Archives for Downtown Jewish Toronto

April 2: Matzah Bake in the Park

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Join us for a fun afternoon making and baking Matzah in an outdoor, wood-burning oven!

Sunday, April 2
3:00pm – 5:00pm
@Dufferin Grove Park – 875 Dufferin St (map)
Find us at the north-west corner of Dufferin Grove Park, near the ice rink.

Presented by Makom in partnership with Miles Nadal JCC, PJ Library and Camp Shomria.

Join us for a fun afternoon making and baking Matzah in an outdoor, wood-burning oven! See if you can mix, knead, roll and bake in 18 minutes or less!  Note: Matzah won’t be kosher for Passover but it’s still a wonderful way to prepare for Pesah.

All ages and abilities welcome! Kiddos will enjoy Passover stories read by our friends from PJ Library. If you have an accessibility need or require any accommodations, please reach out to us.

Public washrooms should be open.

Register Now

Mar 31: Interfaith* Families Shabbat Dinner

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Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with other interfaith families and children!

Friday, March 31
6:00pm – 8:00pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Registration required – sign up here.
Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Presented by Makom and Jewish&.

Join us to learn about and participate in traditional Shabbat rituals and songs in warm, supportive community; and enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegetarian Shabbat dinner together.

*interfaith, multicultural, mixed heritage, Jewish&, etc. LGBTQ+ families warmly welcome!

Looking for a couples only dinner? Join us on March 17 for an interfaith couples Shabbat dinner.

Accessibility Information
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

Register Now

Mar 24: Friday Night Services & Shabbat Dinner

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Celebrate Shabbat with spirit!

Friday, March 24
6:30pm – 9:30pm
@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 lunch are welcome to remove their masks.

Register Now

Mar 17: Interfaith* Couples Shabbat Dinner

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Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with other interfaith couples!

Friday, March 17
6:30pm – 8:30pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Registration required – sign up here.
Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

Presented by Makom and Jewish&.

Join us to learn about and participate in traditional Shabbat rituals and songs in warm, supportive community; and enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner together.

*interfaith, multicultural, mixed heritage, Jewish&, etc. LGBTQ+ couples warmly welcome! One or both partners are welcome to join.

Have children? This event is for partners of adult couples only – join us on March 31 for an interfaith families Shabbat dinner.

Accessibility Information
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

Register Now

Mar 11: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

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

Saturday, March 11
9:30am – 2:00pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Services do not require registration.
Lunch 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%.

We’ll hear the Torah reading of parashat Ki Tissa (Shemot/Exodus 30:11-34:35), which includes the pivotal episode of the golden calf. There’s also a special, additional Torah reading for Shabbat Parah (literally, cow Shabbat): Bemidbar/Numbers 19:1-22.

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

At lunch, Rabbi Aaron will guide us in learning “But Why?! Do Mitzvot Have Reasons?”
Through text study and discussion, we’ll explore diverse approaches (including our own) to this foundational philosophical question in Judaism. (No prior Jewish learning experience or Hebrew knowledge necessary.)

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 lunch are welcome to remove their masks.

Register for Lunch Now

Mar 6: Purim Palooza 5783

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Mon, Mar 6
5:15pm – 6:30pm (Family Program)
6:45pm-10:30pm (Main party and Megillah Reading)
Tranzac Club – 292 Brunswick Ave (map)
Registration required by Sun, Mar 4 at 12noon
Tues, Mar 7
8:00am – 9:00am (Daytime Megillah Reading)
Makom – 402 College Street (map)

Toronto Partnership Minyan & Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism

merrily present…

Purim Palooza!

Please join us for a joyous Purim full of mitzvot, community & fun for all ages!

Come in costume!

Colourful Purim graphic including a megilah scroll, a gragger, an overflowing cup of wine, and several hamentaschen

B.Y.O. Gragger/Ra`ashan/Noisemaker!

Advance registration required for all participants.  If you cannot afford regular-price tickets, please choose the free option. Register now!

Unable to join us in person due to health concerns or feeling unwell? Register for the 7pm megillah reading livestream and we’ll email you the Zoom link.

Volunteers needed for the door, setup, food service and cleanup. If you can help out, please select how you’d like to volunteer and a time slot when you register (after you select your tickets).

