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ברוכים הבאים · Welcome
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A warm Orthodox synagogue and community in Thornhill where Jews at every stage come together to daven, learn and grow.
Melave Malka · November 14 · 8:00 PM
How to Help Someone Choose Jewish Burial
A free practical workshop with Yael Davidowitz, sponsored by Ron and Carla Becker.
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This week’s bulletin
This week’s final bulletin is ready, with the complete davening and class schedules, community news and Shabbos learning.
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See sponsorship opportunities ↗A new beginning · October 5–10, 2026 · 5787
Welcome to
Parshas Bereishis.
This week’s highlights from the Rav
בראשית ברא אלקים
Begin a new year of Torah with Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz. Hear the Rav’s Monday night class and join us for Shabbos learning in our amazing shul.
Listen to earlier Bereishis classes
Erev Shabbos Drush · Bereishis
Hashem Cares About Our Pain
Get into the frame of mind for Shabbos. Ideally, listen on Erev Shabbos as you prepare for the day; you’re welcome to listen earlier in the week too.
Why does the Torah begin with Creation? Discover how the opening of Bereishis reveals Hashem’s sensitivity to our pain and offers reassurance about our connection to Eretz Yisrael. Through memorable stories and practical insights, we explore how to emulate His kindness, strengthen shalom bayis, and enter Shabbos by bringing comfort and chizuk to someone else.
Presented by Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz
This week’s main Shabbos drash
Shabbos Bereishis · Main drash
The Calculations That Hold Us Back
Doing the right thing when we cannot see the whole story.
From Adam and Chavah to Lemech and Naamah, and a girl whose future was changed by the kindness shown to her father.
Read the main drash PDF · 12 pagesDeveloped and Presented by Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz
Recorded Monday night · The Rav’s Parsha class
Monday, October 5 · 8:00 PM
Two Chanochs, One Dance
Ratzo Va’Shov · Bringing heaven down to earth.
The two Chanochs, Kayin’s rebuilding, and how Torah, tefillah and mitzvos bring heaven and earth together.
Click here to hear Monday night’s class from TorahAnytimeShabbos morning · Class before davening
Wanting to Be Close
Why the moon had to become small.
The sun and moon, humility, and what it means to receive directly from Hashem. Based on the teachings of Rav Shimshon Dovid Pinkus.
For those who will not be in our amazing shul this Shabbos. If you plan to attend, please do not read these texts in advance—save them for after you hear the Rav in shul.
Shabbos · Shalosh Seudos
When the Raven Teaches Kindness
An unexpected teacher. A path to repair.
The raven that taught Adam and Chavah to bury Hevel, and how acts of kindness can repair the damage that entered the world.
For those who will not be in our amazing shul this Shabbos. If you plan to attend, please do not read these texts in advance—save them for after you hear the Rav in shul.
From the Rav’s audio archive
More Torah on Bereishis
TorahCasts · Erev Shabbos Drush · October 12, 2023 · 35:44
Shabbos Bereishis 5784: If We Win the Battle of Shabbos, Shabbos Will Help Us Win the War in Israel
Listen on TorahCastsBreishis-The Concept of "Tznius"
Listen to the recordingBereishis, pasuk by pasuk · T.L.C.29 recordings
- Lesson 1: Ch 1, 1-5 First Day of CreationListenSource sheet
- Lesson 2: Ch 1, 6-8 Second Day of CreationListenSource sheet
- Lesson 3: Ch 1, 9-13 Third Day of CreationListenSource sheet
- Lesson 4: Ch 1, 14-19 Fourth Day of CreationListenSource sheet
- Lesson 5: Ch 1, 20-23 Fifth Day of CreationListenSource sheet
- Lesson 6: Ch 1, 24-28 Sixth Day of CreationListenSource sheet
- Bereishis Review of Lessons 1 6ListenReview sheet
- Lesson 7: Ch 1, 29-Ch2,3 End of SixthListenSource sheet
- Lesson 8: Ch 2, 4-9 Man in Gan EdenListenSource sheet
- Lesson 9: Ch 2, 10-14 The Four RiversListenSource sheet
- Lesson 10: Ch 2, 15-20 Adam commanded; Names wildlifeListenSource sheet
- Lesson 11: Ch 2, 21-25 Creation of WomanListenSource sheet
- Lesson 12: Ch 3, 1-6 Eating the Forbidden TreeListenSource sheet
- Bereishis Review of Lesson 7 12 1ListenReview sheet
- Lesson 13: Ch 3, 7-13 Hashem’s responseListenSource sheet
- Lesson 14: Ch 3, 14 -19 Punishments for the sinListenSource sheet
- Lesson 15: Ch 3, 20-24 Banishment Gan EdenListenSource sheet
- Lesson 16: Ch 4, 1-7 The OfferingsListenSource sheet
- Lesson 17: Ch 4, 8-12 Kayin Murders HevelListenSource sheet
- Lesson 18: Ch 4, 13-16 Teshuva of KayinListenSource sheet
- Bereishis Review of Lessons 13 18ListenReview sheet
- Lesson 19: Ch 4, 17-22 Generations of KayinListenSource sheet
- Lesson 20: Ch 4, 23-26 Death of Kayin; Sheis & ChanoChListenSource sheet
- Lesson 21: Ch 5, 1- 5 First GenerationListenSource sheet
- Lesson 22: Ch 5, 6-14 Second, Third, and Fourth GenerationsListenSource sheet
- Lesson 23: Ch 5, 15- 24 Fifth, Sixth and Seventh GenerationsListenSource sheet
- Lesson 24: Ch 5, 25- 32 Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Gen'sListenSource sheet
- Lesson 26: Ch 6, 5-8 Hashem Decrees the MabulListenSource sheet
- Bereishis Review of Lessons 19 24ListenReview sheet
Bible Building Blocks 1 – Bereishis19 recordings
- Class 19 - Quiz, Parshas Vayechi OverviewListenSource sheet
- Class 18 - Parshas Mikeitz Final and Parshas VaYigash Part 1ListenSource sheet
- Class 17 - Parshas Mikeitz Part 1ListenSource sheet
- Class 16 - Parshas VaYeishevListenSource sheet
- Class 15 - Parshas VaYishlachListenSource sheet
- Class 14 - Parshas Vayeitzei FinalListenSource sheet
- Class 13 - Quiz, Parshas Toldos Final and Parshas Vayeitzei Part 1ListenSource sheet
- Bible Building Blocks Class 12--Parshas-Toldos-OverviewListenSource sheet
- Classes 11 & 12 - Parshas Toldos OverviewListenSource sheet
- Bible Building Blocks Class 10--Parshas-Chayei-SarahListenSource sheet
- Classes 9 & 10 - Quiz & Parshas VaYeira and Chayei SarahListenSource sheet
- Bible Building Blocks Class 8--Parshas-VaYeira-OverviewListenSource sheet
- Classes 7 & 8 - Quiz & Parshas VaYeira Overview 1ListenSource sheet
- Class 6 Quiz & Parshas Lech Lecha Overview 1ListenSource sheet
- Class 5 - Parsha NoachListenSource sheet
- Class 4- Parsha-Noach-OverviewListenSource sheet
- Class 3 Parsha Bereshis OverviewListenSource sheet
- Class 2 - Book of BereshisListenSource sheet
- Class 1 - Overview and TimelineListenSource sheet
10 Disera DriveSecond Floor · Suite 250Thornhill, Ontario
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A special Simchas Torah message
The Souvenirs
We Don’t Choose
Rebbetzin Gail shares her thoughts on faith through pain, gratitude for every breath, and the strength we give one another.
Watch or read the Rebbetzin's messageArchive of the last class — Imperfectly Perfect
Rebbetzin Gail's Rosh Hashanah message on imperfection, gratitude and Hashem's loving call.
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Learning that continues long after the class ends.
Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz's shiurim bring depth, clarity and practical avodah together. Browse his complete podcast series on Torahcasts, find current video shiurim on TorahAnytime, join a class at Westmount or explore the rich earlier audio archive.
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