ONLINE SHABBAT!
Saturday April 4th, 10:00am. Shabbat morning service with Cantor Wunch, Rabbi Goldstein and to celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Hannah Prokaziuk. Wearing kipa and tallit welcome, let us make it feel as much as possible like Shabbat, with a L'Chaim shot ready at the end! Join here. (zoom id 139-436-748)
Saturday April 11th, 10am. What’s Four For?: A virtual Passover-Shabbat study of the foremost 4’s in the Haggadah. Four lessons brought to you by the number 4 with Baruch Sienna. Join here. (zoom id 139-436-748)
Thursday April 16th, 10:00am. Virtual yizkor with Rabbi Goldstein and Cantor Wunch. A beautiful, meaningful and creative short service with remembrances of your loved ones. Please send a photo of your departed, along with exactly how you would like it to appear onscreen (e.g. Yankel Cohen remembers his father Shlomo) to Nick Gunz for a memorial slideshow we will show at that service. Join here. (zoom id 447-402-871)
Saturday April 18th, 10:00am. Shabbat morning service with Cantor Wunch, Rabbi Goldstein, and celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Charlie Rosenthalconnect. Wearing kipa and tallit welcome, let us make it feel as much as possible like Shabbat, with a L'Chaim shot ready at the end! Join here. (zoom id 139-436-748)
INTO THE CLOUDS!
Dear City Shul members and Friends,
Pikuach Nefesh–saving a life—is a central Jewish value. Our sacred texts teach that we should forego almost any commandment or prohibition in order to do that. In light of COVID-19 the Leadership Team, together with the City Shul staff, have made the difficult decision to cancel all live events, services, and City Shul School, beginning today until the end of April— contingent of course on assessing the continued spread of COVID-19 and health advisories from the government and the World Health Organization.
We are taking seriously the daily changes in health information and the indicators which point to the wisdom of this proactive approach. We all care deeply about each other’s well-being, and about keeping our wider community, the health-care system, and those especially vulnerable, safe.
City Shul is a bold, creative synagogue, so we’re moving our community into the clouds. ICloud, that is. Even in difficult times, it is important that we celebrate Jewish life together, though it may be different from the ways we are used to. Our “virtual shul” schedule is above. Our ties to each other and to Judaism are strong and will remain strong as we find new ways to engage.
We also recognize that the constant news of COVID-19 may make us anxious, depressed, or nervous. Please know City Shul and Rabbi Goldstein are here for you as a source of spiritual strength. We all join in a collective “Mi Shebeirach” for healing for those throughout the world who are ill, and in support of everyone facing this together or alone. We ask you to reach out to anyone isolated by this challenge to see if you can help.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Danielle Adler, Leadership Team Chair
Paul Robinson, City Shul President
City Shul Shabbat Details
Takes place on Saturday mornings beginning at 10 am
Once-a-month we offer Tot Shabbat for families with younger children: see below
Once-a-month Friday nights at 6:30 pm
ALL services and events meet at 300 Bloor Street West.
Please check the schedule below as we DO NOT meet every week.
All City Shul Shabbat Services are free and all are welcome, whether you are a member or not. Visitors, guests, newcomers, those just visiting Toronto on business or vacation, those just curious, shul-shoppers and shul-hoppers and regulars all can join us at any and all of our Shabbat services, kiddush, and Friday night services and dinners. We never have "private" services or a "private" kiddush of "invited-only" folks - whether or not there is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, babynaming, aufruf, or any other simcha.
City Shul is a children friendly environment Children are always welcome at our Saturday services. If there's a time we need quiet-like the mourner's Kaddish, for example, or during the dvar Torah-we will ask them to wait outside for a moment. Family Friday nights are totally geared for children. Older children who can sit through an hour service without activities or childcare are welcome to attend our Adult Kabbalat Shabbat. On Saturdays we always-even on Bar/Bat Mitzvah days-have Club Katan (ages 7-11, crafts, music, discussion, and Judaic-themed games) plus the "Prayground"-an area in the sanctuary where parents can sit with playing toddlers-for little ones.
Children begin with us in the "main" service up until after the silent Amidah, then are welcome to stay or go off to their various activities. At the end of the service the children are invited to come up for a blessing, and to get a treat if they haven't already gathered and thrown candies at our Bar/Bat Mitzvah child! Throughout the year, about once a month, we add a Saturday Family "Mishpacha" service filled with music and family-friendly activities for all ages and Tot Shabbat, a 60 minute programme for ages 1-5 that focuses on song, movement, a fun and do-able craft, and Jewish time together with a parent; and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Club, a special programme with our shins for grades 6 and 7. Dates for these special programmes appear under "service dates."
New to our synagogue? Just checking us out? Haven't been to synagogue in who-knows-how-long? We will provide a "shul buddy" to sit with you and help you feel welcome and at home at our Shabbat services! Email the Rabbi to be matched up. (Please note we need 2-3 days lead notice for a buddy-match).
Saturday Shabbat Morning and Special Services
ALL SERVICES POSTPONED UNTIL THE END OF APRIL, SEE ABOVE FOR ONLINE OFFERINGS
Apr 25 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Jeff Bernstein. PLUS KITCHEN KIDDUSH!
May 2 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Cantor Cheryl Wunch. Israel Shabbat
May 9 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Cantor Cheryl Wunch. We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Ari de Lara
May 16 - NO SERVICE
May 23 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Yona Lunsky
May 30 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Jeff Bernstein. We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Milo Green; Shavout yizkor.
June 6 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Cantor Cheryl Wunch. We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Isaiah Steinman Gould
June 13 - Rabbi Goldstein and Yona Lunsky; Kitchen Kiddush
June 20 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Jeff Bernstein. We celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Laura Kirsch
June 27 - NO SERVICE
Friday Night Kabbalat Services
ALL Friday Night Kabbalat Services and dinner postponed until April 24, stay tuned for further details.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:30 pm are always followed by dinner. There is no childcare or children's programming but children who can enjoy a service without that are welcome!
April 24
May 22
June 26
Co-Sponsor a Kiddush!
We welcome you to co-sponsor our Saturday morning kiddush in honour of a simcha or special birthday/ anniversary, in memory of a loved one, in commemoration of a yartzeit, or just because! Sponsorships are tax receipted. Just choose your date (non Bar/ Bat Mitzvah) and email Casey.
What and Who to expect at our Services
SATURDAY MORNING SERVICES are geared for all ages: Our Shabbat morning services include Torah reading and dvar Torah. We offer Club Katan every week for grades SK-4 with snack, story, crafts, and more.
SHABBAT-TOT with Bryna and friends (YOU!). Join us for songs, snack, story and crafts. A once a month 60 minute programme for parent and tot ages 1-5.
BAR/BAT MITZVAH CLUB for grades 6 and 7 only, is a special 45 minute programme during Shabbat morning service, with the shins, that will include snack, dynamic conversation on current topics, and a monthly prayer focus. No pre-registration needed!
KABBALAT SHABBAT Friday night once a month services are geared to adults and children who don't need childcare. There are no children's activities or childcare at these services but children are welcome to experience this quieter musical service. Followed by dinner.
FRIDAY NIGHT FAMILY SERVICE is a story and songs service geared to people with younger children, followed by dinner.
Thu, 2 April 2020
8 Nisan 5780
City Shul Shabbat Services
Click here for our Shabbat service schedule.
City Shul School
Click here to learn more about our shul's school.
City Shul Family Programming
Click here to see our upcoming family programmes.
City Shul Adult Ed and Adult Programmes
Click here to see our upcoming adult programmes.
