Welcome to Lishma: a community of learners in our 20s and 30s
Whether you're a seasoned scholar or brand new to Jewish learning, we value the perspectives and experience you bring to the class.
Semester 2
ONLINE
Wednesdays, Jan 20, 27, Feb 3, 10, 17, 24
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Image by iStock
(SOLD OUT)
Multigenerational Trauma and Resilience
with Carmelle Wolfson, MSW, RSW and Adrianna LeBlanc, MSW
The Jewish historical narrative is laden with collective experiences of persecution and trauma. How do these experiences of our ancestors connect with our daily lives in the present? Using self-reflection, storytelling, experiential exercises, and lecture material, we will explore the following:
· How multigenerational trauma becomes our story
· How trauma AND resilience are transmitted
· What our relationships look like when ghosts from the past appear
· How multigenerational trauma affects Jewish communities
· What tools of empowerment we already have or can develop to transform our pain
Drawing on attachment theory, epigenetics, cycles of violence, our individual, historical and cultural stories and coping strategies, we will learn to embrace our vulnerability and heal ourselves.
Please note: This is a psychoeducation group where we will be learning about multigenerational trauma, its effects and healing strategies. We will not be focusing on processing the traumas of individuals; however, this group may trigger strong emotional reactions for some participants. We encourage participants for whom this may be the case to make use of their supports, such as therapists, family or friends. Upon request, we can provide referrals to community supports prior to the course if needed.
Multigenerational Trauma and Resilience
with Carmelle Wolfson, MSW, RSW and Adrianna LeBlanc, MSW
The Jewish historical narrative is laden with collective experiences of persecution and trauma. How do these experiences of our ancestors connect with our daily lives in the present? Using self-reflection, storytelling, experiential exercises, and lecture material, we will explore the following:
· How multigenerational trauma becomes our story
· How trauma AND resilience are transmitted
· What our relationships look like when ghosts from the past appear
· How multigenerational trauma affects Jewish communities
· What tools of empowerment we already have or can develop to transform our pain
Drawing on attachment theory, epigenetics, cycles of violence, our individual, historical and cultural stories and coping strategies, we will learn to embrace our vulnerability and heal ourselves.
Please note: This is a psychoeducation group where we will be learning about multigenerational trauma, its effects and healing strategies. We will not be focusing on processing the traumas of individuals; however, this group may trigger strong emotional reactions for some participants. We encourage participants for whom this may be the case to make use of their supports, such as therapists, family or friends. Upon request, we can provide referrals to community supports prior to the course if needed.
Image by Michael Hogue
Punishment and Prisons: the Polemics and Politics
with Dyanoosh Youssefi
Our criminal justice system is punitive and individualistic. But do we put too much faith in punishment as a solution to crime? If the science shows that prisons are ineffective, why do they persist? In this course, we will examine the history, purpose, and the shortcomings of punishment and prisons, and we will look at alternatives to our justice model. We will explore the Biblical notion of justice, and what the Torah says about punishment and prisons. We'll also discuss contemporary topics, such as the pandemic, solitary confinement, privatization, anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.
Dyanoosh Youssefi wears a lot of professional hats. She teaches legal studies part-time at Humber, is a former criminal defence lawyer, a writer, and a social justice advocate. She ran for public office in 2014 and 2018, and founded a non-profit organization, All IN, in 2015. For the past 30 years, she has volunteered extensively, both at the local and international level, and currently serves as the Social Action Chair at the Narayever. She is the mother of two wonderful daughters, aged 15 and 13. These days, she misses hugs; and has started to learn playing the guitar.
with Dyanoosh Youssefi
Our criminal justice system is punitive and individualistic. But do we put too much faith in punishment as a solution to crime? If the science shows that prisons are ineffective, why do they persist? In this course, we will examine the history, purpose, and the shortcomings of punishment and prisons, and we will look at alternatives to our justice model. We will explore the Biblical notion of justice, and what the Torah says about punishment and prisons. We'll also discuss contemporary topics, such as the pandemic, solitary confinement, privatization, anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.
Dyanoosh Youssefi wears a lot of professional hats. She teaches legal studies part-time at Humber, is a former criminal defence lawyer, a writer, and a social justice advocate. She ran for public office in 2014 and 2018, and founded a non-profit organization, All IN, in 2015. For the past 30 years, she has volunteered extensively, both at the local and international level, and currently serves as the Social Action Chair at the Narayever. She is the mother of two wonderful daughters, aged 15 and 13. These days, she misses hugs; and has started to learn playing the guitar.
