Document

A p r i l 2 0 0 8 | A d a r I I / N i s a n 5 7 6 8 1

by Rabbi John Moscowitz

Tom Hayden is per-haps one of the semi-nal American social and political figures of the 20th century. One of the founders

of Students for a Democratic Society and the author of its animating docu-ment (The Port Huron Statement, 1961), he was an anti-war and civil rights leader in the 1960s (for which he perhaps is most famously known as a leading figure of the Chicago Seven) and much more. Hayden played a key role in articulating the concerns and demands of the New Left in the 60s and early 70s.

Odd chance and luck brought me into Hayden’s orbit when I was 20 years old. I was first Hayden’s student, and eventually joined a small group that Hayden and his soon-to-be wife, Jane Fonda, organized to make the Vietnam War the primary issue of the 1972 American presidential election campaign.

I worked closely with Hayden for a year or so and learned an enormous amount from him.

He was serious, brilliant and much funnier than anyone understood. Unlike many in those days, he was not interested in drugs and never got caught up in the cultural craziness of the 60s. He was serious about every-thing he did in the way of political

change, fighting for civil rights of American blacks and ending the war in Vietnam. And everything he has done in these ensuing decades — fighting for environmental pro-tection, fighting for renters’ rights, promoting solar energy and so many other things — he has accomplished with organizational skill, seriousness and a certain panache.

We are fortunate to have Tom Hayden as our keynote speaker for our social action weekend, The 60s: Social Action Then And Now. The weekend (May 2 to 4, 2008) will be a great opportunity not simply for those who remember the 60s, but for all members of our congrega-tion to reflect on our traditions and social action imperatives, and to do so with someone who, while a good Irish-Catholic, responds to the same impulses of our tradition.

Please join me to welcome Tom Hayden on Sun. May 4, 2008 for his keynote talk at 9.30 a.m. I promise you an interesting man and an impor-tant event at Holy Blossom Temple.

For more details on Tom Hayden’s talk, as well as details on our Social Action weekend — including a lecture by activist Michele Landsburg and workshops, please see page 7.

Holy Blossom Temple BulletinApril 2008 | Adar II/Nisan 5768

Welcome Tom Hayden

Sun. May 25, 2008,at 7 p.m.In celebration of Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, the Lachan Jewish Chamber Choir will join the Holy Blossom Temple Singers under the direction of Cantor Benjamin Z. Maissner. This moving choral presentation will pay tribute to Israel on her 60th birthday. The a cappella band Six13 will then perform songs with an unprec-edented hip-hop style of Jewish music. The group has performed throughout North America and has just released its second CD to critical acclaim.

Cost: adult tickets $25; young adult/

youth tickets $15. To purchase tick-

ets, please call Mari Lynn Rusak

(ext. 224), at the Temple.

This is the final concert in our 2008 Musical Heritage Series. For details on our second concert, on Apr. 24, 2008, please see page 6.

An All-Out Israeli Evening Featuring Six13

2 w w w. h o l y b l o s s o m . o r g

D a i ly S e R v i c e SMonday to Friday at 7.30 a.m. | ShacharitMonday to Thursday at 6 p.m. | MinchaSunday at 9 a.m. | Shacharit

S H a b b aT S e R v i c e SFriday at 6 p.m. | Kabbalat Shabbat ServiceSaturday at 10.30 a.m. | Shabbat Morning and Family Shabbat

Tot Shabbat will be held Fri. Apr. 18 (Service) and Fri. May 2, 2008 (Service and dinner). Hot Shot Shabbat will be held on Fri. May 2, 2008. Shabbat Fusion (for 20 and 30 somethings) will be held on Fri. Apr. 25, 2008.

For details on Pesach Services, please see page 5.

Worship In This Issue ... In Perspective 3 | Holy Blossom Temple Foundation 4 | Nominating Committee 4 | Annual Contribution Campaign 5 | Pesach and Yom Ha’Shoah 5 | Cantor’s Notes 6 | Social Action Weekend 7| The Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning 8 | Supplementary Schools 9 | Our Israel 10 | Family Programming 11 | Our Congregational Family 14 | The Last Word 16

The Bulletin is published 10 times a year by Holy Blossom Temple, 1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5P 3K9. Telephone: (416) 789-3291; Fax: (416) 789-9697; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.holyblossom.org. Honorary President: John A. Geller; President: Barry Silver; Rabbis: John Moscowitz; Yael Splansky; Karen Thomashow; Edward Goldfarb; Cantor: Benjamin Z. Maissner; Cantorial Soloist: Lindi Rivers; Director of Education: Deborah K. Spiegel; Rabbi Emeritus: Dow Marmur; Senior Scholar: W. Gunther Plaut; Executive Director: Benjamin Applebaum; Holy Blossom Temple Foundation Chair: Marvin Tile; Director of Development: Cheryl Zeldin; Capital Campaign Director: Patricia Tolkin Eppel; Bulletin Editor: Judy Nyman; Design and Production: Holy Blossom Temple was founded in 1856 and is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism.

Honouring israel Sat. May 3, 2008, at 10.30 a.m.

In anticipation of Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, we are honoured to host Israel’s Consul General, Amir Gissin, who will speak on “A New Paradigm: Israel and the Middle East.”

During the Service, we will also honour members of our congregation, who have travelled to Israel this past year, with a special aliyah.

If you wish to bepart of the aliyah, please call Roseanne Mason (ext. 276), at the Temple.

Adult B’nei MitzvahCongratulations to the following adult B’nei Mitzvah students, who will soon celebrate the completion of two years of study.

• Robin Belman

• Noah Belman

• Andre Finch

• Rachel Jacobson

• Ingrid Johnson

• Anita Lapidus

• Catherine Mayers

• Geraldine Pendergast

• Joanne Roher

• Rifky Rosenzweig

• Robert Schenk

• Marlene Stein

• Richard Vrooman

• Dorothy Wolfson

Amir Gissin


about our future: concluding thoughtsby Rabbi John Moscowitz

i wish to conclude some reflections about our future with this ironic and profound Jewish notion: renewal — of any kind — can

only occur by moving both backward and forward at exactly the same time. This understanding and experience applies to Holy Blossom Temple now, as it does to any religious community and to any individual.

How can we understand the notion that our future cannot be ensured with-out our being claimed by the past? Let’s start with the moment in the synagogue prayers when the Torah is returned to the Ark and the following is sung by the congregation: “For it (the Torah) is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and its supporters are happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace. Adonai, return us to you — that we might return. Renew our days as of old.”

