It Takes a Village to Create a Village

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

We look forward to celebrating Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah with you to round off the season of fall festivals.

Our High Holy Days were uplifting and joyful. They were emotionally and spiritually fulfilling. Being together gave us strength when the news broke about the attack on the Sons of Jacob Congregation in Belleville. And seeing so many children among our growing congregation gave us hope for the Jewish future.

I look back on the High Holy Day season with much gratitude. It takes a village to create a village. Many circles of skilled and thoughtful volunteers and professionals ensured that the entire congregation – in person and online – could enjoy 18 distinct Services. I’d like to try to capture them here as an expression of my personal gratitude. If I have inadvertently misspelled or omitted a name, please forgive me. (Next Yom Kippur is a long way off!) Please notify JoAnne Bieman at [email protected], so we can correct any mistake. Thank you!

I begin with my tremendously talented and devoted Rabbinic and Cantorial colleagues. Cantor David Rosen and Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers, Rabbi Samuel Kaye, Rabbi Eliza McCarroll, and Rabbi Taylor Baruchel. I begin also with my professional partner, Rachel Malach, Holy Blossom’s Executive Director. There are so many components of our High Holy Day observances under their good watch.

Yishar Koach to….

Our Service Leaders, in partnership with our Rabbis and Cantors
Cotler School Principal Lisa Isen Baumal, Soloist Tal Katz, Director of Lifelong Learning Dr. Cindy Kozierok, Mike Morgulis, Josh Nezon, Ayla Smolash, Dr. Marky Weinstock

Our Torah and Haftarah Chanters, led by Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers
Arly Abramson, Daniel Abramson, Dalia Alalouf, Maddie Axelrod, Susan Baskin, Deb Bennett, Robyn Blatt, Sophie Bluvol, Alexandra Chris, Matt Cohen, Jeff Denaburg, Yossi Ehrlich, Chloe Fruitman, Joan Garson, Joel Glickman Rosen, Cynthia Good, Milo Gould, Jane Herman, Arden Himelfarb, Lisa Isen Baumal, Jill Kamin, Eden Keren, Michael Leese, Pavle Levkovic, Isla Levy, Taiga Lipson, Camille Lipson, Ellen Lupu, Lindsay McLean, Mike Morgulis, Hannah Rothman, Ted Shafran, Abby Snider, Adam Sniderman, Prof. Adam Sol, Jesse Sol, Johannes Solyom, Ethan Steen, Prof. Rob Steiner, Weiwei Su, Paula Warren

Our Gabbaim, led by Jane Herman, Alberto Quiroz, and Yossi Ehrlich
Mark S. Anshan, Jamie Arfin, Dr. Kelly Baron, Susan Baskin, Phyllis Denaburg, Orie Enav, Richard Feldman, Ira Glasner, Aviv Haras, Warren Horwitz, Etienne Kaplan, Paul Kay, Tammy Keren, Avra Rosen, Les Rothschild, Sam Sapera, Arieh Waldman

Our Temple Singers, conducted by Gwyneth Sestito
Susan Baskin, Susan Cohen, Ellen Cole, Anne Dublin, Vlad Dunaevsky, Helena Fine, Denise Gordon, Barbara Grossman, Wanda Haber-Kucharsky, Ron Hart, Caroline Ingvaldsen, Jill Kamin, James Karrel, Phil Kucharsky, Jack Kugelmass, Dana Lowi-Merri, Catherine Mayers, Sharon Miller, Shelley Miller, Lew Molot, Sylvia Papernick, Dena Perlmutar, Beth Roher, Joanne Roher, Paula Rosen, Shoshana Sage, David Sandler, Sandi Schafer, Saul Ship, Bella Shupac, Paula Warren, Olga Warshavsky, Sheila Weinstock

Our Teen Soloists
Sarah Argue, Catherine Bacal, Chloe Nyquist

Our Professional Choir, under the direction of Cantor David Rosen and Jason Jestadt
Matthew Boutda, James Dyck, Shannon Halliwell MacDonald, Andrea Ludwig, Dion Mazerolle, Jennifer McCallum, Devyn Pope, William Salinas-Crosby, Crystal Sayler, Gwyneth Sestito, Paul Winklemans, Mark Wood-Salomon, David Yung

