With our Haaretz Conference just weeks away, we sat down with Cantor Cheryl Wunch to explore what drew her to progressive Judaism, her relationship with Israel, and the chance encounter that led her to NIFC.
Cantor Wunch will be speaking at the Haaretz Conference in Toronto on September 14th, representing progressive Canadian Jewish leadership and values. Register here to watch the livestream.
What originally drew you into becoming a Cantor and a Jewish leader?
Growing up, I loved going to Hebrew school, and learning about Jewish rituals and traditions. It really spoke to me and felt special to me. I also went to a Reform Jewish summer camp where I learned that women could be rabbis and cantors, which was a hugely eye-opening experience for me in the early 1990s. I also learned about creative, soulful and musical worship, as well as Jewish values.
In my early teens I discovered Jewish life through this camp.. During the school year I taught Sunday school, joined the synagogue choir and eventually ran the youth group. During my university years I continued teaching Religious School, and eventually became the assistant director of our small program. After graduating university, I went on to study Child and Youth Work and learned about counselling and child development. These skills have really supported my clerical life, as it’s about building relationships and supporting people during various points in their lives.
What Jewish and progressive influences shape your worldview today?
Growing up in Canada’s multicultural society helped me understand that everyone is equal,and deserving of love and respect. I was especially proud when Canada legalized same sex marriage well before the US. My grandparents were Holocaust survivors who demonstrated through their actions that all life is precious and that everyone deserves dignity, safety, freedom and comfort, even if you don’t like them. I grew up in a family that was open to listening to each other, even if we didn’t agree. Being able to listen and learn from people with different perspectives helps me to continue to open my mind and my heart.
How would you describe your relationship with Israel and its society?
Complicated but also ever-evolving. Growing up in Toronto’s Jewish community, I was taught that we were to support Israel no matter what, that it was a safe place for Jews and that “wherever we stand, we stand with Israel.” I held on to that for a long time until my mind was opened and I understood that things are far more complicated than that. Learning about the reality on the ground in Israel was painful, but I couldn’t continue to close my eyes to the problems Israel faces.
Now I feel hopeful but also discouraged. Israel is a country I love on so many levels, having lived there, visited there, and having family there. I’m emotionally attached to it, but there are also days that I wish I didn’t know about Israel’s challenges. I can’t separate myself from Israel and I still hope it can be what it promised to be. As a Jew, a Jewish leader, and a human being who cares about others, I believe that I have an obligation to hold the country accountable when it falls short of its ideals. While it’s not desirable to have Judaism without Israel, the country in its present form is very difficult for me to incorporate into my Jewish life.
What drew you to support the work of the New Israel Fund of Canada?
Seven years ago, I was walking down Eglinton Avenue and saw a concert ad on a pole for one of my favourite artists, Noa. I was surprised as I didn’t know she was performing here so I immediately bought tickets.
At the concert, I met the folks from NIFC who were hosting the event and learned about the Naomi Chazan Fellowship. I knew that my knowledge of Israel was one-sided and I needed a bigger-picture understanding – so I applied for the program and was accepted as a Fellow.
Everything changed from there and I’ve been involved with NIFC ever since. I really appreciated the tone in which everything was presented – issues and troubles coupled with hope and support of the people working to make Israel a better place for everyone. NIFC taught me that it’s okay to love and support Israel without being blind to the issues it faces. You don’t need to throw everything out – you can try fixing it.
Why did you feel it was important to join NIFC’s Rabbinical and Cantorial Cabinet?
It has been a very confusing, challenging, and lonely time in my profession since October 7th. I’ve watched colleagues shift away from the progressive values I thought they held and it has been really disappointing and painful. I’ve lost connections with people who mistake my empathy for Palestinians as antisemitism, and as a leader of the Jewish community it’s been difficult to know how to maintain my own integrity while supporting others.. Having a group of like-minded colleagues with whom I can collaborate helps boost our morale, reminds us that we’re not alone, and keeps sight of what we are working towards: an Israel we can be proud of, promote to our communities, and represents the Jewish values we preach.
You are speaking at the Haaretz conference on a panel about Jewish leadership in Canada in these fraught times. What is the most important thing that you would like Canadian Jews to understand about navigating Jewish life since October 7th?
What I really want to share with Canadian Jews is that everyone is struggling and the most common issue I’ve heard is people being scared about losing their relationships with those they love. I’ve had many conversations with congregants whose families are on different sides of the political spectrum than they are, and they feel ostracized or voiceless.
I really want people to understand that there is pain on all sides of this conflict. When we polarize ourselves and put ourselves in silos, we cut ourselves off from learning and creating community. We must learn to check our biases and understand why we react to what others say, before responding.
People want to have relationships with their loved ones even if they disagree. I would love to think we all want the same things: peace, freedom and security – but people are coming at it from different directions. We must have empathy for each other’s fears.
Is there anything else that Canadian Jews should be thinking and doing in this moment?
Canadian Jews need to get off social media. There’s so much propaganda out there, and it’s confusing and hard to educate when there’s no way of vetting the source. We must listen to other Jews and to Palestinians. We must understand that someone sharing their struggles isn’t an attack on us. We can all have our truths and narratives that can make up the bigger picture. We don’t have to agree, but we must be able to listen in order to be in community together.
My biggest fear for diaspora Jews is this war will tear apart our community. We’re seeing it already, and I fear that we are at risk of being divided beyond repair. Canadian Jews have to do a better job of putting our fears aside and really listening to each other with openness and empathy, and strive to be one people who support and care for one another.
Conversation edited for length and clarity.