What is going on here exactly?First, the historical context. The second

to last verse — Hasheiveinu Adonai Aileicha v’Nashuva — is most significant as it comes from the book of Lamentations

| In Perspective

(5:21), written in the wake of the destruction of the first Temple (586 BCE). This expression of hope seeks the restoration of the Temple — along with restoration from physical, political and spiritual exile at that moment of horrendous breach.

What is historical is also spiritual: the return of the Torah to its resting place suggests the return of Israel to its God, to its Land, to a full sense of spiritual restoration and reconciliation. This public ritual of restoring the Torah to its place suggests a proper spiritual rest and return for the People of Israel.

And now to the concluding verse: Chadesh Yemeinu K’Kedem, Renew our days as of old.

The meaning of this rotates around one word — two, actually. K’Kedem means as in the past. Specifically, on the one hand, K’Kedem implies ancientness and moving back east (as in toward the past, in the direction of the original Garden of Eden). So the religious mean-ing of K’Kedem is perfection, wholeness, reconciliation and innocence.

And yet, as there always is, there is another hand: K’Kedem also means to

move forward (as in Kadima, progress). That is to say, moving toward the real world and away from the Garden of Eden, with innocence no longer avail-able. K’Kedem inevitably means mess-ing in with conflict, the real stuff, and the many tensions in the fullness of life. There can be no peace, at least as there was once in Eden; real human life simply does not work that way.

And yet, if we put both meanings together, we find that Chadesh Yemeinu K’Kedem must mean: as we move for-ward, and as life and time inevitably march on — we lean on a religious perspective and say: Help us, O God, stabilize ourselves with the ideals, the experiences, the memories of a storied and mythological past.

Chadesh Yemeinu K’Kedem; renew our days as of old; or, renew our days as we move both forward and backward. Let the past bring us stability, ballast, per-spective and peace as we move forward toward an unknown (and perhaps un-easy) future as inevitably we must.

Rabbi Moscowitz invites your comments by e-mail, at [email protected].

Celebrating a decade of devotion | Sat. June 7, 2008, at 10.30 a.m.

We invite everyone to honour Rabbi Yael Splansky for her 10 years of service to Holy Blossom Temple. Following the Shabbat Morning Service, a special kiddush lunch will be held. Watch the Bulletin for more details.


a meaningful tribute | Foundation by cheryl Zeldin, Director of Development

in 1975, Earl Gardner chose to memorialize his recently deceased wife, Gertrude, by establishing a Holy Blossom Temple youth

award in her name. Gertrude Gardner had a keen lifetime interest in educa-tion, both at the Temple and in the wider community; this connection to her personal passions made the award a meaningful tribute to her life.

Twenty-one years later, following Earl’s death, their daughter Dee-Dee Shiffman became steward of the fund.

One of her main objectives was to “… be as inclusive as possible; to ensure that all family members could relate to it on an ongoing basis and not lose the family connection to Temple.” To this end, she renamed the fund The Gardner Family Fund.

All three of Gertrude and Earl’s chil-dren, Allen, Bob and Dee-Dee, were confirmed at Holy Blossom. Today, the multi-generational Gardner family continues to be highly engaged in the life of the Temple. To honour family members in celebration or in memory,

the family makes frequent contribu-tions to the fund. Dee-Dee notes that “following the set-up of the fund, the amount of each donation does not have to be immense to be meaningful.”

In addition to their four generations of affiliation with Holy Blossom, Gardner family members also carry forward the pursuit of educational excellence. Gertrude and Earl’s son, Dr. Allen Gardnerz’l, offered a mini-course in genetics to Confirmation students, in addition to chairing the Department of Education. His wife, Zita Gardner, was Senior Division Supervisor and Director of the Leo Baeck Day School. Dee-Dee chairs the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Committee, having previously chaired the Religious Education Committee. Gillian Rosenberg, the eldest grandchild of Gertrude and Earl, is currently under-taking doctoral studies in the field of education. She appreciates the oppor-tunity to “continue the legacy of fam-ily values with respect to education.”

The fund supports youth through the Temple’s Religious School and enables those who might otherwise be

unable to attend camps, programs and Israel trips to join their peers for these important events in Jewish life.

The Gardner Family Fund retains its initial mandate — both Gertrude and Earl Gardner are remembered with love whenever donations are made. Looking to the future, the fund will also ensure the next generations of Gardners will have the opportunity to honour their family while supporting the Temple community.

For more details on creating an en-dowment or memorial fund, please call me (ext. 260), at the Temple or e-mail me at [email protected].

vision and commitment — Temple leadershipby elliott Jacobson, Chair, Nominating Committee

The job of the Nominating Committee is to find and endorse Holy Blossom members who can best serve the Temple — on the board and as officers.

We seek members with vision, commit-ment and involvement in Temple life.

This year’s Nominating Committee members are: Ari Burkes, Richard

Charney, Morris Cooper, Heather Crawford, Michael Diamond, Garry Foster, Jack Geller, Merle Kriss, Elana Paice Lidsky, Melanie Nesbitt, David Nirenberg, Erin O’Connor, Brenda Saunders, Ruthe Schipper, Harvey Silver, Neri Slan, Rosalie Sussman, Lisa Taylor and Stephen Tile.

Candidates for any board or officer position may be nominated by any

member of the Temple. Such proposed nominations must be submitted, in writing, to the administrative office. Submissions should be sent in as soon as possible for consideration of the Nominating Committee.

For a copy of the nomination form, please call Shelly Berenbaum (ext. 233), at the Temple, or download from www.holyblossom.org/documents.

Gertrudez”l and Earlz”l Gardner


life at the Temple – you can make a differenceannual contribution campaignby alison Schwartz, Chair, Annual Contribution Campaign

What do all of the fol-lowing things have in common?• Families experiencing economic challenges who would like to be

part of our congregational family.• Religious School students exploring

the history of their faith and learn-ing to make it relevant in their lives, culminating in a trip to Israel.

• Weekly and seasonal programs provid-ing seniors with tremendous opportu-nities for learning, physical exercise, socializing and volunteering.

• Adults of all ages engaging in discus-sion of the weekly Torah portion, ex-ploring contemporary issues, learning Hebrew and reviewing Yiddish novels.

• Families finding connections to the Temple and to one another — par-ticipating in Jewish parenting classes, giving back to the community on Mitzvah days and experiencing Shabbat at Camp George.

