Hillel Ontario

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5 Exercises On One Foot

by | Jan 25, 2017 | Entertainment, Hillel Ontario, On One Foot | 0 comments

Workout 1: The Single FOOT Glute Bridge

Lie on your back, hold one leg straight up in the air, and bend the other leg so your foot is flat on the floor. Push your hips up with the foot flat on the ground. Your body should form a straight line from the knee of the grounded foot up to your shoulders. You should be lying on the ground, balancing yourself on one foot.
Lower your hip back to the ground and repeat 10 times.
Do the exercise again and switch FEET. The FOOT that was grounded at first will be up in the air this time, and the leg that was straight up in the air will be bent with the foot flat on the ground.

work-out-one

Workout 2: The Single FOOT Hop

Stand on your right foot with your left leg bent, so that you’re standing on one foot. Hop to your right and then hop back to your starting point. Your left foot should be off the ground the entire time. Repeat this 10 times and then switch feet, with the left foot on the ground and the right leg bent.
If this exercise is too easy, you can increase how far and high you are jumping, without changing the speed.

work-out-two

 

Workout 3: One Leg Squat

For the One Leg Squat you will have to stand with your back to a chair. Stretch your left leg out in front of you, so your left heel is just lifted off the floor and you are standing on one foot. Next, lower down by bending your right knee until your bottom just slightly touches the chair behind you. Hold this position for 10 seconds. With the strength of your right leg (don’t touch the chair!) you will now push yourself back up to standing so your right leg is completely straight. Repeat this 3 times.
In order to even it out, start the exercise from the beginning and switch feet.

work-out-three

 

Workout 4: The Single Leg Deadlift

Put your body weight on your right FOOT, and lift your left leg straight behind you. Raise your left leg and lean forward with your arms towards your right FOOT in order to stay balanced. Make sure that your body forms a straight line from the heel of your left FOOT to your neck, while you’re standing on one foot. Hold that position for a few seconds and squeeze your bottom before you lower your leg left to rest. Repeat this exercise 8 times, then switch sides.

work-out-four

 

Workout 5: The Half Moon Pose (this one feels too complicated)

This Yoga pose is also called the “Ardha Chandrasana”. You will start from a high lunge with your left FOOT forward. Put your body weight on your straight, left leg, while straightening the right leg up parallel to the floor. You should be standing on one foot. Now place your left hand under your left shoulder, while placing the right hand on your right hip. Move your right arm straight up, so that your hand is pointing to the ceiling. Take 3-5 breaths, then slowly put both hands back on the floor and return to a high lunge. Repeat this position on your other side.

work-out-five

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

by | Apr 3, 2023

The night before the Children of Israel’s departure from Egypt is referred to as leil shimurim, often translated as a “night of vigil.”  Rav Nahman and subsequent scholars interpret this phrase, which appears nowhere else in the Tanakh, as a time of divine protection. These scholars conclude the night when Passover begins is one of safety – one on which no harm can come to the Jewish people.

In the face of rising antisemitism, isolation, extremism, and other threats to Jews individually and collectively, we are fortunate that there are additional ways and times for seeking security and comfort.  Building and sustaining strong, inclusive, and welcoming Jewish communities on campus enables Jewish students to experience a sense of belonging with their peers, bolster their leadership skills, advocate for themselves, and chart their own Jewish journeys.  Indeed,  Hillel Ontario is on track for a record-breaking year, in which we will engage more than 3,500 Jewish students. Leil shimurim might be just one night, but together, we can fortify emerging adults’ Jewish identities and provide spaces in which they prepare to take on leadership roles after graduation.

As we head into Passover, we are grateful for all of the contributions you’ve made in support of Jewish student life in Ontario.  Your generosity allows us to confront antisemitism, instill a sense of joy, pride, and resilience in Jewish students, and empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.  

While we’re proud of our success, more work remains to provide for our universities’ 10,000 Jewish students who remain unengaged with Jewish campus life in Ontario.  In conjunction with your observance of the upcoming holiday, please consider a gift to Hillel Ontario so we can continue our work and provide additional openings for connection with Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

Chag sameach,

Seth Goren
CEO, Hillel Ontario

Weekly D’var: Tzav

Weekly D’var: Tzav

by | Mar 31, 2023

In this week’s parasha, Tzav, focuses on the laws of sacrifices and priestly duties. The emphasis is on the instructions given to the priests regarding the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. These offerings were an essential part of the religious practices of the Israelites, and they were intended to symbolize the people’s devotion to God.

As I reflect on this chapter, I am struck by the idea of sacrifice. In today’s world, sacrifice is often viewed negatively. We are taught to prioritize our own needs and desires, and sacrificing them for the sake of others or for a greater cause is often seen as a burden. However, the concept of sacrifice in this chapter of the Torah is different. It is not seen as a burden or a punishment, but rather as a means of expressing devotion and gratitude.

In Tzav, the burnt offering is described as a “pleasing aroma to the Lord”. The idea of a pleasing aroma suggests that the sacrifice is not just a physical act, but also a spiritual one. It is an offering of the heart, a way of expressing love and gratitude to God. As I look around the world today, I see many examples of sacrifice that are motivated by love and gratitude. Healthcare workers, for example, have been sacrificing their own safety and well-being to care for those who are sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not doing this because they are being forced to, but because they feel a sense of duty and devotion to their patients. Similarly, many people have been sacrificing their own comfort and convenience to protect the environment. They are making changes to their lifestyles, such as reducing their energy consumption or using public transportation instead of driving, because they recognize the importance of preserving the planet for future generations. Making sacrifices to show devotion and gratitude is also a way of showing appreciation for the things that we have been given, and a way of giving back to the world.\

As I read this chapter, I am also intrigued by the idea of atonement. The sin offering and the guilt offering were both intended to provide a way for the people to seek forgiveness for their sins. In our modern world, forgiveness and atonement are often difficult to come by. We live in a culture that values punishment and retribution over forgiveness and reconciliation. However, the idea of atonement in this text suggests that forgiveness is possible, even for the most serious of offenses. It requires a willingness to acknowledge our mistakes, to take responsibility for our actions, and to make amends.

In today’s Jewish community, the lessons of Tzav continue to be relevant. The act of sacrifice, whether it be in the form of volunteering, making charitable donations, or participating in community service, is still seen as a way to connect with God and express gratitude for the blessings of life. Similarly, seeking forgiveness and atonement remains a central tenet of Jewish faith and practice. Finally, the concept of sacrifice is particularly relevant during Jewish holidays and festivals, such as Passover and Yom Kippur. During these occasions, we make offerings and engage in rituals that are intended to demonstrate our devotion to God and their commitment to living a righteous life

As I reflect on this parasha, the concepts of sacrifice and atonement may seem outdated or irrelevant in our modern world, but they still have a powerful message to teach us. By sacrificing for others and seeking forgiveness for our mistakes, we can show our love and devotion to the world around us and ultimately make the world a better place to live.

Emily Green
Student, Western Hillel

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