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Head back to the corner of Sinai and Spadina for the renewed
Downtown Tikkun Leil Shavuot: All-Night Jewish Learning Festival!

Thursday, May 25
7pm-Sunrise
@Miles Nadal JCC (map)
Free, required registration.

We’ll be back in the building all night long, with a few hybrid options for viewers at home. This year’s program opens at 7:00 pm with a folk concert, “Songs from the Foot of the Mountain”, directed by Kohenet Annie Matan.

From 8:30 pm until sunrise, we’ll gather to learn among the community with lots of choices of sessions — panels of rabbis, music and improv workshops, lectures, discussions, and more.

And, as always, cheesecake!

Free and open to all. Visit www.mnjcc.org/shavuot for the full schedule soon! Advance registration is required, but please note that registration does not guarantee entry to specific sessions, and that session entry is subject to capacity.

The Miles Nadal JCC is proud to co-presented this event with: the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies/Huron at Western University; Annex Shul; Beach Hebrew Institute; Beth Torah Congregation; Beth Tzedec Congregation; City Shul; Congregation Darchei Noam; Congregation Shir Libenyu; Danforth Jewish Circle; First Narayever Congregation; Hashomer Hatzair/Camp Shomria; Hillel Ontario; Holy Blossom Temple; Jewish Family and Child Service; Kiever Shul; Limmud Toronto; Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism; No Silence on Race; Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism; UJA Federation’s Committee for Yiddish; and World Zionist Organization Department of Irgoon and Israelis Abroad.

This event is generously supported by the Kolel Legacy Fund at the Jewish Foundation, Austin and Nani Beutel, and a gift in memory of Eddie and Mary Schreiber z”l.

The post May 25: Downtown Tikkun Leil Shavuot appeared first on Makom.

A MULTI-MEDIA ART PARTY CELEBRATING
STORIES & JOURNEYS

Tuesday, May 23
6-10pm
@FENTSTER & Makom – 402 College St (map)
Free – no registration required

MEET THE ARTISTS | DANCE WORKSHOPS | POP-UP PROJECTS | INTERACTIVE INSTALLATIONS | SNACKS & DRINKS | MUSIC & MORE

Inspired by the current exhibition in the FENTSTER window gallery, HAMAPAH (Hebrew for ‘the map’), FENTSTER presents pop-up projects on view for one night only! All inspired by the form and metaphor of maps, these works intertwine personal narratives, memory, migration and place, mapping individual stories through the languages of dance, sound and visual art.

Presented outdoors for the first time, Naomi Daryn Boyd’s BLOOD, WATER & BATHURST STREET is an interactive, hand-made 18-meter long wool map of Bathurst Street that engages with their Jewish roots in Toronto, stories of Toronto’s Jewish community and the little known narratives of the Indigenous Peoples that have dwelled, gathered, and journeyed through these lands for millennia. Boyd’s embroidered Memory Map, w/ sounds (2021-2022) will also be in view. Meichen Waxer’s Looking at Two Poems (2022) incorporates a found hand-drawn map that references the history of her family in the small Jewish community of Kirkland Lake in North Ontario. And, meet visiting U.S. artists Adam W. McKinney and Daniel Banks in advance of the Canadian premiere screening of HaMapah / The Map Dance-on-Film, which inspired their site-specific FENTSTER installation that maps Adam’s narrative as a Black, Jewish, Indigenous Queer man in the United States.

DANCE WITH US!

Join all level, all ages dance classes through out the night with dance Immersion’s Zahra Harriet Badua-Baffoe and DNAWORKS’ Adam W. McKinney and Daniel Banks

Presented by FENTSTER, Prosserman JCC, DNAWORKS, dance Immersion and Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism with support from Kultura Collective 

The post May 23: Mapping our Stories appeared first on Makom.

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!

Friday, May 19
7-10pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Dinner registration required by Wednesday, May 17
Various price options available so finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
Services do not require registration.

Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate.

