Celebrating Jewish Journeys

One of the great privileges of rabbinic life is accompanying people on meaningful Jewish journeys and witnessing the sincerity, courage, and commitment that those journeys require. In recent weeks, I had the pleasure of accompanying two new members of our community, Zoé Toussaint and Lev Klisurov, as they prepared to appear before the Kerem Beth Din for recognition of their giur journeys. These were moving moments, not only for Zoé and Lev personally, but also for our wider IJC community.

Belgium born Zoé, together with her Australian partner Remy Wolanski, joined IJC in 2025 and quickly became a warm and engaged presence within our community life. Over the past year, they have participated actively in services, conversations, and communal events, approaching Jewish life with openness, seriousness, and genuine curiosity. Through several conversations with Zoé and Remy, as well as discussions with Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins of Emanuel Synagogue in Sydney, where Remy’s family are longtime members and where Zoé completed her giur programme, I came to appreciate both the depth of her journey and the authenticity of her commitment to Jewish life and practice. Particularly joyful is the fact that Zoé and Remy are now preparing to welcome a child into the world and to continue building their Jewish home and family within our community.

Lev’s journey has likewise been marked by sincerity and quiet determination. Since joining IJC in 2025, he has become a thoughtful and valued participant in our synagogue and communal life. Lev began his conversion process at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal before family circumstances brought him to Belgium. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to accompany him as he continued that process within our community, supported also by Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, who encouraged his presentation before the Kerem Beth Din following his integration into IJC.

As a rabbi, moments like these are profound reminders that Jewish life is sustained not only through inheritance, but also through people who consciously and thoughtfully choose to cast their lot with the Jewish people. Such journeys ask a great deal of a person: study, reflection, vulnerability, perseverance, and a willingness to step deeply into Jewish community and responsibility.

Both Zoé and Lev have enriched our community already through their presence, their questions, and their engagement. I am proud that IJC could accompany them along this important stage of their Jewish journeys, and I look forward to continuing to share Jewish life, learning, celebration, and community with them in the years ahead.

Mazal tov to Zoé, Remy, and Lev on this important and joyful milestone.

Rabbi Brian