Not a good bye just a see you later Toronto

2 years ago, I went to an Israeli DJ set with my two best friends, Dana and Karina. It was actually the first night we all ever hung out together.

We went in completely blind, thinking we were about to experience a classic Israeli club night. Instead, to our surprise, it turned out to be an EDM show… just performed by an Israeli DJ.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love EDM and so does Karina. But Dana? Absolutely not.

So while we were there, drinking and dancing and observing Dana’s suffering, I had this thought in the back of my mind. What happened to Israeli club nights in this city?

Because as much as I love a good EDM set, there’s something different about dancing to Omer Adam and all the Israeli music we grew up on. That kind of night hits differently. It’s familiar, it’s cultural, it’s ours.

And the thing is, the demand never disappeared. Toronto Jews still love Israeli music. We still want those nights.

That’s when the idea hit me.

That’s when I started Mishpacha.

Something about me is that I’ve always loved connecting with people. Building bonds, creating moments, being around energy. That’s always been my thing.

And yeah, don’t get me wrong, sometimes dealing with people isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. I’ve definitely met my fair share of shitty people.

But when I’m on my deathbed, I’m not going to be thinking about the phone I bought or the car I drove or the shoes I wore. Those things are nice, but they’re not what actually stays with you.

I’ll be thinking about the people I loved. The nights that turned into mornings. The laughter, the chaos, the conversations that meant something. I’ll wish I had even more of that.

My philosophy in this lifetime is simple. We’re meant to connect. We’re meant to feel people, to experience them, to grow through them. And no matter how many times it goes wrong, that’s never a reason to close yourself off.

Because the right connections make everything worth it.

This is the philosophy I’ve built Mishpacha on.

At its core, Mishpacha isn’t just about parties or events. It’s about connection. It’s about creating spaces where people can meet, feel seen, feel understood, and actually belong.

I built it from the belief that in a world where everything is becoming more digital, detached, and surface level, real human connection matters more than ever. The kind you can’t replicate through a screen. The kind you feel in a room full of people who just get it.

Mishpacha is about bringing that back. The music we grew up on, the culture that raised us, the energy that feels like home, and using it as a way to bring people together.

Because at the end of the day, people might come for the music or the vibe, but they stay for the connections. For the friendships, the relationships, the memories that come out of it.

That’s the whole point.

Not just to throw events, but to build something people can be a part of. Something that feels like family.

I’m so incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to bring this vision to life for my community.

Seeing it go from just an idea in my head to something real, something people actually show up for and connect through, means everything to me.

Nothing compares to those moments at my events when I look around and see people smiling, laughing, dancing, meeting each other, just fully in it. That’s when it hits me. That’s when I know it’s all worth it.

Every bit of effort, every risk, every stressful moment behind the scenes fades when I see people genuinely enjoying themselves and connecting with one another.

Because that’s the whole reason I started this in the first place.

And now, in a way, my job here is done.

Mishpacha isn’t going anywhere, but I am.

Yom Ha’atzmaut will be the last party I attend for a while, and even writing that feels surreal. At Layla Russki, I had this moment where it suddenly hit me. I’m going to keep building these events, creating these spaces, bringing people together, and I won’t even be there.

That’s such a crazy thing to wrap my head around.

But at the same time, it means I did what I set out to do. I built something bigger than me. Something that can exist and grow and bring people together even without me in the room.

Mishpacha was never just about me being at the party. It was about what happens within it. The connections, the energy, the feeling.

And knowing that will continue, even when I’m not there, means everything.

I’m going to miss this city and this community so much.

There’s something so special about the Jewish community in Toronto, and especially the one we built within Mishpacha. There’s an energy here, a warmth, a sense of belonging that’s so rare to find.

What we created together is real. It’s meaningful. And it’s something I’ll carry with me wherever I go.

And I guess the only way to end this is with a thank you.

Thank you for showing up. For trusting me. For dancing with me, singing with me, and being a part of something that started as just an idea and became something so real.

For every packed dance floor, every new friendship, every moment that turned into a memory, you made this what it is.

Mishpacha will keep going. The music won’t stop, the energy won’t fade, and the connections will keep growing. That’s the beauty of what we built. It was never meant to be temporary.

So this isn’t goodbye. It’s just a new chapter.

I’ll be somewhere out there, smiling, knowing that a room full of people are still coming together because of something not just I, but we created.

And that means everything to me ✡️