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In the face of hate, we show up for one another.

I joined members of Toronto’s Jewish community at Kiva’s Bakery following the recent shootings. The message was clear: antisemitism and violence have no place in our city.

To the Kiva’s community and Jewish Canadians across Toronto: we stand with you. by @yallacommunity

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2 months ago

What an amazing 4th Annual Jamaican Farbrengen! 🇯🇲

It was so special to see friends and supporters from Toronto come together for an evening of friendship, inspiration, and support for Chabad Jamaica.

Everyone went home with a Jamaican “One Love. One Light. One Mitzvah.” shirt, enjoyed incredible kosher food from Bali Laffa, and shared in the unique warmth and spirit that make these gatherings so special.

A heartfelt thank you to Rami for the delicious food, to Michael and Liora Betzalel for once again opening his home and hosting this beautiful evening, and to Avi and Barry Glina for co-hosting and helping bring everyone together.

The friendships, the stories, the laughter, and the shared commitment to strengthening Jewish life in Jamaica made this a night to remember.

Thank you to everyone who came. We are grateful for your friendship, your support, and your partnership in spreading light.

🇯🇲 One Love. One Light. One Mitzvah. by @yallacommunity

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3 months ago

Two nights ago, I gave a speech that I knew would not be easy for many people to hear.

But I believe our community is strong enough — and serious enough — to have honest conversations without confusing discomfort with disrespect.

I spoke for myself, but I know many others share the same concerns.
Something isn’t working. I think many of us feel it. We see it. We talk about it quietly. And I don’t think we need to keep proving that to each other.

The hardest possibility to sit with is not that people have failed to care. It is that people can care deeply, work tirelessly, mean well — and still become so invested in the path they built that it becomes difficult to see when that path is no longer taking us where we need to go.

The strongest leaders are not the ones who defend every decision they have ever made. They are the ones who can look honestly at the moment in front of them and say: maybe there is a better way.

That does not erase the work that came before. It does not dishonour the effort, the money, the time, or the people who have given so much.

It simply means the mission matters more than the method.

And when the mission matters more than the method, pivoting is not failure.
It is leadership.

Thank you to @yallacommunity @bnaibrithcanada @friendsofjnfcanada for leading by creating a space that was serious, honest, and willing to do things differently.

I hope this is received for what it is intended to be: not an attack on people who care deeply, but a challenge to all of us to care deeply enough to re-examine what needs to change. by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

"Have faith not fear..."

Words said one morning during shachrit between a Rabbi and a congregant were so meaningful that an entire evening of impact was born.

Rabbi Mendel Kaplan @rabbimendelkaplan and Daniel Warner @dan_warner18 are two community members who recognized that many people are feeling the same thing: it's time to address a world where antisemitism and antizionism have become acceptable in dangerous ways.

Last night wasn't just another meeting of the minds or a task force to discuss and plan. It was time to cut the sh*t and move into a place where we shift our focus from fear to action.

The energy in the room was edgy and the willingness to show up and do things differently was palpable. This was not a night for more discussion. It was a call to action.

But perhaps the most important message wasn't about looking outward. It was about looking inward.

We need to remember who we are and what that means.

Rabbi Kaplan said two things last night that I will repeat to anyone who will listen because they defined what's in my heart: Lean into your Judaism and DO NOT flee!

Remember who you are and why you're here. Be proud and stand tall. Be the best version of your Jewish self you can be and don't shy away from that for anyone or anything.

You don't need to be Orthodox. You don't need to do it all. But you need to do it as best as you can.

Your soul is here for that, and your life will look completely different if you can find the joy that comes from being Jewish.

Have faith. Not fear.

#faith #community #jewish #jewishpride taken in Toronto, Ontario by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

For so long, so many conversations in our community have been rooted in reacting to what is happening around us.

Sunday night felt different.

Faith Not Fear wasn’t about fear. It wasn’t about statistics, headlines, or reminders of challenges we already know exist. It was about resilience. It was about community. It was about standing together and focusing on what we can do, rather than what is being done to us.

It was an honour to moderate the Lawfare panel and discuss the growing role that legal action is playing in confronting antisemitism in Canada and around the world. From landmark cases here at home to legal measures being taken internationally, we are seeing a shift toward accountability and consequences.

But more than anything, what stayed with me was the energy in the room. Jews and allies coming together not in anger, but in strength. Not in fear, but in faith.

Thank you to everyone who made this evening possible and to everyone who showed up. The future belongs to those willing to build it.

#FaithOverFear2026 #StrongerTogetherCanada #LawfareForJustice #JewishResilience #CommunityWithPurpose taken in Thornhill, Ontario by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

Shabbat Shalom.

