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.
In grateful recognition of J.B. and Dora Salsberg Fund for their support.
Semester 1
In-person @ Miles Nadal JCC
Nov 5 - Dec 10
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
In-person @ Miles Nadal JCC
Nov 5 - Dec 10
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Jewish Dreamwork: Texts and Practices with Rabbi Yerach Meiersdorf
In Jewish tradition there are many doors to holiness. When we listen closely to our sources, one door is simple and surprisingly fast: dreams.
Every ancient culture kept a dream tradition; so did ours. In this course we will meet the Jewish path of dreamwork, not only “how to interpret,” but what to do while dreaming. We will learn gentle practices for entering sleep, setting intention, meeting messages with humility, and carrying blessings from the night into the day.
This is a class for anyone who feels called to travel, awake and asleep into wider inner space. We will read, practice, and share. The aim is closeness: to ourselves, to one another, and to God.
Rabbi Yerach Meiersdorf is a teacher and spiritual educator. He founded the Center for Spiritual Tourism in Ein Karem, guiding seekers through prayer, nature, and ancient pathways in and around Jerusalem. He is the author of "Darasti Kirvatech" and, this year, a second book on Hebrew Shamanism. Rabbi Yerach serves communities in Israel and North America and is currently a rabbi at Adath Israel in Toronto. His work weaves Torah, song, and embodied practice.
In Jewish tradition there are many doors to holiness. When we listen closely to our sources, one door is simple and surprisingly fast: dreams.
Every ancient culture kept a dream tradition; so did ours. In this course we will meet the Jewish path of dreamwork, not only “how to interpret,” but what to do while dreaming. We will learn gentle practices for entering sleep, setting intention, meeting messages with humility, and carrying blessings from the night into the day.
This is a class for anyone who feels called to travel, awake and asleep into wider inner space. We will read, practice, and share. The aim is closeness: to ourselves, to one another, and to God.
Rabbi Yerach Meiersdorf is a teacher and spiritual educator. He founded the Center for Spiritual Tourism in Ein Karem, guiding seekers through prayer, nature, and ancient pathways in and around Jerusalem. He is the author of "Darasti Kirvatech" and, this year, a second book on Hebrew Shamanism. Rabbi Yerach serves communities in Israel and North America and is currently a rabbi at Adath Israel in Toronto. His work weaves Torah, song, and embodied practice.
Jewish Wisdom and Intuition using Tarot with Rae Szereszewski
How do ancient Jewish teachings and the intuitive language of tarot speak to one another? In this six-week immersive course, we’ll explore the meeting place of symbolism, spirituality, self-reflection, and divination through a Jewish lens. Each session combines text study, discussion, and hands-on tarot practice to help you build both skill and spiritual grounding. This class is designed for those who are both new and experienced Tarot readers.
Rae works full time as a sexual health educator and relationship coach, as well as part time as the Director of Jewish Learning at City Shul. She is excited to use her educational and Jewish professional experience in a new capacity with Lishma. Rae has an abundance of experience in creating bright, inclusive, and educational programs for people of all ages and diverse communities. With a goal of fostering a space where everybody feels empowered to ask questions, explore themselves, and grow, she's excited to share her unique perspectives.
How do ancient Jewish teachings and the intuitive language of tarot speak to one another? In this six-week immersive course, we’ll explore the meeting place of symbolism, spirituality, self-reflection, and divination through a Jewish lens. Each session combines text study, discussion, and hands-on tarot practice to help you build both skill and spiritual grounding. This class is designed for those who are both new and experienced Tarot readers.
Rae works full time as a sexual health educator and relationship coach, as well as part time as the Director of Jewish Learning at City Shul. She is excited to use her educational and Jewish professional experience in a new capacity with Lishma. Rae has an abundance of experience in creating bright, inclusive, and educational programs for people of all ages and diverse communities. With a goal of fostering a space where everybody feels empowered to ask questions, explore themselves, and grow, she's excited to share her unique perspectives.
Creative Kehilah: Connecting to Jewishness through Abstract Art Making with Jay Ginsherman
In this class, students will connect to their Jewish Identity by creating abstract art. Students will also explore issues in the Jewish community and be inspired by Jewish artistic motifs and history. Abstract art is defined as creating forms that use lines, shapes, and colours to communicate feelings, as opposed to an accurate depiction of visual reality. In this class, students will explore their personal and communal Jewish values through collage, line art, colour field and other means of abstraction in order to better understand their own relationship to the Jewish community and how these Jewish values shape their identity.
