Saturday, November 5, 2022
Friday, November 4, 2022
There is a beautiful saying in our Talmud that “the world only exists due to the breath of schoolchildren” (Shabbat 119b).
This “breath” is interpreted to mean the recitation and study of Torah because no one brings as much innocence and joy to their days – breathes life into Torah – like a child.
Yet, it is upon us, the adults, families, and friends of our youngest members, to cultivate their innate spirituality, and convert this inherent curiosity and energy into action.
Whilst it is amazing to see our YEC thrive every Sunday morning, did you know that there is the opportunity to partake in this mitzvah on Shabbat, as well?
We do this on approximately the second Saturday of each month, Holy Blossom Temple holds Family Services upstairs in our Youth Chapel, where children come together to sing, to pray, to play, and to enjoy each other’s company both in the chapel and in special breakout rooms.
In other words, they have the chance to live and breathe Torah, and to find joy within it, as is their nature in our tradition.
Additionally, for their families and adults, it is an invaluable chance for them to experience the connection and closeness that community brings.
Our next Family Service is on Saturday, November 12, at 11 am, and they are co-led by renowned children’s musician David Gershon, and myself.
All are invited, and all are welcome to join the rest of the congregational family for our Kiddush lunch following.
Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about cultivating your child’s spiritual life, on Shabbat and every day, please CLICK HERE to learn more about our Parent Education Course, “Raising a Mensch”, team-taught by Rabbi Splansky and myself, starting Sunday, November 6, 9.30-10.30 am, and continuing for the next three weeks.
If Shabbat is known as a delight, then it is even more delightful to bring that Shabbat and Jewish spirit to our children and families. We look forward to seeing you there!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Eliza McCarroll
By: Karen Kollins
In his book, A Heart of Many Rooms, leading Jewish thinker and philosopher Rabbi David Hartman, shares how he came to understand his role as a Rabbi as one who helped Jews confront tradition through their own questions, rather than by simply providing his own answers.
It has been in this spirit that Holy Blossom has been the beneficiary of Hartman’s influence and legacy. Our Temple leadership – Rabbis and lay leaders have been blessed with the opportunity to explore their own questions of faith, peoplehood, and identity through the work of the Shalom Hartman Institute since its founding in 1976. Holy Blossom’s extraordinary dedication to learning, its strong commitment to Israel, and the collaborative relationships we have with other Jewish and multifaith communities across the city have, I would like to think, been impacted by Temple’s deep connection to Hartman.
Today, the Shalom Hartman Institute, based in both Israel and North America, serves as a pluralistic think tank and educational centre for the Jewish people, engaging in thought leadership that focuses on the major questions facing the Jewish people. Hartman learning meaningfully addresses the central challenges of contemporary Jewish life, enriches and enhances knowledge in the foundations of Jewish thought, and empowers leaders to influence and move their communities forward by imparting new ideas.
In my role as Hartman’s Director of Canada, I hear often from Canadians across the country, particularly those connected to Montreal where Hartman served as a Rabbi for close to two decades, who share stories of how they were impacted by Rabbi David Hartman. Hartman introduced them to Torah in a new way – with a unique blend of complexity and accessibility, focusing on the traditions of Judaism and a commitment to Israel while emphasizing the necessity for a plurality of voices.
We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to welcome Donniel Hartman, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute to Holy Blossom Temple on Monday, November 21 at 7:30 pm where he will be in conversation with Professor David Koffman on Religion and Democracy in Israel: What are the Stakes for Global Jewry? Holy Blossom Temple, The Shalom Hartman Institute, and the Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies at York University are thrilled to be partnering on this extraordinary event.
I hope you will join us for this opportunity to discover the power of Jewish ideas from the Shalom Hartman Institute and to raise your own questions about Judaism and democracy in Israel, its significance, and why it might matter to us as Canadians.
Watch out also for upcoming information about Hartman’s Community Leadership Program, a week-long study program taking place June 21-28, 2023, at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.
Joan Beckow grew up in music in an era when female composers/instrumentalists weren’t really given a platform, Beckow’s undeniable ability to convey complex emotion in melody, and her mastery of harmony, has so far, fallen under the radar.
Growing up in suburban Chicago, Joan moved to Los Angeles with her dad. Joan was exposed to a variety of music from a young age and she enrolled in the Music Program at UCLA. She composed many musicals during her time there and eventually moved to the west coast of Canada with her husband, Jack.
Beckow’s work has been performed on-stage hundreds, even thousands of times, but never in her 50+ year career was her music professionally recorded in-studio.
Later, Joan earned a Music Therapy degree from Capilano College and became a long-time faculty member. She continued to build her prolific catalogue of musicals, choral works and stand-alone pieces inspired by Jewish liturgical text.
In celebration of the contributions of Joan Beckow, the Joan Beckow Legacy Project was launched including 22 songs; 30 musicians, recorded live off the floor on both sides of the country to produce a double-disc album, under the mother/daughter music-direction duo, Wendy Bross Stuart (Vancouver, via New York), and Jessica Stuart (Toronto, via Vancouver). Joan has been adjacent to exceptional artists-turned-celebrities throughout her career, starting with her long-time musical collaboration with best friend and 1950s UCLA roommate, Carol Burnett, but remained modest in the pursuit of her own work.
Holy Blossom has always been a supporter of Jewish Music. We continue to celebrate composers of Jewish Music of various genres and are thrilled to partner with The Joan Beckow Legacy Project for the Toronto debut of this incredible collection of music on Saturday, November 19th at 7:30 pm following our congregational Shabbat Mincha service. The evening will include a short film outlining the life and musical contributions of Joan Beckow followed by an incredible concert. I am thrilled to be joined by a cadre of various vocalists, including Temple Singers and cellist, Beth Silver.
Please enjoy this trailer for Joan’s piece, “May the Words.”
We hope to see you on November 19th at 7:30 pm for this spectacular program, which was recently featured on CBC radio. Click here to register: holyblossom.org/joan-beckow/
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
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Founded in 1856, Holy Blossom Temple is Toronto’s first synagogue with a rich history of tradition and modernity in our religious and spiritual expression.