Holy Blossom Temple and AIDS Activism /
Following their engagement with Chutzpah, Holy Blossom Temple was the first synagogue
in Canada to found an AIDS Committee to provide emotional and financial support for those
living with HIV and AIDS.
Johnny Abush was a volunteer at both the
AIDS Committee of Toronto and Holy Blossom
Temple’s AIDS Committee. Even as he grew
very ill, he remained active in this work. Holy
Blossom held an annual seder entitled the
Third Seder, with a focus on HIV/ AIDS. The
AIDS Committee was active in education, and
provided friendly visitors and hospice support as
well as financial support and pastoral care.