To be called to the Torah as B'nei Mitzvah (being responsible to uphold the commandments) marks a significant milestone in the journey from childhood to maturity for Jewish children.
At Temple Sholom, we strive to ensure that each child and his/her family will experience the spiritual power of this ceremony in a positive, meaningful way.
In preparation for B'nei Mitzvah our students take part in a variety of activities designed to deepen their understanding of Judaism. They engage in study with the synagogue’s B’nei Mitzvah tutor, Annette Kozicki, and Cantor Shani Cohen in order to learn how to conduct the worship service and chant their Torah and Haftorah portions. They participate in social action projects which enhance their awareness of their responsibilities as Jews. And, along with their parents, they attend the synagogue’s innovative Al Shlosha Devarim Program where they have an opportunity to learn with the Rabbis and bond with other families in the B’nei Mitzvah year.
A month prior to Bar/Bat Mitzvah, each student meets with one of the Rabbis for four sessions. During this time, they become acclimated to the pulpit, rehearse reading from the Torah, and practice the prayers and their drosh (sermon).
Our goal is to give every child a victory. We treat every student as an individual, providing whatever is needed to ensure that each B’nei Mitzvah is a wonderfully warm and fulfilling occasion.
Our projects
Participation in a social action “mitzvah project” is an inherent part of every Bar and Bat Mitzvah experience at Temple Sholom.
Here are some Tzedakah links to help generate ideas for mitzvah projects:
Areyvut – Many ideas for mitzvah projects.
Do Something – Great interactive site with project finder.
Girlfriends of Fallen Soldiers – Psychological Support Membership Association of Fallen Soliders
Atzum – Endeavors to open eyes and extend hands to those in need, to confront and remedy injustices in Israel.
Crossroads – The Crossroads Center runs the sole intervention program targeting English-speaking youth at-risk in Israel.
Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind
Agahozo Shalom Youth Village – Creating a safe and structured residential community for orphaned children in Rwanda.
Carmei Ha’ir – Creating a comprehensive framework of support for the poor in a dignified way.
Etgarim – Helping physically challenged children, adolescents and adults to rehabilitate themselves physically, mentally and socially, through challenging sports and outdoor activities.
Adamah – Cultivating vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the earth. We believe in the deep connection between people & planet, adam & adamah.
Maya Works Weaving Cooperative – MayaWorks is a nonprofit social venture that empowers indigenous women of Guatemala to achieve economic security by providing markets for their handcrafted products, access to microcredit loans and expanded educational opportunities.
Free the Children – Helping children through education.
Yad Ezra V’Shulamit – The organization provides assistance to people and families of dire need throughout the country, with the support of many.
Sisterhood Appys and Yappys Social Group
✡️ Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Jacob's Ladder of Hope
Jacob's Ladder of Hope
For his Mitzvah Project, Jacob Coblin is working with a local artist, Miran Elbakyan, to create a sculpture for Temple Sholom using hostage bracelets that will be softened, reshaped and incorporated into a metal treeconnected to Jacob’s Ladder. The ladder has broken rungs at the bottom representing the loss andtragedy; at the top they are sturdy, representing healing and hope. The tree symbolizes survivorsand our community emerging from the tragedy and growing stronger together.
Help Raise $5,000 for the sculpture and its installation at Temple Sholom. Any excess funds raised will be donated to help rebuild Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which was hard hit on October 7.
Click here to find out more information and to donate: www.JacobsLadderofHope.com
All funds collected will go towards the creation and installation of the sculpture, which will be unveiled on January 23, 2026, at the Oneg following Shabbat services the day before my Bar Mitzvah.
Details:
Jacob's Ladder of Hope
Jacob's Ladder of Hope
For his Mitzvah Project, Jacob Coblin is working with a local artist, Miran Elbakyan, to create a sculpture for TempleSholom using hostage bracelets that will be softened, reshaped and incorporated into a metal treeconnected to Jacob’s Ladder.
The ladder has broken rungs at the bottom representing the loss andtragedy; at the top they are sturdy, representing healing and hope. The tree symbolizes survivorsand our community emerging from the tragedy and growing stronger together.
Help Raise $5,000 for the sculpture and its installation at Temple Sholom. Any excess funds raised will be donated to help rebuild Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which was hard hit on October 7. Click here to find out more information and to donate: www.JacobsLadderofHope.com
All funds collected will go towards the creation and installation of the sculpture, which will be unveiled on January 23, 2026, at the Oneg following Shabbat services the day before my Bar Mitzvah.
Details:
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/84333069441?pwd=R7A0VPJD532AbCLxQ0wMZqHBwloJPL.1
Meeting ID: 843 3306 9441
Passcode: Torah
Details:
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
Details:
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
10:00 am: Free play and snacks
10:45 am: Hakafa and Tot Shabbat Service with Annette Kozicki, including songs, prayers and a fun story.
11:30 am: Free play
12:00 pm: Kiddush lunch
Reservations not needed - just show up to join!
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
https://zoom.us/j/789770161 or call 647-374-4685; PIN: 789 770 161#
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
✡️ Kabbalat Shabbat Service
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/84333069441?pwd=R7A0VPJD532AbCLxQ0wMZqHBwloJPL.1
Meeting ID: 843 3306 9441
Passcode: Torah
Details:
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
Details:
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
10:00 am: Free play and snacks
10:45 am: Hakafa and Tot Shabbat Service with Annette Kozicki, including songs, prayers and a fun story.
