Yom Limmud
DAY OF JEWISH LEARNING
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 • 9 AM-2 PM
Join us for an engaging Yom Limmud for all ages and Jewish backgrounds. The theme is “Finding Light in the Darkness,” one that will be tied to both Chanukah and our times. In the sessions, we will explore hope, healing, mental health, light and repair in Judaism and Chanukah.
Some sessions will be lectures, text studies, or more traditional learning opportunities, while others will include hands-on workshops, crafts and more.
$10 Members; $12 Community Register at mandeljcc.org/programs
EVENT SPONSORS
Course Descriptions
SESSION 1 • 9:15-10 AM
Chanukah Movement Class
MARIA HANLEY
SUNBEAMS MUSIC AND MOVEMENT INSTRUCTOR
Join Morah Maria for a fun Chanukah-inspired music and movement class, designed to get kids energized and excited for the holiday! This class is good for our youngest friends through early childhood age.
Kosher Food Pantry Community Service Project
SARAH YAFFE ALEVSKY
SESSION 2 • 10:15-11 AM
Chanukah Story Time and Crafts with PJ Library
FOR KIDS FOR KIDS FOR KIDS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLEVELAND KOSHER FOOD PANTRY
Give back to the less fortunate by assembling a “Can-orah,” a menorah made from cans of kosher food to be donated to the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry. We will also decorate Chanukah cards to accompany the holiday packages that will be delivered to those in need.
Nariya Cleveland Singing Immersive: Darkness and Light
RABBI MICAH SHAPIRO
FOUNDER OF NARIYA CLEVELAND
Featuring original music, Rabbi Micah Shapiro will lead a singing community gathering that draws out the relationship between darkness and light in our sacred Jewish texts. No singing experience required.
Chanukah: A Zionist Perspective
JAY LEBERMAN
HEAD OF SCHOOL AT JOSEPH & FLORENCE MANDEL JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
In this session, we will examine how Chanukah has been reinvented in the era of modern Zionism. We will examine the Zionist roots and Israeli politics of the ancient Maccabean holiday.
Art as Midrash & Midrash as Art: Judith and Holofernes
JO BRUCE
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT FUCHS MIZRACHI SCHOOL
The story of Judith has been tied to the festival of Chanukah, but is it? This session will be an opportunity to explore how her story is portrayed in midrash (biblical interpretation) and we will compare the text with how she has been portrayed in art.
LYNDSEY RICHARDS
FAMILY CONNECTOR FOR PJ LIBRARY CLEVELAND
Join the PJ Library team for a fun morning of Chanukah stories and crafts!
Olive Press Workshop
RABBI CHAYIM ALEVSKY
DIRECTOR OF LIVING LEGACY MITZVAH WORKSHOPS
Become a modern day Maccabee! Refine the olive oil needed for the Temple Menorah as they did way back then by pressing olives the ancient way! Fashion a wick out of cotton for use when lighting the Menorah, and bring home a sample of the oil.
What is Love?
RABBI MENACHEM TENENBAUM
NCSY ASSOCIATE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
This session will help define Judaism’s outlook on love and how it is possible to find love in difficult relationships. This humorous interactive lesson will leave participants with a clear definition of love and the tools to enhance any relationship. This session is great for teenagers and adults.
Recognizing the Miracles We Create: How Jewish Law Supports Couples in Their Fertility Journey
ADINA BLAUSTEIN & JEWISH FERTILITY FOUNDATION GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE YOETZET HALACHA & CONTENT TEAM DIRECTOR AT ALEPH BETA
The story of Chanukah reminds us that miracles often emerge from a partnership between human effort and divine intervention. We’ll explore how Jewish law provides guidance and support for individuals navigating the fertility journey and how we, as a community, can bring light to what is often a lonely and challenging time.
Spread the Light: Who is Hanukkah For?
BY
RABBI NOAH LEAVITT RABBI AT OHEB ZEDEK-CEDAR SINAI SYNAGOGUE
Explore the many layers of Chanukah. Is it a nationalist holiday? Spiritual? Zionist? Or perhaps something else entirely?
SESSION
3 • 11:15 AM-NOON
Choshech Ve’or Ivrit B’kef (Light and Darkness Hebrew Fun)
IRIS GRANOT
LUNCH AND KEYNOTE NOON-1:15 PM
Be the Light: How to Make Your Mess Your Message
RUCHI KOVAL
PARENT COACH, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, FOUNDER AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCE
HEBREW IMMERSION DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ECE AT GROSS SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL
Experience Chanukah in Hebrew! Go on a journey from darkness to light and learn some Hebrew along the way.
