holidayS & COMMEMORATION
SPRING
The Art of Passover
Presented by Jewish Art Education (JAE)
Learn about some of the Judaica and art objects associated with the Jewish holiday Passover, including artworks from the ancient city Dura-Europos, seder plates from around the world, images from the celebrated illuminated Birds Head, Golden and Sarajevo Haggadot, works from Jewish artists such as Bernard Picart, Moritz Oppenheim, El Lissitzky, Zeev Raban, Marc Chagall and Reuven Rubin, a huge American Matzo painting, and the Maxwell House Haggadah. Guest speaker: art historian Nancy Kotz
PASSOVER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
WAIT... WHAT IS PASSOVER?
WINTER SPRING
Four Questions Club
Are you a Four Questions first-timer? Are you starting from scratch, or do need a little brush up before Seder night? Join your friends at the MNjcc for some pre-Passover prep and a regular opportunity to practice asking the four questions... together! Meet us on Zoom for 15 minutes a day and let’s go into Passover with confidence and excitement. We'll meet weekdays at 5pm for 15 minutes - come to one, two or every session as you're able. The program is for the youngest at the table, whatever age that may be. Presented in partnership with PJ Library Toronto and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
SPRING
What's on Your Plate? Queer Food and the Seder
LGBTQ+ at the J and Mazon Canada invite you to join us for an evening of snacks, crafts, and discussion.
We welcome you to come explore queer food histories and reimagine the traditional Pesach Seder plate. We will begin the evening with kosher wine and dinner catered by Tov Li, while Izzy Waxman of Mazon Canada gives a talk sharing what queer food means to her. We will then move into a facilitated arts-based discussion, where all participants can collectively envision and draw what might be featured on their queer Seder plate as we gather around a butcher paper-covered table. This event is free of cost and no prior knowledge about the holiday of Passover is expected.
SPRING
So You’re Hosting Passover: Seder Leading 101
Are you leading a Passover seder this year? Whether you’re leading a small seder or a large one, we have the tools you need to feel confident creating a seder that’s right for your interfaith, intercultural or mixed-heritage family. (And if you aren’t hosting but you’re attending a seder, or you’re just interested, you’re still welcome to join us.) Join Rabbis Malka Packer-Monroe and Robyn Frisch from 18Doors and Rabbi Yael Rapport, from the Marlene Meyerson JCC of Manhattan and an 18Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellow, for informative and engaging learning and conversation. We’ll go through the basic elements of leading a seder and suggest different Haggadot (books to lead you through the ritual meal) you may choose to use. We will also include plenty of time for any questions you may have.
SPRING
What to Do for Passover: Best Practices for Grandparents of Interfaith Families
As grandparents of interfaith families, our Passover seders and traditions may look different now than they did many years ago. How can we as grandparents make sure to have our Passover practice be as welcoming and inclusive of our grandchildren who are being raised in interfaith households? Join Rabbi Malka Packer-Monroe and fellow grandparents of interfaith families to revisit Passover through a new lens! We’ll dive into the universally accessible themes of Passover, best practices for engaging our adult children and grandchildren of different faith backgrounds, and have time to build community with other grandparents across North America.
SPRING
Plagues Before and After The Exodus From Egypt
According to the Old Testament, the Israelites were freed from slavery after a series of plagues in Egypt. Did The Exodus - The 10 Plagues - occur as written? In addition, there were many plagues before and after the Exodus. Although not well described in the Tanach (Hebrew Bible), there were severe consequences, some that changed history. What were the causes? Were there any remedies? The origins, mythology, as well as scientific theories behind some of them, will be discussed. This virtual lecture will be recorded. Guest speaker: Dr. Joseph Gilbert