Jay Ginsherman is a research-driven visual designer, artist, filmmaker, and facilitator. He uses design methods of research and ideation to create physical, digital and communal works that bring people together to learn from each other. Jay is one of the co-creators of Ha’ikar, a brave space discussion group for Jews and Allies processing the realities of the post October 7th world, as reported in the Canadian Jewish News and the Jerusalem Post. In his free time, Jay enjoys traveling, finding small museums, and hosting themed parties.
In this class, students will connect to their Jewish Identity by creating abstract art. Students will also explore issues in the Jewish community and be inspired by Jewish artistic motifs and history. Abstract art is defined as creating forms that use lines, shapes, and colours to communicate feelings, as opposed to an accurate depiction of visual reality. In this class, students will explore their personal and communal Jewish values through collage, line art, colour field and other means of abstraction in order to better understand their own relationship to the Jewish community and how these Jewish values shape their identity.
Jay Ginsherman is a research-driven visual designer, artist, filmmaker, and facilitator. He uses design methods of research and ideation to create physical, digital and communal works that bring people together to learn from each other. Jay is one of the co-creators of Ha’ikar, a brave space discussion group for Jews and Allies processing the realities of the post October 7th world, as reported in the Canadian Jewish News and the Jerusalem Post. In his free time, Jay enjoys traveling, finding small museums, and hosting themed parties.
Costs and Funding
Lishma is funded by student contributions and partnering organizations, providing us with coordination, teachers, facilitators and space.
Lishma is presented with support from the J.B and Dora Salsberg Fund.
Our partners are Beth Tzedec Congregation, Darchei Noam, and Miles Nadal JCC, and we We strive to keep costs accessible and we use a sliding scale.
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 Rabbi Aaron Rotenberg at [email protected]
Lishma is funded by student contributions and partnering organizations, providing us with coordination, teachers, facilitators and space.
Lishma is presented with support from the J.B and Dora Salsberg Fund.
Our partners are Beth Tzedec Congregation, Darchei Noam, and Miles Nadal JCC, and we We strive to keep costs accessible and we use a sliding scale.
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 Rabbi Aaron Rotenberg at [email protected]
Previous Classes
2025/26:
Semester 1:
Pirkei Avot: Words to Live By with Ellie Bass
Excavating the Jewish Imaginal with Avi Craimer
Toratah: The Regendered Bible with Daphna Jackson
2024/25:
Semester 1:
Gender and Judaism with Simon Hart
When You Get What You Pray For with Rabbi Ryan Leszner
Semester 2:
Deviant Drash: Drawing out of the Margins with Cliel Shdaimah and Sof Kreidstein
Dreams: The Torah of The Unconscious with Rabbi Aaron Rotenberg
Censoring the Jewish Library with Maxine Lee Ewaschuk
Semester 3:
Riding the Chariot: Psychedelic Jewish Mysticism and the Fringes of Consciousness with Izzy Waxman
Colourful Kabbalah of Sefirat Ha'Omer with Rabbi Jordan Shaner
Blasphemy in Jewish Poetry After Catastrophe with Jordan Paul
2023/24:
Semester 1:
Women Haunted: Yiddish Literature from Folklore to Modernism: with Julia Sharff
If These Walls Could Talk: Archaeology as Source Material: with Amit Rozenblum
Semester 2:
The Behemoth in the Wild: Compassion, Uncertainty, and the Quest for Meaning in the Book of Job with Benjamin Hackman
Revisiting Israel from the Dawn of Modernity to Our Time with Dr. Meirav Jones
Semester 3:
Shabbat Lab Presented in partnership with Jewish& + OneTable
Are You There, God?: Exploring Theology through the lens of Torah and Commentary with Lara Rodin
2022/23:
Semester 1:
Tools for Ending Antisemitism: Understanding Ourselves and the Canadian Context of Antisemitism with Aaron Rotenberg
The Jewish View on Reproductive Rights with Cantor Cheryl Wunch
Semester 2:
Tikkun-ing this Shattered Olam: Kabbalah 101 with Izzy Waxman
Jewish Fabulous: Queer and Subversive Figures from Across Jewish Sacred Text with Toby King
Semester 3:
