MERCAZ-Canada & Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism

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

03/04/2026

For the latest on goings on Iran, check out tomorrow's program with MERCAZ-Olami. All of the information is on the flyer.

- Rav Sean

02/25/2026

Please note that the flyer for today's program has an error. The program will take place at 8:30 PM Jerusalem time. That is 2:30 in Halifax, 1:30 in Toronto and Montreal, 12:30 in Winnipeg, 11:30 in Edmonton and Calgary, and 10:30 in Vancouver and Victoria. Registration is required.

02/20/2026

Take note of this week's decision from Israel's Supreme Court. Maybe something will finally develop from this. It has been too long.

Well done to all of the people who made an ongoing, concerted effort to help bring this result around.

While at Congress, I was on the subcommittee dealing with the development of Hebrew learning throughout the Diaspora. While it is unclear who the related resolutions will turn out, I point out that half of this posting is in Hebrew. Good luck to all.

Shabbat Shalom.

-Rav Sean

An expanded panel of the Supreme Court, including conservative jurists, has unanimously ruled that the Government of Israel and the Jerusalem Municipality must put an end to their foot dragging and get to work. They’ve demanded an end to the endless, creative litany of excuses the state and municipality have used for years to block repairs necessary to enable access to the Kotel’s stones at the Egalitarian Platform, and required action be taken to secure the necessary permits within 45 days. This is a victory for those who believe in Jewish pluralism in Israel and that every Jew from every stream should have the equal opportunity to pray according to their custom at our holiest site. While I’m sure the state and municipality will do everything in their power to justify continued inaction, I know my friends and partners who brought about today’s important decision will continue to hold them accountable in court. Ensuring these physical repairs are made will be a first step towards repairing an historic injustice that has done great damage to the bonds between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

02/02/2026

Wishing all a happy Tu biShevat.

This Tu B’Shvat, our MERCAZ team isn’t just celebrating, we’re putting our values and what this holiday stands for into action.

From supporting investing in plantings to backing environmental projects across Israel, our representatives on the board of KKL/JNF, Israel’s largest environmental organization, are making a real difference in making Israel greener and stronger. All this is only possible because of your continued support. Thank you.

Happy Tu Bishvat!

01/26/2026

Barukh Hatov v'Hameitiv - ברוך הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב. Many will recognize this text from the Talmud as as the primary theme of the fourth blessing of Birkat HaMazon. It has a curious reason behind it.

The Talmud on Berakhot 48b tells us:

דְּאָמַר רַב מַתְנָא: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁנִּיתְּנוּ הֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר לִקְבוּרָה תִּקְנוּ בְּיַבְנֶה ״הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב״. ״הַטּוֹב״ – שֶׁלֹּא הִסְרִיחוּ, ״וְהַמֵּטִיב״ – שֶׁנִּיתְּנוּ לִקְבוּרָה.

This fourth blessing, God who is good and acts to our benefit, was decreed after the massacre at Beitar. God who is good, because the bodies had not yet decomposed. God who does good, that they were finally given over for burial.

ברוך הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב - The IDF has repatriated and identified the remains of Ran G'vili z"l. Ran was the last hostage remaining in Gaza. Finally, his family and his country can lay him to rest in Meitar in southern Israel, his home, our homeland.

As I look back over the last two and half years, Israel has fought a war. Throughout the diaspora, the Jewish community has had its own travails. It has been a heart-wrenching time. One of the difficulties has been that we have had no opportunity to mourn. With the last of our brothers and sisters finally back in our indigenous homeland, perhaps we can now find that time.

May Ran's soul be bound in the bond of life - תהא נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים.

-Rav Sean

01/21/2026

As we look back over the last two years, we are forced to come to terms with the reactions of the people and organizations with which we once shared common ground. I very much wonder what the ripples in the pond will be as the dust settles.

We must also be cognizant of new friends. In that regard, the Iranian community has been at many of our demonstrations and events. I urge everyone to look for local events with the community. As a matter of right and wrong, and as a matter community honour, we should stand with them.

In the meantime, please note the advertisement above. This will give us an opportunity to get the current details on what is happening.

-Rav Sean

Join Mercaz for a special Zoom briefing on developments from Iran with former senior Mossad official and Deputy National Security Advisor Sima Shine
🗓️ Sunday, February 1st
⏰ London 18:00
📍 On Zoom. Register here to receive the link ➡️ http://rebrand.ly/010226