Holy Blossom Temple

Dorot Games
2026-03-31 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-07 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-14 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-21 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Toronto)
Dorot Games
Tuesdays, 12:30 pm
Schwartz/Reisman Atrium
Dorot programming is generously sponsored by Carole and Jay Sterling and Family
We invite everyone to come to play your favourite games: Chess, Mahjong, Canasta, Rummycube, Dominos, Scrabble and social bridge.

Bereavement Discussion Group
2026-03-31 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-07 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-14 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-21 18:30 - 19:30
Bereavement Discussion Group
Immediately following our 6:00 pm evening service (via Zoom here), Jack Kugelmass, MSW, will provide a supportive environment to find new insight into the meaning of their losses.
Whether a loved one died recently or long ago, we hope you will take comfort in this opportunity to find meaning and motivation in memory.
You are welcome to “drop-in” occasionally or attend regularly.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/917009371?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 917 009 371
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kgbrqKX9x

Israeli Dancing with Paula Warren
2026-04-04 13:15 - 14:15
Israeli Dancing with Paula Warren
Monthly, Saturdays, 1:15 pm
Come celebrate 100 years of Israeli Folk Dance by heading to the Schwartz/Reisman atrium after the congregational Kiddush.
Paula began dancing in Israel during childhood and went on to teach folk dance at Camps Biluim and Shalom. Paula still dances twice a week at sessions in Toronto.
Now is your chance if you have not yet joined her in these classes.
Paula will focus on the dances and music of Israel’s early years. She promises that the steps will be fun and easy to learn. Everyone is welcome.
Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Israeli Dancing with Paula Warren is generously sponsored by Magda Weisz

HBTogether Ukulele Group
2026-04-05 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-04-12 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-04-19 10:30 - 12:30
HBTogether Ukulele Group
Sundays, 10:30 am
The HBTogether Ukulele Group is a group of ukulele players and enthusiasts meeting weekly at the Temple on Sundays to practice our instruments and play music together.
The Ukulele Group is led by member Susan Baskin and runs weekly until mid-May.
If you would like to find out more or register, please contact Marni in the Temple office at mturner@holyblossom.org or 416-789-3291 ext. 227

Pressure Points in the Middle East: What the Iran War Means for Israel and North America
2026-04-06 19:00 - 21:00
Pressure Points in the Middle East: What the Iran War Means for Israel and North America
With Garrett Nada, Israel Policy Forum, Pollicy Fellow
Presented in partnership with the Israel Policy Forum, UJA Connect, Moishe House Christie, Moishe House Annex, and Moishe House Naim Meod
Monday, April 6, 7:00 pm
Join Holy Blossom, IPF Atid Toronto, and UJA Connect for a timely conversation with Garrett Nada, Policy Fellow at Israel Policy Forum, on the escalating war with Iran and its implications for Israel, Canada, the United States, and regional security. As coordinated U.S.-Israel military strikes and Iranian retaliatory attacks reshape the conflict landscape, this discussion will examine how the war is influencing North American and Israeli security strategy – and what it means for the broader geopolitical balance in the Middle East. Garret will offer expert insight into how these developments may shape diplomatic and defence priorities in the months ahead.
Register here
Please note that our previously advertised program, “Rethinking Palestinian Leadership: Reform, Responsibility, and Coexistence with Samer Sinjilawi and Dahlia Scheindlin” is being rescheduled for later this year.

Garrett Nada is an expert on Iran’s politics, economy, military, foreign policy, and nuclear program. He also closely monitors the activities of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias backed by Iran. From 2012 to 2025, he served in various roles at the U.S. Institute of Peace, most recently as a program officer and managing editor of The Iran Primer website. He was responsible for research and conferences exploring creative U.S. policy options for addressing the challenges posed by the alignment of Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea. Through a partnership with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Nada also managed The Islamists website, which surveyed the evolution of Islamist groups and jihadist movements in the wake of the Arab uprisings. He has briefed U.S. officials, military stakeholders, congressional staff, and diplomats of U.S. allies. His work has been cited by government agencies, media, and academic publications. Nada received an M.A. from George Washington University and a B.A. from Brandeis University.

