By Ruth Ellen Greenwood
With the focus on education for our 170th anniversary year and the announcement of the Cotler School, the Archives Committee is using this space to highlight noteworthy education moments in our congregation’s history.
Our synagogue has always valued education. In the nineteenth century, Edmund Scheuer took charge of the synagogue’s school and organized a Confirmation class for girls, aged 13, which culminated in 1899. He then organized and financed the Zionist Free School for Girls run by 16 volunteer teachers from Holy Blossom. When Heinz Warschauer came to Holy Blossom, the synagogue’s role in education was well established. Heinz – he was always known as Heinz – raised the standard of education at Holy Blossom even higher.
Born in Berlin, Heinz studied under Rabbi Leo Baeck. In 1938, following Kristallnacht, he was interned in Buchenwald. In 1939, he managed to get to England and from there to Canada in 1940. Ironically, he was interned here as a German enemy alien.
Upon his release, Heinz studied at the University of Toronto and received a Master’s in Modern History as well as a Bachelor of Social Work. Education was his life’s work as evidenced in his innovations to the education programs at Holy Blossom. Heinz always saw the individual, and he believed in group work as the best method for achieving good results.
Starting as a part-time teacher at Holy Blossom, he became full-time Director of Education in 1947 until his retirement in 1976. He was the first Canadian to be President of the National Association of Temple Educators. He was also a member of the Commission on Jewish Education of the Reform Movement, a faculty member of National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), and the author of a comprehensive history of Holy Blossom Temple.
The Student Teacher Training program Heinz established at Holy Blossom was well known in the Reform Movement. After Confirmation and completing grade 10 at Holy Blossom Religious School, I and many of my friends enrolled in that program. During this three-year program, we attended a weekly seminar where Heinz and other teachers from the school taught us how to prepare lesson plans, how to motivate students, how to incorporate the AV materials available, and the importance of group work. Each year, we were given a different Religious School teacher as a mentor. We attended the class every weekend morning to observe and participate in teaching parts of lessons, work with students on projects and share in class supervision.
During the six years I taught at Holy Blossom Religious School, as a student teacher and then as a teacher, I finished high school, completed my university courses and enrolled in the Faculty of Education. I quickly realized that Heinz had already taught us the skills covered in that program. I, like so many others, enjoyed a long and fulfilling career as a teacher based on the principles he instilled in all of us.
Heinz had no children and no family; the students of Holy Blossom Religious School were his children and the congregants were his family. Rabbi Plaut described him as “irascible, inspirational and a master teacher”. He also added, “thousands considered him their spiritual mentor.” Heinz was a unique and unforgettable individual who had a profound and lasting impact on all of us who studied and worked with him.
Justice Mary Lou Benotto has published a damning independent review of several antisemitic hate incidents at Toronto Metropolitan University. She discovered that while TMU already has the policies and the means to defend its Jewish students against illegal acts of hate and discrimination, the university has failed to enforce its own rules. Equally concerning, TMU has decided not to take the “decisive institutional action” recommended by Justice Benotto, with TMU President Mohamed Lachemi instead opting to appoint a Task Force that will produce an “implementation blueprint” by March 2027. You can read more about the ongoing issues at TMU here in this article by CIJA. An editorial by the Globe and Mail Editorial Board was published on this subject yesterday. Subscribers can read it here.
If you are motivated to raise your voice in support of Jewish students at TMU, you can write directly to President Mohammed Lachemi by utilizing CIJA’s Action Hub. Link is here.
Additionally, an important day of learning at The Conference Centre of the University of Toronto is happening on Tuesday, September 15th. “A Canary’s Song: Antisemitism in our ‘Free and Democratic Society’” will bring together former Ambassadors Deborah Lipstadt and Deborah Lyons for an important keynote speech. The Honourable Irwin Cotler will also address the gathering, and our own Rabbi Splansky is moderating an important conversation about antisemitism in our institutions.
“In this one-day conference of distinguished scholars and experts in history, politics, law, human rights, law enforcement, and, of course, specifically in the nature and history of antisemitism and antizionism, we will strive for understanding rather than for activism, and for moral clarity rather than moralizing.”
