NEW TORAH SCROLL DEDICATION

JRCC S. Richmond Hill & Maple celebrated the completion of a new Torah scroll in its community with a grand Hachnasat Sefer Torah event. It was the largest event ever hosted at this branch of the JRCC, with over 300 people in attendance. The community gathered to welcome the new Liansky Family Sefer Torah to its new home with a procession accompanied by music and dancing, a hakafot ceremony at the synagogue, and a festive barbecue meal.

18 ELUL FARBRENGEN

The 18th of Elul was marked with an uplifting community farbrengen gathering hosted by the JRCC S Richmond Hill & Maple and attended by dozens of community members. This date marks the birthday of two great luminaries — the Baal Shem Tov (R. Yisrael ben R. Eliezer, born 1698), founder of the Chassidic move¬ment, and the Alter Rebbe (R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, born 1745), founder of Chabad. Together, they formed the foundation of the Chassidic revolution of Jewish life, one that continues unabated to this day. This day also marks 12 days before Rosh Hashana, one day to reflect upon each month from the previous calendar year.

PRE-ROSH HASHANA FARMER’S MARKET

The JRCC S Richmond Hill & Maple hosted a pre-Rosh Hashana
Farmer’s Market, an organic, hands-on experience that brings
the High Holidays to life. Participants crafted Rosh Hashana
greeting cards, and learned new recipes, including artisanal
challah, apple mocktails, carrot cake pops and pomegranatehoney
fruit salad. The Farmer’s Market experience is an example
of the JRCC Hebrew School’s
approach to making education an
interactive, hand-on experience where children use their sense and
creative abilities to learn about and
engage with their Jewish heritage.
For more information visit jrccHebrewSchool.org.

 

 

PRE-ROSH HASHANAH CHALLAH BAKE

Women and girls got together at all JRCC Branches in the week
leading up to Rosh Hashana for the annual pre-Rosh Hashanah
Challah Bake. Over 250 women gathered simultaneously just
before Rosh Hashana at all JRCC branches to bake Challah
together. According to Jewish tradition, when a group of women gathers to partake in this sacred tradition as one, it opens up the heavenly gates to their prayers, and draws blessing for the entire community – and it was a moving and powerful experience for all those who participated.