CANADIAN SOIL, JEWISH ROOTS.

Rooted in Jewish wisdom and pracce, Shoresh's environmental

programs respond to contemporary food and ecological issues.
Through experienal educaon and acon, Shoresh creates meaningful
Jewish life and builds a more sustainable and connected community.
Shoresh means root in Hebrew grounded in Canadian soil, Shoresh
is helping community members get back to their Jewish roots!

A MESSAGE FROM SHORESH

December 2014 Kislev 5775

This past year was one of change and growth for Shoresh and we are thriving!
A few highlights:

We wrapped up our second year at the Kavanah Gardens permanent home adding a compost
demonstra0on site, more raised veggie beds, an expanded na0ve pollinator garden, and with a plan
for developing a community orchard and new Jewish educa0onal signage next season;

We started a new garden in partnership with Jewish Family and Child Services (JFCS), growing
hundreds of kilograms of fresh, local, organic produce for tzedakah;

We harvested over 70 kilograms of honey (thats 150 pounds!) from our bees at Bela Farm just in
0me for Rosh Hashanah;

AND Shoresh was listed in the Slingshot Resource Guide as one of the 82 most innovave Jewish
organizaons in North America for the THIRD 0me!

For a detailed look at how we grew and achieved our mission of building a more sustainable and connected
community through educa0on and ac0on, keep reading!
The past few weeks have been a urry of ac0vity as we prepared for the winter months. We mulched our
garlic, insulated our bee hives, pruned our fruit trees, and even organized years of les at the Shoresh
oce. Now that our spaces are ready for a period of rest and release, so too are we as an organiza0on
ready to focus our energies inward. To coincide with Shmitah (a biblically mandated year of rest, release,
and redistribu0on that began on Rosh Hashanah), Shoresh is entering a period of strategic planning for our
young organiza0on. To internalize the Shmitah principles of restora0on and equaliza0on, we are taking
this year to reect, re-vision, and plan so that we can con0nue to be a strong voice for change and
sustainability.
To our incredible community of sta, volunteers, program par0cipants, and donors, thank you for all of the
ways you have supported us this past year! We are so grateful to have the upcoming year for reec0on
and planning and look forward to sharing with you all of the ways we will be actualizing our vision as we
con0nue to grow.

With gra0tude,

Andrea Most
Chair, Board of Directors

Risa Alyson Cooper

Execu0ve Director

Sabrina Malach
Director of Community Outreach

P.S. Weve redesigned our Year-In-Review! Each sec0on reects a dierent piece of our mission and
highlights some of the amazing programs and ac0vi0es we oer.

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
KAVANAH GARDEN
In 2014, more than 600 community members helped care for the
Kavanah Garden, our permanent home at UJAs Lebovic Jewish
Community Campus. Together we grew hundreds of pounds of local,
organic produce that was donated to our tzedakah partners at JFCS.
Through eldtrips, volunteer opportuni0es, free community drop-ins and
Jewish fes0vals, we raised awareness of Jewish ways of interacng with
and appreciang the natural world. With the help of Regional Councillor
Deb Schulte and the Regional Municipality of York, we now have a giant
water cistern and a three-bin compos0ng system! Plans for 2015 include
planng more vegetable garden beds, expanding our nave pollinator
garden and breaking ground for our new fruit orchard.

The Kavanah Garden is a place that brings the words

of the Torah to life. - Program parcipant

URBAN TEVA ADVENTURES (NEW!)

This year we introduced a new series of hands-on programs called Urban
Teva Adventures to more than 250 community members! These guided
nature walks through Torontos parks and ravines give people an
opportunity to discover the plants and animals that live in Torontos
ecosystems, while exploring Jewish understandings of the relaonship
between humans and the natural world.

SPEAK WITH THE EARTH

AND IT WILL TEACH YOU.

JOB 12:8

/ralA xys
;rtv

ACTION
MAXIES GARDEN (NEW!)
Last May, Shoresh started a community garden in
Kensington Market in partnership with Jewish Family and
Child Services (JFCS). For 23 weeks, our sta and interns
met with JFCSs Back to Our Roots Garden Group,
teaching vulnerable community members how to grow
their own produce organically. Together, we harvested
over 500 pounds of local, organic veggies and herbs that
went directly to the people growing the produce. Helping
people help themselves is the highest form of tzedakah!

I didn't realize that the garden would be so

therapeucweeding is meditave and I have
a deeper connecon to the planet and G-d."
- JFCS Client

VOLUNTEERS
In 2014, Shoreshs diverse and commiKed volunteers gave
over 1600 hours of their 0me to support our programs and
ini0a0ves. One excep0onal volunteer, Ryan Storm,
donated a por0on of his Bar Mitzvah giLs to our pollinator
conserva0on ini0a0ves including our growing nave
pollinator corridor at the Kavanah Garden and our apiary
at Bela Farm. With Ryans help we were able to purchase a
honey extractor and harvested over 150 pounds of honey
from our hives just in 0me for Rosh Hashanah! Thanks
Ryan and Mazel Tov!

PEOPLES CLIMATE MARCH

2014 was the hoKest year on record. In September,
Shoresh joined 100 other Jewish groups at the largest
protest on climate change in world history. Alongside
400,000 individuals in New York and 3000 individuals in
Toronto, we marched because we believe that climate
change is a Jewish issue. As Jews, we are commanded to
be stewards of Crea0on, taking care of the earth and all its
creatures. We need to demand acon by world leaders to
create an economy that supports both people and the
planet.

MEANINGFUL JEWISH LIFE

BELA FARM
Shoresh is building a rural centre for sustainable land-based Judaism at
Bela Farm in Hillsburgh, Ontario! Home to Shoreshs bees, fruit trees,
garlic crop, and perennial spaces dedicated to our na0ve pollinators, Bela
Farm hosts a full season of transforma0ve educa0onal programs that are
rooted in Jewish values and prac0ces and open to all. In 2014, we
doubled our garlic producon, quadrupled our honey harvest (thanks to
our hard working honey bees) and enabled hundreds of community
members to deepen their Jewish roots in Canadian soil by exploring
Jewish prac0ce in the spectacular outdoor seMng that is Bela Farm.

SHORESH FOOD CONFERENCE

Last February, Shoresh hosted our THIRD annual (sold-out) Jewish Food
Conference bringing together over 100 foodies, farmers, rabbis,
students and acvists to explore the intersecons between Jewish
tradion and contemporary food and ecological issues. Par0cipants leL
feeling empowered to make food choices inspired by and aligned with
Jewish values and ethics.

I am inspired and amazed. I felt a sense of community

that I had been missing & a new found commitment to
the path I'm on. Thank you for creang a welcoming
environment that engenders such innovave &
transformaonal views of the world.
- Food Conference Parcipant

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

BELAS BEES

TZEDAKAH

BAYCREST

Honey bees are in serious trouble

as their popula0ons con0nue to
decline due to habitat loss and
widespread pes0cide use. At Bela
Farm, Shoresh is working to help
the bees through sustainable
beekeeping. We currently have
three hives and are hoping to
double our honey producon so
we can share the sweet nectar
from Bela Farms owers with the
community next Rosh Hashanah.
What beKer way to celebrate the
Jewish holidays and seasons than
by enjoying locally grown products
from your local Jewish farm?!

In 2014, we formed a new

tzedakah partnership with Jewish
Family and Child Services. During
the growing season, we set up a
free farmers market at the JFCS
downtown headquarters where
community members in need could
pick-up organic vegetables and
herbs grown at Kavanah Garden.
As well, we grew hundreds of
pounds of fresh, local, organic
produce (tomatoes, zucchinis, kale
and radishes to name a few!) with
and for JFCS clients through
Maxies Garden, our vibrant new
downtown growing space.

In 2014 we scaled up our

programming at Baycrest. In
addi0on to running our regular, biweekly gardening programs at the
Moutainview Day Centre we
helped Baycrest create two new
garden spaces and provided
professional development to more
than 30 therapeuc recreaonal
sta so that they could maintain
the new gardens. We are excited
and honoured to help Baycrest in
their eorts to become one of the
greenest geriatric centres in the
world .

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

SLINGSHOT 20142014-2015
For the THIRD 0me, Shoresh is included in Slingshots annual guide proling the 82
most innovave Jewish organizaons in North America! According to the Guides
evaluators, Shoresh has successfully taken the Jewish environmental energy in the
US and become the go-to address for like-minded Jews in Canada.

NATAN FOUNDATION
For the third year in a row, Shoresh received funding from the Natan Founda0on
through their Emerging Models of Jewish Connecon gran0ng pool. With Natans
support, Shoresh is growing our agricultural spaces at Bela Farm, doubling our garlic
harvest for 2015!

JOSHUA VENTURE GROUP

Shoreshs Execu0ve Director, Risa Alyson Cooper, was selected by the pres0gious
Joshua Venture Group as part of their dual investment fellowship for 2013-2014.
With Joshua Ventures incredible support, Shoresh was able to set down roots at
Bela Farm, establishing our apiary and plan0ng our organic orchard!

GENESIS: UJAS CENTRE FOR INNOVATION

As part of Genesis: UJA Federa0on's Centre for Jewish Innova0on, Shoresh shares
oce space with other small not-for-prots like Annex Shul and Kulanu at the
Wolfond Centre.

COVENANT POMEGRANATE PRIZE

Shoreshs Execu0ve Director, Risa Alyson Cooper, was awarded The Covenant
Founda0ons pres0gious Pomegranate Prize which recognizes exceponalism in
emerging professionals working in Jewish educaonal se@ngs.

TENT NYC: FOOD AND CULTURE

Shoresh's Director of Community Outreach (and resident beekeeper), Sabrina
Malach, was selected to par0cipate in TENT: Food NYC, a week-long program
exploring food and Jewish culture in NYC. The program was organized by the
Yiddish Book Center and hosted by the Center for Jewish History.

MEDIA COVERAGE
Shoresh got LOTS of media aKen0on this year including a FULL PAGE in the Toronto
Star on Sabrinas bee keeping venture at Bela Farm, ar0cles in the Canadian Jewish
News, Jewish Tribune and Shalom Toronto AND a shout-out in the New York Times!

DONATE TODAY!

Every day we become increasingly aware of how the food we eat and choices
we make shape our rela0onship with the land, our community, and our own
bodies. Shoresh oers a Jewish response to these issues one that seeks to
inspire acve and meaningful change within our community.
Please support our work and donate today at www.shoresh.ca/donate!
2014 SHORESH STAFF
Risa Alyson Cooper, Execu0ve Director
Sabrina Malach, Director of Community Outreach
Tamar Maerim Yunger, Interim Execu0ve Director
Rachel Rosenbluth, Director of Educa0on
Yehuda Nestel, Administra0ve and Program Assistant
Claire Lipson, Lead Jewish Environmental Educator
Alysse Mathalon, Jewish Environmental Educator
SHORESH BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Andrea Most (Chair)
Rabbi Aaron Levy
Sam Mizrahi
Dr. Michael Schecter (outgoing)
Rabbi Ilyse Glickman (outgoing)

Alexandra Kuperman
Lisa Borden
Carolyn Ruby
David Sadowski
Zeke Kaplan

GRANTING AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

UJA Federa0on of Greater Toronto
Joshua Venture Group
Natan Fund
Slingshot Fund
Environment Canada: EcoAc0on Community Funding Program
Ontario Trillium Founda0on
Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund
Buckstein Family Founda0on
Emerald Family Founda0on

Photo credits:

Sabrina Malach, Risa Alyson Cooper,

Lauren Lyons, Lisa Borden

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SHORESH, PLEASE CONTACT US

416416-805805-8382 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.SHORESH.CA

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