Cheshvan is the second month of the Jewish calendar counting from Rosh Hashanah (the eighth month from Nisan). This is the only month in the Hebrew calendar that does not have any holidays or special Mitzvot.
The month of Cheshvan is the anticlimax of the previous month of Tishrei where we had so many holidays and spiritual experiences. During this month we are invited to take a ‘spiritual’ vacation. As we enter Cheshvan, we begin to experience real life, reality begins to sink in and we return to the daily and “mundane” grind. We are invited to reflect in all that we gained in the month of Tishrei and integrate it into our lives, learning how to balance the spiritual and the physical elements of our life in unison and harmony and to recharge our souls with positive energy to carry us through the heavy and cold months of winter.
How should one go about the transition from holiday to workday? “In His way,” in G‑d’s way. The eleven remaining months of the year are the majority of one’s life, and they are meant to be utilized for both function and purpose. G‑d’s intention is that we infuse the delight of “vacation” into our daily activities, bringing meaning and holiness to every aspect of our lives כן יהי רצון
Our Woman of Valour for the month of Cheshvan is Margaret Hart z’l, and honouring her memory is Ron Hart and Murray Hart both active members of HBT. We hope you will join us on Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 am for the Service & Celebration. Learn more and join us here: holyblossom.org/event/rosh-chodesh-cheshvan/
Our Mother (Margaret Hart) in 500 Words
By Ron Hart
We would like to thank HBT for bestowing the Woman of Valour Award to our mother. There are too many stories for only 500 words, but I will try my best.
Margaret didn’t grow up at Holy Blossom, but she did meet our Dad, David at a Holy Blossom singles event. Once married, she made Temple her own.
Her HBT life largely involved four areas: Teaching in Religious School, Sisterhood, Interfaith, and Temple Singers.
My Mother taught grade one for over twenty years. I remember watching her meticulously prepare her lessons plans. She was known for always having the most creative bulletin board displays. To this day, former students recount fond memories of being in her class. She was a mentor to many teachers and student teachers who remember her as an excellent role model for young teachers and the caring way she dealt with her students.
In 1979, as announced in the Temple Bulletin, her teaching skill and “active and ongoing involvement in and commitment to Holy Blossom Temple and its Religious School” was recognized when she was awarded the Norman Grant Memorial Scholarship. Mom was the third recipient of the award, an award which allowed her to attend the UAHC Educators Ulpan/Institute at the University of Haifa.
She returned from Israel energized and would refer to the experience as one of the most rewarding and meaningful ones of her life.
Upon her retirement as a teacher in 1982, Rabbi Stephen Garten wrote“There is no way a newcomer like myself can adequately express what you have meant to this synagogue. I can express how appreciative I am to have the opportunity to work with and learn from you. I will always remember your Purim costumes, your storytelling, and your obvious concern for children.”
Our mother was active in HBT Sisterhood for many decades. With her best friend, Clare Denaburg z’l’, she assisted in the planning of many events over the years and participated fully in them. I would describe our mother as a doer. I think she often enjoyed the planning as much as the actual event itself.
Mom sang in the HBT non-professional choirs from Gordon Kushner’s Glee Club in the early ‘60s to Beny Maissner’s Temple Singers. During the Beny years, she enthusiastically threw herself into choir business. There were seemingly endless phone calls with her fellow choir members. In our house we used to tease her: “There’s no business like choir business.”
Mom was always popular with singers in her section and was good at making new, often much younger, members felt comfortable in the choir.
Our parents were both involved in three major Temple initiatives: They assisted an extended Vietnamese refugee family settle into life in Toronto, and they were original participants of HBT’s “Out of the Cold” program. Our mother always had empathy for people less fortunate than herself.
Mom also supported Dad’s interfaith work. Together each year they conducted interfaith demonstration seders with church groups. Mom was tasked not only with preparing her excellent Charoset but more importantly reciting the Hebrew prayers and leading the singing as Dad had limited Hebrew and couldn’t carry a tune. They must have been a good team because every year they received more requests for seders.
