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Dec 15 – Make Your Own Olive Oil Hanukkah Workshops

Low flickering oil-lamp flames with a black background. Text above that says Make your own olive oil! Hanukkah workshops for everyone

Join us for a hands-on experience! Press olives and make your very own oil for lighting hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs). Get a taste of what it was like to make oil in olden times and share the warmth and light of your own freshly pressed oil with family and friends.

Along with your oil, you’ll take home a set of glass inserts that can be used in most hanukkiot to enable them to hold oil, along with floating wicks.

All three events are on Sunday, December 15 at Makom (map).

Please register by as soon as possible so we can order supplies! Click the links below to register and get full details:

 

Families with Kids

Press your own olive oil,  make a “stained glass” dreidel, and hear a Hanukkah story. Geared for kids in JK through grade 5; younger siblings are welcome. This is designed to give parents and kids a chance to do a hands-on holiday activity together (not a drop-off program).

Sunday, Dec 15
1:00 – 2:30pm


Hativah (Grades 6-8)

Make your own olive oil, play fun Hanukkah games, and make (and eat!) latkes with other kids your age. Feel free to invite friends. This event is for middle school students (grades 6-8) only, not for parents.

Sunday, Dec 15
3:00 – 4:30pm


High School Teens

Make your own olive oil, play fun Hanukkah games, and make (and eat!) latkes with new and old friends. Feel free to invite friends. This event is for high school students only, not for parents.

Sunday, Dec 15
5:00 – 6:30pm


Suggestion for all events: everyone should wear or bring an old shirt/smock and old pair of pants, as oil can leave marks on clothing.

Any Qs? Please contact Sarah English, Director of Education and Youth Programs.

Dec 13 – Friday Night Services, Shabbat Dinner + Guest Speaker

Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate. This time, we’ll be joined by guest speaker Rabbi Mike Moskowitz. Supervised childcare will be provided in our playroom during services.

Friday, December 13
6:00pm – 9:00pm
@ Makom (map)
Please register for dinner by Thursday, December 12 at 10am.

Become a Makom Member first and save 10%. Services don’t require registration.

We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.


At lunch, we’ll learn with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz“Allyship as Spiritual Jewish Practice”

Rabbi Mike Moskowitz is a deeply traditional and radically progressive advocate for trans rights and a vocal ally for LGBTQ inclusivity. He serves as the Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue. Rabbi Moskowitz received three Ultra-Orthodox ordinations while learning in the Mir Yeshivah in Jerusalem and Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ. He is a Wexner Field Fellow, Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Hartman Institute, and the author of Textual ActivismGraceful Masculinity, and Seasonal Resistance. His newest book, Ancestral Allyship, is now available. Rabbi Moskowitz’s writings can be found at www.rabbimikemoskowitz.com.


Please try to 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).

Accessibility

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.

Nov 30 – 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! Supervised childcare will be provided in our playroom during services.

Saturday November 30
9:30am – 2:30pm
@ Makom (map)
Please register for lunch by Friday, Nov 29 at 12 noon.

Become a Makom Member first and save 10%. Services don’t require registration.

We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.


At lunch, we’ll learn with Dr. Alan Morinis on the topic: “Why Be Ethical in an Unethical World?”

Dr. Alan Morinis, Founder of The Mussar Institute, is a leading figure in the contemporary revival of the Mussar movement, a 1,100-year-old authentic Jewish personal and communal spiritual tradition that was nearly lost following the Holocaust. A filmmaker, Rhodes Scholar, and anthropologist whose focus had been Hindu religious pilgrimages, he reached a personal turning point in his life in 1997 that led to his exploration of Mussar. Alan sought out Rabbi Yechiel Perr, an accomplished master who stood in an unbroken line of transmission of the Mussar tradition. Following years of study, he reinterpreted the ancient Mussar learnings and practices for modern audiences and founded The Mussar Institute in 2004. He is the author of Climbing Jacob’s LadderEveryday Holiness; Every Day, Holy Day; and With Heart in Mind. Alan continues to explore and interpret original Mussar sources in Hebrew and is making these valuable teachings available to the contemporary world.


Please try to 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).

Accessibility

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.

Nov 24 – Family Holiday Calendar Crafternoon

Join us for a fun afternoon of family time and Jewish holiday calendar crafting! Help your family visualize all the Jewish holidays, and talk about our favourite holidays as we go! We’ll glue and paint interactive holiday calendars that kids can take home and display proudly.

Sunday November 24
1pm – 2:30pm
@ Makom (map)
Please register by Thursday, Nov 21.

Geared for kids in JK through grade 5; younger siblings are welcome.  This is designed for parents and kids to do together (not a drop-off program).

Suggestion: everyone should wear or bring an old shirt or smock, since we’ll be painting. Looking forward to crafting with you!

Any Qs? Please contact Sarah English, Director of Education and Youth Programs.

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.

Nov 24 – Hativah (Grade 6-8) Games Gathering

Join Hativah – our youth group for grades 6-8 – for a fun afternoon of board games and good company! Come hang out with other downtown Jewish* kids your age, enjoy unlimited pop and juice, and play some board games at Snakes & Lattes on College with us. Feel free to invite friends!

Sunday November 24
3pm – 5pm
@ Snakes & Lattes College (map)
Please register by Sun, Nov 24 at 12 noon.

