2016 was a WOW-filled year. Here are our highlights.
- Celebrated the Bela Farm Grand Opening! Over 200 diverse community members gathered together to mark the beginning of Shoresh’s stewardship of Bela Farm, a rural centre for sustainable, land-based Judaism in Hillsburgh, Ontario.
- Delivered Transformative Education! We reached more than 1000 students in schools, synagogues, and community groups, offering hands-on, award-winning programs that link Jewish texts and teachings with experiences of awe and wonder of the natural world.
- Harvested hundreds of pounds of local produce for Tzedakah! 1500 volunteers helped grow organic vegetables that were donatedto our Tzedakah partners at Jewish Family and Child Services (JF&CS) and Chasdei Kaduri (an inspiring organization that delivers food boxes to Jewish families in need).
- Hosted the first Bela Farm Immersive!More than 20 inter-generational community members gathered for an intensive 4-day summer retreat to explore what land-based Judaism means to them.
- Planted a Bee Sanctuary! With support from World Wildlife Fund, Fido and TD Friends of the Environment, Shoresh began planting our 20-acre bee sanctuary at Bela Farm.
- Launched the Pearl Project’s Tikkun Tea Social Enterprise! In partnership with JF&CS, Shoresh mentored Jewish young adults transitioning out of foster care, to help them grow and dry herbs to launch their own herbal tea business.
- Produced over 1200 jars of Bela’s Bees honey! With the help of thousands of honey- bees and dozens of community members, we harvested, packaged and sold-out of 400 lbs of local, raw honey just in time for Rosh Hashanah.
- Launched the Shoresh Outdoor School! With support from UJA Federation’s Julie and Henry Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Education and the WOW! Grant Committee, we’re getting ready to launch the Shoresh Outdoor School, an outdoor supplementary school that will bridge Jewish learning with ecological awareness and environmental sustainability.
- Honoured our Jewish agricultural roots! In partnership with the Ontario Jewish Archives, we exhibited photos and stories to share Ontario’s rich Jewish agricultural history at the Miles Nadal JCC.
- Made international and national news! Our staff and projects made headlines this year and were highlighted in The Canadian Jewish News, Ha’Aretz, The Forward and Village Living Magazine.