Teens

Mar 2-3: Purim 2026!

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

With three full megillah readings, a family juggling show with abridged megillah reading, and dedicated parties for adults, middle-schoolers, and high-school teens, we’ve got something for everyone!

See below for the full schedule.

Come in costume and B.Y.O. Gragger/Ra’ashan/Noisemaker!

Dinner registration deadline: Sun, Mar 1!

If you can’t afford regular-price tickets, please choose the reduced-rate option, or contact us.

Money from ticket sales will be put toward nearly $5,000 of Purim expenses, including venue rental, sound technician, food costs, party supplies, etc.

Register Now!

There are lots of great opportunities to help sponsor Purim in honour or memory of someone. Please contact Rabbi Aaron to discuss how you can help.

Volunteers needed for the door, setup, food service and cleanup. If you can help out, please check the box when you register, and we’ll be in touch.

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).

Schedule

Purim Eve ~ Monday, March 2 @ The Tranzac

Families (babies through grade 8)

5:15pmDoors Open
5:30Abridged Megillah Reading
5:45-6:15Puppet Show for families with kids in Grade 5 and under
5:45-6:15Hativah Party (grades 6-8 only)

Full Megilah Reading + Parties

6:30pm Doors Open
6:45Ma’ariv (evening service)
7:00Main Megillah Reading
8:00Main Party with cash bar & music
8:00Teen Party (high school teens only)
8:15Dinner (order food by Wed, March 12; certified kosher)
9:45Late Megillah Reading
11:00Goodnight

Purim Day ~ Tuesday, March 3 @ Makom

FREE Morning Megillah Reading: 9:30am

Covid Precautions

Anyone who feels unwell or has symptoms of Covid-19 must not attend.

Accessibility Information

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

We look forward to celebrating Purim together with you!

Register Now!

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

Dec 17: Downtown Jewish Teens Hanukkah Party

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Hey Downtown Jewish Teens!

Join us to celebrate Hanukkah together! We’ll light candles together outside at 5:45, then head inside for a fun evening of latkes, hot chocolate, music, and games! Feel free to invite friends.

Wed, Dec 17
5:45-7:30pm
402 College St
Register by Dec 16

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

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

Any questions? Contact Talia Levitt, Youth Programming Coordinator.

Registration

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

Nov 30: Downtown Jewish Teens Game Night

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Join Downtown Jewish Teens for a fun evening of board games and hanging out at Snakes & Lattes on College!

Sun, Nov 30
5-7pm
For teens in grades 9-12
Register now!

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

Please register by Friday, November 28th. Feel free to invite friends!

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

Any Questions? Reach out to Talia Levitt, Youth Programming Coordinator, at youth@makomto.org

Registration

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

June 20 – Downtown Jewish Teens Shabbat Dinner

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Hey Jewish Teens!

Let’s close out the school year with a warm, fun, and inclusive Shabbat dinner together. We’ll light candles, sing some songs and blessings, eat a delicious dinner, and enjoy each other’s company. We’ll also bid a fond farewell to graduating grade 12s and welcome grade 8s (rising grade 9s!) to our Downtown Jewish Teen community.

Friday, June 20
7:00 – 9:00pm
@Makom (map)
Registration required by Wednesday, June 18.

Feel free to invite friends! All Jewish teens in high school or finishing grade 8 are welcome, including LGBTQ+ and interfaith-family teens!

Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Accessibility Information

Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom is down a flight of stairs. There is a coffee shop with wheelchair accessible washrooms one block away, at the corner of College and Bathurst. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Registration

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

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

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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.

Register for Teens’ Tu bi-Shvat Seder

Dec 15 – Make Your Own Olive Oil Hanukkah Workshops

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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

Register for Families with Kids


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

Register for Hativah (Grade 6–8)


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

Register for High School Teens

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

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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.

Register for Downtown Jewish Teen’s Games Night

Oct 22: Downtown Jewish Teens – Pizza in the Sukkah

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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.

Register now

Oct 4: Teens’ Pizza & Chill in the Sukkah

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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

Register Now!

Feb 4: Teen Skate Night + Bonfire

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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.

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