MERCAZ-Canada & Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism
55 Yeomans Road M3H 3J7 Toronto, ON, Canada

#OperationSolomon30 This week we mark the 30th anniversary of Operation Solomon, the largest-ever individual Aliyah mission undertaken from any country in the ...world. Within 36 hours on May 24-25, 1991, more than 14,300 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted from Addis Ababa to Israel in the complicated operation, which involved 35 aircrafts. This was a joint operation by The Jewish Agency alongside the Government of Israel and supported by Israel Defense Forces, JDC, the American Association for Ethiopian Jews, the Jewish Federations of North America, and more.

B'nei mitzvah like this are held at Masorti synagogues across Israel through the support of the Masorti Movement. Every child and every parent deserved to hear, "Mazel tov!"

The Masorti Movement Responds to Rocket Fire & Attacks in Israel

In light of the deteriorating security situation in #Israel, the Rabbinical Assembly has issued the following statement, which is endorsed by Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism, Mercaz Canada & USA , MERCAZ Olami, FJMC - The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, and The Jewish Theological Seminary - JTS: We are deeply disturbed as we see the rocket fire directed at Israel that has severely impacted civilian populations. The increased military capabilities of Hamas, base...d in Gaza, are particularly concerning and we recognize Israel’s right to defend itself. We are also gravely troubled by the religious and nationalist-based violence that has erupted between Jews and Arabs in various locales across Israel. We are pained by the violence, fear, and loss of innocent life in the region. We stand with our siblings in Israel, pray for the safety of Israeli security and rescue forces, for full healing for all who are injured, and offer comfort to the families of those who have died. We are mindful of our #Masorti communities, our clergy, and our leaders impacted by these events and all who are providing so much support to those affected. We call on our members to join with the public plea for true peace in Israel and joy for all its inhabitants. As we are taught in Psalm 122, ‘Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem; May those who love you be at peace. May there be well-being within your ramparts, peace in your citadels.’ Read the full statement and find other resources on the Rabbinical Assembly website https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org//rabbinical-assembly-re

Here are some resources for those seeking information.

Celebrate Tu B'Shevat with MERCAZ Around the World

Join us for a special, international Tu B'Shevat program. https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLScs6u-mWomOLmtju/viewform

Let’s celebrate the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 with our first IKC Kabbalat Shabbat of the decade! Email [email protected] to join. Our guest Hazzan this week, Cantor Russell Jayne of Beth Tzedec in Calgary, AB is originally from New Jersey, but we won’t hold that against him since he’s now in Canada. Cantorial music is his passion and his second career, he has a PhD in Pharmacy! He returned to school at the H. L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish... Music of The Jewish Theological Seminary, and was formally invested in May of 2013. We look forward to having Cantor Jayne with us this week. Again we begin at 4:00 pm EST with the L’chaim and continue at 4:30 EST with Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv. There will be plenty of room for everyone, we hope that you can find the time to join us this week, since it’s a statutory holiday for some reason, perhaps a brit milah? IF you haven’t checked out the YouTubes of previous weeks events, they are available either on the Kiddush Club website http://www.kiddushclub.org or on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/ch/UCSV0wABCI3hZZ5_RfYEE2sg/videos Naomi Weiss’ video is online now, along with many, many more. Remember, sponsorships are available for each week’s event. This week we are currently without a sponsor, but there is still time to let us know and we would love to share your event with the world.

A few words in English about Parashat Vayechi...

Make Your End Of Year Gift Today

This year YOU can join Masorti women across Israel for the Masorti Women's Day of Study.