Programs - Page 14 of 50 - Makom

Dec 14: Hativah Hanukkah Party

Join Hativah – our new youth group for grades 6-8 – for a fun Hanukkah party!

Celebrate the last night of Hanukkah with new and old friends.

Light Hanukkah candles and sing some Hanukkah songs at 6pm outdoors on the sidewalk in front of Makom. Then, hang out inside with other Jewish* middle school students while enjoying latkes with toppings, hot chocolate, snacks, music, and games.

Feel free to invite friends!

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

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

Register here:

https://guestlist.co/events/763779

High school students: click here for the Teens’ Hanukkah Party.

Any Qs? Email Racheli Mandelker, Director of Youth Education & Programming.

Dec 11: Downtown Jewish Teens Hanukkah Party

Join other Jewish* high school teens for a chill Hanukkah party on the fifth night of Hanukkah – Monday, Dec 11, 6-8pm.

Light Hanukkah candles and sing some Hanukkah songs at 6pm outdoors on the sidewalk in front of Makom.

Then, hang out inside while enjoying latkes with toppings, hot chocolate, snacks, music, and games in the warm company of new and old friends.

Feel free to invite friends and JSAs!

Register here:

https://guestlist.co/events/763770

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

Dec 10: Family Hanukkah Carnival

On Sunday, Dec 10, come on over to the Miles Nadal JCC for a family celebration with activities for ages 0-10, including Maccabee jungle gym, Hanukkah Singalong, holiday crafts and games, face painting, photo booth, your favourite seasonal snacks, and so much more!

Play traditional and creative dreidel games with Racheli Mandelker, Makom’s Director of Youth Education and Programming.

10am-12pm

$10 per person, kids 0-2 free

Advanced registration required:

https://app.amilia.com/store/en/miles-nadal-jcc/shop/activities/4615512

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 workshopsperformances 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.

Nov 14 – Dec 17: House of Searching: the Downtown Beit Midrash

Please join us for House of Searching: The Downtown Beit Midrash!

Learn Torah together in an open and supportive environment.

Every Tuesday until December 17
7:00 Soup & Socializing
7:30-9:00 Learning

@Makom (map)
Free
Register now

It’s not a class, but a weekly space for you to:

  • Enjoy soup and socializing 7:00-7:30pm
  • Choose a Jewish text that interests you – we have a wide variety, from weekly Torah portion to ethics, mysticism to law, and much more; or bring your own book
  • Find a havruta (study partner) – come with a friend or we’ll help pair you with someone with a similar interest as you
  • Sit and learn together – read aloud, ask each other questions, discuss, debate, and reflect

While Rabbi Aaron won’t be formally teaching, he’ll be your Torah concierge to help you pick a text that works for you, find a havruta, get started, and navigate any difficulties you encounter.

Everyone is welcome, no matter your Jewish learning background!

And of course, LGBTQ+ folks, interfaith couples, and people from interfaith backgrounds are always absolutely welcome.

Learning Torah is fun! We really hope you’ll join us for it.

What’s a Beit Midrash?

Beit Midrash is usually translated as House of Study, a place in which people come together to learn, discuss, and debate Jewish texts of all sorts. But the root of the word “midrash” means searching. When we study Torah, we’re not just trying to comprehend it intellectually, but seeking meaning from it to apply in our lives. Hence, House of Searching.

Why is this important?

As Rabbi Aaron spoke about on Rosh Hashanah, it’s the Torah that gives meaning and substance to being Jewish.

Torah literally means “teaching,” so it refers not only to the Torah itself (the 5 Books of Moses), but to any Jewish teaching. There are so many ways to learn Torah, whether by reading the parashah (weekly Torah portion), studying the rabbinic debates of the Mishnah and Talmud, examining halakhah (Jewish law), delving into kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), and on and on.

Torah can enlighten us.  It can teach us our people’s stories, about Jewish ritual and ethics, the world, each other, God, even ourselves.

Torah – in its fullest sense – is so vast and varied, there’s definitely something that’s just right for you to learn.

Who is this for?

Torah is for all of us! It’s not some secret knowledge just for certain people. As the Torah says about itself: כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ – “This thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart” (see Devarim 30:11-14). House of Searching is intended for all adults; high school teens are also welcome.

How are we funding this?

Thank you to a generous, anonymous donor for partially sponsoring House of Searching and to Sunflower Kitchen for donating large amounts of soup.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available; please connect with Rabbi Aaron if you’re interested in supporting this program in general or for a particular week, perhaps in honour or memory of someone or to mark a special occasion. 

Donations are tremendously helpful and greatly appreciated; if you’re able, please contribute.