Feb 12 – Teens’ (Grade 9-12) Tu bi-Shvat Seder

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Cayce Fischer in holidays, Teens | Leave a comment

Celebrate Tu bi-Shvat ~ the Jewish New Year for Trees ~ at a special evening for high school teens.

Wednesday, February 12
6:30pm – 8:30pm
@ Makom (map)
Register by Monday, February 10

We’ll have a Tu bi-Shvat seder – a meal with multiple courses of symbolic foods and drinks – and learn brief Jewish teachings on our relationship with the natural world. We’ll:

Drink four cups of red & white grape juice
Eat a variety of fruits & nuts with mystical significance
Enjoy dinner of pita, dips, carrots, soup & dessert
Learn nature Torah (Jewish wisdom)
Hang out with new & old friends

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

Please note that this is for high school students only, not for parents.

Any Qs? Please contact Sarah English, Director of Education and Youth Programs.

Accessibility

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.

Dec 15 – Make Your Own Olive Oil Hanukkah Workshops

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Cayce Fischer in Hativah, holidays, Makom Families, Teens | Comments Off

Low flickering oil-lamp flames with a black background. Text above that says Make your own olive oil! Hanukkah workshops for everyone

Join us for a hands-on experience! Press olives and make your very own oil for lighting hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs). Get a taste of what it was like to make oil in olden times and share the warmth and light of your own freshly pressed oil with family and friends.

Along with your oil, you’ll take home a set of glass inserts that can be used in most hanukkiot to enable them to hold oil, along with floating wicks.

All three events are on Sunday, December 15 at Makom (map).

Please register by as soon as possible so we can order supplies! Click the links below to register and get full details:

Families with Kids

Press your own olive oil, make a “stained glass” dreidel, and hear a Hanukkah story. Geared for kids in JK through grade 5; younger siblings are welcome. This is designed to give parents and kids a chance to do a hands-on holiday activity together (not a drop-off program).

Sunday, Dec 15
1:00 – 2:30pm

Hativah (Grades 6-8)

Make your own olive oil, play fun Hanukkah games, and make (and eat!) latkes with other kids your age. Feel free to invite friends. This event is for middle school students (grades 6-8) only, not for parents.

Sunday, Dec 15
3:00 – 4:30pm

High School Teens

Make your own olive oil, play fun Hanukkah games, and make (and eat!) latkes with new and old friends. Feel free to invite friends. This event is for high school students only, not for parents.

Sunday, Dec 15
5:00 – 6:30pm

Suggestion for all events: everyone should wear or bring an old shirt/smock and old pair of pants, as oil can leave marks on clothing.

Any Qs? Please contact Sarah English, Director of Education and Youth Programs.

Nov 24 – Downtown Jewish Teens’ Games Night at Snakes & Lattes

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Cayce Fischer in Teens, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Photograph from last year's Snakes and Lattes event

Join Downtown Jewish Teens for a fun evening of board games and snacks! Come hang out with other awesome Jewish* high school students and play an incredible variety of board games at Snakes & Lattes on College with us. Feel free to invite friends!

Sunday November 24
5pm – 7pm
@ Snakes & Lattes College (map)
Please register by Sun, Nov 24 at 12 noon.

The registration fee covers admission and unlimited pop and juice. Snacks are also available for sale by Snakes and Lattes and mostly not kosher.

If finances are a barrier, please contact Sarah in advance.

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

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

Middle school (grades 6-8) students: click here to register for Hativah Game Day.

Any Qs? Email Sarah English, Director of Education & Youth Programming.

Oct 22: Downtown Jewish Teens – Pizza in the Sukkah

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Cayce Fischer in holidays, Teens, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Take a break from the world and chill in the sukkah!

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

This event is FREE! Please register by October 22 at noon.
Donations are greatly appreciated and help us cover food, sukkah rental, staff time, etc.

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

Please note that this is for high school students only (grades 9-12), not for parents.

See our other Sukkot events for Families with kids from infants up through grade 5, for Kids in Grades 6-8, and for Adults!

Accessibility Information

Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. The Kiever’s sukkah is wheelchair accessible. However, the washroom is down a flight of stairs. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Questions? Email Rabbi Aaron.

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

Feb 4: Teen Skate Night + Bonfire

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Adina in Programs, Teens | Comments Off

Sat, Feb 4
8-10pm
@Alexandra Park Skate Rink (Bathurst & Dundas)
Free
Registration Required

For high school students only! Have fun skating and hanging out with new and old friends.

We’ll start with havdalah, the short and sweet ceremony for ending Shabbat, led by teens. Then we’ll skate together. (Bring your own skates.)

Around 9pm, we’ll head across the street to Rabbi Aaron’s backyard for a bonfire, ‘smores, and hot cocoa.

Feel free to invite friends. All Jewish teens in high school are welcome, including LGBTQ+ and interfaith-family teens! Any Qs? Email Rabbi Aaron.

Oct 12: Downtown Jewish Teens: Pizza in the Sukkah

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Sarah Raizel in holidays, Programs, Teens | Comments Off

Calling all Jewish high school teens!

Come connect with other downtown Jewish teens, enjoy some pizza and learn about the holiday of Sukkot, all in a sukkah (holiday hut).

When: Wednesday, October 12, 6 – 8pm
Where: Location to be sent upon registration

Have questions? Please reach out to Rabbi Aaron.

Please register by October 12 at 12pm.

May 19: Teen Lag ba-Omer celebration in the park

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Adina in holidays, Programs, Teens | Comments Off

For high school teens only…

**Celebrate Lag ba-Omer* in the park!**

Enjoy fresh falafel sandwiches
Roast s’mores & potatoes on the bonfire
Hang out withother downtown Jewish teens

*Lag ba-Omer is a minor holiday marking the joyous 33rd day between Passover and Shauvot.

B.Y.O. Water Bottle

Want to volunteer with the younger kids’ program 5-7pm (for H.S. volunteer hours, if you want)? Check the box when you register.

All Jewish high school teens are welcome, including LGBTQ+ & from interfaith/intercultural families.

[Separate gatherings & registrations for families with younger kids 5:45-7pm and adults 8-9pm.]

Free!

Donations greatly appreciated to help us cover costs (park permit, falafel, s’mores, firewood, staffing, etc).

Final deadline to order falafel: Thurs, May 19, 12noon!

Any Qs? Email Rabbi Aaron.

Register Now!

April 24: Jewish & Muslim Teens Mimouna & Iftar

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Adina in Programs, Teens | Comments Off

Sun, April 24
7:30-9:00pm
Outdoors Near Bloor & Bathurst
(actual location sent after registration)
Free – donations greatly appreciated!
Registration Required by Sat night, Apr 23

For Muslim & Jewish high school teens only
You’re invited to celebrate Mimouna & Iftar together!

What’s Mimouna?
Moroccan Jewish and Muslim custom of friendship and eating together after the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesah)

What’s Iftar?
Muslim tradition of eating together after fasting all day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan

Schedule
7:30pm Arrive
Icebreakers & sharing traditions
8:15 Dinner: dates, water, falafel sandwiches & dessert
Hanging out
9:00 Goodnight

All food will be kosher, halal & vegetarian

Rain or shine! We have shelter.

Bring some cash if you want to make a donation of sadaqah / tzedakah* for Fort York Food Bank to help those in need.
(*literally, justice & righteousness in Arabic & Hebrew)

Want to volunteer with setup 6:30-7:30pm &/or cleanup 9:00-9:30pm (for volunteer hours, if you want)? Check the box when you register.

Any Qs? Contact aaron@makomTO.org

This event is planned by Jewish & Muslim teens & hosted by Makom

Teens