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HBT Archives: Pride in Holy Blossom

By Susan Cohen

As we approach Holy Blossom’s annual Pride Shabbat on June 14th, we look back at 1980s Toronto and the rise of HIV-AIDS. Toronto seemed safe, growing, multicultural, even a little innocent. But under Rabbi Dow Marmur, Holy Blossom championed emerging social issues. One of the most challenging was HIV-AIDS, a disease which emerged first among gay men and left many not just ill and dying but ostracized from their communities.

The synagogue took on the task of galvanizing the broad Jewish community. An extraordinary group of volunteers from the synagogue partnered together to bring AIDS support out in the open. Acting on Jewish tradition and the belief that people with AIDS “should not become strangers in their own land”, Holy Blossom created the first direct Jewish community support program, AIDS: A Jewish Response, in Canada.

With partners such as 519 Church St. and Jewish Family and Child Service, Holy Blossom trained volunteers to offer support ­– financial, practical, social and spiritual. One of the most important initiatives was The Third Seder, a community-wide Passover meal with a unique Haggadah. It ran for almost a decade and at its height, attracted more than 250 people.

Holy Blossom created an Aids Assist Outreach buddy system and held special memorials to acknowledge and honour those who lost their lives. Temple Brotherhood and Sisterhood provided funds and volunteers while HABSTY members proudly helped at events. Today Pride Shabbat at Holy Blossom celebrates an inclusive Jewish identity and Holy Blossom members and staff march in the annual Pride Parade.

Two treasures in Holy Blossom’s archives from that era are a special hand-stitched quilt and rainbow suspenders.  The late Sybil Geller created the colourful quilt in honour of Yale Aaron Lampe, her son-in-law’s brother. Yale died in 1991, relatively early, and the family wanted to bring attention to the people behind the statistics. The rainbow suspenders were worn at the Pride Parade in 2015 by the late Nancy Ruth, a former president of the temple.

(The Archives Committee receives inquiries regularly. We invite you to contact us about this or other areas of interest at:  [email protected].   We are always interested in learning and sharing more about our remarkable history.  We also encourage you to examine the archival displays in the Schwartz-Reisman Atrium.)

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HBT Advocacy: Sad News, Hate at Ve’ahavta 

Friends, 

Many of you have volunteered with us on the Ve’ahavta Van and signed up to do so again this year. Others of you work in their kitchen, support them with tzedakah, or funded their efforts through last year’s Gifts of Light concert.  

We just received news that, last week, Ve’ahavta volunteers and staff were targeted by hateful and cowardly antisemites. Volunteers were accosted by an anti-Israel protestor as they were feeding the homeless, and the digital portal – which allows people to sign up for shifts caring for the poor – was the target of a malicious and disgusting digital hate campaign.  

In response, Cari Kozierok, CEO of Ve’ahavta, has prepared a statement for the Mayor and City Council. She is asking that you, the concerned members of our community who have volunteered and supported the good work of feeding the hungry and clothing the homeless, help amplify this message. You can email the Mayor, our city councillor Josh Matlow, and all the other city councillors the following: 

Dear Mayor Chow and Councillor [X], 

My name is [X] and I support the Jewish charity, Ve’ahavta, which helps people of all faiths and backgrounds who are facing poverty and homelessness. At present, their good work, which benefits the most vulnerable people in our city, is being adversely affected by the rise in antisemitism in our city. 

See their statement here.

I want to know what are you going to do to address the dangerous rise in antisemitism and antisemitic hate speech that we are seeing in the city of Toronto? 

Signed, 
[your name]   

Thank you for lending us your voice and standing with our ally Ve’Ahavta! 

Rabbi Samuel Kaye,  Associate Rabbi and Megan Stephens, Volunteer Coordinator 

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The Walk with Israel: this Sunday morning, June 9th! 

 It’s certainly not too late to register!  And, it’s also not too late to invite your family and friends, including your non-Jewish allies, to walk with you!  

 Learn more about the Walk with Israel by clicking here. 