Learn more about Advocacy here.
By Cantor David Rosen
With the High Holy Days around the corner, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to introduce you to our cantorial and musical team for the High Holy Days. With so many different services happening throughout our building during this season, it truly takes a village and a remarkable team of people to create, prepare, and bring to life spiritual experiences that speak to many different demographics and span many generations.
Today, I’d like to focus our attention on our Shleichei Tzibur, our Cantors, Cantorial Soloists, and Service Leaders. Next week, we’ll will take time to learn more about our choir, Instrumentalists and tech team.
As the Senior Cantor and Music Director, I am blessed to help orchestrate this tremendous team. Each one of these individuals brings their own creativity, musical talents, and unique spiritual voice, helping to strengthen and complement the work that Cantorial Soloist Lindi rivers and I bring to our services. Each person is also paired with our wonderful rabbis and educators, creating strength, nuance, and meaning each and every prayerful opportunity.
Dr. Mark Weinstock
Many of you know already know Marky (as he is affectionately called) as he is an award-winning entertainer and respected educator with over 20 years of experience running Musical Shabbat programs that inspire our littlest blossoms, including are very popular Tot Shabbat. Marky will help to lead us in song for some of our Family services as well our Young Reader’s service during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Josh Nezon
Josh has been a wonderful addition to our musical team in recent years having brought years of camp song leading and communal singing to our congregation. Josh leads us regularly for Shabbat family services and you will see him in this role over the High Holy Days brining his sweet strumming and smooth vocals to our bimah.
Ayla Smolash
Ayla has become endeared to our Cotler students and our Early Childhood Students as our head song leader and Music teacher. Ayla brings her beautiful voice and guitar playing to many services and programs and has become a very popular presence in the eyes of our youth. She will join us in leading some of our Family services as well as making a few appearances in our Sanctuary over the holidays.
Mike Margoulis
As a former Brotherhood President and teacher/song leader in the Cotler school, Mike is no stranger to Holy Blossom Temple. Mike’s enthusiasm for the youth and helping the next generation find connection and meaning to prayer is exemplary. We know he will bring a smile and song as he also helps to lead some of our Family Service offerings over the Holidays.
Tal Katz
Tal is often seen as a Cantorial Soloist with the World Zionist Organization and we have enjoyed hearing her voice on Yom Ha’atzmaut or other wonderful Shabbat collaborations and programs throughout the year. With additional Adult services on this year in the Mishkan this year, Tal will lend her beautiful voice and soul with us on Yom Kippur.
There will also be a few surprise musical guests along the way, and we can’t wait to welcome a new year together with song, and celebration and the hope for a better and brighter 5787!!
Shalom from Camp George, Holy Blossom!
I’m writing to you from up at the gorgeous Maple Lake, about 2.5 hours north of Toronto and 20 minutes from the town of Parry Sound.
I’m here on my Faculty week, where I, and a number of colleagues (including our Holy Blossom Temple Brotherhood co-President and Jewish educator Dan Abramson) are here to support the Jewish life team and lead the educational programming for all the campers.
Some highlights so far include:
It’s been a busy but wonderful week here at camp, and there’s much more on the horizon.
Shabbat preparation is in full swing by the time you read this; the Barak campers have more elective sessions to complete their projects, Nitzotzot will be making mezuzot, and we are expecting the Camp George Council (of which I am a part) for Community Shabbat, which will include a special Staff Appreciation event.
At the halfway mark of being here at Maple Lake, I can’t wait to see how the rest of the week unfolds, and to be able to share more stories and experiences with you all once I’m back.
Our Talmud teaches us that the world is sustained by the breath of schoolchildren.
Being here lets me know that the Jewish future is bright, through the spirit, energy, fun, friendships and magic that happens when we’re together, in a community intentionally formed by young people for other young people, for the summer.
Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the week, and see you all at home soon!
L’shalom,
Rabbi McCarroll
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
(416) 789-3291
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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.