● Programs

Kehilat Yesod Teen Leadership Program

A journey of growth, connection, and adventure for post-B’nei Mitzvah youth.

● Program Overview

What It’s All About

Through deep engagement with Jewish teachings and rituals, hands-on wilderness skills, and a meaningful relationship with the Earth, participants gain confidence, resilience, and a deeper sense of self, all within a supportive and vibrant Jewish community. 

Register Now

Registration for 2027-2028 is coming soon.

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Program Structure

Running from September to June, Kehilat Yesod is a leadership program for teens that cultivates deep and lasting engagement in Jewish community through:

  • Familiarity with Jewish tradition, stories, and teachings

  • Environmental values, ecological knowledge, and naturalist skills

  • Maturity, responsibility, and activism

Monthly Meetings
We will gather together for community sharing circles, storytelling, wild-crafting, and more one Sunday evening a month in a community space, public park, or at Shoresh HQ at CSI Spadina. 

 Immersive Experiences

  • Fall Farm Shabbaton (October)
    To kick off the year, build new friendships, and familiarity in the cohort, all participants gather together for a special Shabbat weekend camping trip at Bela Farm.

  • Winter Camping Overnight (February)
    Teens opt in to develop their outdoors skills and grow more outdoor winter resilience on an overnight camping trip in the snow!

  • Spring Canoe Trip Shabbaton (May)
    To culminate the year, teens opt in to spend Shabbat on a canoe trip — paddling Ontario’s beautiful lakes, portaging, and camping — all while growing personal resilience and cementing group bonds.

Locations

Kehilat Yesod programs and activities take place at various parks, ravines, and urban wild spaces in the GTA. The Fall Farm Shabbaton takes place at Bela Farm, and the other two immersives (winter camping and the spring canoe trip) will take place further afield, within three hours of Toronto.

Age Group

Kehilat Yesod is for Jewish youth in grades 8-12 who express an interest in all three of the following and have significant experience in either #1 or #2:

  1. Personal growth, community service, or leadership;

  2. Immersion and experiences in nature; and

  3. Jewish practices, teachings, or community.

Most participants decide to return year after year, growing their skills, deepening the community, and mentoring novice teens.

This program has limited space and involves an application and interview process. You are welcome to apply if your child is in grade 9, 10 or 11. Grade 8 students can apply if they have already completed Shoresh’s Yesod B’nei Mitzvah program. If your child is in grade 8 and has not completed Yesod, please apply for Yesod instead.

Pricing and Subsidies

The fee for the year-long program is $2000, which includes monthly meetings and the opening Shabbaton. Sliding scale pricing ($1500-$2500) and generous subsidies are available to help ensure the program is accessible to all families.

Two opt-in immersive experiences (winter camping and the canoe trip) can be added on for $600 each ($450-$750 sliding scale).

Needs-Based Subsidies
We are grateful to be able to provide financial scholarships through the Howard Malach Legacy Fund For Jewish Nature Connection. To apply, please register for the program and select the Howard Malach Legacy Fund option. You will pay an $18 deposit and then asked what amount your family is able to afford.

To contribute to the fund and support community members in accessing Jewish learning outdoors, please donate.

Jewish Pluralism at Shoresh

Shoresh welcomes Jews of all different backgrounds and affiliations. While learning about Jewish values and teachings, holiday celebrations, rituals, and prayer, we will be open to the many different ways that our community members interpret these traditions and how they choose to live and learn Jewishly.  As well, we create space for honouring the other cultural, religious, and spiritual identities that participants may be bringing to our programs.

What Participants Are Saying

“It’s changed the way I think about doing work for the community or my friends or my family, and it’s made me care much more about how I go about doing tasks for people. I want to serve my community more and manage time and resources which has connected me to my experiences more and ‘grounded me.’ I’ve also gotten a greater appreciation for the planet and the people around me.”

— kehilat yesod teen

“It has made me grow as a person, learn about myself through unique ways and gave me experiences, memories and a community I will never forget.”

— kehilat yesod teen

“This program has impacted me by helping me grow a lot more into a leading role, as well as gaining skills to support and lead others. I also think the people in the group have impacted me a lot, with making really good friends, and a good group outside of school. ”

— kehilat yesod teen

● Staff

Meet the Educators

Paul

coordinator & lead educator

Paul finds joy, connection and purpose spending time with young people. He is a Child and Youth Care Practitioner that has worked with individuals and groups from family homes to summer camps, ballet schools to hospices. He is blessed to work in a mentorship role with people of all ages in the context of nature, and is excited to support B’nei Mitzvahs living into their own big questions at such a potent time in their lives.

Rotem

Lead educator

Being outside, exploring new places, and learning through hands-on experiences have always been a big part of what Rotem enjoys. She’s passionate about Jewish education, outdoor experiences, and creating meaningful and fun experiences for youth, and she’s excited to bring these passions to Shoresh!

● Program Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Shoresh welcomes Jews and interfaith and intercultural families of different backgrounds and affiliations. We are open to the many different ways that our community members interpret Jewish traditions and how they choose to live and learn Jewishly. We also create space for honouring the other cultural, religious, and spiritual identities that participants may be bringing to our programs.

  • Yes! Sliding-scale pricing and scholarships are available to help ensure the program is accessible to all families.

  • Once you register and submit your deposit on Campbrain, we will contact you to set up a 30 minute phone/video interview to ensure that Kehilat Yesod is a good fit for you. Following the interview, you will be asked to pay the remainder of tuition.

  • A full refund (less non-refundable deposit) will be issued for any cancellation made at least 28 calendar days prior to the start date of the program. There will be no refunds issued for cancellations after 28 days prior to the program start date.

    In-person programs run in all weather. In the event of extreme weather, a program may need to be rescheduled. No refunds will be issued for programs rescheduled due to extreme weather.

    If a participant is unable to attend a session of Yesod due to illness, no refund will be issued.

    Shoresh reserves the right to cancel a program or change a program’s duration, price, or location.

    The above cancellation policy is not applicable during a time of force majeure or circumstances beyond our control (e.g. pandemic, quarantine, natural disaster, etc.).

  • To discuss any accessibility needs your child has, please contact our Program Coordinator at ky@shoresh.ca

● Contact

Request Information

Thinking about registering? Curious whether this program would be a good fit for your family? Whatever you’re looking for, we’re here to help.