There’s always lots going on at Solel.

Shabbat Morning Special Guest Speaker

Join us for our Shabbat Morning Service when we will be joined by our shlichah from Israel, Yifat Bear Miller, who will speak about ecology and Israel, just a few days before Tu B’Shevat.

Bet Midrash Solel: The Five Megillot of Jewish Festivals

Solel’s own Rabbi Emeritus, Larry Englander leads us on a six week journey: Five books of the Bible, each with a different story – and each connected with a Jewish festival. Each generation has interpreted these texts in a unique way. We’ll take a look at some of them, and then add our own! Topics include:

• Song of Songs on Pesach – a story of love in the Judean hills
• Ruth on Shavuot – a story of Judaism’s first Jew by Choice
• Lamentations on Tish’a Be’av – a story of tragedy and suffering
• Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) on Sukkot – a story of wisdom that comes with age
• Esther on Purim – a story of Jewish “fate” reversed by a queen
• The Book of Job: a sufferer who questions God’s justice (time permitting)

Sunday mornings from 15 January through 26 February via Zoom. (No session on January 29!) See your Shammas – Solel This Week for the Zoom link or contact the Solel office.

Lunch & Learn – Hearing and Hearing Loss in Long Term Care

Join us for a presentation by Brenda Lewsen, recently retired from Sunnybrook – Hearing and Hearing Loss in Long Term Care: Challenges and opportunities for residents, families and staff. We will look at some of the hearing loss related issues that face residents, families and staff in Long Term Care. The importance of hearing and communication, the impact of the environment, and possible management ideas will be discussed. Brenda will draw on her experience of managing hearing health care services in a LTC facility.

This session will be held online. Contact the Solel Office or check your Shammas-Solel This Week newsletter for Zoom connection information.

Cantor Wunch grew up in Toronto and earned her bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Classics from Queen’s University. She continued on to study Child and Youth Work at Humber College, and earned her Cantorial Ordination and master’s degree from the Hebrew Union College in 2011. She has since served congregations in the US, the UK and Canada.
Before attending seminary, she worked in classrooms, youth shelters, and group homes advocating for children and teens with a variety of educational, developmental, and behavioural needs, and for women who have suffered abuse.
Currently, Cantor Wunch serves on the Ethics Committee of the American Conference of Cantors and is the chair of the Women in the Cantorate Taskforce, fighting for equality, religious freedom, and high ethical standards within her field. Her love of music and Judaism drive her passion to help people find modern meaning in our ancient sacred texts.

Purim Party & Purimspiel

Lunch & Learn – JACS Mental Health Supports

For more information kindly check out our website www.jacstoronto.org or contact Orit by email orit@jacstoronto.org or by phone at (416) 638-0350 ext 233.

This session will be held online. Contact the Solel Office or check your Shammas-Solel This Week newsletter for Zoom connection information.

Arliene’s Book Club

This time: An Observant Wife by Naomi Ragen. In this rich and compassionate novel, we enter into the love story of the newly observant Leah and the ultra Orthodox Yaakov, challenged by the hostilities of some in the community who view Leah as an dangerous interloper.

Community Second Seder

Solel’s Community Passover Seder will be on Thursday, April 6 and will be led by Rabbi Pollack at Solel. It will be professionally catered. The menu will be published in the coming days as well as the cost of attendance. Look for the Shammas, special emails, and listen to announcements at services for this important and exciting event which we’re looking forward to holding in person for the first time since 2019!

Arliene’s Book Club

This time: The World That We Knew by Hanni Kohn. Set in Berlin, Hanni must send her 12-year-old daughter, Lea, away to safety, and finds the hope of salvation in a rare and unusual Golem who is sworn to protect Lea.

Arliene’s Book Club

This time: Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. As anti-Semitism takes root in Italy during WWII, friendship and love and betrayal form the backdrop of this heartbreaking story that tells of both the best and the worst that the world has to offer.