Posted on by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off on June 7 – Family Shabbat Morning Services & Lunch
Join us and for an upbeat, kid-friendly Shabbat morning family service followed by Shabbat lunch! Services are geared for kids in grades 1-5 and their parents, but all families with kids are welcome.
Saturday, June 7 10:30am – 1:00pm @ Makom (map) Lunch registration required by Friday, June 6 at 12 noon
We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to participation. Become a Makom Member first to save 10%.
Led by Sarah English, Director of Education & Youth Programming, and Rabbi Aaron, services are egalitarian with mixed seating, and will include prayers, songs, a Torah story, and discussion to meaningfully engage adults and children together.
At lunch, we’ll enjoy a home-cooked, delicious vegan & kosher meal together.
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.
Posted on by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off on May 30 – Sephardic Friday Night Services & Dinner
Everyone is invited to join us for Sephardic-style services to welcome Shabbat, with community members of different Sephardic backgrounds leading services. After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious kosher and vegan Moroccan Shabbat dinner and each other’s warm company.
Friday, May 30 7:15pm – 10pm @ Makom (map) Dinner registration required by Thursday, May 29 at 10am.
No need to register if you’re coming just for services and not staying for dinner. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.
Please try to come on time for services at 7:15pm.
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.
Presented by Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism in partnership with HAMSA (Honouring & Affirming Mizrahi & Sepharadi Ancestry) of the Miles Nadal JCC.
Posted on by Ben in Shabbat, Uncategorized | Comments Off on May 17 – Shabbat Morning Services & Lunch n’ Learn
Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by a delicious Shabbat lunch and stimulating learning!
Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.
Saturday, May 17 9:30am – 2:30pm @ Makom (map) Please register for lunch by Friday, May 16 at 12 noon
Services don’t require registration, just Lunch n’ Learn.
Become a Makom Member first and save 10%. We also have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
At lunch, Professor Sara Verskin will present Maimonides and the Woman Who Taught Torah:
In 12th-century Egypt, Moses Maimonides received two letters: one written on behalf of a disgruntled husband who wanted his wife to give up her job, and the other on behalf of his wife, who wanted Maimonides to understand how she became a Bible teacher and why the job meant so much to her. In this text study we will read both letters and explore their descriptions of the daily life of Jewish men, women, and children. We will also study Maimonides’s replies (teshuvot) to each and discuss the surprising understandings they display of the halakhot of marriage and divorce.
Sara Verskin is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the departments of Religion and of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations where she teaches courses on Islamic family law, the history of medicine, and medieval social history.
Services
Please try to 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).
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.
Posted on by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off on May 2 – Friday Night Services & Shabbat Dinner
Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate. After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner and each other’s warm company.
Friday, May 2, 7pm 402 College St
Dinner registration required by Thursday, May 1 at 10am. No need to register if you’re coming just for services and not staying for dinner.
Please try to come on time for services at 7pm.
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.
Posted on by Ben in holidays | Comments Off on Apr 27 – Mimouna! Moroccan Post-Passover Celebration
Let’s celebrate Mimouna together!
Please join us for a delightful evening of socializing, cultural sharing, music, and eating.
What’s Mimouna? A Moroccan Jewish and Muslim custom of friendship and eating together after the Jewish festival of Pesah (Passover) ends.
Sunday, April 27 6:30 – 8:30pm Registration required by Thursday, April 24 at 10am
If you’re able to contribute more, please consider buying a ticket that also helps subsidize a reduced-rate ticket, becoming a program sponsor, or making a donation.
In order to make this event inclusive and comfortable for all, please refrain from bringing or wearing any flags or other political symbols or statements. Thank you for helping to create an atmosphere of togetherness across differences.
Schedule
6:30pm – Check in, music & mingling 6:45 – Welcome & icebreaker 7:00 – Explanation of Mimouna and its customs 7:15 – Dinner: dates, moufleta (the special fried, stacked dough cakes traditionally eaten at Mimouna), Moroccan couscous/tagine, mint tea, dessert 8:30 – Goodnight!
