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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

As a camper of many years myself, and after having returned from visiting our HBT children up at URJ Camp George this past week, I’ve been thinking about how the magic of camp lies in those deep moments of connection, both big and small.

Whether it’s overlooking the stunning Maple Lake for a Pride Shabbat Service, working on prayer readings with a group of eight-year-olds, swimming in the lake, making pottery, riding bikes, sitting in the hallway preparing for the next program, chanting and singing loudly at mealtime, or simply hanging out in the cabins, each of these functions as an entry point to strong Jewish identity and Jewish friendships.

In turn, our campers are encouraged and enabled to live up to the injunction that is the namesake of this week’s parashah, Re’eh, which means “to see”.

They can see and discover who they are as their true and fullest selves, for all of their talents, their virtues and their potential.

They can see a Jewish way of life that is informal yet authentic, and learn through fun and lived experiences in an intensive and intentional community.

They can, as our parashah states, see habracha v’hak’lalah, “the blessing and the curse” (Deut 11:26), understand themselves and those around them at their highest and lowest points and choose for themselves the path of blessing.

It was a blessing to be at camp, and we are so fortunate that we have a number of ways to carry that spirit of blessing forward this coming year at Holy Blossom for our children and families, with that little bit of camp magic being found here on Bathurst Street as well, in deep connection to Jewish life, Jewish identity, and Jewish friends.

We start with Tot Shabbat this Friday evening, 11 August, at 5:30 pm.

We continue with our First Family Service of the season, Shabbat morning September 9, at 10:30 am.

Our YEC begins on Sunday morning 10 September (JK-Grade 5), and Monday night 11 September (Grade 6-Bagrut) respectively, and registration can be found here.

Then, of course, we have our many varied offerings for our families and for everyone over the High Holy Days of 5784, the details of which can be explored here.

May it be a year of magic, and may it be a year of connection, for our children and for all of us.

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Women of Holy Blossom: Rosh Chodesh Elul

Zodiac Sign – Virgo

In Spanish, we know the month of Elul as ‘El ultimo’ meaning the last month of the year and the most sacred.  Elul is the sixth month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan), which immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah. It is traditionally a month of introspection and stocktaking — a time to review one’s deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming “Days of Awe” of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The word “Elul,” aleph, lamed, vav and lamed, are an acronym for the phrase (from the biblical Song of Songs) ani l’dodi v’dodi li, which means “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.”

To uncover the essential meaning of the word Elul we need to analyze the letters that comprise it, their numerical value, their form and their meaning. “Elul” is comprised of an aleph, followed by a lamed, followed by a vav, followed by the final letter, another lamed. The first letter in “Elul” is also the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The letter aleph is numerically equivalent to one, which represents the idea of G‑d’s total unity.

Believing that the “beloved” refers to God, the sages take this verse to describe the particularly loving and close relationship between God and Israel. During Elul, then, is our time to establish this closeness so that we can approach the Yamim Noraim, or Days of Awe, in trusting acceptance of God’s judgment. We approach the trial not out of fear, but out of love. As the month of “Divine Mercy and Forgiveness”, it is a most opportune time for teshuvah (“return” to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased “Ahavat Yisrael” (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d.

Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when “the king is in the field” and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, “everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all.”

The letter of the month is yud which signifies action. It is the smallest letter in the alphabet alluding to humility. Therefore, the attribute of the month is ACTION. Teshuva is a state of mind but it is not enough without the action.  As it is said, we first do and then we will understand.  We also need to review our Mitzvot and increase Tzedaka. The limb of the month is the left hand; Tefillin are worn on the left hand.

The permutation of the month hey-hey-vav-yud from Deutoronomy 6:25.

וּצְדָקָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑נוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁמֹ֨ר לַעֲשׂ֜וֹת אֶת־כׇּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֗את לִפְנֵ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽנוּ׃ {ס}

It will be therefore to our merit before our God יהוה to observe faithfully this whole Instruction, as [God] has commanded us.

During the month of Elul each day we strengthen ourselves to become warriors, we aim to be victorious to become a new vessel with G/d’s help. Ken Yehi Ratzon.

