Holy Blossom Temple is open over the “winter break,” with adjusted hours.
Please note on the following days, the building will be open before Shacharit Services at 9:00 am and briefly thereafter for breakfast, but closed the rest of the day. Visit holyblossom.org/worship/ for links and more information.
Temple will be open during the week, Monday to Thursday, all day other than the dates listed above, starting with Shacharit at 7:30 am and ending with Mincha at 6:00 pm between now and January 5. Out of the Cold Community Dinners will continue on Thursday evenings, Kabbalat Shabbat services will remain on all Friday evenings at 6:00 pm, and Shabbat Morning services on Saturdays at 10:30 am. Our Early Childhood Centre (ECC) is on break and will resume classes on January 5. Our Youth Education Centre (YEC) is off and will resume classes on January 11. Regular building hours, including evenings/weekends for school and other programming, will resume on January 6.
Holy Grounds Café will reopen the morning of Monday, January 5.
Please note Holy Blossom Memorial Park Cemetery on Brimley Road will be closed on December 25.
Thank you for your patience during these next few weeks while our dedicated professional team is rotating through some well-deserved and much-needed time off.
The Women’s Advocacy Group of Women of Holy Blossom presents:
In recognition of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and the National Day of Remembrance and Action commemorating the Montreal Massacre
Sunday, December 7, 9:30 am
Hybrid event – in person (including light breakfast) and online
All are welcome to join us for Morning (Shacharit) Prayer Service at 9:00 am (hybrid)
Cost $18
Please join us as we welcome Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, live from Israel, legal scholar, human rights advocate and the Founder and Chair of the Civil Commission on October 7th, Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children (CC07), which is working to gather the testimony of survivors and witnesses, raise international awareness, and seek justice for the victims of these crimes.
Coinciding with the beginning of the UN 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, November 25, 2025, the CC07 will release their report entitled: Sexual Terror Weaponized – Conflict Related Sexual Violence and the Atrocities of October 7. Findings and Legal Analysis of Gender-Based Crimes Committed During the October 7 Attacks.
Dr. Elkayam-Levy will present some key findings of the CC07 report and engage in a discussion about her work with Senior Rabbi Yael Splansky, Dr. Guila Benchimol, Victim Advocate and Restorative Justice Consultant and Dahlia Lithwick, Legal Journalist. This event builds upon s the March 2024 panel conversation held at Holy Blossom, which addressed the importance of seeking justice for the October 7th victims of sexual violence and why that matters for all victims of sexual violence. You can view the video here.
No graphic images will be presented; however, we will bear witness to the hard truths of the sexual violence perpetrated against our Jewish sisters and family. Rest assured that we are intentionally working to incorporate hope and light into this difficult but important conversation. While our panellists will be shining a light on some of the darkest moments of October 7th, we can find strength and wisdom by learning together and being in community.
In an effort to continue to build understanding and allyship across communities, we encourage you to invite friends or family members who are not Jewish to join you for this event. When you register, you are welcome to add a guest at no additional charge.
Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, a legal scholar and human rights advocate, is the founder and chair of the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children (CC07). The Civil Commission she established has led a global campaign for the recognition of gender-based violence and other atrocities of October 7th. The Commission is building an archive to document these crimes, giving a voice to the victims and raising awareness of war crimes committed against women, children and families. On November 25, 2025, the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Civil Commission will release their report entitled: Sexual Terror Weaponized – Conflict Related Sexual Violence and the Atrocities of October 7. Findings and Legal Analysis of Gender-Based Crimes Committed During the October 7 Attacks.
Dr.Guila Benchimol is a criminologist, consultant, educator, and victim advocate who works with survivors, faith institutions, and leaders to prevent and address sexual violence and other abuses of power. She has been the Senior Advisor on Research and Learning at the SRE Network (Safety, Respect, and Equity) since she helped guide its launch in 2018. Guila is also the Director of Faith-Based and Community Accountability at Ampersands Restorative Justice and the Ethics Case Consultant for the Va’ad Hakavod of the Rabbinical Assembly. Guila holds a PhD in Sociological Criminology from the University of Guelph and is a trained restorative and transformative justice facilitator.
Dahlia Lithwick is a regular contributing analyst at MSNBC and senior editor at Slate Magazine. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Harper’s, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New Republic, and Commentary. She is host of Amicus, Slate’s award-winning biweekly podcast about the law and the U.S. Supreme Court. Her recent book, Lady Justice (September 2022), became an instant NY Times Bestseller. Dahlia earned her BA in English from Yale University and her JD degree from Stanford University, and has held visiting faculty positions at the University of Georgia Law School, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the Hebrew University Law School in Jerusalem. Dahlia is part of the international team of legal experts seeking justice for the victims of sexual violence on October 7.
This event is presented in partnership with the Canadian Jewish Women’s Collective
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
Books for Sale at Event – $42 +HST
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
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
(416) 789-3291
[email protected]
Emergency Funeral Contact
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.