As large as the Jewish community in Toronto is, it can be really hard to find a place to go for passover if you are a student living away from home.  Hillel does it’s best to match up students with other students or with families in the area.  If you want to volunteer a place at your seder table, or you are looking for somewhere to go, email hanna.cohen@hilleltoronto.

Another unbelievable young artist. Check out all the youtube clips.  If you have time you should check out the songs “Samson” “On the Radio” “Us” and “The Ghost of Corporate Future”  Really good!

Boaz Mauda won the title of “Kochav Nolad” (“Israeli Idol”) in the summer of 2007.

He then continued onto the Eurovision song contest, where he came in the top 10.

Shiri Maimon has a similar musician resume from 2005, where she was runner up in “Kochav Nolad” and the same year came in the top 5 of the Eurovision song contest.

This past week, at the MTV’s Europe Music Awards, Shiri Maimon was nominated in the top 3 of Europe’s favourite music acts.

Shiri Maimon at MTV Europe Music Awards (photo source: Ynetnews)

Other recent internationally popular Israeli musicians include Yael Naim and Dana International

Dana International (photo source: danainternational.co.il)

Yael Naim (photo source: www.yaelnaim.com)

Be sure to attend events for this 28th annual informative week.

The calendar is full of events, so be sure not to miss out.

Events being held at York, Ryerson and U of T, and all over Toronto, so be sure to check your schedule and plan ahead, because a record breaking attendance is expected this year.

Never Forget.

On Thursday, August 14th, the UJA has organized a shloshim memorial for Eldad Regev z”l and Ehud Goldwasser z”l.

The memorial will be at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street) at 7pm.

The memorial will honour their memories and give the audience a chance to learn more about their lives and the legacies they left.

For more information, click here.

Israeli singer and songwriter, Aviv Geffen, performed his song Everybody’s Child, earlier this week at a rally to bring back kidnapped IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit.                 

Gilad ShalitAviv Geffen

After singing the song, he explained it with the following:

“Hello everyone.
More than two years have passed since Gilad was kidnapped, and who knows how many doors he is sitting behind, frightened.

He is not far away from us and the job of those who sent him is also to bring him back to his home.  It is our obligation to do everytihng to influence the political echelon to make a courageous decision.

I ask everyone who receives this letter to work towards Gilad’s release.  I wrote this song for Hilad’s family and friends and I am donating all the song’s proceeds to the campaign for his return.

It is our obligation to display humanism in this difficult hour and bring him home.”

-Quote Source: YnetNews

You can hear the song by clicking on the YnetNews link above.

We all know from numerous studies that red wine, within reason, provides our bodies with various health benefits.  A new study by Israeli’s takes this one step further, indicating that having wine with red meat reduces the formation of toxic cells.

Photo Source: www.cutieswonderful.net

For more information, read the article on Science Daily

Part 2: 06.08.08
Doing Stuff with D.A.N.I. @6pm
Founded in 2005 by a group of parents who have children with special needs, D.A.N.I. (Developing and Nurturing Independence) is a place that creates opportunities for Jewish young adults with physical and/or cognitive challenges.  Let’s spend a few hours cooking, baking and playing games with people at D.A.N.I.’s Place, located in the Bathurst and Sheppard area.

Photo Source: dailytidings.com

Part 3: 13.08.08
Movie & Munchies @7pm
Have some fun with the Zohan, some popcorn and socializing.  The evening will be hosted by Chai-Tikvah Foundation, an organization that provides support services for psychiatrically disabled adults in Jewish residential settings to enable productive lives.  We will convene in the organization’s group home setting, in which they provide 24-hour support to eight people.

Check out and join our Tikkun Olam Toronto Facebook group.

Sign up NOW for this tikkun olam experiences by calling:
Carly Cohen – (416)398-6931 ext.5204
Jonathan Schwartz – (416)913-2424 ext.3030

Earlier this month, the Knesset formally added the Ethiopian Sigd holiday to the list of State holidays.

Sigd is the Ethiopian Jewish festival falling in the Hebrew month of Cheshvan on the 29th day.

Picture Source: www.Ynetnews.com

 

Picture Source: www.think-israel.org

Just-A-Second Shop is looking for volunteers who are interested! Just-A-Second Shop offers new and gently used clothing and small household items at very reasonable prices to those less fortunate.  Proceeds from the shop support the many ways JF&CS (Jewish Family & Child Services) serves the community, with a special focus on sending children to Jewish day and overnight camps.  Staffed by a team of dedicated volunteers and employees, needy clients of the agency are able to select a certain number of items at no charge.

Just-A-Second Shop (located at 4117 Bathurst St. between Wilson and Sheppard) is looking for volunteers who can make any of the following dates and meet the basic criteria:
-July 10, 17 & 31
-Around 6-8pm
-Can lift about 8kg/18lbs.
-Can carry boxes of donations up and down stairs
-Sort/hang donations

As you can tell, this volunteer opportunity requires basic skills, little commitment and goes to a really great cause.

If you or any of your friends are interested, please call Carly Cohen or Jonathan Schwartz.
Carly - (416)398-6931 ext.5204
Jonathan - (416)913-2424