All of the above, and so much more, are only made possible through your gift to our Annual Contribution Campaign. Very soon, you will be receiving infor-mation about the 2008–2009 Annual

Contribution Campaign. Please give generously so that we can continue to provide all that you have come to expect from Holy Blossom Temple. For more details or to make a pledge, please call Shannon Tramer (ext. 227), at the Temple.

C E L E B R AT I N G A N D R E M E M B E R I N G

Please join us for a Service of song and poetry, remembrance and reflection. Six survivor families will light memorial candles, and Bernard Braun, father of Temple member Marcia Cohen, will tell his remarkable story of survival in Poland, Russia and Kazakhstan during the war years.

In Remembrance of the Six Million — Yom Ha’Shoah Yom Ha’Shoah Service Thur. May 1, 2008, at 7 p.m.

The Season of Our Freedom — Pesach 2008/5768Erev Pesach ServicesSat. Apr. 19, at 6 p.m.

First-Day PesachSun. Apr. 20, at 10 a.m.Please join us for our congregation-wide Service, as Cantor Benjamin Z. Maissner, the Holy Blossom Temple Singers and the Temple Simcha Band lead us in Songs of Freedom and Songs of Hallel. A festive kiddush lunch will follow. Child care and creative study for children will be available throughout the morning.

Erev Seventh–Day Pesach ServicesFri. Apr. 25, at 6 p.m.

Shabbat and Seventh-Day Pesach ServicesSat. Apr. 26, at 10 a.m.This congregation-wide Service will celebrate Shabbat and the last day of Pesach; the Service will include Yizkor, and will be followed by a special kid-dush lunch. Children’s programming and child care are available throughout the morning.

Bernard Braun


We have a limited number of cemetery plots available at our Memorial Park Cemetery on Brimley Road. The price for each plot is $2,500 plus GST. The cost of preparing a grave for a burial at Brimley Road is $800.

We also have plots available in the Temple section at Pardes Shalom. The current price for these plots is $1,900 plus GST.

For more details, please call Hayley Nuttall (ext. 246), at the Temple, or e-mail [email protected].

Temple cemetery Plots

Is it time for the unveiling ceremony of a loved one? If so, our rabbis would like to offer their support. Please choose from among the following 2008 Sundays for family and friends to gather with a rabbi for the dedication of the headstone: May 4, May 25, June 22, July 13, Aug. 24 and Sept. 14. Of course, this ceremony does not require a rabbi’s presence and some families choose to conduct the unveiling themselves, using our prayer pamphlets. To make arrangements for an unveil-ing, please call Hayley Nuttall (ext. 246), at the Temple, or e-mail [email protected].

Unveiling ceremonies

From oppression to redemption | Cantor’s Notes by cantor benjamin Z. Maissner

The Passover Celebration concert, to be held on Thur. Apr. 24, 2008, at 8 p.m., is the second concert in our Musical

Heritage Concert Series. With a theme of “From oppression to redemption,” this concert will feature two different musical presentations: “Uprising” by Ballet Espressivo, a dance company; and Srul Irving Glick’s “Haggadah Suite” for choir and string quartet.

balleT eSPReSSivo Choreographed by Donna Greenberg, “Uprising” is based on the true story of the Jewish Fighting Organization, a band of freedom fighters who re-fused to succumb to the Nazi regime of World War II. Led by schoolteacher Mordechai Anielewicz, the organiza-

tion was born as the Warsaw Jewish ghetto was being systemically decimat-ed and its residents shipped off to the Treblinka death camp by the German occupational forces. In April/May 1943, Anielewicz’s followers staged a valiant uprising. Though ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the Nazis, the uprising inflicted an enormous amount of damage on the enemy and enabled hundreds of Polish Jews to escape the gas ovens and crematoriums.

HaggaDaH SUiTe I will conduct Srul Irving Glick’s “Haggadah Suite,” performed by The Festival Quartet — comprising members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Concert Meister Mark Skazinetsky and the Holy Blossom Temple Singers. One of Canada’s most prolific composers of

music for ballet, orchestra, piano, voice and choir, Glick was a dedicated teach-er and conductor and, until his death in April 2002, he was composer-in-residence at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. His music reflects a unique blend of Hebraic lyricism, contemporary musi-cal styles and classical composition techniques, and has touched the hearts of audiences everywhere. His vocal and choral music has garnered many awards.

This concert will be a spectacular event not to be missed. The cost is $25 for adult tickets and $15 for young adults/youth tickets. To buy tickets, please call Mari Lynn Rusak (ext. 224), at the Temple. And do not forget to mark your calendars for the last con-cert in our series: the All-Out Israeli Evening on Sun. May 25, 2008, at 7 p.m.


The 60s: Social Action Then and NowFri. May 2, 2008, at 6 p.m.Multi-generational Shabbat Service and dinner This evening will connect generations creatively, through an interactive art project and semi-potluck dinner (you bring the side dish or dessert and we will supply the main dish). A great way to kick off our Social Action weekend. Cost: members $12 per adult and $7 per child; non-members $15 per adult and $10 per child. RSVP to Elana Fehler (ext. 221), at the Temple.

Sun. May 4, 2008, at 9.30 a.m.

Why Continue? Reflections of a 60s Activist Today

Tom Hayden, Keynote SpeakerTom Hayden, perhaps the leading American political activist of the 1960s, will reflect on what sustains him today, what changes he has un-dergone and why social justice work is more important than ever.

Feminism — “Then and Now”Michele Landsburg, Social Activist

Sun. June 8, 20087 p.m. Erev Shavuot Service and Confirmation9.30 p.m. Tikkun Leil Shavuot — Grammar and God: What Does One Have to Do with the Other? with Rabbi Edward Goldfarb

Mon. June 9, 200810 a.m. Congregation-wide Shavuot Morning ServiceThe Service will include: Songs of Hallel; Yizkor; a special blessing for all the babies born into the congregation in the past two years; and an aliyah in honour of our Grade 10 CHAT students.

Shavuot – Z’man Matan Torahteinu — The Time of the Giving of our Torah

Workshops

What Do I Want to Do When I Grow

Up: I’m 50+, So What’s Next?

