Congregational
Impact Report
2024 – 2025 | 5785
Holy Blossom Temple
Today,
Tomorrow
and Forever
Congregational
Today,
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A Message from our Rabbi
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Tradition and Modernity
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Belonging
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Learning
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Prayer and Ritual
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Acts of Service
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Israel
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2025 Fiscal Year: Financial Snapshot
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2025 Fiscal Year: Member Snapshot
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The Today Campaign
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The Tomorrow Campaign
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The Forever Campaign
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The L’Dor VaDor Circle
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Glossary
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Our Dedicated Professional Team
A
MESSAGE from
OUR RABBI
Guarding the new, internal entrance to our Main Sanctuary is a silver yad. Made of silver, gold, and sapphire, it is the oldest artifact of Toronto Jewry. We believe it contains the secret of the origin of our name. It is a rare name, laden with generations of Jewish values and virtues. It has shaped our identity for nearly 170 years.
In 1856, seventeen families decided to establish the first synagogue for the new city of Toronto. One of them was the son of Jewish leaders of Montreal. His father, Elyakum ben Yitzchak of the Asher family, was the President of the Spanish-Portuguese synagogue there and his mother, Rachel, was the daughter of Officer Nathan Katz of Montreal. The son asked his parents if they would give a most precious gift, a Torah Scroll, around which Jews could gather in Toronto. By Pesach, 1857, a Sefer Torah had arrived and was dedicated.
But Elyakum and Rachel gave much more than what was requested. Their generosity prompted another gift of the heart. The Torah Scroll was adorned in silver crowns, breastplate, and pointer. The yad carries a Hebrew inscription, which shapes our congregation to this day. It reads: “This Torah scroll and its adornments are given to the Sacred Congregation of Pirchei Kodesh in the city of Toronto… as a gift in perpetuity.” Through this carefully crafted inscription, the Ashers sent at least two instructions to their son and to us: leadership and generosity.
| Leadership
What are Pirchei Kodesh, Blossoms of Holiness? This poetic phrase is a Talmudic reference to the young Kohanim in training. They would one day become responsible for the spiritual well being of the Jewish People and required years of dedicated study and practice. Elyakum and Rachel were signaling to their son: The Jewish People needs leaders like you to create the future we seek in this good country.
I believe Elyakum and Rachel were addressing us, too. In every era, Holy Blossom Temple has given rise to courageous and compassionate leadership to serve and steer the Jewish People in Canada, Israel, and throughout the world. We hear this call again today.
| Lasting Generosity
The inscription describes מתנע דע הנתמ matana ad olam — “a gift in perpetuity.” The Asher family had their eyes on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever. Both the parents and the son saw themselves as links in the chain of the Jewish story. Through their generosity of time and treasure, they wrote their names into the Shalshelet HaDorot, “the Chain of the Generations” and they invited us to do the same.
I am very proud of how our congregation is growing – larger and younger. I am very proud of all that we have built together – with creativity and commitment. As we approach Holy Blossom’s 170th anniversary, I thank you for ensuring that leadership and lasting generosity continue to be the hallmarks of our congregation. These trying days demand nothing less of us. With God’s blessing, we will secure the “ever-blossoming” future our founders dreamt for us and for those who will follow.
With gratitude,
Rabbi Yael Splansky
Senior Rabbi
Baskin-Garson Senior Rabbinic Chair
Pillar of Congregational Life 01
Tradition and Modernity
מסורה וחדשנות
Holy Blossom Temple is Toronto’s first synagogue and a flagship congregation of the Reform Movement. We are a diverse and growing congregation, representing a respectful range of Jewish observance and beliefs. Our Rabbis’ and Cantors’ meaningful, responsible and relevant approach to worship and celebration creates an inclusive and joyful space where we can gather, pray, learn and create community. The generations of congregants and Temple leaders who came before us worked tirelessly to create this sacred congregation, which continues to serve and shelter us in our times of greatest need.+
{
The desert shall rejoice, the wilderness be glad and blossom like the lily. It shall bloom abundantly, rejoicing in jubilant song.
(Isaiah 35:1)
}
Ours is a
five-generation
Holy Blossom
Temple family.
