Photo via Toronto Star

Why a Toronto woman is bringing the sound of the shofar to those who can't make it to synagogue on Yom Kippur

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗
Cite

Lautens, K. (2026, September 19). Why a Toronto woman is bringing the sound of the shofar to those who can't make it to synagogue on Yom Kippur. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/why-a-toronto-woman-is-bringing-the-sound-of-the-shofar-to-those-who-can-t-make-it-to-synagogue-on-yom-kippur/article_b1a6afe4-0659-4bd8-899c-09a1532224e9.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Toronto Star · collected 2026-09-19 · by Kristjan Lautens

Quick Summary

Brenlee Robinson, a Toronto author, has been visiting the sick and homebound to blow the shofar for Yom Kippur, ensuring they feel connected to their faith despite not being able to attend synagogue. She took up the traditionally male Jewish practice of blowing the ram’s horn about 10 years ago for her family. The article highlights how various community leaders view the holiday as a time for reflection and hope, with Rabbi Shmuly Grossbaum emphasizing its message for all humanity rather than just those of the Jewish faith.
Written by AI on 2026-09-19, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Brenlee Robinson, an author based in Toronto, is bringing the shofar's sound to Jewish individuals who cannot attend synagogue during Yom Kippur due to illness or mobility issues. The shofar, typically made from a ram’s horn, traditionally marks the end of Rosh Hashanah and the beginning of Yom Kippur, which falls on Sunday and Monday. Robinson, who took up playing the shofar about 10 years ago, visits Torontonians at their homes to ensure they are connected with this significant religious moment. The shofar is usually played by men because it requires considerable physical strength and lung capacity. To avoid neighbor complaints, she plays it only during daytime hours. Robinson's initiative aims to include everyone in the observance of Yom Kippur despite accessibility challenges.

Written for “Yom Kippur Shofar Tradition Toronto” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Yom Kippur Shofar Tradition Toronto
Other · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

Nothing to compare against. No article is close enough to this one for the pipeline to have linked or judged the pair.
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
23
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
13%
3 of 23 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Other
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-19 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Toronto Star · 11561 article(s) · 28 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 28 correction(s)
2026-10-31
Inmate's escape is just the latest problem for Tennessee's troubled prison system
2026-10-26
Correction
2026-10-24
Correction
2026-10-22
News Clarification for Oct. 22
2026-10-21
No. 6 Hoosiers try to for rare rebound at Michigan after turning the page on 22-game winning streak
2026-10-19
Driver’s License Suspensions for Court Debt Draw Scrutiny
2026-10-16
Amputations and cancer treatment delays: Lawmakers hear testimony on Mississippi prison healthcare
2026-10-16
UPDATE: Golconda Gold Releases Q3 2026 Production Update at Galaxy
2026-10-08
News Clarification for Oct. 8
2026-10-07
Correction
2026-10-05
Entertainment Correction for Oct. 5
2026-10-03
Tennessee's prisons chief is resigning after failed execution of Christa Pike
2026-09-28
Organizations call for Action to End the Deaths of Indigenous People in Custody
2026-09-27
Police memorial recognizes six officers killed in the line of duty in 2026
2026-09-27
UPDATE: WSP to host Power & Energy-focused investor event virtually only
2026-09-26
News Clarification for Sept. 27
2026-09-26
Former federal public servant seeks better pensions for injured workers
2026-09-25
News Corrections for Sept. 25
2026-09-25
She has not been charged. But the Project South allegations have branded her with a 'scarlet letter'
2026-09-24
Correction
2026-09-23
MULTIMEDIA UPDATE: Smith+Nephew launches the new EVOS™ PELVIC Plating System at the 2026 Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) Annual Meeting, expanding the EVOS Plating Platform for pelvic and acetabular fracture management
2026-09-22
Costa Rican man complained of lack of care for diabetes before his death in ICE custody, family says
2026-09-22
Judges' grilling of accused men leads to sex assault and dangerous driving cases being overturned
2026-09-20
Jura Energy Corporation Provides Clarification Regarding Media Reports Concerning Its Petroleum Rights in Pakistan
2026-09-19
New details emerge about Toronto's guns-for-hire and the 'crash-out mission" that sparked the Project South investigation
2026-09-17
UPDATE: Osisko Critical Minerals Corporation Announces C$100 Million Private Placement of Special Warrants
2026-09-17
Alabama set to execute man for pawn shop killings months after his nitrogen gas execution blocked
2026-09-04
Orca Corrects Q3 Quarterly Dividend Announcement

Who wrote this

Kristjan Lautens
1 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 She emphasized that it is only played in the daytime, as the sound might get some complaints from neighbours at night.
2026-09-19 · assertive framing · Why a Toronto woman is bringing the sound of the shofar to those who can't make it to synagogue on Yom Kippur
The only article under this byline in the corpus.