Karen Goldenberg,

Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto

The New Radicals

Julia Moulden, Author

From Eleanor Roosevelt to Martin

Luther King to Stephen Lewis: Holy

Blossom at the Forefront of Social

Activism

Professor Fred Zemans,

Past President, Holy Blossom Temple

Social Action in the Internet Age

Daniel Aldana Cohen, Editor

Gemilut Chasadim: What the Sources

Say about Our Social Obligations

Rabbi John Moscowitz

What You Need to Do to End the

Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur

Ben Fine, Director, STAND Canada

(working towards ending the crisis

in Darfur)

Cost: members $25, non-members

$36; students $18. Breakfast and

lunch will be served. For tickets,

please call Elena Fehler (ext. 221),

at the Temple by Fri. Apr. 25, 2008.

This event is generously supported

by the following Foundation

funds: the Carol and Samuel Braun

Memorial Endowment Fund, the

Hortense Geldzaeler Fund and the

I. Jeffrey Presement Memorial Fund.

Thanks also to Temple Brotherhood

for their generosity.


Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning at Holy Blossom Temple

Our Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning strives to engage our community to join together for stimulating lectures, to study Torah and to obtain the skills needed to lead a meaningful Jewish life. For more details on all lectures and programs, please call the School office (ext. 256), at the Temple, or visit our Web site at www.holyblossom.org. All programs and lectures are open to the community, unless otherwise stated. For your convenience, our weekday daytime programs are marked with the following symbol:

Ongoing learning and specialized classes

Shabbat Morning Torah Study:From Sinai to Soloveitchik — Why Ideas MatterRabbi John MoscowitzSaturdays at 9 a.m.

Adult B’nei Mitzvah Mondays at 7.30 p.m. For pre-registered participants only.

Advanced Hebrew Grammar Rabbi Edward Goldfarb

Tuesdays at 11 a.m.Open to Temple members only.

Sisterhood Torah Study: Studies in GenesisRabbi Edward Goldfarb

Wednesdays at 9.30 a.m.

The Yiddish NovelRabbi Edward Goldfarb

Wednesdays at 11 a.m.

Hebrew Language Instruction: Beginner’s HebrewDalia Alalouf, Hebrew SupervisorWednesdays at 7.30 p.m.

Library Book ClubKen Skolnik, Retired English Teacher and Bibliophile

Tuesdays at 9.30 a.m.Apr. 8, 2008 | David Golder by Irène NémirovskyA provocative and controversial book.May 13, 2008 | The Ministry of Special

Cases by Norman Englander For more details, please e-mail Anne Dublin at [email protected]. Non-members welcome.

Book Talk: An Evening to Honour the Memory of Emil L. Fackenheim Tue. Apr. 8, 2008, at 7.30 p.m.James A. Diamond, Joseph & Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies, University of Waterloo Michael L. Morgan, Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Studies at Indiana UniversityCome and meet two renowned authorities on Emil L. Fackenheim as we learn more about the life of the rabbi/professor.

Song of Songs: The Story of Our Spiritual Redemption from EgyptRabbi Karen ThomashowWednesdays at 7.30 p.m.Apr. 9 and 16, 2008Please join us for the two remaining sessions in this course. On the final evening, we will engage in a special reading of the Song.

Sunshine on SpadinaBill Gladstone, Journalist and Genealogist Tue. Apr. 22, 2008, at 7.30 p.m. Learn more about Spadina’s rise, the unions and labour movement, the synagogues, cultural centres, businesses and personalities that made Spadina Avenue what it was. For more details, please e-mail Anne Dublin at [email protected]. Non-members welcome. Co-sponsored by the Library Committee and Brotherhood.

The Bible as a Source for Modern Jewish SpiritualityRabbi Michael Stroh, Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Har Zion

Thursdays at 10.30 a.m.Apr. 24 to May 8, 2008

Pirkei Avot: More than ProverbsRabbi Edward Goldfarb Wed. May 21, 2008, at 7.30 p.m. Who said, “If I am not for myself who will be for me?”; “Find yourself a Rabbi and make yourself a friend” and many other expressions that have become not only part of Jewish wisdom but world wisdom? This is the wonderful world of Pirkei Avot.

Sisterhood Kallah: Thinking with Leo Baeck Rabbi John Moscowitz

Thur. May 1, at 9.30 a.m.

The late Rabbi Leo Baeck was a penetrating thinker into the essence of religion, particularly Judaism and Christianity. This day’s study will delve into Baeck’s reflections on Judaism’s unique combination of faith in God and the concretization of that faith as revealed in daily life. Cost: $36. To register, please call Elana Fehler (ext. 532), at the Temple.


Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning at Holy Blossom Temple

Blanche and Harry Posen Memorial Lectures

Two Evenings with Joel M. Hoffman

Mon. May 12 , 2008 at 8 p.m. | The Dead Sea ScrollsSince their discovery a half-century ago, the Dead Sea Scrolls have captured the popular imagination, and created more controversy and intrigue than any other ancient find.

Mon. May 14 , 2008 at 8 p.m. | Four Exiles and Four Spiritual Revolutions: From the Ancient Prophets to ModernityJudaism has seen four spiritual revolutions, each in the wake of a major exile. This is an engaging and uplifting look at North American Judaism — the last spiritual revolution — as seen in the context of the last 3,000 years.

Joel M. Hoffman Ph.D., is a teacher at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City.

vision for israel engagement

How does the State of Israel fit into our lives and what does it mean? What do we mean when we claim that Israel is “our

homeland?” Having recently attended a special conference in Israel on this topic — specifically targeted to congregations and their religious schools — I have some reflections. I hope the reflections and the specific ideas will only deepen the place of Israel in the Holy Blossom Temple Religious School.

First this obvious observation: our young people today have a very different image of Israel than did previous gen-erations. I often hear the opinion that “it is over there — not my responsibility.” The great Jewish thinker David Wolpe explains, “The task of this generation with regard to Israel is the task of a par-ent with regard to children. We criticize

| Supplementary Schools children, but only after we establish our love for them … And when our children hear the problems Israel has had, the things that it has done wrong, the cruelty and neglect that sometimes mark our land, we must ensure that first they hear words of love.”

The need to have Israel in our lives in many diverse avenues is great. Rabbi Harold Kushner writes of dreaming of a day when “survival will no longer be the overriding concern for Israel.” Imagine speaking about our homeland without any concern for the difficulties that of-ten arise in such conversations. Imagine learning about the beauty, the techno-logical advances and the brilliance of the younger generation in Israel without any thought of conflict or war.

Holy Blossom’s Israel will be as the State’s national anthem Hatikvah states: L’hiyot am chofshi, to be a free people and a free nation; a nation of meaning,

understanding and love of our country, our homeland.