11:30 am: Free play
12:00 pm: Kiddush lunch
Reservations not needed - just show up to join!
Details:
Shabbat Shira Celebration: An Afternoon at the Symphony Featuring Jewish Composers
Shabbat Shira Celebration: An Afternoon at the Symphony Featuring Jewish Composers
2:30 pm: Concert
3:30 pm: Oneg
$18 per person - Temple Sholom member (in-person)
$36 per person - non-member (in-person)
$18 Live-stream (online)
Maggie Reitman is a bassist, vocalist and composer based in Vancouver, BC. She is principal bass of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and plays as an extra musician with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She has performed at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland several times for their summer music programs (the Lucerne Festival Academy, the Composers Seminar Chamber Group, Styx Tours (a collaborative theatrical music production for Lucerne Contemporary Orchestra) and the Lucerne Forward Festival in autumn. As a composer, she writes and records film music for PBS show Craft in America and releases original music, animations and stop-action films through her co-created label Purple Mollusk Music.
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
https://zoom.us/j/789770161 or call 647-374-4685; PIN: 789 770 161#
Details:
Men's Circle
Men's Circle
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
Men's Club - Bitcoin: Politics in the World of Finance
Men's Club - Bitcoin: Politics in the World of Finance
With Mark N. Wexler
Dr. Mark N. Wexler is a Professor Emeritus of Business Ethics and Management at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, where he taught ethics and organizational strategy in the Executive MBA Program. Mark's academic work appears in over 125 refereed journals and ten books.
At its core, Bitcoin proposed a radical reimagining of how societies might organize their financial systems—one that bypassed traditional intermediaries like banks and government-run central authorities entirely. The talk explores Bitcoin's relationship to the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. The talk examines arguments for and against its adoption, and analyzes how this digital currency intersects with fundamental questions about who regulates the social, financial, economic, and political systems.
Cost: Members: no charge. Non-members: by donation
Details:
West Side Social Group at Truffles
✡️ Kabbalat Shabbat Service
📖Torah Study (Hybrid - In Person and Online)
📖Torah Study (Hybrid - In Person and Online)
https://zoom.us/j/92648537814?pwd=dEdaMkYvdEN2cnIwZVJpUGtneFBpZz09 Meeting ID: 926 4853 7814; Password: Torah or dial-in +1 778 907 2071
Details:
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/84333069441?pwd=R7A0VPJD532AbCLxQ0wMZqHBwloJPL.1
Meeting ID: 843 3306 9441
Passcode: Torah
Details:
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
Details:
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
10:00 am: Free play and snacks
10:45 am: Hakafa and Tot Shabbat Service with Annette Kozicki, including songs, prayers and a fun story.
11:30 am: Free play
12:00 pm: Kiddush lunch
Reservations not needed - just show up to join!
Details:
East Side Jews Family Skate, Dinner & Havdallah
East Side Jews Family Skate, Dinner & Havdallah
5:45–6:30 pm: Optional ice skating
6:30–8:45 pm: Dinner & Havdallah activity
Ice skating: pay your own
Dinner & Havdallah Activity: $8 per person
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Torah Study Group (Zoom)
Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Torah Study Group (Zoom)
We always welcome new study partners!
Details:
Craft Group Monthly Meet Up
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
https://zoom.us/j/789770161 or call 647-374-4685; PIN: 789 770 161#
Details:
Sisterhood Book & A Bite (Zoom)
Sisterhood Book & A Bite (Zoom)
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
Sisterhood Book & A Bite
Sisterhood Book & A Bite
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.
Details:
Tikun Olam Gogos
Tikun Olam Gogos
Details:
✡️ Kabbalat Shabbat Service
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
📖 Torah Study - Everyone welcome
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/84333069441?pwd=R7A0VPJD532AbCLxQ0wMZqHBwloJPL.1
Meeting ID: 843 3306 9441
Passcode: Torah
Details:
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
✡️ In-Person & Online Shabbat Services
Details:
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
👪 Childminding & Tot Shabbat
10:00 am: Free play and snacks
10:45 am: Hakafa and Tot Shabbat Service with Annette Kozicki, including songs, prayers and a fun story.
11:30 am: Free play
12:00 pm: Kiddush lunch
Reservations not needed - just show up to join!
Details:
Office Closed (Family Day)
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
Soup Shvesters
Soup Shvesters
Come and help chop, cook and stir the ingredients as well as package and store in freezer! You can expect to be there for up to three hours.
Bring your own apron, cutting or chopping knife and a vegetable peeler. Also bring your lunch if you wish.
We are also looking for volunteers to be available to deliver the soup as needed.
Details:
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
📖 Talmud Study with Rabbi Brown (Zoom)
https://zoom.us/j/789770161 or call 647-374-4685; PIN: 789 770 161#
Details:
Mens Circle
Mens Circle
Details:
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
✡️ Online Morning Minyan
https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/j/99881409179?pwd=d2ZVYm9DaFZHNzZQNHpuRTcrc2puZz09
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Passcode: Chickpea
Dial by your location
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Meeting ID: 998 8140 9179
Find your local number: https://templesholom-ca.zoom.us/u/abN68oNyjs
Details:
Sisterhood Appys and Yappys Social Group
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