The Gerald
Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning at
Holy Blossom TempleThe Gerald
Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning at
Holy Blossom Temple
Holy Blossom Temple is as much a House of Study as a
House of Worship. Our Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre
for Jewish Learning reflects this, affording our members and
the larger Toronto Jewish Community the opportunity to come
together for major public lectures which address the
important issues of our day. The Centre also provides the
opportunity to study in smaller groups and classes —
everything from the Bible to Rabbinic Texts; from Jewish
Literature to Jewish History; from how to make Jewish
marriage work to how to raise Jewish children of strong
character.
The Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman Centre for Jewish
Learning at Holy Blossom Temple is made available through
the generosity of our members Gerald Schwartz and Heather
Reisman. Gerry and Heather’s generosity reflects their
belief in Holy Blossom Temple as a place of deep engagement
in the larger issues of concern to the Jewish People. Gerry
and Heather’s commitment reflects their belief that the
synagogue is the central address in the Jewish Community.
Our Schwartz/Reisman Centre is the home for the
following:
The Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman
Fall Lecture Series at Holy Blossom Temple
In the fall of every year this major Lecture Series hosts
prominent speakers, each of whom is invited to address one
particular issue of interest at the moment. We have been
privileged to host such people as Amos Oz, Hirsh Goodman,
Natan Sharansky, Ehud Barak, the late Abba Eban, George
Will, Yossi Klein HaLevi, Sir Martin Gilbert among others.
In addition to the Fall Lecture Series, our Schwartz/Reisman
Centre hosts a number of major lectures throughout the year.
Since the second Intifada (Sept. 2000), and
especially since Sept. 11, 2001, the lectures in the
Schwartz/Reisman Centre have focused on matters of great
concern for all: The situation in Israel; the newly emerging
world of terrorism; Canadian Foreign Policy toward Israel
and the Middle East. Holy Blossom Temple has become the
place in Toronto’s Jewish Community to gather for major
lectures on the important issues of the day.
The Schwartz/Reisman Centre's Calendar of Events is mailed
to our members each year in September.
Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Join other adults in a serious, in-depth two-year
program, which includes the basics of Hebrew, Jewish
history, Torah chanting, rabbinic thinking and
textual analyses (for members only).
Academy of Jewish Learning
Jewish knowledge is a pre-requisite for Jewish
leadership. This two-year, intensive study program is
designed to cultivate current and future Temple leadership.
The faculty is comprised of Toronto’s finest teachers of
Jewish texts, history, and thought (for members only).
Ongoing Learning
While our lectures are designed to draw larger numbers,
our study classes are no less integral to the Schwartz/Reisman
Centre. They reflect the character of Holy Blossom Temple as
much as do our lectures: substantive and engaging at the
same time, open to all regardless of the level of Jewish
learning.
We offer many ongoing classes, providing our members the
opportunity to study sacred texts in depth. These classes,
designed for the adults in our community, encourage each of
our members to move from one level of learning to another.
This enables each of us to slowly build a foundation of
Jewish learning.
For more information on our Gerald Schwartz/Heather
Reisman Centre for Jewish Learning at Holy Blossom Temple,
please call (416) 789-3291, ext.527.
Download the Schwartz/Reisman Centre Calendar of Events for
the 2008-2009 Season.
Pre-School •
Religious
School •
The Leo Baeck Day School •
Bar/Bat Mitzvah •
Library
