October 2009 News

 

Sukkah Parties
The JRCC Branches got into the holiday festivity by hosting Sukkah parties in their respective neighborhoods. The JRCC @ Rockford ran a wonderful family event that included a magic show for the kids, arts & crafts, music and a delicious barbecue prepared by its own Youth Group. warm community atmoshphere and lively singing. The JRCC Thornhill had a party each night of the week at a different sukkah, where community members gathered to say l’chaim, partake in refreshments, and bask in the holiday warmth. Particularly memorable was the tongue-twisting ‘Sushi and Sake in the Sukkah’ at the Jacobson’s sukkah. The JRCC Thornhill Woods invited people for ???. The JRCC of Yonge and Clark hosted a ‘Pizza in the Hut’ evening – where participants has their pie (pizza pie, that is) and ate it too – with a If you somehow missed out on these gatherings, contact the JRCC to get on the mailing list of the branch near you to receive updates via email.
 
 
Sukkah Hops
The JRCC @ Rockford and the JRCC Thornhill Woods each held their own Community Sukkah Hop. “Hopping” from sukkah to sukkah in the community gives people a great chance to get acquainted with one another, and to show of their culinary prowess, since refreshments are provided by each host. Each stop featured words of inspiration and singing, music, a taste of something to eat and a little lechaim, before heading off to the next sukkah. At the JRCC @ Rockford community, an international theme has each Sukkah represent a different country as the participants “traveled around the world” on a limo bus, with a traveling magician entertaining the kids at each stop.

 

Simchas Beis Hashoeva
On Tuesday evening, October 6, the joy of Sukkot, also known as Simchat Beit Hashoeva, brought hundreds of people to the giant sukkah at Rockford for an evening of music and dancing, followed by an energetic and inspiring farbrengen (Chassidic gathering).

 

Saturday Night Live
On Saturday evening, October 10, the joyous dancing of Simchat Torah was celebrated at six separate JRCC Simchat Torah events. Especially large crowds participated in this year’s events, ostensibly due to Simchat Torah falling on the Saturday nigh of a long weekend. Combined, over 2,500 participants enjoyed plentiful Chinese buffet dinners and l’chaim, followed by uplifting hakafot and dancing. Special programs and prize giveaways were organized for the children to help get them into the holiday spirit. The energy at the JRCC’s Simchat Torah was electrifying as always. All you had to do was walk into the room, and you were automatically swept up into the joyous spirit and just couldn’t help but join in the dancing.

 

The Giant Sukkah Team

Each year, the JRCC @ Rockford puts up one of the biggest sukkas in the city. For any who have witnessed the annual operation, you know that it’s no easy task. On behalf of the entire community and especially those of us who benefited from the events and programs held in the sukkah, we would like to thank the volunteers who came out to build the sukkah this year.

 

Rockford Youth Group

The JRCC @ Rockford Youth Group, lead by Rabbi Zalman Shuchat, its new Youth Director, was busy this sukkot bringing the energy, atmosphere and mitzvoth of sukkot into the community every day. They brought others the opportunity to do the mitzvah of shaking lulav and etrog, and raised people’s curiosity with their unique sukkahmobile – a fully kosher sukkah on wheels. For information about the JRCC @ Rockford Youth Group, please visit www.jrcc.org/rockford.

 

New Torah Commencement

A new Torah Scroll was begun at an event hosted by Rabbi Mendel and Chanie Zaltzman of the JRCC Yonge & Clark. The scroll will be consecrated to the JRCC Yonge & Clark community synagogue in memory of their son, Meir Shlomo, obm, and the writing began on the day of his first birthday. Community members can participate by “buying” letters in the new Torah, and men at the event had the opportunity to write a letter themselves – an opportunity that will be available once again as the Torah is completed in the coming months. Visit www.jrcc.org/MStorah to participate in this special Torah scroll.

 >>>Photos

Upcoming Community-Wide Shabbatons

Save the Date! There will be a Friday night dinner taking place at the JRCC Branch near you on Friday, November 6. You won’t want to miss this memorable evening, with uplifting words of wisdom, a warm, friendly atmosphere and great food. Register today by calling 416.222.7105 x221 or visit www.jrcc.org/shabbaton.