-462-7870

Secretary
Roger Gilor
450-462-1924

Directors
Ralph Abergel
Annette Benchetrit
Agathe Benhamou
Robert Bowden
Marie Knafo
Mike Parker
Isaac Sayegh

MAILING ADDRESS
C.P. 50547
RPO Carrefour Pelletier
Brossard, QC J4X 2V7
PREMISES
Place LaCitière
50 Taschereau Blvd.
LaPrairie, PQ J5R 4V3
EMAIL

ssjccjrs@yahoo.ca.

FAX
450-676-4115

SEPTEMBER 2006
ELUL-TISHRI 5766

UPCOMING EVENTS
MOVIE NIGHT
Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Centre
ROSH HASHANA
Friday, September 22nd, 2006 (Erev) – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 23rd, 2006 – 9 a.m.
Sunday, September 24th, 2006 – 9 a.m.
YOM KIPPUR
Sunday, October 1st, 2006 (Erev Kol Nidrei) – 6:30 p.m.
Monday, October 2nd, 2006 – 9 a.m.
Monday, October 2nd, 2006 – (Neila) 6:30 p.m.

Rained out!

Sincere thanks to Jennifer Rose and her partner, Louis Lapointe, who graciously transferred our summer picnic on August 20 from their apple orchard to their barn! Well, hardly a barn, as it is in the process of being transformed into a lovely home, and we held our "picnic" in what will eventually be a spacious lounge.
In spite of the pouring rain, over a dozen people braved the humidity and participated in a very enjoyable afternoon in the country.

Gerry Mintzberg
1936 - 2006

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Gerry Mintzberg, a senior member of our community and long-time member of our Board of Directors.
Many of you will remember him for his great love of jazz, and the enjoyable evenings at our community centre when he brought his jazz group to play for us.
Gerry fought a courageous battle with cancer for several years. He passed away peacefully on July 7, 2006 at the palliative care unit in St-Matthieu-de-Beloeil, La Maison Victor Gadbois. He leaves in mourning his wife Roberta, his sons Stephen and Steven, and his daughters Terry and Brenda. They would like to express their gratitude to the SSJC for providing a daily minyan and the shiva at the Best Western Hotel.

Rabbi Daniel Epstein

Rabbi Daniel Epstein
to conduct SSJC high holiday services

Rabbi Daniel Epstein, formerly of Adat Rheim, a major Conservative synagogue in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, will be conducting high holiday services for the South Shore Jewish Community. At Rosh Hashanah, he will be accompanied by his wife and 19 year old daughter.
He left Adat Rheim when the synagogue ran into financial difficulties and was forced to close some ten years ago. Since then, he has held a variety of positions, and will be taking up a new position as chaplain of a veterans' hospital after the high holidays.
Rabbi Epstein will offer a number of interesting sermons over the high holiday period and we believe he will provide spiritually satisfying and inspiring leadership, as he always did at Adat Rheim. We encourage all members to attend our high holiday services and to return the form as quickly as possible for seat reservations.

Free Hebrew lessons for adults!

Since our offer to provide free Hebrew lessons for the children of members of the community did not meet with a response, we are now extending this offer to adults.
Any adult wishing to participate in Hebrew classes should attend our first lesson after the high holidays, on October 10, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. at the Centre to register.

Movie night September 9th

On Saturday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m., we will hold a movie night featuring a film with a Jewish theme. Light refreshments will be served and people are encouraged to stay and socialize after the movie.

BE OPEN … IT COULD HAPPEN
Rabbi Daniel Epstein

Franz Rosenzweig grew up assimilated in Germany. In the fall of 1913 he decided to leave the marginal Jewish existence he led, convert to Christianity and enter fully into German culture and society. But something drew him into a synagogue so he could know just a bit of what he was leaving. The fateful day was Yom Kippur when he entered a traditional Orthodox shul. He certainly could not understand the words of the service – being all in Hebrew and Aramaic – nor could he comprehend the structure or the details of the liturgy, but something drew him in, and he stayed …. for a lifetime.
From that day, that Yom Kippur, in that synagogue, Franz Rosenzweig was to become one of the most creative Jewish philosophers and educators of the modern era. He inspired generations of Jewish students and scholars.
For years one thing gnawed at me: What did that lone man hear, see or feel in that strange house of worship that transformed him and made him so entranced by Jewish life? I came to realize that the spark of Jewish spirituality that was within him was kindled on that Yom Kippur nearly a century ago. It was there … just waiting to be fired up!
My prayer is that we all open our minds, our hearts, our souls this Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur to the spirit that is within each of us, waiting to be tapped. Let us come… open our minds … our hearts …. our souls, and reach inward and outward to find that hidden spark. Come and be open to be transformed.
Shanah Tovah U’Mutukah! Have a happy and sweet new year!