HBT on Campus: Rabbi Baruchel Visits Montreal!
2026-04-09 - 2026-04-11
HBT on Campus: Rabbi Baruchel Visits Montreal!
April 9–11, 2026
Rabbi Baruchel will be in Montreal April 9–11, connecting with our Holy Blossom students at Concordia and McGill.
Have a student on campus? Send them her way for an end-of-semester check-in—she’ll even buy the coffee that fuels those last papers and late-night study sessions!
Students are also invited to join her at Temple Emanu-El–Beth Shalom for Kabbalat Shabbat and a special Oneg Shabbat on Friday, April 11, at 7:45 pm.
Contact Rabbi Baruchel to make sure you (or your student) connect: tbaruchel@holyblossom.org
Let’s bring a little Holy Blossom warmth to Montreal!

Family Shabbat!
2026-04-11 10:45 - 12:00
Family Shabbat!
Saturdays, 10:45 am
Shabbat is for families at Holy Blossom!
Join us on Saturday mornings for a lively and interactive Family Shabbat, where you can come just as you are for some #JewishJoy. Together with our rabbis and song leaders, we’ll celebrate with joyful music, engaging stories, fun games, and obligatory snacks. After the service, everyone is invited to Kiddush with a special space for Family Shabbat folks to connect.
We can’t wait to welcome you to our Youth Chapel!
Learn more & worship with us!

Parent Brunch Club
2026-04-12 09:30 - 11:30
Parent Brunch Club
Sunday, April 12, 9:30 am
Are you looking to pass the time while your children are at the YEC on a Sunday morning, or seeking a break from your children if they are home with you? Come join us for the latest gathering of the Parent Brunch Club! Organized by our YEC parents and families, this will be a great opportunity to meet fellow parents and enjoy a bagel and coffee. If you are new to Holy Blossom, get the scoop from seasoned HBT parents, and put some names to the faces you see at pick up!
Register here
Parent Brunch Club is generously sponsored by Adam and Seanna Cohen

Holy Blossom's *NEW* Family Havdallah Club
2026-04-12 11:30 - 12:30
Come learn about Holy Blossom’s *NEW* Family Havdallah Club, and how YOUR family can join!
Sunday, April 12, 11:30 am
The Family Havdallah Club is a new way to bring Holy Blossom fun and friends together at home! Come learn how your family can participate! We are looking for hosts and guests to match together to form small Havdallah clubs. We’ll provide you with all the tools and tricks you need to hold a Havdallah night at your home, and share information on how you can access easy PJ Library Get Together microgrants to help pay for it!
Havdallah Club is a great way to form new family friendships, deepen existing ones, provide grownups and kids with parallel social time, and create lasting Jewish memories for your family. We are excited to help create this opportunity and experience for you!
Register here
Learn about PJ Library’s Get Together grants here: https://pjlibrary.org/gettogether

Yom HaShoah Commemoration 5786
2026-04-13 19:00 - 20:00
Yom HaShoah Commemoration 5786
Monday, April 13, 7:00 pm
Join in music and memory, prayer and poetry. Six congregant-families, descendants of survivors of the Shoah, will light six candles for the Six Million. The centrepiece of our service is when we bear witness to the remarkable story of Saul Shulman’s survival.
Join us in-person or online

Born in 1938 in the small town of Klimontov, Poland, Saul Shulman remembers very little of the peaceful life his family knew before they were transferred to the Tzozmer ghetto. He was just three years old. Miraculously, he survived Auschwitz and eventually came to Canada with his mother in 1948.

All are welcome, and we send a special invitation to our B’nei Mitzvah students, our teens, and their parents. This will be the last generation to hear first-hand testimonials of survivors. This comes with a great responsibility.

Good Books: What Cynthia is Reading
2026-04-14 10:30 - 11:00
Good Books: What Cynthia is Reading, with Cynthia Good
Tuesdays, 10:30 am via Zoom
Cynthia Good has been a leader in the publishing industry for many years. Join her every second week to hear about the latest great novels she’s discovering, the development of contemporary genres, and old favourites. There’s time at the end for you to add your reading suggestions. Free and open to all.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91442171255?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 914 4217 1255
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 914 4217 1255
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kca9lTDLGf

