Dark and Light in the Jewish Canon

An Exploration Through Text & Song

Hosted by Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir

Winter invites us to draw from the luminous dark as well as the light. In this three-part journey, we’ll weave together song and Torah study to explore how light and darkness appear across the Jewish canon—and what these teachings can illuminate in our own lives.

Session One: Sacred Dark

Thursday, January 22, 7-8:15 pm est

We will explore traditions, texts, and melodies that honor the generative, sheltering, and mysterious qualities of darkness. 

Session Two: Inner Light

Monday, February 16, 7-8:15 pm est

We’ll turn toward the sparks within—examining teachings on illumination, resilience, and the light we carry and kindle.

Session Three: Interplay

Thursday, February 26, 7-8:15 pm est

Drawing the threads together, we’ll look at how the Jewish canon understands the dynamic relationship between light and dark, and what wisdom it offers for navigating our own complexities.

Leyning with Heart 2024 Siyyum (celebratory final class) where participants leyned for each other!

Testimonials:

“Yedid is an incredible teacher of Torah and I loved their leyning class. As an adult learning Torah for the first time, I was intimidated, but their class was fun, accessible, nonjudgemental, and incredibly empowering. They gave everyone in the class so much individualized attention and tailored the class to each of our learning styles and levels of knowledge. They even sent us all recordings and materials so that we could continue practicing on our own!! Can’t recommend studying with Avra enough, they are a blessing of a person and an amazing teacher!”

-Elijah Burger, past participant and member of Western Mass queer/trans Havurah 

“I am so, so grateful for this course. I became an adult B-Mitzvah at age 67, which was my first introduction to chanting Torah – and I loved it.  But as in many hard, new skills, I was able to chant the lines of my passuk, but didn’t really grasp the fundamentals.  My shul recommended this course and I jumped at the opportunity. Yedid’s teaching includes a systematic introduction to each trope with clever, interactive ways to practice and put them to memory. They provided valuable audio resources (I still refer to them!), their singing is sweet and accessible, and their approach promotes confidence. Now I chant Torah regularly at my shul and I’m extremely grateful for the learning I did with Avra!”

-Miriam Cohen, past participant and member of Kolot Chayeinu 

“Leyning with Heart was so much fun! There was a great mix of activities that catered to different learning styles. I loved learning with people of various ages and with a mix of people who were refreshing their chanting skills and those who were learning trope for the first time. The class prepared me well to leyn at my synagogue soon after, and I now plan to keep doing it regularly.”

-Eve Gutman, past participant and member of Kol Tzedek

Pictured: Yedid holding a Tikkun, the book used to prepare to read from the Torah