Archives for

Community CANDLE LIGHTING + ACTIVITIES


Dec 10-17
5:30pm (except Fri, Dec 11 @ 4:15pm)

Online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 995 8672 6679 | Passcode: 402402
FREE – donations greatly appreciated!

Let’s light together! After lighting and singing the berakhot (blessings) and a few Hanukkah songs, we’ll have a different activity each night, hosted by a Makom member. We’ll screen share the words of the blessings and songs. 

Thurs, Dec 10 – ISRAELI FOLK DANCING with Daphne Jackson
Fri, Dec 11 – SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING + Torah Thought with Rabbi Aaron (4:15pm)
Sat, Dec 12 – MUSICAL HAVDALAH + Melaveh Malkah (Singing out Shabbat) with Rabbi Aaron & Family
Sun, Dec 13 – HANUKKAH SONGS in Hebrew, Yiddish + English with Evelyn Tauben & Family [Family Hanukkah Celebration also this night; see below]
Mon, Dec 14 – TOP 10 ALBUMS of 2020 Review + Discussion with Ari Kaplan
Tues, Dec 15 – HANUKKIYAH (Menorah) SHARING with Tae Hart
Wed, Dec 16 – MOROCCAN SFINGE (Doughnut) COOKING DEMO with Lily Ohana & Family
Thurs, Dec 17 – MOROCCAN MAOZ TZUR & PAINTING with Chaim Grafstein & Shayna Byer

Join us for one night or every night; we look forward to celebrating Hanukkah together with you!

FAMILY Hanukkah Celebration


Sun, Dec 13
5:45-6:30pm

Online
Registration Required
FREE – donations greatly appreciated!

Activities for your whole family for Hanukkah! Join us for a craft project, meaningful family discussion, and Hanukkah candle lighting and songs.  Led by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Rabbi Aaron.

Zoom link sent upon registration.

Hanukkah HALAKHAH (Laws)


Thurs, Dec 10
12-1pm

Online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 4183 9308, Password: 024117
FREE – donations greatly appreciated!

We’ll read and discuss primary sources and consider their implications for the meanings of the holiday and for us today.

Everyone is welcome! No prior Jewish learning experience required.

The second in a series of three classes on Hanukkah. Other classes:
Hanukkah HISTORY – Thurs, Dec 3, 12pm
Hanukkah AGGADAH (Myths) – Thurs, Dec 17, 12pm
Same Zoom link for all classes

TORAH Study: The KINGS of ISRAEL

Mondays, Nov 23 – Dec 14
10am-12pm

$100 for 4 sessions
Registration Required

Join us online to learn and discuss the tumultuous period after King Solomon from the Biblical Book of Melakhim/Kings from a great variety of perspectives: ancient and modern, traditional and academic, literary and historical, etc.

No prior Jewish study or Hebrew knowledge required. Contact Rabbi Aaron for more info and to register.

HAVDALAH at Home


Sat, Nov 28
5:45-6:15pm

Online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 4183 9308, Password: 024117
FREE – donations greatly appreciated!

Let’s gather together to conclude Shabbat with a sing-along havdalah followed by a short Melaveh Malkah – escorting out the Shabbat queen with joyous songs – and socializing in small groups.

Best if you have your own havdalah items ready to go so we can all say havdalah together: something to drink (wine, grape juice, beer, tea, juice, etc.), fragrant spices or herbs, and a multi-wicked candle (or just hold any two regular candles together), but if not, no worries.

The KABBALAH of Kabbalat Shabbat: LEKHA DODI


Thurs, Nov 26
12-1pm

Online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 4183 9308, Password: 024117
FREE – donations greatly appreciated!

Discover the mystical meanings of the Friday night service to welcome Shabbat! We’ll explore the origins, structure, and kabbalistic (mystical) layers of Kabbalat Shabbat through participatory text study and discussion. In this, our final session of this three-part series, we’ll focus on the mystical prayer Lekha Dodi.

Everyone is welcome! No prior Jewish learning experience required. Sources presented in both Hebrew and English translation.

Family HAVDALAH CELEBRATION


Sat, Nov 21
5:45-6:30pm

Online
FREE – donations greatly appreciated!
Registration Required

Activities for your whole family for havdalah, the brief and beautiful ceremony to end Shabbat. Join us for a craft project, meaningful family discussion, and musical havdalah ceremony. Led by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Rabbi Aaron.

Zoom link sent upon registration.

NeySHEV Jewish MEDITATION

Mon evening, Aug 24 | 8:00-8:30pm
Fri morning, Aug 28  | 7:45-8:45am

Online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 964 714 782, Password: 025334

Pay What You Can – all are welcome no matter your financial situation
Monday sessions: $10 minimum recommended
Friday sessions: $20 minimum recommended
Canadians: E-transfer to chernick.aviva@gmail.com
Outside of Canada: Pay by Paypal here

Please RSVP to Aviva, especially if this is your first time joining neySHEV

A beautiful way to end your Monday or begin your Friday. Come sit in a circle of community in silence, song and Torah led by meditation teacher, musician and prayer leader Aviva Chernick.

No previous meditation or mindfulness practice necessary. Just come with your curiosity and tender heart. You are welcome just as you are.

Please log on a few minutes early to settle in, set up your space, and ensure that your video and audio are working properly.

In-Person, Outdoor FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES

Fri, Oct 30
5:30-6:30pm

Outdoors & In-Person near Bloor & Bathurst

(exact location provided upon registration)
FREE
REGISTRATION REQUIRED by 4pm, Oct 30
LIMITED SPACE
If it’s raining at 4pm or later, services will be cancelled.

It’s getting dark earlier, so this will be our last in-person, Friday night service for many months. Let’s safely gather together in real life while we still can!

Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat outdoors with soulful and song-filled services.

For our community’s and broader society’s safety, we are strictly following Toronto Public Health’s Guidance for Places of Worship.

If you feel unwell or have any COVID-19 symptoms, you must stay home.

Please bring:

  • MASK that covers your nose, mouth & chin (MANDATORY!)
  • Blanket, cushion, or chair for sitting (optional)
  • Siddur/prayer book (optional); we’ll have photocopies of services in Hebrew & phonetic transliteration available
  • Kippah/head covering (if you wear one during services)

Seating will be physically distant and there will be separate sections for women’s, men’s, and mixed (all genders) seating, from which you can choose when you register. Since we’ll be outdoors and not in a regular prayer space, there won’t be curtains between these sections.

Children are welcome if they can sit next to their parent for the full duration of services and maintain physical distancing from all others. Children must be registered as well.

Please note that washrooms will NOT be available.

Don’t forget to register now.

WHY DID JUDAISM START?

Thurs, Oct 29
12-1pm


Online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 4183 9308, Password: 024117
FREE (donations greatly appreciated)

Who started Judaism and why? We’ll delve into one of my all-time favourite midrashim (rabbinic interpretations), which is on this week’s Torah portion, to explore and discuss these big questions philosophically and spiritually (not historically).

Everyone is welcome! No prior Jewish learning experience required. Sources presented in both Hebrew and English translation.