An Evening with Author Douglas Century: Uncovering the Untold Story of Hannah Senesh
Wednesday, November 19, 7:00 pm
Join us for this international book launch with acclaimed author Douglas Century — a powerful and revealing evening as he presents a new portrait of Hannah Senesh, the heroic poet, paratrooper, and resistance fighter remembered as a beacon of hope during the Holocaust.
Drawing from newly uncovered materials — including never-before-seen photographs, previously unknown poetry, and original song lyrics — Century will introduce a side of Senesh that few have known. Through meticulous research and exclusive archival discoveries, he brings to light a richer, more complex understanding of this iconic figure.
Featuring a tribute through song – beloved pieces inspired by the poetry of Hannah Senesh, plus newly discovered work performed by Cantor David Rosen, Tal Katz, and our Temple Singers as well as a question period moderated by Cynthia Good.
Registration includes:
Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the woman behind the legend — her voice, her vulnerabilities, and her enduring legacy.
Adult Registration – $18
18 and under – free of charge
Registration, including Crash of the Heavens – $54 ( including tax)*
This event is generously sponsored by Diana Goodman
More about Douglas Century:
Douglas Century is the author and coauthor of numerous bestselling books, including Hunting El Chapo, Under and Alone, Brotherhood of Warriors, Barney Ross: The Life of a Jewish Fighter, The Last Boss of Brighton, and Takedown: The Fall of the Last Mafia Empire. His World War II nonfiction narrative, No Surrender, coauthored with Chris Edmonds, was the recipient of a 2020 Christopher Award. Century was born and raised in Calgary and graduated from Princeton University. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and The Guardian.
Review:
“In breathless prose and cinematic detail, the book presents the men and women from all backgrounds joined in concert to save something of European Jewry. We hear the roar of airplane engines, feel the wind as they jump, and brace for impact as they land. We follow them through Eastern European woodlands and shadow them through city streets. . . . This is a book of inspiration for our time, when heroism and self-sacrifice have lost their luster.” —Kirkus Reviews
Friday, November 14, 2025
Together, we’ll celebrate our vibrant community, where each one of us has helped make Holy Blossom a spiritual home. With so many of our members joining in the past few years, this event is our way of celebrating the entire congregation, and especially those who are just beginning their journey with us.
Our New Member Navigators and new members who have signed up to be matched will gather at 4:30 pm, ahead of our Shabbat of Welcome, for a chance to meet, greet, and mingle; a lovely touchpoint before the celebrations begin.
From 5-6 pm, all are welcome to a wine and cheese reception to meet our new members, chat with our Rabbis and Cantors and Professional Team, and share in the joy of our growing community.
The evening will flow into Kabbalat Shabbat in the Sanctuary, where we’ll welcome Shabbat together in song and spirit. This is also the first meeting of Shabbat B’Yachad, specifically for school-aged children. Children will begin the service with their families and then be invited to a meaningful breakout session with beloved Song Leader Ayla Smolash.
Shabbat of Welcome: Shabbat @ Home
As part of our Shabbat of Welcome and keeping our congregation a Kehillah Kedoshah, a sacred, warm and welcoming community, we are matching our members to enjoy Shabbat dinner in each other’s homes and get to know each other better!
Join us for our joyous, musical Kabbalat Shabbat services at 6:00 pm, and meet your hosts/guests following the service.
Please sign up HERE to either host, be hosted, or both! This will give us lots of opportunities to make good matches.
We will close registration by Wednesday, November 4, to have time to facilitate matches.
We look forward to making good matches and building lifelong friendships and connections!
Mondays, starting November 3, 6:30 pm (hybrid)
This class is designed to be an educational experience for those looking to enhance their Jewish knowledge and build a community of learning within our congregation.
This rich program has many exciting components, most notably an Adult B’nei Mitzvah component for those who wish.
Participants may pick and choose the “track/s” they wish to participate in, one of which is a full Adult B’nei Mitzvah experience, the Beit Midrash, Hebrew tutoring, and Trope.
It is suitable for all our congregants, whether you have been part of Holy Blossom forever or joined us recently.
The Beit Midrash class will run most Monday nights following our 6:00 pm minyan, taught by your Rabbis and Cantors. The schedule is below, in-person and virtual. It is based on a curriculum of three of our central Jewish values—Torah (Study), Avodah (Worship), and G’milut Chassadim (Acts of Loving Kindness)—with an additional three sessions in April 2026 for the Adult B’nei Mitzvah cohort with Rabbi McCarroll.
A light dinner will be provided during these sessions.
See below for the schedule. The Beit Midrash will be offered in-person and virtual. Hebrew and Trope will be in-person only, but extra support will be available to catch up on missed sessions. You can deepen your study by signing up for any or all of these wonderful additional offerings!
As our Sages say: “zil gamoor” the rest is study – now go and learn!
Please find the registration for all tracks HERE
Pricing is based on which elements you are participating in.
To sign up for the evening minyan Zoom, click here.
To access the curriculum (subject to change), click here.
For any questions, including regarding financial assistance or extra information, please reach out to Rabbi Eliza McCarroll, [email protected]
CLASS SCHEDULE:
BEIT MIDRASH: November 3, November 10, November 17, December 1, December 8, December 15, January 26, February 2, February 9
ADULT B’NEI MITZVAH PREPARATION: April 13, 20, 27
Additionally, you can deepen your experience with the following “add-on” sessions…
TROPE with Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers (7:30-8:15 pm): January 26, February 2, February 9
HEBREW with Dalia Alalouf (7:30-8:30 pm): November 3, November 10, November 17, December 1, December 8, December 15, April 13, April 20, April 27
HEBREW HELP with Dalia Alalouf (6:30-7:00 pm): January 12, January 19, February 23, March 9, March 30
Friday, October 31, 5:00 pm
We are thrilled to welcome renowned author Ayelet Tsabari for a special wine and cheese nosh before our Kabbalat Shabbat services.
Together, we will hear some selections from her new book, Songs for the Broken Hearted, and celebrate her visit to Toronto. Wine and cheese will be served from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, and services begin at 6:00 pm.
Register here (for catering purposes). Books will be available for purchase.
Generously sponsored by Susan and Joseph Young
ABOUT AYELET TSABARI
Ayelet Tsabari is the author of Songs for the Brokenhearted, winner of a National Jewish Book Award for Fiction and the Association of Jewish Libraries Fiction Award and A Globe and Mail Best Book of 2024. Her memoir in essays The Art of Leaving, was a finalist for the Writer’s Trust Hilary Weston Prize and The Vine Awards, winner of the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for memoir, and an Apple Books and Kirkus Review Best Book of 2019.
Her first book, the story collection The Best Place on Earth, won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, and the Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish Fiction. The book was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and was nominated for The Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
She’s the co-editor of the award-winning anthology Tongues: On Longing and Belonging Through Language. Ayelet teaches creative writing at The University of King’s College MFA and at Guelph MFA in Creative Writing. She is also a winner of a Canadian Jewish Literary Award for 2025.
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
(416) 789-3291
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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.