As we head into Shabbat, I want to invite you to join me this Sunday at the Faith Not Fear event, emceed by @benmulroney , for an important and timely conversation about standing up to antisemitism in Canada.

I am honoured to be moderating the Lawfare Panel, where we will discuss the legal tools available to combat antisemitism, hate speech, and discrimination. As someone who successfully won a landmark defamation case against Kim Hawkins and Foodbenders, I know firsthand that there are ways to fight back—and that accountability matters.

This conversation isn’t just about the challenges we face today. It’s about empowering our community with the knowledge, resources, and confidence to defend itself through the rule of law.

If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, there are still a few remaining. I hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a powerful and meaningful day of learning, unity, and action.

Wishing everyone a peaceful, safe, and joyful Shabbat.

#FaithNotFear #ShabbatShalom #StandAgainstAntisemitism #JewishCommunity #AmYisraelChai by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

Seeing my face on a flyer and speaking on a stage makes me far more uncomfortable than most people realize. I’ve always believed that if something matters enough, discomfort is a poor excuse for avoiding it.

The longer I spend involved in community work, the more convinced I become that some of our biggest challenges are not a lack of good intentions, but a failure to distinguish between things that are fundamentally different.

Effort and strategy.
Visibility and leadership.
Inspiration and change.
Activity and impact.
Criticism and accountability.
Attendance and engagement.
Caring deeply about something and understanding it deeply.

The distinctions matter because what we choose to celebrate, reward, prioritize, and fight for depends on whether we understand the difference between them.

Looking forward to the conversation on Sunday. taken in Vaughan, Ontario by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

Please join us on Sunday, June 14 for Faith Not Fear: Building Jewish Leadership for a New Era in Canada — a timely and important community conversation about antisemitism, allyship, civic leadership, Jewish resilience, and the future of our community and country.

Featuring:
Ben Mulroney
Mayor Steven Del Duca
Rabbi Mendel Kaplan
MP Melissa Lantsman
MP Shuv Majumdar
MP Roman Baber

…alongside inspiring Jewish and allied leaders who continue to stand up for our community, our shared values, and for Canada.

We will also recognize Shomrim for their extraordinary leadership, unity, and community mobilization during the search for Esti, and for their continued service to the Jewish community following October 7.

Location: Vaughan, Ontario

Register:

http://Luma.com/FaithNotFear

Presented by Yalla!, Chai by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

This Sunday, I’ll be joining a diverse group of speakers for what promises to be a productive conversation.

I’ve long believed that good intentions alone are not enough. The challenges we are facing today require us to be thoughtful, strategic, honest about what’s working, and equally honest about what isn’t.

Some of the most important conversations are not about what we’re doing well. They’re about what we’ve overlooked, what we’ve avoided, and what we may need to rethink.

I’m looking forward to hearing different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and exploring what becomes possible when we’re willing to think differently.

Hope you’ll join us.
https://luma.com/FaithNotFear taken in Toronto, Ontario by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

Please join us on Sunday, June 14 for Faith Not Fear: Building Jewish Leadership for a New Era in Canada — an important community gathering focused on antisemitism, allyship, civic leadership, Jewish resilience, and the future of both our community and our country.

At a moment when many Canadian Jews are asking difficult questions about safety, identity, leadership, and the direction of Canada itself, this evening is about something deeper than fear. It is about courage, responsibility, unity, and the kind of leadership this moment demands from all of us.

Join us for an evening of courage, conversation, leadership, and community.

Sunday, June 14, 2026
6:30 PM — Vaughan, Ontario

Register:
Luma.com/FaithNotFear

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for G-d will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

Please join us on Sunday, June 14 for Faith Not Fear: Building Jewish Leadership for a New Era in Canada — a timely and important community conversation about antisemitism, allyship, civic leadership, Jewish resilience, and the future of our community and country.

Featuring:
Ben Mulroney
Mayor Steven Del Duca
Rabbi Mendel Kaplan
MP Melissa Lantsman
…alongside inspiring Jewish and allied leaders who continue to stand up for our community, our shared values, and for Canada.

We will also recognize Shomrim for their extraordinary leadership, unity, and community mobilization during the search for Esti, and for their continued service to the Jewish community following October 7.

Location: Vaughan, Ontario
Register: Luma.com/FaithNotFear

Presented by Yalla!, ChaiTech and B’nai Brith Canada by @yallacommunity

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4 months ago

Appreciation rally mems 📸🥹 featuring our incredible AVI Student Ambassadors and Alumni, who showed up to support, uplift, and send love to our Iranian and Jewish brothers and sisters ❤️ ⁠
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#freeiran #amyisraelchai by @yallacommunity

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5 months ago