Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation Ski Day at Alpine Ski Club
Swab for daphne
Dear Community Members,
On Thursday, March 5, from 8:00am - 11:00am the Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation Ski Day will be hosting a swabbing station set up on site at Alpine Ski Club.
We are currently looking for:
• Volunteers to help administer cheek swabs
• Community members to come out and be tested and entered into the genetic database. Adults 18+
This is a meaningful opportunity for our Jewish Genetic SGBJC community to take part in a simple process that has the potential to save lives. The swab takes only a few minutes, and participants will be added to the registry database.
<May 2025, Daphne was diagnosed with Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN), a rare blood cancer. Her only hope for a cure is a stem cell transplant from a matching donor. Her children have been tested. Her brother has been tested. 45 million people in the worldwide registry have been searched. No viable match has been found. Yet.
If you are available to volunteer or would like to be tested, please join us that morning and help spread the word within our community.
Thank you for showing up for one another.
Warmly,
Peter Seligman - SGBJC Vice Chair
(C: 416/565-1100)
Email: peterseligman@rogers.com
Be the Light - Coldest Night of the Year
SGBJC Team Be THE LIGHT!
Team Be The Light – SGBJC is hitting the streets on February 28, 2026 for the Coldest Night of the Year — a family-friendly walk supporting front-line organizations helping those facing homelessness, hunger, and hardship in Collingwood.
As a community, we believe in showing up — with compassion, action, and warmth — especially when the night is coldest.
Walk with us, sponsor our team, or cheer us on from the sidelines.
Together, we can be the light.
Book Club
The Choice: Embrace the Possible
Join us for dinner, dessert or drinks while we discuss The Choice: Embrace the Possible.
To follow our Yom HaShoah January 27th event, we are meeting to have a further conversation centered around Edith Eva Egar's story.
Dr Edith Eva Eger is an eminent psychologist whose own experiences as a Holocaust survivor helps treat patients and allows them to escape the prisons of their own minds.
It's 1944 and 16 year old ballerina and gymnast Edith Eger is sent to Auschwitz. Separated from her parents on arrival, she endures unimaginable experiences, including being made to dance for the infamous Josef Mengele. When the camp is finally liberated, she is pulled from a pile of bodies, barely alive. The horrors of the Holocaust didn't break Edith. In fact, they helped her learn to live again with life-affirming strength and a truly remarkable resilience. The Choice is her unforgettable story.
Hosted by Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community
DATE: Tuesday, February 18th, 2026
TIME: 7-9pm
LOCATION: Collingwood
rsvp for details: shalom@sgbjc.ca
Yom HaShoah
The Choice: Embrace the Possible
January 27 is a day of remembrance. A day to pause, to gather as a community, and to honor the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. We remember those whose lives were taken, and we bear witness to those who survived.
Join us to view a video interview with Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Eger—an open and deeply moving conversation reflecting on survival, responsibility, and her bestselling book, The Choice: Embrace the Possible.
Edith Eva Eger is a Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor who was deported to Auschwitz in 1944, where her parents were murdered. She survived unimaginable trauma and was rescued from near death at the end of the war. Today, she continues to share her story, offering a powerful voice of resilience, memory, and moral choice.
Hosted by Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community
DATE: Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
TIME: 9:30 am
LOCATION: Collingwood
rsvp for details: shalom@sgbjc.ca
Challah Bake
SGBJC and the First Presbyterian Church Challah Bake
The SGBJC is excited to partner with the First Presbyterian Church in Collingwood for our first joint event!
Come create a classic braided challah bread together with our communities and learn about the biblical history, significance, traditions and prayers for challah bread!
When: January 17th 2026 at 1pm,
Where: 200 Maple St. First Presbyterian Church, Collingwood.
RSVP: by January 10th
Church sign up sheet, or email shalom@sgbjc.ca
$10 per challah
Work as a family together on your challah bread or create your own!
Send your etransfer to shalom@sgbjc.ca
Bowling Hanukkah Party
Hanukkah Bowling Party!
Hanukkah Bowling Party!
