Jewish& Chanukah in Song Workshop

Singing together is an essential part of Jewish life. Every feast, gathering and celebration has music to complement and even elevate the occasion. These melodies may be second nature to those brought up in a Jewish household that sang them year after year, but for those of us who are newly entering into these communities, they can feel unknown, intimidating and even alienating . Whether you’re lighting Chanukah candles for the first time or looking to reignite your connection, our Chanukah in Song Workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn the melodies, explore the meaning, and understand the context of both traditional and contemporary holiday tunes. Led by Shira Bodnar, this in-person workshop at the Miles Nadal JCC empowers everyone, regardless of identity, experience, or ability, to come together and celebrate through song.

Presented by Jewish& at the Miles Nadal JCC in partnership with 18Doors, with support from the Kolel Legacy Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto.

About Shira: 

Originally from Toronto, Shira Bodnar (they/she) is a first-year cantorial student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Shira previously received an Honors Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance from Sheridan College, and worked as an outdoor educator at Shoresh, a Jewish environmental organization. She believes that art and curiosity are fundamental tools for creating strong, compassionate communities, and she is deeply curious about what it means to honor all kinds of wisdom in an ever-changing world. As a descendent of Holocaust survivors, Shira is passionate about how music can be a tool for reclaiming one’s Judaism after generations of displacement. This year, Shira is lucky to be serving her home congregation, Beth Tzedec Congregation, as their Tanenbaum Fellow.

About 18Doors: 

18Doors empowers people in interfaith relationships— individuals, couples, families and their children—to engage in Jewish life and make Jewish choices, and encourages Jewish communities to welcome them.

About Jewish&: 

Miles Nadal JCC’s program that explicitly gathers interfaith, multi-cultural and mixed-heritage individuals, couples and families for Jewish exploration, education and celebration. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram today!

The Miles Nadal JCC is a wheelchair accessible building and there is a gender-neutral washroom in the hallway where our program will take place. If having access to larger print course materials would be supportive of your participation, please reach out so that we can ensure these are available. For any other questions or accessibility needs, please email LaurenS@mnjcc.org, so that we can work toward meeting your needs.