Rabbi Yael Splansky

Rabbinic Reflections

January 29, 2021

IHRA and Free Speech

“An almond tree blooming in Israel.”

In June 2019, the Government of Canada announced its adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as part of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.  The “working definition” attempts to set parameters for what anti-semitism is and is not.  CIJA (The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs) has been leading the effort to have the IHRA definition affirmed by all three levels of government.  See here for a helpful resource on IHRA in the Canadian context.

This week, in time for International Holocaust Education Week, the Union of Reform Judaism, the umbrella organization to which Holy Blossom Temple proudly belongs for one hundred years now, made its own statement affirming IHRA as a working definition of anti-semitism.  You can read the full statement here.

I appreciate the URJ’s affirmation. And I was not surprised by how it included in its statement an expression of warning about how the definition may be used as a tool to chip away at freedom of speech. “Our commitment to principles of free speech and concerns about the potential abuse of the definition compel us to urge its use only as intended: as a guide and an awareness raising tool. The definition should not be codified into policy that would trigger potentially problematic punitive action to circumscribe speech, efforts which have been particularly aimed at college students and human rights activists. If the effect of application of the IHRA definition is to limit free speech, it threatens to divide the broad coalition needed to combat antisemitism.

I don’t believe the URJ’s affirmation needed to be couched with such concerns.  I understand protection of Freedom of Speech and the First Amendment is bedrock in The United States.  But it comes with a price.

I have come to appreciate Canada’s willingness to say that Hate Speech is definable and punishable.  I remember during the tiki torch parade in Charlottesville, a Canadian participant was interviewed on CNN.  When asked “Why are you here?” he answered simply, “I can’t say these things in Canada, so I came here to speak my mind.”  And there was at least one Canadian flag seen flying during the recent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.

The URJ leadership wants to ensure that the Jewish student activist campus is protected when she speaks out against demeaning checkpoints or unethical housing demolitions in the West Bank.  I don’t believe the IHRA definition was created with her in mind.  More than I fear it could be used to marginalize her, I fear a world where antisemitism has no margins.  We know what can happen when hate speech goes unchecked.

The day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day was Tu BiShvat.  Ecclesiastes asserts there is “A time to plant and a time to uproot what has been planted.”  Let us plant ourselves in the good countries that shout down anti-semitism when they see it and uproot every form of bigotry and hatred wherever it festers.

Shabbat Shalom.

Eulogy for Temple Warden, David Hart z”l

By Rabbi Yael Splansky

December 28, 2020 / 13 Tevet, 5781

“Uma’asei yadeinu kon’nah aleinu.  Uma’asei yadeinu kon’neihu.”

            “May the work of our hands endure for us, O God. May the work of our hands endure.”                                                                                                              (From Psalm 90)

David was a Scout Master.  His life was shaped by the scouts’ motto: “Be prepared” and by the scouts’ oath: “To develop myself to so that I may better love and serve my God, respect and help my fellowman, honour and render services to my country.”

David was a mechanical engineer by training and by profession.  His first job was on the Dominion Bridge.  He designed machinery and molds to create everything from screws to stereos.  But his true vocation was volunteering.

David was playing catch with young Murray on the front lawn one day when a car pulled over and the next thing he knew, David was coaching the Fast Ball League.  It was the biggest thing going in Bathurst Manor in those days.  David tried to get a Girls’ League going, but it didn’t take.

There was hardly a Holy Blossom committee on which David Hart did not serve.  Religious School Committee with Heinz Warshauer, alav HaShalom.  The Social Action Committee with Milton Cadsby, alav HaShalom.  He and Murray helped to sponsor Vietnamese Boat People.  They kept contact with a number of families to this day.  David was Brotherhood President, a labour of love.  Unlike Margaret, Ron, and Jill who sang together in the Choir, David wasn’t much for services.  But he often served as an usher at the main doors to greet the congregation he treasured.  With very deep roots in Canadian Jewish History, David was Chair of the Temple Archives for decades.   I went with him once to our previous Temple on Bond Street.  He lit up like a kid, jumping around the sanctuary, telling stories of his earliest childhood memories of Rabbi Eisendrath and how on Sukkot, all the students would bring baskets of fruit to decorate the bimah.  They would then be donated to the hungry and the poor.  Thanks to David we have one of the original pews of Bond Street on display at Holy Blossom today.

