OCTOBER 2019
High Holiday Services at 12 Locations
Thousands of people participated in High Holiday services at a record 12 (!) locations throughout the GTA – including at the JRCC’s newest branch in Willowdale (Yonge & Finch). Participants enjoyed the traditional Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services, with guidance and commentary in Russian and English. The English-Hebrew-Russian prayerbooks and plentiful space in the comfortable locations, most of which included children’s programs, were designed to facilitate a meaningful and enjoyable experience. Highlights included the blowing of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana, and the moving Kol Nidrei and and Neilah prayers of Yom Kippur, which usher in a year of blessing. Thank you to all those who purchased tickets, which helps with planning the services and offsetting the costs. This year, many people successfully used the new online reservations system to reserve not only seats but also aliyahs and other honors in advance, which helps the services run more smoothly with less interruptions. Special thanks to all the JRCC staff and volunteers who helped make the experience meaningful and enjoyable for so many. May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year!
1,500 People Celebrate Sukkot With the JRCC
Hundreds of people of all ages participated in dozens of events and celebrations during the week-long Sukkot festival, referred to in Judaism as "the time of our rejoicing.” JRCC Branches hosted several events, parties for children and special events for adults. The family Sukkot parties featured music, prizes, children’s entertainment like drum circles and science shows, and holiday-themed crafts and activities that made the holiday spirit palpable – including, of course, eating in the Sukkah and shaking the lulav and etrog. In addition to the family parties, JRCC branches also hosted evenings specifically for adults to focus on their own spiritual growth and social activities, and to experience the joy of Sukkot and “Simchat Beit HaShoeva” in their own way. Each branch found their own way to celebrate, with the JRCC West Thornhill and JRCC@Rockford living it up with “Scotch & Steak in the Sukkah, while the JRCC S Richmond Hill Maple and East Thornhill each hosted a “Sukkah Hop” that kept people moving from sukkah to sukkah in the neighborhood. Special events were also held for teens and seniors. In all, it is estimated that over 1,500 people participated in dozens of JRCC Sukkot events, with even more coming out to dance together in the culminating festival of Simchat Torah.
JRCC Launches CTeen
The JRCC recently launched CTeen, a new program for teens in our community that is the JRCC’s local chapter of the international CTeen network. With over 500 chapters in 37 countries and 6 continents, CTeen, the Chabad Teen Network, is the fastest growing network of Jewish teens. It’s mission is to provide a nurturing environment fusing fun, friendship, humanitarian outreach, mitzvah observance, and engaging Torah study. In additional to engaging weekly and seasonal local programs, CTeen offers a variety of trips, regional programs and a giant annual gathering in New York. For more information and registration visit jrcc.org/CTeen.
New Course for Women
The Rosh Chodesh Society just began a new course for women this moth. Insight: Infused with Wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, explores the Rebbe’s broad view of the world at large, our personal failures, the feminine role, current trends and events, and more. The empowering seven-part series, slated to run in over 220 locations across the globe including several JRCC locations, is a remarkably transformative experience that unveils the purpose, beauty, and power buried within ourselves, our destiny, and all of existence. The course will be taught once per month for seven consecutive months and is designed for women at all levels of Jewish knowledge. For more information visit jrcc.org/rcs.
