Posted on by Ben in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 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.
Posted on by Ben in Makom Families, Shabbat | Comments Off on 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.
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.
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.
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.
Posted on by Ben in holidays, Shabbat | Comments Off on Apr 4: Shabbat-Pesah Morning Services & Snack Kiddush
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:
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.
Posted on by Ben in holidays | Comments Off on Mar 29: Matzah Bake in the Park!
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.
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.
Posted on by Ben in Makom Families, Shabbat | Comments Off on Aug 16 – Family Shabbat in the Park
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
Posted on by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off on Aug 15 – 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, 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.
Posted on by Ben in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Aug 2 – Tishah be-Av
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.