“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year” (L”shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim)

 

By Teresa Quiroz, on behalf of Women of Holy Blossom

Shacharit Service: Friday, August 18, 2023, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580

For other upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/

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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Taylor Baruchel

The valedictorian of my undergraduate class was a remarkable guy: the oldest of four children raised by a single mother, he dropped out of high school at age fifteen, to work and help support his siblings. He was a bright kid stuck in a cycle of intergenerational poverty. Then one day, quite luckily his uncle came into a modest financial windfall, and he told his then twenty-six-year-old nephew that he wanted him to take this money and get a formal education. Marking a first for his family, he started studying and he quickly had the took top grades in all his classes. By his final year, he was serving as the president of the student association and was looking at a very generous package to support his graduate research at an Ivy League institution in the US. 

No one questioned why he was named valedictorian, but some were surprised at the subject of his graduation address: Be wary of the myth of the self-made man! He was quick to note all the times he benefited from the kindness, support and guidance others gave him. His uncle wanted to invest in his future, a university system that admitted mature students, the faculty who identified and nurtured his talents. He named those who helped to “make” him what he is, thanked them and dedicated this moment of honour to their collective efforts. “Remember that we have due to our own hard work and be certain that is never the full story!” His message was clear: see the ways in which others have helped us get here, cultivate gratitude, and ensure we lift-up others in turn.  

He could have been quoting from this week’s parsha…except the staunch Québécois secularist that he was, he was not about to bring God into the conversation!  

In our parsha this week, Eikev, we read: 

“For Adonai your God is bringing you to a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill, a land of wheat and barley; of vines figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat without stint; where you will lack nothing; When you have eaten your fill, you give thanks to Adonai your God for the good portion of this earth that God has given to you.” 

It is from this particular passage that the rabbis of the Talmud derive the mitzvah, the commandment, to recite Birkat HaMazon—the grace after meals. Our Talmudic sages state the purpose of these blessings is to help each of us take note that it is not only through our own labour that we enjoy the fruits of creation, but that we must also recognize the Creator as the source of our blessings. This is not to take away from the efforts we make as individuals, but rather to help us acknowledge—as my class valedictorian preached—that we are part of an ecosystem greater than ourselves, and we need to be grateful for the ways that enhance our lives, and the responsibility we have towards that greater whole.  

The author of Deuteronomy implores us to notice all the places and spaces in our lives where we have reason to be thankful. In Birkat HaMazon, this is expanded even further as we express our gratitude not only to God but to the one who prepared the meal and the ones with whom we eat! We daily give thanks to God for the gift of life, but then we take the opportunity to lift up each specific blessing that has enriched us, and our fellow travellers on this journey through Creation.  

As hard as it may be to believe, we are already entering the final days of Summer. As we transition into the lead-up to our Days of Awe, it is important to note that gratitude and appreciation are not just prayerful themes but guiding principles for a life lived to its fullest potential.  

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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Samuel Kaye

Aichah. How?! 

This stunned and beleaguered phrase is how one begins the book of Lamentations, the text read by Jews across the world tonight and tomorrow. At sundown, Tisha B’Av begins, the 9th day of the month of Av, Judaism’s ‘worst day of the year.’  

Today, Jews across the world are turning to our beloved Israel and struggling with the passing of the first law in the hotly debated judicial reform. The question is not “How did this happen?” There have been 29 weeks (about 6 and a half months) of protest, debate, readings, deliberations and demonstrations. The ultimate trajectory of this law is not itself a surprise. The great how which is being so painfully debated is “How will our people be whole?” 

The Reform Movement of North America, in their statement published Monday, stated “This could have been a moment for Netanyahu to unite the nation and secure Israel’s standing in the world as a strong and leading democracy. Instead, the concerns of the majority of Israelis and Jews across the word… have been ignored.”  

Michael Oren, former MK, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Israeli ambassador to the United States of America writes brokenheartedly upon seeing a photo of victorious coalition members celebrating with selfies.  “My sole consolation lay in the belief that, at the end of the day, we are all still Israelis, still part of one people with a shared destiny and a memory of our painful past. We all remembered Tisha B’Av. Then came that selfie. Instead of displaying humility…rather than recalling the Jews who killed Jews inside Jerusalem while the Romans surrounded it… the government exulted in victory.”  

CIJA tweeted out “We had hoped that all sides could have reached a compromise on this first of several pieces of legislation related to judicial reform. Israeli democracy is strongest when compromise and consensuses bring all segments of society together.”  

Meir Ben Shabbat, former head of the national security council, wrote in Israel Hayom, “The dispute…has smashed the brittle shield that until now as always protected the IDF and the security forces, the ultimate symbol of consensus and stronghold of non-partisan impartiality, threatening to crush what is left of the “People’s Army.”  

In the Jerusalem Post, the editorial staff noted a rare note of hope, describing protestors and counterdemonstrators passing each other on an escalator “Suddenly, as the two sides headed in different directions, something beautiful happened: people began reaching out across the divider and shaking the hands of those passing on the opposite escalator. It was recognition that no matter what political path they follow, there is still a need for respect and recognition of what we all share. It should not have been such a remarkable sight.”  

Though there is much division amongst our people, as we enter this solemn day of fasting there is one common theme. The classic lesson of the Talmud, which teaches us that the Jerusalem was destroyed by internal hatred amongst the Jewish people on Tisha B’Av, is on everyone’s minds.  

Aicah? How? How will we avoid the mistakes of the past? 

May it be God’s will we find a way. Together.   

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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

We are so fortunate to be part of a tradition which places emphasis on the value of wisdom.

As our Psalmist teaches, “from all who have taught me, I have gained understanding” (Psalm 119:99), which indicates to us that that wisdom is both a teaching and a learning process.

We embody this philosophy at Holy Blossom, through our honouring of our Wisdom Generation, as we believe that, particularly in later life stages, we acknowledge all that we have to learn from them, but also recognize that we are each active, thriving, creative lifelong learners at the same time, with much to discover and explore.

Our Rabbis, in Mishna Chagigah, outline their own unique way of discovering and exploring the wisdom of our texts, through their “PaRDeS” method of studying the Pardes, the rich and fruitful orchard, that is Torah.

פ (pey) stands for pshat, the simple interpretation, which indicates the literal meaning of the scriptural text. ר (reish) stands for remez, or hint, connoting that which is gleaned from allusions within the text. ד (daled) equals drash, the exposition, or the homiletic meaning of the text. Finally, ס (samech) is translated to sod, or secret, in which the mystical meaning of the text that leads us to God is illuminated.

In our valuing of wisdom, and of our Wisdom Generation, we hope that you will join us this Shabbat morning, 15 July, from 10:30 am, as Dorot presents their annual Summer Gathering It is an opportunity for all of us to gather for a special service and enhanced kiddush luncheon, with good food, good music, and, most of all, good company spanning all generations to learn from and be taught in turn. We look forward to welcoming you there!

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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Yael Splansky

On the Occasion of Rabbi Marmur’s First Yahrtzeit

Shalom from Jerusalem!  I’m lucky enough to be studying here at the Hartman Institute for two weeks. I’ll have more to say about this four-year Rabbinic Fellowship when I graduate next week, but today I want to call attention to Moreinu HaRav, our Rabbi and Teacher, Rabbi Dow Marmur, of blessed memory.  Today, the 18th Day of Tammuz brings us full circle to complete a year since he was lovingly laid to rest in the hills of Jerusalem.

I visited with three generations of Marmurs yesterday in Fredzia’s apartment.  She continues to be simultaneously strong and gentle, as she always has been.  Tomorrow I’ll go for Shabbat Morning services at Kol HaNeshamah, where Rabbi-Professor Michael Marmur will give the sermon in his father’s memory and the Kiddush-lunch will be for congregants to remember Dow together.

Rabbi Marmur was a proud Reform Jew, who devoted himself to the entirety of the Jewish People.  Rabbi Marmur was a proud Zionist, who could make a home for himself just about anywhere.  (If you’d like a gift copy of his fascinating memoir, Six Lives, which reflects on his life in six countries, just call the Temple office.) He could teach a single verse of text in light of its greater context.  He could observe a single event in light of all of Jewish history.  He called our attention to the forest and the individual trees.

De-mo-crat-ia!

When I attended a spontaneous demonstration in Jerusalem this week, I couldn’t help but wonder what Rabbi Marmur would have to say about what I witnessed there.  How would he interpret the array of t-shirt slogans and flags?  Would he see the scene as glorious evidence of Israel’s strength?  Or as worrisome evidence of Israel’s vulnerability?