Tanach champions: Mazal tov to Grade 6 student Jacob Dicker (left), and Grade 5 student Tony Rosenberg, who were first place finishers in the city-wide Tanach Tournament sponsored by The Mercaz (formally known as the Board of Jewish Education). We are very proud of them and their teacher, Happy Iscove, who worked tirelessly with them throughout this year. This is the second year in a row that the Holy Blossom team has been victorious.

by Deborah K. Spiegel, Director of Education


celebrating israel at 60 | Our Israelby Jeff Denaburg and Rivanne Sandler, Co-Chairs, Our Israel Committee

considering the hostilitythat Israel has endured from her neigh-

bours, we may be tempted to believe that the miracle of Israel’s 60th birthday is simply that the Jewish State has sur-vived until now.

But the miracle of Israel at 60 is not just that Israel has survived, but what Israel has become.

In 60 short years, and with a popula-tion of barely seven million people, Israel has attained astonishing heights. It is, of course, a leader in security and military technology, but it is also a world leader in medical science, environmental technol-ogy, computer software, biotechnology, communications hardware, water conser-vation, pharmaceuticals and other fields.

Despite this secular success, Israel has not lost her soul. While the night life in Tel Aviv is about instant gratification, most of Israel radiates history, tradition,

continuity and spirituality: the golden stone of Jerusalem, the green mountains and flourishing valleys of the Galilee, the stark cliffs and wadis (dry riverbeds that bloom briefly after rain) of the Negev, the Mediterranean shore with its ancient ports and the many archaeological sites that allow us to draw near to our ancestors.

And most importantly, Israel has suc-ceeded in her biggest challenge of all — living up to Jewish ethics. Israel has built a society dedicated to the well-being of its citizens, through values such as equality, rule of law, personal freedoms and caring for others. And no other democracy has faced such high levels of external hostility while defending itself with restraint and consideration for human life.

We have much to celebrate this spring as Israel reaches the age of 60. In addi-tion to our Yom Ha’Atzma’ut party (see ad below), we have made it easy to get close to Israel and participate in the cel-ebration. Please join us for any and all of the following upcoming events:

•AneveningoffineIsraeliwine Tue. Apr. 8, at 6:30 p.m.•Congregationalfilmnight, with

Israeli filmmaker Igal Hecht, featuring a montage of film clips illustrating key issues in Israeli society

Tue. Apr. 15, at 7.30 p.m.•Generationt (for 20 and 30 some-

things) film night, featuring the screening of Banished, a thought- provoking film by Igal Hecht

Thur. Apr. 17, at 7.30 p.m.•ANewParadigm:Israelandthe

Middle East, a lecture by Israel’s Consul-General, Amir Gissin (see page 2 for more details)

Sat. May 3, after the Service•AnAll-OutIsraeliEvening,featuring

Six13 (the last concert in our Musical Heritage Concert series; see cover for more details)

Sun. May 25, at 7 p.m.

For more details, please pick up the Israel at 60 brochure in the main foyer of the Temple.

Yom Ha’ZikaronWed. May 7, 2008, at 5.45 p.m.This year, our Yom Ha’Zikaron Service will be held at Beth Tzedec Synagogue. After the Service, to commemorate the fallen soldiers of Israel, we will join our neighbours in a walk back to Holy Blossom in time for our Yom Ha’Atzma’ut celebration.

Yom Ha’atZma’ut (independence daY) Wed. May 7, 2008, at 6.30 p.m.Celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday with a neighbourhood march and street party, including entertainment, food, wine, Israeli products for sale and activities for the kids. We will join with Beth Tzedec for our most spectacular Yom Ha’Atzma’ut party yet.

Honouring and celebrating Israel


Spotlight on Family Programming 2008

For more details on Family Programming, please call our hotline (ext. 518), at the Temple. To register for any program or Family Camp, please e-mail [email protected].

Family Mitzvah DaySun. Apr. 6, 2008, at 12.30 p.m.The Family Programming Committee, the Social Action Committee, the Bikur Cholim Commitee and the Leo Baeck Day School Parent Association are planning six mitzvah projects, so that together we can make a difference.

For Holy Blossom FamiliesHonour the elderly and care for the sickCreate and deliver potted flowers to fellow members in nursing homes and hospitals. Teach thy childrenConstruct a library for the families

who live at Plaut Manor, which provides residents with subsidized housing and an extensive range of support programming.

For Leo Baeck FamiliesFeed the hungryPrepare bag lunches for Ve’ahavta to de-liver to those in need.

Rejoice in your celebrations Make birthday party kits for families who live in women’s shelters.

Joint ProjectsKeep Jerusalem in mindCreate a wall mural of Jerusalem on the eastern wall of the Temple’s Activity Room.

Welcome the stranger Paint the Temple’s laneway entrance for a warm welcome into our building.

Supplies needed — If you have access to any supplies that will help with any of these projects (paint, gardening supplies, cake mixes), please call Rabbi Yael Splansky (ext. 244), at the Temple.

Family Programming’s many activities and Services are designed specifically for families with school-aged children. Mark your calendar for the following programs and sign up to receive e-mail updates by visiting our Web site at www.holyblossom.org > Subscribe to E-mail > Family Programming.

Pesach Cooking ClassThe Academy of Artisans 590 Eglinton Ave. W.Sun. Apr. 13, 2008, at 1.30 p.m.Our Chanukah cooking class was such a success — now you can create Passover delicacies to give as gifts or for your own table. (All ingredients are kosher for Passover, but the kitchen is not.) Cost: $22 per child. Space is limited.

Second SederSun. Apr. 20, 2008, at 5 p.m.All are welcome for this family-friendly, interactive, semi-potluck seder. To let us know what dish you would like to bring, please call Shelly Berenbaum (ext. 233), at the Temple.

Holy Blossom Family CampCamp George, Parry SoundFri. May 23 to Sun. May 25, 2008Unplug and make a Jewish memory your family will never forget! Enjoy Shabbat by the lake, a ropes course, canoeing to a nearby island, Maccabia games, a slumber party for older kids, a scavenger hunt for younger kids and s’mores for everyone! This retreat weekend, led by Rabbi Yael Splansky, will be a highlight of the year for you and your children. Registration required.

Books — Please drop off gently used books for children, teens and adults in the bins at the Temple to donate to Plaut Manor.


H o lY B l o S S o M T e M p l e

SisterhoodJudaica ShopJust in time for Pesach: seder plates, matzah covers, afikomen bags and haggadahs.