In 1985, under the auspices of the Caring Community, she pioneered a program arranging rides to Temple for seniors. Originally a three-month pilot project, it turned into a seven-year commitment. This job involved finding Temple members who lived nearby and encouraging them to do a mitzvah by offering lifts to people who needed them. This was something my mother was good at. It was hard to say no to her.
In 1990, she received a Caring Community Certificate. Her participation at Temple was always characterized by her passion, attention to detail, and desire to make a positive difference. These qualities can also be seen in her time spent outside of Temple.
She volunteered for years with UJA including serving as General Canvass coordinator of the Women’s Division, United Jewish Appeal, and Israel Emergency Fund Campaign Appeal. United Jewish Appeal of Toronto presented her with a Certificate of Merit for her devoted service.
Though not a gourmet chef, she prepared meals with loving attention to detail and was an excellent cook. Her recipes and advice have long been sought out in many of her social circles. Jill and Murray still make many of her recipes.
I hope these remarks will give you a sense of who our mother was and her passion for Holy Blossom Temple and the Jewish community.
We have reached the last month of our calendar 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, is 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.”
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 teshuva (“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.
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 action. As it is said, we first do and then we will understand.
“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year” (L”shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim)
We hope you will join us for our Rosh Chodesh Elul Service on Sunday, August 24, at 9:00 am.
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 Shacharit services followed by a light breakfast. Learn more & join us here!
by Sheila Smolkin
One of the many things I have come to appreciate while working on the Temple Archives is the tremendous contribution various women in the congregation have made to the development of our synagogue over the years. One of those women is Marilyn Farber, a true Woman of Valour.
Marilyn attributed her mother, Sadie Danson, with imbuing her with a feeling of pride in the family’s long association with Holy Blossom, an association that dates back to the Richmond Street days. (Holy Blossom built its first home on Richmond Street in 1876 and occupied that space for the next 21 years.) Two of her aunts were members of the first Confirmation class of 1899, a class designed especially for young girls.
Marilyn followed her mother by becoming very involved in Sisterhood (now Women of Holy Blossom) and eventually became President of Sisterhood from 1961 to 1963. Her page in Sisterhood’s Women of Valour Book lists her accomplishments as a Vice-President of the Parent Council, a founder of Holy Blossom Alumni (an early seniors’ group at Temple), the formation of the Fine Arts Committee, and the creation of Oneg Shabbat following Friday night services.
The Archives is fortunate to have several memories written by Marilyn of her years at Temple, as well as a video interview done by Michael Cole a few years before Marilyn’s death. These pieces bring Temple activities to life, and Marilyn’s friendship with key Temple personnel like Rabbis Eisendrath, Feinberg, and Plaut, as well as Edmund Scheuer, who was considered the father of Canadian Reform Judaism, paints a wonderful picture of just who these leaders really were.
After her stint as President of Sisterhood, Marilyn joined the Temple Board of Trustees and was elected as recording secretary, the first woman to serve as an officer of the congregation. She was named a Warden of the Congregation in the 1980s. Marilyn could very well have gone on to be the first woman president of the congregation except for the fact that when the Chair of the Nominating Committee phoned to offer her the position, her husband, Earl, answered the phone and turned down the request!
One of my favourite passages in the Temple’s Board Minutes is an excerpt of the very long and heated discussion surrounding the issue of allowing liquor to be served at Temple simchas. Up until this point, the only liquor on Temple grounds was wine for Kiddush. But this was the early 1960s, and the Philip Smith Hall had just been completed. The hope was that Temple members would use this facility for functions. Max Enkin and Bora Laskin were both against loosening the rules concerning alcohol and suggested that all sorts of evil activities could follow. The Board Minutes have a simple line attributed to Marilyn where she is reported as saying, “I don’t think that would happen!”
Marilyn’s two brothers, Barney Danson (former Minister of National Defense of Canada) and Bert Danson were members of Temple as well. Some may remember the Danson family as being the original owners of Camp Winnebagoe. Marilyn’s two children, Janie and Ronald, grew up at Temple and Janie, with her husband, Frank Tizel, are still members of Holy Blossom Temple.
I consider myself to be so fortunate to have known Marilyn. From her, I learned true leadership qualities and how to fight for your values in all you do.
