Members Handbook
Our website: Agudasisrael.org
Follow us on Facebook: Congregation Agudas Israel Synagogue
CONTACT OUR OFFICE (306) 343-7023.
For Myla Deptuch, Administrator extension 1. administrator@agudasisrael.org
For Rabbi Claudio Jodorkovsky extension 2. rabbi@agudasisrael.org
For Rosy Kreindel, Event, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator extension 3. rosy@agudasisrael.org
Security:
Our building is locked at all times during the day. Please contact the office if you’d like to arrange your visit or use your member’s code or fob to enter if the building has been disarmed earlier.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Congregation Agudas Israel is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We offer both traditional and innovative services conducted with joy, deep feeling, a sense of belonging and humor.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services:
Kabbalat Shabbat services are held usually once a month, combining family friendly experiences organized in conjunction with our Hebrew School, and more traditional services that also include musical components. Please check our website and Facebook page for more information.
Shabbat Morning Services:
We get together every Saturday from 10am to 12pm for the morning service which includes the Shacharit prayers, the Rabbi’s D’var Torah, the Torah reading and the Musaf service. We strive to ensure that our services are spiritual, warm, and welcoming. We use Siddur Lev Shalem, a new prayerbook from the Rabbinical Assembly which includes the traditional service using modern translations, gender neutral and egalitarian language, in addition to English transliterations, commentaries and explanations of the prayers. Following Shabbat services, we share a Kiddush luncheon.
Holidays & Festivals:
The core teachings and wisdom of Judaism are found in the Jewish holidays. Major or minor, all of the Jewish holidays are observed at Congregation Agudas Israel. From Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot to Pesach, Shavuot, and everything in between, we invite you to revel in our beautiful and powerful tradition. All the information about celebrations of holidays is advertised in our bulletin, the weekly newsletter, periodic communications, our website, and Facebook page.
GOVERNANCE
Congregation Agudas Israel was established by a private Act of the Legislature of Saskatchewan in 1958. We are governed by the Act and the Constitution of the Congregation. The affairs of the Congregation are under the management of the Board of Trustees, elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
There are five Standing Committees established by the Constitution to oversee various aspects of the Congregation business: Chevra Kadisha, Financial Affairs, Synagogue and Ritual, House, and Hebrew School.
Other committees have, and can be, established by the Board from time to time as deemed necessary by the Board and/or the President.
Volunteering:
There are many opportunities to volunteer and contribute to our community. Contact Rosy Kreindel to find the perfect match for you.
Membership:
This committee is most notably responsible for welcoming and engaging new members. When prospective members are interested in joining CAI, they fill out an application that is submitted to the Rabbi and then forwarded to the membership chair, who in turn, shares the information with the committee and then brings the approved application to be ratified by the board. Once the prospect becomes a member, they are encouraged to submit a bio to the quarterly newspaper, The Bulletin, by way of introduction.
LIFE CYCLE EVENTS
Celebrating a new life, a Bat/Bat Mitzvah, getting married, becoming parents, conversion, and mourning, all these are the major rites of passage that most of us will experience over the course of our lives. These events are an integral part of Jewish tradition, connecting us to our families, our community, our shared heritage, and to God. Congregation Agudas Israel is a constant partner in our members’ lives. We are here for one another’s joys, challenges, and sorrows, and we offer our services, by our Rabbi, staff, and volunteers, as well as our beautiful facilities.
Rabbinical Counseling and Pastoral Care:
Our Rabbi provides pastoral counseling to Congregation Agudas Israel’s members for a range of issues, including but not limited to Jewish life cycle events, conversion, spiritual questions and crises, bereavement, loss and grief, illness, and recovery, parenting challenges, family conflict, life transitions, solo aging and caregiving.
Hebrew School:
Hebrew School provides education to the 3 – 12-year-old members of the community on Jewish values, holidays, prayers and the Hebrew language. The classes we offer and the age distribution between those classes change depending on the changing demographics of our community. Currently, we have 3 classes plus a parent/child playgroup. Gan which is grades K-2, Mechina which is grades 3-4, Bogrim which is grades 5-6. Hebrew School is Wednesday and Friday from 4:15 – 6:15. On Fridays we say Kiddush and have challah together. Once a month we also have a short family friendly service right after Hebrew School. The Hebrew School is also involved in most community events around the different Jewish holidays.
The Hebrew School committee is the committee involved in the day to decision making of the Hebrew school, creating the Hebrew school budget, and putting forth proposals to the board of directors for major decisions of the Hebrew school. We are also where parents and students can bring questions, concerns and ideas regarding Hebrew school and help with planning family events throughout the year.
