by Hillel Ontario | Apr 20, 2022 | Advocacy
Nearly one year ago, in May 2021, during the last round of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, the AMS Executive faced a significant amount of pressure to boycott Israel and denounce its right to exist. In these moments, I wished for empathy. Empathy for the nuance...
by Hillel Ontario | Apr 12, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Pesach – Yael Swartz, Hillel Laurier There are many Torah portions that are read on Passover. They include information about mitzvot that we do, both on Passover and on an everyday basis, and also tell the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of...
by Hillel Ontario | Apr 6, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Metzora – Hannah Silverman, President of McMaster Hillel and 3rd-year Health Sciences student Parshat Metzora outlines the halakhot (laws) of tzaraat, divinely afflicted leprosy. The classic example of behaviour that causes the onset of tzaraat is lashon...
by Hillel Ontario | Apr 1, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Tazria – Jordan Epstein, Queens Hillel This week’s parsha is Parashat Tazria. It is the fourth parsha in the book of Vayikra and covers a variety of laws governing ritual purity and impurity. The parsha begins with a discussion of the purity status of a...
by Hillel Ontario | Mar 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
Purim morning as a child felt like what I imagine Christmas morning feels like for those who celebrate. My mom ran a gift basket company, and Purim morning was when she would turn those talents towards her family. Placed carefully next to each of my siblings’ doors...
by Hillel Ontario | Mar 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
On February 1, 2022, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a Q&A session with Chella Man. Chella Man is a deaf, genderqueer, transmasculine, Chinese, Jewish artist. Amassing almost half a million followers on Instagram, Chella has dedicated his work to advocating for...
by Hillel Ontario | Mar 23, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Shemini – Rebecca Assor, Hillel Ryerson In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Shemini, the Torah lists the qualifications of kosher animals. Land animals must have complete split hooves and chew their cud. The Torah then lists four animals which...
by Hillel Ontario | Mar 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Tzav – Rabbi Ariella Rosen, Hillel UofT In conversations with students, from the casual passing check-in to the more focused one-to-one encounter, I hear a lot about how they are doing. One word has emerged frequently recently: burnout. Between academic...
by Hillel Ontario | Mar 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Vayikra – Adam Miller, Western Hillel Parashat Vayikra, the first portion of the Book of Leviticus, introduces the Priestly Code, the various rites undertaken by the Priests of the ancient Jewish temple, and the sacrifices that individuals had to bring...
by Hillel Ontario | Feb 24, 2022 | Uncategorized
Weekly D’var: Pekudei – Orly Aziza, Hillel York This week’s Torah portion is heavily focused on the technical measurements and details of the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. However, hidden amongst the measurement of gold and silver is a message about...
