Our Congregation

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Our Beth Ruach congregation is built on the values of the Torah and the Talmud, and we are united in our faith in Judaism and our support of Israel.

We support our congregation through Torah learning, Shabbat dinners, Jewish holidays, celebrations, and life-long learning of our Jewish education to all ages.

Our congregation is made up of primarily interfaith families due to the rise in Jewish people marrying outside of their faith. As such, while grounded in Judaism, our congregation welcomes their spouses of all faiths and those with no faith to join us in creating a diverse, vibrant spiritual community of individuals and families.

Through our teachings, work, and embrace, we aspire to keep the Jewish faith and traditions alive within these interfaith unions and be cherished by their extended families so that it may remain vibrant and alive into future generations.

We are affiliated with the Universal Oneness United Faith Canada.

Universal Oneness United Faith Canada (“UOUFC”) is a spiritual center that welcomes people from‎ all faiths and those of no faith. The UOUFC works to break down the barriers of religious intolerance. Congregation Beth Ruach is the Jewish interfaith branch of the UOUFC and is the ‎community that Rabbi David Gellman serves.

SILENT AUCTION 2024

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TESTIMONIAL—

“I’ve known David practically my whole life, and he knew my mom and my family, so he was the obvious choice to provide the funeral service for my mother, Miriam Stein. He did a very, very nice job, was very personal, and made sure everyone was included—as I knew he would. Thank you, David.”

Helen B.

The Rabbi’s Weekly Commentary-May 10, 2025

You are holy

Greetings friends

I hope you all took a moment to honor Yom Ha’Zikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, for the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, for those who lost their lives in the struggles to establish the state of Israel, and for those subsequently killed in the line of duty. There may be no more moving ceremony than that at Mount Herzl, and now we need to think of the hostages and victims of the October 7 genocidal terror attack when we think of those others.

And also, Yom Ha’atzmaut, which is Israeli Independence Day, commemorating the 77th anniversary of the day when David Ben-Gurion read Israel’s Declaration of Independence on the founding of the nation and shortly thereafter became its first prime minister. Look at how far that bastion of hope and freedom, that shining lighthouse of faith, has come. Look at what it has accomplished. Happy birthday. May you stand as a lighthouse of freedom for all, a true Jewish homeland forever.

It was and is a week of celebrations for Noah and Hallie, for Brett, for Pam who welcomed home her son, for Snoopy, whose birthday is always special, and most importantly—no, not Star Wars Day—although May the 4th be with you—Mother’s Day and who is more important than Mom?

She is your greatest support, your unconditional safety net. She is the reason we have survived.

Before receiving the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, the Dalai Lama sought out and met with Jewish leaders to learn the secret of survival in exile. He believed that no one had survived like the Jews. Throughout history, they were alone, unique. And one of the things that came from that historic meeting, and there were several, was that the importance of the home replaced the destroyed Temple in Jewish observance and, accordingly, made the religion more portable and especially equipped for survival in exile. It is the family that perpetuates religion. And it is the mother who keeps the family.

Call your mother, thank her, and tell her you love her.

This week we read another two-part reading in our race to finish the handbook of the priest –Acharei Mot and Kedoshim – After the Death and Holiness, and the focus is actually on the holidays, especially the day of atonement and its invitation to look within and to see ourselves, and we get to find out what holiness is.

Holiness is an interesting word. What does it mean? We all use it. Is it a state? We hear about the state of holiness. Does it make you high, give you an altered sense of reality? Is it a philosophy, maybe a respect for things? Is it a belief? Is it a religious experience?

Is it catchable? Well, for biblical man, it was. It was the other side of the contagion of disease, but that’s for another day.

What does a holy person look like? Do you picture a priest or a nun? Maybe a preacher? Perhaps, like in Annie Hall, you imagine a Chassidic Jew with a full beard, payes – the side locks, and black hat.

It is none of those things. It is you and it is me. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and you shall say to them: You shall be holy, because I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”

There you have it . You simply are holy because G0d is holy, and we are made from G0d. Each and every one of us contains the G0d gene within.

If one had to choose only one chapter out of the Torah to make known, it might well be this one.

It contains a capsule recap of the Ten Commandments but emphasizes decency, consideration, kindness, and contains two of the most important lessons in the Torah. First, we are reminded of the need to atone—to be at one with all—to shed our negativity, guilt, and anger and walk in the path of forgiveness and kindness, and to remember the life force of G0d is in everything, and this leads right to the second. This, coincidentally, may very well be the most remembered line of the entire Bible, found in Leviticus 19:18 – You shall not take revenge – And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

No truer words were ever spoken. We are all connected and so we need to love our neighbor as ourselves. Or we demonstrate that we do not love ourselves. And you cannot love another unless and until you love you.

This episode will be posted on our channel, where you can see all our past shows. Click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show in the 2025 cycle.

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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, electronic devices, and hearts, as you are all with me in mine.

Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life, and do not give in to the fear that is so prevalent, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.

Remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know that I truly appreciate you sharing your sacred time with me.

Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others. Be happy in doing so. May you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles. Make sure you also celebrate your own individuality and your incredible awesomeness.

Continue celebrating love; continue celebrating freedom; send renewal and goodwill out to everyone in the world. It is an energy that cannot be stopped. Be a growing beacon of light and remember, your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star and continue to be a miracle in someone’s life and light the light of love.

Blessings

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Respecting our past. Putting faith in your future