This morning (Wednesday), we, the team, arrived at work to see our building covered in anonymous, red, heart-shaped Post-it notes with lovely, kind messages of support for our congregation.
Rabbi Baruchel brought this to our attention, and to say that this beautiful action, which we could even call a mitzvah, stirred up all the emotions is not an understatement:
How it is not an easy time to be a Jew in the world, to say the least.
How it is hard not to be weighed down by the news of the day, whether it be in Israel, in Michigan, in Europe, or here at home in Toronto.
How it is hard not to feel disheartened by the heavy presence of police and security, when all you want to do is come to work and not feel like you need to watch that every door is closed behind you.
Which made this thoughtful deed the lift the heart needed, it’s kindness, and it’s ultimately hopeful message: that we have friends out there, who were willing to go out of their way and take the time to let us know that we are loved, and we are seen. Thank you to whoever posted them!
We learn this week in our parasha, Vayikra, as we begin the book of Leviticus, that we are all required to bring our offerings – in ancient days, animal or produce sacrifices – before God. Each of them reflected the circumstances in which we found ourselves: for guilt (intentional or unintentional), for clarity and purification, and for thanksgiving, too. It was, I would suggest, the best way we knew how to demonstrate what we were feeling, and to take a small action of resilience by showing up in, and contributing to, the spiritual health and wellbeing of ourselves and our community.
Today, we still adhere to these sentiments, especially when it comes to expressing our gratitude. Whilst of course we do not bring sacrificial offerings, our Talmudic Sages, for example, suggest that we exhibit that same gladness through singing, and through good wine and food!
So what I am I grateful for in our day?
I am so deeply grateful for all of our security personnel for keeping us both being safe and feeling safe. I encourage you to express your gratitude to them, too, perhaps by offering a cup of coffee from Holy Grounds, or a bagel from kiddush, or simply by saying: “thank you”.
I am equally so deeply grateful for my amazing, hardworking colleagues who are tirelessly coordinating behind the scenes, whether its communicating with the police or advocating for us with elected officials.
Some of the other things I am grateful for as the situation continues to evolve every day are:
As the Book of Kohelet teaches us, there is a time for everything – including a time to weep, and a time to laugh. To laugh and cry with one eye.
With our eyes fully open, let us look out for one another, and let us bring our full selves to our sacred communal table.
Ken yehi ratzon, may this be God’s will.
Tomorrow, Saturday, March 14th, the annual hate rally “Al Quds Day” will be held outside the US Consulate downtown. Al Quds Day was established by the Iranian Regime in 1979 as a tool for celebrating the revolution and exporting its violent rhetoric across the globe. It is an annual rally to call for the destruction of Israel and the USA, and to express support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Toronto Police are aware and have significantly increased security, restricted airspace, and are on record as preparing to enforce the law regarding violations of hate speech, police obstruction, and violence. Action by the police is especially critical in the current climate of antisemitism (including the terrorist attacks on synagogues in Toronto and elsewhere this week) and in the context of the ongoing war in the Middle East and our community’s support for Iranians who are seeking to rid themselves of the theocratic regime in their country.
In Toronto, CIJA has a simple ask for our Jewish community – to push our elected officials to openly and directly condemn this hateful event for what it is. You can add your name to the petition below, asking that Mayor Chow and City Councillors formally denounce Al Quds Day.
Read the CIJA Petition and sign your name here.
We are hopeful that Police will properly enforce the law, especially around hate speech and calls to violence.
Learn more about Advocacy here.
By Mark Selby
At times, it felt like the road for The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue was a rocky one, with many unexpected detours.
As one of the film’s producers, I am happy to report that our story has a happy ending: after an acclaimed world premiere at TIFF (more on that below), a theatrical run in 80 cinemas across North America, and over seventy-five screenings (with as many more to come) at festivals and communities around the world — including Holy Blossom last December — the film is finally being released to Canadian audiences at home.
Yes, the most-talked-about documentary of last year is available to rent or buy on Amazon and Apple … and, starting today (Friday, March 13), you can stream the film FREE on CBC Gem, with subsequent linear broadcasts to come.
