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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll 

With all the difficult news currently emerging from Israel, I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on what comfort means, and how it is manifesting for myself and for all of us at the moment.  It hasn’t been easy, but I’ll admit that the…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

Welcome back to school, Holy Blossom parents, grandparents, and any teachers or carers of children among our congregation! Whether summer felt long or short to you, we hope it has been fun and full of meaning, whether at camp, up at the cottage,…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

As a camper of many years myself, and after having returned from visiting our HBT children up at URJ Camp George this past week, I’ve been thinking about how the magic of camp lies in those deep moments of connection, both big and small. Whether…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

We are so fortunate to be part of a tradition which places emphasis on the value of wisdom. As our Psalmist teaches, “from all who have taught me, I have gained understanding” (Psalm 119:99), which indicates to us that that wisdom is both…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

Being currently in the biblical Book of Numbers, Bamidbar, I was recently reflecting on a well-known Midrashic adage inspired by its tales: shiv’im panim baTorah, “there are seventy faces to expound on Torah” (Bamidbar Rabbah 13:15). In…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

L’chol z’man va’eit, l’chol chefetz tachat hashamayim … “To everything there is a season, a time for every matter under the sun …"   These words from Kohelet have been on my mind in a different way lately, as the sun shines…
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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,…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

Simcha Rabah, simcha rabah, aviv higiyah, Pesach ba … “With great joy, with great joy, Spring is arriving, and Pesach is coming!” This well-known verse might be a familiar tune as we mercifully herald in the new season, watch the snow…
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Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

There is an extraordinary exhibit in the Israel Museum called “The Synagogue Route”, which is a collection of synagogue sanctuaries from all around the world which has now been relocated to their permanent home in Jerusalem. It is my favourite…

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Founded in 1856, Holy Blossom Temple is Toronto’s first synagogue with a rich history of tradition and modernity in our religious and spiritual expression.

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