TORONTO — The Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues (CCCS) will hold its second annual convention June 11 to 13 at Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue.
The CCCS was formed in 2008 with four Toronto congregations as constituents – Adath Israel Congregation, Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue, Beth Tzedec Congregation and Beth Sholom Synagogue. Aside from Beth Sholom, which was unaffiliated, the congregations had left the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the umbrella body for about 700 Conservative congregations in North America, earlier in the year.
Currently, the organization has eight member shuls. In addition to the original constituents, members include Congregation Beth Shalom in Ottawa, Beth Torah Congregation in Toronto, B’Nai Shalom Congregation of Halton-Peel, and Montreal’s Congregation Shaar Shalom.
The convention’s keynote speaker, Jack Wertheimer, professor of American Jewish history at the Jewish Theological Seminary, will address participants at Shabbat morning services and lunch, as well as on Saturday evening.
Also, Debbie Fink, a Maryland-based children’s author and performer, will speak on the Saturday evening before services. Her talk is titled, “Roots and Limbs: our multi-generational involvement in shaping Jewish identity.”
Organizers are hoping for about 100 attendees, according to Rivy Blass, convention co-chair with Bernie Shiner.
Blass said she was hoping for an exchange of ideas among participating synagogues, and that participants would be able to take ideas back to their boards so they could address practical issues like Jewish education, how to attract volunteers, and how to involve families.
Synagogue youth directors will share program ideas with other participants, she added.
For further information about the convention, go to canadianccs.ca/content/convention-news.
