JRCC EAST THORNHILL MIKVAH EXPANSION

The JRCC East Thornhill is completing the construction of a brand-new mikvah (ritual bath) in the property adjacent to the main center on Yonge Street in Old Thornhill, with the guidance of a professional mikvah specialist who traveled from Minnesota to assist “It is a privilege and an honor to be building a mikvah in support of Jewish family purity, one of the cornerstones of Jewish life and one of the Rebbe’s mitzvah campaigns,” explained Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, Director of the JRCC East Thornhill. “I am proud of how our community came together, with a few exceptionally generous families leading the way, to build this mikvah together.” Several walls were torn down to accommodate the construction of the mikvah and its facilities, which will include a lobby, shower facilities and preparation rooms. In addition, there will be a separate room for women so that local residents can have a mikvah within walking distance for use on Shabbat
and festivals.

GRAPHOLOGY WORKSHOP

What does your handwriting say about you? That was the questioned posed by Elaine Charal, a certified graphologist and seasoned entertainer, who led a workshop at the JRCC East Thornhill. “The graphology workshop is another example of our focus on making programs that are innovative and creative,” explains Chanie Zaltzman, Director of JRCC East Thornhill. “The objective is to find ways to make Jewish life a more engaging and social experience.” Participants received a personal analysis of their handwriting and enjoyed a refreshing salad bar as they explored the emotional, psychologic and spiritual topics that emerged from the discussions surrounding the handwriting analysis..

ART & SOUL COURSE

The JRCC East Thornhill’s Rosh Chodesh Society hosted another session of its fascinating “Art & Soul” course. The course, led by Rebbitzin Chanie Zaltzman, examines the meaning of art in our lives. But art is not only for artists. It’s for anyone who craves to know how to live more creatively, more deeply. The recent session focused on dance, “Movement and Relationship,” exploring how life is movement, and how we move in relation to a loved one, in relation to our community and society, in relation to our Creator and source. The seven-part journey continues. as we explore Judaism’s insights into the arts and how they beautify and transform our lives, one brushstroke at a time. For more info and registration visit JrccEastThornhill.org/RCS.

5 TEVET FARBRENGEN

The Chabad festive day of the 5th of Tevet, which celebrates the day the US Federal Court ruled in favor of Chabads ownership of a priceless library of Chassidic manuscripts. Learn more at jrcc.org/5tevet. To celebrate the occasion, the a farbrengen gathering was held on December 29 at the JRCC of Willowdale & the City, which also commemorated the arrival of Rabbi Yoseph and Rebbetzin Chiena Zaltzman in Toronto to begin serving the community in 1980. The JRCC Bookstore also marked the say with its annual 5 Tevet Book Sale, offering 10% off its entire inventory containing the best selection of Jewish Russian books in North America, plus many great English and Hebrew books.
Learn more at jrccbookstore.org