Insights from Reverend Hazan Benlolo

Rally for Israel, December 4, 2023 – Parliament Hill, Ottawa

The opportunity to lead and participate in a rally for solidarity for Israel at Parliament Hill in Ottawa this past Monday, with an audience of over 15,000 people, is yet again a significant and humbling experience. Singing the national anthems of both Canada and Israel adds a unique layer of cultural and patriotic richness to the event,...Read more...

Dear members of our incredible congregation,

Your unwavering support and generosity during the solidarity concert for Israel this...Read more...

Dear friends and congregants

Participating in the community rally to bring hostages home was a deeply meaningful experience that I will forever hold close to my heart. The opportunity to use my voice and join others to bring comfort, hope, and unity to our community during such a challenging time was truly an honor. It was a privilege to...Read more...

The Bible clearly sets out the obligation to seek peace as a prelude to any military activity; absent the seeking of peace, the use of force in a war violates Jewish law. It is apparent that while one need not engage in negotiations over the legitimacy of one's goals, one must explain what one is seeking through this military action and what military goals are (and are not) sought. Before this seeking of peace,...Read more...

How long can we endure and sustain this war of hate and destruction, this war of words and demonstrations? When will the world finally help eradicate Hamas, a terrorist organization whose sole purpose is to obliterate and eradicate the Jewish people and the Jewish state? How long will reporters and news anchors turn a blind eye and refuse to convey the stark reality that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, their...Read more...

Enriching Shabbat and Holiday Services: The Significance of restarting our Youth Choir

Dear friends 

Shabbat and holiday services hold a special place in the hearts of Jewish communities worldwide. These sacred gatherings are moments of spiritual reflection, unity, and celebration. To enhance the beauty and depth of these services, one...Read more...

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional work that the S&P choir delivered during our recent High Holiday services. Your dedication, talent, and hard work shone brightly and reverberated throughout our Mashaal sanctuary and I believe it...Read more...

1. **Honoring Tradition and Faith**: For many individuals, the act of visiting the cemetery during the High HolyDays is a deeply ingrained tradition rooted in their faith. In Judaism, for example, it's customary to visit graves during this time as it aligns with themes of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Observing such traditions helps individuals feel connected to their religious heritage.

2. **Spiritual Reflection**:...Read more...

Dear Danny, Why is blowing the Shofar such an integral part of the High HolyDays?

Dear reader, Blowing the shofar is important in Judaism for several reasons:

1. **Religious Tradition:** It is a longstanding tradition with deep religious significance, dating back to biblical times. The shofar is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as an instrument...Read more...

Dear Danny,

It is said that on Rosh Hashanah, God predetermines each individuals wealth and parnassa. Is it so and why?

Dear reader,

The concept you're referring to is often associated with the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah,...Read more...

Shabbat Nachamu is observed on the Shabbat following Tisha B'Av, which typically falls in the Hebrew month of Av. Tisha B'Av is a day of mourning in the Jewish calendar, commemorating various tragedies that occurred on this day, including the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The period leading up to Tisha B'Av is known as "The Three Weeks," during which mourning customs are observed, such as refraining from...Read more...

An hour, a day, a week, a month, a year - even a lifetime - is not enough time to begin to tell you what my eyes have witnessed and how my life has been transformed forever.

You can watch Holocaust movies and look at photos of concentration camps, but until you witness the marks of desperation on the walls of the crematorium at...Read more...

Excerpts from Haaretz

The first ten of the 613 commandments given by God to the Jewish people form the foundation of Jewish ethics, as well as civil and religious law. 

The Ten Commandments, also known as Aseret HaDibrot (“Ten Sayings” in Hebrew) or Decalogue, are the first ten of the 613 commandments given by God to the Jewish people. They form the foundation of Jewish ethics, as well as civil and religious law. These commandments are mentioned twice in the Torah—once in Exodus (20: 1-17) and again in Deuteronomy (5:4-21).Read more...

Dear Congregants,

Here is a thought from Partners in Torah that will lead us into the Holiday of Sukkot.

Want to know our favorite thing about Yom Kippur? The fact that we end the day feeling a little lighter, a little freer than we did before. With the forgiveness of the holiday, we no longer feel weighed down by our mistakes. A brighter future...Read more...