Archives for Shabbat

Mar 31: Interfaith* Families Shabbat Dinner

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

Mar 24: Friday Night Services & Shabbat Dinner

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.

Mar 17: Interfaith* Couples Shabbat Dinner

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

Mar 11: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

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.

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


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).

Jan 27: Friday Night Services + Dinner

Photo of people seated at a long table enjoying Friday night dinner.

Fri, Jan 27
6-9pm

@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Services: Free
Dinner: $20 adults/teens, $12 kids (10% discount for Makom Members)
Volunteers eat free
Dinner Registration Required by Wed night!

Celebrate Shabbat with spirit! Wind down from the week and welcome Shabbat with soulful, song-filled services, in which everyone can participate.

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

After services, we’ll enjoy a delicious, catered kosher vegan Shabbat dinner together.

Limited space; register for dinner by Wednesday night!

Become a Makom Member first and save 10%.

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

Volunteers Eat FREE!

We need two volunteers who commit to helping set up dinner after services, bringing out food, and cleaning up. If you want to volunteer, register for a volunteer ticket instead of a paid ticket.

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 dinner are welcome to remove their masks.

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

Jan 14: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

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).

Dec 17: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

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

Sat, Dec 17
9:30am – 1:30pm 

@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated!
Lunch Registration Required by Fri, Dec 16 at 12noon

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

Want to read Torah or HaftarahEmail Adina.

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

Lunch is FREE; donations are greatly appreciated!

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 (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).

Nov 19: Shabbat Morning Services + Lunch n’ Learn

Colourful Hebrew letters spelling Shabbat Shalom

Sat, Nov 19
9:30am – 1:30pm 

@Makom – 402 College St (map)
Free – donations greatly appreciated!
Registration Required by Fri, Nov 18 at 12noon

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

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

Want to read Torah or HaftarahEmail Adina.

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

Lunch is FREE; donations are greatly appreciated!

Our guest teacher at lunch is Nadav Sharon (bio below). In preparation for Hanukkah, which starts in exactly one month, he’ll teach us about “The Story of Hanukkah and Its Historical Sources.”

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).

Nadav Sharon

Nadav Sharon

Nadav Sharon holds a PhD in the history of the Jewish people in the Second Temple period from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2013). His PhD dissertation focused on the end of the Hasmonean state and the beginning of Roman rule in Judea (67–37 BCE), and a revised version of it was published in 2017 as Judea under Roman Domination: The First Generation of Statelessness and Its Legacy. He has also published several academic studies in the field of Second Temple Judaism.

Following a number of postdoctoral positions, including one at the University of Toronto, Nadav earned a Master of Information degree from the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, and, as of January 2020, serves as Judaica Librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library of the University of Toronto and Jewish Studies selector for the University’s Central Libraries.

Nov 4: CANCELLED: Friday Night Services + Kiddush

This service has been cancelled due to illness.

Fri, Nov 4
6:00 – 7:30pm 

@Makom – 402 College Street (map)
Free


Join us for soulful and song-filled Friday night services with a devar Torah (Torah teaching), followed by an indoor kiddush (snacks & shmoozing).

Services will have men’s, women’s, and mixed (all genders) seating sections.

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 kiddush are welcome to remove their masks.