After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher, vegan Indian Shabbat dinner together.

Please come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.
*As a diverse and inclusive Jewish community, Makom has mens’, womens’, and all-genders’ seating sections. Female, male, and gender non-binary Jews can lead parts of services, read and be called up to the Torah, and count in our double minyanim of both 10 Jewish men and 10 Jews regardless of gender. Makom services follow the traditional Ashkenazi liturgy (prayer text).

Covid Precautions

To make services safer for community members who have health concerns, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc.) throughout services. Children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.
After services conclude and folks who aren’t staying have a chance to leave, those staying for dinner are welcome to remove their masks.

The post May 19: Friday Night Services + Shabbat Dinner appeared first on Makom.

Thursday, May 18
7:30-9:30PM
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
$18
Registration required.

May 18th, 2023, marks Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel. Observed annually on the 28th of Iyar through a national memorial ceremony in Jerusalem, Israelis gather to commemorate and honour all the lives lost on the journey from Ethiopia to Israel. The Miles Nadal JCC and Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism welcome Yonatan Belete to share his personal thoughts on this Memorial Day, a brief history of Ethiopian Jewry, and pertinent perspectives on the present and future of the Ethiopian-Israeli community. Light refreshments will be served.

About Yonatan:

A proud member of the Ethiopian Jewish community, Yonatan Belete has presented on the history of Ethiopian Jewry on university campuses across Canada. Dedicated to his community, Yonatan was a tutor in the English Language Program at Friends by Nature, a non-profit organization committed to educating and nurturing the next generation of Ethiopian-Israeli leaders. A co-founder at No Silence on Race, he previously served as the Director of Speechwriting and Public Relations at the Embassy of Israel in Ottawa. Yonatan holds a BAH in Political Studies and History from Queen’s University.

We ask that folks who are not feeling well stay home; masking is encouraged but not required. We are committed to ensuring our programming is accessible to anybody who wishes to attend. Please email shanat@mnjcc.org with any accessibility questions or requests and we will work together to find ways for you to join us. 

Supported by the Kolel Legacy Fund at the Jewish Foundation.

The post May 18: Ethiopian Jewry: Past, Present and Future appeared first on Makom.

Makom & Shoresh invite you to…

Celebrate Lag ba-Omer!

Tuesday, May 9
5:45pm – 9pm (see full schedule below)
@Dovercourt Park (map)
Optional dinner-add on requires registration.

{What’s Lag ba-Omer? A minor holiday marking the joyous 33rd day between Passover & Shavuot.}

Events for Families with Kids, Pre-Teens, Teens & Adults

5:45-7pm  Families with kids (babies through grade 8)

• Fun & active games (separate activities for younger kids & grades 5-8)
• Dinner (choose pizza or falafel; must be ordered in addition to registration)
• S’mores over the bonfire
• Guitar & songs around the fire
• Optional “What’s Lag ba-Omer?” 15-minute mini-class for parents

7-8pm  Teens only (grades 8-12)

• Hang out with other Jewish teens
• Dinner (choose pizza or falafel; must be ordered in addition to registration)
• S’mores over the bonfire

8-9pm Adults

• Hang out with new and old friends
• S’mores over the bonfire
• Guitar & songs around the fire
• Optional guided meditation

Deadline to order pizza & falafel: Monday night, May 8

B.Y.O. Water Bottle

All are welcome, including LGBTQ+ folks & interfaith/intercultural couples/families.

Any Qs? Email Racheli Mandelker, Makom’s Director of Youth Education & Programming.

Presented by Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism & Shoresh

The post May 9: Lag ba-Omer Bonfire with Shoresh appeared first on Makom.

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!

Saturday, May 6
9:30m – 1:30pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Services do not require registration.
Lunch registration is required – click to register.
Various price options are available so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Start your Shabbat morning off right with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate. After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, kosher vegan Shabbat lunch together.