Marilyn was indeed a Woman of Valour.
Thursday, June 26, 7:30 am
Tammuz (Tamuz) is the fourth of the 12 months of the Jewish calendar, counting from Nisan. It means “heat” like a glowing furnace, which is very appropriate (for this season) as the sun is more radiant and at its height. It also signifies “Transformation” and “Redemption.”
Why? Understanding that the previous month, Sivan, which was considered the ‘Giver’ of the Torah, G/d gives the commandments to the Jewish people, and during the month of Tammuz, as Moses went up the mountain, we then represent the “Receiver” of the Torah.
The limb of the month is the Right Hand, which has a practical application used to celebrate Shabbat and to help us love G/d by following the 248 positive commandments. Zodiac sign, Cancer (Crab) has a shell that hosts a body that grows and when the shell breaks, metaphorically speaking, ‘breaks the mould’. Meaning we too can change and transform.
Tammuz is an appropriate month to honour Matilda Bigio z’l, and as we know more about her life and her accomplishments, she taught us that after all her tragedies, she transformed her life and chose to do as many mitzvoth as she could, which earned her well-deserved recognition.
Join Women of Holy Blossom in sacred worship for Shacharit services followed by a light breakfast on Thursday, June 26, 7:30 am. Worship with us here!
A tribute to Matilda Bigio z’l by Linda Neufeld
A Woman of Valour—Who Can Find? From the Book of Proverbs, 31:10:31
Being a woman of valour means faithfully living out her gifts, talents and passions for the good of those around her. Who can find her?
Matilda Bigio was definitely a Woman of Valour!
In preparing to honour Matilda, I reached out to her grandson, Samuel, whom she adored. Samuel wrote, “I think about my Nana often for so many reasons. Kaylyn and I had a baby girl, and we named her Mayla Matilda. Recently, Mayla has been able to fit into many of the beautiful knitted cardigans that my Nana used to make and donate. She had set some aside with the intention that one day she would have a great-grandchild who would wear them. Funnily enough, they are all girl colours. I tell everyone that my Nana KNEW we would have a girl somehow all those years earlier. I am so touched that you and Sisterhood (now Women of Holy Blossom) would think to honour my Nana in this way. She would absolutely have loved that.”
Samuel continues, “I would just say that, despite the many tragedies of losing her children and her husband, Matilda pushed ever forward in life with a sense of resilience and strength to be reckoned with. She poured herself into her community through volunteerism—through Temple, friendships, and groups like Sisterhood. She understood the importance of belonging, community, and religion, and never questioned her faith. She was loved and missed dearly by many and especially her two grandsons, who think of her often. Thank you for honouring and remembering her in this way.”
Matilda was born in Cairo, Egypt, to European parents. She grew up with three brothers in a villa with servants. Her first language was French, but she would later learn English, Italian, Arabic, Yiddish, and a little Greek. She was seventeen years old when she met Henry, who was fourteen years her senior. It was love at first sight, and they married. The family— including ten-year-old Nancy and eight-year-old Andre—immigrated to Canada in 1956. They were fleeing from Egypt following a revolution in the country.
Matilda’s life was about to come crashing down. At the age of sixty-two, Henry died of a brain tumour. Just eight years later, Nancy died of brain cancer. Then, ten years later, a brain tumour killed Andre, who left behind two young sons, Samuel and Benjamin.
Matilda used to say, “I have had a hard life, believe me, but volunteering and bringing comfort or a smile to people in distress makes my life worthwhile.” Matilda was strong-willed and painfully honest.
At a time of life when most people would be taking it easy, she had no intention of slowing down. Every week, she visited patients at Villa Colombo, where she comforted them by speaking Italian; she also visited Baycrest Hospital in the palliative care ward because she spoke Yiddish.
Because she volunteered more than 1,700 hours, Matilda received the Provincial Ministry of Culture and Citizenship Senior Achievement Award on Oct 28, 2009.
At Holy Blossom, every week for many years, Matilda sang in the Temple choir and volunteered in the Judaica Shop and Out of the Cold. She also knitted cardigan sweaters for baby namings, led weekday evening worship services, and was the Sisterhood Correspondence Coordinator, sending handwritten greetings, birthday, and get-well cards!
