Our Timeline
Our Timeline
In September 2015, the Social Action Committee formed a Refugee sub-Committee. Shortly afterwards, several members of this sub-Committee attended a JIAS workshop at the Prosserman JCC on private sponsorship. Pippa Feinstein offered to chair the sub-Committee and invited interested congregants to meet at the Narayever to begin a series of conversations about sponsoring a refugee family.
Conversations to date have been productive, and have included sub-committee members’ diverse perspectives. Meetings are meant to be an open and respectful space for meaningful and intelligent dialogue.
Meetings called by the sub-committee took place four times between September and December 2015. Issues discussed included:
- Whether the sponsorship should be undertaken through the shul or as a separate but affiliated group
- Security concerns around the nationality and religion of refugee families
- Research about how refugee families were being selected, the extent to which ethnic minority status was a factor in determining need, whether there were groups at special risk and the extent to which the shul might be able to determine sponsorship of a family in a high risk situation.
- Concerns that other necessary fundraising initiatives will be given lower priority
- Which Sponsorship-Agreement Holder should the Narayever work with
- The need for whether sponsorship efforts should be accompanied by public/adult education
- Possibilities for the shul to become involved in refugee-related advocacy
At the October meeting of the Board of Governors, the Social Action Committee informed the Board that it would present a motion to sponsor a refugee family at the Board’s next meeting.
On November 22nd, 2015, the Board of Governors approved the motion to sponsor a refugee family.
On November 24th, a sub-committee meeting was held to discuss fundraising, in-kind donations and the development of a communications plan. These initiatives are now underway.
On December 8th, Pippa announced that we had raised $35,000.
On December 18th, we had raised almost $45,000.
On December 22nd, we were at $59,000.
On January 11th, Pippa announced that we had raised our goal of $65,000.
More details on our process will become available as the Narayever continues to communicate with JIAS, other sponsoring groups in Toronto, and as we engage in fundraising.
Thu, July 3 2025
7 Tammuz 5785
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES SUSPENDED as of NOVEMBER 23, 2020
In-person services have been supended. Please refer to our Shabbat Services page for more information.
Today's Calendar
Zoom Mincha : 7:00pm |
Friday Night
Kabbalat Shabbat wtih Sarah Colman : 6:00pm |
Candle Lighting : 8:44pm |
Shabbat Day
Shabbat Morning Service : 9:30am |
Babysitting : 10:00am |
Havdalah : 9:53pm |
: 10:00pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Jul 5 |
Jul 12 Shulchan Ivrit for Dovrei Ivrit Shabbat, Jul 12 12:30pm |
Jul 12 |
Jul 19 |
Jul 26 |
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Chukat
Shabbat, Jul 5 |
Candle Lighting
Friday, Jul 4, 8:44pm |
Havdalah
Motzei Shabbat, Jul 5, 9:53pm |
Fast of Tammuz
Sunday, Jul 13 |
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