Under the leadership of Aviva Chernick, Director of the Beth Tzedec Centre for Spiritual Well-Being, we offer a range of opportunities for spiritual engagement. This includes meditation and mindfulness workshops and retreats, opportunities for embodied, personal experiences rooted in Torah, and many other pathways for connection and community. We invite you to engage in Jewish practices that are both sacred and traditional, new and innovative.
It’s Not Just What We Do—It’s How We Gather:
The Centre for Spiritual Well-Being represents a shift in how we connect, care, and grow as a community
Aviva Chernick and Rabbi Fryer Bodzin leading a meditation session
Beth Tzedec Centre for Spiritual Well-Being is rooted in shlaymoot—the ancient Jewish concept of peace and wholeness that comes from tending to our mental, emotional, and physical health in harmony with the values that give life meaning. It reflects a deep connection to something greater than ourselves—tradition, community, the Divine, or a sense of purpose. It’s also a journey of self-discovery: aligning our inner lives with the world around us to stay grounded and find inner strength.
In a time of rapid change and uncertainty, spiritual well-being offers a path to connection, wholeness, and resilience. Through our work at the Centre, it’s more than what we do—it’s how we gather: with presence, openness, and a shared commitment to care, meaning, and connection. We’re nurturing a community rooted in Jewish wisdom, language, and practice—reconnecting us to ourselves, each other, and the sacred. This work builds on the foundation of synagogue life, reimagining what Jewish community can be—now and into the future.
Upcoming Programs
October 8, 2026
Chair Yoga
Improve strength, balance, flexibility and confidence in a supportive chair yoga class that combines seated and optional standing exercises using the chair for support. We’ll explore gentle movement, stretching, breathing […]
October 8, 2026
Torah Through a Mindfulness Lens
Fall Series—October 8, 22 & 29 at 7:30 p.m. Join Aviva Chernick for an opportunity to study the weekly Torah portion through a mindfulness lens— reflecting on the ways the […]
October 22, 2026
Wise Aging
Aging can bring a rich mix of opportunities and growth, challenges and losses. Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “The [senior years] are indeed formative years, rich in possibilities… to deepen understanding […]
October 28, 2026
Grieving Together for Those Who Have Lost Partners
There are moments in life that divide time into before and after. The loss of a spouse is one of them. In the days and months that follow, the world […]
October 28, 2026
Torah and Tree Pose
Join Marcee Bar-Isaac and Rabbi Fryer Bodzin for a brief Torah text study followed by yoga and moments of mindfulness and meditation. Please bring your own yoga mat and water. […]
October 29, 2026
Grieving Together for those who have lost Parents
There are moments in life that divide time into before and after. The loss of a parent is one of them. In the days and months that follow, the world […]
October 31, 2026
Avodat Lev: Shabbat Mindfulness Service
There are many ways to pray, many ways to connect to oneself, community and the Divine. Join Aviva Chernick for Avodat Lev—Service of the Heart—creating a sacred Shabbat space through […]
November 29, 2026
Or/Light
Join us at Beth Tzedec for Ohr/Light, presented as part of the Na’aleh program initiative, an opportunity for the Toronto Jewish community to engage in and deepen practice and to […]
Programs & Impact
- Torah Through a Mindfulness Lens: Weekly sessions with 8–10 participants exploring Torah through mindfulness.
- Let’s Sit – LGBTQ+ Jewish Mindfulness Gatherings: Biannual events with ~17 participants, in partnership with Makom and MNJCC, running for 3 years.
- Collaborative retreats with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, based on the Jewish calendar.
- Events: Nashuva / Returning , Avodah / Cultivation, Kenisa / Entering
- Torah and Tree Pose: Co-led by Rabbi Fryer Bodzin and Marcee Bar-Isaac.
- Body and Soul Walking Group: Led by Rabbi Fryer Bodzin, includes Torah teaching.
- Bree-AH – Prayer & Creativity Practice: A multi-phase program (Arts and Prayer Lab, The Body, Pray/Play Lab) engaging small groups in creative spiritual exploration.
- Song Circles: Reflective, participatory gatherings focused on sacred melody and silence.
- Pastoral Care
- Grieving Together – Bereavement Groups: Led by Rabbi Fryer Bodzin and Yacov Fruchter, supporting spiritual healing through grief.