Makom

Makom is a joyous, grassroots, downtown community, building traditional and progressive Jewish life in Toronto. We are creating an inclusive and diverse space, committed to Jewish learning, arts and culture, spirited prayer and ritual, and social and environmental activism.

We meet every-other week to welcome Shabbat with soulful and song-filled Friday night services. Both men and women participate in leading services and there is a low curtain between women’s and men’s seating. All are invited & children are welcome. Come as you are. No need to dress up and jeans are acceptable. We require a minyan (quorum) of 10 women + 10 men to start the ma’ariv service on Fridays, so we ask that you please come on time.

For details, locations and dates, please see our events calendar.

Thank you for being with us!

On Sunday January 22, 50 people joined us at Kensington Lofts to get the results from Makom’s survey and focus groups, hear about our strategic plan going forward, learn about upcoming leadership team elections and celebrate three years of Makom with champagne and cakes from Sweets From the Earth.

Your feedback has been heard, and the questions you asked following the presentation were noted so that we know what matters to you. We’ll be sharing the presentation on our website for those who couldn’t be there.

The presentation was live tweeted. See tweeted highlights from the presentation here.

Did you take photos at the event? Please upload them to our Facebook page.

The celebration wasn’t just about Makom, it was about you too. Without you, there wouldn’t be Makom. Whether you come to Makom programs frequently, sometimes, or simply read our newsletters or online activities without ever coming to see us, we appreciate you.

Would you like to get more involved with Makom? Email Aaron to be notified of possible opportunities. Immediate needs: Holiday programming e.g. Tu Bishevat and Purim, 2 people to be on Board’s Nominating Committee.

Upcoming events

Neshamah: Meditation + Contemplative Judaism Practice

Saturday January 28, 3-5pm
298 Euclid Ave., Upstairs Floor (see map below) – NOTE NEW LOCATION

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“Neshamah” connotes both breath and soul. This bi-weekly group aims to support meditation in a Jewish context and explore Jewish mystical and contemplative traditions. The Shabbat afternoon sessions involve both silent meditation and verbal elements (singing, study, discussion). Please arrive on time so as not to disrupt the meditation. If you have a meditation cushion, please bring it. All are welcome; no experience necessary.

For more info and to RSVP (appreciated, but not required), email Avi.

Joyous Friday Night Services + Potluck Kiddush

Friday February 3, 6pm
Mon Ton Art Studio, 402 College St. (East of Bathurst.)

We’ll end the week and bring in Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate.

Please bring a certified kosher food or drink to share for a light kiddush (snacking & schmoozing)

We need your help make our community’s joyous Friday night services happen!
Pitch in for 15 minutes to help setup or cleanup. Please sign up to lend a hand here, whether once or once a month. Thanks! Email Stuart with any questions.

TU BI-SHVAT Potluck Dinner + Choose Your Own Eco-Adventure

Tuesday February 7, 6-8pm
St. Stephen’s Community House – 91 Bellevue Ave. (see map below)
$5 at the door | Please RSVP by Friday February 3

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Come together for the New Year of Trees to eat, celebrate, and appreciate trees in our local, urban environment. We’ll start with a potluck dinner and enjoy local fruit for dessert. Then choose your own eco-adventure: a moonlit tree walk, Tu bi-Shvat text study, or tree songs & stories for kids (and adults, too!).

Please bring:

a vegetarian (no meat, fowl, or fish) dinner-sized dish to share w/ serving utensil (star points if it includes any fruit!);
a plate, cup, utensils, and napkin (and a plastic bag to take them home dirty); and
$5 cash per person to help cover the cost of room rental and materials.

(We’ll have separate tables for food prepared in strictly kosher kitchens, strictly vegetarian kitchens, and neither strictly kosher nor vegetarian kitchens.)

Volunteers needed; please email Aaron.

Co-presented by Makom and Shoresh Jewish Environmental Programs as part of our Jewish Times/Local Landscapes series supported by Natan’s Emerging Models of Jewish Connection Grant.

D.I.Y. MEZUZAH Making + Learning

Thursday Feb. 9 & 23, 7-9pm
Miles Nadal JCC Ceramics Studio (750 Spadina @ Bloor)

Registration Required by Tues., Jan. 31; call 416-924-6211 ext. 0 to register

$40 includes 2 sessions in ceramics studio w/ instructor + materials + firing + Jewish learning; cost is heavily subsidized

Limited to 8 Participants; Register Now!

Take your Jewish home into your own hands! Learn about the mezuzah – the encased scroll traditionally placed on the doorposts of Jewish homes – through text study and seeing a variety of artistic examples, while working with clay to fashion and then glaze your own mezuzah case! You may also purchase a professionally scribed, kosher mezuzah scroll to place in your creation for an additional $36 (payable by cash or cheque at the first session).

Part of the D.I.Y. Judaism Workshop Series presented by Makom with grant funding from Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel Alumni Venture Fund.

LOST + FOUND SPACES: Buildings, Cities & the Stories They Tell

Thursday February 16, 7pm
The Kiever Synagogue (25 Bellevue Ave.)
$5 at the door

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Be a part of a lively evening exploring the lost and found stories of spaces across Toronto and Montreal. Inside the dazzling historic sanctuary of the Kiever Synagogue in Kensington Market, three leading figures rediscovering forgotten spaces will join in conversation moderated by the The Globe and Mail’s award-winning architecture critic, Lisa Rochon: Shawn Micallef, editor of Spacing Magazine and author of Stroll; Sara Ferdman Tauben, author of the new book, Traces of the Past: Montreal’s Early Synagogues; and filmmaker and architectural photographer David Kaufman. Followed by a reception with light refreshments, live music, and book sales and signing.

For more info or to volunteer to help, email Evelyn.

Presented by Makom together with the Kiever Synagogue, celebrating their 100^th anniversary.

PURIM:

Get Involved Now

Wednesday March 7 & Thursday March 8

If you’re interested in chanting megillah or helping plan Makom’s Purim programming, please email Aaron.