Canadian Yoatzot Initiative

Canadian Yoatzot Initiative CYI welcomes questions about Hilchot Niddah, the laws of family purity, as well as questions about the interface between women’s health & halacha.

Sourdough & Lifecycles: Timing is EverythingWith Rebecca Laifer & Yoetzet Halacha Rifka SonenbergWednesday, September 10...
08/18/2025

Sourdough & Lifecycles: Timing is Everything

With Rebecca Laifer & Yoetzet Halacha Rifka Sonenberg

Wednesday, September 10 | 8:00PM

(Location sent prior to the event)

Learn how to make sourdough bread — and take home your own bread, plus starter! Explore the fascinating parallels between baking bread and the cycle of mikvah.

Cost: $36 | Sponsorships start at $180

Register | yoatzot.ca/sourdough

Shalom Bayit 2.0: From Couple to FamilyWith Yoetzet Halacha Rifka SonenbergTuesday, August 26 | 8:00 PMAt a private home...
08/18/2025

Shalom Bayit 2.0: From Couple to Family

With Yoetzet Halacha Rifka Sonenberg

Tuesday, August 26 | 8:00 PM

At a private home (Address provided upon registration)

Discover practical tools for maintaining intimacy, trust, and teamwork as your family grows. Explore Jewish wisdom and modern insights on building a harmonious home.

Register | yoatzot.ca/shalom

Last week, our Yoetzet Halacha, Rifka Sonenberg, along with other Yoatzot Halacha Melavot Poriyut (Fertility Counsellors...
07/21/2025

Last week, our Yoetzet Halacha, Rifka Sonenberg, along with other Yoatzot Halacha Melavot Poriyut (Fertility Counsellors), attended a conference organized by Member of Knesset Michal Woldiger. 

The purpose of the conference was to discuss the different perspectives and challenges of creating a law regulating posthumous collection and use of s***m. Unfortunately, this topic has become very relevant since the beginning of the Iron Swords war.

https://www.knesset.tv/special-event/video/85713/

Pictured, from left to right, are YH MP Nathalie Lowenberg, YH MP Rabbanit Michal Roness (Director of the YH MP program, who presented at the conference), Ayelet Chabba (Director of YH at Nishmat), MK Michal Woldiger, YH MP Rifka Sonenberg (our very own Director of CYI), and YH MP Gila Brenner.

Photo credit:

If I Forget You, Jerusalem: Finding Meaning in Mourning During the Three Weeks | A workshop with Elana SorokaWednesday, ...
07/10/2025

If I Forget You, Jerusalem: Finding Meaning in Mourning During the Three Weeks | A workshop with Elana Soroka

Wednesday, July 16 | 8:00 PM
Balabustë | 2925 Bathurst St.
Cost | $18 | Refreshments Served

Join us for a thought-provoking and heartfelt exploration of the spiritual themes of the Three Weeks. Together, we’ll uncover how memory, loss, and longing for Jerusalem can become sources of personal meaning and connection in our own lives.

What You’ll Gain:
• A deeper understanding of the historical and spiritual significance of the Three Weeks
• Personal tools to transform grief into growth and memory into action
• A renewed connection to Jerusalem and the Jewish story

Register | yoatzot.ca/balabuste

THIS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY | March 18 - 19For 48 hours only, CYI is working to raise $180,000 to expand our services and...
03/16/2025

THIS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY | March 18 - 19

For 48 hours only, CYI is working to raise $180,000 to expand our services and programming to continue empowering women and strengthening Jewish homes.

Help us reach our goal!

MARK YOU CALENDARS! March 18 - 19For 48 hours only, CYI is working to raise $180,000 to expand our services and programm...
03/07/2025

MARK YOU CALENDARS! March 18 - 19

For 48 hours only, CYI is working to raise $180,000 to expand our services and programming to continue empowering women and strengthening Jewish homes.

Help us reach our goal!

New! Hilchot Shabbat Tzurba Chaburah | Starts March 12 on Zoom with Yoetzet Halacha Rifka Sonenberg✨IN-PERSON KICK OFF E...
02/18/2025

New! Hilchot Shabbat Tzurba Chaburah | Starts March 12 on Zoom with Yoetzet Halacha Rifka Sonenberg

✨IN-PERSON KICK OFF EVENT✨

🗓️ Wednesday, February 26 | 8:00 PM
📍(Address provided upon Registration)

Are you interested in text-based learning? Do you want to connect with other growth-oriented women? CYI is starting a chabura (learning group) in Hilchot Shabbat. Join us Wednesdays starting March 12 from the comfort of your own home!