Topics

Canadian Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Toronto Torontonians

Subjects

Toronto GPE · 6× Jewish NORP · 4× Robinson PERSON · 4× Cohen PERSON · 2× Brenlee Robinson PERSON · 1× Canadian NORP · 1× Chabad Lubavitch ORG · 1× Grossbaum PERSON · 1× Shmuly Grossbaum PERSON · 1× Torontonians NORP · 1×

Narrative

Toronto police announced earlier in September that they would up their presence around the High Holy Days after what police chief Myron Demkiw characterized as an uptick in hate-motivated attacks against Jewish businesses and places of worship in recent months.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-19
🔮 She emphasized that it is only played in the daytime, as the sound might get some complaints from neighbours at night.
2026-09-19 · Toronto Star
Why a Toronto woman is bringing the sound of the shofar to those who can't make it to synagogue on Yom Kippur · assertive framing

Claims (23 extracted, 3 hedged)

When Brenlee Robinson blows on the shofar, it produces just a few seconds of sound, but that burst means everything on Yom Kippur. asserted
burst → blow → Kippur
The ancient instrument, typically made from a ram’s horn, marks the end of the holiest period of the year in the Jewish faith that begins with Rosh Hashanah, the new year, and ends with Yom Kippur, a day of atonement. asserted
that → make → atonement
It’s why Robinson needed to bring its sound to everybody, even if they can’t attend synagogue Sunday and Monday. asserted
they → ’ → synagogue
She has spent part of the lead-up to this weekend’s Yom Kippur visiting those in Toronto with illness or mobility issues who can’t be at a service to blow her shofar and ensure every Jewish person can feel connected to their faith. asserted
person → spend → faith
“This is one thing I can do so nobody misses it,” Robinson said. asserted
Robinson → do → it
Robinson is an author who writes about Canadian history and trees, and took up the shofar about 10 years ago for her family. asserted
who → write → family
She says the instrument is typically used by men because it requires such physical exertion and lung strength to make its signature sound. asserted
signature → say → exertion
She emphasized that it is only played in the daytime, as the sound might get some complaints from neighbours at night. uncertain
sound → emphasize → night
“You can get a real head rush, and it’s onerous,” she said. asserted
she → get → rush
The holiday begins at sundown on Sunday and ends on Monday when three stars can be seen in the sky. asserted
stars → begin → sky
Typically a sombre occasion for reflection, repentance, and asking for forgiveness, leaders around Toronto say they’re more focused on the coming year and believe the holiday should allow all Torontonians to focus on the future. asserted
Torontonians → ask → future
Rabbi Shmuly Grossbaum with Chabad Lubavitch on the East Side, in midtown Toronto, says that the message of the Torah is of humanity and the whole world, not just people of the Jewish faith. “All of Toronto can think about guilt, what I missed, what I did wrong, what I could do for my neighbour, for my family, what we can do together as a community to bring our city to great heights,” Grossbaum said. uncertain
Grossbaum → say → heights
Adam Cohen, a board member at the Kiever Shul near Kensington Market, said his Yom Kippur reflections started about a month ago. asserted
reflections → say → Market
“You know what the definition of a good Jew is? asserted
definition → know → Jew
One who’s trying to be better,” Cohen said. asserted
Cohen → try → One
“I think that could apply to all human beings.” uncertain
that → think → beings
Toronto police announced earlier in September that they would up their presence around the High Holy Days after what police chief Myron Demkiw characterized as an uptick in hate-motivated attacks against Jewish businesses and places of worship in recent months. asserted
Demkiw → announce → months
As an Orthodox Jew, Cohen said he relies on tradition and tries to focus on continuity. asserted
he → say → continuity
He said it would be disingenuous to say that this can’t be felt around the community during this time, but added that he tries to view every year has having some distinct challenges. asserted
he → say → challenges
“We’re praying for a more connected Toronto.” asserted
We → pray → Toronto
The end of Yom Kippur will be marked with a blowing of the shofar. asserted
end → mark → shofar
For Robinson, it’s a call after the days of reflection to “wake up and get it together.” asserted
it → ’ → it
She says if you hear it, you should heed its message. asserted
you → say → message
💬Give feedback · no sign-in needed

No sign-in needed for now. Your note is sent without a name, so it cannot be answered.

🕘History 🎫Support
Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0
Articles to 4 Nov 2026