Controversy and the Jewish Tradition with Dr. Ori Werdiger
Tending the Jewish Garden with Elena Potter
Marking Time: Creating a Jewish Calendar Together with Leah Gold, A Printmaking Course for Artists of All Levels and Experience
2021/22:
Semester 1:
ONLINE
Shmita: Release, Rest, and Reset with Risa Alyson Cooper
Spoken Word Poetry: Resistance and Resilience with Ayla Lefkowitz
Semester 2:
ONLINE
North African Jewish Storytelling: Miracles, Folk Tales, and Histories with Chaim Grafstein
Diaspora Judaism & Reconciliation: Locating Ourselves in the Conversation with Sterling Stutz
Tackling Talmud: Leadership and Society with Rabbi Jordan Shaner
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
Semester 2:
ONLINE @ Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
Multigenerational Trauma and Resilience with Carmelle Wolfson, MSW, RSW and Adrianna LeBlanc, MSW
Punishment and Prisons: the Polemics and Politics with Dyanoosh Youssefi
Homesteading the Holidays with Rabbi Becca Walker
Semester 3:
ONLINE @ Holy Blossom
Klezmer Crash Course with Lorie Wolf, Toronto Klezmer Society
Hands-on History: The Early Years of the Toronto Jewish Community with Sharoni Sibony
The Illustrated Pirke Avot with Rabbi Zachary Goodman and special guest, Jessica Tamar Deutsch
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
Semester 1:
Pirkei Avot: Words to Live By with Ellie Bass
Excavating the Jewish Imaginal with Avi Craimer
Toratah: The Regendered Bible with Daphna Jackson
2024/25:
Semester 1:
Gender and Judaism with Simon Hart
When You Get What You Pray For with Rabbi Ryan Leszner
Semester 2:
Deviant Drash: Drawing out of the Margins with Cliel Shdaimah and Sof Kreidstein
Dreams: The Torah of The Unconscious with Rabbi Aaron Rotenberg
Censoring the Jewish Library with Maxine Lee Ewaschuk
Semester 3:
Riding the Chariot: Psychedelic Jewish Mysticism and the Fringes of Consciousness with Izzy Waxman
Colourful Kabbalah of Sefirat Ha'Omer with Rabbi Jordan Shaner
Blasphemy in Jewish Poetry After Catastrophe with Jordan Paul
2023/24:
Semester 1:
Women Haunted: Yiddish Literature from Folklore to Modernism: with Julia Sharff
If These Walls Could Talk: Archaeology as Source Material: with Amit Rozenblum
Semester 2:
The Behemoth in the Wild: Compassion, Uncertainty, and the Quest for Meaning in the Book of Job with Benjamin Hackman
Revisiting Israel from the Dawn of Modernity to Our Time with Dr. Meirav Jones
Semester 3:
Shabbat Lab Presented in partnership with Jewish& + OneTable
Are You There, God?: Exploring Theology through the lens of Torah and Commentary with Lara Rodin
2022/23:
Semester 1:
Tools for Ending Antisemitism: Understanding Ourselves and the Canadian Context of Antisemitism with Aaron Rotenberg
The Jewish View on Reproductive Rights with Cantor Cheryl Wunch
Semester 2:
Tikkun-ing this Shattered Olam: Kabbalah 101 with Izzy Waxman
Jewish Fabulous: Queer and Subversive Figures from Across Jewish Sacred Text with Toby King
Semester 3:
Controversy and the Jewish Tradition with Dr. Ori Werdiger
Tending the Jewish Garden with Elena Potter
Marking Time: Creating a Jewish Calendar Together with Leah Gold, A Printmaking Course for Artists of All Levels and Experience
2021/22:
Semester 1:
ONLINE
Shmita: Release, Rest, and Reset with Risa Alyson Cooper
Spoken Word Poetry: Resistance and Resilience with Ayla Lefkowitz
Semester 2:
ONLINE
North African Jewish Storytelling: Miracles, Folk Tales, and Histories with Chaim Grafstein
Diaspora Judaism & Reconciliation: Locating Ourselves in the Conversation with Sterling Stutz
Tackling Talmud: Leadership and Society with Rabbi Jordan Shaner
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
Semester 2:
ONLINE @ Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
Multigenerational Trauma and Resilience with Carmelle Wolfson, MSW, RSW and Adrianna LeBlanc, MSW
Punishment and Prisons: the Polemics and Politics with Dyanoosh Youssefi
Homesteading the Holidays with Rabbi Becca Walker
Semester 3:
ONLINE @ Holy Blossom
Klezmer Crash Course with Lorie Wolf, Toronto Klezmer Society
Hands-on History: The Early Years of the Toronto Jewish Community with Sharoni Sibony
The Illustrated Pirke Avot with Rabbi Zachary Goodman and special guest, Jessica Tamar Deutsch
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