As a young girl, my mother, Alice Suroff, attended Holy Blossom’s religious school, when it was located on Bond Street and she was confirmed there in 1927. After marrying my father, W. Bernard Herman, Holy Blossom Temple on Bathurst Street also became his spiritual home and later, for my sister Carole and me. Fast forward many years from marriage and motherhood to today, many of our children comprise our family’s fourth generation of Temple members. The fifth generation is represented by our grandchildren who have experienced meaningful life cycle events in Temple’s sacred spaces. How blessed all our members are! Holy Blossom is more than a spiritual home. While anchoring every aspect of Judaism, it breathes life and sustains us during joyous and challenging times.
Wendy Eisen, C.M.
Founding President of
the Holy Blossom Temple
Foundation
Our Proud History:
1856
17 families establish Holy Blossom, Toronto’s first Jewish congregation
1876
The congregation builds Toronto’s first synagogue at Yonge and Richmond streets
1897
The growing congregation builds a larger synagogue at 115 Bond St.
1920s
Holy Blossom joins the Reform Movement, under the leadership of Edmund Scheuer, the father of Canadian Reform Judaism
1938
With greater growth, Holy Blossom builds at 1950 Bathurst St.
1960
Education Wing is built to serve Toronto’s growing Jewish community
1981
Rabbi Plaut writes ‘The Torah: A Modern Commentary’, a seminal work for Reform Jews worldwide
1992
Leo Baeck Hebrew Day School opens its south campus in the Education Wing
2014
Rabbi Yael Splansky is installed as Senior Rabbi
2019
Work is completed on one of the largest synagogue renovations in North America
Pillar of Congregational Life 02
Belonging
קהילה קדושה
Over the past year, it brought us all joy to see long-time members and our newest congregants connecting through participation in Temple life. We came together to learn, pray, have fun, share in each other’s joys and sorrows, reach out to one another in support and compassion and create lasting and meaningful memories. Your generosity in last year’s Annual Campaign made it possible for membership at Holy Blossom Temple to be accessible to everyone who wishes to join our Kehillah Kedoshah. Generous donors actively invested in growing our next generation of members and engaging young Jewish families with flexible membership models and customized programming.
I spent years attending services around the city, never really connecting. The very first service at
Holy Blossom
just clicked
for me.
As a young girl, my mother, Alice Suroff, attended Holy Blossom’s religious school, when it was located on Bond Street and she was confirmed there in 1927. After marrying my father, W. Bernard Herman, Holy Blossom Temple on Bathurst Street also became his spiritual home and later, for my sister Carole and me. Fast forward many years from marriage and motherhood to today, many of our children comprise our family’s fourth generation of Temple members. The fifth generation is represented by our grandchildren who have experienced meaningful life cycle events in Temple’s sacred spaces. How blessed all our members are! Holy Blossom is more than a spiritual home. While anchoring every aspect of Judaism, it breathes life and sustains us during joyous and challenging times.
Ira Glasner
{
The righteous shall blossom like a date-palm, shall thrive like a cedar. Those who plant themselves in the House of The Eternal will blossom in the courtyards of our God.
(Psalms 92: 13 – 14)
}
Our Blossoming Congregation:
519
households have
joined us since 2022
10%
of our congregation
is new this year
~30%
of our congregation
joined in the past
3 years
48%
of new members
are under 40
438
children 8 and
younger, and counting
Pillar of Congregational Life 03
Learning
הרות
Together we pursued lifelong learning to advance our Jewish understanding of the evolving and complicated world. Our children learned in classrooms and through immersive experiences about the beauty and strength of their Jewish identity. Adult learners were offered a wide range of opportunities to build our knowledge and connect around shared experiences. We also welcomed a series of thought-provoking speakers to challenge our thinking and expand our worldview. With additional investments in security, we were able to continue to open our doors to invite the broader community to learn with us. We are all excited to be welcoming six exuberant classes of Bialik Hebrew Day School Junior Kindergarten students to our refurbished third floor classrooms starting in September 2026.
{
Teach me, O God, the way of Your laws; I will observe them to the utmost. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your Torah and keep it wholeheartedly.
(Psalms 119 : 33 – 34)
}
I’ve always been fascinated by life’s big questions and why people believe what they believe. However, prior to joining Holy Blossom, I hadn’t found a synagogue that could help me pursue the answers.
The adult education courses at Holy Blossom changed all of this for me.
