OU CEO RABBI WEIL TO BE SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE OCT 15-16 AT TORONTO SHAAREI SHOMAYIM

07 Oct 2010

RABBI STEVEN WEIL, LEADER OF OU, TO SERVE AS SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE AT CONGREGATION SHAAREI SHOMAYIM, OCTOBER 15-16

Rabbi Steven Weil, CEO of the Orthodox Union, will be scholar- in- residence at Congregation Shaarei Shomayim in Toronto the Shabbat of October 15-16, Parshas Lech Lecha, as the OU member synagogue presents the first of its “Great Weekend Programs.”

Describing the program and Rabbi Weil’s visit, Rabbi Chaim Strauchler explained, “Shaarei Shomayim is the centre for Modern Orthodoxy in Toronto. We bring some of the world’s best Jewish leaders to Toronto to both educate our community and help us fulfill our mission, to bring the values of the Torah into the modern world. Rabbi Weil leads one of North America’s most important Jewish organizations. The OU brings together hundreds of synagogues and thousands of people to work for our common goals. The OU leads the kashrut industry, the OU leads the kiruv (outreach) movement with its NCSY programs, the OU leads in its educational offerings, and the OU leads in advocacy for both Israel, world Jewry, and North American Jewry. Shaarei Shomayim is proud to be part of the OU.”

Rabbi Weil will speak on the following topics:
• Derasha (sermon): The Dialectical Jew: The Most Universal-Particular Person on Earth
• Afternoon Shiur (class): An Historical Blueprint for Jewish History: Nachamanides’ Analysis of Sefer Bereshit
• Seuda Shlishit (Third Meal of the Sabbath): The Lessons of the Akeida (The Binding of Isaac)

Rabbi Weil will also address the shul’s board on the topic of synagogue leadership based on his experiences as a pulpit rabbi in Los Angeles and Detroit, Rabbi Strauchler said.

The synagogue is located at 470 Glencairn Avenue.

www.ou.org