Dorot: Two Inspirational Outings

One of Dorot’s mandates is community engagement between the wisdom generation and all generations, members coming together. As Chairperson, I have implemented, outing excursions where we can convene at various venues outside of Temple socially, with also an educational component.

The Dorot group had an outing to the McMichael on October 29th for a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon filled with art, engagement, learning, and community. We had a good turnout of 21 members, a success. Rabbi McCarroll and all of us on the Dorot Committee are all so glad the members enjoyed themselves. It was a great community-building event with quite a few new participants, some of us met prior at the “Cabin” restaurant for a delicious lunch. Our guide for the private tour, Josie, of the newly installed Tom Thompson exhibit was lovely, knowledgeable, related well with the members, answered our questions and importantly imparted interesting anecdotes, history, and highlights of the artist (Tom Thompson) and his spectrum of work including also the history of the McMichael collection and land the collection sits on. Everyone was engaged and with each other meeting fellow congregants. As the McMichael is situated on acres of beautiful land the participants took in nature as well afterwards. The exhibit is open till January 14th, 2024, if anyone would like to view it.

This past week we met at the Koffler Gallery and viewed the important Babyn Yar exhibit for Holocaust Education week, toured by the wonderful Geri Durbin, who engaged us with the comprehensive history was such a memorable experience. The Babyn Yar exhibit was incredible on so many levels, despite the horror the exhibit is curated with such sensitivity. Inclusive for all and so essential especially in these times and Holocaust Education Week. It’s enlightening and empowering, informative setting up a strong narrative for all of a chapter in our joint horrific history. We thank Geri Durbin and our guide Josie at The McMichael for adding to our memories and jointly creating these meaningful excursions and experiences for the Dorot Group. Stay tuned for new future Dorot excursions to come!

Barbara Glaser, Dorot Chairperson Dorot Committee

Inspirations & Installations

One of the most profound lessons I’ve gleaned from my beloved teacher, Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, is the transformative power of putting faith in people. As the head of the rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Weisberg has dedicated her life to shaping future generations of rabbis and educators. Her unwavering faith in her students, including myself, is a testament to her remarkable character. She has not only instilled in us a deep passion for academic inquiry but also exemplified radical compassion, empowering us to serve the Jewish People with authenticity and devotion. 

Rabbi Weisberg’s belief in my potential has been instrumental in my ability to serve our community at Holy Blossom. In times when it’s been challenging to find reasons to smile, especially in the face of heart-wrenching stories from Israel, I often return to the sound pastoral advice she gave me:  “It’s okay not to be okay.”  In fact, it is important to acknowledge when we aren’t okay and honour the emotional space that entails. Nevertheless, we naturally seek bright spots and sources of solace. For me, one of the most sustaining sources of comfort has been uniting with my Holy Blossom community. Whether it’s through prayer, study, or simply coming together, “doing Jewish” with my fellow community members feels not only comforting but also essential, especially in these trying times. 

It is with immense pride and gratitude, that I look forward to my installation at Holy Blossom Temple this upcoming Shabbat, November 3 and 4 where I have the great honour of introducing my beloved teacher, Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, to our incredible community. In my short time at Holy Blossom, I have often heard our members comment on what an enthusiastic presence I am; The simple truth is it is easy to serve our community with great joy and energy because I love this place. I love our people. However, the boundless energy and enthusiasm I have for Torah is directly pulled from my time studying with Rabbi Weisberg and the faith she placed in me. 

Whether joining us for Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner, at Saturday morning Torah study, or for the special YAD: Next Gen Havdalah Saturday night, I do hope you will take the opportunity to come be inspired by her, too! 

Details for Rabbi Baruchel’s installation can be found HERE. 

For the YAD: Next Gen Havdalah please click HERE. 

Michael Cole Appointed Warden of The Congregation

Respectfully submitted by Sheila Smolkin

At Sukkot services, on October 30, Michael Cole was named “Warden” of the congregation, an honour he richly deserves. Having worked with Michael for many years in the Temple Archives, I know how passionate he is about our synagogue and its values. He has worked tirelessly to preserve our important stories and to find ways to share those stories with others.

While celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 1956, the congregation established the category of Warden as a way to honour individuals who have given long and devoted service to the synagogue. Members who have been named Warden include among others Hortense Geldsaeler, Marilyn Farber, Morris Vigoda, Leonard Levy and David Hart. Michael joins Mary Seldon and Gary Posen, the other two Temple members who currently hold this title.

When Michael accepted the honour of Warden, he delivered the following remarks:

Thank you, Rabbi Splansky; thank you to the Board of Trustees for this honour.

I am deeply moved by this tribute. It’s an honour to join our current Wardens, Mary Seldon and Gary Posen, who have been stalwarts of Holy Blossom Temple for many years. Mary is always with us at shacharit services, either in person or online. Gary, together with Bambi Katz, for many years has helped me host visiting groups to Temple.

I stand on the shoulders of many of the Wardens who have gone before me and, alas, are no longer with us. I became active in many of my pursuits at Temple because of their encouragement.

Over fifty years ago, David Hart brought me into Brotherhood and into interfaith work, and, years later, Sheila Smolkin, introduced me to the activities of our Archives.

Morris Cooper (not the past president of Holy Blossom) brought me into leading Shiva services. Morris was, I believe, the very first coordinator of what we then called the Mitzvah corps of Shiva readers.

During my bachelor days, over forty years ago, Morris Vigoda would wake me up at 7:30 on Sunday morning to join him in doing the rounds of Toronto’s bagel shops in preparation for that morning’s Breakfast Club. In those years, we had an interesting guest speaker every week at Breakfast Club, and Morris showed me how to persuade these people to come to Holy Blossom for the fee of a free bagel.

Marilyn Farber and Leonard Levy were good friends, and, along with David Hart, shared their memories of Bond Street in the first of our ongoing Archival Oral History interviews.

To all of them, and to all of you, Todah Rabbah for this great honour. I hope and pray that I prove worthy of it.

Shabbat shalom and chag sameach!