I’ve enjoyed my interactions with our Rabbis as true teachers, committed to learning together and helping me on my journey of discovery with their knowledge, wisdom, encouragement and accessibility. It’s been wonderful to learn under their tutelage with fellow congregants in respectful, interactive and engaging discussions, as we explore foundational Jewish texts and commentary, enriching our understanding of what it means to be Jewish.
Mark Madras
Our Beit Midrash/House of Learning:
63
Early Childhood
Education Students
in September 2025
59
Students in
Conversion Classes
since February 2024
50
Holy Blossom
Travel Students
57
Guest Speakers
6
Hebrew Teen
Tutors
155
Youth Education
Students
187
Adult Education
Classes
6
Classrooms to be
renovated by 2026
Pillar of Congregational Life 04
Prayer and Ritual
הדובע
From Shacharit Services and Mincha/Ma’ariv services on weekdays to our celebrations of Shabbat, Festivals and the High Holy Days, we gathered to draw ourselves closer to one another and closer to God. By celebrating and mourning the significant moments of life, we performed mitzvot and sanctified the Jewish life cycle. Holy Blossom offers us many prayer settings – formal and informal, in-person and virtual, grand and intimate – to support us in our greatest times of need. Our experiences are enriched by the wisdom of our Rabbis, the talents of our Cantors, choirs and musicians and the commitment of our lay leaders.
{
You shall see and your heart will rejoice. You yourself shall flourish like grass and the power of The Eternal will be known through God’s servants.
(Isaiah 66:14)
}
The adult education We are still on a high from our son Kenny becoming a Bar Mitzvah at Holy Blossom. courses at Holy Blossom changed all of this for me.
The program was well thought out and gave him a wonderful shared experience with the other B’nei Mitzvah students. Thanks to the support of the staff, Kenny gained a feeling of belonging at synagogue and the preparation he needed to step onto the Bimah with confidence. Holy Blossom was also the perfect venue for our luncheon celebration. We are looking forward to our son Ryan’s Bar Mitzvah at Holy Blossom in 2027!
Rebecca Cooper & David Poster
Our Beit Midrash/House of Worship:
46
B’nei Mitzvah
46
B’nei Mitzvah
320
Aliyot
33
Funerals
34
Weddings and Aufrufs
155
Youth Education
Students
187
Adult Education
Classes
6
Classrooms to be
renovated by 2026
Pillar of Congregational Life 05
Acts Service
םידסח תולימג
In a world where loving-kindness seems rare, our fellow congregants found innumerable ways to express gemilut chasadim. Whether it was cooking for a sick congregant, or leading a shiva service for a grieving family, we took care of each other. Helping the vulnerable in our society remained a cornerstone of our work to heal the world. The Out of the Cold Program opened our doors and hearts to adults facing homelessness, isolation or food insecurity. Our Holy Grounds Cafe provided great coffee to Temple visitors and inclusive employment opportunities for the Infinite Bean Crew. We also stood up to antisemitism through a series of projects led by our Advocacy Committee. Through your many actions, we effected positive change.
Just watch me. I can brew a mean latte.
Robert Fisherman,
Holy Blossom Congregant
and Holy Grounds Infinite
Bean Barista
The program was well thought out and gave him a wonderful shared experience with the other B’nei Mitzvah students. Thanks to the support of the staff, Kenny gained a feeling of belonging at synagogue and the preparation he needed to step onto the Bimah with confidence. Holy Blossom was also the perfect venue for our luncheon celebration. We are looking forward to our son Ryan’s Bar Mitzvah at Holy Blossom in 2027!
{
He has told you what is good and what The Eternal demands of you: but to do justice, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.
(Micah 6:8)
}
Our Beit Midrash/House of Gathering:
145
Homemade kugels delivered to congregants in their time of need
1,750
Warm meals served to Out of the Cold guests
3,000
Happy customers served at Holy Grounds Cafe
200
People supported through the Luke Sklar Mental Health Initiative
20
Baby sweaters and hats knitted
375
Ve’ahavta Van volunteer hours
250
Dorot program participants
48
Bereavement support group meetings
Pillar of Congregational Life 06
Israel
לארשי תבהא
It was a hard and heavy year for Israel and for diaspora Jewry. As we watched the images of terrorism and war, our hearts broke. We prayed for the violence to end. We prayed for our hostages to come home. We prayed for the safety of our Israeli loved-ones, friends and soldiers. We prayed for the innocent victims of terrorist regimes in the region.
