Adult Learning

Delve into the inspiring, challenging sea of ongoing Jewish learning and living.

Whatever your background, knowledge, or level of observance, join us to explore personal growth, strengthen your sense of Jewish community, deepen your practice and ritual, and develop your vision for the world we seek to build.

Past and ongoing learning sessions cover a wide range of topics, including Holy Day learning, Jewish practice for the 21st Century, Wrestling with Hard Conversations about Israel/Palestine, and a series of Engaging Conversations celebrating Jewish flourishing around the world.

Learn how to launch your own program or event!

The DJC has a long history of community-led programming. We welcome creative, meaningful programming that reflects our values of inclusion, curiosity, social responsibility, and Jewish tradition. Whether you’re planning a public event or a more informal learning circle like a havurah, our Handbook to Community-Led Programming will help get you started.

Our DJC Adult Programs include:
Film Series
DJC Reads: Book Club
Climate Action Team
Multifaith Activities
Ritual Leadership
Havurot

Adult Group Bet Mitzvah Program

JUNE 2026-NOVEMBER 2027

The Danforth Jewish Circle is delighted to be launching our inaugural Adult Bet Mitzvah cohort! This exciting program is an engaging, interactive journey designed specifically for adult learners ready to explore, reconnect, or go deeper. Together, we’ll build a supportive space where curiosity and questions are welcomed, where learning feels alive and meaningful.

Through a thoughtfully crafted curriculum, learners will develop their Jewish practice and identity that feels authentic, inclusive, and truly their own. Along the way, you’ll gain the tools to engage with Jewish texts and traditions with confidence, creativity, and joy.

Just as important, you won’t be doing this alone. This cohort-based experience fosters real connection, creating a circle of peers who share this milestone alongside you, learn together, support one another, and grow in community.

Our Adult Bet Mitzvah Program is designed for adult learners, shaped by the understanding that your experiences, questions, and perspectives matter. It is not a teen program adapted for adults. It is a space created just for you.

At the culminating Shabbat morning service, each participant will chant psukim (verses) of Torah, offer a unique D’var Torah or D’var Tefillah, and help lead parts of the service with their classmates.

This new Adult Bet Mitzvah Program IS

for those DJC members who are seeking deeper Jewish learning and engagement
for those looking to learn how to chant Torah
for those eager to chant Torah at a Shabbat service
for those interested in writing and reading a d’var Torah or d’var Tefillah
for those looking to engage in a journey with other fellow travellers
for the person who is excited to step into more Jewish ritual leadership
a mix of group learning classes, chevrutah (paired) study, and self-directed learning

This program is NOT

an individual program (1-on-1 learning)
an individual Bet Mitzvah Shabbat service

PROGRAM FEES: The cost of our Adult Bet Mitzvah Program is offered on a sliding scale of $3700-$4300, which will include all course materials and classes. There may be incremental costs for field trips throughout the program. As always at the DJC, financial accessibility is important, and this program is no different; subsidies will be available for those who require financial assistance.

HEBREW: All of our adult Bet Mitzvah students are required to learn how to read Hebrew. Our expectation is that you will be able to decode the Hebrew letters to read your parashah from the Torah on the day of the group tefillah service. We do not expect that our adult students will be fluent in Hebrew.

We will offer Hebrew reading instruction online weekly in June 2026

CURRICULUM: Our adult group Bet Mitzvah Program will explore contemporary and historical issues, using Jewish texts, thinkers, and traditions to guide us.

God/Theology
Antisemitism, past and present
Jewish Life Cycles
Jewish Culture
Diversity of Jewish Communities
Jewish Movements
Jewish Calendar and Holidays
Blessings and Rituals
Jewish History and Migration
Mitzvot
Jewish Leadership
Jewish Values
Torah and other Jewish Texts
Israel/Palestine
How to chant Torah (Torah Trope)
How to write a d’var Torah

FIELD TRIPS: We are blessed to live in such a vibrant and full city. This program will include some field trips, such as:

Toronto Community Mikveh
Kensington Market
A Jewish Funeral Home
Multifaith Walk/Community Gathering
Visiting exhibits
Toronto Holocaust Museum

Note: field trips may be in coordination with our younger group Bet Mitzvah program

TIMELINE (subject to change)

Pre-Program Hebrew program: June 2026 (online)

SEMESTER 1: September – December 2026 (in person)

SEMESTER 2: January – June 2027 (in person)

INTERSESSION: Summer 2027 – Independent work

SEMESTER 3: September – November 2027 (in person)

Group Bet Mitzvah Shabbat service – November 2027

Adult Bet Mitzvah

ADULT LEARNING

Delve into the inspiring, challenging sea of ongoing Jewish learning and living.

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