Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism Launches L'Taken Seminars in Canada

August 8, 2024: The Religious Action Center, the advocacy arm of the Union for Reform Judaism in North America, is pleased to announce the launch of the first L’Taken seminar for Canada teens. The 4-day program, which will commence in Ottawa on March 28, 2025, will be a pilot of the long-established flagship program in the United States that will be newly tailored to important Canadian topics, legislation and communities. This program is made possible by a grant from the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) YES Fund.

“L'Taken is coming to Canada just when we need it most, said Rabbi Yael Splansky, Senior Rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. “Our teens are poised for serious civic engagement and eager for training in effective advocacy. Let's amplify the voices of the next generation and listen for the crescendo of their young leadership."

The Bernard and Audre Rapoport L'Taken Social Justice Seminar is designed to both expose teens to a variety of public policy issues and explore the Jewish values that inform the Reform Movement's advocacy around these issues. L'Taken, which means "to repair" in Hebrew, will give Canadian teens the opportunity to impact and begin to repair their country as they share their views on social justice topics with decision-makers on Parliament Hill. Teens will also have chance to meet Reform Jews from across the country devoted to pursuing tikkum olam (repairing the world). 

Ove the course of the 4-day program, teens will be exposed to programming on a range of topics including Israel, the environment, mental health, antisemitism and more in order to find a single issue with which they are particularly passionate about. The participants will then be trained on how to write an effective, persuasive and passionate speech on that issue to present to their members of Parliament. In addition, the groups will visit various museums and Ottawa attractions and celebrate havdalahhavdalahהַבְדָּלָהLiterally, “separation." The Saturday night home ritual that separates the Sabbath from the beginning of the new week. The ritual uses wine, spices, and candles to transition from Sabbath to the weekdays. at a national monument. 

“Our L’Taken program has encouraged thousands of teens in the United States to find their voices in politics and public policy,” said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center and Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism. “I am excited that this lifechanging seminar will now be available to Canadian teens to afford them similar opportunities to directly engage in political advocacy while connecting with the authenticity of social justice within Jewish tradition. L’dor va’dor, from generation to generation, we must pass on our tenants of speaking out and speaking up for justice.”  

Registration for L’Taken Canada is now open, and congregations are encouraged to register their groups soon. Please visit the L'Taken Canada website to register and to find more information about the program.