Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Yael Splansky

Todah Rabbah to All who Helped to Ring in the New Year 5783 with Commitment and Care

These High Holy Days were especially uplifting and meaningful because we could all be under one roof again.  Our Family Services, Little Blossoms Services, and Young Reader Services were packed.  The energy they and many new members brought to the Holydays was palpable.  We are glad that so many were able to join through the Livestream links as well.  Having the technology to stay connected with our out-of-town members and our older members who may no longer be able to come to The Temple in person is critical.  We will continue to invest in the equipment and staff to make it possible for ALL to join together in prayer and song.

Some people have asked for copies of the Rabbis’ sermons. Follow this link.  You can also revisit the High Holy Day melodies by following this link. I am most grateful to my colleagues Cantor David Rosen, Rabbi Samuel Kaye, Rabbi Eliza McCarroll, and Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers for bringing their whole selves to every bimah.

Yishar Koach and Kol HaKavod to ALL who helped to make our High Holy Days as uplifting and celebratory as they were.  It takes a village. 

We gratefully acknowledge…

David Gershon, Dr. Marky Weinstock, Michael Cole, Michael Leese, Suzanne Hersh, Avishai Sol, Sophie Rivers, and HABSTY leadership, who prepared so well to lead our multiple services in partnership with our Rabbis and Cantors.

Our Torah and Haftarah Readers bring honour to our sacred texts.  They practice for months to ensure every letter and every note elevates the occasion.  Under the leadership of Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers they are:

Cynthia Good, Ellie Davidson, Lindsay McLean, Corrie Spetter, Taiga Lipson, Brian Lidsky, Helena Fine, Eli Sol, Lucas Warwick, Marc Levy, Jeff Denaburg, Daniel Abramson, Brenda Saunders, Ellen Lupu, Susan Baskin, Jill Kamin, Suzanne Hersh, Mike Morgulis, Mathew Diamond, Mark Goodman, Pavle Levkovic, Jane Herman, Camille Lisser, Isaac Aster, Eric Peterseil, Alberto Quiroz, Adam Sniderman, Joan Garson, Adam Sol, Ted Shafran, David Greenberg, Paula Warren, Ruby Abramson, Rob Steiner, Robyn Blatt, Chloe Fruitman

Our Temple Singers, who lift the words of the Machzor (High Holy Day prayerbook) off the page and transform them into sincere prayer.  They are:

Susan Baskin, Ellen Cole, Susan Cohen, Anne Dublin, Helena Fine, Susan Fremes, Denise Gordon, Michael Greenstein, Barbarta Grossman, Ron Hart, Caroline Ingvaldsen, Jill Kamin, Catherine Mayers, Shelley Miller, Sharon Smith-Miller, Lew Molot, Eva Ormut, Dena Perlmutar, Uriel Priwes, Joanne Roher, Beth Roher, Shoshana Sage, David Sandler, Sandi Schafer, Saul Ship, Bella Shupac, Paula Warren, and Sheila Weinstock.

Our devoted, professional choir, who under the direction of Cantor Rosen and our Musician in Residence, Jason Jestadt, fill our sanctuary with the sounds of Jewish memory.

They are:  Paul Babiak, Joshua Boutilier, Gordon Brown, Shannon Halliwell, Carrie Loring, Andrea Ludwig, Dion Mazerolle, Jennifer McCallum, Bonnie McKenzie, John Reusser, Gwyneth Sestito, Mark Wood-Salomon, David Yung. And our professional musicians are:  Paul Ormandy, Beth Silver, and Laurence Schaufele.

