The valedictorian of my undergraduate class was a remarkable guy: the oldest of four children raised by a single mother, he dropped out of high school at age fifteen, to work and help support his siblings. He was a bright kid stuck in a cycle of intergenerational poverty. Then one day, quite luckily his uncle came into a modest financial windfall, and he told his then twenty-six-year-old nephew that he wanted him to take this money and get a formal education. Marking a first for his family, he started studying and he quickly had the took top grades in all his classes. By his final year, he was serving as the president of the student association and was looking at a very generous package to support his graduate research at an Ivy League institution in the US.
No one questioned why he was named valedictorian, but some were surprised at the subject of his graduation address: Be wary of the myth of the self-made man! He was quick to note all the times he benefited from the kindness, support and guidance others gave him. His uncle wanted to invest in his future, a university system that admitted mature students, the faculty who identified and nurtured his talents. He named those who helped to “make” him what he is, thanked them and dedicated this moment of honour to their collective efforts. “Remember that we have due to our own hard work and be certain that is never the full story!” His message was clear: see the ways in which others have helped us get here, cultivate gratitude, and ensure we lift-up others in turn.
He could have been quoting from this week’s parsha…except the staunch Québécois secularist that he was, he was not about to bring God into the conversation!
In our parsha this week, Eikev, we read:
“For Adonai your God is bringing you to a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill, a land of wheat and barley; of vines figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat without stint; where you will lack nothing; When you have eaten your fill, you give thanks to Adonai your God for the good portion of this earth that God has given to you.”
It is from this particular passage that the rabbis of the Talmud derive the mitzvah, the commandment, to recite Birkat HaMazon—the grace after meals. Our Talmudic sages state the purpose of these blessings is to help each of us take note that it is not only through our own labour that we enjoy the fruits of creation, but that we must also recognize the Creator as the source of our blessings. This is not to take away from the efforts we make as individuals, but rather to help us acknowledge—as my class valedictorian preached—that we are part of an ecosystem greater than ourselves, and we need to be grateful for the ways that enhance our lives, and the responsibility we have towards that greater whole.
The author of Deuteronomy implores us to notice all the places and spaces in our lives where we have reason to be thankful. In Birkat HaMazon, this is expanded even further as we express our gratitude not only to God but to the one who prepared the meal and the ones with whom we eat! We daily give thanks to God for the gift of life, but then we take the opportunity to lift up each specific blessing that has enriched us, and our fellow travellers on this journey through Creation.
As hard as it may be to believe, we are already entering the final days of Summer. As we transition into the lead-up to our Days of Awe, it is important to note that gratitude and appreciation are not just prayerful themes but guiding principles for a life lived to its fullest potential.
Dear Holy Blossom family,
Our Talmud teaches us that “the world is sustained by the breath of schoolchildren” (Shabbat 119b).
It is on that note that this week, I am including below an exciting note, from our wonderful Shinshinit Ella, about a new initiative for our schoolchildren to ensure that, no matter what Shabbat you are visiting us on, there will always be a breakout option for our families:
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Hi, my name is Ella Payorski and I’m the UJA Shinshinit at Holy Blossom this year. I’m 18 years old and from Israel. I’m doing a gap year between high school and the army and came to volunteer here in the Toronto Jewish community.
Once a month, there is a Family Service at Holy Blossom Temple. Every Family Service, I’m planning a fun and engaging activity for the children that are coming to the service, and running it in a breakout room. These activities are for them to continue learning about Jewish values and Israel in a meaningful way that fits them.
I am happy to announce that the breakout room activities are now expanding their wings beyond the Family Service, and I will now be doing breakout rooms for children that are coming for the Main services every week, too.
I invite you to join HBT Main services with your children, this week (22 April), for a great learning experience for everyone.
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We look forward to always being able to welcome our families, whether at Family Services or our Main Services, over each and every Shabbat!
Similarly, we are so fortunate to be including an additional piece of Israel in our Shabbat experience, especially as we look toward Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut this coming week. You can click here for more information about our congregational activities for these special occasions, too.
Whether you join us for Shabbat, for our Yom HaZikaron/Yom Ha’Atzmaut 5783 events, or whether you are heading to Israel to partake, we’ll see you soon at Holy Blossom to celebrate our Ahavat Yisrael with pride!
L’shalom,
Rabbi McCarroll
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.
Growing up, and still to this day, my family has the tradition of celebrating Shabbat dinner together at my grandparent’s home, every Friday night.
Like many of your families, we too have our Shabbat routines; this person lights the candles, that person says kiddush, we have these special foods on the table, and so on.
One such part of this routine was how my siblings and I were always taught that before anything else – before playing with our cousins, before pouring a glass of water, before petting the dog – we were to first greet our grandparents.
