Blogroll | Congregation Darchei Noam

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Thai Asks Why: What happens after you die?

Tai Poole is trying to find...Read more...

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...

Why is the shofar such an important part of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? How can something as simple as the horn of a ram bring all of the Jewish people together once a year? The shofar is not only an instrument, but an item that has a lot of symbolism associated with it.

Shanah Tovah. There are three main themes of the musaf, which teaches us the meaning of Rosh Hashanah. The three main...Read more...

One of the three major themes of Rosh Hashanah is Malchuyot. It proclaims God as sovereign over the world. He is the creator with absolute power and a source of everything. During the service we reaffirm this belief.

The words on Malchuyot from our Mahzor may roll off your tongue easily. To someone like me, who is...Read more...

On Sunday, July 8, the Downtown Mishpocha group, with the participation of the East Mishpocha group, held our annual picnic in High Park. Already in the unrolling of the days, the impact is fading but the fact remains strong: of the several annual picnics we’ve had this one stands out as extraordinary.

Alan Meisner booked a lovely location. Just far enough from the main road to be comfortable and close enough to be convenient. It...Read more...

In less than 4 years we will celebrate our 50th anniversary and we hope we will will also celebrate retiring our mortgage. We have indeed come a long way, but we have never strayed too far from our roots as a struggling, but intimate, and relevant chavurah. I wrote the following more than 10 years ago:

Although I live in Calgary and get to Darchei Noam only a few times a year, especially on the High Holy Days, my...Read more...

My early memories of Darchei Noam are bound with the sense of intimacy within the new congregation. Most of the ‎members had young children, and a majority of those had their roots in other communities in Canada and the United ‎States. In Canada, Winnipeg, Montreal, and the east coast come to mind, and we were also blessed with members from ‎the USA. People formed social friendships that were more like the relationships within extended...Read more...

“It was in those dogs to care too much and try too hard—

-from Alistair MacLeod’s novel, No Great Mischief

Today’s Parsha has an interesting focus. It begins with the sacrifices offered on the eighth day of the inauguration of the Mishkan:

“Speak to B’nai Yisrael and tell them to take unblemished animals: a goat for a sin offering, and a yearling calf and a lamb for a burnt offering, and a bull and a ram...Read more...