Hanukkah Window Display

We are creating a special window display, and we'd love your help!

You can print off colouring pages at home - see Event Gallery 2025 for all the printable colouring pages - or pick them up locally -  then get creative and add your colourful touch.

When you're done, drop off your finished artwork at one of three collection spots: msg for details.

Collingwood

Nottawa

Thornbury

Let's fill our window display with love, light, community, colour and creativity!

 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.

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)

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/menorah-fundraiser-at-libermanor-orchard-tickets-1603566132469?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

$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.

Come shake the lulav, socialize with out community and enjoy yummy snack, while the kids participate in fun activities!

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📅 Date: Saturday Oct 11th

📍 Location: Collingwood  -more details when you RSVP 

🕒 Time: 12:30-3:30

💲 Cost: $10.00 per family

Must pre-pay and register.

Payment by e-transfer to shalom@sgbjc.ca

R.S.V.P.  shalom@sgbjc.ca

Learn to Bake a Crown Challah

Join  us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to create a beautiful  round crown challah, a traditional centerpiece for Rosh Hashanah, and  other special occasions. We’ll mix, knead, and shape our dough together  while exploring the meaning behind the round loaf — symbolizing  continuity, blessings, and the cycle of the year.

You’ll  prepare and braid your crown challah on site, then take it home to  bake, filling your home with the aroma of fresh bread for your holiday  or Shabbat table.

📅 Date: Monday, September 8

📍 Location: Collingwood Public Library

🕒 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

💲 Cost: $18.00 per person

Must pre-pay and register.

Payment by e-transfer to shalom@sgbjc.ca

R.S.V.P.  drrebeccahenry@gmail.com

Upon registration, you’ll receive confirmation.

Please bring the following kitchen tools:

• Two tea towels

• Large mixing bowl

• 2 measuring cups (2-cup size)

• 8–9 inch springform pan

• Mixing spoon

We will provide all the ingredients.

Leave with a crown challah ready for the oven — perfect for your holiday table.

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.

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.

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

Our next book is The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish

Winner of a National Jewish Book Award 

A USA Today Bestseller

Set in London of the 1660s and the early twenty-first century, the Weight of Ink, is the interwoven tale of two women of remarkable intellect: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam who is permitted to scribe for a blind Rabbi, just before the plague hits the city; and Helen Watt, an ailing historian with a love of Jewish history.

When Helen is summoned by a former student to view a cache of newly discovered seventeenth-century Jewish documents, she enlists the help of Aaron Levy, an American graduate student as impatient as he is charming, and embarks on one last project; to determine the identity of the documents' scribe, the elusive "Aleph".

Electrifying and ambitious, The Weight of Ink, is about women separated by centuries - and the choice and sacrifices they must make in order to reconcile the life of the heart and mind.

When: Thursday June 26th 5-7pm Drop In

Where: Gordon's Market & Cafe

1 Hume St, Unit 107, Collingwood

Come discuss the book in a casual drop in style book club. Enjoy a drink or meal from Gordon's!

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.

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.

https://www.change.org/p/support-jewish-community-programming-at-the-collingwood-library?recruiter=1323079400&recruited_by_id=347300b0-908b-11ee-8039-33a417194071&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard_share_modal&utm_medium=facebook

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. 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/welcoming-raheel-raza-standing-united-for-peace-tickets-1275615152259?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=

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! 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/movie-presentation-tragic-awakening-tickets-1311101863969?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp

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. 

Book Club

Introducing the SGBJC Book Club! 

Join  us every other month for an evening of meaningful conversation as we  explore books that highlight Jewish history, resilience, and  storytelling. 

Our first gathering is happening April 30th from 5-7 PM at Gordon’s Market & Café, and we’ll be discussing The Postcard by Anne Berest—a gripping family mystery that uncovers the impact of the Holocaust across generations.

This is a casual drop-in format—whether you read the book or listen to it, you’re welcome to  join the discussion! No outside food or drink, but Gordon’s has great  options available.

When: April 30 | 5-7 PM
Where: Gordon’s Market & Café
What: A welcoming space to reflect on powerful stories

No matter your background or faith, we’d love for you to be part of the conversation. 

Ask a friend who’d love this, and let’s read together! 

 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. 

01/26/2025 12:00PM - 2:00PM

Simcoe Street Theatre - 64 Simcoe St, Collingwood

In Honour of Holocaust Remembrance Day please join us for a special afternoon as Samuel Buckstein shares his conversation with his grandfather, Oscar Zaretsky, a Holocaust survivor. 

This moving presentation  will honour the memory of those lost, as well celebrate the resilience and survival of those who endured.

Let us not forget.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Please RSVP to shalom@sgbc.ca