We were shaken, but not shocked by the violence and vitriol unleashed on Jewish communities. We persevered, in part, because we met the moment together. Our membership grew, became more engaged and supported each other.
Holy Blossom has always led diaspora congregations in expressing love and providing support to Israel. We pioneered the Shinshinim program in our community, welcoming young Israeli leaders into our congregation and Jewish Day Schools to deepen our understanding and love of Israeli culture. This program has since expanded to congregations around the world with outstanding results.
To meet the current moment, this year we expanded our efforts. We welcomed new Israeli families to our congregation and stepped up to host Israeli visitors stranded by the war. We also partnered with Jewish Vocational Services to connect local Israelis with Holy Blossom peers in similar professional fields. In June, Holy Blossom was proud to join 56,000 of our neighbours in the UJA Walk With Israel. Our Rabbis, Cantors, Educators and congregants served in leadership positions in organizations across North America to advance Zionist causes throughout the world.
{
A land that The Eternal your God looks after. The eyes of The Eternal your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
(Deuteronomy 11:12)
}
One of the things I loved most about growing up in Israel was the strong sense of community. When my family joined Holy Blossom this past year, I thought we were just becoming members. Within a few months we lost my father and then celebrated my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. Even though we were new, the congregation came together to help us mourn and celebrate.
Holy Blossom was there for us in our time of sorrow and simcha.
Esti Sidis Gillis
Am Yisrael Chai:
All JK to Grade 10 students engaged in newly-developed Israel-based curricula.
278
Toronto-based Israelis attended our Ne’ilah service
4
Rabbi, Cantor and Educator visits to Israel in the past year
1
Shinshinit in residence
6
New Israeli congregational households welcomed
54
Programs to support Israel led, hosted, sponsored, co-sponsored or attended by our Rabbis, Cantors and congregational leaders
2025 Fiscal Year
FINANCIAL
SNAPSHOT
Through a steadfast commitment to financial discipline, Holy Blossom Temple has entered a new era of fiscal strength. The partnership of our professional team and lay leaders, combined with the generosity of our members, has enabled us to build a strong financial base from which to deliver exceptional services to our congregants.
Fiscal 2025 – Revenue Breakdown
Fiscal 2025 – Expenses Breakdown
Thanks to your generous support, last year the Annual Campaign raised $1.2 million.
Through your generous contributions and Temple’s diligent financial management, we reduced the debt from the Renewal Project by $4.4 million over the past two fiscal years.
MEMBER
SNAPSHOT
During the 2025 fiscal year, our community flourished, attracting new members, including more young families who have brought their joy and vibrancy to Holy Blossom Temple. We are incredibly proud of our welcoming congregation, and we look forward to continuing to grow together, celebrating our shared traditions while building a strong future for generations to come.
++ Holy Blossom’s 2025 Fiscal Year ended on June 30, 2025. The financial information provided in this report is based on pre-audit information. Temple’s audited financial statements will be available to members upon request in advance of the Annual Meeting of Members in November.
Your donations enriched congregational life last year, for example:
$180 provided coffee and a light breakfast following Shacharit for members in mourning for one week
$360 made daily worship services available on Zoom
$800 supported a livestream broadcast to congregants and guests, including 4 local senior residences
$2,000 supported the professional choir and fresh flowers on Shabbat morning
$3,600 hosted a congregational kiddush lunch each week
$4,000 welcomed a Shabbat scholar-in-residence
$5,000 supported the Purim Carnival
$7,500 built the new Temple Sukkah
$10,000 helped provide High Holy Days programming
The Ever- Blossoming Initiative:
A bold declaration of pride, belonging and permanence
Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto’s first synagogue, was a planted seed. Deep care and nurturing have led us to what we’ve become today. But this is a legacy that will always require care and nurturing to continue, today, tomorrow and forever. To clarify and focus our collective efforts, The Holy Blossom Temple Foundation is launching The Ever-Blossoming Initiative, an ambitious development plan to support our today, build our tomorrow and secure our future.
Holy
Blossom:
A beacon of Jewish joy today, tomorrow and forever
The richness of our Jewish life at Holy Blossom anchors us in times of difficulty and inspires us to look towards the future with hope. We must sustain and expand our six pillars of congregational life. We must look boldly to the future to create the spaces and resources that will meet our needs as we grow and evolve. And, inspired by every congregant who has belonged to our community over our almost 170 year history, we must ensure Holy Blossom as a place of sanctuary, community and light.
