Advocacy @ HBT: CJPAC and CIJA Municipal Election Briefing 

We are excited to announce that our evening of conversation with Warren Kinsella, happening on June 29th, is sold out! Please be in touch with office manager Lindsay Mockler ([email protected]) to get on the waiting list or to obtain a copy of the recording after the event.  

This Thursday from 11:30-12:30, CJPAC and CIJA are presenting an important and focused election briefing. What is at stake, what are the key issues, and how can you make an impact?  You can register for this important webinar at the following link: 

Special Community Briefing: Ontario Municipal Elections – Intellistack 

Josh Landau at CIJA says, “Municipal leaders play a large role and yield considerable influence in regard to community safety, public spaces, and the response to hate in our cities. Decisions made at city hall have a direct impact on the communities where we live, work, and raise our families. 

While Ontario’s municipal elections are due to take place on October 26, 2026, now is the time to get informed and engaged… (together we will) gain insights into the upcoming election cycle and what to expect in the months ahead (and) understand how to engage effectively with your local candidates.” 

Can’t make it? Register anyway. CJPAC will send you a full replay of the briefing and a summary of the key takeaways. 

Finally, you may have read that Mark Berlin, the sole Jewish trustee at the Canada Museum of Human Rights, resigned this week over the handling of the museum’s exhibit on the Nakba. CIJA and other Jewish communal organizations had previously raised serious concerns over how the museum was treating this exhibit. The resignation of Mr. Berlin only rings more alarms. 

You can read more about the museum and the issues with the exhibit here.  

You can read CIJA’s action item and add your name to a letter of concern to the government here.

Learn more about Advocacy here.  

Advocacy @ HBT: Walking With Israel This Weekend

CIJA has expressed certain early concerns with the implementation of the Prime Minister’s promise to heal the rift in the Canadian covenant. You can add your name to CIJA’s open letter to the Prime Minister by clicking on this link.   

The Walk with Israel is this Sunday, June 7th. You are welcome to meet other Holy Blossom members, our rabbis and staff, and many others across the city on Sunday morning! You can learn more here. The Holy Blossom Temple delegation will be meeting exactly where we did last year, outside of Temple Sinai, on Wilson Street, a few steps east of the entrance to their parking lot, between 8:30 and 9:00 am. We look forward to seeing you there.  

Last, but certainly not least, please join us at Temple on Monday, June 29th, at 7:00 pm for an important evening with the esteemed Canadian columnist, commentator, and author Warren Kinsella. His new book, “The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda”, discusses how Canada has become ground zero for the global propaganda campaign against Jews and Israel. We are excited to welcome Warren to Holy Blossom for a fireside chat, and copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing. Please pre-register for the program here.   

Learn more about Advocacy here.  

Advocacy @ HBT: Two Upcoming Advocacy Events  

We would like to draw your attention to two important events that are coming up at the beginning of summer! 

On Monday, June 29th, Holy Blossom Temple will be hosting an intimate conversation with respected Canadian political commentator, Warren Kinsella. Mr. Kinsella has written a new book called “The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda.” He will be with us to discuss his new book, copies of which will be available for purchase and signing, and to share what he has learned about the forces which are motivating the organized campaign against Jewish life in Canada.  

“Canada has become ground zero for this international effort, a result of shifting demographics, porous online and physical borders when it comes to foreign interference, lack of political will, and failure to enforce laws that could help prevent the spread of this type of hate. The numbers themselves are astounding, reflecting a growing tide of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and general intolerance with a brazenness that has not been witnessed before. A country known for its historic support for the Jewish homeland and for Jews in general has become, since October 7th, a place where Jews live in fear, with skyrocketing incidents of vandalism, violence, threats, and intimidation.” 

You can learn more by clicking here. Registration will be live soon.  

Additionally, it is once again time for the UJA Walk with Israel. We’re proud to walk alongside Toronto’s Jewish community and allies at UJA’s 2026 Walk with Israel on June 7th. More information will be coming soon, as the security conditions become more transparent.  

Pre-Registration for the walk is always important, and you can sign up directly here.    

Learn more about Advocacy here.  

Advocacy @ HBT: Rabbi Splansky’s Remarks at the Mayor’s Pesach Celebration  

As you likely read yesterday, Rabbi Splansky represented the congregation at the City Hall Pesach Celebration on Monday night. We hope that you will take the time to read her remarks, which are presented here, and bring them to your friends and family in the coming days, including at your own seders. Rabbi’s message, that the government is responsible for protecting its Jewish citizens, is vital. As Rabbi wrote to the congregation yesterday, we are all very focused on protection right now. Physical protection, which is a key element of the work that we are doing here as your Advocacy Committee. Spiritual protection, like the important work of prayer and study at the Shul. Emotional protection, like the celebration of our holidays with friends, family and community.  

In the coming months, Holy Blossom Temple is redoubling its efforts in all these forms of protection. Our Advocacy work remains an important element of physical protection, one that needs the active involvement of our community and its allies. This will include new opportunities to engage elected officials and in conversation with thoughtful experts speaking to the moment. We appreciate your continued support.  

Tonight is Pesach. From our families to yours, we wish you a meaningful and joyful celebration of freedom and redemption.  

Learn more about Advocacy here.  

Advocacy @ HBT: Fighting the Disease, Not the Symptoms  

Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA) Chair, Mark Sandler, has recently authored an insightful and powerful article about the root causes of the antisemitic attacks against synagogues in Toronto. You can read what he has written here, and we strongly encourage you to share the article with your friends.  

Among Sandler’s arguments is that by underenforcing hate speech laws in Canada, our city and nation have empowered hateful speech to turn into violent action.  

“Thirty-six years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized that hate speech marginalizes targeted communities and can lead to violence against them. For several years, I have warned about the consequences when incitement of hatred against Jews goes unchecked… we will not succeed in combatting violent antisemitism unless the police, prosecutors and governments correctly identify what contemporary antisemitism so often looks like and address the promotion and incitement of hatred through robust, consistent enforcement of criminal hate speech laws.” 

Sadly, it is on that note of hate speech that CIJA has forwarded a new action item related to the weekly protests at Bathurst and Sheppard. Many of you have seen images of the disturbing, nazi-inspired signs that protestors carried at the intersection. The people who displayed those signs were not arrested, nor did they face any enforcement of the law during the protest. While we are grateful to the TPS for their actions protecting our sacred spaces, it is important to demand action and investigation when hate speech is levelled against our community and is ignored.  

You can read more here and sign here. Warning: the reproduced images on this page are hateful and disturbing!  

Learn more about Advocacy here.