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TEXTUAL
TREASURES UNVEILED

“Judaism's core texts grew out of millennia-long conversations and arguments across generations. More than a collection of books on a shelf, the Jewish canon is a giant corpus of interconnected texts that speak to each other.”
-Sefaria

EXPLORING JEWISH FOUNDATIONS

Jews are called the People of the Book. But it can be hard to keep track of all of our books!

Join Julie Rubenstein in exploring some of our most fundamental texts of the past four thousand years, and how we continuously clarify and append them to make them accessible to new generations of Jewish learners.

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Julie Rubenstein

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Curriculum

Torah, Prophets, Writings and Midrash

Known in English as The Bible, our most fundamental of fundamental texts.

2

Talmud & Halacha

Explore how Jewish practice evolved from Torah commandments to practical everyday activities.

3

Liturgy, Kabbalah, and More

Learn more sources of Jewish thought and practice.

CHUMASH WITH RASHI

Jews are called the People of the Book and there are those who have dedicated their lives for the study of Torah.

Join Julie Rubenstein in exploring Judaism's  most fundamental texts with the virtual commentary of Rashi. 

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Julie Rubenstein

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Curriculum

LEARN

We will learn the alphabet of Rashi and read the commentaries as recorded in the Mishnah. 

2

STUDY

Explore how Jewish practice evolved from Torah commandments, to the written commentaries of Rashi..

3

PREREQUISITES

Must be able to read Hebrew (limited vocabulary is acceptable). Cost for textbooks is $62 

Get in Touch

Let Julie Rubenstein know that you would like to attend by sending an email to: 

office@bethtefilah.ca

Suggested Donation $10

e-transfer to: cbtsister@gmail.com

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Shabbat Times

EREV SHABBAT  MATOT- MASSEI    Friday, July 10, 2026 Plag 7:30 pm

Candle Lighting 8:47 pm

 

SHABBAT  July 11, 2026

Morning Services: 9:30 am

Havdalah: 9:56 PM

 

 Yahrzeits

  

Judy Palansky for her mother, Shauna Senensky, 28 Tammuz, Sun/Mon July 12-13, 2026

 

Ted Medzon for his mother-in-law, Shifra (Charlotte Beres), 1 Av (July 14-15, 2026 Tues/Wed)

 

Kiddush

The kiddush this week is open for sponsorship

 

Daily Minyan   

 

We are trying to organize evening minyanim on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, approximately 20 minutes before sunset. Minyans this week (on Sunday and Thursday) will be held at 8:45 PM.

 

Minyans are announced and recruited via the Minyan Maker Whattsapp group. If you would like to be involved, you can join with this link:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dwf879wwHaZBLGbDCH7GR

 

Three Weeks

The three weeks from  Thursday morning, July 2, to Thursday night, July 23, 2026, are a time of mourning for the destruction of the first and second Batei Hamikdash.

 

Both temples were destroyed on the ninth day of Av, in 420 BCE and 70 CE, respectively. During this time, we refrain from music, significant purchases such as homes, furniture, or clothing, and eating foods we had not eaten in a year. For the last nine days of this period, we refrain from meat, wine (except for Shabbat), freshly laundered clothes, and pleasure bathing.

 

The first and last days of this period are marked by fasting. July 2 is the 17th of Tammuz; it marks the day the walls of Jerusalem were breached. This fast begins 30 minutes before dawn, 3:23 am in London, and concludes at nightfall, 10:01 pm in London. July 23 is the 9th of Av. It marks the day both Temples were destroyed. This fast begins on Wednesday at nightfall, 8:56 pm in London, and ends on Thursday at nightfall, 9:46 pm. On this day, we also refrain from wearing leather shoes, using ointments, and bathing. On Wednesday night, we gather at the Shul for Maariv and the reading of lamentations. There will be services at 8:30 am and 8:20 PM on Thursday.

We pray for the coming of Moshiach when these days will be transformed into days of celebration and joy.

 

Weekly Classes

Rabbi Lazer teaches regular weekly classes via Zoom. 

Join us in person on Sunday morning for services at 8:30 AM, followed by a short, fascinating Talmud class at 9:15 am. The Talmud class is hybrid, in person and on Zoom.

Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM for insights and discussions on the weekly Parshah.

Tanya Class for Women 

Rebbetzin Basie leads a 30-minute in-depth class on Tanya, the classic Chassidic work that teaches the inner workings of our mind, heart, and soul. The class will be text-based as we slowly make our way through this incredible study.  

To be held via Zoom each Tuesday at 7:30 pm. To register, please provide Basie bgurkow@gmail.com with your phone number so she can provide updates about the class.

 

Pirkei Avos Class for Women

Rebbetzin Basie teaches a class for women on the Ethics of our Fathers, Pirkei Avos, on Shabbat at 5:30 pm. The class is held at the Gurkow family home.

Rosh Chodesh Society

 The last session of this year’s course was a celebratory beautiful garden party and dinner held in June. There are no meetings in July and August.  Information about next year’s course will be announced.

 

Chumash with Rashi Class for Men and Women

A class led by Julie Rubenstein. Explore Judaism’s most fundamental text with the vital commentary of Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi) in the original Hebrew. Engage with your heritage on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Classes are currently on hiatus and will resume in the summer, G-d willing.

Donations

Lisa Klinger

 

E-Transfer Your Donation

Beth Tefilah is set up to receive email money transfers to our email address, office@bethtefilah.ca. This method can be used to pay for dues, donations and

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