Join other downtown Jewish families for a Shabbat afternoon in the Park + Picnic! Enjoy some playground time, outdoor games, stories, and songs in a relaxed environment.
Saturday, August 16 4:30 – 6:30pm @ Vermont Square Park, M5R 3G5 (map) Registration is free!
B.Y.O. Picnic Dinner, Blanket & Water Bottles!
Geared for families with children ages 0-11. This is not a drop-off program – let’s spend time together to celebrate Shabbat!
All families welcome, including LGBTQ+ and interfaith/intercultural families!
In the event of rain, the program will be cancelled.
Any Qs? Email Sarah English, Makom’s Director of Youth Education & Programming.
Presented by Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism, MNjcc’s Families @ the J, and PJ Library
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 and each other’s warm company.
Friday, August 15 7:00pm – 10pm @ Makom (map) Dinner registration required by Thursday, August 14 at 10am.
No need to register if you’re coming just for services and not staying for dinner. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.
Please try to come on time for services at 7:00pm.
Services
Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants with many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant. Our services blend traditional and progressive practices, so our community can join together without regard to denominational labels.
We offer men’s, women’s, and mixed (all-genders) seating sections. All genders may lead parts of services. We need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men to start the maariv service, so we encourage you to come on time.
Accessibility Information
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away at the coffee shop at the corner of Bathurst and College. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Please join us for a powerful, contemplative evening marking historical Jewish loss and ongoing brokenness in the world as we usher in Tishah be-Av, the ninth day of the lunar month of Av.This date marks the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies in Jewish history. It is traditionally observed with fasting, refraining from wearing leather, and other mourning customs. (For more background, see here.)
Saturday, August 2 10:00 – 11:30pm @Makom (map) Bring Food or $$ to Donate + Flashlight No registration required
We’ll pray the brief evening service and listen to the Biblical book of Eikhah/Lamentations, hauntingly chanted by community members. We’ll also sing somber songs; read kinnot (elegies) for ancient calamities, the Holocaust, and October 7; and chant niggunim (wordless melodies).
As signs of mourning, it’s customary to sit on the floor of the synagogue with the lights dimmed, so please bring a flashlight.
Please BRING FOOD, CASH, or CREDIT for our neighbours at Fort York Food Bank, in keeping with the spirit of Isaiah 58:6-7, “This is the fast I desire… It is to share your bread with the hungry.” Fresh produce, grains, and canned or boxed foods are all welcome, as are cash and credit card donations.
Doors open at 10:00pm; services begin promptly at 10:15pm.
FYI, in Toronto, the fast begins Saturday at 8:38pm, Shabbat ends at 9:28pm, and the fast ends Sunday at 9:27pm.
Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by a delicious Shabbat lunch and stimulating learning! At lunch, we’ll learn from Prof. Alan Verskin on the topic: “Maimonides & the Identity Crisis of a Jew by Choice”
Saturday, July 26 9:30am – 2:30pm @ Makom (map) Lunch registration required by Friday, July 25 at 12 noon.
Services don’t require registration – no need to register if you’re not staying for lunch! Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.
Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.
Please try to come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.
At lunch, Prof. Alan Verskin will teach us on “Maimonides & the Identity Crisis of a Jew by Choice.”
The Middle Ages were famously a time of forced conversions of Jews to other religions, but less well known are the instances of conversion to Judaism. Rabbi Moses Maimonides, who himself may have lived for a time as a Muslim, was deeply interested in the ramifications of conversion, both for the converts themselves and for the communities which they joined. In this talk, we’ll discuss both Maimonides’ legal theory about how to treat converts to Judaism and his correspondence with one particular convert named Obadiah, who asked for Maimonides’ help in navigating his conversion and crisis of identity.
Professor Alan Verskin is the Samuel J. Zacks Chair of Jewish History at the University of Toronto. His areas of research include religious, legal, and social history in both Jewish and Islamic contexts, from the middle ages through the nineteenth century. He is particularly interested in travel, translation, and the migration of ideas between religious communities. He is also interested in intellectual responses to religious persecution and minorityhood. What unites and connects all of these areas is an emphasis on paying attention to the first-person stories of those whose perspectives have been marginalized. Read more…
Services
Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants with many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant. Our services blend traditional and progressive practices, so our community can join together without regard to denominational labels.
We offer men’s, women’s, and mixed (all-genders) seating sections. All genders may lead parts of services. We need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men to start the maariv service, so we encourage you to come on time.
Accessibility Information
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away at the coffee shop at the corner of Bathurst and College. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Join other downtown Jewish families for a Shabbat afternoon in the Park + Picnic! Enjoy some playground time, outdoor games, stories, and songs in a relaxed environment.
Saturday, July 12 4:30 – 6:30pm @ Vermont Square Park, M5R 3G5 (map) Registration is free!
B.Y.O. Picnic Dinner, Blanket & Water Bottles!
Geared for families with children ages 0-11. This is not a drop-off program – let’s spend time together to celebrate Shabbat!
All families welcome, including LGBTQ+ and interfaith/intercultural families!
In the event of rain, the program will be cancelled.
Any Qs? Email Sarah English, Makom’s Director of Youth Education & Programming.