Dorot Presents: "The Boy in the Back; A True Story of Survival in Auschwitz and Mauthausen"
2026-04-14 11:00 - 12:30
Dorot Presents: “The Boy in the Back; A True Story of Survival in Auschwitz and Mauthausen”
With author Fern Lebo
Tuesday, April 14, 11:00 am
Join us on Yom HaShoah to hear from author and Holy Blossom congregant Fern Lebo about her latest book, “The Boy in the Back; A True Story of Survival in Auschwitz and Mauthausen”, which honours the life of Dr. Jan Blumenstein z”l, her good friend and fellow Holy Blossom member.
Fern will talk about how she came to write this special book, read some excerpts aloud to give us a sneak peek, and invite questions from our audience.
This event is $15/member, $18/member.
Books are available for pre-purchase during registration for an additional $23, or for $25 on the day.
SIGN UP HERE (in-person and virtual attendance)
Lunch catered by Holy Grounds Cafe to follow, with Games in our Schwartz/Reisman Atrium beginning at 12:45 pm as usual.
The Dorot program is generously sponsored by a gift from the Estate of Saundra and Henry Sherman
This program is generously sponsored by Louise Blumenstein, in honour of her husband, Jan Blumenstein z”l

ABOUT “The Boy in the Back; A True Story of Survival in Auschwitz and Mauthausen”
A searing and inspirational memoir, The Boy in the Back is a “must read.” As the echoes of history grow louder, author Fern Lebo delivers a searing memoir. With clarity and restraint, The Boy in the Back preserves the lived experience of Jan Blumenstein, whose life stands as both a testament to human resilience and a warning against historical amnesia. From the dehumanization of transport trains to the daily struggle for survival inside the camps, the book captures the physical and psychological toll of the Holocaust while honouring the strength required to endure it. It does not soften the horror, nor does it exploit it. Instead, it bears witness. What distinguishes this memoir from others is its immediate relevance. Lebo draws a direct line between Jan’s experiences and the unsettling resurgence of antisemitism today. She also offers a rare and moving contrast: the arc from unimaginable suffering to the joy of a peaceful old age. Jan’s survival is proof that even after profound trauma, life, meaning, and dignity can endure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fern Lebo is a Toronto native and internationally published author whose work crosses genres — from poetry to business books to historical narrative. Following the October 7 massacre, Fern began interviewing Jan Blumenstein and writing his memoir. Her evocative style conveys Jan’s courage and tenacious will to live, creating an intimate connection with The Boy in the Back, Jan’s true account of survival as told to Fern, his friend and writing voice. The book preserves Jan’s lived experience and stands as both a testament to human resilience and a warning against historical amnesia.

Israel Dialogues
2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:30
Israel Dialogues
Winter 2026 sessions, 12:00 pm
The Israel Dialogues returns for our Winter Semester. This series of expert discussions provides a nuanced window into the state’s critical challenges and evolving successes. Presented by a respected cross-section of academics, former diplomats, and policy experts, the program offers participants an opportunity to engage with the fundamental issues facing Israel, its people, and the Jewish diaspora today.
The January-April 2026 season moves beyond surface-level headlines to explore the regional, international, and domestic factors shaping Israel’s future. From the strategic role of Gulf states like Qatar to the internal pressures of Iranian politics and the impact of media algorithms on power, this series aims to bridge the gap between scholarly research and the public consciousness.
Register here
With thanks to our Israel Dialogues Organizing Committee and our expert panellists.

January 15: “Israel’s Moment of Truth”
with Prof. Dan Ben-David, Professor of Economics
TAU, Founder & President, Shoresh Institute
Prof. Dan Ben-David has served as the president and founder of Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research, from its founding in 2015 until today. He received his PhD from The University of Chicago and is a specialist in Macroeconomics, Economic Growth and Development, International Trade and the Israeli Economy. Named ‘Person of the Year’ by Calcalist newspaper and included 3 times in the Haaretz newspaper’s annual list of Israel’s 100 most influential people. His academic research placed him among the ten most cited economists in Israel during the years 1990-2000.
January 27: “Captured Screens: How Media Oligarchs and Algorithms Lock in Power”
with Prof. Guy Rolnik, Strategic Management
Booth School of Business, U of Chicago
Prof. Guy Rolnik is an expert in the intersection of business, finance, regulation, politics, and the media. He is an internationally acclaimed economic strategist and the creator and director of multiple documentary films on business, economics, and politics focusing on the power and influence of big tech and social media.  Rolnik is the 2013 recipient of the Sokolov Prize for lifetime achievement, Israel’s most prestigious journalism honor. He is an active lecturer at the University of Chicago in the Booth School of Business.
February 6: “US-Israeli Relations & the Changing ME Arena: A Conversation”
with Dr. Aaron David Miller, Carnegie Endowment & Prof. Emeritus Asher Susser, TAU/ Dayan Centre
Dr. Aaron David Miller is a Middle East analyst, author, and negotiator. He is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. He previously was vice president for new initiatives at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and has been an advisor to both Republican and Democratic secretaries of state. He is a Global Affairs Analyst for CNN.
Dr. Susser is Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University (TAU). He was the Director of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies at TAU for twelve years and taught for over thirty-five years in TAU’s Department of Middle Eastern History.  Dr. Susser’s most recent book is Jordan, Palestine, and the Politics of Collective Identity – A History. (Boulder & London:  Lynne Reiner, 2024)
February 19: “The Other Side of the Moon: MEOs as a Prelude to Peace – Lessons for Israel”. [MEOs = Mutually Enhancing Opportunities]
with Dr. Amira Schiff, Sr.Lec. & Director, Conflict Management, Negotiation, and Resolution Graduate Program, Bar-Ilan University
Dr. Amira Schiff is director of the Conflict Resolution, Management, and Negotiations Program at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Her research includes conflict management and peace processes in intra- and interstate conflict, pre-negotiation processes, and international negotiation. She is the author of Negotiating Intractable Conflicts: Readiness Theory Revisited (2019).
February 26: “Israel’s Changing Political Culture & Implications for Liberal Democracy” *
with Dr. Mark A. Heller, Senior Researcher (Emeritus)
Institute for National Security Studies & Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Mark A. Heller is a senior researcher (Emeritus) at the Institute for National Security Studies and Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, Washington, DC.  Dr. Heller received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics at the University of Toronto and did his graduate studies at Harvard University, where he earned an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in Political Science. Since 1979, he has been affiliated with the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (formerly, the Center for Strategic Studies), now incorporated into the Institute for National Security Studies, and he has taught Middle Eastern politics and international relations at Tel Aviv University and at several American universities, including the University of California at San Diego, Cornell University, and Harvard University. Dr. Heller has written extensively on Middle Eastern political and strategic issues.
March 4th: “Iran: Managing Internal Challenges and External Pressures” *
with Prof. Meir Litvak, Chair
Department of Middle Eastern and African History & former Director, Alliance Center for Iranian Studies, Tel-Aviv University
Prof. Meir Litvak is a Professor at the Department of Middle Eastern History and a senior research associate at the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University. His research focuses on Modern Iranian and Shi’i history, modern Islamic movements, and Arab anti-Semitism.
March 11: “Qatar: Micro-state but Macro-role”
with Dr. Ariel Admoni, Bar-Ilan University & Research Fellow, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS – specialist on Gulf States)
Dr. Ariel Admoni is a researcher specializing in Qatari policy, and lectures in academic, media, governmental, and security forums on issues related to Qatar. He received his PhD from Bar-Ilan University. Before his current role at the JISS (Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security) he was a speaker at Cambridge University from 2022-2024.
March 19: “Civil Society & Democracy: the Intersection of Faith, Politics and Social Justice” *
with Mikhael Manekin, Inaugural Van Leer Fellow
Van Leer Foundation, Jerusalem. Director of the Alliance Fellowship Network
Mikhael is an Israeli activist, writer, and community organiser working at the intersection of faith, politics, and social justice. He engages with issues of occupation, equality, and democracy. He previously served as the director of Breaking the Silence, an organization that gathers testimonies from Israeli soldiers about their experiences in the occupied territories, and the progressive think tank Molad. He is also one of the leaders of the Faithful Left movement.
March 26th: “Israel and Somaliland: A New Horizon in the Red Sea Arena”
with Maxwell Webb, Independent analyst of the Horn of Africa and the Middle East
Coordinator of Leadership, Israel Policy Forum Atid Program
Maxwell Webb is an independent Horn of Africa and Middle East analyst who currently serves as the coordinator of leadership initiatives at the Israel Policy Forum’s IPF Atid program. Max has spent significant time in the Horn of Africa conducting research on Somaliland foreign policy, and is a 4-time guest and panelist at the Hargeysa International Book Fair speaking on regional geopolitics and great power competition. This May, Max received a certificate in Horn of Africa studies from the Rift Valley Institute in Nairobi, Kenya. His work can be seen with the Atlantic Council, International Policy Digest, and Israel Policy Exchange.
April 16: “Religious Dimensions of the Middle East Conflict: Actors and Opportunities”
with Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth, Director of Mosaica
Graduate Program for Conflict Management, Resolution, and Negotiation, Bar-Ilan University
Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth is the director of Mosaica, an Israeli NGO advancing community mediation and dialogue in Israel. Roth’s work focuses on the network of insider religious mediators who help prevent, mitigate, and mediate crisis situations throughout Israel, the Middle East, and beyond. Roth also works to connect religious leaders to the national network of community mediation and dialogue centers throughout Israel including in the Arab sector and in mixed Jewish-Arab cities and areas, which Mosaica professionally supports through a tender of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs.
Formerly, Roth was the founder and director of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution; the Mahloket Matters Projects; and the 9Adar: Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict.
Roth holds a Ph.D. from Bar-Ilan University’s Graduate Program for Conflict Management, Resolution, and Negotiation; an MA in Talmud from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; a B.Ed in Jewish Philosophy from Herzog Teachers’ College; and studied for eight years at Yeshivat Har Etzion during which time he received Orthodox rabbinic ordination.
April 30: “The Inverted Funnel of Information and the Creation of a False Consensus: The Case of the ‘Genocide’ Allegations in Gaza.”
with Dr. Danny Orbach
Dr. Danny Orbach is an Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He specializes in military history, political assassinations and coups, military adventurism, illegal orders, dynamics of military atrocities and the history of intelligence and espionage. His books were translated to numerous languages, including Thai, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish. Orbach is currently writing a history of Jus in Bello (the rules of armed conflict) in the Imperial Japanese Army. Dr. Orbach will lecture on one of the most oft repeated libels of the last few years, that Israel committed a genocide.

Brotherhood Presents: Krav Maga
2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-23 18:30 - 20:30
Brotherhood Presents: Krav Maga
Thursdays, 7:00 pm (starting February 19)
Brotherhood is launching a new Krav Maga class open to all Holy Blossom Temple Members, regardless of gender identity or fitness level.
Join us for a 10-session course designed to teach practical self-defence techniques, improve physical fitness, and develop mental resilience in a supportive community of like-minded individuals. Classes will take place on Thursday evenings starting on Feb. 19. All temple members at any level of fitness are welcome, and no previous experience or training is needed.
Register here

Rosh Chodesh Iyar
2026-04-17 07:30 - 08:30
Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Friday, April 17, 7:30 am

Rosh Chodesh, meaning head of the month, is a holiday celebrating the arrival of a new moon. It is often celebrated by women as a day off from work. 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.

For those planning on joining us in sacred worship online, please click “Register Here” (below) to receive our new service links. You will be asked to provide your full name and email address as an enhanced security measure for our Online Daily Service participants. The Zoom links will be sent to the email address you provided in your registration. If it does not show in your inbox after registering, please check your junk/spam folders. You will only need to register once for the new Daily Service Zoom links. If the links are updated again in future, you may need to register again to receive them. If you are joining us for the first time, we recommend you register in advance and test out the link before services and make sure your name is listed correctly. If you are unsure how to do that, click here.
If you are still having trouble, please email JoAnne Bieman at jbieman@holyblossom.org
Register here!
As Rosh Chodesh is considered a special women’s holiday, Women of Holy Blossom will honour its inspiring, trailblazing, and amazing women. Each month, during Rosh Chodesh services, we will celebrate one woman from our Temple whose dedication and good work have helped shape our community. Please watch for these tributes in the “Life @ Holy Blossom” email!
Feel free to contact Women of Holy Blossom with questions and comments. Looking forward to celebrating together.
The Women of Valour Series is generously sponsored by Robert Lantos in memory of his mother Agnes Lantos z”l

Little Blossoms with Marky Weinstock
2026-04-17 10:00 - 12:45, 2026-04-24 10:00 - 12:45
Little Blossoms with Marky Weinstock Spring Sessions!
2 times available: 10:00 am, 11:00 am (our 12:00 pm class is SOLD OUT)
April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 29, June 5, 12
Classes have limited spots
0-4 years of age
Register here!

Join us on Friday mornings for Shabbat music, stories, and more. Dr. Marky (MD, MEd) is an award-winning entertainer and respected educator with over 20 years of experience running Shabbat programs that inspire and help stimulate your child’s motor and language development. Welcome, Shabbat with a smile and song in your heart!