Our Professional Musicians, led by our Musician in Residence, Jason Jestadt
Scott Christian, Jamie Drake, Laurence Schaufele, Beth Silver, Rebekah Wolkstein

Our Mitzvah-Honour Coordinators
Karen Abells and Judy Adler Lotin

Our Ushers, led by Gerry Prendergast, Bob Cooper, John Morrissey and Kathy Morrissey
Audrey Birenbaum, Debra Bennett, Shelley Berenbaum, Jay Brodbar, Eli Castellano, Justin Castellano, Sarah Charney, Sienna Cohen, Bob Cooper, Phyllis Denaburg, Jeff Denaburg, Jonathan Feldstein, Charles Frankfurt, Gael Gilbert, Rob Herman, David Hertzman, Carol Hughes, Jason Jenkins, James Karrel, Andrea Katz, Bambi Katz, Paul Kay, Karen Kollins, Natanel Koverchuk, Rebecca Gurofsky Levy, Jonathan Levy, Vicki Liederman, Jim Lisser, Tina Lungsee, Naveen Maher, Catherine Mayers, Wendy Melvin, Susan Mogil, Kathy Morrissey, John Morrissey, Debbi Moses, Linda Neufeld, Abe Neufeld, Gerry Prendergast, Ilya Prigogine, Sue Rebick, Avra Rosen, Andrew Rosner, Micheal Ryval, Adam Shafran, Sandi Smith, Stephanie Silver, Sogee Spinner, Carole Sterling, Jonie Stossel, Mitchell Toker, David Tartick, Terry Yanowski, Hayley Waugh, Judy Winberg, David Zialowski

Our Greeters, led by Sheila Weinstock
Susan Cohen, Kathryn Moore Collins, Anne Freeman, Barbara Hodes, Caroline Ingvaldsen, Robin Mammot, Julie Markle, Karen Mock, Sharon Neiss

Our Shofar Blowers throughout the month of Elul and the High Holydays
Jay Brodbar, Michael Cole, Howard Goodman, Joel Lehman, Tal Maissner, Robin Malach, Rachel Malach, Sam Sapera, Stephan Solyom, Stephen Tile, Dr. Mark Weinstock

Our Teachers for our Many Yom Kippur Afternoon Study Sessions
Lisa Isen Baumal, Yaron Dekel, Cynthia Good, Mark Goodman, Elizabeth Greisman, Caroline Ingvaldsen, Tammy Keren, Dr. Cindy Kozierok, Mark Sakamoto, Professor Marci Shore, Beth Silver, Lesley Simpson, Gideon Soesman, Professor Rob Steiner, Zoey Cohen Wallhouse

Temple Board Greetings and Kol Nidre Appeal presented by
Maddie Axelrod, Dr. Kelly Baron, Martha Cass, Jess Cooper, Susan Davis, Peter Dan, Caroline Ingvaldsen, Temple President Eric Klein, Foundation President Joan Garson, Diana Solomon, Richard Toker, Daniel Wilson

Our Service Leaders for Neilah for Local Israelis
Yahav Barnea, Tal Katz, Amit Rozenblum and Lior Sagi

Our Professional Team, led by Executive Director Rachel Malach
Dalia Alalouf, JoAnne Bieman, Joe Freedberg, Wendy Himmel, Mark Hodgson, Jaivahn Johnson, Tali Katz, Shira Lester, Deanna Levy, Stephanie Michelle, Lindsay Mockler, Abigail Nemzer, Neomi Offman, Ela Paz, Adrian Ramcaran, Bridgedat Ramcaran, Sarina Shrestha, Prakash Singh, Iris Spitz, Dante Thorne, Marni Turner, Ella Vatagsky, Justice Williams, Calvin Wong, Kate Wootton, and Cindy Zimmer.

