Mark Sandler is widely known as one of Canada’s leading criminal lawyers and pro bono advocates. He’ll be speaking about the difference between protected speech and hate speech. Mark is the founder and Chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA), a diverse coalition of 40+ community organizations and groups that collaboratively address antisemitism through advocacy, education and respectful dialogue. He has lectured extensively on legal remedies to combat hate and has promoted respectful Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish and Black-Jewish dialogues. He has appeared before parliamentary committees and the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions on antisemitism and hate activities. He is also a former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. Register

On the Hebrew anniversary of October 7th, we will hold a special commemorative service. Please join us in the sanctuary for an expanded memorial Ma’ariv prayer, followed by a concert of Israeli music. A note from our Executive Director: "As an Israeli and a musician, I invite you all to a special concert commemorating the Hebrew calendar day that marks the horror events of October 7th. This will be a unique exploration of Israeli music, with seven songs representing each decade of the state of Israel—songs of grief and longing, but also hope and a wish for a better future." Register

Kolot Noam, Darchei Noam's take on Shira beTsibur is back! The non-member fee is $5, members participate for free. You must register! Please bring a small dessert to share at the end of the evening. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Presented and moderated by Dr. Matt Reingold, a local Jewish educator. Matt received his Ph.D. from York University and his research and writing focuses on Jewish and Israeli comics and cartoons. Join us in person to see the art up close and take part in the discussion. Register

Dr. Philip Berger has been a life-long champion of humane health care. As an educator, administrator and physician, he has transformed care access for patients facing barriers in navigating the health care system, particularly those living in poverty, injection drug users, people with HIV/AIDS, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, refugees and victims of torture. His efforts have helped change medical policies, and his mentorship has inspired physicians in their own care journeys. Dr. Berger has taken on leadership roles on the Canadian Jewish Congress between 2004 and 2013. He is the author of a recent article in Tablet Magazine about antisemitism in academia after October 7. For his strong advocacy on behalf of vulnerable people, in 2020 Dr. Berger was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. The Merkur Lectures are a series of Darchei Noam programs on equity, civil liberty and social justice, presented with generous support from the Merkur Family. Register This is a no-fee event. Please register, and let us know if you plan to join us in person or on Zoom. In either case, you will receive a Zoom link close to the date of the event.

Join us for a special Shabbat experience with your family! Gather for uplifting services, strengthen connections within our community, and enjoy meaningful time with loved ones. This Shabbat, we’ll also celebrate Rabbi Tina’s recent marriage, making the occasion even more joyful. We encourage B’Mitzvah families to attend as well; this is a wonderful opportunity to experience the services and fulfill one of the attendance requirements. We look forward to sharing this memorable day together!

Experience the heartwarming blend of traditional egalitarian Shabbat morning services, engaging children’s programming, Torah study, enlightening talks, alternative creative services, spirited Israeli dancing, and the camaraderie of communal Kiddush. Whatever you seek on Shabbat, Darchei Noam has something to offer! Our Shabbat morning services, filled with joyous singing accompanied by instruments, moments of contemplative reflection, and insightful divrei Torah (teachings), create a backdrop for life cycle celebrations within our welcoming community. Enhance your communal Shabbat experience by joining our Kiddush lunch. Whether you practice Yiddish or Hebrew at our monthly Yiddish Tisch or Shulchan Ivrit, celebrate a simcha with a community family, join in our monthly Israeli dancing sessions, or host your own gathering, Shabbat at Darchei Noam is a chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones! We follow the Reconstructionist prayer book Kol Haneshamah Shabbat v’Chagim. Services take place on Saturday mornings at 10 am, with child care available. All our services are also streamed via Zoom!. If you’d like a community member to accompany you during a Darchei Noam service, simply let us know – we’d be delighted to arrange it! Come and immerse yourself in the richness and diversity of our community’s Shabbat observances. Aliyah and Special Occasions For an Aliyah during sanctuary services or to acknowledge a special occasion during virtual services, please contact Rabbi Ryan Leszner at least two days in advance. The Parnass will happily share news of your occasion with the congregation at the start of the Torah service.

As a part of the commitment we announced at our Annual General Meeting this past June to be (more) transparent and engage our community, we are holding a Town Hall on November 27 at 7 p.m. Please join us for an informative, interactive evening intended to share information, ideas and suggestions.

On Being Right and Wrong at the Same Time: An Exploration of the Hard Work of Social Justice with Dr. Gary Bloch Saturday, November 30 | 10 a.m. Progressive Jewish communities treat social improvement as a core element of their self-conception and community action. Immersion in the work of social justice, however, reveals it to be rife with uncertainty, with contradiction, and with internal and external struggle. Parashat Toldot’s story of Jacob and Esau offers a powerful opportunity to explore the pain and the power of seeing our actions as simultaneously right and wrong, and of not knowing who is more right and who is more wrong.  Moral and intellectual ambiguity lies at the heart of much work toward the improvement of our society, our community, and our world. In this d'var Torah, Darchei Noam's Social Justice Scholar-in-Residence will draw on decades of antipoverty work in health care, and on the turmoil of the past year, to explore the tortuous struggles that underlie efforts to achieve impactful, positive social change. Dr. Bloch will also lead an interactive post-Kiddush discussion.