Presented by Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism, MNjcc’s Families @ the J, and PJ Library
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 and each other’s warm company.
Friday, July 11 7:15pm – 10pm @ Makom (map) Dinner registration required by Thursday, July 10 at 10am.
No need to register if you’re coming just for services and not staying for dinner. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.
Please try to come on time for services at 7:15pm.
Services
Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants with many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant. Our services blend traditional and progressive practices, so our community can join together without regard to denominational labels.
We offer men’s, women’s, and mixed (all-genders) seating sections. All genders may lead parts of services. We need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men to start the maariv service, so we encourage you to come on time.
Accessibility Information
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away at the coffee shop at the corner of Bathurst and College. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Posted on by Cayce Fischer in Shabbat | Comments Off on June 27 – Friday Night Services + Shabbat Dinner
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 and each other’s warm company.
Friday, June 27 7:15pm – 10pm @ Makom (map) Dinner registration required by Thursday, June 26 at 10am.
No need to register if you’re coming just for services and not staying for dinner. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.
Please try to come on time for services at 7:15pm.
Services
Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants with many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant. Our services blend traditional and progressive practices, so our community can join together without regard to denominational labels.
We offer men’s, women’s, and mixed (all-genders) seating sections. All genders may lead parts of services. We need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men to start the maariv service, so we encourage you to come on time.
Accessibility Information
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away at the coffee shop at the corner of Bathurst and College. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Posted on by Cayce Fischer in Shabbat, Teens | Comments Off on June 20 – Downtown Jewish Teens Shabbat Dinner
Hey Jewish Teens!
Let’s close out the school year with a warm, fun, and inclusive Shabbat dinner together. We’ll light candles, sing some songs and blessings, eat a delicious dinner, and enjoy each other’s company. We’ll also bid a fond farewell to graduating grade 12s and welcome grade 8s (rising grade 9s!) to our Downtown Jewish Teen community.
Friday, June 20 7:00 – 9:00pm @Makom (map) Registration required by Wednesday, June 18.
Feel free to invite friends! All Jewish teens in high school or finishing grade 8 are welcome, including LGBTQ+ and interfaith-family teens!
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom is down a flight of stairs. There is a coffee shop with wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away, at the corner of College and Bathurst. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Posted on by Cayce Fischer in Shabbat | Comments Off on June 14 – Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn
Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by a delicious Shabbat lunch and stimulating learning! At lunch, we’ll learn from Rabbi Micah Streiffer on the topic: “The Mystery of Moses’s Other Wife.”
Saturday, June 14 9:30am – 2:30pm @ Makom (map) Lunch registration required by Friday, June 13 at 12 noon.
Services don’t require registration – no need to register if you’re not staying for lunch! Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.
Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.
Please try to come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.
At lunch, Rabbi Micah Streiffer will teach us on “The Mystery of Moses’s Other Wife.”
Tucked into this week’s Torah portion is a mystery of biblical proportions. The text says that Moses married an “Ethiopian wife,” but gives no clues as to who she was. Is this a reference to Moses’s wife Tziporah, the Midianite? Or did Moses lead a secret double life? We’ll try to unravel the mystery with the help of some very ancient, and very unusual, Jewish sources – and we’ll talk about what this story teaches about ancient and contemporary Jewish life.
Micah Streiffer is a rabbi, teacher, writer, and lifelong student who is known for his engaging teaching style and his ability to make Jewish texts and ideas come to life. He is the founder and Director of LAASOK, a virtual, liberal Beit Midrash (“House of Study”) where learners can deepen their connection with Judaism through meaningful engagement with sacred texts in an inclusive, egalitarian setting. In addition, he hosts the popular “Seven Minute Torah” podcast, a weekly exploration of the Torah portion through modern eyes. Ordained as a rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 2007, Micah served as a congregational rabbi for 18 years in North Carolina and in the Toronto area before creating LAASOK. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Jewish thought at McMaster University.
Services
Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants with many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant. Our services blend traditional and progressive practices, so our community can join together without regard to denominational labels.
We offer men’s, women’s, and mixed (all-genders) seating sections. All genders may lead parts of services. We need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men to start the maariv service, so we encourage you to come on time.
Accessibility Information
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away at the coffee shop at the corner of Bathurst and College. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Posted on by Cayce Fischer in Shabbat | Comments Off on June 7 – Family Shabbat Morning Services & Lunch
Join us and for an upbeat, kid-friendly Shabbat morning family service followed by Shabbat lunch! Services are geared for kids in grades 1-5 and their parents, but all families with kids are welcome.
Saturday, June 7 10:30am – 1:00pm @ Makom (map) Lunch registration required by Friday, June 6 at 12 noon
We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to participation. Become a Makom Member first to save 10%.
Led by Sarah English, Director of Education & Youth Programming, and Rabbi Aaron, services are egalitarian with mixed seating, and will include prayers, songs, a Torah story, and discussion to meaningfully engage adults and children together.
At lunch, we’ll enjoy a home-cooked, delicious vegan & kosher meal together.
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom and playroom are not. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away at the coffee shop at the corner of Bathurst and College. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
