Confirmation Class 2012

Good evening and Shabbat shalom. I find this time of year bittersweet, because although the weather is improving as summer is approaching, it also means the end of the school year, and seeing my friends on a daily basis. For this year, it also means the end of Confirmation class. For me, having a Confirmation class every Monday, starting at 6:30 was an important addition to my schedule. It provided me with an opportunity to not only make new friends in a new environment, but also a modern, relevant Jewish education as well. Many discussions with Rabbi Moscowitz, Thomashow, Splansky about a variety of topics were often inspiring and thought-provoking. Some of the best moments of my year, however, have been outside that classroom. Some of the highlights of my time here have been volunteering at various classes on Sunday mornings, when I was able to work alongside my classmates or with teachers in the school. This experience was very valuable, and I will be returning next year for the opportunities that the program offers STUDENT TEACHING PROGRAM. Spending time with the students in the lower grades was also a tremendous amount of fun, and it gave me a variety of skills such as being able to deal with the often erratic behavior of children who are much younger than myself. I looked forward to every weekend with the lower classes, and was lucky enough to spend time in different grades, which really broadened my experience.

However, the time I found most valuable this year was the trip to Israel taken as a Confirmation class. Every moment we were in motion, learning and experiencing Israel for 7 days. Despite the accelerated pace of the trip, I felt that we had accomplished a lot over a few days, and were able to fully process and enjoy the journey. Walking and running up Masada was definitely one of the highlights of my trip, as was the Old City and the Save a Child’s Heart visit. At the same time, there isn’t an instance when the trip wasn’t positive, discounting the end of the first day, when a few people, myself included, were falling asleep standing up. Other than the hectic schedule and long hours, I found the trip fulfilling and a lot of fun. I was new to Toronto and Holy Blossom at the beginning of this year. By the end of the Confirmation trip, I felt that I was part of this community.

Primarily, I’d like to thank Debbie Spiegel, because if I hadn’t been told to write this speech, I would not have had the opportunity to reflect on this year in the same way. I’d like to thank Myrna Ross, for working so hard to get our class involved in Student Teaching. I’d like to thank Rabbi Moscowitz, Rabbi Splansky, and Rabbi Thomashow, for taking time out of their schedule to work with our class. Finally, I’d like to thank my classmates for a great year.

Growing a la Chelm.

by Rabbi Karen Thomashow.

The Chelm stories are outrageous and also poignant. One such favorite story is about a disagreement between two members of the community: do people grow from the feet up or the head down?

The answer lies within this vBlog installment.

The answer is also dedicated to this school year of learning. Kol HaKavod (a job well done) to all of our students of Torah!

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We are delighted to announce the launch of our online Donor Wall, enabling our community to recognize and appreciate the contributions of our generous donors in a new way.

Please check back often as we will be updating this Donor Wall regularly.

The generosity of donors to the Holy Blossom Congregational Appeal ensures membership and Religious School education for the many Holy Blossom Temple Families who cannot afford to pay our standard rates, including new families who want to be part of our sacred community.

The strength and vitality of Holy Blossom Temple resides in our membership – thank you to all members who support our synagogue community.

To visit our Online Donor Wall please click here.

If you have not yet made your contribution please click the button below and do so easily online,
or contact Loriellen Karam via email or by phone at (416)789-3291 ext. 227.

Your support is appreciated. Donate Now

By Cantor Maissner.

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Watch the short clips of videos and pictures to feel the electric atmosphere among the young children and adults who were present. Sam Glaser is a unique Jewish musical talent who devotes his life to bring renewed energy into our young people and adults alike. Sam was nominated by Moment Magazine as one of the top ten Jewish folk and popular singers. Sam has over 24 CDs and albums. His storytelling and teaching of Jewish culture “EMUNAH” (faith) and a healthy identity of Jewishness has given us a spiritual lift and at the same time much fun singing and dancing.

If we are to begin to be engaged in community building at Holy Blossom, I urge you dear friends and members of Holy Blossom Temple, to please take part, take advantage of our many cultural, spiritual and religious events. These on-going events are designed inclusively for all of us.

Supporting one another will only strengthen our bond with each other and strengthen Temple to be a shining light of a cohesive community.

Don’t let another opportunity slip by without being present.  Each of you is precious to us!

Beny

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One of the joys of the seder table is seeing all the generations gathered together.  Shavuot at Holy Blossom Temple also provides a coming together of the generations.

Beginning with a Shabbat morning service when we honour of Grade 10 Confirmands and CHAT students.  That night offers opportunities for Torah study — one Tikun Leil Shavuot for teens at the JCC, another for adults here at HBT.  Then on Shavuot morning we welcome all the babies born into the congregation.  Parents and grandparents proudly carry their little ones up to the bima for a special blessing.  The prayers of Yizkor honour our loved ones who have died and provide comfort for our mourners.  And that Holy Chag is a creative and playful learning program for our young families to enjoy.  The pilgrimage festivals have always had the power to bring the Jewish People together — in joy and tears, in sacred study and song.

So may it be for us.

Click the accompanying image for details.

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Pre-Nursery and Nursery REGISTRATION FOR 2013/2014 has begun for Temple Members.

