THE ONLY LANGUAGE-LEARNING GAME OF ITS KIND
Worlds To Come
A roleplaying game of exile and repair, for students of classical Hebrew.
By Lexi Kohanski
You catch sight of a cave in the hillside and pull the ragged resistance fighter in behind you. The Romans will be on you in seconds, and they won't bother with prison after this escape attempt. Only one way out. Centering yourself, you turn your heart to the ruins of Jerusalem, and a faint glow stirs around you as you utter your prayer:
תסתירנו מעיני צרינו!
Hide us from the eyes of our oppressors!
The opening of the cave suddenly becomes solid rock, and moments later the muffled sounds of Roman boots clank straight past your hiding place. The resistance fighter's eyes bulge as she whispers, "Praise the God of Jacob, Rachel and Leia — a miracle..!"
As the strange mix of satisfaction and humility fills you from fulfilling the mitzvah of Rescuing the Pursued, you turn to see where you've ended up. A figure sits on the rock across from you, surrounded by clay bowls scrawled all over with Hebrew letters. "So, I'm not the only one with a talent for spells in these parts, I see," they say. "Now do you know the words to fix my door, or are you going to do it the old-fashioned way?"
Worlds To Come is an immersive tabletop roleplaying game experience for learning Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew. Play as exiled Wonder Workers with differing beliefs of what’s right who unite to repair their broken world in the wake of the Destruction of the Temple. Combining collaborative storytelling with high fantasy powers, Worlds To Come is a game about harnessing the language of Torah and Talmud to fight for a better world.
For students who are not motivated by conventional classroom approaches, for teachers who struggle to make their Hebrew curricula inspiring, and for organizations looking to stand out in the field of Jewish education—there is nothing like Worlds To Come.
An Unparalleled
Learning Experience
Learn classical Hebrew like never before. Explore a fantasy world inspired by the Roman-occupied Land of Israel, as a group of miracle workers travelling the Land to bring the World to Come.
Roleplay Miracle
Workers
Play a post-Destruction Jew who has begun to uncover the magical powers of the Hebrew language. Craft prayers in Hebrew to heal the Land.
Learn Hebrew
Hebrew content is woven seamlessly into gameplay. As you improve your skills, your character grows in strength.
Navigate a Broken World Through Judaism
Everything changed, and now no one knows what it means to be Jewish. Explore what Judaism could look like in a new and broken world.
Meet your Game Master
Lexi Kohanski is the designer of Worlds To Come, the tabletop roleplaying game that teaches classical Hebrew. Lexi is a Pomegranate Prize winner and CELTA-certified teacher of foreign languages with 6 years of experience teaching Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew. She is a lover of tabletop roleplaying games with a background in improvisational theater and performance. In addition, she is a thought leader in the realm of trans Torah with boundary-breaking publications at SVARA and Gashmius Magazine. She has studied at the Conservative Yeshiva, Hadar, Maharat, and Yashrut. Lexi works as the Director of Learning at The Torah Studio.
Frequently asked questions
Author’s Note on the name "Land of Israel"
This game is set in a fantasy world based on the historical time period from 70-135CE when the Roman Empire was the occupying force in the Land, and the Jews were among the occupied populations. The game refers to that region from the (rabbinic) ancient Jews’ perspective as the “Roman-Occupied Land of Israel.” It is also true that the land known as Canaan, Israel, Judea, Palestine and more has been the site of occupation from Biblical times to the present day. No two occupations are alike, and I believe that it is good for there to be Jews in the Holy Land. Nevertheless, in the early 21st century, the State of Israel, which claims to speak for all Jews, is the occupying power in the Land, and Palestinians are the occupied people. I have written this game informed both by historical research and by my firsthand witness of acts of violence and resistance that are taking place under the present-day Occupation. I hope this game will serve as an invitation for players to engage with themes of resistance and assimilation in the face of power, and to reflect through play on the purpose of Judaism in a radically changed world.
