March 11, 2026 GROW March: Kabbalah and the Counting of the Omer

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Join us online for our next Tamid of Hebrew College free GROW program on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, when Rabbi Matthew Ponak will speak about “From Harvest to Healing: Kabbalah and the Counting of the Omer.”

About the Program

The Omer began as a Temple-era barley offering, but over centuries it became one of Judaism’s most contemplative spiritual seasons. In this GROW session, we’ll trace the evolution of the Omer from biblical ritual to Kabbalistic path, focusing on the seven-week journey through the lower sefirot. Drawing from the Zohar, Lurianic Kabbalah, and Hasidic sources, Rabbi Matthew Ponak will show how the 49-day count became a practice of tikkun—repairing what is fractured within ourselves and our world—and how these teachings can still speak powerfully to contemporary life.

GROW is Tamid of Hebrew College’s free, monthly adult learning program, offering an hour with us to Gather, Reflect, Observe, and Wrestle with topics that will deepen your Jewish learning.

Featured speaker

Rabbi Matthew Ponak `20, MJED`20 is a teacher of Jewish mysticism and an author whose work explores the meeting point between classical Kabbalistic writings and contemporary spiritual life. Ordained with honors at Hebrew College in 2020, he also holds a Master’s degree in Contemplative Religions from the Buddhist-inspired Naropa University.

Rabbi Ponak’s teachings draw primarily on the last thousand years of Jewish spiritual texts alongside modern psychological and somatic perspectives. A certified Focusing Professional, he works with individuals and groups to support reflection, integration, and inner repair through self-inquiry. Rabbi Ponak is the author of Embodied Kabbalah as well as The Path of the Sephirot, a 49-day Omer guide that presents a practical framework for spiritual growth and inner balance. Rabbi Ponak lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife and two children and teaches widely in Jewish and interspiritual settings.

SPONSOR A GROW SESSION

Invest in the power of education. Be a part of a meaningful commitment to Jewish leadership and a commitment to perpetuating the Jewish story by sponsoring a GROW session at HC with your gift of $360. Your sponsorship dedication will be shared at the start of the first class. Please contact [email protected]. Thank you!