Shabbat Torah Study
2024-10-19 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-10-26 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-11-02 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-11-09 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-11-16 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-11-23 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-11-30 09:00 - 22:00, 2024-12-07 09:00 - 22:00 (Asia/Karachi) | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Torah Study
Saturdays | 9:00 a.m. – In the Library and on Zoom
Come explore this week’s Parsha with us before services. We are usually lay-led, often lively and always rewarding.

Israeli Dancing
2024-10-19 12:30 - 13:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Please join us toward the end of kiddush in the Triple Room for an hour of Israeli dancing. All are welcome to join us in this fun, community-building activity. Join us to enjoy Israeli music and movement.

Peace Begins Here – Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
2024-10-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-24 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Are you feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and powerless over the conflict and suffering in the world? You do not need to navigate it alone.
Join Mindfulness Coach and Yoga Therapist Paula Vital for Peace Begins Here – Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation on Sunday mornings at Darchei Noam.
Connect with your strength, courage and wisdom through the Kabbalistic tools of chanting, meditation, visualization, and tapping into our spiritual centers, or Sefirot.
These sessions will provide an in-depth, practical application of Jewish mindfulness and meditation practices to reduce stress, increase clarity and efficiency, improve connection and communication, and establish a clear sense of purpose, peace and well-being.
We will also have an opportunity for mindful listening and loving speech so we can share and connect with an open heart.
Topics covered include:

What is Mindfulness and Why does it Matter in a Jewish context?
The Power of Breathing and Calming the Nervous System
Uncovering our Deepest Intentions through Visualization
Healing the Body and Mind through our Energy Centers
Strengthening our Attention Muscles
Connecting with your Intuition
Self-Compassion and the Shechinah (feminine aspect of God)
Deep Listening and Loving Speech
Chanting to Balance Will and Surrender

Looking forward to Becoming Peace together as we support ourselves and others in navigating this crazy, magnificent world.
Register

Mark Sandler on Antisemitism
2024-10-20 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
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

Commemorative Service and Concert for October 7th
2024-10-23 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
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

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah Services
2024-10-24 09:00 - 10:30, 2024-10-24 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Ontario
Join us Thursday morning for Shemini Atzeret with a special expanded Yizkor service.
In the evening, we shall reconvene for our Simchat Torah festivities, which include a light dinner, live music, dancing, and merry-making.

Kolot Noam
2024-10-26 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Ontario
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!

Teen Program – Grades 8-12
2024-10-27 12:30 - 14:00, 2024-11-24 12:30 - 14:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Teen Program – Grades 8-12
When: Last Sunday of every month, 12:30-2:00 PM
Ready for something different? Our Teen Program is the perfect place to hang out, have fun, and step up as a leader. We’ve got lively discussions, cool activities, and plenty of chances to make your mark – all in a laid-back, welcoming vibe. And yes, we’ve got lunch covered too!

Register

A Year of October 7 Reflections Through Israeli Cartoon Art
2024-10-29 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
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

Blood Drive
2024-10-30 15:00 - 19:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Aliyah Rotman was an incredible kid. She smiled brightly, laughed generously and loved sparkly unicorn clothes. Above all, Aliyah was unfailingly kind and giving. On the day Aliyah arrived at the Sick Kids ER, she required 7 units of blood as the amazing team tried to save her life. Reflecting on that, we are so grateful for the generosity of those who gave blood in the weeks and months leading up to March 7th 2022. Their donations gave us more time with Aliyah. Their donations allowed Aliyah to be an organ donor, to free 2 from dialysis and give a little boy a new heart.In Aliyah’s name and honour we hope to have our community join Aliyah’s A-Team. As Aliyah would say, to give many others the opportunity to live their one life and live it good.
To Register

Sign in or create an account by visiting blood.ca/en
or use the GiveBlood app.
Select ‘Partners’ from the menu, then ‘Join an existing team’
Search for: Aliyah’s A Team

Tot Shabbat
2024-11-02 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Tot Shabbat
First Saturday of Every Month | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Join us for Tot Shabbat, a joyful and engaging service tailored for our youngest members and their families. Enjoy singing, storytelling, and hands-on activities that introduce the beauty of Shabbat in a warm, family-friendly environment.
Register

The Fourth Annual Merkur lecture
2024-11-10 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
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.

Family Shabbat
2024-11-23 10:00 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
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!

Shabbat Services
2024-11-23 10:00 (America/Toronto), 2024-11-30 10:00 UTC, 2024-12-07 10:00 UTC | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
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.

Town Hall
2024-11-27 19:00 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
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.

Social Justice Scholar-in-Residence D'var Torah: Dr. Gary Bloch
2024-11-30 10:00 (America/Toronto) | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
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.

Kolot Noam
2024-11-30 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Toronto) | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Kolot Noam, Darchei Noam’s take on Shira beTsibur (singing in community) is back!
The non-member fee is $5, members participate for free. You must register!
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/41901e40-2fe7-47cf-be70-d60a427c0eb7
Please bring a small dessert to share at the end of the evening.
Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Hanukkah Market
2024-12-01 12:30 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Congregation Darchei Noam, 864 Sheppard Ave W., North York, Ontario, M3H 2T, Canada
Get ready for our Hanukkah vendor extravaganza at Congregation Darchei Noam.
Just in time for Hanukkah, you will find all your gifting needs here!
Vendors:
Adele Steinberg – Art Cards & Paintings
Beacon Leatherworks
Debbie Siemiatycki
INVIGO Coffee Roasters
JewJu Box
Joel Troster, Woodworking
Joy Soaps & Joy Designs
La Marguerite Expressions – Resin Art
Melanie Gruson-Wood, Resin
MishMish Gifts
Mosaics by Chay
Never Not Eating Spice Blends
NOONIE AND JAX
Orit Sterling Silver
Pepi Design
Pop of Colour by Julia
Revi Laufer
Sheryl Shapiro Art
Shoshana Chaim ASEA Redox Holistic Health
Sid Markowski
So Shick Sweets
Zimm Designs
Entertainers:
Revi Laufer – MC & DJ
