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May 6: Makom Afterschool In-Person Open House

Thinking about your child’s Jewish Education? 

Come visit the Makom Afterschool in-person open house on Wednesday May 6 at 4:30 pm at our Seaton Village Location.

Makom Afterschool is a pluralistic Jewish and Hebrew education program for kids in JK through Grade 5. (Looking for Jewish and Hebrew education for grades 6-8? Check out Makom ATID.)

At our in-person open house, you’ll get to:

  • Experience our classes in action;
  • Meet Sarah English, Director of Education, and Rabbi Aaron Levy;
  • Learn more about our approach, curriculum, community, and logistics; and
  • Have all your questions answered!

Kids are welcome!

Makom Afterschool operates at TDSB schools in four different neighbourhoods: Kensington Market, Roncesvalles, Seaton Village, and Wychwood. 

The open house will be held at our Seaton Village location near Bathurst & Bloor; exact address given upon registration.

About Makom Afterschool

Makom Afterschool is a fun, inclusive, pluralistic Jewish and Hebrew learning program for kids in JK through Grade 5. Children from the diversity of downtown Jewish families find their place in our warm and welcoming community. 

Registration is now open for the 2026-2027 school year.

May 2: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Saturday, May 2 | 9:30 am – Makom (402 College)
Register now!

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

Lunch registration required by Friday, May 1 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, Dr. Joshua Picard will lead us in thought-provoking, interactive learning on “Let’s Go to a Tunisian Island for Lag ba-Omer!” exploring a fascinating Tunisian Jewish pilgrimage custom.

Joshua Picard 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 at UofT. 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.

Registration

Apr 28: Makom Afterschool Virtual Info Session

Makom Afterschool Information Night

Thinking about your child’s Jewish Education? 

Join us for an online information session about Makom Afterschool for students in JK-grade 5 on Tuesday, April 28 at 8:00 pm! (Looking for Jewish and Hebrew education for grades 6-8? Check out Makom ATID.)

We’ll discuss Makom’s approach to Hebrew language and pluralistic Jewish education and answer all your questions.

Zoom link sent to those who register.

Any questions? Email Sarah English

About Makom Afterschool

Makom Afterschool is a fun, inclusive, pluralistic Jewish and Hebrew learning program for kids in JK through Grade 5. Children from the diversity of downtown Jewish families find their place in our warm and welcoming community.

Makom Afterschool operates at TDSB schools in four different neighbourhoods: Kensington Market, Roncesvalles, Seaton Village, and Wychwood.

Registration is now open for the 2026-2027 school year.

Apr 26: Makom Teen Cafe

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

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

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

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

Shabbat-Pesah Morning Services & Snack Kiddush. Saturday, April 4, 9:30 pm

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).

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.

Mar 29: Matzah Bake in the Park!

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 JCCPJ LibraryFirst Narayever Congregation, & Shoresh.

Thank you to Sunflower Kitchen for their generous sponsorship!

Mar 21: 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!

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