The registration fee covers admission and unlimited pop and juice. Snacks are also available for sale by Snakes and Lattes and mostly not kosher.

If finances are a barrier, please contact Sarah in advance.

*Middle school kids of all Jewish identities are warmly welcome, including from interfaith/intercultural families and LGBTQ+.  No Makom affiliation necessary.

Please note that this is for middle school students (grades 6-8) only, not for parents.

High school students: register for the Teens’ Game night here.

Any Qs? Email Sarah English, Director of Education & Youth Programming.

Nov 24 – Downtown Jewish Teens’ Games Night at Snakes & Lattes

Photograph from last year's Snakes and Lattes event

Join Downtown Jewish Teens for a fun evening of board games and snacks! Come hang out with other awesome Jewish* high school students and play an incredible variety of board games at Snakes & Lattes on College with us. Feel free to invite friends!

Sunday November 24
5pm – 7pm
@ Snakes & Lattes College (map)
Please register by Sun, Nov 24 at 12 noon.

The registration fee covers admission and unlimited pop and juice. Snacks are also available for sale by Snakes and Lattes and mostly not kosher.

If finances are a barrier, please contact Sarah in advance.

*High school teens of all Jewish identities are warmly welcome, including from interfaith/intercultural families and LGBTQ+.  No Makom affiliation necessary.

Please note that this is for high school students (grades 9-12) only.

Middle school (grades 6-8) students: click here to register for Hativah Game Day.

Any Qs? Email Sarah English, Director of Education & Youth Programming.

Nov 15 – Friday Night Shabbat, Dinner & Davvening

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 November 15
6:00pm – 9:00pm
@Makom (map)
Dinner registration required by Thursday, November 14 at 10am. Services don’t require registration.

We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.You can become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Please try to come on time for services at 6:00, as we have community members saying kaddish, for which we need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men.

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.

Nov 2 – Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by delicious Shabbat lunch!

Saturday November 2
9:30am – 2:30pm
@Makom (map)
Services don’t require registration. Lunch registration required by Friday, Nov 1 at 12noon.

We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.You can become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.

At lunch, we’ll learn with Dr. Joshua Picard on “Best. Prophet. Ever. Reading Rambam’s Seventh Principle of Faith in an Islamic Context.”

Joshua is the postdoctoral fellow for the Evolution of the Jewish Family in Islamic North Africa working group with the Department of History and the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. His research focuses on the colonial encounter between France and the countries of North Africa, especially Tunisia, with particular focus on the roles and experiences of Jewish communities on both sides of the Mediterranean. His current book project concerns the origins and ratification of the ‘Ahd al-Aman, the 1857 Tunisian reform edict that liberalized commercial law and formally recognized limited civil rights in Tunisia. His current research also includes Judaeo-Arabic satirical verse as a vehicle of social criticism, philanthropy and education reforms among North African Jews, and the place of the colony in nineteenth and twentieth-century conceptions of Jews as a distinct racial category.

Please try to 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).

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.

Oct 24: A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance

עֵת סְפוֹד וְעֵת רְקוֹד ~ A time to mourn and a time to dance.
Kohelet/Ecclesiastes 3:4

Please join Makom, Annex Shul, and Hillel UofT for an evening of mourning and dancing, crying and laughing, as we commemorate the first yahrtzeit (anniversary) of the Simhat Torah/Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and then celebrate the joyous holiday of Simhat Torah (rejoicing with the Torah upon completing its annual reading).


Schedule:

6:00pm: Doors open
6:15 sharp: Memorial ceremony of prayers, poems & songs to remember the victims of the attack and all those who have died in the ensuing war, pray for the release of the hostages, and pray for peace.
7:00: Ma’ariv ~ evening service
7:15: Festive holiday dinner (catered, kosher & vegan)
8:30: Hakafot ~ singing and dancing with the Torah
10:30: Torah reading & conclusion of service
11:00: Goodnight!

Dinner registration required by Tuesday, Oct 22 at 9am.
Please try to come on time for the memorial service at 6pm so as not to disrupt the service.

Services

Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants who espouse many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant.

In order to join together as one community without regard to denominational labels, our services blend traditional and progressive practices. We offer mixed (all-genders), women’s, and men’s seating sections. Women, men, and non-binary folks may lead parts of services. We’ll have three dancing circles (mixed, women’s & men’s), each with a Torah scroll.

Accessibility Information

Makom, Annex Shul, and Hillel UofT welcome participants of all abilities. The Wolfond Centre is fully wheelchair accessible, with an elevator and accessible washrooms. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Oct 22: Downtown Jewish Teens – Pizza in the Sukkah

Take a break from the world and chill in the sukkah!

Enjoy some pizza with new and old friends and learn about the holiday of Sukkot.

This event is FREE! Please register by October 22 at noon.
Donations are greatly appreciated and help us cover food, sukkah rental, staff time, etc.

High school teens of all Jewish identities are warmly welcome, including from interfaith/intercultural families and LGBTQ+. No Makom affiliation necessary.

Please note that this is for high school students only (grades 9-12), not for parents.

See our other Sukkot events for Families with kids from infants up through grade 5,  for Kids in Grades 6-8, and for Adults!

Accessibility Information

Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. The Kiever’s sukkah is wheelchair accessible. However, the washroom is down a flight of stairs. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Questions? Email Rabbi Aaron.