Image by Flora Waycott
(SOLD OUT)
Homesteading the Holidays
with Rabbi Becca Walker
We all need something to look forward to and holidays can really help with that. Join Rabbi Becca Walker to learn and dive deeper into some of the spring holidays, as well as doing fun at-home activities to get ready. We will bake and cook, make decorations to spice up your at home celebrations and delve deeper into the meaning of each holiday. This course is great for all levels of learning, and all levels of experience with celebrating the holidays.
Rabbi Becca Walker is the engagement rabbi at Beth David and a recent transplant to Toronto. Prior to moving to Canada, she served as the Senior Jewish Educator for Michigan State University and the Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan. Rabbi Walker also enjoys hosting Shabbat dinners, going on outdoor adventures and is an avid podcast listener.
Homesteading the Holidays
with Rabbi Becca Walker
We all need something to look forward to and holidays can really help with that. Join Rabbi Becca Walker to learn and dive deeper into some of the spring holidays, as well as doing fun at-home activities to get ready. We will bake and cook, make decorations to spice up your at home celebrations and delve deeper into the meaning of each holiday. This course is great for all levels of learning, and all levels of experience with celebrating the holidays.
Rabbi Becca Walker is the engagement rabbi at Beth David and a recent transplant to Toronto. Prior to moving to Canada, she served as the Senior Jewish Educator for Michigan State University and the Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan. Rabbi Walker also enjoys hosting Shabbat dinners, going on outdoor adventures and is an avid podcast listener.
Costs and Funding
Lishma is funded by student contributions and partnering organizations, providing us with coordination, teachers, facilitators and space.
We strive to keep costs accessible and we use a sliding scale.
The suggested contribution is $72 ($12/night). There is a minimum of $36 for the semester ($6/night).
If you are unable to contribute at this time, please be in touch in confidence with Suzanne Carson, Lishma Coordinator at suzannec@mnjcc.org.
Lishma is funded by student contributions and partnering organizations, providing us with coordination, teachers, facilitators and space.
We strive to keep costs accessible and we use a sliding scale.
The suggested contribution is $72 ($12/night). There is a minimum of $36 for the semester ($6/night).
If you are unable to contribute at this time, please be in touch in confidence with Suzanne Carson, Lishma Coordinator at suzannec@mnjcc.org.
Previous Classes
Learning to make Lachuch in Middle Eastern Cooking with Ronnie Abraham (October 2020)
2020/21:
Summer mini-mester:
ONLINE
Learning and Unlearning: Exploring the Experiences of Jewish People of Colour and Inequality in Canada with Sara Yacobi-Harris
Semester 1:
ONLINE @ Beth Tzedec
Hands-On Track: Middle Eastern Cooking with Ronnie Abraham
Judaism +Modernity Track: Finding Our Place: Jews in the Struggle for Racial Equity with Tema Smith
Text and Context Track: Exploring Sephardi Jewry through Rabbinic Texts with Chaim Grafstein
2019/20:
Semester 1:
@ CSI Annex
Tzedakah (Hands-On Track): Dyeing & Doykheit: An exploration of natural dyeing, connection to land and Jewish diaspora with Sarit Cantor
T’shuvah (Judaism +Modernity Track): Returning, Repenting & Reconnecting with Yacov Fruchter
T’fillah (Text and Context Track): Learning to Live Whole-Heartedly with Rabbi Julia Appel
Semester 2:
@ Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
Hands-On Track: Jewish Self-Care through the Arts with Or Har-Gil
Judaism + Modernity: Faith Based Social Justice with the Lishma Team
Text and Context: 6 Amazing Texts with Rabbi Zachary Goodman
Semester 3:
@ Holy Blossom Temple
Hands-On Track: New Jewish Film with Aaron Rotenberg
Judaism + Modernity: Bad@$$ Sheroes with Rabbi Becca Walker