Directed by Barry Avrich, The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue tells the story of two Israeli grandparents who risk their lives by driving into the line of fire to save their family in Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023, located less than a kilometre away from the Gaza border.
We flew to Israel in November 2024 and spent an intense week with Gen. Noam Tibon and his family, retracing his route that day that led him and his wife, Gali, to the Kibbutz, saving not only their family but injured soldiers, Nova Festival survivors, and civilians along the way.
If you weren’t already familiar with the story, you may have heard about the documentary, thanks to some international headlines last year.
Barry and I were honoured to learn that the Toronto International Film Festival selected the documentary to have its world premiere at the 2025 festival, its landmark 50th edition.
Then, due to internal pressure and security concerns, the film was pulled from the line-up. When reached for comment by the press to explain the change, a spokesperson for TIFF claimed that we hadn’t obtained the proper clearances for the footage used in the film … the same footage that the Hamas terrorists livestreamed on the internet on the day of the attacks, and which is readily available, in the public domain, for anyone who wants to bear witness to these horrific images.
Although in 2023, Hollywood was strangely silent in the wake of the October 7th terrorist attacks, save for a few outspoken celebrities, the rallying cries of the creative community to the apparent censorship of the film at TIFF was loud and passionate. In Toronto, in Canada, in the U.S., and around the world, the media began to take notice, and eventually, TIFF reinstated our film in their line-up.
We ended up at the Festival’s largest venue, Roy Thomson Hall, screening for an audience that gave the film — and its two heroes, who flew in from Israel for the premiere — several heartwarming standing ovations.
During all of this, the support of the Jewish community in Toronto cannot be understated; when our film received its theatrical release, timed to the two-year anniversary of the attacks, in early October (on 20 screens across Canada and 60 more in the U.S.), Toronto cinema-goers kept us on the big screen for six weeks, a rarity for any documentary and especially for a Canadian film. The Road Between Us ended up as the highest-grossing documentary in Canadian theatres last year, according to Telefilm.
The film tells an incredible story of heroism and bravery in the face of unspeakable horror and tragedy, and we are thrilled that the journey continues for the film. I hope you get a chance to see the film, either on Amazon, Apple, or, thanks to our partners at CBC, for free on CBC Gem, starting today.
Thursday, March 19, 7:30 am
Nissan, known as Chodesh Ha’Aviv — the Month of Spring — marks the Biblical New Year. It is a time of awakening, hope, and renewal, as creation itself emerges from winter’s stillness into vibrant life.
Nissan is the month of double miracles. Its name contains two Hebrew letters Nun (נ), symbolizing the miracles through which Hashem redeemed us from slavery in Egypt.
The Zodiac sign of the month is Aries. Its spiritual attribute is speech, corresponding to the Hebrew letter ה (Hei) — reminding us of our sacred responsibility to retell the story of the Exodus through the Haggadah at Pesach.
The limb associated with Nissan is the right foot, teaching us to step forward boldly. With intention and faith, we begin our 49-day journey of growth and transformation from Pesach to Shavuot.
The tribe of the month is Yehuda, king among the twelve tribes, embodying leadership, gratitude, and strength.
During Nissan, we rejoice together — Heaven and Earth united — the spiritual from Hashem and the physical from humanity. This harmony is reflected in our heartfelt greeting:
Chag Pesach Kasher V’Sameach
Kasher — for the sake of Heaven.
Sameach — for our joy here on Earth.
Each Rosh Chodesh, we share stories of our own Women of Valour (Eshet Chayil) — women whose strength, wisdom, voice, and dedication uplift and transform our community.
On this Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we are honoured to recognize: Freda Muscovitch
May this new month bring renewal, redemption, unity, and revealed miracles for us all.
The Women of Valour Series is generously sponsored by Robert Lantos in memory of his mother Agnes Lantos z”l
By Alberto Quiroz
Freda Ariella Muscovitch was born in Haifa, Israel, and lovingly named after her great-grandmother, Savta Raba.
In 1959, her father accepted a teaching position with the Jewish community in Edmonton. On a freezing Edmonton morning, Freda was sent alone to find her new school. Imagine the courage that required! From that moment, Freda carried within her a profound empathy for immigrants, refugees, and all who arrive in new places searching for belonging. That understanding would later become the foundation of her lifelong commitment to social justice.
Determined to chart her own path, Freda left Edmonton to attend the University of British Columbia. Destiny intervened when she met Arthur, a talented architect from Winnipeg and the love of her life. Together, they built a partnership defined by shared dreams, intellectual curiosity, and mutual support.
Life carried them across cities and continents—from London, England, to Toronto. Freda pursued postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics while Arthur continued his architectural career. Eventually, they returned to Toronto, where she would find not only a home, but a community.
In 1978, Freda and her family joined Holy Blossom Temple. She immediately immersed herself in community life—singing in the choir, building friendships, and dedicating herself to social action.
Her leadership shone most brightly in the creation of Holy Blossom Temple’s Out of the Cold program in 1995. Alongside Rabbi Dov Marmur, Freda prepared volunteers, learned from partner communities, and built the foundation for one of the Temple’s most meaningful initiatives.
But Freda’s compassion did not stop there. She brought members of the Roma community into dialogue with congregations across the GTA in a program titled “Why the Roma”, challenging assumptions and replacing stereotypes with understanding. Years later, during the Syrian refugee crisis, Freda once again stepped forward, working alongside Jacqueline Friedland to help families rebuild their lives in Toronto.
Freda has remained grateful to the Holy Blossom Temple community for the love and strength it gave her—especially during her battle with ovarian cancer. She marked her 60th birthday by establishing the first Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Today, Freda’s legacy lives across generations. Her sons, Zak and Noam, were married at Holy Blossom Temple. Freda’s family now includes five beloved grandchildren and two cherished adoptive sons, Saul and Aaron.
Freda has given Holy Blossom Temple far more than her time. She has helped shape a community known across Canada not only for prayer and tradition, but for compassion, courage, and action.
Her story teaches us that belonging is not something we find alone. It is something we create together.
By Wanda Haber-Kucharsky
Hello everyone. Let me introduce myself through my ghostwriter, Wanda Haber-Kucharsky, one of the Judaica & Art Shop’s Project Betzalel artists.
I am Powder Glass Bead from Ghana. You might have seen me dangling from Wanda’s ears, circling her wrist, and hugging her neck. Sometimes I am accompanied by beautiful handmade brass pieces, also from Ghana. Sometimes by special charms of Judaica.
This is my creation story.
I was born from broken things. Long before becoming a bead, I was a shard of glass, part of a bottle that had travelled far, passed from hand to hand, until one day it broke and was discarded. I lay in the red earth of Krobo Land, in Ghana, among other fragments, waiting. One day, gentle but practiced hands gathered me up. I was washed, sorted, crushed and ground patiently into fine, sandy powder. This was not an ending. This was a beginning. I felt myself change, sharp edges giving way to soft ones, full of possibility.
I was poured into a clay mould, handmade by village Artisans and shaped by generations of knowledge, passed from parent to child, from elder to apprentice. A thin cassava stalk marked my center, promising a hole and the ability to travel again, but as adornment, not waste. Then came the fire. I was placed in a kiln, fueled by wood, and watched carefully by my maker. The heat was fierce, transformative. Inside the kiln, my powder fused, grain by grain, becoming solid and strong. When the kiln cooled, I emerged whole, but not yet my full self.
Using natural pigments and finer glass powders, my maker adorned me with dots, lines, symbols, and patterns, evoking ancient protections, celebrations, continuity, and spirit. Every design carried a memory. Every colour held an intention. When I returned to the kiln for a second time, the patterns melted into my skin, where they would remain forever, a constant reminder of who I was and where I came from. Then I was polished by hand, washed in water, and strung alongside my siblings, as bands of beads. Together, we held the stories of life’s great moments: births, weddings, rites of passage, and remembrance. In Ghana, we beads are not just ornaments. We are symbols of identity, worn to honour ancestors and mark joy. We are given, inherited, and always treasured.
Long ago, before coins existed, we served as currency, travelling in pouches tied to waists and necks, carefully counted, our value understood. Along trade routes of West Africa, beads like me spoke many languages, moved from village to village, hand to hand, coast to inland. We helped seal agreements, mark alliances, and smooth negotiations. We were exchanged for gold dust, kola nuts, salt, cloth, and the essentials of life.
Then I travelled across oceans, across cultures, arriving in Toronto, Ontario, where I roomed with a lovely woman who treasured me. She sold me to Wanda, whose gentle, curious hands craft me into jewellery. As I adorn those on both sides of the ocean, I remember the earth. I remember the fire. I carry the rhythms of my homeland, the patience of hands that shaped me, and the proof that beauty can rise from the broken.
I am a Powder Glass Bead.
A note directly from Wanda:
It is worth noting that Ghana is home to a small Jewish Community, with a congregation called Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Although powder-glass beads are not used in Jewish ritual, both the beads and this community are shaped by the same place, sharing a connection through their common home. Jewellery that joins powder-glass beads and Ghanaian brass with Judaica charms symbolically brings these two ancient cultures into conversation.
You can see and purchase my jewellery made with these beads, along with fabulous creations from other Project Betzalel artists, at the wonderful Judaica & Art Shop in Holy Blossom Temple, operated by Women of Holy Blossom. Open on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM or by appointment via [email protected].
By Judy Malkin
From Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times …”
I am sure many people can tell you what day was the best day ever. I can’t do that – these days, every day is the best. But I can tell you the worst day of my life – it was January 11, 2021. That’s the day that the UHN Donor Transplant Team called me to tell me that I was not a viable kidney donor for my husband, Elliott Jacobson. I was crushed.
A few days later, we spoke with Rabbi Splansky, helped write an article for the Bulletin entitled “Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Find us a Match,” and let people know how to get in touch with the UHN donor team if they considered becoming a living kidney donor for Elliott.
Long story short, we were blessed to have, ultimately, two willing and able donors, and Elliott’s surgery took place on February 10, 2023. And he’s doing wonderfully well (as is his donor).
We also learned about Renewal, a charitable organization which encourages altruistic kidney donation within the Jewish community. They were extremely helpful to us and, had we not been able to find a donor, would have assisted us in finding one. We remain forever grateful to them.
Renewal Canada is hosting an event at Holy Blossom Temple on Wednesday evening, April 29. Please join us and learn more about Renewal, and hear both Elliott’s story and that of our wonderful donor.
On Sunday morning, I was standing by the security desk as hundreds of our kids, with their parents and grandparents, streamed in to celebrate at our Purim Carnival. In hand was the beautiful, handmade wooden gragger that I had chosen especially for its loud and easy CRACK. A little too easy, it turned out, as I motioned a little too eagerly and the gragger did its thing. The security personnel, a few feet away from me, spun around on instant high alert. I showed them the gragger. “This is the good noise!” I told them, “You’re going to hear it a lot in the next few minutes!” The guard laughed and smiled, tension dissipating; it was, after all, just a wooden toy.
Waking up to the news on Purim, that our sister synagogue Temple Emanuel was attacked, paints that story with a different brush. Because the unspoken truth of my interaction with our security is this: that when you aren’t expecting it, the heavy crack of the gragger can sound a lot like gun shots.
In moments like this one when antisemitism and hate hit especially close to home, some people have an instinct to retreat from our communal Jewish spaces and to hideaway in the hopes of being safe. Others have the instinct to fortify, to build up our walls and to make our sacred home into an isolated and unassailable fortress. Jewish texts are always speaking to the moment, and the Purim story warns us that both options are destined to fail.
Esther understands that even if she successfully saves herself, danger will still consume her people. Do not hide. Further, were the Jewish people saved because they were a power unto themselves? No! We are only able to save ourselves because our brave heroine was in community and relationship with others. Do not be isolated.
The message is simple. Come to shul, be with your people, and together we can enrich our sacred home into a community that builds vital friendships.
Only you can do the first part. The second element, thank God, the synagogue can help with. And, just like Queen Esther, we’re doing it with two feasts.
On March 17th, we will once again host our friends from the Intercultural Dialogue Institute (IDI) for a festive Iftar dinner in honour of their sacred month of Ramadan. Come learn about our Turkish Muslim allies from the IDI, enjoy a delicious meal, and build important bridges between the Jewish and Muslim communities. Space is limited and you can sign up here.
On March 23rd, Holy Blossom is hosting an interfaith teaching seder with the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto. We are still looking for volunteer hosts to share their own Pesach traditions and to give our guests a ‘taste’ of the Pesach experience. You can learn more and sign up to represent our community here.
Purim may be over, (except in Jerusalem where it doesn’t end until sundown tonight), but the lessons that we learn from our brave Queen Esther are evergreen.
לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשֹׂן וִיקָר
The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor. (Esther 8:16)
May it be so for us in our own day as well.
Last night was the start of Purim.
A holiday that practically dares us to be loud. Costumes. Laughter. Children sprinting through synagogue hallways on a sugar-fuelled mission. Grown-ups doing that very Jewish thing where we turn fear into humour and grief into generosity.
And a few kilometres up the street from my own synagogue, another shul was shot at.
On Purim.
No one was physically hurt. Thank God. But bullets into a synagogue are not a property crime. They are a message. We see you. We can reach you. Shrink.
I am a rabbi. I am also a mum. And I am Canadian.
I hold one passport, and it is not diplomatic. I am not a politician. I make no military decisions. I pack lunches. I organize kids programs. I try to raise a decent human being.
And yet my child goes to school with heavy security.
I receive regular updates about threats to Jewish institutions.
I have had to explain why police cars sit outside buildings that are meant for prayer and preschool and song.
This is not normal.
If your first instinct reading this is to respond with another conflict somewhere else in the world, pause.
Canadian Jews are not foreign policy avatars. We are not embassies. We are not stand-ins for governments. We are citizens of this country.
We can hold complicated views. We can love a homeland and critique a government. We can love Canada and critique Canada. That is what people of conscience do.
But none of that has anything to do with whether a synagogue in Toronto should be shot at.
When bullets hit a Jewish building in this country, the response should be immediate and uncomplicated.
This is wrong.
Jews deserve safety.
Not conditional safety. Not safety after a disclaimer. Not safety after passing a moral litmus test.
Safety.
Purim is a story about what happens when a society becomes comfortable with the idea that a minority is expendable. It is also a story about refusing to disappear.
I am tired of security being the background condition of Jewish childhood.
I am tired of the quiet expectation that we will absorb this and carry on politely.
I am tired of the moral asterisk attached to Jewish fear.
This is my country.
My child deserves to grow up here without armed guards as a given.
And no parent in Canada should have to whisper “it’s just for safety” when what they really mean is “I hope nothing happens today.”
Written in the immediate aftermath of the shooting at Temple Emanu-El on Erev Purim, this reflection was first shared on social media and is now offered to our wider Holy Blossom community.
As the war between Iran and the United States, Israel, and its allies heats up across the Middle East, we want to bring your attention to one petition and one statement here at home in Canada.
First, please see the statement from our own ARZA Canada/Canadian Reform Movement Statement. As Rabbi Splansky and others write, we ‘stand with the people of Israel and Iran in their common struggle against Iran’s tyrannical dictatorship… we support efforts to make the Middle East a safer place for all. We pray that this can be achieved quickly with the minimum possible harm to civilians.” Together we pray for a secure peace in Jerusalem and across the region.
Second, CIJA has an action item where you can contact your MP and urge them to take action against Iranian agents inside of Canada. CIJA provides news sources saying that there are up to 700 individuals linked to the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) living in Canada today.
After waking up to the news of the attack on Temple Emanu-El, our sister congregation here in Toronto, the need to confront those who seek the demise of Israel and who actively target Jews in the diaspora – including Iranian agents and supporters of the regime – is greater than ever.
Contact your MP through the Actionhub portal by clicking here.
Learn more about Advocacy here.
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
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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.