Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by a delicious Shabbat lunch and stimulating learning! At lunch, we’ll learn from Prof. Alan Verskin on the topic: “Maimonides & the Identity Crisis of a Jew by Choice”
Saturday, July 26
9:30am – 2:30pm
@ Makom (map)
Lunch registration required by Friday, July 25 at 12 noon.
Services don’t require registration – no need to register if you’re not staying for lunch!
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Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.
Please try to come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.
At lunch, Prof. Alan Verskin will teach us on “Maimonides & the Identity Crisis of a Jew by Choice.”
The Middle Ages were famously a time of forced conversions of Jews to other religions, but less well known are the instances of conversion to Judaism. Rabbi Moses Maimonides, who himself may have lived for a time as a Muslim, was deeply interested in the ramifications of conversion, both for the converts themselves and for the communities which they joined. In this talk, we’ll discuss both Maimonides’ legal theory about how to treat converts to Judaism and his correspondence with one particular convert named Obadiah, who asked for Maimonides’ help in navigating his conversion and crisis of identity.
Professor Alan Verskin is the Samuel J. Zacks Chair of Jewish History at the University of Toronto. His areas of research include religious, legal, and social history in both Jewish and Islamic contexts, from the middle ages through the nineteenth century. He is particularly interested in travel, translation, and the migration of ideas between religious communities. He is also interested in intellectual responses to religious persecution and minorityhood. What unites and connects all of these areas is an emphasis on paying attention to the first-person stories of those whose perspectives have been marginalized. Read more…
Services
Makom is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes participants with many different approaches to Judaism, from secular to traditionally observant. Our services blend traditional and progressive practices, so our community can join together without regard to denominational labels.
We offer men’s, women’s, and mixed (all-genders) seating sections. All genders may lead parts of services. We need an egalitarian minyan of 10 Jews and a non-overlapping traditional minyan of 10 men to start the maariv service, so we encourage you to come on time.
Accessibility Information
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.