Bulletin DECEMBER 2005 KISLEV-TEVET 5766

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 Gerry Mintzberg Mike Parker Isaac Sayegh MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 50547 8230 Taschereau Blvd. Brossard, QC J4X 2V7 PREMISES Place LaCitière 50 Taschereau Blvd. LaPrairie, PQ J5R 4V3 EMAIL ssjccjrs@yahoo.ca. FAX 450-676-4115

DECEMBER EVENTS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2005 - GAMES 2 - 5 P.M. AT THE CENTRE (CARDS, SCRABBLE, ETC.) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2005 - DANCE 7:30 P.M. AT THE CENTRE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2005 - CHANUKAH 6 P.M. AT THE CENTRE Breakfast with Joe King just fascinating! "A lovely man and a fascinating speaker." That was the buzz at the community Centre on Sunday, November 13th when we held a bagel breakfast with Joe King as our guest speaker. Our bagel breakfasts have become very popular over the last couple of years and this one was no exception. Almost 40 people attended and enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast with fruit, smoked salmon, bagels and cream cheese. Mr. King gave us an overview of his book, The Jewish Contribution to the Modern World, in which he speaks of the many inventions and scientific advances developed by Jews, which have led to significant improvements in the society in which we live.

Joe King

If you are an anti-Semite, he says, then don't use electricity, the telephone, radio, television, aspirin, Tylenol, or the Salk vaccine. He pointed out that some of the most significant theories of the 20th century were expounded by people of Jewish descent. The theory of evolution came from Charles Darwin, psychoanalysis from Sigmund Freud, communism from Karl Marx (though we are free to disagree!) and relativity from Albert Einstein. The number of Jews who have received Nobel prizes is staggering in proportion to our Jewish population. He suggested that family values, the emphasis on education, and an ambition to succeed in the face of overwhelming difficulties in the past, are some contributing factors to this amazing success. Following his talk, Mr. King autographed copies of his books for those members who purchased them and the stock of books quickly sold out. He donated 40% of the book sales to the SSJC, a gesture that raised almost $200.

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An uneventful AGM - for once!
Rosalie Miller-Hodson

On Sunday, October 30th, at 11 a.m., the SSJC held its Annual General Meeting at the community centre in La Prairie, chaired as usual by David Bornstein.
After words of welcome from our President, Beryl Tovim, reports were tabled by the various chairs. Our Treasurer, Rosalie Miller-Hodson, began with a report on Finance. Progress continued during the 2004 financial year, which ended with yet another surplus. We were helped by a generous grant from FCJA and two successful fundraisers: the Comedy Nest and a summer BBQ, while members of the community have also been increasingly generous. The year-to-date report for 2005 shows a likely surplus, even though our FCJA grant this year was somewhat reduced.
Beryl Tovim then handed out a calendar of events for the past year and noted some memorable milestones. In addition to marking all the major Jewish festivals, we held our first baby-naming ceremony in January, and in September, our first major Symposium with speakers and an art exhibition. We also enjoyed a visit to the theatre, an evening of jazz at our Centre, and two successful and enjoyable fund-raisers.

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David Gross gave the Religious and Membership reports on behalf of Mark Covet, who was attending a memorial service in New York for Lois's mother.
He reported that 77 member families have renewed their membership, and we have added 25 new members. We have over a dozen potential members on our mailing list and it is hoped they will become full members shortly.
He referred the assembly to the calendar of events and thanked Isaac Sayegh for helping obtain minyans in Mark's absence and for preparing the Centre for services. He noted that our leader, Leonard Cohen, obtained a full-time job as assistant chazzan in June at Shaare Zedek and we had to look for another leader for the high holidays. Rabbi Chark was hired temporarily, but the search for a permanent part-time leader is still ongoing.
Nominations were presented and since all seats were filled before the deadline, a motion was unanimously voted by the assembly to elect the nominees by acclamation. Consequently, Alain Assor was elected Vice-President, Roger Gilor Secretary, and Rosalie Miller-Hodson was re-elected as Treasurer. The following people were elected as directors: Ralph Abergel, Annette Benchetrit, Agathe Benhamou, Robert Bowden, and Marie Knafo. The remaining members have one more year to complete their term: Beryl Tovim, Mark Covet, Gerry Mintzberg, Isaac Sayegh, and Mike Parker.

Committees are our backbone
Rosalie Miller-Hodson

One of the main purposes of the first board meeting following elections at the AGM was to form the committees that will do the most of the work for the community. These committees are truly the backbone of our community and need the community's support.
For sure, the members of the board on those committees are ultimately responsible, but anyone can join any of the committees and help out.

Just call Beryl Tovim and you will be very welcome. The following are the list of committees and the people who have elected to serve so far:
Religion: Isidoro Benhamou, Robert Bowden, Mark Covet (consultant), Isaac Sayegh
Programmes: Annette Benchetrit, Rachel Gilor, Marie Knafo
Catering: Annette Benchetrit, Art Horowitz, Shirley Sibalis, Leo Wertheim
Development: (Membership drive, recruitment, major events, new home) Ralph Abergel (consultant), Alain Assor, Max Benchétrit, Agathe Benhamou, Robert Bowden, Mark Covet (consultant), Rosalie Miller-Hodson.
Community Relations: Mark Covet (consultant) and Alain Assor
Telephone: Annette Benchetrit, Agathe Benhamou, Marie Knafo, Beryl Tovim
Communications: Georges-Henri Arenstein, Agathe Benhamou, Rosalie Miller-Hodson

Door prizes needed for Chanukah
Beryl Tovim

The community responded wonderfully last year to my call for door prizes for adults or children to enhance our Chanukah celebration. I am hoping your response will be equally good this year.
If you have any items that you have been saving for a garage sale, or unwanted gifts, or if you know of a businessman or woman who might be willing to donate some merchandise, please call them. Gifts can be dropped off at Rachel Gilor's home, at 946 Park Lane in Greenfield Park (450-462-1924).