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Dec 9: Shabbat-Hanukkah Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

Join us next Saturday at 9:30am for Shabbat morning services and lunch n’ learn.

It’ll be Hanukkah, so we’ll have extra-joyous services with Hallel (special Psalms sung on holidays).

Supervised childcare will be provided during services in Makom’s playroom.

And at lunch, visiting scholar Dr. Elliott Malamet will lead us in a fascinating text study and discussion on “The Origins and Economics of Hanukkah Gift Giving.”

Lunch registration required by Thursday, Dec 7. (No need to register for services.)

Thank you to an anonymous donor for sponsoring Dr. Malamet’s talk and to Sunflower Kitchen for donating delicious dips!

Register here:

https://guestlist.co/events/763320

Dec 7: Ignite! Tikkun Leil Hanukkah Festival of Jewish Culture & Learning

Thursday, Dec 7
6pm – 1am

Doors open at 5:30pm
@Beth Tzedec (map)

Where light and darkness meet, let’s begin Hanukkah together in a community-wide gathering.

Ignite! opens with an intergenerational, songful candle lighting, then breaks into a choose-your-own-adventure of arts-based workshops, performances and Jewish study sessions. See the full schedule with session descriptions here or abridged schedule here. (Among a number of Makom community members leading sessions, I’ll be offering Singing in the Dark, 11:45pm-12:45am.)

Throughout the night, enjoy short concerts inspired by the season’s themes, curated by the Ashkenaz Festival. 

Come early or late; stay a little or the whole time!

Kosher food available for purchase

Adult & Teen Track: suggested $20 per person

Family & Kids’ Track: admission provides access to the inter-generational communal candle lighting at 6pm and to a shorter program (6-8pm) for families with kids ages 5-12, with a light kosher dinner included. $30 per family of up to four people

Register here for family track:

https://bethtzedectoronto.shulcloud.com/form/ignite-tikkun-leil-chanukah-family.html

Register here for adult + teen track:

https://bethtzedectoronto.shulcloud.com/form/ignite-2023

Dec 7 – 14: Candles on College: Hanukkah Candle Lightings

You’re invited for outdoor candle lighting, singing, and hot cocoa right in front of Makom and Fentster on the College Street sidewalk.

Join us at 6pm on these nights of Hanukkah:
1st night – Thursday, Dec 7 
5th night – Monday, Dec 11
6th night – Tuesday, Dec 12
7th night – Wednesday, Dec 13
8th night – Thursday, Dec 14 

Celebrate one or more evenings of Hanukkah with us outside 402 College!

Nov 25: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

Saturday, Nov 25 
9:30am-2:30pm
@Makom (map)
Various price options available so finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
Services do not require registration.

Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by Shabbat lunch and learning!

Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.

Learning topic and teacher TBA.

Lunch registration required! We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.

Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Services don’t require registration.

Please 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.

Nov 19 – Dec 3: Parent + Tot Song & Story Circle

Every Sunday through Dec 3
10:00 – 11:00am

@Makom (map)

Registration required

Join us for a parent/grandparent and tot program for children aged 1.5 through 3 years, where the fun of a play date meets the value of Jewish family education!

Racheli Mandelker, our guitar-playing Director of Youth Education and Programming, will lead a fun and meaningful program focused on Jewish holidays, Shabbat, and Jewish values.

  • Interactive PJ Library story circle time
  • Arts & crafts
  • Music & movin’
  • Snack & schmoozin’

Feel free to share with any friends with little ones!

Nov 15: Community Healing Workshop: Coping & Resilience During Crisis

Wed, Nov 15
7:00-8:30pm

@Makom (map)
By donation upon registration
Register now – only 1 spot left

Amid the ongoing challenges in Israel and Gaza, it’s natural to feel engulfed by the tides of uncertainty and distress. It’s okay to acknowledge being overwhelmed and vital to reach out for communal strength.

Please join us for a workshop on the journey from helplessness to helpfulness, with therapist and grief counselor Aviv Bialy. Together, let’s weave a tapestry of support and collective resilience during this difficult time.

This workshop is a confluence of shared experiences, solace in unity, and an oasis of grounding practices. As someone navigating these turbulent times, Aviv has sought to create a haven for us all to find a semblance of peace and uncover our strength, together. 

Please note: to maintain an intimate setting, we’re welcoming up to 10 participants.

