Spiritual Audacity
With the terrifying news coming today from the U.S. Supreme Court, we all need to find a model of spiritual courage.
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of joining in a panel discussion about one of my Jewish heroes and one of my grandfather’s favourite teachers, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. This year’s Toronto Jewish Film Festival https://tjff.com spotlights a new documentary by Martin Doblmier. Doblmier has directed a series of documentaries on leading religious figures of the last century. He has generously given permission for me to share a link to “Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story” with you after this weekend when the festival wraps up. Until then, thanks to the TJFF Program Director, Stuart Hands, son of Holy Blossom’s own Dr. Brian and Cynthia Hands, you may enjoy the recording of the panel discussion with Doblmier, Rabbi Frydman-Kohl, and me. The conversation is moderated by Dr. Greg Beiles, Head of the Toronto Heschel School. https://vimeo.com/493404963/1898f871f9
Here is my favourite image from the documentary.
You can see then Assistant Professor, A.J. Heschel (far right), on the steps of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati Ohio. Among his students are my grandfather, Ernst Lorge z”l (far left) and Holy Blossom’s own, W. Gunter Plaut z”l (back row, third from the right). I look at these faces, think of all they had already endured in the early 1940s when the photograph was taken, and I take courage.
I hope to see you this Shabbat over wine and cheese, as we thank Rabbi Tepper for his time as our Adjunct Rabbi or over a cup of coffee at Holy Grounds Café, as we welcome our new Associate Rabbi, Samuel Kaye, and our new Assistant Rabbi, Eliza McCarroll.
I will soon be on my way for three and a half weeks of study at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. I’ll be sending updates from there from time to time. I am grateful to the congregational leadership, supporters, and colleagues, who are enabling me to make this trip. In Israel, I will be on the lookout for today’s leading Jewish thinkers and models of spiritual courage. I will bring back whatever I can to share with you over the months ahead.
Shabbat Shalom. I wish you and those you love a joyful and healthy summer.
Thanks to Arieh Waldman’s woodworking skills, we now have two food pantries standing at the corner of Bathurst Street and Dewbourne. It’s close to the sidewalk and the bus stop for passersby to see. We have ordered the accompanying signs, which will read: “Dear Neighbours, Take what you need. Give what you can.” and ”Love your neighbour as yourself. (Leviticus 19)” In our immediate neighbourhood there are a number of low-income housing units. Some of our hard-working neighbours will benefit from these simple food pantries. You are welcome to drop off non-perishable food items at any time. As you can see I made the first installment today.
This plaque celebrates Holy Blossom Temple as the first synagogue of Toronto. Our Statement of Identity says this to describe where we come from and how we continue to reform. “Founded in 1856 as an Orthodox congregation in downtown Toronto, Holy Blossom Temple joined the Reform movement in the 1920s and soon became known the world over as a flagship congregation of Reform Judaism. In the 1970’s we began to embrace more traditional practices and today our prayer language and ritual draw from the best of the Reform tradition as well as from Klal Yisrael (the totality of the Jewish People). Within our congregation, there is a respectful range of Jewish observance and beliefs. Our commitment is to create a Jewish life, which is meaningful and challenging, authentic and joyful, responsible and relevant.”
Our new entrance includes the words we use to serenade the angels each Shabbat: “Shalom Aleichem. Peace be upon you. Come in peace. Bless us with peace. Go in peace.” To the right of the doors, you see an accessibility button to open the doors automatically and the intercom to speak with our security staff. Once inside, we have the health station for a COVID-safe environment. While pre-registration is no longer required, we are still committed to creating a healthy setting for all.
Throughout the month of June, the pride flag stands right next to our mezuzah at the main entrance, welcoming our LGBTQ+ congregants and guests. The flag and the mezuzah are both symbols of identity and protection. Happy pride month!
When you’ve traveled the world and visited far-off synagogues, you may have noticed the custom to place a tzedakah box at the entrance to the synagogue. This one-of-a-kind piece of furniture, built to resemble the architecture of the Temple itself, is our Tzedakah Centre. Thanks to the generosity of Janis Rotman and the leadership of our incoming Associate Rabbi, Samuel Kaye, each compartment of the Tzedakah Centre will be curated by a congregant or circle of congregants for one mitzvah project or another. Beginning this fall, keep an eye out for collection updates in regular editions 
Open for three more Sundays from 9:30-12:30, stop by for a delicious cup of coffee and the most delightful service. Thanks to the generosity of Judy and Harley Mintz, thanks to the leadership of Rafiken Social Enterprises, and the talents of our neuro-diverse baristas and bakers, Holy Grounds Café has been successfully launched. We look forward to its expanded return in the fall. Please note: Freshly baked bread is a new addition this Sunday. And Sunday, June 26th is designated as a special opportunity to meet and greet our new rabbis over a cup of joe.
This weekend I will officiate at three ufrufs and three weddings! When meeting with couples, I help them prepare for a beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony, and also to prepare for a marriage that reflects their values. When they take their places under the chuppah, they strike a covenant between them and commit to building a life of shared purpose.
On an October evening in 1921, at the Holy Blossom synagogue on Bond Street in Toronto, Rebecca Brickner – spouse of new spiritual leader Rabbi Barnet Brickner – arranged the first meeting of the congregation’s Sisterhood. A new page in the history of our Temple was about to be written. Since that initial gathering, the Holy Blossom Sisterhood has assumed a place of enormous pride and esteem. Few areas of congregational life – over a period of more than one hundred years – have not been affected – and in the most positive of ways – by Sisterhood.