The Ever-Blossoming Initiative embraces three development campaigns:
- The Today Campaign
- The Tomorrow Campaign
- The Forever Campaign
Together, we will ensure that Holy Blossom is
Ever-Blossoming today, tomorrow and forever.
In the pages that follow, you will learn more about the Ever-Blossoming Initiative and our Today, Tomorrow and Forever Campaigns. You will also see the specific financial goals that underpin this initiative and its three campaigns are intentionally undefined.
As we begin this exciting journey as a community,
we want to hear from you!
The Holy Blossom Foundation recognizes the wisdom and perspectives of this congregation are vital to the success of the Ever-Blossoming Initiative. The Foundation would like to hear from you. What do you believe is possible? What do you believe is necessary for our congregation’s future? What will help this initiative succeed?
In the months to come we will be holding a number of conversations about how to succeed, as a community, to ensure Holy Blossom is ever-blossoming.
THE TODAY
CAMPAIGN
Our congregation contributes generously to the immediate needs of our community by responding to sponsorship opportunities and participating in our fundraising activities throughout the year. The centerpiece of our near-term fundraising efforts is our Annual Campaign.
Last year we excelled as a congregation, raising $1.2 million through our Annual Campaign, helping us enrich our vibrant community. In addition to supporting the programming and services we all enjoy, the Annual Campaign is also vital for ensuring that financial circumstances are never a barrier to membership and belonging. Your generosity ensures that everyone is welcomed. Thank you!
{
Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this The Eternal your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
(Deuteronomy 15:10)
}
The history and continuity of Holy Blossom is very important to us.
The synagogue is an institution that is not only important to our family but also to the Jewish Community of Toronto and Canada. Ensuring that Holy Blossom is in a strong position both financially and spiritually to flourish into the future is our obligation. We are fortunate that we are able to contribute and we felt by joining the matching program, we would inspire others to step up. With our support we are doing our part and can set an example for our friends and family about the importance of having a welcoming Reform synagogue available for all to benefit.
Craige Walters
This year through our Annual Campaign we will:
- Provide unparalleled experiences in Jewish education across all life stages
- Ensure financial circumstances are never a barrier to membership and belonging
Whether you’ve been part of our congregation for decades or have just joined our community, your participation in the Annual Campaign is critical. Each contribution, no matter the amount, helps strengthen our congregation. If you have already contributed, Thank you!
Support the Today Campaign by giving to our Annual Campaign
This year, proceeds from our Annual Campaign will also support our mission of elevating educational experiences for lifelong learning, including:
- Innovative early childhood programs that foster Jewish identity and joy
- Creative learning methods to provide schoolchildren with knowledge and skills for confidence in Jewish customs and spiritual development
- Engaging teen initiatives that connect our youth to Israel, their heritage and each other
- Adult education that deepens understanding and inspires lifelong Jewish learning
THE TOMORROW
CAMPAIGN
Our faith is not passive. It is an active endeavour that requires strength, commitment and leadership. Planning for the future is a leap of action. Under the banner of the Ever-Blossoming Initiative we are committing to build the Holy Blossom of tomorrow. We must continue to advance our services and programs to meet the needs of our ever-evolving and growing congregation.
{
Build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit … Multiply there, do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the community to which I have sent you and pray to The Eternal on its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper.
(Jeremiah 29 : 5 – 7)
}
Our Tomorrow Campaign focuses on six cornerstones of investment and effort – six vital areas defined by Temple leadership where we will continue to grow, evolve and lead for the near horizon.
You will receive exciting news about the investments your fellow congregants are making in each of these six cornerstones in the days, months and years to come. You will also hear about opportunities for you to contribute and lead. You are invited to find an area of passion to invest in and make your mark on the Jewish future.
These six cornerstones are:
- Providing Unparalleled Jewish Learning Experiences
- Leading Joyful Worship
- Celebrating with Music
- Engaging Young Families
- Creating and Sustaining Beautiful and Sacred Spaces
- Operating with Integrity and Excellence
We will brighten Holy Blossom’s role as a leading source of Jewish joy and light in our six cornerstone areas.