Sisterhood Shabbat Study Debbie Spiegel, Director of EducationSat. May 17, 2008Following the Shabbat Service, we will enjoy lunch and study together as we explore the newly publishedtext, The Torah: A Women’s Commentary.

Celebration of The Torah: A Women’s Commentary Professor Judith Baskin, Chair, Department of Religious Studies, University of Oregon, Consulting EditorSat. May 31, 2008, at 9 a.m. Please join us for the Shabbat Morning Torah Study, Service and Sermon, followed by lunch and study with Prof. Judith Baskin.

G E N E R A T I O N (for 20 and 30 somethings)

For more details on any Generation t program, please call Roseanne Mason (ext. 276), at the Temple.

Shabbat Fusion

Fridays at 6.30 p.m. Apr. 25, May 30 and June 27

Once a month, young adults — single and attached, members and non-members — experience a Shabbat evening of prayer, song and study like no other. Five musicians bring a sound that is both old and new — tribal rhythms from the Ugandan Jewish community, joyful niggunim from the Chassidic influence of Shlomo Carlebach, and riffs of New Orleans jazz and retro. Following the Service, a kiddush of Israeli wine and sushi invites people to linger for hours.

2008 UJA Walk with IsraelSun. May 25, 2008

The 2008 UJA Walk with Israel will start at Coronation Park and end at the Direct Energy Building in Exhibition Place, with a barbe-cue and carnival. In celebration of Israel’s 60th birthday, there will be many surprises for participants. With your help, we can make this our best walk ever. For more details, please visit www.jewishtoronto.com.

Hands-on Mitzvah Project: Habitat for Humanity House Build*

Sun. May 4, 2008

Help build a home and hope for a family in need!

Register: 8.15 a.m.Build: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Generation ` is pleased to participate in Habitat for Humanity’s Adopt-a-Day Challenge Build. Bring your steel-toed boots and your muscles to take part in this exciting initiative that will enable a worthy family to own a simple home of its own.

The maximum number of participants for the build is 30, so reserve your spot early! If you’d like to be a part of the day by helping with registration or serving lunch, we need you, too.

Registration required. For more details or to register, please visit www.holyblossom.org or e-mail Donna Habsha, Generation ` Build Coordinator, at [email protected].

*Location to be announced

To register for either event, please call Elana Fehler (ext. 532), at the Temple.


Apr. 14 A Model Seder | Leo Baeck Day School students

Apr. 28 Reflections fromthePast| Mary Seldon andPeterTheimer, Temple membersHear personal experiences from the Holocaust.

May 5 Israelat60: A Special Yom Ha’Atzma’ut CelebrationEnjoy a festive lunch and Israeli entertainment. Note this program begins at 12.30 p.m.

M o N D AyS @ the Temple

Our day starts at 10 a.m., and includes the program, exercise and lunch — all for only $2 per person. Note there will be no program on Apr. 21 be-cause of Pesach. Our upcom-ing spring programs are:

Apr. 7 A Journey Back in Time and Space | Dr. Marvin Tile, Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University of Toronto, Orthopaedic Consultant, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Chair, Holy Blossom Temple Foundation

Lu N C H A N D L E A R N in Retirement

Enjoy interesting speakers and events. Please bring your own dairy lunch and join us at 12.30 p.m. The cost is $1 and we sup-ply the coffee and cookies.

Wed. Apr. 9 Celebrated andNotoriousWomenofthe19th Century | Barbara Rusch, Collector of Ephemera, Writer and Lecturer

Mon. May 5 MusicalProgramWe will go to Beth Tzedec Synagogue to join their senior chaverim for a musical program.

Wed. May 14 The Aging Mind: Losses, Stability and Aging |Dr.GuyProulx

Fine Arts Exhibit

16 Walls by Teri LeeseFri. Apr. 11 to Wed. May 28, 2008

Teri Leese, a member of Holy Blossom Temple since childhood, finds inspiration while painting outdoors during summers at Lake Simcoe.

“My paintings most definitely show the level of intensity in my life from week to week; you can see the diver-sity through the changes of style.”

Bring your photographs, digital or film, to show us what you have done and tell us how you did it. Everyone is welcome.

brotherhood Photography Group

Help us plan our Brotherhood programs for 2008/2009.

all Members Meeting

Our team, the Holy B’s, competes in the Inter Synagogue Baseball League. We play most Sunday mornings, from May to October. If you would like to join us and can commit to the schedule, please call the Brotherhood hotline (ext. 530), at the Temple, or e-mail [email protected].

brotherhood Baseball

Brotherhood will be serving breakfast as part of the Temple-wide program The 60s: Social Action Then and Now.

brotherhood Breakfast Club | Sun. May 4, 2008, at 9.30 a.m.

| Wed. apr. 16, 2008, at 7.30 p.m.

| Tue. apr. 15, 2008, at 7.30 p.m.

For more details or to offer to drive participants, please call the Seniors’ hotline (ext. 517), at the Temple.


Mazal Tov

b i R T H S

Jennifer & Brent Davidson on the birth of their daughter, Jordan Taylor Davidson, sister to Benjamin. Proud grandparents are Nancy & Arthur Ameis, and Susan Davidson & Paul Druker.

Kathy & Morris Green, on the birth of their grandson, Cedar Gabriel Smolash, son of Dr. Jen Green and Cantor Michael Smolash, brother to Ayla. Other proud grandparents are Hilda & Peter Smolash.

In Memoriam

The congregation sympathizes with the recently bereaved families of:

Joseph Goldstein, husband of Sylvia Goldstein, father of Lillyann Goldstein and Marianne Fagan.

