HBTogether Groups Winter Launch

HBTogether Groups are a way for members to come together within the larger Holy Blossom congregational family. HBTogether Groups, also sometimes called Chavurot, are groups of Temple members who come together over shared interests and identities. HBTogether Groups are one of the best ways to add even more meaning to your Temple life, and to stay connected during this time. Try out a group, and see if you want to join!

If there is no time listed, then the group has not yet decided when it is meeting.

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HBTogether Groups

Please select any groups that you are interested in below.

Mussar Yoga

Led by Rabbi Ilyse Glickman, RYT

Join Rabbi Glickman and fellow HBT members on the mat as we explore Jewish values and their impact on our everyday lives. Each week we will be moving our bodies in collaboration with a specific middah (Jewish virtue/value) chosen to align with our yoga poses. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience with yoga is needed. Meets 9-10am on Tuesdays on Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 9, March 23, April 6, April 20.

Rabbi Ilyse Glickman recently moved back to Toronto following a position as Director of Congregational Learning at Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El in Westchester, NY. Rabbi Glickman is married to Cantor David Rosen and is delighted to be a part of the Holy Blossom family.

Filmgoing and Conversation: From Home

Led by Rabbi Bill S. Tepper

Are you ready for a change from Netflix and regular television programming? Do you pine for the pre-COVID moviegoing days? Join others from the Holy Blossom Temple community in viewing and gathering to discuss - via Zoom - excellent foreign language films including Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears, The Music Box [1989], with Jessica Lange, The Bay Boy [1984], with Keifer Sutherland

Travel Stories

Led by Arieh and Val Waldman

Join Val and Arieh Waldman to share travel stories, both theirs and yours. Val and Arieh have travelled together around the world twice; each time for one year. Both times were with backpacks and minimal itineraries. The first trip was 1982 (in their 30s) and the second was 2006 (guess their ages). In between they also did shorter trips with their children. Learn about the differences in travelling over the years and how children change (and enhance) the experience of travel.

Jews In Interesting Places

Led by Harvey Schipper

These will be informal parlour conversations with Jews in places we might not expect, both far away and closer to home.

Living with Chronic Illness

First meeting is Feb. 10 at 1pm. This is a private group for people who are living with chronic illness to come together and share our experiences. If you identify as having a chronic illness you are most welcome to be a part of this group.

Jewish Music Small Group

Led by Cantor Marty Steinhouse

Each week we have a guest appearance or interesting program to inspire us, inform and stimulate us. We focus on Jewish music and have cantors from around the world join us. Meets weekly on Mondays 10-11am.

L’Chaim

Led by Jack Kugelmass

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5:15 – 5:55 pm

Raise a glass or teacup with fellow congregants over Zoom and join a conversation about coping with the pandemic. Jack Kugelmass, MSW, will introduce the chat with insight about how to diminish anxiety during these trying times. Open and supportive discussion will follow until all are invited to join the Mincha service.

Suicide Loss Survivors

Led by Lise Sklar and Abigail Carpenter-Winch

This group is for anyone who has lost someone to suicide. Co-lead by suicide loss survivors Lise Sklar and Abigail Carpenter-Winch, it will be a safe place to share memories, stories and experiences with others who have been there. Our meetings will be held on a monthly basis, beginning on Jan. 21 at 6:30pm.

Writing and Poetry Group

Led by Harriet Wolman

Staying home can be a real drag. But it is an opportunity for us to have time to be more creative than usual. Let’s share an original poem or article that you wrote or someone else’s that inspires you and helps you cope in these trying times. Meets on the third Thursday of the month at 3pm.

Professional Women

Led by Shelley Birenbaum and Barbara Grossman

This group brings together women of all ages and professions from the Holy Blossom Temple community who wanted to learn together, to share food together, and to get to know each other as people and as professionals.

HBTogether Book Club

Led by Caroline Ingvaldsen

This small group meets monthly to discuss books chosen by our members. New members always welcome! We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 11am

Grandparents Gathering

Led by Nancy Lerner

HBTogether is so pleased to introduce a unique, Zoom “drop-in” for all grandparents to share ideas, resources, and generally help each other with our family communications during this challenging time. Stay healthy and we look forward to meeting the wonderful grandparents of HB.

Arts and Culture

Led by Barbara Glaser

A likeminded group within the Holy Blossom Temple community, that comes together now virtually, in these unprecedented times of the pandemic. Continue to foster these relationships, connect over all things Art and Culture related and were various connections, friendships have bloomed. This is your place to connect, write, post anything art and culture related to continue to connect and grow together. Meeting times vary.

Ukulele Group

Led by Susan Baskin

The HBT Ukulele Group welcomes everyone—but given that we have been together for several years, people do need to have experience playing the ukulele to keep up. Meets Wednesdays at 8pm.

LGBT Learning Initiative

Led by Carol Handelman and Abigail Carpenter-Winch

We will be meeting monthly to learn about LGBT and Jewish history, ritual, and community. This space is open to all, LGBT identified and not. Our first meeting will be on Feb. 2nd at 7pm.

Virtual Lecture Discussion Group
Led by Dr. H. David Burstein

In this time of uncertainty in the world, Judaism provides a source of meaning. With the input from the rabbis, I propose a series of watching a lecture prior to a Zoom get together to discuss the theme of the lecture. Meets monthly on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm

Anti-Racism Reading and Discussion Group
Led by Ruby Knafo

Our goal is to contribute to the elimination of racism in Canada by enhancing our capacity to know ourselves, the roles we might unwittingly have played in maintaining an inequitable society, and the role we might play as anti-racists in focused actions to achieve an inclusive society. Everyone is welcome to join this reading group. Please read what you can and join even if you haven’t had a chance to finish the book. We meet on Tuesdays at 7:30pm.