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December 2024 / Kislev 5785
In October of this year, the World Zionist Congress will convene in Jerusalem.
As we near the culmination of our membership drive, we have welcomed thousands of additional Canadian Jews into MERCAZ-Canada, surpassing any previous milestone.
As part of the electoral process, a random group of individuals on our membership lists will receive verification requests to confirm their continued affiliation with MERCAZ-Canada.
We request that if you receive such a request, kindly indicate your awareness of your membership and inclusion with MERCAZ-Canada to ensure the recognition and inclusion of all our members.
This Congress holds immense significance for both Canada and the global Jewish community. MERCAZ-Canada, along with our international partners and colleagues, has faced challenges from various Haredi organizations, including Eretz HaKodesh and Shas. These organizations have disregarded the membership requirements and will submit lists that necessitate scrutiny due to potential violations of the Canadian Zionist Federation’s 2022 guidelines, which are readily available on the CZF website.
One of the critical requirements that Haredi organizations have neglected is the World Zionist Organization’s (WZO) Jerusalem Program, which advocates for the equality of all Jewish people. MERCAZ-Canada and MERCAZ-Olami unequivocally endorse this document, recognizing it as the cornerstone for Israel’s survival amidst the daily challenges it faces.
Membership dues are payable through either your synagogue or kehilla or directly through our website. New memberships will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. PST on December 31, 2024. For more information, please visit https://www.mercaz.ca.
We urge you to continue promoting MERCAZ-Canada and its membership opportunities to your friends and family over the coming week.
Please also consider inclusing Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism when making your end of year donations.
From our Executive Director
As 2024 draws to a close, we hope for a 2025 that will bring more good news than bad. The situation in both the north and the south has improved dramatically. The implosion of the government in Syria has brought about a major recalculation of the political situation in the region. Our hostages must come home, forthwith. It is mind-boggling that the international community has allowed them to be a bargaining chip. It is mind-boggling that international bodies have not been held accountable for their failings. It is mind-boggling that those bodies have not stepped up to their responsibilities in bringing this mess to an end.
The challenges in Israel remain, both for society as a whole and for the Masorti community in specific. We hope that the policies and practices of the government reflect and prioritize the eclectic nature of the population.
What are some of our other hopes? We have mentioned the return of the hostages. We hope for the war to end. We hope that a new administration in the US continues its historical support for Israel. We hope that the government here in Canada does similarly. We hope that Israel can settle back into its normal hecticness instead of what we have seen.
In realizing some of those hopes, we look towards WZO elections in early spring. If you have not registered, you must do so shortly. Draft a friend to register also. We look forward to sending our support to our Masorti kehillot in early 2025. We look forward to this fall’s World Zionist Congress, with our continuing hopes of working with our allies and friends towards a Congress and a WZO that reflects the values and concerns of our Canadian community.
The question comes up in the Talmud as to whether we should light an increasing or decreasing number of Hannukah candles each day. The final answer is that we light an increasing number, because מעלין בקודש ואין מורידין – we seek to ascend in holiness and not to descend.
May 2025 see an increase in holiness, and perhaps a couple of Hannukah miracles for extra light, for all of us and for all Israel.
Rav Sean
From the President
This message serves as my final address as President of MERCAZ-Canada. Since assuming office in 2019, we have made significant progress in our membership recruitment efforts, with the invaluable support of our executive director, Rabbi Sean Gorman, administrative assistant, Beverlee Swayze, vice-presidents Nola Lazar, Rabbi Steve Wernick, Norman Wolter, and Marilyn Cohen, Secretary David Roytenberg, and Treasurer Rick Wronzberg. Additionally, we have benefited from the contributions of our board members and all the volunteers and Israel advocates who actively engage in our synagogues across Canada.
Please accept my gratitude to these wonderful volunteers for all of their efforts over these past years.
Congratulations and much thanks to Nola Lazar who will be taking over the Presidency of MERCAZ-Canada. In the coming weeks, we will announce the rest of our new executive. I will retain my involvement as the immediate past-president and continue to serve as a representative of MERCAZ in my new capacity.
