Hillel Ontario

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Happy Channukah from Hillel Ontario’s Board of Directors

by | Dec 23, 2016 | Hillel Board, Hillel Ontario, Jewish Holiday | 0 comments

Written by Micki Mizrahi, Chair

Rabbi Hillel declared: “A single candle can light a thousand more without diminishing itself.” Tomorrow night, the Jewish world along with Jewish students who have been impacted by their campus Hillel, most of whom are home with their families, will be lighting the Chanukah candles. We will witness that the Shamash flame will not be diminished as it lights the first candle.

Hillel Ontario’s Board of Directors wanted to reflect on the accomplishments that our talented Hillel professionals have supported and executed, and share our collective successes from 2016. These achievements have demonstrated that one candle, one student, one Hillel professional, one volunteer, one Hillel partner organization, can light many other candles, students, Hillel professionals, volunteers, and Hillel partner organizations without diminishing itself. These lights that are strong enough to influence and inspire thousands are:

  • The innovative student who impacted over 3000 students at Guelph University when she organized a replica of a German cattle car to be on campus during Holocaust Education Week
  • The highest attended AGM and largest community event to date where Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Hillel International discussed the trends, successes, and challenges across university Campuses. He was joined at the community event with Adam Minsky (President and CEO, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto), Shimon Fogel (Executive Director, CIJA) and Marc Newburgh (CEO, Hillel Ontario)
  • The group of community lay and professional leaders who helped develop the brand new Hillel Ontario Strategic Plan to launch our regional Hillel as the largest one in the world and has now been used as a model of excellence at Hillel International Board of Directors meetings and the JFNA General Assembly (where we sponsored 5 Hillel student leaders to participate in the conference)
  • The partnering with CIJA to help the anti-BDS Motion at Queen’s Park succeed where in 48 hours, Hillel students were mobilized and actively helped provincial MPPs understand the importance of their positive vote
  • The winning an award from Hillel International for our fundraising initiative On One Foot, which has now been adopted by campuses all over North America.

On behalf of our devoted Board of Directors, I’d like to thank the remarkable Marc Newburgh and all of the Hillel Ontario professionals, student leaders and generous donors who are ensuring that Jewish life on campus is strong and vibrant and as bright as the beautifully lit Chanukiah.

All my best,
Micki Mizrahi, Chair, Hillel Ontario Board of Directors

 

Board of Directors: Marcy Abramsky, Michael Diamond, Yona Elishis, Daniel Ferman, Yael Karol, Noah Kochman, Michael Kuhl, Pamela Kuhl, Leanne Matlow, Henry Morton, Jeremy Pertman, Ed Prutschi, Stephen Shore, Allan Weinbaum

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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