The bloody and brutal attack this week on Jerusalem synagogue worshippers has left in its wake death and despair, anger and anxiety. Our hearts and prayers of condolence go out from our congregation to the families of the five people killed in this terror attack:

Rabbi Aryeh Kopinsky^z”l, Rabbi Kalman Levine^z”l, Rabbi Moshe Twersky^z”l, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg^z”l, and Officer Zidan Nahad Seif^z”l

We also pray for the full recovery of those who are injured:

Hayim Yehiel ben Malka Rothman (born and raised in Toronto, a graduate of CHAT); Eitan ben Sarah; Shmuel Yerucham ben Belie; Avraham Shmuel ben Sheen

This Shabbat will be a Shabbat of Solidarity throughout Canada. Please join us in synagogue. Our prayers and presence are important spiritual statements.

While all terrorist attacks have a significant emotional impact, this one particularly affected Rav Adam. Close cousins, in whose apartment he once lived, reside two streets over from the attack. The father of the family studies Torah at that synagogue daily; his wife walks by it every morning. Not surprisingly, they have connections to many of the victims.

The horrific one-on-one nature of the recent terror attacks emphasizes that this war is an intimate one among neighbours. Our Congregation shares with many Jerusalem residents and Israelis a concern for security and recognizes the need for a strong effort to ensure public safety. It is equally important not to allow Palestinian terrorists or Jewish extremists to define the public agenda for the two communities.

Rav Baruch recalls other challenging times, having lived in Jerusalem during the intifadas when café and bus bombings were taking place. He and Josette are again planning to be in Jerusalem this winter to be with family. On the day of the attack, while Rav Baruch was thinking of the “red, red”mentioned in the Torah portion, his three year old granddaughter reminded him that life goes on by noticing another colour: “You and I are both wearing purple shirts.”

As we approach H̱anukkah, we take strength from the message of hope and light in spite of conflict and darkness. Our people have lived through bombs and missiles. We will live through these days.

Rav Baruch Frydman-Kohl
Rav Adam Cutler 
Blake Teichman
H̱azzan Simon Spiro  
H̱azzan Sidney Ezer
Sheldon Rotman
Rev. Lorne Hanick
Daniel Silverman
Randy Spiegel