Matilda also volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital and travelled to Israel to teach English to new immigrants.
Matilda was my friend and a true role model for many of us. She exemplified strength and courage. For someone who had experienced so much loss and grief in her life, her ability and commitment to giving so much to others and to her community were remarkable. She is missed by many and will be remembered by us all. Matilda was the epitome of a Woman of Valour.
May Matilda Bigio’s Memory be for a Blessing.
You are invited to attend Shacharit services on Wednesday, May 28, to welcome the month of Sivan at 7:30 am.
Sivan’s zodiac sign is Gemini, and the third month of the Hebrew calendar. The controlling planet is Mercury, the planet of communication, which means it is like an electrical cable, telephone wire, a teacher, an adviser, and a storyteller – anything that can transfer any information from point A to point B.
This month’s honoree on our series Woman of Valour is Cynthia Good, and quoting from Proverbs poem #26/27: “Her mouth is full of wisdom, her tongue with kindly teaching.” Cynthia has connected with our community through the Holy Blossom Temple for Jewish Literature and has been a teacher to all of us through her lectures and her “Good Book” sessions for many years. We are the lucky beneficiaries of her good wisdom.
During Shavuot, we read the story of Ruth, the Moabite princess who abandoned everything safe and familiar to follow. A life of physical rigour and spiritual truth. Her story is the story of all of us this month as we try to move beyond our limited grasp of truth and move closer to the whole picture we saw at Sinai. During Sivan, we have the unique opportunity to go beyond the surface of the physical world and renew the deeper spiritual meaning hidden within each of us.
Shacharit breakfast is generously sponsored by Cynthia’s fans and admirers in honour of Cynthia Good, Woman of Valour.
It is my honour and a privilege to recognize Cynthia Good as a Woman of Valour, and a true gift to our Holy Blossom community.
Cynthia was born and brought up in Toronto in a secular Jewish family which valued education. In spite of being secular, they did celebrate Passover, Christmas, and baseball.
At age seven, Cynthia knew, as did the family, that she would become an actress. Her mother also had her sign a form to promise that she would complete university! She began acting in shows at age twelve, and after completing high school, she attended acting school in New York for the summer. She and three friends started a theatre company with the encouragement of her parents. Cynthia recalls her sister helped her with her lines!
Cynthia attended the University of Toronto while continuing to act in theatre productions. She went on to a doctorate program focusing on 19th-century literature and the era of George Eliot. Though she never completed her PhD, she was awarded an honorary doctorate.
Her first job was in a law office as a part-time receptionist. One of the lawyers in the firm encouraged her to apply for a job at a small publishing firm. Ultimately, that led her to Penguin Books. Cynthia worked at Penguin for twenty years and became the president and publisher. Cynthia also started a publishing program at Humber College and taught there for twelve years. It was during her time at Penguin Books that, by chance in 1991, Cynthia was introduced to Rabbi Marmur through Rabbi Plaut at a launch party for a Jewish book.
Cynthia spoke with Rabbi Marmur and indicated an interest in exploring her Jewish identity. He encouraged her to attend Torah study at Holy Blossom and, in fact, called her on Friday afternoon to suggest she attend Torah study the next morning. He even met her in the parking lot to help her feel more at ease! He met with Cynthia several times individually, and she began her life at Holy Blossom.
Cynthia is very clear that the decision to join Holy Blossom changed her life dramatically. She studied with Rabbi Moscowitz, and in 199,4 she had her Bat Mitzvah.
When she left Penguin Books in 2003 and was at “loose ends,” Rabbi Moscowitz suggested that she teach. So, Cynthia launched a course in contemporary Jewish fiction and has since then involved herself in other adult education programs.
In 2020, when the pandemic hit, Cynthia started Good Books at Holy Blossom – an online book discussion every two weeks. It quickly expanded to attract 50-100 people each session. She was able not only to connect people to books but to each other and to fill the void that Covid created. Good Books continues to thrive.
Cynthia created the Holy Blossom Centre for Jewish Literature. She has brought many well-known authors, such as Anita Diamant, Daniel Silva, and Dara Horn to Temple to speak, drawing a large audience at each event.