In early February, I will assume the presidency of the Canadian Zionist Federation. In this role, I will lead the Canadian delegation to Jerusalem for the upcoming World Zionist Congress. We anticipate a substantial delegation of approximately 60 delegates and alternates, representing the fourth-largest Jewish community globally. If you are interested in joining our delegation, please inform me promptly, as limited spaces may be available.
MERCAZ-Canada has experienced steady growth and continues to be the leading organization representing Canadian Jews in international organizations.
In conclusion, I express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as your president for these past five years.
Sincerely,
Stan Greenspan
From MERCAZ-Canada and the Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism, we wish you a Chag Urim Sameach, a Happy Chanukah.
In Our Homes
Panforte di Siena ~ An Untraditional Chanukah Treat
I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy, where I indulged my Wanderlust as well as my passions for art and history. I was expecting Ancient Roman ruins and magnificent Baroque villas and palaces. I was not expecting so much Jewish presence. It was quite delightful.
The magnificent synagogue in Florence is the first thing that comes to many people's minds when they think about Jewish Italy. Even from a distance, its green dome stands out among the red roofs of the city. But there is also Santa Croce, which (despite the name meaning "Holy Cross") boasts a large blue six-sided star on its 19th-century facade. This, we discovered, is no accident of design. Rather, the architect who redid the facade, Niccolò Matas, was Jewish and put the Star of David there on purpose. The church officials decided that since Jesus had been Jewish as well, it was okay! We also wandered through the ruins of a 1st-century CE synagogue in Ostia Antica, the abandoned port city at the mouth of the Tiber, and marvelled at Jewish funerary stones in the Capitoline Museum, dating to the 3rd and 4th centuries.
With all this in mind, I looked for an Italian Chanukah treat to share with you. While Panforte is not a traditional Chanukah treat, it is also not inappropriate to the season, since one story say the original recipe was brought back to Italy by pilgrims to Jerusalem. Besides, it's delicious. Spicy, chewy, nutty, fruity... it's perfect with that cup of espresso or with a sip of wine as you watch the candles flicker and glow.
Chag Chanukah Sameach
~ Beverlee
Panforte di Siena
This recipe is adapted from https://www.cucchiarella.com. There are plenty out there, so have fun exploring. Some soak the fruit in alcohol, others have more or less cocoa... there's a panforte for every taste. You can switch up the types of fruits and nuts to your personal tastes; just keep the overall volumes about the same.
- 170 g sugar
- 120 g honey
- 70 g all-purpose flour
- 200 g almonds
- 100 g hazelnuts
- 100 g walnuts
- 150 g candied fruit
- 120 g dried figs
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 clove
- 10 g black pepper
- 40 g cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 sheet of rice paper for cake (optional)
- Heat the oven to 180C° (350F°) .
- Line a 24 cm round cake pan with the rice paper.
- Now let's prepare the dried fruit by chopping into small pieces.
- As soon as the oven is hot, roast the nuts on a baking sheet for 5 minutes. Let them cool, then chop them roughly.
- Grind all the spices with a mortar until they are reduced to a powder. Combine with the flour, cocoa, and the dried and candied fruit in a large bowl.
- Combine the honey and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring for about 7 to 8 minutes or until you get a syrup.
- Pour the syrup into the bowl with the nut-fruit-spice mixture. Stir well till thoroughly combined.
- Pour the into the cake pan, being sure to press out any holes with your fingers or a spoon.
- Cover everything with the extra 3 tablespoons of sugar.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove and sprinkle with plenty of icing sugar.
- Let the cake cool completely before serving.
Get Involved
You can read more of what MERCAZ and Masorti are doing at our website:
mercaz.ca
or
You can contribute to our efforts by joining MERCAZ-Canada and by donating to the Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism.
Membership is only $18 a year for adults, $9 for youth up to age 25.
mercaz.ca/join-mercaz at the bottom of the page
Donations to CFMJ are eligible for a tax receipt.