Our Gabbaim, who, like a stage manager, ensure that the bimah rituals are performed inclusively and gracefully.  Under the leadership of our Head Gabbai, Jill Hertzman our High Holy Day Gabbaim are:

Joan Garson, Alberto Quiroz, Mark Anshan, Pavle Levkovic, Adam Sniderman, Sam Sapera, David Sadowski, Denes Rothschild, Avra Rosen, Susan Baskin, Brenda Saunders, Phyllis Denaburg, Etienne Kaplan, Jane Herman, Eric Roher, Les Rothschild, Pavle Levkovic

Our Shofar Blowers call us to attention throughout the month of Elul and ring in the new year with kavanah (soulful intension).  Under the leadership of Cantor Rosen they are:

Michael Cole, Tal Maissner, Robin Malach, Rachel Malach, Eli Sol, David Gershon, Howard Goodman, Joel Lehman, Steven Dan, Peter Dan, Sam Sapera, Eli Sol

Our Ushers fulfill the essential mitzvah of hospitality, ensuring that everyone is comfortable and safe.  Under the leadership of our Head High Holyday Ushers, Gerry Prendergast and Bob Cooper, our High Holy Day Ushers are:

David Tartick, David Hertzman, John Phillips, Jeff Denaburg, Phyllis Denaburg, James Karrel, Diana Goodman, Gary Goodman, Gail Goodman, Michael Ryval, John Phillips, Kathy Morrissey, Merle Kriss, John Morrissey, James Karel, Terry Yanowski, Bambi Katz, Karen Kollins, Arnold Englander, Michael Ryval, Etienne Kaplan, Avra Rosen, Sheila Smolkin, Arlene Roth, Mitchell Toker, Carole Sterling, Andrew Rosner, Andrew Kirsch, and Judy Winberg,

Our Greeters are the first friendly faces you see as you approach Holy Blossom Temple.  They answer our questions and point us in the right direction.  Under the leadership of Corinne Black, our High Holy Day Greeters are:

Shoshana Sage, Barbara Hodes, Julia Solomon, Karen Mock, Sara Charney, Sharon Neiss, Richard Vrooman, Sheila Smolkin, Neil Berinstein, Judy Winberg, Caroline Ingvaldsen, Shoshana Sage, and Barbara Hodes.

Many medical professionals are on-call and strategically placed throughout our prayer spaces.  In addition to the first responders on site, these devoted congregants are here should anyone need medical attention.  Under the leadership of Past President, Dr. Barry Borden, they are:

Dr. Jeff Meyers, Dr. David Greenberg, Sue Rebick, Dr. Michelle Naimer, Dr. Melissa Nutik, Dr. Rhonda Wilansky, Dr. Yoel Abells.

Thanks to Andrew Kirsh, Bridge Ramcaran, and Rachel Malach for leading the effort in keeping the synagogue and everyone in it safe and secure.  Thanks also to our Security Professionals and to Division 13 of the Toronto Police.

Thanks to our Adult Education Coordinator, Sharoni Sibony, for overseeing our multiple Yom Kippur Study Sessions.  This year’s teachers were:  Rabbi John Moscowitz, Cynthia Good & Gillian Helfield, Cheryl Sylvester, Evan Solomon, Steven Bookman & Elder Catherine Brooks, and Wendy Melvin.  Thanks also to our Librarian, Caroline Ingvaldsen, and to Beth Silver for filling the sanctuary with the voice of her cello.

We thank our Development Team, for providing meaningful sponsorship opportunities for congregants to support many elements of our High Holydays.  We thank our Administrative Team, who organize the countless details on which we depend and pay careful attention to every special request.  We thank our Membership Team, our Finance Team, and our Communications and Tech Teams, who work tirelessly behind the scenes.  We thank our Facilities Team, who work round the clock to ready our building – inside and out.

And finally, thanks to our Temple President Avra Rosen and Gerry Prendergast, Vice President of our Department of Worship, who oversees and supports all of the work of those mentioned above.  And thanks to my professional partner, our Executive Director, Rachel Malach, who sees all the pieces of the High Holy Day puzzle to ensure they come together as one seamless whole.

If we have inadvertently missed someone or misspelled a name, first, in the spirit of the High Holydays, please forgive me, and then, please let me know by writing to JoAnne Bieman ([email protected]), so we can correct the error.

Here’s to 5783!  May it be a year of fulfillment for our Holy Blossom community.  May it be a year of greater health and contentment for all the world.