Join us for donuts, dreidels, laughter, and fun at Georgian Bowl! Lace up your bowling shoes and celebrate the season together with SGBJC. Don't want to bowl? No problem - just come and socialize with our wonderful community!
Date: Sunday, December 21
Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Georgian Bowl, Collingwood
Price: $36.00 per family (includes shoe rental)
Enjoy donuts and cookies, plus the GB cafeteria will be open with their full menu available.
Tickets available on Eventbrite — come bowl, nosh, and celebrate the Festival of Lights with friends and family!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bowling-hanukkah-party-tickets-1955531911589
Southern Georgian Bay Menorah Lightings
Be the light 🕎 in Southern Georgian Bay
Join us for donuts and hot chocolate as we light up our community menorah in the heart of Collingwood!
Collingwood Menorah Lighting
📍 84 Hurontario St.
📅 Saturday, November 22nd at 7PM
🍩 Hot chocolate and donuts to follow
Then join us the following week as we light up Wasaga Beach!
Wasaga Beach Menorah Lighting
📍 Town Hall, 30 Lewis Street
📅 Saturday, November 29th at 7PM
🍩 Hot chocolate and donuts to follow
Together we will celebrate the first night of Hanukkah in Thornbury
Thornbury Menorah Lighting
📍32 Mill Street, Parkette beside the Municipal building
📆 Sunday, December 14th at 7PM
🍩 Hot chocolate and donuts to follow
Let’s come together to spread light & love with our Southern Georgian Bay Community.
SGBJC BOOKCLUB
SGBJC Fall Harvest at Libermanor Orchard
Join us for our next Book Club!
November 26th at 7pm.
RSVP: shalom@sgbjc.ca for location details
HOSTAGE by Eli Sharabi
In a raw and unflinching memoir, Eli Sharabi, a survivor of 491 days in Hamas captivity, recounts the harrowing ordeal of his abduction from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7th, 2023, the loss of his wife and daughters, and his unyielding resolve to survive.
“I refuse to let myself drown in pain. I am surviving. I am a hostage. In the heart of Gaza. A stranger in a strange land. In the home of a Hamas-supporting family. And I’m getting out of here. I have to. I’m getting out of here. I’m coming home.”—Eli Sharabi
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed Kibbutz Be’eri, shattering the peaceful life Eli Sharabi had built with his British wife, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel. Dragged barefoot out his front door while his family watched in horror, Sharabi was plunged deep into the suffocating darkness of Gaza’s tunnels. As war raged above him, he endured a grueling 491 days in captivity, all the while holding onto the hope that he would one day be reunited with his loved ones.
Eli Sharabi’s story is one of hunger and heartache, of physical pain, longing, loneliness and a helplessness that threatens to destroy the soul. But it is also a story of strength, of resilience, and of the human spirit’s refusal to surrender. It is about the camaraderie forged in captivity, the quiet power of faith, and one man’s unrelenting decision to choose life, time and time again.
In the first memoir by a released Israeli hostage, and the fastest-selling book in Israel’s history, Sharabi offers a searing firsthand account of survival under unimaginable conditions—starvation, isolation, physical beatings, and psychological abuse at the hands of his captors.
Compared to Elie Wiesel’s Night and Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, Hostage is a profound witness to history, so it shall be neither forgotten nor erased.
Apple Picking Festival - Menorah Fund Event
SGBJC Fall Harvest at Libermanor Orchard
Menorah Fundraiser at Libermanor Orchard
Date: Saturday, October 4th
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Libermanor Orchard
This fall, we invite you to come together as a community to celebrate, connect, and support a cause that will shine for generations.
On October 4th, join us at Libermanor Orchard for an afternoon filled with live music, fresh food, apple picking, and family moments — all to help raise funds for a beautiful menorah in our community.
Our menorah will be more than a seasonal symbol. It will stand each Hanukkah as a beacon of light, hope, and togetherness, bringing visibility to Jewish life in Southern Georgian Bay and offering us all a place to gather and celebrate.
We can’t do it without you.
What’s Happening:
RAIN or SHINE
Live Music: Matthew and Richard Jazz Duo
Professional Family Photography: Kianna Sunshine – capture a beautiful orchard moment.