Our AV Technicians, led by Director of Communications Deanna Levy
Andres Alzate, Liam Driscoll, Jess Forrest, Paul Leroux, Patric McGroarty, Christian Morano, Allan Pynn, Cecil Stehelin, Gurjit Thind

Our Professional Security Team and Paid Duty Officers in coordination with Toronto Police Division 13, Task Force Guardian, and our Security Committee Chair Andrew Kirsch

Our Volunteer Doctors on Call and First Responders
Dr. Yoel Abells, Dr. Gord Arbess, Dr. Matthew Baron, Dr. Ira Bloom, Gerry Prendergast, Dr. Rhonda Wilansky, and Dr. Jacqui Willinsky, Alex Sadowski

Thanks also to Peter Dan, Vice President of our Worship Department, for supporting all of the work of those mentioned above.

As we continue to pray for a Sukkat Shalom, God’s Canopy of Peace, to be spread over Canada, Israel and her neighbours, over us and Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora, I wish you a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag Sameach!

Rabbi Yael Splansky

 

 

Toronto conference explores antizionism and how we confront it

Rabbi Splansky encourages humanistic approach to activism against Jew-hatred

By Sharon Aschaiek

Earlier this month, I attended A Canary’s Song: Antisemitism in our Free and Democratic Society. This one-day conference at the University of Toronto focused on how we deal with the Jew-hatred that continues to surge in Canada and worldwide. I was there to better understand this latest iteration of antisemitism, so that I can more effectively help protect Jewish life in our country, one which has been my lifelong and cherished home, but that in the last few years feels increasingly like unrecognizable and hostile terrain.

I was glad to see that Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto’s first synagogue, would be represented at the event via the participation of Rabbi Yael Splansky. I joined Holy Blossom Temple with my boyfriend in June as part of my evolving journey to reconnect with Judaism, which feels vital to cultivating the wisdom and courage needed to face the immense challenges confronting our tribe. Rabbi Splansky’s thoughtful and uplifting sermons on both topical and timeless aspects of Jewish life bring me clarity, ease and hope, which help fuel my activism for Jewish civil rights.

The conference convened 20 top antisemitism thought leaders and changemakers in Canada and the U.S. to discuss the dynamics of the anti-Jewish hate wave that continues to escalate following the pogrom Hamas committed in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Also discussed was how Jew-hatred is infecting different spheres of society, and the diverse efforts under way to confront this spreading bigotry. Hundreds gathered to attend the event, which was organized by U of T law professor Peter L. Biro and sponsored by his democracy think tank, Section 1, as well as The Azrieli Foundation and the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy.

Rabbi Splansky moderated a panel discussion about the state of antisemitism in health care, government, academia and law enforcement. The audience heard about how Jew-hatred has manifested at universities and hospitals, and within the Toronto Police Service. One panellist shared about the work of the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics, which strives to strengthen Jewish inclusion and viewpoint diversity on university campuses. In her summary of the discussion, Splansky invited the audience to consider the wisdom of Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, whose words have long challenged us to reflect deeply on our purpose as a people. 

“The mission of the Jewish people has never been to make the world more Jewish, but to make the world more human,” Splansky said in quoting Wiesel. “This is why I believe we have gathered today.”

Splansky’s message was an important reminder to me at a time when it feels all too easy to reactively hurl angry condemnations at those who libel and demonize Israel and the Jews. The wisest part of me knows that only truth and light can counter the darkness of hate. I also know that pride in my Jewish identity – a pride grounded in knowledge of our tribe’s rich and vibrant tradition of ethical teachings and practices, and our indisputable ancestral and biblical link to Judea and Samaria – is essential to building my resilience to endure this latest existential threat to our people. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to nurture my connection to Judaism through the insights of Rabbi Splanky and the other rabbis at Holy Blossom in a congregation that values community, learning, compassion and justice.

Also presenting at the conference was scholar and educator Naya Lekt of Stop Antizionism, who articulated how, across history, anti-Jewish hostility has always positioned Jews as the violators of a society’s highest good, making it a virtuous form of hate. Today, that hatred takes the form of antizionism, in which perpetrators falsely cast Israel as a genocidal, colonial, apartheid state, providing them with what they view as the moral high ground from which to demonize the Jewish state and her supporters.