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)

Purim Schedule

Purim Eve ~ Monday, March 6 @ The Tranzac

Family Program (masks optional)

5:15pm   Dinner (order by Sun, March 4 at noon)

5:45       Mini-Megillah Reading

6:00       Juggling Show

6:30       Family Program Ends

General Program

6:45pm  Ma`ariv (evening service, masks required)

7:00       Main Megillah Reading & Zakhor (masks required)

8:00       Dinner (order by Sun, March 4 at noon)

              Main Party (masks optional)

             Masked Party (masks required)

9:00       Late Megillah Reading (until 10:00; masks required)

10:30     Goodnight

Purim Day ~ Tuesday, March 7 @ Makom

8:00-9:00am  Morning Megillah Reading (masks required)

Covid Precautions

Anyone who had symptoms of Covid-19, or who has a household member with a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19, that began within the last 10 days, must not attend in person. You’re welcome to register for the 7pm livestream of megillah reading.

During the family program (5:15-6:30pm) and main party (8:00-10:30pm), masking will be optional.

To be more inclusive of community members who have health concerns, during ma`ariv (evening service), any full megillah reading, and in the masked party room, everyone age 5+ must wear a surgical or higher-quality mask (KN-95, KF-94, etc). In those settings, children 2-4 should try to wear any mask they’ll keep on. We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have.

After megillah reading concludes and folks have had a chance to leave the room, those staying for dinner or the main party are welcome to remove their masks.

Both the Tranzac and Makom have HEPA filters.

Accessibility Information

We welcome participants of all abilities. The Tranzac is wheelchair accessible. 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.

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:

–United Chesed of Toronto: donate before Feb 28 for distribution on Purim

–Chevrah Oseh Chesed/Tomchei Shabbos of Toronto: donate before Purim day & select “Matanas L’evyonim” as donation type

–Yad Eliezer (Israel): donate before Purim day

–Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario: donate even on Purim day

We look forward to celebrating Purim together with you!

Feb 11: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch’n’Learn

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Sat, Feb 11
9:30am – 2:00pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated!
Lunch Registration Required by Fri, Feb 10 at 12noon

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

Lunch is generously sponsored by Aviva and Jonathan Ben-Choreen Freedman in honour of their daughter Elishua reading Torah for her first time!

Please come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.

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

Lunch is FREE; registration’s required and donations are greatly appreciated!

Our teacher at lunch TBA.

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 can 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 lunch are welcome to remove their masks.

*As a diverse and inclusive Jewish community, Makom has mens’, womens’, and mixed 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).

Feb 5: Family Tu bi-Shvat Seder + Pizza Dinner

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A tree with sunlight streaming through its branches


Sun, Feb 5
5-7pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
$15 adults/teens, $10 kids (10% discount for Makom Members)
Registration Required by Thurs, Feb 2

Celebrate Tu bi-Shvat – the Jewish New Year for Trees – with a special seder for families!

  • Family-based learning about the holiday
  • Fun activities
  • Fruits
  • Grape juice
  • Pizza
  • Salad
  • Dessert

Geared for kids in grades 1-5 and their parents, grandparents, and guardians.
Limited space; register by Thursday, Feb 2!

If cost presents a hardship for you, please contact Rabbi Aaron.

Jan 14: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

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Sat, Jan 14
9:30am – 2:00pm
@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated!
Lunch Registration Required by Fri, Jan 13 at 12noon

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

Please come on time so we can start services strong with a double minyan,* especially for anyone saying kaddish.

Want to read Torah? We still have a few aliyot open. Please email Rabbi Aaron ASAP.

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

Lunch is FREE; registration’s requiredand donations are greatly appreciated!

Our guest teacher at lunch will be Prof Tanhum Yoreh.

Bal tashḥit, the prohibition against wastefulness, is a fluid concept that shifts over the course of history. We will start by looking at some of the pivotal texts that shaped Jewish approaches to wastefulness and consumption, and conclude with a discussion of the opportunities and challenges to bal tashḥit as an environmental ethic for today and tomorrow.

Tanhum Yoreh is an Assistant Professor at the School of Environment at the University of Toronto. His research focuses religion and environment and faith-based environmentalism. He is the author of Waste Not: A Jewish Environmental Ethic (SUNY Press, 2019).

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 can 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 lunch are welcome to remove their masks.

*As a diverse and inclusive Jewish community, Makom has mens’, womens’, and mixed 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).

Aug 19: Outdoor Friday Night Services + Picnic

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People standing on a grassy field praying together


Fri, Aug 19
7-9pm
@Bickford Park (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated!
Registration Required

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!

Brought to you by Makom & Annex Shul

B.Y.O. Dinner, Plate, Utensils, Napkin, Water bottle, Blanket, etc.

(Please note that this is NOT a potluck.)

We’ll provide grape juice for kiddush & rolls for ha-motzi.

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 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) with masking and vaccination required; picnic will be cancelled.

Register Now!
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