The Burning Bush, Holy Ground, and a Wedding in Toronto

Let me tell you a story that begins in the desert, with a whisper of flame and a barefoot moment of awe.

Moses sees something strange: a bush that is burning, but not being consumed. He draws closer, curious—and suddenly, he hears a voice:

“Remove your sandals. The place where you stand is holy ground.”

But here’s what we often miss: the bush was always burning. The ground was always holy. What changed was Moses.

He paused, paid attention, and awakened to the holiness that had been there all along.

And that’s the wisdom I carry with me into every wedding I officiate, every baby I help name, and every moment I share with a couple or family. Especially the unforgettable day I stood with Marni and Adam, a beautiful Jewish couple from Toronto, under their wedding chuppah.

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Holiness Is Not Perfection—It’s Attention

In Judaism, holiness—kedushah—is not about grand gestures or unattainable perfection. It’s about making the ordinary sacred.

You don’t have to climb a mountain or meditate in silence to find holiness. You can find it in everyday moments:

• Saying Modeh Ani when you wake up.

• Helping your partner with dishes without being asked.

• Holding your child’s hand on the walk to school.

• Taking a breath before you speak in anger.

The Torah says, “You shall be holy, for I, your God, am holy.” That doesn’t mean we are expected to be God.

It means we already have that spark of holiness within us. Our job is simply to notice it—and bring it forward in the way we speak, love, commit, and celebrate.

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Marni and Adam’s Wedding: Not Just a Ceremony—A Sacred Encounter

When I first met Marni and Adam, they were in the middle of Jewish wedding planning and feeling a bit overwhelmed. The logistics were a lot. The venue, the Jewish wedding photographer, the decorations, the music, the invitations, the reception timeline, the attire—it all added up.

But when we sat down together, they told me something deeper.

They didn’t just want a beautiful Jewish wedding ceremony—they wanted a wedding that meant something.

One where Jewish wedding traditions didn’t just happen—they spoke to the heart. One where they could feel their ancestors smiling.

I was honored to be their Jewish wedding officiant, and I told them something that surprised them:

“We are not here just to plan a Jewish wedding.

We are here to create a sacred moment of awareness. A burning bush moment. A day where you realize: this love is holy.”

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What Made Their Wedding Holy?

It wasn’t just the Jewish wedding ketubah they signed, or the chuppah they stood beneath. It wasn’t just the Jewish wedding customs like breaking the glass, or the joyful Jewish wedding hora we danced afterward.

What made Marni and Adam’s wedding holy was the way they looked at each other. The way they paused. The way they spoke their Jewish wedding vows with tears in their eyes, honoring not only each other but the generations before them.

Their wedding combined traditional Jewish wedding rituals with the elegance of a modern Jewish wedding. It was joyful. It was reverent. It was themselves.

As someone mentored by a great Jewish wedding Rabbi, I’ve learned how to hold that balance—honoring tradition while crafting deeply personal ceremonies as a Jewish wedding cantor. And Marni and Adam made my job easy. Because they showed up with open hearts.

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The Holiness of a New Life: From Chuppah to Cradle

A year later, I got the call:

“We had a baby girl. We want you to help us welcome her into the Jewish community.”

Once again, I felt deeply honored. From officiating their Jewish wedding in Toronto, I now had the privilege of leading their Jewish baby naming ceremony.

It was intimate. Loving. Full of meaning.

We lit a candle. We blessed the baby. We sang ancient melodies. We spoke her name with pride and hope. It wasn’t just a Jewish newborn ceremony—it was a reminder that even the smallest moments, like holding a baby’s hand, can be holy.

This is what Jewish baby naming traditions are about. Not just ritual—but connection.

The kind of Jewish baby naming celebration that reminds a child (and their family) that they are part of something ancient, beautiful, and sacred.

From Jewish baby naming ceremony planning to writing custom blessings and choosing the right baby naming ceremony music, I guide families through a warm, thoughtful experience. Because every new soul deserves a beautiful beginning.

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A Life Coaching Perspective: Everyday Sparks of Light

Holiness is not just for weddings and baby namings.

Think of it like a treasure hunt. The world is filled with hidden sparks of light—tiny glowing gems tucked into ordinary days.

Every time you act with kindness, presence, or gratitude, you lift one of those sparks into the light.

When you live with that mindset:

• You feel more grounded.

• You treat others with more love.

• You walk through life with humility and strength.

Whether it’s a Jewish wedding celebration, a Jewish baby naming reception, or a quiet moment drinking tea with your grandmother—that can be holy ground.

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Final Thoughts: What Made Marni and Adam’s Journey So Powerful?

They slowed down.

They paid attention.

They made space for meaning.

And in doing so, they didn’t just create a wedding or a baby naming. They created a sacred family story.

And that’s the real work I do—not just as a Jewish wedding cantor, but as someone who sees every lifecycle moment as an invitation to awaken to holiness.

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Are You Planning a Wedding or Baby Naming?

If you’re seeking Jewish wedding services in Toronto—or planning a Jewish baby naming ceremony—let’s create something unforgettable.

Whether you’re dreaming of a traditional Jewish wedding or a modern Jewish wedding that reflects your unique story, I’ll help you craft a ceremony that is rooted in tradition and alive with meaning.

Because holiness isn’t something you chase.

It’s something you notice.

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Ready to create a sacred experience?

Let’s make your Jewish wedding, your baby naming, your legacy—something you’ll remember not just with photos, but with your soul.

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Would you like the next blog to be about how to write your own Jewish wedding vows? Or one about the meaning of each symbol in a Jewish baby naming ceremony?

Let me know—and let’s keep bringing light into the world.