Text and Context: Jewish Couplehood with Yacov Fruchter
Semester 4:
ONLINE @ Beth Tzedec
Hands-On Track: Creative Writing with Tikva Hecht
Judaism + Modernity: Medical Ethics with Rabbi Steven Wernick
Text and Context: Queer Apocalypse in the Jewish Imagination with Rabbi Andrea Myers
2018/19:
Semester 1:
@ Miles Nadal JCC
Hands-On Track: Hebrew Calligraphy as Jewish Art with Baruch Sienna
Judaism +Modernity Track: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text with Jenny Isaacs
Text and Context Track: Weekly Torah for Beginners with Rabbi Jordan Helfman
Semester 2:
@ Beth Tzedec
Hands-On Track: Tachles! Learning (Beginner) Conversational Hebrew with Lior Sagi
Judaism + Modernity: PJ Library/Melton Foundations of Jewish Living with Daniel Silverman
Text and Context: People of the Book, People of the Land with Risa Alyson Cooper
Semester 3:
@ CSI Annex
Hands-On Track: Mindfulness in Silence and Song with Aviva Chernick / Jewish Music for the Healing of the Soul with Aaron Lightstone (split course)
Judaism + Modernity: Jewish Couplehood with Yacov Fruchter
Text and Context: Feminist Torah with Rabbi Denise Handlarski
Semester 4:
@ Holy Blossom Temple
Hands-On Track: Starting an Indigenous/Jewish Conversation with Leah Mauer
Judaism + Modernity: Refugees, Judaism and Asylum with Howard Adelman
Text and Context: Judaism and Happiness with Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl
Summer mini-mester:
ONLINE
Learning and Unlearning: Exploring the Experiences of Jewish People of Colour and Inequality in Canada with Sara Yacobi-Harris
Semester 1:
ONLINE @ Beth Tzedec
Hands-On Track: Middle Eastern Cooking with Ronnie Abraham
Judaism +Modernity Track: Finding Our Place: Jews in the Struggle for Racial Equity with Tema Smith
Text and Context Track: Exploring Sephardi Jewry through Rabbinic Texts with Chaim Grafstein
2019/20:
Semester 1:
@ CSI Annex
Tzedakah (Hands-On Track): Dyeing & Doykheit: An exploration of natural dyeing, connection to land and Jewish diaspora with Sarit Cantor
T’shuvah (Judaism +Modernity Track): Returning, Repenting & Reconnecting with Yacov Fruchter
T’fillah (Text and Context Track): Learning to Live Whole-Heartedly with Rabbi Julia Appel
Semester 2:
@ Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
Hands-On Track: Jewish Self-Care through the Arts with Or Har-Gil
Judaism + Modernity: Faith Based Social Justice with the Lishma Team
Text and Context: 6 Amazing Texts with Rabbi Zachary Goodman
Semester 3:
@ Holy Blossom Temple
Hands-On Track: New Jewish Film with Aaron Rotenberg
Judaism + Modernity: Bad@$$ Sheroes with Rabbi Becca Walker
Text and Context: Jewish Couplehood with Yacov Fruchter
Semester 4:
ONLINE @ Beth Tzedec
Hands-On Track: Creative Writing with Tikva Hecht
Judaism + Modernity: Medical Ethics with Rabbi Steven Wernick
Text and Context: Queer Apocalypse in the Jewish Imagination with Rabbi Andrea Myers
2018/19:
Semester 1:
@ Miles Nadal JCC
Hands-On Track: Hebrew Calligraphy as Jewish Art with Baruch Sienna
Judaism +Modernity Track: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text with Jenny Isaacs
Text and Context Track: Weekly Torah for Beginners with Rabbi Jordan Helfman
Semester 2:
@ Beth Tzedec
Hands-On Track: Tachles! Learning (Beginner) Conversational Hebrew with Lior Sagi
Judaism + Modernity: PJ Library/Melton Foundations of Jewish Living with Daniel Silverman
Text and Context: People of the Book, People of the Land with Risa Alyson Cooper
Semester 3:
@ CSI Annex
Hands-On Track: Mindfulness in Silence and Song with Aviva Chernick / Jewish Music for the Healing of the Soul with Aaron Lightstone (split course)
Judaism + Modernity: Jewish Couplehood with Yacov Fruchter
Text and Context: Feminist Torah with Rabbi Denise Handlarski
Semester 4:
@ Holy Blossom Temple
Hands-On Track: Starting an Indigenous/Jewish Conversation with Leah Mauer
Judaism + Modernity: Refugees, Judaism and Asylum with Howard Adelman
Text and Context: Judaism and Happiness with Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl
