On Rosh Chodesh Tevet, Tuesday, December 31, we will be honouring a “Woman of Valour” Jill Hertzman z”l. And how a propos for this month of Tevet, the 10th month on the Jewish calendar, named after the Hebrew word tov, meaning “good,” which was Jill’s Hebrew name, Tova. All are welcome to join us in prayer at 7:30 am, Shacharit services where her son Ben Hertzman and the rest of the community will recognize this extraordinary woman who made a difference in Holy Blossom Temple for many years of selfless volunteering.

After services, you are invited to stay for a light Kiddush.

If you are attending online please register in advance to receive the appropriate link: https://congregationconnect.tfaforms.net/f/HBTSHACHARIT

A Woman of Valour, Jill Hertzman z”l

by Ben Hertzman

My beloved mother, Jill Hertzman z”l was a woman of quiet strength and profound impact. It brings us great honour that Holy Blossom Temple is recognizing her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the Jewish faith by recognizing her as a Woman of Valour. For over 25 years, Jill served as the head Gabbai, the stage manager of the synagogue’s services. She orchestrated the intricate choreography of worship with a calm and steady hand, ensuring everything ran seamlessly.

Being a Gabbai was not just a role for my mother—it was her calling. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes, training and mentoring countless members of the Holy Blossom community. Many of the synagogue’s current leaders began their journeys under her guidance. Jill’s deep connection to the Temple was evident in her every action. She served on the Board, participated in the Bikkur Cholim committee to comfort the sick, and was a valued member of the worship committee.

Her life exemplified Jewish values. She raised my sister Laura, my brother Jacob z”l and me in a home rich with tradition. Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, and Jewish education were cornerstones of our upbringing. After the loss of my brother Jacob, Mom found solace and purpose in the Temple, devoting herself fully to its community.

Jill had a presence. Physically slight but spiritually immense, she radiated kindness and inclusivity. Her sharp intellect and remarkable memory were matched only by her genuine love for people. She brought warmth to everyone she met, seeking out those in mourning, distress, or need, and offering comfort.

A vivid memory from Temple captures her essence. Many years ago, I remember being at services with her when she saw Rabbi Plaut, who was in his 90s at that time, looking frail as he sat on the Bimah. She said to me, “Rabbi Plaut doesn’t look so good, I’m going to go sit with him.” And for the rest of the service, she did. That was my mother—a person who instinctively cared for others.

A lifelong learner, Jill’s pursuit of Jewish knowledge was insatiable. In her 50s, she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah, a testament to her commitment to faith and education. We found countless handwritten notes from years of study – a clear view of her dedication to growth and understanding.

Jill’s life was a blessing to all who knew her. She lived up to her Hebrew name, Gittel Tova, meaning “goodness,” embodying its essence every day. Holy Blossom Temple was her refuge, her inspiration, and her sanctuary. As we honour her memory, we celebrate a life devoted to faith, family, and community.

May her Neshama rest in peace and continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.

Zichronah Livracha—May her memory be a blessing.

Rosh Chodesh Elul: Pnina Margolese

(10) A woman of valour who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
’Many daughters have done valiantly, but you rise above them all.’ (30) Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 10-31)

Rosh Chodesh is a holiday observed by women. Holy Blossom Temple and Women of Holy Blossom are celebrating Women from our past and present who have made a difference in our temple life.

On this month of Elul we are delighted to present Pnina Margolese z”l, one of our own “Woman of Valour” (Eshet Chayil) who left us a few years ago and we continue to remember her for her strength of character and courage.

We have the privilege to have Sara Charney, past President of WRJ and temple member to honour our Eshet Chayil’s life.

 

Pnina (Patty) Margolese z”l was larger than life—she delighted in everything and everyone. Her curiosity drove her persona; she loved meeting new people and inviting them into her world of theatre, choir, and Holy Blossom Temple.

Born and raised in a loving family in Winnipeg, Pnina was surrounded by nurturing parents, a doting sister, Karen, and her large family in Israel, England and elsewhere, as well as numerous other family members and friends. Her mother instilled in her daughters the values of inclusion and belonging, long before those concepts began to permeate our culture. Pnina would reflect on her mother’s open-door policy—”any friend of my daughters’ is welcome in our home.”

Pnina was the constant face of Sisterhood at Holy Blossom! She managed the Sisterhood Judaica Shop with Hope Maissner for decades; she organized the annual Sisterhood raffle; she was the financial secretary of Sisterhood far beyond the constitutionally mandated term limits.

Pnina was also known to assign herself roles—an action which occasionally ruffled a few feathers. However, in her matter-of-fact way, she would simply say that if she didn’t look after that particular matter, then it would not get done. No doubt, she was correct!

While Pnina was gregarious, she was also very tender-hearted. Allow me to share one specific instance. I’m certain that people who knew her would also have their own stories to share.