Please come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.
*As a diverse and inclusive Jewish community, Makom has mens’, womens’, and all-genders’ seating sections. Female, male, and gender non-binary Jews can lead parts of services, read and be called up to the Torah, and count in our double minyanim of both 10 Jewish men and 10 Jews regardless of gender. Makom services follow the traditional Ashkenazi liturgy (prayer text).

Covid Precautions

To make services safer for community members who have health concerns, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc.) throughout services. Children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.
After services conclude and folks who aren’t staying have a chance to leave, those staying for dinner are welcome to remove their masks.

The post May 6: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch appeared first on Makom.

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!

Friday, April 21
6:45pm – 9:45pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Services do not require registration.
Dinner registration is required – click here to register.
Various price options are available so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate. After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner together.

Please come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.
*As a diverse and inclusive Jewish community, Makom has mens’, womens’, and all-genders’ seating sections. Female, male, and gender non-binary Jews can lead parts of services, read and be called up to the Torah, and count in our double minyanim of both 10 Jewish men and 10 Jews regardless of gender. Makom services follow the traditional Ashkenazi liturgy (prayer text).

Covid Precautions

To make services safer for community members who have health concerns, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc.) throughout services. Children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.
After services conclude and folks who aren’t staying have a chance to leave, those staying for dinner are welcome to remove their masks.

The post April 21: Friday Night Services & Shabbat Dinner appeared first on Makom.

Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism & Friends invite you to

Celebrate Mimouna and Iftar Together!

Sunday, April 16
7:00pm – 9:00pm
@Makom, 402 College St (map)

Join our downtown, inclusive communitie for socializing, prayer, and eating together.

What’s Mimouna?

Moroccan Jewish and Muslim custom of friendship and eating together after the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesah) ends

What’s Iftar?

Muslim tradition of eating together after fasting all day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan

Registration required by Friday, April 14 at 12noon!

Schedule

7:00pm  Mingling & icebreakers

7:30         Musical performances by community members

8:03         Sunset, Muslim call to prayer, Snacks (dates & samosas)

8:15          Evening prayer services (Maghrib & Maariv) for those who wish

8:30         Dinner (catered kosher, halal, vegan Indian dinner)

9:00         Goodnight

All food will be kosher, halal & vegan

Volunteers needed!

To help with setup 6:00-7:00pm or cleanup 9:00-9:30pm, check the box when you register.

Any Qs? Contact aaron@makomTO.org

Accessibility Information

We welcome participants of all abilities. The venue and its washrooms are wheelchair accessible. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

The post April 16: Mimouna-Iftar Jewish-Muslim Unity Dinner appeared first on Makom.

Join us for a fun afternoon making and baking Matzah in an outdoor, wood-burning oven!

Sunday, April 2
3:00pm – 5:00pm
@Dufferin Grove Park – 875 Dufferin St (map)
Find us at the north-west corner of Dufferin Grove Park, near the ice rink.

Presented by Makom in partnership with Miles Nadal JCC, PJ Library and Camp Shomria.

Join us for a fun afternoon making and baking Matzah in an outdoor, wood-burning oven! See if you can mix, knead, roll and bake in 18 minutes or less!  Note: Matzah won’t be kosher for Passover but it’s still a wonderful way to prepare for Pesah.

All ages and abilities welcome! Kiddos will enjoy Passover stories read by our friends from PJ Library. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Public washrooms should be open.

The post April 2: Matzah Bake in the Park appeared first on Makom.

Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with other interfaith families and children!

Friday, March 31
6:00pm – 8:00pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Registration required – sign up here.
Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Presented by Makom and Jewish&.

Join us to learn about and participate in traditional Shabbat rituals and songs in warm, supportive community; and enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegetarian Shabbat dinner together.

*interfaith, multicultural, mixed heritage, Jewish&, etc. LGBTQ+ families warmly welcome!

Looking for a couples only dinner? Join us on March 17 for an interfaith couples Shabbat dinner.

Accessibility Information
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us

The post Mar 31: Interfaith* Families Shabbat Dinner appeared first on Makom.