• Sibling Registration begins July 3rd 2012.
• Non-member/Non Sibling registration begins September 7th to September 28th 2012.

Our Pre-Nursery Program (for children born in 2011.)

• Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9-11:30 a.m. for children born January – June 2011.
• Tuesday/Thursday from 9 – 11:30 a.m. for children born July –December 2011.

Our Nursery Program (for children born in 2010)

• 5 days per week from 9-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 8 p.m.

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From the power of song to overcome persecution to the celebration of life through spiritual music, the African-American and Jewish people have many shared traditions. In the spirit of unity, we honour Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Paul Robeson, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway and countless others who pioneered integration and cultural exchange.

This concert was conceived by Zalmen Mlotek, the Director of the National Yiddish Theatre. Zalmen has appeared time and again at the Toronto Ashkenaz Festival and is an expert of Yiddish culture and song. Among the stars: Elmore James, a veteran of five Broadway productions and numerous opera stages around the world; Tony Perry, a commanding singer-actor and Hazzan Magda Fishman, cabaret singer and stage singer extraordinaire. This concert is part of Jewish Music Week in Toronto.

Yasher Koach!  Together the families of Holy Blossom Temple and The Leo Baeck Day School have done a world of good.

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350 Kinder Kits were packed with school supplies for students in Haiti  (Thanks to Jascha Jabes and Eli Shore, together with our partners at VeAhavta)

75 Potted Flowers and cards were decorated and hand-delivered to elderly congregants (Thanks to Liz Tarshis, Jennifer Hunter, Lynn Gluckman, and the Bikur Cholim Committee)

12 thoughtful letters of solidarity were written to children of our sister congregation in the Sederot Region (Thanks to Josh and Gord Arbess)

30 Camp Care Packages were prepared to give a warm welcome to Israeli victims of terror coming to spend the summer at Camp Timberlane (Thanks to Aaron and Nathan Schenk and their mother Cheryl Sylvester, together with Julie Schwartz and our partners at One Family Fund.)

500 Books for Children and Teens were donated and sorted for our neighbours in Regent Park. (Thanks to Sophie and Peter Sklar, together with our partners at the Regent Park Book Bank)

30 huge bags of clothing and 20 Tim Horton’s cards for the vulnerable citizens of Downtown Toronto (Thanks to Ann Rosenfield, Noah and Vanessa Yacobson), Darren Laser, Mira Lyon, Advisor of JVC, Holy Blossom’s Junior Volunteer Corps, together with our partners at WoodGreen)

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6 kinds of herbs were planted in our new organic herb garden for Out of the Cold meals (Thanks to Louise Ford, Jordanna Lipson, Marc Levy, Kathy Green, of our Holy Sprouts Committee)

5 donations of hair to give dignity to those with medical hair loss (Thanks to our partners at Locks of Love and thanks to our Shinshinit, Mai Levy, who donated 15 inches of her hair!)

70 Birthday Bags were prepared, so children in need can celebrate their special days (Thanks to Vida Gross and Claudia Aronowitz, together with our partners at Jewish Family & Child Services and York Region Children’s Aid)

$200 was raised at our Car Wash to continue our joint support for the first High School for Girls in Kenya (Thanks to Gord Wiseman, together with our partners at Free the Children)

1 hand-painted mural was created for our neighbours at The Pine Villa Retirement Home (Thanks to Ariel Dalfen)

3 inspirational songs of justice were sung by Baeck, led by Rabbi Noam Katz

And 200 freezie-pops were consumed to celebrate a job well-done!

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“Kol HaKavod!”

• to Amy Kaiser, Family Mitzvah Day Chair, 
• to the LBDS Tikun Olam Committee, chaired by Josh Arbess
• to Deborah Franks Epstein, Dean of Students at LBDS South Campus,
• to Rabbi Thomashow,
• to Sheryl Brodey and HBT’s Religious Education  Committee for the BBQ lunch,
• to Debbie Speigel, Director of Education at HBT,
• to Robert Carnevale for communications,
• to JoAnne Polito and Elana Fehler,
• and to Jim Westcott and the HBT Maintenance Staff.

Our New Shinshinim (Israeli emissaries) for 2012-2013!!

Gal (the boy) and Gefen (the girl) will join us in August as our new lovely, young Shinshinim for 2012-2013. (Or and Mai will be leaving in August 2012.)

Gal and Gefen will divide their time between Holy Blossom Temple and Leo Baeck Day School.

We are looking for Host Families for the coming year. Having one of these young emissaries live in your home is a true highlight – just ask past Host Families!

If you have room in your home and your heart for one of these lovely Shinshinim, please email Debbie Speigel, or call 416-789-3291, ext. 239.

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Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Our Holy Chag! program is back again, for all students in JK through Grade 6.

Start the day with your parents at our Congregational Shavuot services, followed by great breakout programs, a song session, and a picnic lunch filled with holiday themed food, active games and make-your-own ice-cream and cheesecake desserts!

$18 per child: pre-registration required.

Email Lisa Isen Baumal or contact by phone at 416-789-3291 ext. 242

Teen counselors needed!
Volunteer hours rewarded!