#JewishVibes

[ontourevents]

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[kosherpickleblog]

Toronto Maple Leafs’ star rookie, Auston Matthews at the 2017 JYN Match-A-Thon.

For the second consecutive year, the Jewish Youth Network’s Match-A-Thon fundraiser has turned sports lovers’ dreams into reality, while providing support to youth and families within the Jewish community. Last year Toronto Raptors fans were presented with a unique meet-and-greet with NBA superstar Terrence Ross, leaving people excited for this year’s event. To no surprise, the Jewish Youth Network delivered on a large scale yet again with an exclusive appearance from Toronto Maple Leafs’ star rookie, Auston Matthews at the 2017 JYN Match-A-Thon.

The Match-A-Thon is a Jewish education fundraising initiative, providing scholarships for JYN classes, programs and retreats for underprivileged Jewish youth. Participants register as fundraisers and every donation is matched by an anonymous sponsor. After setting a goal of $36,000 in donations, the final result netted over $45,000, all of which goes towards youth scholarships.

The Jewish Youth Network is an organization committed to supporting and empowering the youth of our community, and the event also served as a platform for honouring some of the teen leaders involved in the organization and showcasing some of the work they have done throughout the community. This included shining the spotlight on the hard work of the JYN Ambassadors and members of the Jewish Youth Network’s Teens For the Community group (TFC).

As roughly 250 eager Leafs fans filled the building, you could feel the excitement of youth and adults alike. As the anticipation mounted, phones and cameras were readied on every arriving vehicle, at the chance that the star rookie might arrive.

When Auston Matthews arrived, the energy in the room that was through the roof. People were standing in line with sticks, pucks, jerseys and kippahs, thrilled to be in the presence of a superstar athlete. Auston stayed for over an hour and ensured not one fan went without a signature or a picture.

Auston was nothing short of a mensch. He is not only someone to look up to on the ice, but someone who represents positive values off of the ice as well. As for the Jewish Youth Network, the Match-A-Thon committee members have something to be proud of. They generated an event that created memories, smiles and thrills for many leafs fans, but more importantly, an event that provided scholarships and opportunities for our youth, ensuring that a Jewish education is something within reach of all families in our community.

The Jewish Youth Network is already back at work on next year’s event, in order to provide fun, excitement, and support for the future of our community.

GO LEAFS GO, and Baruch Hashem!

Written by Cole Resnick President, Jewish Youth Network Full photo gallery here 

[kosherpickleblog]

Sukka Party Recap

This past Thursday night (Oct, 9 2014) was a JYN favourite, the annual Sukkah Party.

Just as a quick refresher for everyone Sukkot is a holiday that falls on the 15th of Tishrei, usually late September - early October, it is traditionally a harvest festival that corresponded to the gathering of the harvest, as well it is a holiday that serves the purpose of reminding us of the period in which the children of Israel wandered the desert for forty years living in temporary shelters.

On Sukkot it is a custom to build a Sukkah, a shelter similar to the huts built by the ancient Jews, as a way to connect with our past.

It is also a tradition to invite guests to come visit, dine and drink in your Sukkah, so in traditional fashion, JYN alumni were invited to partake in a Farbregen or a celebratory gathering in the Sukkah of Rabbi Shmuli Nachlas (Director of JYN).

Over some salad, wine and fan favourite Shmaltz Herring, the JYN friends and Alumni had a feast with a side order of laughter, wisdom, and some great stories, all while the stars peaked through the open ceiling of the Sukkah.

Now I'm never one to complain about a party for the sake of a party, however, the Sukkah party and Farbrengens in general seem to be a different kind of party, the party is more of a vessel for introspection and appreciation of life and Jewish values.

JYN friend and alumni Josh Rebboh affirms this as he says "He [Rabbi Nachlas] inspired me with his knowledge and inspired me to follow my tradition more and to make people more aware of our traditions because if I don't who will?" 

In addition to kind sentiments and appreciations of tradition, the Sukkah party has provided many with opportunities to affirm their connection with Judaism. For example, Bevlyn Hetz, another alumni and JYN chaperone, has decided that she will try to keep Shabbat during the World Shabbat Project, creating a domino effect in which everyone in the in the Sukkah agreed to either follow Bevlyn's lead or find a similar way to add more Jewishness to their own days. Over 30 people decided in the Sukkah that night that they would keep at least one Shabbat completely!

Of the evening Bevlyn had this to say: 'It was great to be in the Sukkah with everyone. The alumni are all like a little family and it's so nice to see everyone and spend time together. The many l'Chaims are always accompanied with some great advice, stories or life lessons.

While it may get a little chilly on October nights, there was enough fire burning in the Sukkah to have kept people into the wee hours of the morning. It also doesn't hurt that at about 2am those who stuck around were treated to hot kugel and bourekas. 

Recent JYN grad Elana Dulberg says that "being in the Sukkah was a fun time, being able to hang out with the rabbi and my friends while learning about Jewish culture. I suggest everyone attend next year it is an event that cannot be missed."

From this writer's perspective spending all night celebrating and chanting in the Sukkah slowly starts to become an extremely surreal experience, one that transcends the every day monotony of work, television and commuting, it truly takes one out of their routine and connects them with something ancient, something communal. If you have never (or even have) spent a night having a party in a Sukkah, it is a truly unique experience.

-Elie

http://www.jewishyouth.ca

Contact or contribute at elie@jewishyouth.ca