Friday, January 13, 2023
Check out our socials: @hbhabsty on Instagram and @Habstyhippo on Tiktok
Welcome to HABSTY, our youth group for those in grades 8-12! Join us for fun and exciting programming throughout the school year. From weekly lounge nights, activities in the city, mitzvah fundraising and many more opportunities to meet new friends and hang with old ones. Tied to NFTY-NEL (Link: https://northeastlakes.nfty.org), HABSTY members have the chance to attend NFTY weekends away and at home throughout the year. Join us, in person, as we look forward to an exciting year!
What does HABSTY Stand for?
Holy Awesome Blossom Senior Temple Youth Our Teen Board:
Jesse Sol – President
“I’m Jesse Sol, the new HABSTY president for 2022-23! Even before my high school years, HABSTY was a part of my life. Both of my brothers were members and eventual presidents, and I vividly remember hanging out in the old lounge (which is no longer). Even though much has
changed with Holy Blossom and me, that feeling of being a part of something bigger than the individual has certainly remained. I’ve seen firsthand what qualities a HABSTY president needs to be successful, and I look forward to working with my board on making new and old HABSTY events fun and meaningful.“
Programming VP – Lior Markus Social Action VP – Aliyah Sandler Communications VP – Emma Haras
Treasurer “Money Moves” – Ruby Abramson Board Member – Sam Mogil
Board Member – Yona Zelcer Noble
Every Monday night from 8:30 – 9:15 pm, HABSTY meets in our youth lounge to hang out, play games and sometimes eat pizza. All are welcome!
In addition to Lounge nights, HABSTY comes together for events throughout the year. Some Favourite Past Events:
Taste of Kensington (food tour of Kensington Market) Tobogganing
Visiting at the Imdadul Islamic Centre during Ramadan NFTY NEL Spring Kallah at Camp George
Car Wash fundraiser Outdoors Club
HABSTY also has the opportunity throughout the year to lead programs and events in the YEC for younger students, and participate in leadership roles during congregational holiday events and services.
For those in grades 9-12, NFTY NEL is our subregion of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (North East Lakes). Teens have the chance to attend multiple weekend events throughout the school year, where teens join them in Toronto and GTA, Ottawa, Cleveland, Rochester and Erie. Some members of our HABSTY board are on the NEL regional board! Last year our final event took place at Camp George and it was a wonderful welcome back for our international gatherings. Click here for more information. (https://northeastlakes.nfty.org)
Junior Youth Group gathers grades 6 and 7s together for fun activities and support during the Bnei Mitzvah years when peers really start to bond! A sample of what HABSTY will be like, JYG can look forward to various pizza lounge nights pre-Monday night school, and other activities throughout the year.
Our JYG retreat is BACK this fall semester! Join us at the YMCA for a fun overnight adventure. JYG also enjoys outings such as the Taste of Kensington tour, and more to come this year.
Instagram: @HBT_JYG
YEAH is our youth group for grades 3, 4 and 5. We are thrilled to be able to bring back more for this group in our upcoming school year. From Camp Blossom, Mitzvah Baking with Julie Yakobson, and new Sunday Fundays… There is lots of programming to look forward to.
We are so pleased to be able to plan for some overnight adventures this year. Teen Israel Trip – March 9-19, 2023:
Formerly known as our ‘Confirmation Israel Trip’, this teen trip is open to all students in grades 9-12. Perfect for a first-time visit, or a return, this Israel experience includes the ‘must sees’ like Masada, the Old City, Shuk Ha-Carmel and more, as well as opportunities to meet and engage with Israelis. We’ll have some hands-on Social Action opportunities and learn about different communities of people who make up Israel’s diverse population. And all the while, we’ll bond as a Holy Blossom community, making strong connections and lasting memories!
JYG Retreat 2022 – October 21-22, 2022:
Join us at the YMCA camp for a Shabbaton of fun activities both indoor and outdoor, bonding with new and old classmates and good snacks. HABSTY also attends this retreat as they plan for the year ahead and run activities for grades 6 and 7.
