Rabbi Mitch and familyAish in the Annex
Rabbi Dan Rand, Managing Director of Aish Toronto, always looking for new outreach opportunities for the Toronto Jewish community, was completely receptive to the initiative of Mr. Mordechai Mandelbaum, who also wanted to make a major contribution to the Jewish People of Toronto. He found a partner in Aish Toronto and Aish in the Annex is the result of that collaboration.
The newly established outreach centre, Aish in the Annex, at 175 Spadina Road, is headed by Rabbi Mitch Goldstein and his wife Chana, who hope that it will become a home away from home for campus students based in the Annex as well as a social location for young professionals either living downtown or on their commute to and from work.
The beautiful Edwardian Annex home includes a social lounge with Wi-fi and free coffee. There are two other classroom areas in the dining room and breakfast area, as well as a beautiful garden deck with a barbeque. The second and third floors include a conference room, a serene walk out deck, and a beautiful study hall for learning and services.
Aish in the Annex will offer a range of regular classes on topics such as love, happiness, and Jewish mysticism. They will also be running the very popular Maimonides programs including specialized tracks for law, business and medicine giving the students the opportunity to meet professionals in their chosen field, and also to hear wisdom that will be relevant to them. There will be, of course, lively Shabbat dinners.
For young professionals, after a long day at the office, there will be a range of events called “unwind and dine”, social gatherings and discussion groups including sushi nights, chocolate nights, singles events, and cordon bleu chief demonstrations.
Rabbi Mitch, originally from England, received his ordination from Aish HaTorah Yeshiva in Jerusalem where he studied for seven years. His wife Chana, a graduate of Law from England’s Nottingham University, was also a highly accomplished teacher for the Jerusalem Fellowships and at Neve Jerusalem’s summer program.
A year after being married, they moved to sunny Santa Barbara California to work on college campus. Shortly after arriving they had Moshe, who is now almost two.
They were known for their very large and vibrant Shabbat tables, where they sometimes hosted over 50 guests, as well as for their passion in sharing Torah in an inspirational and relevant way. They also created their own Jewish study year abroad program to Israel, something they hope to continue here in Toronto.
While in Santa Barbara, they heard of the highly accomplished and successful campus program run by Aish Toronto under the Director Rabbi Mark Zelunka and they were eager to join the Toronto couples working on Campus.
"We are very excited about the opportunity downtown” said Rabbi Goldstein “After hearing about the reputation of the Aish Toronto campus program, its phenomenal success, and the warm welcoming community, how could we say no?” said Rabbi Mitch. “We are bringing our own unique and vibrant personalities to downtown, and we feel that this is something really worth investing in,” his wife enthusiastically added.
For more information about Aish in the Annex contact Rabbi Mitch Goldstein, at mgoldstein@aish.com or 647 449 8298.