The URJ was holding its Biennial conference in Boston in December 2001. It was the first large Reform Movement gathering that I would be attending. Amidst my excitement, I was also unsure about what to expect. In addition, because we were flying to Boston just a few months after 9/11, I was pretty terrified at that prospect. So, Pnina and I took the same flight and she held my hand throughout! At the WRJ conference, which ran parallel to the URJ gathering, there was a siyum taking place—a celebration in honour of the completing of the writing of the WRJ Torah scroll. I recall that moment vividly as this stunning newly written scroll by WRJ women, under the supervision of the scribe, was unwound and held up by women wearing white gloves. I had never seen a Torah scroll unravelled and it was a glorious sight! Pnina and I walked arm-in-arm around the ballroom and gazed at the entire length of the scroll. We located my eldest child’s Torah portion that he would be reading in two years’ time. What an emotional experience!

Over the course of many years, Pnina and I shared hotel rooms at too many meetings and conferences to mention. Primarily, I remember our laughing through those events!

Pnina was a proud Canadian and represented our women’s group so ably as our representative to our Northeast District board. Every year, she would present a Canadian perspective on our programming related to sisterhood, spirituality, or social justice work. She always made us proud.

Pnina was a trusting and loyal friend to those who knew her. She would be so pleased to see our new bold direction, to meet our new members, and to learn about our good works that create a meaningful community.

 

All genders are welcome to join Women of Holy Blossom and pray in solidarity with Israel’s Women of the Wall.

Join Women of Holy Blossom in sacred worship for Rosh Chodesh Elul on Tuesday, September 3, 7:30 am

Re-conceptualizing Spaces

by Gillian Rosenberg
Communications Coordinator for Women of Holy Blossom (WHB)
WHB representative to the Northeast District of Women of Reform Judaism

 

In an effort to live up to our branding around diversity and inclusivity, WHB is deepening its understanding of the nature of spaces in which we interact. We have been using the term safe spaces to describe what is desirable. This term was traditionally used by 2SLGBTQ+ communities and characterized in the negative as being without bias, conflict, criticism, or threat. The term is now challenged on the premise that safety is a personal perspective or perception related to one’s own situation, both unique to a space and in regard to what participants carry with them into that space. The latter might include, for example, past trauma, pain, insecurities, differing comfort levels, burdens, and physical or cognitive challenges. Despite best efforts to anticipate the needs of others, we cannot control how they will actually feel in a space, and if they will, in fact, feel safe.

 

Brave spaces is suggested as an alternative term. But I think it suffers the same problem. We cannot ensure that someone will feel brave any more than we can ensure they will feel safe.

 

Words matter, but sometimes they risk obfuscating or distracting from the intention behind them. I think this is the case now. Therefore, instead of investing time and energy trying to articulate the right word to describe our desired spaces, only to find it is inadequate, let’s go back to basics.

 

What is our actual goal? Twofold: 1) that everyone in our spaces feels welcomed, comfortable, seen, celebrated, safe, and brave; 2) that everyone in our spaces works to ensure this is the case for everyone else. It is two sides of the same coin, aimed at avoiding harm and preserving dignity for all.

 

Based on this goal, we can reframe how we think about spaces as a shared responsibility, co-created on a foundation of pro-social and moral values, such as listening, kindness, patience, respect, fairness, honesty, generosity, and compassion. This must be negotiated and managed, in concrete terms, both in anticipation and in the moment, with every new composition of participants. What does kindness look like in our sessions, events, programs? What would be an example of someone being kind? How do we recognize when someone is in need of kindness? Ditto for the other values. Answers to these questions are less straightforward and more nuanced than one might think. Consider the inverse. Many micro-aggressions are deeply hurtful but go unnoticed by aggressors and bystanders, who may think of themselves as kind.

 

At the recent North American Conference for Women of Reform Judaism, the women’s affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, the opening ceremony included a concrete ethics statement outlining how we were to treat each other and what we could expect from others in how we are treated. An open invitation was offered to anyone wanting to discuss this further. I wish I had taken notes.

 

Here is a statement from the conference registration package, to give you an idea:

 

Women of Reform Judaism strives to create an environment of kavod (honor and respect), demonstrating regard for one another in the spirit of b’tzelim Elohim (being created in God’s image). To this end, WRJ seeks to create communities of mutual respect, physical and emotional safety, and fundamental decency, valuing equally all individuals in its sphere. We value the importance of dibbur (honest and thoughtful speech,) sh’tikah (listening silently to understand), and savlanut (patience).

 

It is difficult, maybe impossible, to capture the comprehensiveness of this deeply Jewish and humane statement in a single word. And WHB does not wish to engage in such an academic exercise. Rather, we are interested in what this looks like in practice and how it is realized in action. So, stay tuned as we follow the exemplary lead of WRJ and continue to work on living up to our branding.

 

If you would like to help, please email us at [email protected].