Cynthia has also been involved with the Out of the Cold program; she chants Torah and leads the evening service once a month. But her love of the written word and her ability to share this with us, is particularly valued. She is wise and thoughtful and not afraid to ask questions. She challenges us to be discerning.
When asked what Holy Blossom means to her, she told me, “These are my people.” She feels part of a community and her involvement in Holy Blossom has changed every part of her life. She has had the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to connect to her Jewish identity and to form meaningful relationships. And to meet and marry her bashert, Dan. Cynthia and Dan were married in 2007 by Rabbi Dow Marmur z”l.
Her acting skills have given her the confidence and ability to teach, to lead, to reach out to people, and to help us appreciate the power of the written word. And for all this, we are grateful for that chance meeting with Rabbi Marmur in 1991.
On Monday, April 28, we welcome Rosh Chodesh Iyar, the second month counting from Nissan, it is also called “The Month of Light” (Chodesh Ziv) because the trees are bright with blossoms. The entire month of Iyar is Holy because it is a mitzvah to count the 49 days of the Omer, between Passover and Shavuot.
This month we will honour Ruthe Schipper, a Woman of Valour who has volunteered and executed countless positions, from Sisterhood (now WHB) to Women of Reform Judaism. She always participates in events with her contagious, cheerful, and humble attitude, which leads me to quote so appropriately the permutation of the month.
The permutation for the month of Iyar is: יההו
But only in this should one glory: In his earnest devotion to Me.
For I the LORD act with kindness, Justice, and equity in the world; for in these I delight
—declares the LORD. (Jeremiah, chapter 9, v23)
Please join us on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Monday, April 28, at 7:30 am, Shacharit Services as we pay tribute to Ruthie Schipper. We invite you to stay after services for Kiddush and celebration. Learn more & join us here: holyblossom.org/event/rosh-chodesh-iyar/
Shacharit breakfast is generously sponsored by The Schipper Family in honour of Ruthe Schipper, Woman of Valour.
All are welcome!
Celebrating Ruthe Schipper
by Sara B. Charney
Ruthe Schipper’s community service can best be described by the word: “friendships.” She has friends from many walks of life—be it work, family, Holy Blossom, and Women of Reform Judaism. Her vast network of friends and relations is astounding, and some days, I truly believe that she is related to half the Jewish population of Toronto!
Ruthe enjoys so many friendships as she is eternally devoted and dedicated to her family, to her professional career, and to her volunteer work.
We routinely learn about the milestones in the lives of her numerous nieces and nephews and very proudly shows her devotion publicly on her license plate: 1GRTANT! There is no doubt that she is a terrific aunt, remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and parties celebrating her family.
Ruthe is devoted to her community at Holy Blossom. She loves feeling part of the Temple community and was greatly inspired when she participated in the Adult Bat Mitzvah class.
She and I met when we both became involved in the women’s group, or Sisterhood, of Holy Blossom, many years ago! She held many positions, including that of Recording Secretary far beyond the constitutionally mandated time period, but she would always laugh it off and revel being “in breach” of that ruling! Ruthe loved being part of the Sisterhood board which culminated in her becoming Sisterhood president—a position she held in high esteem and to this day, is a proud marker in her volunteer life.
Ruthe then continued her involvement beyond the Holy Blossom Sisterhood board by joining the WRJ Northeast District board and held officer positions for many years. While on the Northeast District board, Ruthe organized during the pandemic several events, some in-person and others online. She also served on District committees helping organize major conferences.
If you visit Ruthe at her Pet Valu store in Leaside, you will see our Ruthe—a gregarious woman with a hearty laugh, expertly directing customers as they shop for a particular item for their pet. Our dogs, Sammy and Baci, have both enjoyed very fun visits and I have to say, it is an enjoyable outing for me too!
Just one story—quite recently, I called Ruthe to ask if she had this additive to the water bowl to help clean the dog’s teeth. While she frankly explained to me that nothing like that really cleans the teeth, she did notice that it did reduce the “charming” odour of her own dog’s breath. I said that I’d try one and she very kindly dropped off a bottle—she told me that she had chosen that particular brand as it is made in Canada and she figured that I’d probably appreciate that fact!
Ruthe’s modus operandi is to be devoted to whatever task is at hand; to do an excellent job; to delight in getting to know people; and to thrive. Through knee surgeries and whatever else has been thrown her way, I have never known Ruthe to sit on the sidelines for long. She is too full of life, energy and goodwill to let a day pass without making a positive impact on her surroundings.
Keep on being you, my friend, and may you live to be 120!
Women of Holy Blossom invites you to our Rosh Chodesh Service to welcome the month of Nissan next Sunday, March 30th, 2025 at 9:00 am.
Please join us for breakfast after the service to reconnect with friends and celebrate our Woman of Valour, Gerry Prendergast. I hope you can join us.
The month of Nissan is referred to as Chodesh ha-aviv (month of spring). It is considered the first month of the Jewish calendar, the Zodiac sign, Aries and its attribute is Speech. And a propos with speech the connection is to re-tell the story of the exodus from Egypt through the Haggadah. But in this case, we are here to recount the story of a Woman of Valour Gerry Prendergast, a woman with multiple virtues and exceptional qualities which we are lucky to witness every Shabbat in our temple.
Teresa Quiroz, on behalf of Women of Holy Blossom
Women of Valour Series honours Gerry Prendergast!
by Val Waldman
Anyone who knows Gerry Prendergast loves her for her sense of humour and even more for her sincere concern for others. Three things in her life have spiritually moved her: when training as a midwife she witnessed the miracle of birth, embracing the Jewish faith and values, and belonging to the Holy Blossom community.
Gerry was born in Dublin, Ireland. She described to me her disillusionment growing up in the Catholic Church which included being a student at private Catholic elementary and high schools. She was searching for a connection to God which was not evident to her in what the church offered.
Gerry came to Toronto from Dublin in 1980 with her husband and first daughter. Her second daughter was born in Canada. Having completed three nursing diplomas in Dublin, she began her career as an oncology nurse in 1986 after her divorce.
Here in Toronto she met Jewish friends and witnessed the joy and value of the celebration of Shabbat and Holidays.
Gerry worked with Dr. Barry Rosen at Princess Margaret Hospital. Barry and his wife Beth Goldstein were instrumental in introducing her to Rabbi John Moscowitz, who agreed to be her sponsoring rabbi for the Jewish Conversion Class. Gerry was inspired by the warmth of the community and the comfort of the friends she met there. Gerry completed the Jewish Conversion Class with the support of her daughters Emma and Krista. In 2008 she completed her adult Bat Mitzvah. She has continued to study with many teachers, including the Hartman Institute.
Gerry greets us almost every Shabbat morning and on major holidays. As Lead Usher she works with volunteers to ensure the community and guests are welcomed. She loves watching people, responding to their needs and observing people at prayer. She volunteered with the Out of the Cold Program. As Vice President of the Worship for 5 years, she oversaw the final printing of the Siddur Pirchei Kodesh, of the Shiva prayer book for the home, and of the leaflet “A Guide for Mourners”. She is a member of the Security Committee. She also makes sure the children’s books on the PJ Library bookracks are available every Shabbat and are festival-appropriate.
Gerry also has had the pleasure of being part of a Holy Blossom Chavurah for over 14 years.
Gerry explains how much she enjoys the camaraderie and dedication of so many of the people she’s worked with and met at Holy Blossom. This includes the volunteer ushers with their willingness to help and their caring, the enthusiasm of the volunteers for Out of the Cold, and the concern and hard work of the volunteer committee that oversees security for the Temple.
Did I mention that she chants Haftarah and Torah? She also chants the Purim Megillah. Her lovely voice fills the room with spirituality.
In addition to devoting so many hours to our Temple, Gerry often takes care of her beloved grandchildren Seamus and Gus and is an advocate for the needs of neurodivergent children and adults.
Gerry’s words: “I was looking for a strong belief system – a home, a validation. I have found for myself a purpose and a spiritual home here at Holy Blossom.” How fortunate we are to have her here at Holy Blossom as a woman of valour!
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.