TORONTO — Beth Tikvah Synagogue is kicking off its second summer series with a debate on the existence of God.

Rabbi Jarrod Grover

The June 10 event is the first of a four-part series that deals with prayer.

“Prayer is the core of what a synagogue does,” said Rabbi Jarrod Grover, Beth Tikvah assistant rabbi. “The debate is very important because you can’t talk about prayer if you can’t have a serious discussion about God.”

On the side arguing for God’s existence is Rabbi Dow Marmur, rabbi emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple. On the opposing side is Robert Buckman, president of the Humanist Association of Canada, an organization that promotes separation of religion and public policy.

Moderating the event will be TV and radio personality Michael Coren, who Rabbi Grover said will bring a Catholic perspective to the debate.

While he won’t officially participate in the debate, Rabbi Grover said he’ll probably share his views “at least several times.”

Although some people have complained that a synagogue should not advertise a program questioning God’s existence, Rabbi Grover said the debate is designed to stimulate people’s thoughts.

He described once seeing the People’s Church located on Sheppard Avenue advertising a similar debate.

“If evangelicals can do it,” he said, “then so can we.”

Furthermore, he said events such as this can attract younger Jewish adults, as well as people who are not absolute in their views on God’s existence, not for people firm on either side of the spectrum.

“I think most people are in-between,” he said.

Although he admits the synagogue has a vested interest in the religious perspective of the debate, both sides will be given a fair opportunity to state their case. The goal is not to persuade one side to the other, he said, and there will probably be no clear winner.

“The only outcome we want is for people to think about the topic,” he said.

The series runs from June 10 to June 24 and also includes an alternative Shabbat service focusing on Jewish meditation, a screening of Ben Feferman’s short film called The Wandering Jew, and a lecture by author Denyse O’Leary addressing scientific research that suggests spirituality is hard-wired into human beings.

The idea behind the program is to engage adults in an intellectual environment during a time of the year when most other synagogues don’t hold events, because they believe most people are busy or on vacation, Rabbi Grover said.

However, the synagogue’s success with its 2009 summer series showed him there are people interested in participating.

“We’re not doing it to make a penny,” he said, explaining that each event costs no more than $5. “We’re doing this because we believe in the program.”