Gardening Update
2021-03-24 10:25:44 AM
The gardening group has been busy with plans for the strip of grass at the front of the shul. We have received a grant to buy native plants to attract pollinators like monarch butterflies, birds, and bees. The grant comes from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation....Read more...
Refugee Shabbat D'Var Torah
2021-03-09 07:16:06 AM
Shabbat Shalom
I have been asked to speak today as a part of our congregation’s participation in a world- wide HIAS/JIAS effort to raise the awareness, and hopefully encourage action in the Jewish community, about refugees around the globe.
I will talk about the...Read more...
Tu B’Shvat 2021 Recipes
2021-01-20 08:14:03 AM
Tu B’shvat, the New Year of the Trees, is a welcome holiday falling during our grey winter months. In Israel, the almond tree is blooming a signal that the trees are waking up from their winter naps. Why...Read more...
Drive-through Menorah Lighting
2020-12-15 12:58:04 PM
Holidays in 2020, haven't been easy, but social distancing and cold weather could not keep The Darchei Noam Hebrew School and B'Nei Mitzvah program from safely celebrating Hannukah!
Read more...
Life during COVID-19: A Perspective
2020-07-03 10:13:56 AM
Being in lock-down for many weeks has allowed me much time for reflection.
I live in a lovely Retirement Residence in Toronto. In my youth, such places were called Old Folks Homes. So much for euphemisms.
I grew up in Saskatoon. In my youth, disease was accepted as part of life. Everyone had...Read more...
The Foods of Shavuot
2020-05-27 10:52:55 AM
When we think of Shavuot, visions of cheese blintzes come to mind. When or why the custom of eating dairy foods arose is unknown; here are two explanations. In Song of Songs, the verse, “The sweetness drops from your lips; like honey and...Read more...
My Trip to Israel: Selecting Next Year's Shinshinim and a View of the Issues in the Northern Region
2020-03-19 09:13:38 AM
As Darchei Noam’s Lay Leader for the Shinshinim Program, I recently attended a one week, UJA Israel Engagement Mission, along with Ariel Zaltzman, D.N.’s Youth and Education Programming Director. The purpose of the mission was two-fold. Firstly, to participate in the interview/selection process for our 2020/21...Read more...
Purim Fun!
2020-03-10 12:34:47 PM
The holiday of Purim is one that kids and adults alike look forward to, and this year was no exception. It’s the only holiday when we have the custom to masquerade – and at Darchei Noam, that custom was in full effect at our Purim Carnival!
Our hallowed...Read more...
Bal Tashchit – DO NOT WASTE by Elaine McKee
2020-03-04 02:32:24 PM
As most of you know, the Darchei Noam Kiddush Refresh project of 2020 included a transition to reusable glass dishes and stainless cutlery. The paper plates,...Read more...
AOK Donates Purses to Women who are Homeless
2019-11-21 12:17:11 PM
AOK had a wonderful meeting on November 19, 2019. Seventeen people turned out to practice Qi Gong under the leadership of...Read more...
Fun-Filled Day of Apple Picking at Downey's Farm.
2019-09-18 01:05:21 PM
Darchei
Noam's apple picking trip for our young families on Sunday, September 15 was very successful, despite the heavy rain before the event!
Following a yummy pizza lunch at the synagogue, participants headed to Downey's Apple and Strawberry Farm in...Read more...
Complimentary Book Giveaway!
2019-08-15 10:45:16 AM
We are having a Book Giveaway. All books are free!
Come by Darchei Noam on:
Tuesday, August 20 from 6:00-8:00 pm (during extended office hours for membership renewal) Shabbat, Saturday Aug. 24 during Kiddush.Books will be available in the following categories:
Bible and Biblical Studies Classical Judaica Jewish Observance and Practice Jewish Education Jewish Languages Jewish Literature Jewish...Read more...Darchei Noam Hebrew School Introduces New Three-Phase Curriculum
2019-07-25 05:27:11 PM
This fall, our Hebrew school is pleased to be implementing a new three-phase curriculum that is based on the saying from Pirkei Avot (ethics of our ancestors) that the world stands on three pillars: Torah (bible), Avodah (service) and Gemilut Chassadim (acts of loving kindness).
The curriculum was developed in-house by Rabbi Tina Grimberg and our Director of Youth Education and Programming, Ariel Zaltzman. It covers a wide range of...Read more...
Leslieville School End-of-Year Picnic
2019-06-25 04:04:44 PM
This past Sunday, the Leslieville Jewish School celebrated the end of the school year with a picnic at Jimmie Simpson Park. From September to June, the Leslieville Jewish School has been running educational programs for a small group of families in the east end...Read more...
Introducing our 2019/20 Shinshinim, Ben and Shalev.
2019-06-25 03:32:49 PM
In the Fall, Darchei Noam is pleased to be welcoming two new Shinshinim, Ben and Shalev, to our congregation. To introduce themselves, they have created this entertaining video to share with all of you. We look forward to meeting them in the...Read more...
Goodbye Speeches from our 2018/19 Shinshinim, Noa and Itamar.
2019-06-25 02:50:51 PM
This past year, Darchei Noam was fortunate to have two wonderful Shinshinim, Noa and Itamar. On Saturday, June 8, they addressed our Shabbat congregants to say goodbye and tell us about all that they had learned during their year in Toronto.
Here is the transcript of their speeches:
Shabbat Shalom,
Being a Shinshin in Toronto has meant a great deal to me. It meant leaving my family, the kibbutz and my home,...Read more...
Music Therapy
2019-05-02 04:04:35 PM
We had a very successful program with Aaron Lightstone last year. Myra Schiff shares here about that experience. We look forward to welcoming him back again this year, on Thursday, May 30 at 7:30 pm in the triple rooms. We hope reading this blog post inspires you to join us for this year’s program.
