– At a time when Jewish affiliation in Canada has been on the decline, a new congregation in downtown Toronto is drawing younger generations back to faith through music, movement, and spiritual experimentation.
Ha’Sadeh: Toronto Jewish Renewal, launched in 2022, began with Rabbi Aaron Rotenberg leading services from his living room. Today, it attracts 50–80 people to Friday night Shabbat services and special events, many of them young Jews between the ages of 20 and 40.
Ha’Sadeh maintains the structure of traditional Jewish services but embraces chanting, singing, dancing, and meditation to create a more participatory and emotionally resonant experience. Earlier this year, the group hosted a Purim celebration at a tea house and bar, and more recently, a “silent disco” Shabbat meditation in High Park.
Volunteer organizer Izzy Waxman described the approach as rooted in the Jewish Renewal tradition, sometimes called “hippie-era Judaism,” which emerged in the 1960s and 70s. While its ecstatic worship style may feel unconventional to some, she said the congregation is meeting a real need. “There’s a group of young people who have been yearning for this,” Waxman noted.
The community emphasizes inclusivity, welcoming diverse perspectives on Israel-Palestine and creating space for queer and trans members who may not feel included in more traditional synagogues. Services often gather people in concentric circles rather than rows, symbolizing equality and connection.
Rabbi Rotenberg, who was ordained in the Jewish Renewal movement this year, said the focus is on sustainability, not scale. “We’re not trying to be flashy. We want to build slowly and meaningfully,” he said.
Despite Canada’s Jewish population declining as a share of the population — from 1.1% in 2001 to 0.9% in 2021, according to Statistics Canada — Ha’Sadeh has shown that alternative models of worship can attract new life. The congregation operates without major donors, relying on modest ticket fees, pay-what-you-can contributions, and small subsidies from OneTable, a group promoting Jewish religious participation among young people.
Looking ahead, Ha’Sadeh will host services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this fall, continuing to experiment with worship that blends tradition and renewal.