Apple Picking: Macintosh, Cortland, and Spy apples.
Food Vendor: Misfits Bodega – delicious menu, cash only.
Entry (Available on Eventbrite)
$20 per adult
Kids 12 & under: Free
Entry includes one bag of apples. Additional bags available for $20 each.
Your Support Makes the Difference
Ticket sales are just the beginning. To help us reach our fundraising goal, additional donations of any amount are deeply appreciated. Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to lighting up our town with a menorah we can all take pride in.
Haven’t paid your yearly dues yet? This is the perfect time. Annual membership dues help sustain our programs, events, and community outreach all year long.
Let’s make October 4th a celebration of community spirit, tradition, and light. Your presence, generosity, and support will ensure our menorah shines brightly for years to come.
Guest Speaker - Josh Landau
Guest Speaker - Josh Landau 4pm August 21
We are looking forward to welcoming Josh Landau from Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) to Collingwood on Thursday, August 21st, at 4:00 PM.
Josh will speak about how the Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community is working with CIJA to address and respond to rising antisemitism and how CIJA can continue to support our efforts locally.
Thursday, August 21st4:00–5:30 PMCollingwood location (to be provided when you RSVP)
There will be time for discussion, questions, and—of course—refreshments.
Location details will be shared by email.Please RSVP to: Rashell.feldman@icloud.com
We hope you’ll join us for this important and timely conversation.
Monthly Game Nights
Monthly Game Night
We are excited to bring you monthly game nights on the last Wednesday of each month.
The next two are July 30th and August 27th.
Drop in from 5-7pm at Gordon's Market & Cafe
1 Hume St, Collingwood.
Bring a game and join in the fun!
No outside food or drinks please - treat yourself to something yummy at Gordon's.
October 8 Movie Showing
October 8 Movie Showing
The Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community is bringing the film October 8 to the Simcoe St Theatre on Monday July 14th at 7:30pm. Please scan the QR code or follow the link to purchase your tickets through Eventbrite.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/october-8-tickets-1400435723949
OCTOBER 8 offers a look at the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses, social media and in the streets of America beginning the day after the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas. Through meticulous investigation, the film also uncovers how over decades, Hamas created sophisticated networks in America to permeate U.S. institutions and examines the tsunami of online antisemitism, propaganda, and disinformation unleashed by Iran, China and Russia – with the sole purpose of dividing American society.
Directed by:
Wendy Sachs
Starring:
Debra Messing
Michael Rapaport
Congressman Ritchie Torres
Mosab Hassan Yousef
Sheryl Sandberg
Scott Galloway
Bari Weiss
Dan Senor
Noa Tishby
Community Brunch
Join us for Our First co-ed Jewish Community Brunch
Community Brunch
Join us for our first co-ed community brunch!
Meet fellow SGBJC members and socialize over a delicious brunch at the Georgian Bay Family Restaurant.
When: June 19th at 11 am
Where: Georgian Bay Family Restaurant - 401 Hume St, Collingwood
RSVP: shalom@sgbjc.ca
We look forward to seeing you there!
PJ Library Books
Now Available at your local libraries: PJ Library Books
Thanks to a generous donation from PJ Library, a wonderful selection of Jewish children's and teen books has been added to the collections at the Collingwood Public Library, Wasaga Beach Public Library, and L.E. Shore Memorial Library (The Blue Mountains Public Library)
These books celebrate Jewish culture, holidays, traditions and stories - enriching our community with meaningful reads fr all ages.
Next time you visit, check out the new titles and look for our special sticker label inside the cover.
Special Thank You to our board member Monique for all her hard work making this happen.
Support Jewish Community Programming- Collingwood Library
The Issue
As the chair of the Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community and a mother to five children, it is my responsibility to do all that I can to create safe environments for my children and all Jewish families in this area. However, it is the policy of the Collingwood Public Library to exclude partnering to provide programming associated with any religious affiliation. Because Jewish culture and religion are so intertwined, the result is that no Jewish programming can be hosted by the library for members of the public at the Collingwood Public Library. In contrast, the Wasaga Beach Public Library and the L.E. Bruce Library in Thornbury are happy to partner with us to host Jewish public events and programming for all their patrons. I am appealing to you, the community of Collingwood, to come together to support me as I make a deputation on May 22 to the board of the Collingwood Public Library on behalf of the Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community.
