May 5: Lag ba-Omer Bonfire, Dinner & S’Mores!

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Ben in holidays | Leave a comment

Makom invites you to…

Celebrate Lag ba-Omer!

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

Tuesday, May 5
@ Dovercourt Park (map)
Please register by Thursday May 5 at noon sharp

Programs 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
Songs around the fire

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

8-9:30 pm Adults

Hang out with new and old friends
S’mores over the bonfire
Songs around the fire
Dinner (choose pizza or falafel; must be ordered in addition to registration)

Deadline to order pizza & falafel: May 5, 12noon sharp

B.Y.O. Water Bottle

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

Any Qs? Email Talia Levitt, Makom’s Youth Programming Coordinator, at youth@makomto.org..

Presented by Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism, and Shoresh.

Registration:

Apr 26: Makom Teen Cafe

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Ben in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hey Downtown Jewish Teens!

You are invited to a fun, cozy afternoon at Makom’s Teen Cafe! Join us to play board games, enjoy yummy snacks, create your own drinks at our DIY matcha bar, and hang out with new and old friends.

Sunday, April 26 | 4:00-5:30 pm – Makom (402 College St)

Teens of all Jewish identities are warmly welcome, including from interfaith/intercultural families and LGBTQ+. No Makom affiliation necessary. Feel free to bring friends!

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

Any questions? Contact Talia Levitt, Youth Programming Coordinator, at youth@makomto.org.

Apr 25: Family Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Ben in Makom Families, Shabbat | Leave a comment

Join us for an upbeat, kid-friendly Shabbat morning family service followed by Shabbat lunch!

Saturday, April 25 | 10:30 am
@ Makom (402 College St)
Register now!

Services are geared for kids in grades 1-5 and their parents, but all families with kids are welcome.

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 delicious vegan & kosher meal together.

Registration required! We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to participation.

Free if you’re coming just for services and not staying for lunch, but registration’s still required.

Registration deadline: Thursday, February 12th at 7pm.

Become a Makom Member first to save 10%.

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.

Any questions? Contact Talia Levitt, Youth Programming Coordinator, at youth@makomto.org.

Registration

April 17: Friday Night Services + Shabbat Dinner

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Ben in Programs, Shabbat | Leave a comment

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

Background image shows people seated at a table with lit candles and challah. Text reads Friday night services & Shabbat dinner

Fri, April 17 | 7pm
@ Makom
Register now!

After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner and each other’s warm company.

Dinner registration required by Wednesday, April 15 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%.

Thank you to Green Economy Law for their generous sponsorship.

Please try to come on time for services at 7pm.

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. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Registration

Apr 16: Grades 6-8 Pizza + Movie Night

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Ben in Playschool, Programs, Teens | Leave a comment

Join Hativah – Makom’s youth group for grades 6-8 – for a fun evening of movies, pizza, and hanging out with new and old friends!

This Thursday, April 16 | 6:00 – 8:30pm
@Makom (map)
Registration required by April 16 at 2pm

Pizza and snacks will be served. Movie TBD based on everyone’s preferences!

Please register by April 16th at 2pm.

Middle school kids of all Jewish identities are warmly welcome, including from interfaith/intercultural families and LGBTQ+. No Makom affiliation necessary. Feel free to invite friends!

Please note that this is an event for middle school students (grades 6-8) only.

Any questions? Contact Talia Levitt, Youth Programming Coordinator, at youth@makomto.org.

Apr 4: Shabbat-Pesah Morning Services & Snack Kiddush

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Ben in holidays, Shabbat | Leave a comment

Join us for extra-joyous Shabbat-Passover morning services, followed by a light kiddush (snacks and socializing)!

In addition to usual services and Torah and haftarah reading, we’ll sing Hallel (Psalms of praise sung on holidays) and chant Shir ha-Shirim (Song of Songs, a Biblical book of love poetry).

Please bring a packaged, certified-kosher-for-Passover snack to share.

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

Free, but please register by Tuesday, March 31 so we know how many folks to expect:

Donations greatly appreciated!

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).

Mar 29: Matzah Bake in the Park!

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Ben in holidays | Comments Off

Two children holding up Matzah. "Matzah bake in the park, Sunday March 29, 2-5 pm"

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

Sunday, March 29 | 2-5 pm – Christie Pits

See if you can mix, knead, roll and bake in 18 minutes or less! (Matzah won’t be kosher for Passover but it’s still a wonderful way to prepare for Pesah).

All ages welcome: adults, kids & teens.

Passover craft & stories for the kiddos.

Only $7/person if you register by Thursday night, March 26. ($12/person after that.)

Register for the time slot when you want to come to minimize wait time for the oven.

Teens & pre-teens recommended to register for 4pm shift.

Rain or shine! We have sheltered space.

We welcome participants of all abilities. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Park washrooms should be open.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Presented by Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism in partnership with Miles Nadal JCC, PJ Library, First Narayever Congregation, & Shoresh.

Thank you to Sunflower Kitchen for their generous sponsorship!

Mar 21: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Ben in Class, Programs, Shabbat | Comments Off

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

Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch 'n' Learn

Saturday, March 21 | 9:30 am – Makom (402 College)
Register now!

Lunch registration required by Friday, March 20 at 10 am.

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.

After lunch, Naama Baumgarten Sharon will lead an interactive learning session.

Since completing an MA in Bible at the Hebrew university in 2009, Naama has focused her professional efforts on the protection of human rights and advancement of social justice, while continuing to embrace opportunities to learn Torah and find the bridge between these two worlds.

Registration

Aug 16 – Family Shabbat in the Park

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Ben in Makom Families, Shabbat | Comments Off

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

Registration

Aug 15 – Friday Night Services + Shabbat Dinner

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off

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.