Aviv Bialy is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Grief Therapist at Andrea Warnick Consulting. Her connections to Israel are deep and personal. She created this workshop in order to help herself, and others, re-discover personal resilience in challenging times.

Aug 11: Outdoor Friday night services + picnic

Outdoor services & picnic Shabbat dinner
This Friday, August 11
7-10pm
@Bickford Park (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated
B.Y.O. Dinner, Plate, Utensils, Napkin, Water bottle, Blanket, etc.
 
Register for Outdoor Services & Shabbat Picnic Dinner
Gather in the great outdoors (of downtown TO) to wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful and song-filled services, followed by a picnic Shabbat dinner! B.Y.O. Dinner, Plate, Utensils, Napkin, Water bottle, Blanket, etc. We’ll provide grape juice for kiddush & rolls for ha-motzi. (Please note that this is NOT a potluck.)

Optional items to bring: Siddur/prayer book; we’ll have photocopies of services in Hebrew & phonetic transliteration available Kippah/head covering (if you wear one during services) We’ll have separate sections for women’s, men’s, and mixed (all genders) seating. Since we’ll be outdoors and not in a regular prayer space, there won’t be curtains between these sections. Children are welcome.

Washrooms should be open, based on information from the Parks Department, but can’t be guaranteed.

In the event of rain, the program is cancelled.

July 7: Outdoor Services + Picnic Shabbat Dinner

Gather in the great outdoors (of downtown TO) to wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful and song-filled services, followed by a picnic Shabbat dinner at Bickford Park! 


Friday July 7
7PM
@Bickford Park (map)
Various price options available so finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
Services do not require registration.


We’ll have separate sections for women’s, men’s, and mixed (all genders) seating. Since we’ll be outdoors and not in a regular prayer space, there won’t be curtains between these sections.

Children are welcome and must be registered as well.

Please note that washrooms should be open, based on information from the Parks Department, but cannot be guaranteed.

In the event of rain, services will be held indoors at Makom (402 College).

June 17: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!


Saturday, June 17
9:30m – 1:30pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Services do not require registration.
Lunch registration is required – click to register.
Various price options are available so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.


Start your Shabbat morning off right with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate. After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, kosher vegan Shabbat lunch together.

Please 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).

June 16: Community Pride Shabbat Dinner

Wind down from the week with Shabbat while celebrating Pride!


Friday, June 16
6pm – 8:30pm
@Cecil Street Community Centre – 58 Cecil St (map)
Registration required – sign up here.


As a part of our Pride Month celebrations, we invite you to our annual Pride Shabbat 2023. We will gather as a diverse Jewish community to celebrate Pride and be in community with one another.

Please join us on June 16 from 6:00-8:30pm for a Pride Shabbat service, followed by a Kosher vegan dinner. This year’s Pride Shabbat will take place at the Cecil Street Community Centre, 58 Cecil Street at Spadina.

This event centres on LGBTQ+ Jewish community members. Allies to both Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities are more than welcome to join us. Families are encouraged to bring children, with programming offered by Machane Lev for those aged 8-17. 

Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children. If this cost is prohibitive to your attendance, you are welcome to select the $18 ticket option. We likewise invite community members who can sponsor a community member’s dinner to select to pay $36 to offset somebody else’s meal cost. If the reduced fee is still a barrier to your attendance, please reach out to emunahw@mnjcc.org for further conversation. 

We are committed to ensuring our programming is accessible to anybody who wishes to attend. Cecil Community Centre is wheelchair accessible and has gender-neutral washrooms. We ask that folks who are not feeling well stay home and encourage attendees to wear masks whenever they are not eating. Please email emunahw@mnjcc.org with any accessibility questions or requests and we will work together to find ways for you to join us. The venue has a limited capacity, so buy your tickets as soon as you can!

Thank you to all of the partners supporting this event, including: Annex Shul, BBYO Maple, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Camp Gesher, Camp Shomria, CIJA LGBTQ+ Advisory Council, Congregation Shir Libeynu, The Danforth Jewish Circle, Eshel Toronto, Holy Blossom Temple, LGBTQ+ at the J, Machane Lev, Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism, MAZON Canada, Miles Nadal JCC, Moishe Pod, Prosserman JCC, UJA LGBTQ+ Division