HABSTY Outdoors Club Camping Trip:
At the end of the school year, we hope to take a group of HABSTY teens on a one-night camping trip to welcome the summer, wrap up the year, and say goodbye to our seniors.
We will be updating this page throughout the year as new opportunities to gain volunteer hours come up.
Mitzvah Bakers
Open to all collecting hours, join us on the last Wednesday of each month for an evening of baking. Baked goods will be donated the day after through the Seeds of Hope charity. This will happen in person this year!
Are you a song leader? Do you like to sing or play an instrument? Volunteer to help lead family services!
Tot Shabbat greeter/helper
Join our youngest members and their grownups once a month to welcome Shabbat. Volunteers will sing and participate with the kids, as well as help set up and serve pizza dinners.
Madrichim in the YEC
Remember the cool teenagers who were in your Religious school class helping out? That could be you! Volunteering in a YEC classroom on Sunday mornings is a great way to learn new skills, get valuable and meaningful volunteer hours, and build relationships with students, teachers and your co-madrichim.
B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
We are starting a peer tutoring initiative for our grade 6 and 7 classes. Focusing on Hebrew reading, we need older teen volunteers to help on Mondays, 5:30-6 pm.
Here you can find all programs and activities linked to organizations outside of Holy Blossom Temple, as well as programming with other congregations.
NFTY
For those in grades 9-12, NFTY NEL is our subregion of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (North East Lakes). Teens have the chance to attend multiple weekend events throughout the school year, where teens join them in Toronto and GTA, Ottawa, Cleveland, Rochester and Erie. Some members of our HABSTY board are on the NEL regional board! Last year our final event took place at Camp George and it was a wonderful welcome back for our international gatherings. Click here for more information. (https://northeastlakes.nfty.org)
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּשׁוּב יְהֹוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים׃
אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם הִגְדִּיל יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם־אֵלֶּה׃
A Song of Ascents, when God restores the fortunes of Zion- it is like a dream. And our mouths will fill with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. They shall say, all the nations, “Oh, God has done such great things for them.” Psalms 126: 1-2
I dreamt about Jerusalem this week.
It was not a particularly flashy dream. Nothing good or terrible happened. I was simply back in my apartment, strolling through the streets that I walked daily for years. Even during the dream, I knew that I was asleep because the neighbourhood doesn’t look like that anymore. There’s a new fancy hotel on the corner and the makolet was replaced by a cell phone store. Even the old baker who waved to me in my dream; died nearly a decade ago.
I dream of Jerusalem often, and – unlike in our Torah portions of the last few weeks- I don’t need an interpreter to tell me what it means. I miss Israel.
Israel has been on my mind, and on many of our minds since the elections and the formation of a new government. It’s hard to be plugged into the ‘Israel sphere’ and not be aware of the trials and tribulations facing the Jewish state at this time.
Is Judicial reform necessary for a healthy democracy or does it mark the erosion of democratic values?
Is the threat of Iran growing or is the government overplaying its regional foe?
With Bibi back as Prime Minister are we seeing a return to business as usual or does the inclusion of extreme right-wing parties in the Knesset mark a new world?
I don’t have the answers to these questions, but I’m lucky that our Holy Blossom Temple has access to some of the most informed and thoughtful minds on the planet when it comes to Israel. For the last few years, Holy Blossom Temple members Prof. David B. Dewitt and Mark S. Anshan, alongside our generous sponsors and Israel Committee, have organized “The Israel Dialogues.” The Israel Dialogues is a program that brings leading scholars, journalists, diplomats, and politicians together to participate in high-level yet accessible discussions on the issues that Israel is facing today. The panel that they have organized is truly some of the best and brightest that Canada, and North America, have to offer.
The Israel Dialogues return tomorrow, at noon, and you can register HERE. Our first guest will be the Deputy Editor in Chief of Haaretz, Noa Landau, joining us to speak about the election and how religion played a surprise role.
If you too are dreaming of Israel, I do hope that you’ll join us.
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Friday, January 6, 2023
Saturday, December 31, 2022
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
(416) 789-3291
[email protected]
Emergency Funeral Contact
Cell: 416-565-7561
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.