Aug 12: Tishah be-Av Evening Services and Eikhah Reading

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Adina in holidays, Programs | Comments Off

Monday August 12
8:30 – 10:00pm
@Makom (map)
Bring Food or $$ to Donate + Flashlight
No registration required

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.)

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 or CASH 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 donations.

Doors open at 8:30pm; services begin promptly at 8:45.

FYI, the fast begins Monday at sunset,8:24pm, and ends Tuesday at nightfall, 9:11pm.

Oct 7: Simhat Torah Eve Celebration

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Programs | Comments Off

Saturday, Oct 7
8:00 – 11:00pm
@Wolfond Centre (36 Harbord St)
Free, no need to register
BYOB

Let’s celebrate the Torah, which we both conclude and restart reading on Simhat Torah!

Join Makom and Annex Shul for brief ma’ariv (evening) services, hakafot (singing and dancing with the Torah), snacks, and Torah reading. BYOB.

The Wolfond Centre is fully wheelchair accessible.
Services and dancing will have mixed (all-genders), men’s, and women’s sections.

Oct 5: Hativah Launch! Middle School Pizza Party in the Sukkah

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Adina in Hativah, holidays, Programs | Comments Off

Calling all Jewish middle school students! You’re invited to the launch of Hativah – our new youth group for grades 6-8.

Come hang out with other downtown kids your age, enjoy some pizza, and play fun games together, all in a sukkah.

View into a sukkah with a set table and lots of light.

Thursday, Oct 5
5:45 – 7:00pm
@Kiever Synagogue Sukkah (map)
Free!
Register by Thurs, Oct 5, at 12noon

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

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

Oct 4: Teens’ Pizza & Chill in the Sukkah

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Programs, Teens | Comments Off

Chill in a sukkah with other downtown Jewish teens!

View into a decorated Sukkah against a night sky. Inside the sukkah there is a table with lit candles, a lulav and etrog, and wine.

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

Feel free to invite friends, JSAs, etc.

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

Wednesday, Oct 4
6:00 – 8:00pm
@Rabbi Aaron’s Sukkah (near Bathurst & Dundas)

Free!
Register by Wed, Oct 4, at 12noon

Oct 3: Families’ Pizza, Falafel & Crafts in the Sukkah

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Makom Families, Programs | Comments Off

Connect with other families with kids over dinner and crafts while celebrating Sukkot.

Bring your kids for a fun and relaxed community dinner in the sukkah!

A craft sukkah, complete with walls, roof, table, chairs, and decorations, made of lolly sticks and tissue paper.

Families will learn about and get to shake lulav and etrog, do a quick craft, and enjoy a yummy kosher dinner and dessert together, all in a sukkah.

Tuesday, Oct 3
5:45 – 7:00pm
@Kiever Synagogue Sukkah (map)

Registration required by Tues, Oct 3, at 12noon

Schedule

5:45pm: Lulav & Etrog, Crafts
6:15pm: Dinner

Please note that this program is for families with kids from infants up through grade 5.

Families of all Jewish identities are warmly welcome, including interfaith/intercultural and LGBTQ+. No Makom affiliation necessary.

Sept 29: Friday Night/Sukkot Services + Dinner

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Programs, Shabbat | Comments Off

A well-lit, decorated sukkah with nearby citrus trees.

Friday, Sept 29
6:45 – 9:30pm
@Kiever Synagogue Sukkah (map)

Dinner registration required by Wednesday night, Sept 20
Become a Makom Member first and save 10%
Services are free and don’t require registration
Join us for doubly-joyous services in the sukkah as we simultaneously welcome the start of Shabbat and Sukkot!
After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner together in the sukkah.

Arrive at 6:45 to light candles, socialize, and find a seat. Services will start at 7pm sharp.

Services in the sukkah will have men’s, women’s, and all genders (mixed) seating sections.

In the event of rain, services and dinner will be held inside the Kiever Synagogue and services will have men’s and women’s seating sections only, in keeping with the Kiever’s practice.

Sep 24-25: Yom Kippur

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Makom Families, Programs | Comments Off

Join us to welcome in the new Jewish year!

Please join us at Hart House for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Our uplifting, inspiring High Holiday offerings will include traditional services, family services, chanting, and meditation.

We look forward to celebrating, reflecting, and singing our way through the Days of Awe together with you!

Registration is open to Makom members. We’ll send a High Holiday registration form to everyone who signs up for (or renews) their Makom membership.

Sep 16-17: Rosh Hashanah

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Makom Families, Programs | Comments Off

Join us to welcome in the new Jewish year!

