● Programs

Zmanim Adult Program

Journey through the seasons…

● Program Overview

What It’s All About

Zmanim is a journey through the seasons with 9 months of nature-immersion, Jewish learning, and community building. We welcome Southern-Ontario-based Jewish adults excited to deepen their connection to Judaism, the natural world, and their sense of resilience.

Register Now

Zmanim is not running in 2026-2027, but we plan to run a cohort in Fall 2027.

Program Structure

In a group of 10-15 people, participants meet every 1-2 months to learn ancestral skills and gather for three immersive Shabbaton retreats exploring wild edible and medicinal plants, winter camping, and canoe tripping. 

Get ready to delve into:

  • Naturalist learning (birding, tracking, plant ID, etc.)

  • Jewish ritual (blessings, Shabbat, etc.)

  • Outdoor skills (camping, winter camping, canoeing, etc.)

  • Environmental stewardship

Locations

This 9-month program runs from September to June with three immersive Shabbatonim (in October, January, and May). In the intervening time, participants meet every other month for day-long sessions on Sundays.  

Zmanim evening programs
Various backyards, parks, ravines, and urban wild spaces in the GTA, with the potential of some sessions taking place virtually. 

Farm Shabbaton and Day-Longs
Either at Bela Farm or another conservation area within a one-hour drive of Toronto. 

Winter Camping and Canoe Trip
Within 3.5 hours of Toronto or Ottawa.

While we will assist people in setting up carpools, participants are responsible for their travel to and from program locations. Specific program locations will be included in the welcome package.  

Age Group

Zmanim is open to all Jewish adults over the age of 18.

No prior Jewish knowledge/experience is expected.

Pricing and Subsidies

The fee for the year-long program is $2500. Sliding scale pricing ($2000-$3000), payment plans, and generous subsidies are available to help ensure the program is accessible to all.

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 you are able to afford.

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

Jewish Accessibility in Zmanim

Zmanim participants will be invited to explore, question, and envision their relationship to Jewish cycles of time, ritual, communication with Creator/Divine, texts, and ethics. For this program, Shoresh welcomes any self-identified Jewish adults over the age of 18, regardless of heritage, practice, or affiliation (including converts, patrilineal Jews, mixed heritage Jews, queer Jews, Jews of Colour, Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews). Shoresh takes a pluralistic approach and participants’ unique Jewish (and other) backgrounds will be respected and welcomed when openly discussing Jewish observance and values, and grappling with the complexities of Jewish tradition. No prior Jewish knowledge/experience is expected. Please feel free to ask questions or communicate with us to ensure you feel welcome. 

Programming during Shabbat will be accessible for most people who adhere to halachic Shabbat prohibitions, as well as those who do not. Please let us know if you have any Shabbat observance questions. 

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

“Zmanim gave me the unique opportunity to deepen my connection to both nature and Judaism as an adult. I really value the connections I made on the program and have made some lifelong friends! I have newfound interest and confidence in spending time in nature and see my Jewish identity as very much rooted in the natural world.”

— rebecca, zmanim participant

“Being a part of Zmanim shot-putted me into more confidence and joy in my Jewish identity, sense of community, friendships, and outdoor connection. I am still shocked such an inspiring program exists, AND I've done this program. Anyways, needless to say, this was a transformative time and I didn't know how deeply healing this would be when I first signed up.”

— angelic, zmanim participant

“I didn't even know this existed. People were kind and welcoming in a way I haven't experienced in the Jewish community. It's an incredibly positive program.”

— nathan, zmanim participant

● Staff

Meet the Educators

Paul

coordinator & 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.

Tiferet

Educator

Tiferet is a Jewish environmental educator and community builder. She holds a Masters in Education and a B.A. in Diaspora and Transnational Studies with a focus on relationships between diasporic and Indigenous communities. Tiferet completed the Wild Deer wilderness skills training, and is a recipient of the David Suzuki Award for environmental educators. She has worked with the TDSB, the Toronto Parks Forestry and Recreation Department, the University of Toronto’s Multifaith Centre, and is founding resident of Moishe Pod Toronto.

● Program Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Shoresh welcomes Jews and interfaith families of all 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.

  • Zmanim will be a physically involved program, including travelling long distances (on hiking trails, by canoe, and through snow). The program operates in all temperatures and weather conditions, and we will support participants in feeling prepared with seasonally appropriate gear. Participants will be expected to carry their belongings for day and overnight programs as well as sleep in tents overnight with no electricity access. In some contexts, participants will share sleeping quarters. No prior outdoorsy or camping experience is required and we trust participants’ individual judgement of whether this program will be fun for them. If accessibility is a concern, please feel welcome to ask questions or communicate with us, so we can jointly figure out if the program is the right fit and, if so, how to support your participation.  

    Note: For Shabbatonim, we may require participants to take a rapid test before sharing a tent or other indoor space.  

● Contact

Request Information

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