Our Tomorrow Campaign focuses on six cornerstones of investment and effort – six vital areas defined by Temple leadership where we will continue to grow, evolve and lead for the near horizon.
You will receive exciting news about the investments your fellow congregants are making in each of these six cornerstones in the days, months and years to come. You will also hear about opportunities for you to contribute and lead. You are invited to find an area of passion to invest in and make your mark on the Jewish future.
THE FOREVER
CAMPAIGN
We are each a link in the chain that was created by the 17 families that established Holy Blossom Temple, almost 170 years ago. To them, and every congregant before us, we owe a debt of gratitude. They left us so many gifts – a proud history, a sacred space in which we pray, learn and gather, and the strong traditions of community, acts of service and love of Israel from which we draw inspiration and strength.
With the message inscribed on the beautiful yad that accompanied our community’s first sefer torah, our founders were asked to become leaders and to demonstrate perpetual generosity. This wisdom is passed on to us from them. The Jewish People still calls upon leaders to create
{
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
(Genesis 17:7)
}
the future we seek in this good country. The Jewish People still needs each generation to express perpetual generosity to build a future for those to follow.
To ensure our congregation’s future, our generation is establishing a Perpetual Fund. We aim to raise this fund primarily through legacy, insurance and testamentary gifts. This is our time. You are invited to make a gift and add your family’s name to the Shalshelet HaDorot, “the Chain of the Generations” through your leadership and generosity.
Together we can ensure Holy Blossom is Ever Blossoming.
We will establish a Perpetual Fund to ensure Holy Blossom Temple has the financial means to endure and blossom forever.
Support the Forever Campaign
For more information, please contact Shira Lester, Director of Development at 416-789-3291 ext 261 or [email protected]
The L’Dor VaDor Circle
A planned gift to Holy Blossom Temple is an opportunity to leave a legacy that will benefit our Temple community for generations to come. In addition to providing for dependents, family or friends, philanthropically-minded individuals often choose to create a lasting impact by leaving a gift through a bequest – a gift in a will – to organizations they have cherished and supported in their lifetime. As part of the Ever-Blossoming Initiative we invite you to learn about the many flexible, affordable and high-impact ways you can leave a legacy gift to Holy Blossom.
For example, life insurance can be one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to create a powerful charitable legacy. By purchasing a new permanent policy (e.g., whole life or universal life) and naming Holy Blossom Temple as owner and beneficiary—or by transferring an existing policy—donors turn affordable premiums into a future
gift that is often many times larger than what they could give outright. Premiums paid today generally qualify for a charitable donation tax credit, while the eventual tax-free insurance proceeds flow directly to Holy Blossom, bypassing probate and protecting heirs’ inheritances. For donors who prefer to keep control, simply listing Holy Blossom as beneficiary still delivers a substantial, tax-efficient gift. In all cases, life insurance provides certainty for Temple, flexibility for you, and a tangible way to leave a lasting impact without significantly reducing current cash flow.
We invite you to make a legacy gift and become a member of Holy Blossom’s L’Dor Vador Circle, a recognition reserved for congregants who have made testamentary gifts to Temple. Legacy donors can also choose to remain anonymous.
Legacy Giving Options:
- Wills & Bequests
- Gifts of Securities
- Gifts of RRSPs & RRIFs
- Gifts of Insurance
Learn more about
legacy giving opportunities
For more information, please contact Shira Lester, Director of Development at 416-789-3291 ext 261 or [email protected]
Glossary
The English translation of Hebrew and Yiddish words listed in italics throughout this report can be found below.