Film Talks: What I’m watching and why….
2026-04-21 10:30 - 11:00
Film Talks: What I’m watching and why….
Monthly, Tuesdays, 10:30 am via Zoom
We’re living in a Golden Age of television, film, and webisodes on the internet, and film professor Gillian Helfield is our intrepid guide through all of it – some speculative, some realistic and some purely escapist! Join her for a 20-minute check-in to discover what she’s watching now and why. At the end, there’s time for you to add your viewing suggestions.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/940094258?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 940 094 258
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdxyogfee9

Dorot Presents: Armchair Travel to Southern Africa
2026-04-21 11:00 - 12:45
Dorot Presents: Armchair Travel to Southern Africa
with Elizabeth Szekeres
Tuesday, April 21, 11:00 am
Elizabeth will take us on a journey to Southern Africa. There will be lions, birds, elephants, giraffes, and much, much more. We will see landscapes, wildflowers and a bit of the human side of this amazing part of the world.
Lunch catered by Holy Grounds to follow, and Games begin in the Schwartz/Reisman Atrium at 12:45 pm as per usual.
REGISTER HERE to attend in-person or online.
We look forward to welcoming you there!
The Dorot program is generously sponsored by a gift from the Estate of Saundra and Henry Sherman.

Writer, photographer and presenter, Elizabeth Szekeres grew up as a free-range child living beside Rattray Marsh in Mississauga, Ontario. She has a Bachelors degree in Geography and a Masters in Environmental Studies. For many years, Elizabeth has been fascinated by landscapes, habitats and wildlife, and has travelled to six continents in search of birds and beautiful places. Elizabeth combines her gifts in storytelling with her eye for making great photographs.

Tot Shabbat
2026-04-24 17:30 - 18:30
Tot Shabbat 🤩
Monthly, Fridays, 5:30 pm
Shabbat Shalom – HEY! Get on board the Shabbat Train for an upbeat and meaningful Kabbalat Shabbat service for our littlest blossoms and their families. Make some joyful noise with Dr. Marky Weinstock and Rabbi Samuel Kaye!
This program is generously sponsored by Ben Hertzman and Danna Goldlist
Register here!

Mental Health Challenges for New and Expecting Parents – How to Stay Connected After Baby
2026-04-26 10:30 - 12:00
The Luke Sklar Mental Health Initiative Presents:
“Mental Health Challenges for New and Expecting Parents – How to Stay Connected After Baby.”
With Guest Speaker Aliza Shupac
Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist, MSW, RSW
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, in the Mishkan
The first year of parenthood is deeply meaningful, and also, deeply demanding.
While welcoming a baby brings moments of joy and purpose, it can also place new challenges and strains on a couple’s relationship. Sleep deprivation, shifting roles, hormonal changes, and new responsibilities can leave partners feeling disconnected or stretched thin. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to support one another, you’re not alone.
Join Aliza Shupac, MSW, RSW, for a talk aimed at new parents and couples who want to stay connected during this intense season. We’ll explore:

Practical strategies for navigating challenges while staying on the same team
How to recognize the signs of perinatal mood or anxiety disorders
Knowing when to reach out for professional help
Reaching out to your village for support

There’ll also be plenty of time set aside for questions at the end of the session.
Please join us in the Mishkan and feel the warmth of community and connection with other parents in a similar stage of life.
Everyone is welcome to bring their little ones – a wiggle space will be provided in case you need to take them out.
Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, infancy, or toddlerhood … we’ll learn together, share together, and enjoy delicious snacks during and after the program.
For anyone who can’t make it in person, this event will also be livestreamed. The link to the livestream will be provided upon registration.
Please register here (whether attending in person or online) to join us.

Aliza Shupac is a Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist with a special focus on supporting parents from preconception to the postpartum period and beyond. She has advanced training in perinatal mental health and is a Certified EMDR therapist working with individuals, couples, and groups. She works with those struggling with fertility concerns and losses, the transition to parenthood, relationship challenges during this transition, birth trauma, and support and treatment for prenatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Aliza is the Founder and Director of MamaCare and MamaCare Community and a passionate advocate for reducing stigma around mental health challenges during the perinatal period.
If you can’t attend in person and have a question you’d like addressed by Aliza during the program, in confidence, please send it to: theLSMHI@gmail.com
