Festivals
Purim
We hold fun filled Purim activities in fancy dress for all ages, 0-120, while also fulfilling the mitzvah of mishlo’ach manot – assembling gift packages for people in need. Activities for families, such as our Fancy Dress BBQ, usually take place on a Sunday, while all ages attend our Erev Purim celebration the night before Purim.
On Erev Purim, all are invited to come in fancy dress or borrow some of our fun accessories to wear for the evening. The evening has included everything from a multi-lingual Megillah reading celebrating the diverse backgrounds of our members to a "night at the improv" with improvisational activities to make you laugh out loud. Our choir shares hilarious and poignant Purim songs, and our Year 7 families and JSA [link to page?] lead the charge to make parcels of the toiletries we've collected for local shelters. Of course, we also enjoy Hamantaschen (triangle shaped Purim biscuits with filling) - it wouldn't be Purim without them!
Pesach
Our Choir beautifies our Festival morning prayer service on the first day of Pesach, including Hallel (psalms of praise). They return to beautify our Erev 7th Day Pesach service, including Yizkor for those we’ve lost since last Pesach. We chant Moses' Song at the Sea on 7th day morning, and a stone is placed by every name on our Yahrzeit board in the sanctuary foyer--a loving tribute to previous generations.
As well, we conduct a lively and meaningful Communal Seder on the second night of Pesach, singing all your favourite classic songs, telling the Exodus story, and engaging in all the rituals that make this night different from all other nights. “May all who are hungry come and eat!” (Haggadah).
Shavuot
Our annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot often welcomes a guest speaker, and the programming and learning focus on a specific theme relevant to our times. One year, we focused on neurodiversity, another year on Artificial Intelligence, and another on “Melodies of Memory.”
In the morning service, we celebrate all newborns and their parents, new grandparents, and new great grandparents! Children are invited to carry the bikkurim (first fruits, which we provide) during the "Torah parade" and our short service includes Hallel (psalms of praise), as well as Yizkor for those we lost since last Shavuot.
Sukkot
Sukkot is one of the most joyful festivals of the Jewish year, as we gather in NSTE's sukkah (literally, "booth") in the Givorshner Courtyard for a meal, a welcome for new NSTE members, adult learning and activities, a family BBQ, and services during the week of Sukkot. It is a mitzvah to dwell in the Sukkah, and we are, likewise, commanded to enjoy the festival! So we hope you'll join us!
Chanukah
We often enjoy a “Chanukah Groove” service with our NSTE Choir and musicians, including candle lighting (BYO chanukkiah!) and followed by a communal shabbat dinner.
Other Commemorations
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
We encourage our members to attend the communalwide observance of Yom HaShoah each year, but we also often hold gatherings at NSTE in commemoration. We have hosted talks by member Eddy Boas, screened documentaries such as Dreyfus Drei, and held special learning sessions with scholars including Devorah Wainer.
Yom HaAtzmaut
Each year we hold an Israeli inspired “Groove” service with our Choir and musicians on Friday night, usually welcoming a guest speaker, followed by an Israeli themed communal dinner and Israeli dancing led by the Jewish Arts Israeli dance group for all to join in and enjoy this anniversary of Israel's independence.
Tisha b’Av
To commemorate one of the saddest days in the Jewish calendar, we come together to learn or for a discussion, followed by a participatory “alternative” service by candlelight, beginning in “exile” from our sanctuary in the foyer, and continuing seated on the sanctuary floor (chairs provided for those who prefer). Chapters of Eicha (Lamentations) are chanted.
ANZAC Commemoration
Each year we hold a short ceremony and moment of silence, reciting the Ode and sounding The Last Post in our sanctuary foyer at the conclusion of the Friday evening shabbat service.
Wed, May 21 2025
23 Iyar 5785
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