Hillel Ontario

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9 Music Festivals To Add To Your Bucket List

by | Mar 15, 2018 | Entertainment, Event, Fun, Hillel Ontario | 0 comments

Music festivals in Ontario

Do you plan on spending your summer in the city? Here are five music festivals and events to make your summer of 2018 unforgettable!

Canadian Music Festival-Week of May 7th
The Canadian Music Week (CMW) offers something for every music lover. You can attend specific concerts, hear influential speakers from within the music industry, or attend exciting music award shows. This year, CMW is going into its 36th year, taking place during the week of May 7th. If you want to attend concerts, listen to speakers, or maybe even perform yourself click here to learn all about it.

Spotlight on Israeli Culture- On NOW until June 1st!
This one doesn’t necessarily only offer music, but music is one of the components you will be able to find at the “Spotlight on Israeli Culture”. From Jazz to Classical music, you will find many music events with an “Israeli touch” taking place in Toronto from today until June 1st. Click here and see what events you find most interesting.

Bud Light Dreams Festival- June 23rd and 24th
The Bud Light Dreams Music Festival calls itself a “boutique festival experience”. Block out June 23rd and 24th. Dance on a beach while seeing DJs such as Armin Van Buuren, Galantis, Kaskade, Richie Hawtin, or Tchami X Malaa perform live on the Toronto Island. The festival will include three different stages, amazing VIP experiences, and much more! Buy your ticket now and don’t forget to bring your bathing suit!

Future Forest- July 27th-30th
Are you into electronic music? Then you can’t miss the fifth annual Future Forest Festival in Fredericton, NB on July 27-30. Originally, Future Forest was a fundraiser for a DJ who was diagnosed with cancer. The vision behind the festival is that everyone who attends is a participant, contributing to the festival in some way or another, rather than just being a spectator. Want to learn more? Click here for all the info you need to attend and to buy your tickets.

Veld Music Festival- August 4th and 5th
If you are interested in EDM or Hip Hop, or both, you will love the Veld Music Festival in Toronto. This year, the festival is taking place on the 4th and 5th of August with a line-up including DJ Snake, Marshmello, Martin Garrix, and Migos on two stages. Thanks to the subway extension, the new subway will take you straight to the festival grounds! If you’re curious about this high energy festival, click here to learn more or purchase your tickets.

Israeli Music Festivals

Going on birthright Israel this summer? Getting to Israel this summer some other way? No worries, Israel has just as much to offer as the six!

DooF Festival- May 4th-7th
The DooF Festival is taking place at the Golan Beach, a beach on the Sea of Galilee. The trans-music festival is known to unite thousands of people into one big family, with a shared love for dancing and music. This year, the Doof Festival is taking place from the 4th to the 7th of May. Tickets are already on sale, so hurry up and purchase your ticket as soon as possible – the longer you wait, the more expensive they will be!

Jacob’s Ladder Festival- May 11th-13th
If you are more into folk music, Jacob’s Ladder Festival is just what you are looking for. Taking place twice a year, the upcoming dates are May 11th to 13th on the shores of Lake Kinneret. This family friendly music event brings out people with all sorts of backgrounds. Want to buy tickets? Go to their website to find out more.

Midburn- May 14th-19th
Have you heard of the world famous “Burning Man” Festival? Midburn is the Israeli version, based on the festival in Nevada. As part of the six-day long festival, participants build a city in the Negev desert, in which they eat, drink, sleep, build, create art, and party. Different from your usual festival, Midburn does not offer you a list of the most famous DJs to perform for you. If you decide to participate in Midburn, you become an active citizen of the “midburn city”, which comes with responsibilities. Anything provided at Midburn is provided by one of the participants, so think about that when you get ready to go. Most ticket categories are already sold out, but if you hurry up you might be lucky. Purchase your ticket here.

Tamar Festival- September 25th-28th
Looking for an opportunity to experience the south of Israel in a different way? Don’t look any further! The Tamar Festival provides you with Israeli soundtracks over a span of four days. But this is not why the Tamar Festival is so amazing. You will get to enjoy top Israeli artists in four of the most amazing southern landscapes: the Masada Fortress, the peak of Masada (with a breathtaking view over the dead sea), at the Kibbutz Ein Gedi (an oasis in the middle of dry desert), and at Neot Hakikar. Did we get you excited? Purchase your ticket today!

