Israel at War: How we can support Israel and Israelis
with Israeli Author, Rabbi Nir Barkin and Holy Blossom’s own, Jeff Denaburg
Sunday, October 15, 9:30 am
Since the attack on Israel, Rabbi Barkin has decided to stay in Israel and will join us via Zoom. While he may read an excerpt from his book, the gathering now is really to hear what Israelis are facing now and how we can lend support. We hope you will join us.
9:00 am — Shacharit Service, led by HBT’s First Gentleman, Jeff Denaburg
9:30 am — Conversation about the Attack on Israel and what we can do to support Israel and Israelis, with light breakfast
DEBUT NOVEL BY RABBI NIR BARKIN, translated by Holy Blossom’s own Jeff Denaburg
“Esther” weaves a sensitive, touching and complex tale of love, betrayal, rupture, desertion, pain, and the stubborn determination to maintain sanity in a rough world. A young man overcomes seemingly insurmountable obstacles to painstakingly unravel the knots of the past, determined to discover the family secrets and taboos that cast a shadow over their lives.
“Esther” is a gripping historic fiction, a complex family saga, and a high-suspense detective novel. It follows a young man’s quest to find his grandfather, a man he has never known. His grandfather abandoned the family and disappeared from the world early in the Second World War, without leaving a trace. This first novel by author Nir Barkin delves into the history of Israel, spanning from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. The story covers four generations of a family, revealing the adventures and struggles of daily life during the British Mandate and after the founding of the State of Israel. The heart of the adventure takes place in Jerusalem. While the family’s journey includes the Galilee and even Italy and the United States, their origin is in the traditional neighbourhoods of Sephardi Jews in central Jerusalem, and over time, they continually return to the Holy City.
Rabbi Nir Barkin is the Senior Rabbi of YOZMA, one of Israel’s most vibrant Reform Jewish communities, nestled in the hills of Modi’in. In his spare time, he writes historical fiction. His first book, Esther, is now available to English-speaking audiences, thanks to the brilliant translation by Jeff Denaburg. Come meet them, learn about their process of collaboration, and if you’d like, purchase a copy of the book to enjoy.
Jeff Denaburg was raised and educated at Holy Blossom. In addition to the many volunteer roles he plays — daily service leader, former VP of the Worship Department, former teacher in our Religious School, former co-chair of the Cantor Search Committee, and former chair of ARZA Canada, to name a few — Jeff is a serious and devoted student of the Hebrew language. For a banker by profession, Jeff’s translation of “Esther” became a passion project.
