RABBI LAWRENCE ENGLANDER, D.H.L. co-editor and author of the recently published “The Fragile Dialogue: New Voices of Liberal Zionism” will be our Scholar-in-Residence this year.
Thursday, April 12 7 pm – 8:30 pm: Mishnah class (Open to all!)
How did we get from a centralized Jerusalem Temple to world-wide
synagogues? In our Mishnah study, we shall discover that the
synagogue was already becoming popular while the Temple still
stood — and we’ll discuss the reasons why.
Friday, April 13
- 5:30 pmTot Shabbat Welcome Shabbat with joy and songs (for under 5s & their families)
- 6:00 pm Shabbat dinner – Please RSVP for dinner/lunch online
- 7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Rabbi Englander will discuss
The Fragile Dialogue: New Voices of Liberal Zionism. Are there common
elements on which all liberal Zionists can agree? What are the major
areas of contention? What can we do to advance our ideals?
Saturday, April 14
- 10:00 am Shabbat Minyan with Rabbi Englander. We will briefly examine Israel’s Declaration of Independence as we would a biblical or Talmudic text, to discuss the inherent values in Zionism and the challenges we face today.
- 12:15 pm Dairy lunch. RSVP here.
- 1:00 – 2:30 pm New Religious Trends in Israeli Popular Music
Secular Israeli rock stars are turning to Jewish tradition to find material for their songs – and in the process they are teaching Judaism to their fans! We shall listen to a few of these songs and discuss their meaning for Israeli listeners and for us.
- 6:30 pm Israeli Songs of Protest
Just as protest songs influenced political life in North America in the 1960’s, so has there been a similar tradition in Israel. In this session, we shall listen to and discuss protest songs going back to the aftermath of the 1967 Six Day War and continuing on to the present. The themes will include the Occupation, African asylum seekers, social inequality and more.
- 8:00 pm Havdalah
This weekend is generously supported by Anonymous TE Leave a Legacy Donor.
About our speaker
Rabbi Lawrence A. Englander received his Honours B.A. degree from York University in 1970. He then attended Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (one year in Jerusalem and four years in Cincinnati), receiving ordination as Rabbi in 1975. He is the founding Rabbi of Solel Congregation, Mississauga, serving there since its inception in 1973 until his retirement in June 2014; he now serves Solel as Rabbi Emeritus. He is also Adjunct Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Toronto.
Rabbi Englander received his Doctorate of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 1984, in the field of Jewish Mysticism and Rabbinics. He has taught in the Religious Studies Department at York University and spent a semester teaching rabbinical students at Leo Baeck College in London, England. He has written several articles on Jewish Mysticism, as well as a book, The Mystical Study of Ruth, published by Scholars Press. He is former Editor of the Central Conference of American Rabbis Journal.
Another passion of Rabbi Englander’s is Reform Zionism, a subject on which he has written and edited articles. He served as Chair of ARZENU, a world-wide progressive Zionist organization, from 2014 to 2017. He is co-editor (with Rabbi Stanley Davids) of the book Fragile Dialogue: New Voices of Liberal Zionism, published by CCAR Press. He also serves on the Board of JSpace, a Canadian liberal Zionist organization.
Rabbi Englander has also played an active role in establishing two Mississauga interfaith organizations: Foodpath, a community food bank; and Pathway, a non-profit housing corporation, of which Rabbi Englander was the founding President. In 2005 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for his work in the community.
Both Rabbi Englander and his wife Cheryl are natives of Toronto.
You and your family are invited to celebrate the Passover Seder with Rabbi Farbman and your extended Temple Emanuel Family!
Share a potluck Shabbat meal with family and friends! Unwind at the end of the week, and welcome Shabbat with your extended Temple Emanuel Family.
How do you see something that hasn’t existed in 500 years? That was the challenge for eighteen travelers from Temple Emanuel when we visited Spain from 7/31 to 8/13/17. Led by Israeli guide, Julian Resnick, the search for Jewish Spain was on.