Every Saturday evening for six months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating for Israel’s democracy.  But this was Wednesday evening.  Why?  The Chief of Police of Tel Aviv was forced to resign because he was not being tough enough on the demonstrators.

That night began the 17th of Tammuz when we commemorate how the walls of Jerusalem were breached two thousand years ago.  No one referenced it through the chants over the megaphones, but it was in the air.  This day is a delicate day, as it has been throughout Jewish time.  According to the Mishnah (Taanit 4:6), the 17th of Tammuz marks a series of calamities, of breakages, and ruptures in Jewish history — the burning of a Torah scroll in public by Apostemos, the placement of an idol in the Temple, the banning of the daily sacrifice by the Roman authorities, and the shattering of the two stone tablets by Moses.

Two Stones

With effort, stones can be broken.  With effort, stones can also mend what has been broken.

I picked up these two stones from the new National Library of Israel, a place Rabbi Marmur would have loved, and asked one of my classmates, who is also a sofer (a scribe) to write “Pirchei Kodesh” on them.  One of the stones will come home with me.  One of them will be set at Rabbi Marmur’s grave by his family, so they can feel the presence of all of us, the congregation he served and led so well for so many years.

May Rabbi Marmur’s memory continue to be a blessing for all who learned from him and for all who were cared for by him.  To revisit the extraordinary study and remembrances we enjoyed last Selichot in Rabbi Marmur’s honour, click here.

Shabbat Shalom from Yerushalayim, City of Peace.

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Women of Holy Blossom: Rosh Chodesh AV

Av is the 5th month of the year counting from the month of Nissan, the name means ‘Father’. During this month the Jewish people, G/d and Torah become ONE. It is during this month that the destruction of the two temples happened, and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain also took place during this month. The month conjures up a mixture of conflicting moods and the Mishna says: “As AV enters, we diminish joy”.  During Av one sees the true love of a Father (G/d) and his unconditional love for his children in spite of his children not following his commandments.

The final Nine Days of Tisha B’AV and the Three Weeks are a time of intensified mourning.  There are times when we’re told to be sad and this period is one of several during the year because without these times of sorrow and consolation, our joy would flow falsely and from sorrow, joy will permeate.

The Tribe of the month is Shimon, from the word Shema which attributes to hear, in the previous month of Tammuz Reuben sees. Hearing vs seeing, if you truly want to become ONE with G/d, one has to listen. Listening is greater than Seeing G/d.  The limb of the month is the left kidney, signifying emotion.

The permutation of the month of Av: (ה.ו.י.ה) appears in the word הוֹיָ֗ה describes in Exodus 9:3 the plague of pestilence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The letters begin reversed (ה.ו) but end in order (י.ה). This indicates that while the judgment over the first half of the month is harsh and strict, the month concludes with Divine mercy. In fact, the letters ‘yud’ and ‘heh’ are not only “in order” and connote mercy; their numerical equivalent is 15. This reveals that the second half of G-d’s name for this month literally correlates to the last 15 days of Av and corresponds to the teaching of the Talmud which states (Ta’anit 26b), “There are no greater days for the People of Israel like the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur”.  The 15 of AV is known as one of the happiest days in Jewish history, Tu B’Av, signifies rebirth after destruction and is a day for new beginnings. The Talmud considers it the greatest festival of the year, followed by Yom Kippur, as its essence represents the future redemption.

The letter of the month is Tet, which appears first in the Torah on the word “Tov” (Good) mentioned during the creation G/d says: “it was good”.  Tet has a numerical value of 9 for Tisha B’Av which is a day of mourning.

Where do we get the Tov? From the first two letters of Tov; Tet-Vav have a value of 15.  The 15th of Av (as stated above) is a day of rejoicing. This demonstrates that one has the ability to transform, rebuild and arise from ashes.

An old Chassidic proverb goes, “Sadness is not a sin, but its effect on the person is worse than any sins.” The soul was sent to this world not to be, but to do; not to merely exist, but to achieve. To retreat into the self is to reverse the flow of life. Joy is revelation.

 

Ken YehiRatzon,

Teresa Quiroz – On behalf of Women of Holy Blossom

 

Rosh Chodesh Av:  Shacharit Service, Wednesday, July 19, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09

Password: 667580

For more dates and the connection to women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/

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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.

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