The Science and Torah of Light
ELANA PERLIN
DIRECTOR OF JUDAIC STUDIES AT GROSS SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL
FOR KIDS FOR KIDS
Torah and Science come together! Put on your lab coats and goggles and participate in exciting science experiments all about light and see how it connects to Torah.
Yoga and Healing
ELLA CASPI
COMMUNITY SHLICHA AT THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND
Join Ella for a restorative yoga class, where she will share how yoga practice has helped her heal since October 7th. This enlightening class is geared towards all levels, no previous yoga experience required.
Modern Day Maccabees Saluting our Veterans: Stories of our Brave Warriors
RABBI SHALOM PLOTKIN
CHAPLAIN AT THE LOUIS STOKES VA MEDICAL CENTER, AND THE OWNER OF RIGHT AT HOME
Working as a VA hospital chaplain, Rabbi Plotnik has gotten to know our veterans and their stories first hand. Hear about the experiences of our own “modern Maccabees” and the Jewish veterans who dedicated themselves to our safety and protection.
Chanukah and Religious Freedom
RABBI SETH STERNSTEIN
RABBI OF TEMPLE EL EMETH (YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO)
It’s Greek to Me! In this session, examine why the West owes religious freedom to the Jews. The discussion will address what Chanukah is and is not, and what it represents in modern times.
Your problems aren’t in your way – your problems are the way. The obstacles of life have the power to season us and make us beautiful. But how can we leverage our pain and challenges to be the light?
SESSION 4 • 1:15-2 PM
Maccabee Obstacle Courses
JILL SADOWSKY
FOR KIDS
MANDEL JCC SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CAMPING AND YOUTH
PROGRAMMING
Channel your inner Maccabee with fun obstacle courses, competitions and relay races!
Fun With Today’s Israeli Dancing
STUART MEYER
DIRECTOR OF DANCEISRAELI!
Learn by doing. We will have fun dancing to today’s popular Israeli dances. No prior Israeli dancing experience is necessary. This session is great for all ages.
Defending Israel: Knowing A Little History Goes A Long Way
RABBI PINCHAS LANDIS
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS CLEVELAND
This session will address common criticisms of the State of Israel and explore effective ways to respond to them. Participants will learn thoughtful approaches for engaging in meaningful discussions on these issues.
Bringing Light to the World: Rabbi Sacks on Jewish Purpose in Challenging Times
RABBI JEREMY BRUCE
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING AT THE RABBI SACKS LEGACY
What does the wisdom of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (zl”) have to teach us about challenging times, resilience, and Chanukah? Rabbi Sacks was an international religious leader, philosopher, award-winning author and respected moral voice of our times.
Opening 9-9:15 am
Session 1
9:15-10 am
Session 2
10:15-11 am
Chanukah Movement Class
Maria Hanley
Chanukah Story Time and Crafts with PJ Library
Lyndsey Richards
Kosher Food Pantry Community Service Project
Sarah Yaffe Alevsky
Olive Press Workshop
Rabbi Chayim Alevsky
Nariya Cleveland Singing Immersive: Darkness and Light
Rabbi Micah Shapiro
Session 3
11:15 am-noon
Choshech Ve’or Ivrit B’kef Light and Darkness
Hebrew Fun
Iris Granot
Lunch & Keynote
noon-1:15 pm BABYSITTING
The Science and Torah of Light Elana Perlin
What is Love? Is it possible to find love in difficult relationships?
Rabbi Menachem Tenenbaum
Chanukah: A Zionist Perspective
Jay Leberman
Recognizing the Miracles We Create: How Jewish Law Supports Couples in Their Fertility Journey
Adina Blaustein & Jewish Fertility Foundation
Modern Day Maccabees
Yoga and Healing Ella Caspi
Saluting our Veterans: Stories of our Brave Warriors
Rabbi Shalom Plotkin
Art as Midrash & Midrash as Art: Judith and Holofernes
Jo Bruce
Spread the Light: Who is Hanukkah For?
Rabbi Noah Leavitt
Chanukah and Religious Freedom
Rabbi Seth Sternstein
LUNCH AND S’MORE MAKING Jill Sadowsky
KEY NOTE ADDRESS FROM RUCHI KOVAL BE THE LIGHT: HOW TO MAKE YOUR MESS YOUR MESSAGE
Session 4
1:15-2 pm
Maccabee Obstacle Courses
Jill Sadowsky
Fun with Today’s Israeli Dancing
Stuart Meyer
*For all ages
Defending Israel: Knowing a Little History Goes a Long Way
Rabbi Pinchas Landis
Bringing Light to the World:
Rabbi Sacks on Jewish Purpose in Challenging Times
Rabbi Jeremy Bruce