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

by | Apr 3, 2023

The night before the Children of Israel’s departure from Egypt is referred to as leil shimurim, often translated as a “night of vigil.”  Rav Nahman and subsequent scholars interpret this phrase, which appears nowhere else in the Tanakh, as a time of divine protection. These scholars conclude the night when Passover begins is one of safety – one on which no harm can come to the Jewish people.

In the face of rising antisemitism, isolation, extremism, and other threats to Jews individually and collectively, we are fortunate that there are additional ways and times for seeking security and comfort.  Building and sustaining strong, inclusive, and welcoming Jewish communities on campus enables Jewish students to experience a sense of belonging with their peers, bolster their leadership skills, advocate for themselves, and chart their own Jewish journeys.  Indeed,  Hillel Ontario is on track for a record-breaking year, in which we will engage more than 3,500 Jewish students. Leil shimurim might be just one night, but together, we can fortify emerging adults’ Jewish identities and provide spaces in which they prepare to take on leadership roles after graduation.

As we head into Passover, we are grateful for all of the contributions you’ve made in support of Jewish student life in Ontario.  Your generosity allows us to confront antisemitism, instill a sense of joy, pride, and resilience in Jewish students, and empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.  

While we’re proud of our success, more work remains to provide for our universities’ 10,000 Jewish students who remain unengaged with Jewish campus life in Ontario.  In conjunction with your observance of the upcoming holiday, please consider a gift to Hillel Ontario so we can continue our work and provide additional openings for connection with Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

Chag sameach,

Seth Goren
CEO, Hillel Ontario

Weekly D’var: Tzav

Weekly D’var: Tzav

by | Mar 31, 2023

In this week’s parasha, Tzav, focuses on the laws of sacrifices and priestly duties. The emphasis is on the instructions given to the priests regarding the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. These offerings were an essential part of the religious practices of the Israelites, and they were intended to symbolize the people’s devotion to God.

As I reflect on this chapter, I am struck by the idea of sacrifice. In today’s world, sacrifice is often viewed negatively. We are taught to prioritize our own needs and desires, and sacrificing them for the sake of others or for a greater cause is often seen as a burden. However, the concept of sacrifice in this chapter of the Torah is different. It is not seen as a burden or a punishment, but rather as a means of expressing devotion and gratitude.

In Tzav, the burnt offering is described as a “pleasing aroma to the Lord”. The idea of a pleasing aroma suggests that the sacrifice is not just a physical act, but also a spiritual one. It is an offering of the heart, a way of expressing love and gratitude to God. As I look around the world today, I see many examples of sacrifice that are motivated by love and gratitude. Healthcare workers, for example, have been sacrificing their own safety and well-being to care for those who are sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not doing this because they are being forced to, but because they feel a sense of duty and devotion to their patients. Similarly, many people have been sacrificing their own comfort and convenience to protect the environment. They are making changes to their lifestyles, such as reducing their energy consumption or using public transportation instead of driving, because they recognize the importance of preserving the planet for future generations. Making sacrifices to show devotion and gratitude is also a way of showing appreciation for the things that we have been given, and a way of giving back to the world.\

As I read this chapter, I am also intrigued by the idea of atonement. The sin offering and the guilt offering were both intended to provide a way for the people to seek forgiveness for their sins. In our modern world, forgiveness and atonement are often difficult to come by. We live in a culture that values punishment and retribution over forgiveness and reconciliation. However, the idea of atonement in this text suggests that forgiveness is possible, even for the most serious of offenses. It requires a willingness to acknowledge our mistakes, to take responsibility for our actions, and to make amends.

In today’s Jewish community, the lessons of Tzav continue to be relevant. The act of sacrifice, whether it be in the form of volunteering, making charitable donations, or participating in community service, is still seen as a way to connect with God and express gratitude for the blessings of life. Similarly, seeking forgiveness and atonement remains a central tenet of Jewish faith and practice. Finally, the concept of sacrifice is particularly relevant during Jewish holidays and festivals, such as Passover and Yom Kippur. During these occasions, we make offerings and engage in rituals that are intended to demonstrate our devotion to God and their commitment to living a righteous life

As I reflect on this parasha, the concepts of sacrifice and atonement may seem outdated or irrelevant in our modern world, but they still have a powerful message to teach us. By sacrificing for others and seeking forgiveness for our mistakes, we can show our love and devotion to the world around us and ultimately make the world a better place to live.

Emily Green
Student, Western Hillel

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