David Henry, son of Maxine Henry, brother of Beth Goodman and Kathy Thomas

Esther Hands, mother of Brian Hands and Sharon Clavir, sister of Ethel Walton, Min Goodman, Beatrice Magder and Harold Zener

LesterParks,husband of Frances Parks, father of Joanne Ovsey and Karen Zalan

Harry Wiseman, father of Barbara Wiseman and Susan Wiseman

Our Congregational Family

5Iyar5768/May10,2008Danya Firestone, daughter of Wendy Linden & Stephen Firestone

5Iyar5768/May10,2008Harry Solomon, son of Julie & Cary Solomon

5Iyar5768/May10,2008JoeleyPulver,daughter of Corinne & Ian Pulver

We thank our generous donors

a c c e S S i b i l i T y F U n D

GlikaBeerBlum,InMemory:Etta Ginsberg McEwan

W i l l i a M a n S H a n yo U T H a W a R D

PhyllisGulko,HappyBirthday:Jean Anshan

DavidHenry,InMemory:Jean Anshan

BillPape,HappyBirthday:Jean Anshan

J e a n F i n e S e n i o R S F U n D

Susan & Dave Samantha, Mazal Tov: Sally & Ben

Jacobson

F lo R a l F U n D

Samuel Cherniak, Bar Mitzvah: Leon Cherniak

Matthew Cohen, Bar Mitzvah: Elise & Richard Cohen

Danya Firestone, Bat Mitzvah: Wendy Linden &

Stephen Firestone

Danille Hoffer, Bat Mitzvah: Sandra Dawe & Lloyd

Hoffer

Hannah Kalman, Bat Mitzvah: Nancy Crossley & Carl

Kalman

AveryNoik,BarMitzvah:Michelle Schipper and

Allan Noik

JoeleyPulver,BatMitzvah: Corinne & Ian Pulver

Seth Shulman, Bar Mitzvah: Mala Greenbaum & Jeff

Shulman

Harry Solomon, Bar Mitzvah: Julie & Cary Solomon

Justin Taub, Bar Mitzvah: Robin & Jonathan Taub

R a b b i e D W a R D & Fa g i g o l D Fa R b F U n D F o R

J e W i S H l i T e R a c y

Rabbi Edward Goldfarb, Happy Birthday: Sheila

Bacher; Benjamin and Levitt Families; Eileen &

David Berger; Sonya & Steven Bongard and Family;

Ellen Buchman & Stephen Albert; Michelle &

Mark Chess and Family; Sarita Dotan; Iris Drache;

Miriam & Marvin Dryer; Marilyn Farber; Henchy

& Stephen Freedhoff; Debbie & Marvin Gans;

Randi & Alan Garfinkel; Ruth Gelber; Beverley

& Gerson Geltner; Etta Ginsberg McEwan; Pearl

& David Goldberg; Michael Goldfarb; Izhak

Goldhaber and Family; Sheila Haimes; Margaret &

David Hart; Beverley & Sam Holtzman; Bambi Katz

& Al Freireich; Michelle Katz & Larry Blumenthal;

Lisa Kreindler & Kevin Green and Family; Terrye

& Jack Kuper; Millie & Gerry Lev; Elizabeth

& Allan Macmillan; Doreen & Shelly Manly;

e n g a g e M e n T S / M a R R i a g e S

NoamThaddeusMuscovitch, son of Freda Ariella and Arthur Muscovitch, to NeelyBrooke Davis, daughter of Ivy and Marc Davis.

Rina & Saul Fishbein, on the marriage of their granddaughter, Carolyn Hamer, daughter of Arla & Howie Hamer, to JoshOkorofsky, son of Hyla & Paul Okorofsky.

b ’ n e i M i T Z v a H

7Nisan5768/Apr.12,2008Matthew Cohen, son of Elise & Richard Cohen

7Nisan5768/Apr.12,2008Danille Hoffer, daughter of Sandra Dawe & Lloyd Hoffer

14Nisan5768/Apr.19,2008Samuel Cherniak, son of Jessica Cherniak and Leon Cherniak

28Nisan5768/May3,2008Hannah Kalman, daughter of Nancy Crossley & Carl Kalman

28Nisan5768/May3,2008AveryNoik, son of Michelle Schipper and Allan Noik

28Nisan5768/May3,2008Seth Shulman, son of Mala Greenbaum & Jeff Shulman

3Iyar5768/May8,2008Justin Taub, son of Robin & Jonathan Taub


Holy blossom Temple Foundation

The Holy Blossom Temple Foundation raises funds to

support Temple activities, programs and projects.

To make a donation to any of our existing funds,

please call Janice Feuer at (416) 789-3291, ext. 265.

To establish a new fund or learn more about

philanthropic opportunities, please call Cheryl Zeldin,

Director of Development (ext. 260), at the Temple.

We appreciate your support

Holy Blossom Temple appreciates all donations to our

funds; however, due to rising costs, cards will only be

sent for donations of $20 or more. We will continue

to recognize all donations in the Bulletin.

Nine per cent of all donations and investment income

is generally set aside to help with administration

costs and special initiatives.

We apologize but due to space constraints, not all

donations will appear in the Bulletin issue closest to

the date on which the contribution was made. Dona-

tions in this issue were received by Feb. 25, 2008.

Roseanne Mason; Glenda Mindlin; Sharon Neiss

& Dr. Gordon Arbess; Linda & Abe Neufeld; Erica

Pecoskie & George Simionopoulos; Gloria Pollock;

Debbie Redner & Benjamin Applebaum; Cantorial

Soloist Lindi & Stephen Rivers and Family; Arlene

Roth; Mari Lynn Rusak; Debby & Stan Solomon;

Debbie & Randy Spiegel and Family; Janis &

David Spinner; Sharon & Dr. Mel Sutton; Sorena

& Seymour Swartz and Family; Eydie & Harold

Troper; Judi & Murray Urowitz; Marilyn & Eddie

Weisz; Steven Weisz; Phyllis & Alan Wintraub

H o ly b lo S S o M T e M P l e F o U n D aT i o n

GlikaBeerBlum,InMemory:Jill Kamin & Murray

Hart; Barbara Organ

Susan & Martin Goldberg, Mazal Tov: Debra & Barry

Campbell

SylviaKrieger,InMemory:Jackie & Arthur Caplan

JohnSweet,InHonour: Ed Sweet

PercyWeinstein,InMemory:Lyon Wexler

Aileen Wolff, Happy Birthday: Reba & Kassy

Clodman

H o ly b lo S S o M T e M P l e R e n e W a l F U n D

SaraCharney,InHonour:Arlene Roth

BarbaraandSamFrumO’Brien,B’neiMitzvah:

Alexander Josivoicz

i S R a e l S T U D y F U n D

GlikaBeerBlum,InMemory:Joan Garson & David

Baskin

MichaelCole,InAppreciation:Holy Blossom Temple

Brotherhood

J a c o b ’ S T o W e R F U n D

Florence & Harold Hertzman, Mazal Tov: Judy

Jordan-Austin and Family

Jill Hertzman, Mazal Tov: Judy Jordan-Austin and

Family; Myra & Danny Krangle; Rivanne Sandler

Anne Moranis, Mazal Tov: Myra & Danny Krangle

J o a n K e R b e l l e a D e R S H i P D e v e lo P M e n T F U n D

GlikaBeerBlum,InMemory:Janice & Larry Babins;

