Join us for the 2nd annual:   

   

  

 

Kosher? Organic? Local? Oy vey!

        

Join local rabbis, farmers, foodies, activists, students and teachers for a full-day conference as we broadly and deeply explore the intersections between Jewish tradition and contemporary food issues. The rich and varied sessions are designed both for people who are already knowledgeable about the intersection of food and Jewish life as well those with no prior knowledge of the subject.

      

Sunday, January 27, 2013

10:00am-6:00pm 

Miles Nadal JCC (750 Spadina at Bloor)

        

Registration includes a kosher, vegetarian, culturally-inspired, delicious lunch that is being prepared in a community member's kosher kitchen.   All ingredients are hekshered. For more information, please contact sabrina@shoresh.ca.



Presented in partnership with the Miles Nadal JCC, with support from the Centre for Jewish Studies, UofT and Hillel of Greater Toronto. 

   

   

     


2013 Sessions and Presenters (more to come):

     

Divine Slaughter                                                                                                    

Aaron Levy, Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism; Shari Golberg, Interfaith Consultant and PhD candidate in Religion, Women’s Studies and Jewish Studies; Selma Djukic, Halal Specialist for the Pharmaceutical Industry

                        

How can Isaac invite his friend Ishmael over for a bowl of his Bubbie’s famous chicken soup?   Explore the similarities and differences between Kashrut and Halal regarding animal slaughter.

          


Kugels in Kensington: Toronto’s Jewish Food History

Michael Wex, Author of Born to Kvetch, columnist, bon vivant and raconteur

        

Join yiddishite maven and New York Times bestselling author, Michael Wex for an historical look at Toronto’s Jewish food culture.

               


The People of the Pickle    

Blair Nosan, Suddenly Sauer

          

What’s a deli sandwich without a kosher dill pickle on the side? Learn the ancient art and rhythm of fermentation with Blair Nosan, pickle educator extraordinaire from Suddenly Sauer.           

      


The Hows and Whys of Jewish Farming                                                                  

Rabbi Adam Cutler, Beth Tzedec Congregation

          

The Torah is the Jewish Farmer’s Almanac, outlining how to work the land and share the bounty with our community. This session will explore Jewish agricultural laws and consider how to apply these practices to our contemporary context.    

     


The Migrash: Sustainable Design in Biblical Times                                                    

Risa Alyson Cooper, Shoresh Jewish Environmental Programs and Darcy Higgins, Push Food Forward

    

The Torah mandates the preservation of agricultural and wild spaces in our urban planning, similar to our modern day greenbelt. Explore this biblical teaching, while learning about the current challenges facing Ontario’s greenbelt and what YOU can do to preserve our green spaces.          

        


How Do I Get a Heksher in This Town? The Ins and Outs of Kosher Certification  

Richard Rabkin, Director of Marketing and Business for COR (www.cor.ca); Sher Kopman, RawFoodz

      

Join Richard Rabkin from COR-Kashruth Council of Canada and Sher Kopman, the creator of RawFoodz, a local, raw, vegan, kosher salad dressing, for insight on the process of kosher certification.           

    


Planning a Vegan Passover Seder                                                                          

Tamara Green, Living Kitchen Wellness Group 

       

Nu, can you have a seder without a shankbone? Join Chief Nutritionist and Green Gardener for the Living Kitchen Wellness Group, Tamara Green for insight on how to plan and prepare a vegan seder and why it might be good for your health.             

     


Peas in the Middle East: Israeli Agriculture and Regional Food Security              

Professor Stuart Schoenfeld, York University

        

Can agricultural technology and environmental awareness lead to regional cooperation in the Middle East? Join professor Stuart Schoenfeld for a look at this issue.  

  


Not Your Bubbie’s Brisket: Biblical Meat Eating                                                         

Rabbi Ed Elkin, First Narayaver Synagogue

         

Join Rabbi Ed Elkin for a look at animal sacrifice in the Torah and how it shaped meat consumption.

       


Jewish Mindfulness: Awaken Your Senses, Curiosity and Taste Buds by Savouring Chocolate
Myrite Rotstein,  Tasty Life Wellness
       
How can Jewish blessings awaken us to gratitude, mindfulness and the art of slowing down? Join Holistic Wellness Coach, Myrite Rotstein for inspiration on how to bring greater health to your body and mind through mindful eating practices.
            

      
Oy Rabbi, Bees Make My Honey!
Rabbi David Pardo, The House and Beekeeper, Fred Davis
                           
Join Rabbi David Pardo and Beekeeper Fred Davis to discover why honey is kosher if it comes from an insect and how a local urban beekeeper is doing his part to repair the world by keeping bees at Casa Loma and the Canadian Opera Centre.