Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Samuel Kaye

Next Shabbat will mark the one-year anniversary of the time that, less than 50 yards from Holy Blossom, I was nearly eaten by coyotes.  

Well… maybe that’s not quite true. But it certainly felt that way at the time. 

It was Selichot. Our guest scholar in residence, the esteemed Rabbi Shai Held, had just finished a remarkable teaching on “Judaism is About Love.” We still had half an hour, maybe a bit more, until the gorgeous tefilla in the sanctuary would cap off our evening. I remember my anticipation about how meaningful it would feel, especially last year, to change the Torah mantels to white.  

Rabbi Held was dancing at two weddings that night, and I had the pleasure of accompanying him down Peveril Hill to Beth Tzedec. After dropping him off, and wishing him a Shanah Tovah, I turned around and started to make my way back to Holy Blossom. Halfway up the block I stopped in my tracks, taken aback as I noticed a large odd-looking dog stepping out from the shadows and onto the street. Where was its owner? 

Then I heard a noise behind me. Turning around, coming out from the yard behind me, only a few feet away, were two more creatures of the same breed, smaller. Realization dawned. These were not dogs.  

Despite being less than block from shul, in the middle of Toronto, I was surrounded by coyotes.  

I remember the most surreal thought entered my mind, “The books of life and death are open… is this really what God wrote for me? Who by Coyotes?” 

Nothing happened. I remembered what I was taught at Jewish summer camp in the Rocky Mountains about wild animals, to make myself look big, call out with loud noises, and clap a lot. The family of coyotes immediately ran off. 

As for me, I walked into the building, put on my tallit, and prayed my vidui with an extra note of fervent gratitude. I would yet see Rosh Hashanah.   

This year I have no doubts that my own Selichot experience is going to be far less exciting… but our communal Selichot is going to be just as important, beautiful, and resonant. Our teacher and friend, Rabbi Prof. Michael Marmur, is returning to us from Jerusalem to teach about his esteemed and important new book “Living the Letters: An Alphabet of Emerging Jewish Thought.” Those of us who have studied with Rabbi Marmur know that, like his father, he is a masterful teacher. His beautiful lessons will bring incredible honor and merit to our community and to the memory of Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro z’l.  

Selichot 5785 – Holy Blossom Temple 

Joining us for Selichot this year, on Saturday September 13th, is the perfect way to enhance your High Holiday experience. Come and learn good Torah, enjoy a sweet nosh, hear stunning music, and set the tone of your heart for a meaningful and reflective New Year. 

And I can promise you, that at least inside the walls of Holy Blossom Temple, there will be no coyotes.