If anyone would like to be in touch with our committee they can contact: Nicky Gitlin, Principal at gitlin.nicky@gmail.com, Rabbi Claudio, Rabbi at rabbiclaudio@gmail.com or Malvina Rapko, Committee Member at mrapko@bbyo.org
B’nai Mitzvah
Congregation Agudas Israel celebrates each Bar and Bat mitzvah with great joy. We view the period of B’nai mitzvah training as a time for all family members to deepen their connection to our community. Our priority is to ensure that this milestone is a positive educational and ritual experience for both the students and their families.
One year before their bar or bat mitzvah date, each student begins one-on-one lessons with our Rabbi. The students learn to chant their Torah portion, their haftarah, the accompanying blessings, and other parts of the Torah Service. The students also study their Parsha in English, engage in conversations with the Rabbi and their parents, and then prepare a D’var Torah to deliver the day of their ceremony.
Adult Lifelong Learning:
Congregation Agudas Israel is committed to making the richness of Jewish thought relevant to modern life. Our Rabbi permanently teaches courses and lectures on Jewish topics through both traditional and innovative lenses. Please check our website and Facebook to learn more.
Mikvah:
Our Mikvah, renovated in 2021, is a sacred space built to support Jewish ritual life and important moments in the life of any Jew. Historically, women immerse in the Mikvah monthly, brides before their wedding, making dishes kosher, becoming a Jew by-choice (conversion) and as part of a spiritual preparation for Shabbat and holidays. In our times, the use of the Mikveh has become popular for other reasons, such as marking important life transitions. In our Congregation, the use of the Mikvah is an intimate experience where the dignity and privacy of each one is respected. Immersions are not supervised unless requested.
Available upon request. Contact Rabbi Claudio or Rosy Kreindel to book.
Chevra Kadisha and Cemetery:
This committee is responsible for funeral arrangements in partnership with the Saskatoon Funeral Home and for the maintenance of the CAI Cemetery. Visit our website for location and more information.
Chairman – Chevra Kadisha: Dr. Steven Goluboff 306-241-2141 S.Goluboff@shaw.ca
Yahrtzait reminders:
Contact Rosy Kreindel with the yahrtzaits you would like to be reminded of every year.
DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Dues or Fees:
E-transfer is available for paying dues or fees going forward. You can send money directly to administrator@agudasisrael.org
We also accept cash, cheques, PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard.
Donations/Foundation:
- OPERATING FUND
Donations to the Operating Fund help cover costs of operating the Synagogue and Jewish Center. Donations can be directed to help Hebrew School, Synagogue and Ritual, General Programming, Bulletin costs, or General expenses.
- RESTRICTED FUNDS
Rabbi Discretionary Fund
Donations made are used by the Rabbi at his discretion for good works.
Chevra Kadisha Fund
Donations are used by the Chevra Kadisha committee to purchase items needed.
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING FUNDS ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD:
- SASKATOON JEWISH FOUNDATION FUND
Donations can be made to numerous funds for specific uses. These funds are used to maintain or enhance religious, cultural, educational, welfare and other activities of the Congregation. Please contact Myla at administrator@agudasisrael.org for specifics.
- CAPITAL ASSET FUND
Donations made to the Capital Asset Fund help pay for Capital Expenditures as well as pay for the recent renovations made to the building. Funds are still needed to cover those costs.
- CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUND
Interest earned is used to provide care and maintenance for the Jewish Cemetery.
Use the “Donate” button on our website or contact the office to make your donation.
EVENTS
Check our calendar for Jewish Holidays events, classes, and special activities.
Weekly Newsletter:
Contact Rosy Kreindel to sign up and receive the emails.
Bulletin:
The Bulletin is the official publication of Congregation Agudas Israel and is published four times a year. This award-winning publication provides information regarding activities of the Congregation as well as regular columns by the Rabbi, the President, and the Editor. We regularly receive submissions from the Jewish community abroad and circulate them for the benefit of our members.
We encourage contributions from any member of the community and particularly seek out information from our youth. The final page is the community calendar. The Bulletin is posted on our website as well as being mailed out to members on our mailing list.
For more information, please reach out to Lisa Shiffman – Editor in Chief at Lisalinshiffman@gmail.com
Book Club:
Bimonthly Tuesday at 7pm. Dates and books are announced through emails, Facebook, website. Registration required. Contact Rosy Kreindel.
Holocaust Memorial Program:
Ron Gitlin, Heather Fenyes and Jan Gitlin have been co chairs of the Holocaust Memorial committee. Due to the pandemic, we have unfortunately had to take a backseat. We hope to continue educating students in Saskatoon in the future. In the past 30 some years we have flown in a Holocaust survivor who participated in a Holocaust Memorial at our synagogue and also, we have educated thousands and thousands of students of Saskatoon and area. They met and were able to hear their story and ask questions. For further information please contact
Ron Gitlin 306-220-7456
Jan Gitlin 306-261-4062
RESOURCES
Library:
The checkout policy is based on the honor system. Book checkout: Members are free to take out as many books from the library and are expected to return them in a timely fashion. Since there is no library inventory nor tracking, this is based solely on trust. There is a box in the library clearly marked “returns”. If you feel confident in returning books to the correct place, please go ahead and do so. Books are currently grouped by subject and then alphabetically by first author’s last name within each subject grouping. We are currently encouraging members and friends to donate selected books to our Library. Please contact Dan Ronis at dan.ronis55@live.com to coordinate that process.