All food will be kosher, halal & vegetarian (with vegan options).
Tirbehu we tisaadu ~ May you have wealth and happiness!
Volunteers needed! To help with cleanup 8:30-9:30pm, please check the box when you register.
Makom welcomes participants of all abilities. Makom’s main space is wheelchair accessible; unfortunately, the washroom is down a flight of stairs. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.
Posted on by Ben in holidays, Shabbat | Comments Off on Apr 19 – Shabbat-Pesah Morning Services & Snack Kiddush
Join us for extra-joyous Shabbat-Passover morning services,followed by a light kiddush (snacks and socializing)!
In addition to usual services and Torah and haftarah reading, we’ll sing Hallel (Psalms of praise sung on holidays) and chant Shir ha-Shirim (Song of Songs, a Biblical book of love poetry).
Please bring a packaged, certified-kosher-for-Passover snack to share.
Supervised childcare will be provided in Makom’s playroom during services.
Free, but please register by Thursday, April 17 so we know how many folks to expect:
Please try to 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.
Posted on by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off on Mar 22 – Shabbat Morning Services & Lunch n’ Learn
Join us for soulful and song-filled Shabbat morning services, followed by a delicious Shabbat lunch and stimulating learning!
Saturday, March 22 9:30am – 2:30pm @ Makom (map) Please register for lunch by Friday, February 7 at 12 noon
Services don’t require registration, just Lunch n’ Learn. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%. We also have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
At lunch, we’ll learn about The Five Characteristics of the Soul with Rabbi Dr. David Weiss. What is the soul? What are its characteristics? Its diseases? How can we cure our souls? The great Jewish philosopher Maimonides believed that “the improvement of moral qualities is brought about by the healing of the soul and its activities.” We’ll explore the ideas of Maimonides in the first chapter of Shemoneh Perakim (The Eight Chapters), which will enlighten your understanding of the soul and deepen your Jewish journey.
No prior Jewish learning necessary. All sources will be presented in Hebrew and English.
Rabbi Dr. David S. Weiss is the coauthor of Maimonides’ Cure of Souls: Medieval Precursor of Psychoanalysis (SUNY Press) and the High Holydays Rabbi at Beth Radom Congregation in Toronto. He holds rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, a doctorate from the University of Toronto, and three master’s degrees in education, psychology, and philosophy. David is a Certified PCC Leadership Coach with the International Coaching Federation and he leads the organizational psychology firm Weiss International Ltd., which focuses on innovation and leadership coaching. Read more about David’s professional life and innovative concepts and his daily insights on leadership.
Services
Please try to 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).
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.
Posted on by Ben in holidays | Comments Off on Mar 13 & 14 – Purim 5785!
Please join us for a joyous Purim full of mitzvot, community & fun for all ages!
With three full megillah readings, a family puppet 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: Wed, Mar 12!
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.
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 ~ Thursday, March 13 @ The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave)
Families (babies through grade 8)
5:15pm
Doors Open
5:30
Abridged Megillah Reading
6-6:30
Puppet Show for families with kids in Grade 5 and under
6-7
HativahParty (grades 6-8 only)
Full Megilah Reading + Parties
7:30pm
Doors Open
7:40
Ma’ariv (evening service)
8:00
Main Megillah Reading
9:00
Main Party with cash bar & music
9:00
Teen Party (high school teens only)
9:15
Dinner (order food by Wed, March 12; certified kosher)
10:00
Late Megillah Reading
11:30
Goodnight
Purim Day ~ Friday, March 14 @ Makom (402 College St)
Morning Megillah Reading 9:30-10:30 am
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:
Posted on by Ben in Shabbat | Comments Off on Mar 7 – Friday Night Services + Shabbat Dinner
Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate. After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner and each other’s warm company.
Friday March 7 6:00pm – 9:00pm @ Makom (map) Please register for dinner by Thursday, March 6
No need to register if you’re coming just for services and not staying for dinner. Become a Makom Member first and save 10%. We also have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
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.
Please try to 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).
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.
