Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

Dear Holy Blossom family,

Our Talmud teaches us that “the world is sustained by the breath of schoolchildren” (Shabbat 119b).

It is on that note that this week, I am including below an exciting note, from our wonderful Shinshinit Ella, about a new initiative for our schoolchildren to ensure that, no matter what Shabbat you are visiting us on, there will always be a breakout option for our families:

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Hi, my name is Ella Payorski and I’m the UJA Shinshinit at Holy Blossom this year. I’m 18 years old and from Israel. I’m doing a gap year between high school and the army and came to volunteer here in the Toronto Jewish community.

Once a month, there is a Family Service at Holy Blossom Temple. Every Family Service, I’m planning a fun and engaging activity for the children that are coming to the service, and running it in a breakout room. These activities are for them to continue learning about Jewish values and Israel in a meaningful way that fits them.

I am happy to announce that the breakout room activities are now expanding their wings beyond the Family Service, and I will now be doing breakout rooms for children that are coming for the Main services every week, too.

I invite you to join HBT Main services with your children, this week (22 April), for a great learning experience for everyone.

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We look forward to always being able to welcome our families, whether at Family Services or our Main Services, over each and every Shabbat!

Similarly, we are so fortunate to be including an additional piece of Israel in our Shabbat experience, especially as we look toward Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut this coming week. You can click here for more information about our congregational activities for these special occasions, too.

Whether you join us for Shabbat, for our Yom HaZikaron/Yom Ha’Atzmaut 5783 events, or whether you are heading to Israel to partake, we’ll see you soon at Holy Blossom to celebrate our Ahavat Yisrael with pride!

L’shalom,

Rabbi McCarroll