MERCAZ-Canada & Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism

10/14/2026

First was the attack on the flight from Dubai. Yesterday, there were two bomb threats against flights to Israel, one delaying departure from JFK, the other forcing the plane off to the side at Ben Gurion for proper inspections in accordance with regulations and common sense.

The good news is that there were no bombs yesterday. Both bomb threats were hoaxes. The other good news is that Delta is an American-flagged airline. This means that the FBI will be involved. The bad news is that it happened.

I again call on to resume flight operations between Canada and Israel. While I trust the other airlines to do their best, I trust El Al's track record and commitment more.

In the meantime, we must also keep in mind that this is but the latest effort to separate the Jewish community from its homeland. In that regard, I must tell you that my favourite character from Fiddler on the Roof is a minor character. It is Yente the matchmaker. Her clumsiness at her community position is simply adorable.

Why her? At the end, the community is leaving Anatevka. Tevye, Golde, and family are headed to New York. Lazar Wolf is off to Chicago. Yente..."(A)ll my life, I've dreamed of going to one place. And now, I'll walk. I'll crawl. I'll get there." Yente is headed to Israel. She feels that call.

These paltry efforts are not going to keep me away from Israel. I'll walk. I'll crawl. I'll swim. It does not matter. This land is ours. Every time...every time that something like this happens, my resolve strengthens. The call that Yente hears is a call to all of us.

- Rav Sean

- Rav Sean

09/24/2026

I remind everyone of the pre-election briefing with Yizhar Hess on October 8. Registration is required.

- Rav Sean

09/22/2026

We have all heard about the attempted massacre at Congregation Sons of Jacob in Belleville, ON. On behalf of MERCAZ-Canada, I thank Constable Jeff Smith of the Belleville Police Service for his quick, decisive response. I cannot even begin to fathom what would have happened had he not had the presence of mind in those crucial moments. May Constable Smith have a speedy and complete recovery.

We have heard the usual litany of the usual responses from the usual people. Hopefully, at least one of those responses will yield action on the ground.

I davened with Sons of Jocob for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur two years ago. The congregation is warm and welcoming. I pray that they find their congregational equilibrium quickly.

As we transition to Sukkot, the words of our liturgy come to mind - הפורש סוכת שלום עלינו - God who spreads the sukkah of peace on us. May the Holy One spread the sukkah of peace on Sons of Jacob, on all of us, and on the entire Jewish world.

- Rav Sean

08/26/2026

Hevre....

Montreal's municipal council has thankfully demonstrated a little bit of moral clarity. Apparently, they had to contend with a motion to reject Israel entirely. The motion contained all of the hyperbole that has been presented as fact over the last several years.

The motion was rejected, emphatically. The vote was 54-6.

Nice to see.

-Rav Sean

08/05/2026

Hevre...

Most of us are aware of the song that Boy George recently released. He has caught a great deal of flack for "We Will Dance Again." To his credit, Boy George has stood fast, going so far as to fire the manager of his record label.

One of the lyrics caught my rabbinic ear. He sings "I don't need to feel brave. I just need to behave like a human." We note Pirkei Avot 2:5: "וּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אֲנָשִׁים, הִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ - In a place where no one acts human, strive to be human."

That Boy George is standing up to the flack...that he understands the violence of October 7...this shows that he has not lost his humanity like so many others.

If you have not listened to the song, here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ29Cp3I1ik

- Rav Sean

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/08/2026

When clicking to post on Facebook, a window pops up asking what's on my mind.

Since Facebook asked, it seems appropriate to answer. I have yet again had to deal with the logistics of travel between here and Israel. Air Canada, our national airline, has not had consistent service to Ben Gurion since October 7. The latest is that they will resume after Sukkot.

You are also aware that El Al pulled out of its Canada flights several years ago. At present, they have no plans to resume.

There is a petition here: https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-reinstate-el-al-s-direct-flights-between-toronto-and-tel-aviv.

I am signing it. Please feel free to sign and pass on to anyone you know. Maybe enough voices will convince El Al to rethink its Canadian presence.

-Rav Sean

Petition to Reinstate El Al's Direct Flights Between Toronto and Tel Aviv

06/04/2026

Take note of a special briefing with Eyal Ostrovsky, chairperson of KKL-JNF. The weblink at the bottom of the flyer is to rebrand.ly/180626. I had to enter it into the browser.

- Rav Sean

05/19/2026

Keep the כותל המשפחות Egalitarian Kotel open for all Jews. Vote here to keep egalitarian prayer legal.

I ______________ strongly oppose MK Avi Maoz and MK Yariv Levin’s extreme legislation to delegitimize Conservative and Reform Jews and drive us away from the Kotel by threatening us with prison time for praying according to our custom at the Egalitarian Kotel.

04/22/2026

Happy 78th Birthday Israel.

04/13/2026

Let's all take note of next Sunday with the reading of Megillat HaAtzmaut. Please register early.

The World Zionist Organization, together with numerous partner organizations, is honored to invite you to the continuation of a tradition:

A Festive Reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Egalitarian Kotel!

For the sixth consecutive year, we will gather between Holocaust Remembrance Day and Independence Day for an emotional and festive tradition: reading the Declaration of Independence with traditional cantillation (Ta’amim) at the Egalitarian Kotel. The event will be hosted by Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, and we will be joined by various organizations, rabbis, and public and spiritual leaders.

The event will be broadcast live in multiple languages to the Jewish world (broadcasting for the first time this year on The Times of Israel).

You are also invited to join us in person at the Kotel. This is our way of celebrating Israel’s Independence Day and Jewish Peoplehood in Israel and across the globe.

For those joining remotely, there will be a pre-event lecture by Yuval Malchi on the story of Israel’s founding document.


Sunday, April 19, 2026

2nd of Iyar, 5786

18:30 Jerusalem time

In person: Egalitarian Kotel (Kotel HaMishpachot)

Online: Register to receive the Zoom link

www.the-megillah.com