Gift Shop:
We carry a wide selection of religious, holiday and children’s items. We have Shabbat and yahrtzait candles, Hanukkah menorot, seder plates, tallitot, kipot, jewelry, books, children’s toys and many other gift and religious items. The gift shop is regularly open by appointment. Please call the Center at (306) 343-7023 ext. 3 to leave a message or email Rosy Kreindel at rosy@agudasisrael.org. Keep an eye out for our online website coming to you soon!
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
B’nai Brith:
Saskatoon B’nai Brith was chartered in 1913 to address all forms of racism and bigotry, particularly antisemitism, and to provide Tzedakah. All Jewish adult men and women are eligible to be members ($20 annual dues) and non-Jewish partners are included as associate members (no dues). We usually meet three times a year, mostly to plan our annual B’nai Brith Silver Plate Dinner or to allocate the funds raised at the Dinner. We hope you will find great satisfaction in being part of a historic group that makes a difference to our Jewish community and the larger community.
For more information: David Katzman 306-716-4128 dl.katzman@sasktel.net
Follow The Silver Plate Dinner on Facebook. Silverplatedinner@gmail.com
Silver Spoon Dinner:
The Silver Spoon Dinner is a major annual fundraiser for Congregation Agudas Israel. It is an awesome “Ladies’ Night Out” Charity Dinner, held at TCU Place in May. It features a celebrity speaker, huge Silent Auction, and presentation of the Sterling Award to a Saskatoon woman for her exceptional volunteerism. Funds from the Dinner go to Congregation Agudas Israel, Saskatoon Interval House, Ronald McDonald House and Canadian Hadassah-WIZO.
Co-chairpersons: Linda Shaw – lindashaw@shaw.ca, Robin Sasko – totallytweet@gmail.com
Email: silverspoondinner@gmail.com. Follow The Silver Spoon Dinner on Facebook and @silverspoondinner on Instagram. Website: www.silverspoondinner.com
Sisterhood:
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism has been in existence for more than one hundred years. Its mandate is to promote Judaism in the home, synagogue, and community. Our local affiliate known loosely as” Sisterhood” has been around at least since 1958 when our current building was opened.
All Jewish women are welcome to attend as well as female non-Jewish spouses and partners once vetted by the rabbi and approved by the chapter. It offers the opportunity to meet and work with Jewish women. Various programs of interest are occasionally held but primarily it serves as an auxiliary to the community festivals and holiday celebrations the congregation hosts.
Baking bees and food preparation for the holidays are regularly held but our Sisterhood has hosted speakers, jewelry and card making classes and once had its own book club.
Fellowship and camaraderie are the main result of participation in Sisterhood activities and a chance to engage with other women in the community.
Zoe Litman has been the President since 2015. Marsha Scharfstein is the treasurer as well as a past president. Zoe’s contact information is zoelitman@shaw.ca and 306-343-1550. Marsha can be reached at mk.scharfstein@gmail.com.
Membership is $35 annually, a portion of which contributes to the Torah Fund which supports Theological seminaries throughout the world for training rabbis and cantors. Cheques should be made out to Agudas Israel Sisterhood and sent to Marsha Scharfstein.
BBYO:
BBYO is a pluralistic youth-led and staff-supported Jewish teen movement that creates fun, meaningful and inspiring Jewish experiences that last a lifetime. It is a global network of hundreds of chapters around the world that includes Leonard Landa #5211 in Saskatoon. Our local chapter is connected to a larger region known as the Northwest Canada Region (NWC) that includes Saskatchewan and Alberta. We do our own local programming each month that consists of various fun and educational activities focused on leadership and Jewish enrichment. A few times a year teens get-together as a region and attend conventions that create a deeper sense of belonging.
BBYO offers opportunities for teens to connect with one another at local, regional, national, and international levels, to serve their communities, and to travel the world all while strengthening their Jewish identities. BBYO strives to provide Jewish teens with meaningful Jewish experiences so that they may become the future Jewish leaders in their communities and in the Jewish world at large.
For more information on how you can get your teen(s) involved, or to become a volunteer, or if you’re interested in supporting the local chapter of Leonard Landa #5211, please contact the Saskatoon City Supervisor, Malvina Rapko at mrapko@bbyo.org.