Aliyah/Aliyot
The honor/s of being called to the Torah
Aufruf
The custom of a couple being called up for an aliyah before their wedding
Avodah
Worship Beit Knesset House of gathering
Beit Midrash
House of learning
Beit Tefillah
House of worship
Brit Milah
Ritual circumcision
B’nei Mitzvah
When a 13-year old is called to the Torah for the first time
Bimah
A raised platform in a synagogue, typically situated in the center or front of the sanctuary, from which the Torah is read and the service is led
Dorot
Generations. The name of Holy Blossom’s community of seniors
Gemilut Chasadim
Acts of loving-kindness and justice
Kehillah Kedoshah
Sacred congregation
Kiddush
The blessing over the wine to sanctify Shabbat and Festivals Kohanim Priests
L’Dor VaDor
From generation to generation
Ma’ariv
Evening prayer service
Madrichim
Youth leaders
Matana Ad Olam
A gift in perpetuity
Mincha
Afternoon prayer service
Mitzvot
Commandments
Ne’ilah
The closing prayers as Yom Kippur concludes
Pesach
Passover
Pirchei Kodesh
Flowers of holiness, holy blossoms
Sefer Torah
A Torah scroll
Shabbat/Shabbatot
The Jewish sabbath/s
Shalshelet HaDorot
Chain of the generations
Shinshinim/Shin Shin
A program developed at Holy Blossom Temple for young Israelis who have chosen to defer their military service to spend a year volunteering abroad as Israeli ambassadors. The term is a play on the Hebrew words “Shnat Sherut” meaning year of service. Shacharit Morning prayer service
Simcha
Joy, happiness or gladness
Sukkah
Temporary structure built to celebrate the festival of Sukkot
Yad
Pointer used for the ritual of reading from the Torah
OUR DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL TEAM
The English translation of Hebrew and Yiddish words listed in italics throughout this report can be found below.
RABBIS AND CANTORS
Rabbi Yael Splansky
Senior Rabbi,
Baskin-Garson Senior Rabbinic Chair
Cantor David Rosen
Senior Cantor & Music Director
Rabbi Samuel Kaye
Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Eliza McCarroll
Assistant Rabbi
Lindi Rivers
Cantorial Soloist
Rabbi Taylor Baruchel
Director Of Outreach & Next Gen Engagement
Rabbi John Moscowitz
Rabbi Emeritus
We also thank and acknowledge our many Youth Education Centre teachers and Madrichim.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Rachel Malach
Executive Director
JoAnne Bieman
Assistant to Rabbis Splansky & Moscowitz
Joe Freedberg
Rabbinic Assistant, Rabbis Kaye & McCarroll (Interim)
Mark Hodgson
Cemetery Supervisor
Jaivahn Johnson
Operator
Shira Lester
Director of Development & Donor Engagement
Deanna Levy
Director of Communications & Marketing
Rebekah Lobosco Gilli
Simcha & Venue Manager
Lindsay Mockler
Office Administrator
Abigail Nemzer
Director of Membership & Community Engagement
Ela Paz
Outreach & Engagement Administrator
Adrian Ramcaran
Operator
Bridgedat Ramcaran
Senior Property & Facilities Manager
Sarina Shrestha
Assistant Accountant
Prakash Singh
Director of Finance & Payroll Administration
Ayla Smolash
Tefilah & Song Leader
Iris Spitz
Cantorial Administrative Assistant & Funeral Coordinator
Justin Taub
Audio Visual Manager
Dante Thorne
Lead Operator
Marni Turner
Assistant Director of Membership & Development Associate
Ella Vatagsky
Bookkeeper
Cindy Zimmer
Manager of Member & Donor Services
EDUCATION TEAM
Lisa Isen Baumal
Principal of Youth Education & Family Engagement
Wendy Steinberg Himmel
Director of the Early Childhood Centre
Neomi Offman
Education Department Coordinator
Stephen Kalman
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Dalia Alalouf
Hebrew School Supervisor
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRE TEACHERS
Snezhana Aneckhin
Hailey Cherry
Bluma Feintuch
Steph Foltys
Kaila Grossman
Gail Hammerschlag
Joanne Hoffman
Raquel Hyams
Arona Joseph
Sherri Katzman
Ila Muradova
Monique Shapiro
Eve Smagala
YOUTH EDUCATION CENTRE TEACHERS
Geri Durbin
Dana Ezer
Eloise Greenfield
Eve Haras
Rebecca Joffe
Karen Lipman
Sandra Merovic
Chen Pascoe
Logan Petersiel
Eli Sol
Tali Weiss
Zoe Zussman
YOUTH EDUCATION CENTRE MADRICHIM
Lev Abramson
Lin Chow-Feldman
Roslyn Cooper
Seraphina Feldmann
JoJo Freedman-Lawson
Lauren Lidsky
Simone Mandel
Aliyah Sandler
Shira Sandler
This document was produced by the Holy Blossom Temple Foundation. To learn more about the Holy Blossom Temple Foundation, we invite you to contact Foundation President Joan Garson at [email protected].
We acknowledge our community is situated on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. This land is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.