The search began in Madrid with visits to the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, Puerta de la Indepencia, Jardines del Buena Retiro and El Prado. For many the highlight of our time in the city was our visit with a new reform Jewish congregation. Seeing their enthusiasm and pride, hearing their stories of successes and obstacles and just getting to know them, made us appreciate our own circumstances.
From Madrid we spent a day going to Toledo. Approaching the city was magical. Located in the mountains bordering the Taso River, this small city appeared like a fairy tale. We were able to wander through the old city, visiting the Cathedral, the location of the once thriving Jewish quarter and synagogues dating back hundreds of years (one to the 3rd century). Standing in the Plaza while being taught about the Inquisition’s auto de fe was a very powerful experience. Seeing evidence of a Jewish presence and knowing that there was no Jewish population there today gave us pause.
The Casa de Sefarad has been opened in the midst of the old Jewish quarter as a museum and cultural center of Jewish Spain. Rabbi Farbman led our Shabbat service at the Casa. Hebrew prayers and songs spilled out into the Jewish quarter, silent to services for hundreds of years. It was interesting to find out that the very dedicated staff of Casa de Sefarad were not Jewish but passionate about teaching and exploring the experience of Jewish Spain.
In Seville we visited the Cathedral, the most visited in Spain, and Real Alcazar. In Grenada we toured the Alhambra. After a week of non-stop activity, in unrelenting heat, we headed to the beach. Stopping along the way to relax and swim we reached Alicante. Time was spent exploring on our own, visiting the Castile Santa Barbara and people watching. A day followed in Tarragona doing more of the same.
While heading for Barcelona we stopped in Monserrat. The monastery high in the mountains had spectacular views, a funicular and was generally fascinating. Some events are serendipitous and leave their strong impression. For me it was the experience of attending a portion of a mass in Monserrat. The mass was dedicated to Edith Stein, born a Jew, converted to Roman Catholicism, became a Carmelite nun and was murdered in Auschwitz. Why were we there on that particular day to hear that particular mass?
Our trip concluded in Barcelona. We visited Park Guell and the Sagrada Familia to experience Gaudi and the Picasso Museum in the old city. We visited an ancient synagogue tucked away on an ancient narrow street. We went to the city of Girona and spent considerable time in the old Jewish quarter. What delighted some of us was being shown sites that were used in filming “Game of Thrones”.
Our final night in Spain was sharing a worship service at Comunitat Jueva Bet Shalom de Catalunya, the reform Jewish congregation. Once again we were welcomed as brethren and made to feel totally comfortable. We were also very concerned for our new friends a week later when a terrorist attack struck in Barcelona.
Throughout our trip we were fortunate to have knowledgeable and interesting local guides who were able to give us an overview of their cities, usually with obvious pride and always with a feel for their city. Leading them all was our friend, Julian Resnick. He kept us focused and on track, he provided insights that were specifically for us. He made us think, see and feel so that we could try to bridge the gap of 500 years. Julian posed questions and made us examine today, i.e. pork is a part of virtually every meal in Spain. Why? During the inquisition the eating of pork was used as evidence that you were not a secret Jew.
Come celebrate Shabbat Chanukah with your extended Temple Emanuel Family! Bring your own Chanukkiah and let’s fill the sanctuary with light on this very special Chanukah shabbat! After the music-filled Shabbat celebration with Temple Emanuel Band enjoy a family-style meal. Bring some latkes to share at our annual latke cook-off, and may the best latka win! 
After a thorough process of examining Mishkan HaNefesh, the new Reform Machzor for the High Holy Days, the Temple Emanuel Ritual Committee recommended we adopt the new Machzor. The Board of Directors unanimously endorsed this recommendation. The Ritual Committee greatly appreciates all of the feedback and help we received from congregants. A new HH prayerbook with full transliteration is a very exciting prospect for next year!