We look forward to celebrating, reflecting, and singing our way through the Days of Awe together with you!

Registration is open to Makom members. We’ll send a High Holiday registration form to everyone who signs up for (or renews) their Makom membership.

Sep 9: High Holidays Kickoff: Musical Havdalah, Dessert, Days of Awe Singalong + Selihot

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Adina in holidays, Programs | Comments Off

The word selihot written in Hebrew in bright blue over a dusky blue background with yellow stars.

Let’s conclude Shabbat together with a musical havdalah, and then socialize over dessert. We’ll kick off the High Holiday season with a singalong to learn soul-stirring High Holiday melodies, followed by the powerful prayers of selihot.

Saturday, Sept 9
9:15-11:45pm
@Makom (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated

9:15pm – Doors open
9:30 sharp – Musical Havdalah
9:45 – Dessert & Socializing
10:15 – High Holiday Tunes Singalong
10:45 – Selihot Service
11:45 – Lilah Tov (Goodnight)!

Selihot are special penitential prayers recited on the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They’re also a great opportunity to learn some of the powerful prayers and gorgeous melodies we’ll use on those Days of Awe.

Mar 6: Purim Palooza 5783

Posted on February 27, 2023 by Sarah Raizel in holidays | Comments Off

Mon, Mar 6
5:15pm – 6:30pm (Family Program)
6:45pm-10:30pm (Main party and Megillah Reading)
Tranzac Club – 292 Brunswick Ave (map)
Registration required by Sun, Mar 4 at 12noon

Tues, Mar 7
8:00am – 9:00am (Daytime Megillah Reading)
Makom – 402 College Street (map)

Toronto Partnership Minyan & Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism

merrily present…

Purim Palooza!

Please join us for a joyous Purim full of mitzvot, community & fun for all ages!

Come in costume!

Colourful Purim graphic including a megilah scroll, a gragger, an overflowing cup of wine, and several hamentaschen

B.Y.O. Gragger/Ra`ashan/Noisemaker!

Advance registration required for all participants. If you cannot afford regular-price tickets, please choose the free option. Register now!

Unable to join us in person due to health concerns or feeling unwell? Register for the 7pm megillah reading livestream and we’ll email you the Zoom link.

Volunteers needed for the door, setup, food service and cleanup. If you can help out, please select how you’d like to volunteer and a time slot when you register (after you select your tickets).

Fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot le-Evyonim (giving Purim gifts for the poor); donation links below.

Cash donations accepted at the door for Mahatzit ha-Shekel (donations for your community)

Purim Schedule

Purim Eve ~ Monday, March 6 @ The Tranzac

Family Program (masks optional)

5:15pm Dinner (order by Sun, March 4 at noon)

5:45 Mini-Megillah Reading

6:00 Juggling Show

6:30 Family Program Ends

General Program

6:45pm Ma`ariv (evening service, masks required)

7:00 Main Megillah Reading & Zakhor (masks required)

8:00 Dinner (order by Sun, March 4 at noon)

Main Party (masks optional)

Masked Party (masks required)

9:00 Late Megillah Reading (until 10:00; masks required)

10:30 Goodnight

Purim Day ~ Tuesday, March 7 @ Makom

8:00-9:00am Morning Megillah Reading (masks required)

Covid Precautions

Anyone who had symptoms of Covid-19, or who has a household member with a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19, that began within the last 10 days, must not attend in person. You’re welcome to register for the 7pm livestream of megillah reading.

During the family program (5:15-6:30pm) and main party (8:00-10:30pm), masking will be optional.

To be more inclusive of community members who have health concerns, during ma`ariv (evening service), any full megillah reading, and in the masked party room, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc). In those settings, children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.

After megillah reading concludes and folks have had a chance to leave the room, those staying for dinner or the main party are welcome to remove their masks.

Both the Tranzac and Makom have HEPA filters.

Accessibility Information

We welcome participants of all abilities. The Tranzac is wheelchair accessible. 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.

Matanot le-Evyonim – Gifts for the Poor

It’s a mitzvah to give tzedakah (redistributive justice) to needy Jews on Purim itself. Here are some websites where you can donate and your contribution will be distributed to those in need on Purim:

–United Chesed of Toronto: donate before Feb 28 for distribution on Purim

–Chevrah Oseh Chesed/Tomchei Shabbos of Toronto: donate before Purim day & select “Matanas L’evyonim” as donation type

–Yad Eliezer (Israel): donate before Purim day

–Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario: donate even on Purim day