Learn basic textile mending skills and explore the significance of repair, both environmentally and through a Jewish lens. 

Wednesday, March 25 | 6:00-8:00 pm – Makom (402 College St)

We’ll begin with a kosher, vegan dinner, followed by a short text study and discussion with Rabbi Aaron. Then, we’ll have an hour of hands-on learning to mend clothing with Shoresh educator Rebecca.

Bring your clothing and textiles that need a little love, and any yarn or materials you have that you’d like to work with. 

You’ll receive a basic mending kit you can take home with you, including darning needles, a darning egg, and some yarn swatches you can choose from.

This is a beginner, introductory workshop; no experience necessary! Come learn some new skills, or enjoy an enriching community space to continue your learning. 

Please try to arrive on time to maximize our workshop time.

Brought to you by Shoresh and Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism

Accessibility Information

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.

The post Mar 25: Let’s Repair! Clothing Mending Workshop + Dinner appeared first on Makom.

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

Saturday July 29 
9:30am-1pm
@Makom (map)
Various price options available so finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
Services do not require registration.

We’ll hear the Torah reading of parashat Va’etchanan (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), in which Moses pleads to enter the Land of Israel before his final speech to the Israelites, reminding them to keep the commandments.

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

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.

At lunch, we’ll enjoy a  catered, delicious vegan & kosher meal 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).

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.

The post July 29: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn appeared first on Makom.

Wednesday July 26
8:30PM
@Makom (map)
Free registration required

Please join us for a powerful, contemplative evening marking historical Jewish loss and ongoing brokenness in the world as we usher in Tishah be-Av, the ninth day of the lunar month of Av. This date marks the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies in Jewish history. It is traditionally observed with fasting, refraining from wearing leather, and other mourning customs. (For more background, see here.)

We’ll pray the brief evening service and listen to the Biblical book of Eikhah/Lamentations, hauntingly chanted by community members. We’ll also sing some songs, kinnot (elegies), and niggunim (wordless melodies).

Services will be held at Makom – 402 College Street. Doors open at 8:30, services to start promptly at 8:45.

Please bring:

-Blanket, cushion, or chair for sitting

-Cash to donate toward feeding the hungry, in keeping with the spirit of Isaiah 58:6-7, “This is the fast I desire… It is to share your bread with the hungry.”

-Kippah/head covering (if you wear one during services)

FYI, the fast begins Wed at sunset, 8:47pm, and ends Thurs at nightfall, 9:20pm.

The post July 26: Tishah be-Av Services + Eikhah Reading appeared first on Makom.

Got kids? Join us and other families for upbeat, abridged Shabbat morning family services, followed by Shabbat lunch!

Saturday July 8
10:00AM-12:30PM
@Makom (map)
Various price options available so finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation.
Services do not require registration.

Services are geared for kids who just finished grades 1-5, but all families with kids are welcome.

Services are egalitarian with mixed seating, and will include prayers, songs, a Torah story and discussion to meaningfully engage adults and children together. Services will be led by Makom’s Director of Youth Education & Programming, Racheli Mandelker, and Rabbi Aaron.

At lunch, we’ll enjoy a  home-cooked, delicious vegan & kosher meal together.

Lunch registration required! We have various price options so that finances aren’t an impediment to anyone’s participation. Registration deadline: Thursday, July 6.

Become a Makom Member first to save 10%.

Services don’t require registration.

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.

The post July 8: Family Shabbat Service + Lunch appeared first on Makom.

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).

The post July 7: Outdoor Services + Picnic Shabbat Dinner appeared first on Makom.

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).

The post June 17: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn appeared first on Makom.

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

The post June 16: Community Pride Shabbat Dinner appeared first on Makom.

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!

Saturday, May 6
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).

Covid Precautions

To make services safer for community members who have health concerns, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc.) throughout services. Children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.
After services conclude and folks who aren’t staying have a chance to leave, those staying for dinner are welcome to remove their masks.

The post May 6: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch appeared first on Makom.

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!

Friday, April 21
6:45pm – 9:45pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Services do not require registration.
Dinner registration is required – click here 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%.

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 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).

Covid Precautions

To make services safer for community members who have health concerns, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc.) throughout services. Children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.
After services conclude and folks who aren’t staying have a chance to leave, those staying for dinner are welcome to remove their masks.

The post April 21: Friday Night Services & Shabbat Dinner appeared first on Makom.

Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism & Friends invite you to

Celebrate Mimouna and Iftar Together!

Sunday, April 16
7:00pm – 9:00pm
@Makom, 402 College St (map)

Join our downtown, inclusive communitie for socializing, prayer, and eating together.

What’s Mimouna?

Moroccan Jewish and Muslim custom of friendship and eating together after the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesah) ends

What’s Iftar?

Muslim tradition of eating together after fasting all day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan

Registration required by Friday, April 14 at 12noon!

Schedule

7:00pm  Mingling & icebreakers

7:30         Musical performances by community members

8:03         Sunset, Muslim call to prayer, Snacks (dates & samosas)

8:15          Evening prayer services (Maghrib & Maariv) for those who wish

8:30         Dinner (catered kosher, halal, vegan Indian dinner)

9:00         Goodnight

All food will be kosher, halal & vegan

Volunteers needed!

To help with setup 6:00-7:00pm or cleanup 9:00-9:30pm, check the box when you register.

Any Qs? Contact aaron@makomTO.org

Accessibility Information

We welcome participants of all abilities. The venue and its washrooms are wheelchair accessible. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

The post April 16: Mimouna-Iftar Jewish-Muslim Unity Dinner appeared first on Makom.