I could not help but think about my grandparents as I came across a midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 15:17) that outlines the behaviour we as Jews are expected to model towards someone of the Wisdom Generation. We are, for example, meant to rise in their presence, to not sit in their place, inquire after their welfare, and to not interrupt or contradict their words. The Midrash likens this respect to rising in God’s presence, thus Lewis Warshauer of the Jewish Theological Seminary concludes that honouring our elders is akin to honouring God[1].
As we at Holy Blossom seek to reinvigorate our Dorot program, aimed at providing our Wisdom Generation with opportunities for connection within our community, we are so thrilled to be starting with the Summer (Re)Gathering this Shabbat, 16 July. Services begin at 10.30 am, and delicious lunch and a spectacular musical program will follow.
We hope to see you there as we honour our Wisdom Generation – registration can be found here!
The Dorot Summer re-gathering is generously sponsored by a gift of Elen Steinberg in memory of her father Vladimir Steinberg z”l.
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of spending a little bit of time with one of my friends whom all of you know, Rabbi Zachary Goodman. We were in the backyard, his little Abe was running around with my daughter Selah, while we watched over newborn Ira. The toy car could only hold one toddler and while Selah was ‘driving’, Abe ran over to his dad and leapt into his arms. Then, reaching out with great love, he grabbed his father’s beard and pulled hard.
There are moments when Torah, in all its multitudes and voices, comes alive before our eyes. And this moment, it may surprise you, was one such example. Rather than getting upset at the irritation of having his face yanked, or embarrassed that he was now a little ruffled, Rabbi Goodman just laughed and kissed his little boy.
There is a story I read many years ago which describes the people of Israel’s relationship to God in the same way. The Hassidic master described the bond akin to one a child has with a loving parent or grandparent. God is a figure of wisdom, power and dignity deserving our respect and admiration. And yet, when we reach out and tug at the metaphorical ‘beard’ it doesn’t infuriate or embarrass God. Rather God delights in the desire that B’nai Israel wants to be close and is pleased at the reminder of our intimacy. God is delighted when we reach out, even if our actions, words, or prayers are not ‘perfect’ because it is a reminder that we, the creation/the child, are just as in love with the creator/the parent as the other way around.
This summer, thanks to the bevy of programs and opportunities here at Holy Blossom, we have the chance to continue to reach out, not only to God but also to each other. Personally, I am so excited to have the opportunity to meet many of you for the first time. I am always happy to take a walk, grab a cup of coffee, and share some stories. I’ll also have the chance, in July, to teach Talmud to our community! I hope that you’ll sign up and I promise that it will have something for everyone, from beginners to sages. Finally, in August I’ll have the chance to visit Camp George and be part of the place that has created so many wonderful memories and relationships!
Reaching out and ruffling a ‘beard’ is a sign of love. Whether we are extending our hearts to God, or reaching out physically to our community, there is never a moment when this is not desired. I hope that you’ll join all of us here at Holy Blossom this summer in building that feeling of closeness and connection!
Among my many beautiful recollections of time spent in Israel, is as a volunteer worker on my kibbutz – Sha’ar Ha’amakim [‘Gate of the Valleys’] near Haifa – during the Festival of Shavuot. On the sunlit afternoon of Shavuot day, all members of the kibbutz, and volunteers, gathered in the fields for speeches, stories, songs, music, dancing, refreshments, and wagon rides. It was a joyous gathering in acknowledgement of the ‘first fruits of harvest.’ It was a celebration of our Jewish calendar. And it was a heart-warming assembly recognizing those who – over a period of forty-five years – had made Sha’ar Ha’amakim a prosperous and welcoming home for both residents and volunteers.
Arriving as it does in late spring, Shavuot is a moment of rebirth, rejuvenation, and re-emergence – both agriculturally and otherwise. With the turn of the season and harvest cycle, our intellect, emotions and spirit are elevated. We look ahead to the summer and the months beyond with hope and aspirations for what we may yet achieve.
And arriving as it does seven weeks – Shavuot translating from Hebrew as ‘weeks’ – following our Festival of Pesach, Shavuot calls on us to remember and relive the remarkable moment when our ancestors – with Moses as their teacher and guide – stood at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God.
On Shavuot we reread and relearn the Bible’s Book of Ruth, she who our tradition teaches us was the first Jew-by-Choice. In this way and others, Ruth’s embrace of Judaism and the mitzvot of God become, on Shavuot, ours as well.
On Shavuot Temples and synagogues traditionally celebrate the Confirmation experience of their youth. For on this day, our youth – as did our ancestors, as did Ruth, and as do all the rest of us – accept Torah as a guide for how they will live their lives, as Jews and valued members of their larger communities.
On Shavuot – we thank God and one another for Torah, community, and the reward with which Judaism imbues our lives.
And on Shavuot – to be celebrated at Holy Blossom Temple on June 4 [Erev] and June 5 [Morning]- we harvest our blessings.
Friday, May 20, 2022
Saturday, May 21, 2022
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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.