 We will meet at the Shoppers in Lawrence Plaza – look for the Holy Blossom Temple banner starting at 8:30 am!  If you’d like to walk with our community, please arrive by 8:45 am, since the Walk starts at 9:00 am sharp just north of Lawrence Plaza.  Please bring a positive attitude, ready to show your pride in Israel.  (And, along with that positive attitude, please also bring water since there are no rest stops along the route.) Holy Blossom will provide positive signs supporting Israel and the hostages, as well as free HBT bags and other swag – while supplies last! 

 Additionally, on Monday, June 10th, our friends at TAFSIK will be holding an event in their “Kvetch on a Couch” series with Professor Gad Saad. Prof. Saad is a renowned evolutionary psychologist and free speech advocate. The event will be held at Holy Blossom Temple, with general admission starting at 7:00 pm. Registration is done through TAFSIK and tickets can be purchased here. Be aware that there are limited tickets left!  

Am Yisrael Chai!  

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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

Rabbi Yochanan relates in the Talmud the story of a man who planted a carob tree, which is known to bear fruit only after seventy years.  When the man was asked by Rabbi Yochanan whether he thought he would live to eat from the tree, the man replied: “I am doing as my ancestors did. Just as they planted a carob tree for their children, I am planting for my children.”

This very notion, that we plant seeds for the future, is exactly what I love so very much about my Sunday mornings spent with our children at our Youth Education Centre (YEC), as we sing, pray, play, learn about Israel, Jewish holidays, life cycle events, and more.

As we foster community, connection to Jewish identity, and learn to live lives based on our Jewish values, it is a great source of hope, and a bright spot in my week, to know that our future is in good hands.

How do I feel so certain about this fact?

It is because the pure innocence and joy of our children as we embrace and celebrate being Jewish! Seeing how excited they get to help lead our tefillah, learn Israeli dances for our performance on the last day of school, their sheer pride in reading Megillah for the congregation at our Purim Carnival, and even putting together a whole mock wedding for their Grade 3 life cycle unit. It is my sincerest wish that these are core memories that make their childhood like “a garland of roses”, as the Talmud states.

It is equally my deepest hope that they never lose this sense of confidence in their Judaism, and that they continue to rejoice in their many accomplishments over their years with us, that they may be granted a firm foundation for their Jewish souls going forward.

As we look to this bright horizon, we encourage all of you who have school-aged children in your life (children, grandchildren, etc.) that are part of YEC to enrol for the 2024-25 (5785) year, and for those who are not yet part of this incredible gem of our congregation to register, too. Details and registration HERE!

Here’s to planting for the future.

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Holy Blossom Memorial Park: Update

Holy Blossom Memorial Park

Located at 66 Brimley Road, in Scarborough, is Holy Blossom Temple’s own cemetery, Holy Blossom Memorial Park. Since 1928, many Temple members have chosen Holy Blossom Memorial Park for their final resting place. If you have not been to the Brimley Cemetery, you are welcome to visit, Sunday through Thursday, 9am – 4pm. It is an important piece of Holy Blossom’s history.

Cemetery Plots
For the last handful of years, the limited plots left at Holy Blossom Memorial Park were only made available in time of need. The Cemetery Committee and Temple Professionals undertook the substantial project of having the cemetery grounds re-surveyed to make use of additional space that is available but wasn’t previously marked for plots. Finally, after much perseverance, plots are available once again at Holy Blossom Memorial Park. The committee and staff team are proud to have completed this project that, over time, will make several hundred additional plots available at Brimley. While not all plots are available immediately, due to future roadwork and tree work, there are a number available at this time.

Monument Cleaning
Many members of our congregation and community have loved ones buried at Holy Blossom Memorial Park. Our wonderful Cemetery Supervisor, Mark Hodgson is now able to offer monument cleaning in-house for any families interested. He has received extremely positive feedback on the results over the past two summers.

Learn More
Should you be interested in learning more about Holy Blossom Memorial Park plots, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cindy Zimmer, Manager of Member & Donor Services at [email protected] or at 416-789-3291, ext. 229. For more information about the cemetery and for the price list for plots and services, please click here.

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1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
(416) 789-3291
[email protected]

Emergency Funeral Contact
Cell: 416-565-7561

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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