Register at 👉https://yoatzot.ca/tzurbachaburah/

Join us for "Agam Lema'an Agam"—initiative created by Merav Berger, mother of released hostage Agam Berger—as we explore...
02/13/2025

Join us for "Agam Lema'an Agam"—initiative created by Merav Berger, mother of released hostage Agam Berger—as we explore the mitzvah of mikvah with Yoetzet Halacha Rifka Sonenberg, and special guests, , Rabbanit Esther Shor and Rebbetzin Emma Taylor. 

Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired in the merit of the release of all hostages.

🗓️ February 19 | 8:00 PM 

📍Chabad on Bayview

🗓️ February 25 | 8:00 PM

📍BAYT | Thornhill

🗓️ February 27 | 8:00 PM

📍Private Home | Toronto

Register at yoatzot.ca/agam

Agam Berger is one of the five surveillance soldiers taken hostage on October 7th. Her incredible family found meaning a...
01/28/2025

Agam Berger is one of the five surveillance soldiers taken hostage on October 7th.

Her incredible family found meaning and deeply connected to the mitzvah of Taharat Hamishpacha. They coined the slogan “אגם למען אגם” and their goal is to spread awareness about the mitzvah of Taharat Hamishpacha and immersion in mayim tehorim (like an אגם) in the merit of Agam being freed. Nishmat's Golda Koschitszky Center for Yoatzot Halacha in Israel met with her mom, Merav Berger, and brainstormed how Yoatzot could partner with the family and help further this initiative.

This past Shabbat, the other four surveillance soldiers who were taken with Agam were freed while Agam remains in Hamas captivity in Aza.

CYI, along with many other community initiatives, joins Nishmat's Golda Kosh*tzky Yoatzot Halacha Center in sharing this special tefilah for the safe return of all the hostages including Agam bat Merav (shared below), to be said after mikveh immersion.

May we merit to see the release of all the hostages, safe and sound, with Agam Berger among them.

🎗️

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the Taharat Hamishpacha Pop-Up Refresher! 🌸 We were inspired by Rebbe...
01/16/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the Taharat Hamishpacha Pop-Up Refresher! 🌸 We were inspired by Rebbetzin Leora Lesher’s insights on developing our inner world (pinimiyus) and had an engaging discussion with Yoetzet Halacha Sarit Anstandig, who addressed common questions and concerns. A special thank you to Shira Turk for graciously opening your home and hosting this meaningful event! 💕✨

Join us for a Post-Mussaf Drasha with Yoetzet Halacha Sarit Anstandig as she delves into Sacred Homes: Midwives, Their H...
01/14/2025

Join us for a Post-Mussaf Drasha with Yoetzet Halacha Sarit Anstandig as she delves into Sacred Homes: Midwives, Their Houses, and the Jewish Concept of a Bayit. Gain meaningful insights into the essence of home and its connection to Jewish values.

🗓️ Date: Shabbat, January 18, 2025
📍 Location: Shaarei Shomayim

A not to be missed opportunity for learning and inspiration!

Join us this Wednesday at 8PM for a Taharat Hamishpacha Pop-Up Refresher Course with Yoetzet Halacha Sarit Anstandig and...
01/13/2025

Join us this Wednesday at 8PM for a Taharat Hamishpacha Pop-Up Refresher Course with Yoetzet Halacha Sarit Anstandig and Rebbetzin Leora Lesher at the home of Shira Turk! ✨💙

Address to be provided upon registration at yoatzot.ca/popup

Address

4600 Bathurst Street
Toronto, ON
M3H1S8

Telephone

+18559628968

Website

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Who We Are...

The Canadian Yoatzot Initiative (CYI) connects individuals in the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada who have halachic questions to a yoetzet halacha, an halachic advisor, who can offer knowledgeable and sensitive advice in a timely fashion. Questions can be discussed directly via phone, email or through our webform.

The Canadian Yoatzot Initiative is run under the auspices of Mizrachi Canada in their capacity as a leading organization in Canada which looks to add value and enhance the modern Orthodox and religious Zionist community in Canada.