TanenbaumCHAT Teaches

As the holiday approaches, we will explore what Hanukkah commemorates and why it has been a source of inspiration throughout the ages. Key to this will be a discussion of the historical background of the holiday. We will focus on Jewish opposition to the policies of the Syrian-Greek king  from 175 to 142 BCE in Judah, as well as on the internal divisions within Jewish society at the time. 

As Jews, we are called the "People of the Book.” Archaeology has illuminated that book – the Bible. By the late 1970s, Alex had participated in excavations at Ai, Caesarea and the City of David. As president of the Canadian Institute for Mediterranean Studies (CIMS), he was instrumental in bringing the Dead Sea Scrolls to Canada. Most recently, CIMS co-sponsored excavations at the Huqoq synagogue, (one of National Geographic’s 100 most important archaeological discoveries of the past century). Join Alex as he shares highlights of his remarkable career.

With today’s all-consuming media, it can seem impossible to wade through the fake news, disinformation and advertising to find reliable and accurate sources. Let’s discuss how to navigate this complicated landscape and encourage our kids to care about the truth.

What relevance could Shakespeare’s sonnets possibly have to women today and the unrealistic expectations society places on them? In this lesson, using various forms of media, we will make connections between texts from the 1600s and the present day to demonstrate the continued pertinence and importance of Shakespeare's words.

This interactive lesson will grapple with some of the essential Jewish ethical dilemmas that are at the heart of Jewish values.  

Learn about the surprising biblical women who were most likely left out of your childhood education. Understand, through a traditional but feminist lens, their stories – to critique them and be inspired by them. Texts will be studied in English translation.

"The wisest of women builds her house" (Proverbs 14:1). Who are these wise women and what did they do to deserve such a title? 

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Did you know that blending is an art superpower? Did you know that getting into the flow while colouring is a great way to reduce stress? Join me for a fun and relaxing hands on session in the art room where you will learn how to layer, blend and burnish coloured pencils to create a beautiful design. No experience is required!

Magic is the artful performance of impossible things – which creates energy, joy and astonishment. If you would like to learn how to astound your friends and family with your magic prowess, this is the class for you!

How do we transmit our values to the next generation? Rabbi Sacks z"l says: "The most powerful link between the generations is the story of those who came before us. Their story becomes ours and we hand it down to the next generation so that it becomes theirs." Through Torah and practical examples, we'll explore how to give our children the greatest gift ever. 

Understanding the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the desert through a culinary and psychological lens. How can we encourage our own kids to avoid making the same mistakes our ancestors did?

This class will review the highlights of Toronto's 170-year Jewish history, including the first congregations, day schools, some of the great rabbis, cantors, politicians, trends and fascinating statistics, and even stories about a few of Toronto's historic Jewish personalities.

The Torah is read in traditional melodies around the world according to its trope (cantillation marks). What’s the history behind these musical markings and, more significantly, what is their function?

This session will look at how the classics (The Iliad, Odyssey, etc.) are still relevant to our world today. We will take a look at some excerpts from the texts and make  different modern connections to today's media and to our understanding of ourselves. 

In this talk we will explore the impacts of community music-making on mental health and learn to sing a song together to experience these impacts.

As one song in Monty Python’s Spamalot goes, “You won’t succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews!" Jews and Judaism have both made an indelible impact on musical theatre since the genre’s inception, and they have continued to shape its evolution over the past century into modern musical theatre today. Come learn about the history of Judaism in musical theatre and some Jewish show-tunes, composers, playwrights, characters and themes!

For a country as small as Israel, there is a  very large community of professional and semi-professional political cartoonists. This session will introduce learners to these artists by exploring recent cartoons about contemporary issues in Israeli society.

Join us for a captivating exploration of the Roman Empire’s Jewish community during one of Jewish history's most tumultuous periods. Spanning from 60 to 100 CE, this lecture delves into the lives, challenges and resilience of Roman Jews as they navigated the devastating destruction of the Second Temple. Uncover the intricate dynamics of this community as they sought to maintain their identity and traditions amidst the larger Roman culture, all while bearing witness to profound historical shifts. Offering rare insights and fresh perspectives, this lecture promises to shed light on a pivotal chapter of Jewish history in Rome, revealing its enduring relevance to our times.