On the 7th of Cheshvan, Sunday October 29, Congregation Darchei Noam celebrated the groundbreaking on its new building in Toronto, Canada. Dignitaries including two members of parliament, the Minister of Community Safety, and JRF's Senior Consultant, Director of Outreach & External Affiliations Rabbi Shawn Zevit added to the large gathering of the community young and old.

The building will be 20,000 square feet, with stone and glass exterior and is expected to be completed by next fall.

Rabbi Grinberg said, "Our commitment to social justice will be felt in every stone.

Congregation president Michael Mitchell summed what makes Darchei Noam so succesful:

Our attraction has been that as Reconstructionist Jews, we have a deep respect and honour for tradition, and the desire tostudy that tradition, to study Torah. At the same time, we believe that Jewish religious culture and values are constantly evolving through the generations, and we have to be creative and thoughtful in adapting our tradition to ensure it is relevant and meaningful to us and to our children.

Michael Mitchell's complete speech as well as an article about the event in the Toronto Jewish Tribune are available in the attachments to this story.

Listen to Rabbi Shawn Zevit comment on Darchei Noam groundreaking.