The goal of this partnership is to offer programs and educational opportunities that celebrate, educate, and better integrate our Jewish community within the larger Collingwood population. With your backing, we can work towards fostering a sense of safety and inclusion for all Jewish families who, like everyone else, desire peace and a sense of belonging in Collingwood and its surrounding areas.
By signing this petition, you are taking a stand against division, and for the unity of all Collingwood residents. We need your support to make this vision a reality. Please sign and help transform our community into a safe haven for all families.
-Rashell Feldman
Please use the link below to sign the petition.
Welcoming Raheel Raza: Standing United for Peace
Welcoming Raheel Raza: Standing United for Peace
Join the Southern Georgina Bay Jewish Community as we welcome Raheel Raza, a prominent Muslim activist, for an insightful evening on the power of collaboration in combating antisemitism and hate.
Together, lets bring Truth to Power and stand united for peace.
Purchase tickets and secure your spot through Eventbrite.
Where: Alpine Ski Club
17-242 Arrowhead Road, The Blue Mountains
When: Thursday May 15th
Time: 7:30-9:00pm - please arrive at 7:15
Please join us for The Tragic Awakening Film and Forum.
When: Wednesday May 7th at 3pm and 7:30pm
Where: Simcoe Street Theatre, 65 Simcoe St, Collingwood.
About: An inspirational post-October 7th experience rethinking antisemitism’s roots, exposing the Jewish mission, and turning hatred into strength.
Featuring Rawan Osman. Born in Damascus to a Syrian father and Lebanese mother, Rawan grew up in a Hezbollah stronghold and became a pro-Israel activist overnight following the Hamas onslaught on Israel on October 7th, 2023. Since then, she has devoted herself to creating content for the Arab world, explaining the reality in Israel and challenging widespread Arab narratives.
Register online to secure your seat!
Postcards From the Past
Postcards From The Past
On exhibit at the Wasaga Beach Public Library for the month of May, Opening May 1 and ending May 18th.
Alan Stein has created a series of original charcoal drawings and paintings highlighting real and imagined events from his grandparent’s lives. Inspired by messages found in old family postcards, the exhibit is enhanced by reproductions of a selection of old photographs and the postcards themselves.
The images in this exhibit take us on a trip through time, with a young woman in St. Petersburg, Russia during the Russian revolution, and a young man in Lodz, Poland. From the invasion of Poland, inside the Lodz ghetto, immigration to Toronto and New York City, and a joyful marriage. How did they meet? What secrets were never told? What happened to the families left behind? We will never know but perhaps we can imagine. There were dreams of youth, tragedy, war, and finally love.
Last year the images were projected during live performances of classical music at the Collingwood Music Festival, and at the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound.The music featured renowned Canadian musicians performing an array of works to complement the narrative thread. Including heart-warming Yiddish songs, profoundly moving children’s poems set to music, stirring works by a variety of Jewish composers, and Yiddish narration of the postcards.
A short video of highlights from the performances will be on display.
Shabbat Potluck Dinner
Join us for our First Shabbat Potluck Dinner!
We are excited to gather with our SGBJC community for a meaningful evening of celebration and togetherness.
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Wasaga Stars Arena, 544 River Road West, Wasaga Beach
This will be a sit-down meal, so please arrive on time to enjoy the full experience. We’ll light the candles, bless the challah & wine, and share a delicious meal together with family and friends.
Cost:
- $30/household (max 4 family members)
- $15 per additional family member/single person
- $10 surcharge for non-members
What to bring:
- A dish to feed 10 people (Scan QR code to sign up)
• Let us know what dish you're bringing and how many are attending.
• RSVP is a must to be added to the guest list!
• Please send e-transfer payment to: shalom@sgbjc.ca
Everyone is invited! Whether you're an existing member or a new face in our community, we can't wait to celebrate Shabbat with you.