Criminal lawyer Mark Sander, who chairs the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, shared about his work educating police and prosecutors to recognize and respond to law-breaking hateful behaviours that target Jews. He also underscored the threat of anti-Palestinian racism, which, by its current definition, delegitimizes historical truths about Israel and villainizes the vast majority of Jews who embrace Israel’s essential connection to their Jewish heritage.

Prominent Muslim reformer Raheel Raza spoke passionately about the need for Jews to partner with the majority of peacefully worshipping Muslims to counter the threat that radical Islamists pose not only to Jewish people, but to the freedoms and rights we cherish in our liberal democracy. Meanwhile, Deborah Lyons, the former Canadian Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, urged attendees to closely monitor the progress of the federal government’s new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion, which is charged with systematically studying and addressing antisemitism across Canadian society. Irwin Cotler, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, articulated how antisemitism is an assault on our national security and common humanity that requires our collective action.

Rabbi Splansky offered a suggestion for what collective action could entail. She urged attendees to review Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address on June 1/26 at Holy Blossom – “what he said and what he didn’t say” – and consistently hold him accountable to his promises.

Said Splansky: “When you write to him and when you call him, and when you write to other elected officials at every level of government, use his words, because he did put himself and the entire country on the hook to correct antisemitism.”

The Music That Moves Us: The Song of 5787

By Cantor David Rosen, Senior Cantor and Music Director

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to the shlichei tzibur, the cantorial soloists and guest musical leaders who will help lead us through the High Holidays. Today, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to some of the other musicians and choirs who will add so much to our incredible worship experience throughout the season.

Jason Jestadt, our extraordinary Musician-in-Residence, is the driving force behind this remarkable musical team. Jason brings incredible piano skills and a wealth of experience that have helped elevate our worship for the past six years. In addition to his role at Holy Blossom, Jason is the Music Director for Metropolitan Community Church and has both performed in and served as Music Director for several Mirvish productions. He arranges music for our choirs and instrumentalists as needed, and we all benefit from his extraordinary talents and menschlichkeit.

I am also thrilled to announce that we will have a beautiful concert grand piano in our Sanctuary this year for the High Holidays. I have no doubt that you will both hear and feel the difference that an instrument of this calibre will bring to our worship experience.

In addition to Jason and our beautiful new piano, our choirs and instrumentalists will further enrich our worship. Beth Silver will join us on cello, Laurence Schaufele on viola, and Jamie Drake on percussion.

Throughout the year, eight professional singers make up our Temple Choir. They are:

Sopranos: Gwyneth Sestito and Jennifer McCallum
Altos: Andrea Ludwig and James Dyck
Tenors: Mark Wood-Salomon and William Salinas-Crosby
Basses: Dion Mazerolle and David Yung

They will be joined by a few additional singers this year to accommodate our “ever-blossoming” congregation.

Of course, our High Holidays would not be the High Holidays without our beloved Temple Singers. This dedicated volunteer group of nearly 40 singers continues to grace us with their music and commitment. They will join us for Selichot and our Second Day Rosh Hashanah services. Under the baton of our uber-talented professional soprano, Gwyneth Sestito, I know they will continue to make a joyful noise throughout this High Holyday season and for many years to come!

When Jason is unable to be with us at Holy Blossom, he has called upon his very talented colleague, Scott Christian, to take his place at the piano. Scott is an accomplished pianist and musician who will accompany Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers and a professional quartet for our Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services in the Mishkan. Joining them will be violinist Rebekah Wolkstein, who will accompany Scott for the beloved and meditative Bruch Kol Nidre.

I know that all of these musical enhancements will help make your worship experience at Holy Blossom even more meaningful and enjoyable. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such incredible talent and dedication to our community from each and every one of our vocalists and instrumentalists.

I also want to offer a special thank you to the generous donors who help make these musical enhancements possible: Ellen Cole; Michael and Anita Greenstein; Diana Goodman, in memory of her late husband, Marvin; Ron and Wendy Melvin; and the Rotman Family.

Wishing you all a wonderful and musical 5787!

L’shanah Tovah!