You may know Aaron Lightstone as a musician who sometimes leads us in singing on Shabbat...Read more...
DN: The Early Years - Reflections from Harvey and Gilda Freeman
2019-04-16 11:23:03 AM
Reconstructionism has metamorphosed many times since it was introduced to Toronto in the 1940’s. Initially it was a few dozen individuals who subscribed to the Reconstructionist magazine and were philosophical acolytes of Mordecai Kaplan’s....Read more...
Parshat Vayechi: D'var Torah by David McKee, December 22, 2018
2019-04-02 11:49:35 AM
This parasha is the last in the book of Genesis. It is the end of the stories of the ancestors. It contains three parts: the blessing of Menasha and Ephraim and their incorporation into the B’nei Israel (though once again, the younger brother prevails). A long and sometimes bitter farewell from Jacob to his sons, rewarding some and cursing others. And a final confrontation of Joseph and his brothers (other than...Read more...
Parshat Vayigash: D'var Torah by Karen Weinthal, December 15, 2018
2019-03-19 02:56:47 PM
This week we are looking at Parsha Vayigash, which continues the story of Joseph. At this point he has risen high in the Egyptian court, to 2nd in command, as a result of his interpretations of Pharoah’s dreams, particularly the one indicating an upcoming 7 year drought and famine, which the Egyptians were then able to anticipate and prepare for. He is in charge of dispersing the food. The famine eventually brings his brothers to...Read more...
Event Recap: Tu B'Shvat Seder
2019-03-04 02:15:32 PM
"Parents were thrilled and felt it was a meaningful event. They enjoyed seeing
the kids’ presentations and overall had a wonderful time.” Ariel Zaltzman, Director of Youth Education and...Read more...
The Whys, Wheres, Dos, Whos, and What's of the Spring Book Club
2019-02-19 01:41:35 PM
By Leslie Pomer, Adult Education Committee
Here are some some questions that only you can answer...
All the Rivers, by Dorit Rabinyan
~~Why was this book named Book of the Year by Haaretz?
~~Why was this novel awarded the Bernstein Prize?
~~What would be the outcome of an Israeli of Iranian origin falling in love with an Arab?
~~Where does guilt come into play with this...Read more...
Parshat Ki Tavo: D'var Torah by Charles Novogrodsky, September 1, 2018
2019-02-04 10:33:18 AM
Ki Tavo is a migration/immigration story. It is fitting we discuss it this shabbat after a summer when migration - and the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers - are such contested features of our world.
Ki Tavo means “when you enter”. This is a famous Torah portion. It is about First Fruits, tithes and blessings and curses. In Ki Tavo Deuteronomy moves to a climax- and here as the people of Israel get ready to enter the...Read more...
Parshat Haazinu: Whither the Generations, D'var Torah by Jack Muskat, September 22, 2018
2019-01-23 12:34:31 PM
The structure of this week’s Parsha, Ha’azinu (lit. Give Ear) is a poem, or Song by Moses for the Children of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land. 38 Years have elapsed since Moses’ first Song “Az Yashir Moshe” was given to the first generation of Exodus, upon their triumphant crossing of the Reed Sea, upon their exit from Egypt. But this is a new generation, for whom the trials and tribulations of the past generation are...Read more...
Darchei Noam's Mission to Pittsburgh: Participants' Reactions
2019-01-03 12:00:19 PM
Esther Enkin:
There are times when we are lucky enough to have the privilege to participate in transformative events. Our weekend in Pittsburgh was one of those times for me – and, judging by the comments by members of Dor Hadash and the 28 DN members who participated, it is a widely shared feeling. It was truly remarkable - six weeks after such a profound trauma, our Pittsburgh hosts opened their homes and...Read more...
Tia Asks Why: A CBC Interview with Rabbi Grimberg
2018-12-11 01:30:58 PM
Thai Asks Why: What happens after you die?
Tai Poole is trying to find...Read more...
Drash for Shabbat Shuva by Mark Matchen, September 15, 2018
2018-11-27 11:20:14 AM
Shabbat Shalom
I’ve had a question in my mind for a very long time, and I return to it once in a while without really reaching any clarity. And that’s OK; it’s nice to have these meaty questions out there for reflective moments. This one is, why does Yom Kippur follow Rosh HaShanah, rather than precede it? That might seem arbitrary, but another way to think of it is, why...Read more...
Aging with Wisdom: Rosh Hashanah Sermon by Rabbi Tina Grimberg, September 10, 2018
2018-11-13 11:12:30 AM
Last year, after the High Holy Days, I spoke with one of the members of our community who mentioned to me that, upon entering the sanctuary for the holidays, she noticed how much older everyone around looked. “Age,” if we are fortunate, is the price we pay for a long life. The alternative, I am often reminded, is not particularly welcomed.
So, what does our tradition say about getting old? Does it have an opinion or wisdom to...Read more...
My Spiritual Journey: Remarks by Isabelle Kaczmarek, Kallat B'reishit, 5779 / 2018
2018-10-30 12:56:11 PM
I was once a good Catholic girl.
My parents were immigrants who came here from post-war Europe...Polish Catholic refugees who met and married in a British DP camp in Germany. When they came to Canada, they spent a short time in the depths of Northern Ontario, where my sister was born, but ultimately settled in Oshawa, where my father worked in a car parts factory.
They brought with them their religion and their culture, which...Read more...
Tue, 13 April 2021
1 Iyar 5781
Are you a guest? Welcome!
To attend our Services or Programs, please pre-register here by 2 pm of the preceding business day
Subscribe to our Friends of Darchei Noam Mailing List