Donna & Dennis Colt; Gail & Gary Goodman;

Holy Blossom Temple Sisterhood; Sheila & Bob

Smolkin

Judith Wiley, Happy Birthday: Michael Wiley

K i D D U S H F U n D

CherylDrutz&EricFoster,InHonour: Foster and

Drutz Families

General: Zita Gardner; Holy Blossom Temple

Brotherhood; Holy Blossom Temple Sisterhood;

Judy Malkin & Elliott Jacobson; Brenda & Dr. Fred

Saunders; Sheila & Bob Smolkin

l i b R a R y b o o K F U n D

AnneDublin,InAppreciation:Holy Blossom Temple

Sisterhood

HaroldHoward,InMemory:Jean & Richard Lorie

Edward Karabanow, Yahrzeit: Ellen Karabanow

Diana Morgulis, Yahrzeit: Allison Marshall and

Family

M U S i c a l H e R i Ta g e c o n c e R T S e R i e S F U n D

GlikaBeerBlum,InMemory:Razelle Roebuck &

David MacCoy; Mary & Henry Seldon

CantorBenjaminZ.Maissner,InAppreciation:Mira

Goldfarb & Adam Berkowitz and Family; Ethel List;

Cheryl Zeldin

Hope & Cantor Benjamin Z. Maissner, Mazal Tov:

Janice & Larry Babins; Naomi Bell; Clare & Monte

Denaburg; Susanne & Dr. Stuart Egier; Helena

& David Fine; Sybil & Jack Geller; Fagi & Rabbi

Edward Goldfarb; Holy Blossom Temple Singers;

Holy Blossom Temple Sisterhood; Roseanne Mason

Beth Roher, Happy Birthday: Leora & Ted

MacDonald and Family

Aileen Wolff, Happy Birthday: Clare & Monte

Denaburg

General: Matilda Bigio; Harriet & Frank Wolman

M U S i c a l l e g a c y F U n D

Hope & Cantor Benjamin Z. Maissner, Mazal Tov:

Margaret & David Hart; Glenda and Allison Mindlin

o U T o F T H e c o l D

Katrin&MauriceGreen,InHonour:James Forster &

William Edwards

BrendaHoffert,InAppreciation:Holy Blossom

Temple Brotherhood Photography Group

Katharine Williams, Happy Birthday: Sue & Lou

Devor

General: Holy Blossom Temple Stagecraft Company

H a R R y & b l a n c H e P o S e n M e M o R i a l F U n D

BlanchePosen,Yahrzeit:Joy & Charles Cohen

P R ay e R b o o K F U n D

Stanley Gold, Happy Birthday: Rose Goldstein Gold

David Lloyd Rose, Yahrzeit: Rosalin Rose and

Ruth Green

P R o J e c T T i K v a H

Samuel Godfrey, OBE, Yahrzeit: Dr. Sheila Pollock

Dr.IraPollock,Yahrzeit:Dr. Sheila Pollock

R a b b i S ’ D i S c R e T i o n a R y F U n D S

RabbiJohnMoscowitz:HowardGoldstein,In

Memory: Philip Smith

RabbiYaelSplansky,InAppreciation:Sharon Clavir;

Marcie & Barry Gordon and Family; Holy Blossom

Temple Chavurah

RabbiYaelSplansky:JoannaCooper,InMemory:

Sharon Neiss & Dr. Gordon Arbess

RabbiKarenThomashow,InAppreciation:Ethel List

RabbiEdwardGoldfarb,InAppreciation:Janie

Swartz & Rick Whiler

Rabbi Edward Goldfarb, Happy Birthday: June &

Byron Sonberg

CantorBenjaminZ.Maissner,InAppreciation:

Marcie & Barry Gordon and Family

a l & D o R a T R a c K S c H o l a R S H i P F U n D

Rabbi Edward Goldfarb, Happy Birthday: Dora

Track

Al Track, Yahrzeit: Dora Track and Family

yo U T H a W a R D S

Rebecca Howard, Mazal Tov: Judy & Jack Winberg

and Family

DebbieSpiegel,InAppreciation:Holy Blossom

Temple Sisterhood


in search of heroics | The Last Wordby Rabbi yael Splansky

Recently, I had the privilege of introduc-ing Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire at St. Thomas’s Church, in downtown Toronto.

Three years ago, Lieutenant-General Dallaire received the W. Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award for his efforts dur-ing the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Just being in the presence of such a hero was inspiring.

We are short on heroes these days. Just two generations ago, there were scores of heroes in the world at large, and in the Jewish world in particular. Yitzhak Rabin was a hero in his search for peace. Albert Einstein was a hero in his search for truth. David Ben Gurion and his generation of Zionists were heroes in vision and leadership. And

Rabbi Leo Baeck, among countless others, was a hero in the midst of the flames of the Shoah.

Who could we put on such a list to-day? Are there any living Jewish heroes who rank on such a scale? Surely today’s world is no less in need of heroes. With so few to lead us, where do folks like us find our inspiration to do good?

The weekend of May 2 to 4, 2008 will shine some light to identify what measure of goodness we might bring to the world. An impressive program has been planned by our Social Action Committee. Through speakers and workshops, we will identify the good fight(s) we want to fight and hear the charge to do our part — “l’tikkun olam,” to repair the world.

Lieutenant-General Dallaire told his audience that our government officials

“are overworked, but they are not harassed.” And this is a problem because change does not often happen unless there is a public outcry. He offered this comment as a challenge.

What keeps you awake at night? The broken health care system? Israel’s security? The cries from Darfur? One of the tools we will acquire on May 4 is how to effectively ‘harass’ our politi-cians and the media to move our issues to the front of the agenda and how to do our part to bring about real change for good.

The Mishnaic Sage, Rabbi Tarfon, urges us on, saying: “It is not required that you complete the task (of perfect-ing the world), but neither are you free to desist from it.” Not everyone can be a hero, but our small actions can be heroic.

Canada PostPublications Mail

Sales Agreement No. 40063407

1950 Bathurst StreetToronto, ON M5P 3K9

Holy Blossom Temple Pre-SchoolIf you have a child who will be turning three or four years old by Dec. 1, 2009, then it is

time to register for our Pre-School or Junior Kindergarten Program. Morning or afternoon

sessions are available. Classes run Monday through Friday, from either 9 to 11.30 a.m.,

or 1 to 3.30 p.m.

Temple members’ priority registration began Apr. I, 2008. To obtain an application,

please call the School office (ext. 240), at the Temple.

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