Like his parents before him, David was a very proud Canadian and proud of their early Jewish roots in this country.  This pride and sense of belonging, gave rise to David’s leadership in interfaith work.  For decades, if anyone wanted to know about Interfaith Relations – which at that time meant between Christians and Jews – they’d call Holy Blossom Temple.  And when they called Holy Blossom Temple, the office would call on David Hart.  He believed in grassroots dialogue and arranged for small groups of lay people to meet and learn from one another.  He became the first Jew appointed to the Board of Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Toronto.  With Rabbi Fields, of blessed memory, he helped to lead the first interfaith trip to Israel with Timothy Eaton Church.

Normally, David would highlight the commonalities among the ethical monotheistic religions, but if ever a hint of anti-Semitism came up in conversation, David could be fierce.  Once, when visiting an Anglican Church, he picked up a prayerbook and publicly asked the priest about the page with the prayer calling for the conversion of the Jews.  Just last year, that prayer was officially replaced with a prayer for “Reconciliation with the Jews.”  On the occasion of the 40^th Anniversary of Vatican II, David was awarded by Cardinal Cassidy a special honour for his decades of Interfaith work.

For all these countless contributions to Holy Blossom Temple, David was given the high honour of the title of Temple Warden.  Not long ago, the family brought David to see our completed Renewal Project.  Although it was somewhat disoriented by the changes, David did give his nod of approval and was pleased to catch a glimpse of Holy Blossom’s future.

Just look around this historic cemetery.  David could tell us the history of its purchase and about many of the good and great people who are buried here.  But most importantly, today David is being laid to rest nearby to his parents, Alfred and Minnie, and beside his dear Margaret, who is also remembered this day.

Margaret told the real story of how they met.  She spotted him at a Holy Blossom Singles event.  Her friends told her to keep her distance.  Later, she saw him on the streetcar.  He went to the back where a bunch of younger kids were sitting and in a matter of minutes, he had them playing a game.  Margaret said, “I thought I saw something different in him.”

Perhaps because David was an only child, he loved kids.  Aaron, Michael, and Jessica were the greatest beneficiaries of that love.  Jessica says, “He made each of feel special in our own way.”  Shabbat Dinners began with a treasure hunt of chocolates and hockey cards hidden around their home.  He was expressive with them. He told them how much he loved them.  He came to every graduation, every dance recital, every hockey game.  David kept a jar of two-nies to give to the kids to buy drinks after the hockey games.  Everyone on the team called him Gramps.  There were sleepovers and thousands of hours in the car, driving the kids from here to there to anywhere just to be with them.  He built them two playgrounds in the backyard.  Jessica was the first Hart granddaughter in one hundred years.  David built her a dollhouse and gave her his mother’s Shabbat candlesticks.  David built a rocking horse when Aaron was born and as the oldest, Aaron was entrusted with the family’s metals for service in WWI and WWII.  Michael shared David’s interests in math and science.      David was heartbroken when Michael died.   He created a poster of photographs of Michael for his apartment and spoke of him often.  David admitted that saying goodbye to Michael was the hardest thing he ever had to do.  Murray recalls the poignant words his father spoke at the bedside.  David was the last to leave the room, when Michael called out, “Grandpa!  Thank you.  I love you.”  This family was David’s greatest pride and greatest joy.  May you take comfort in knowing Michael, Margaret, and David are now united in God’s Eternal Presence.

“Be prepared and be of service.”  After his bi-pass surgery, David volunteered to meet with families preparing for the same.  Even after he gave up driving, into his late 80’s and 90’s David would take a cab to go to the downtown hospital volunteer and offer support.

When he could no longer volunteer, David would sometimes wonder what was his purpose.  His sense of self was defined by his contributions of time.  Murray awards his father the title: “Philanthropist of Time.”  Aaron says: “He had faith in humanity.  Assumed the good in people and was willing to confront people when he believed that assumption was being challenged.”

This was a hard end.  Murray and Jill, Aaron and Jessica would have to have their visits with David over the telephone and through the window.  The isolation was painful for everyone.  Ron was the designated family representative.  Ron visited with David every single day until David had to go to the hospital.  Ron would bring him fresh laundry and be David’s constant companion.  Ron, just as you were the family representative there at David’s side for so many months, now Murray is your representative here at the graveside.

David Hart’s life motto was: “Be prepared and be of service.”

So it is the motto of a Jewish life of meaning and sacred purpose:

“Uma’asei yadeinu kon’nah aleinu.  Uma’asei yadeinu kon’neihu.”

“May the work of our hands endure for us, O God. May the work of our hands endure.”                                                                                                               (From Psalm 90)

Zichrono livrachah.  May David’s memory be a blessing for our congregation, for all who loved him, for all who were loved by him.