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It’s difficult to think of anything but Covid-19 these days, but doing so might well be a tonic. The Danforth Jewish Circle is preparing a book to coincide with its 25th anniversary in 2021 and we want you to be a contributor. We are inviting DJC members to write vignettes and anecdotes that explain why […]

It never ceases to amaze me that whatever Torah reading or holyday we are encountering in the Jewish calendar, it conveys valuable questions and insights that seem crafted just to address this exact moment. So, with Purim around the corner (from the evening of March 9th to March 10th), I turn to Megillat Esther as […]

The Social Justice Committee is asking for DONATIONS of HOUSEHOLD GOODS for an Eritrean family of newcomers who will be coming to Canada as a sponsored family this Spring. The family has been living in Tel Aviv for many years where sadly, they are unable to gain refugee status because of the policies of the […]

Our lives on this beautiful planet depend on trees for oxygen, food, medicine, shelter, climate stability, habitat for wildlife and beauty. According to scientific research, planting billions of trees around the world could remove two-thirds of all harmful emissions caused by human activity. A global tree-planting program would be one of the most inexpensive and […]

Welcome to 2020! I have, in my lifetime, occasionally counted down to midnight on Dec. 31st at large and small parties and toasted the arrival of a new secular (Christian calendar, really) year with bubbly beverages and cheers. That said, it probably doesn’t surprise you that the New Year I resonate with most as richly […]

The Danforth Jewish Circle is preparing a book to coincide with its 25th anniversary in 2021 and we want you to be a contributor. We are inviting DJC members to write vignettes and anecdotes that explain why the DJC matters to you. Are there particular events or experiences that especially resonated for you and/or your […]

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Chanuka celebration! It was a wonderful day filled with art, music, learning, treats and community. Below are some highlights from the day. *Photo credit: Justine Apple Photography (justineapple.com)

Dear DJC Friend, Will your home soon glow with the light of the Chanuka candles? Will you light the candles in the window so they are visible from the street? Candles in a window are “a public statement of what you believe in… It’s a statement that I want to preserve my values…, not that […]

Chanukah celebrates the Maccabees’ rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people’s sacred home, and the relighting of the ever-burning menorah within the Temple, after they had been desecrated by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE under the oppressive rule of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Much later, rabbinic tradition ascribed the 8-day rededication celebration […]

The Chesed Caring Committee is a small group of dedicated volunteers, committed to supporting DJC families dealing with an illness or loss of a loved one. Working closely with Rabbi Miriam, we reach out to those in need to let them know we care and want to help. Just in the past two and a […]

Kol Nidrei Sermon 5780 The theme we’re focusing on this Yom Kippur is The Capacity to Change. What a valuable theme. What a challenging endeavour. On a day that is focused on repentance, renewal and change, it is important to be honest about how difficult it is to change. When we are wired for survival […]

Erev Rosh Hashana Sermon 5780 In the not too distant future, the news is announced – the environmental apocalypse is here. In 3 days, every continent on planet earth will be underwater. Religious leaders from around the world address their followers, offering words of guidance and solace to face this cataclysmic moment. The […]

Rosh Hashana Sermon 5780 This sermon was greatly inspired by and draws from We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer. Ready? Dai-dai-ey’nu… Don’t worry. I’m not confused. I know it’s not Pesach. But these words that we sing out with glee at the Pesach seder – […]

The Federal Election on Monday October 21st falls on the Jewish Holyday (Yom Tov) of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. Any elector can choose to vote in the Advance Polls, without having to prove a special reason to do so. In years past, people used to have to give a reason for voting ahead of election day, but […]

We are offering hybrid services this year, people can join on zoom or from the sanctuary. The Eastminster building is wheelchair-accessible, including washrooms. There is a ramp up to the side entrance off Jackman Avenue, power buttons to open the door, and an elevator. There are 3 wheelchair-accessible, single-stall all-gender washrooms, one on each of […]

This time of the year, with the ending of summer and a turning toward fall, stirs sweetness and loss, anxiety and anticipation all at the same time. I feel myself residing in the in-between time – between seasons, between ways of being. There are still cherry tomatoes to ripen and harvest. The afternoons can still […]

In keeping with the DJC’s core value of inclusivity, your AI Committee has been working hard to promote accessibility in our community. This means identifying and removing barriers that impede access for all who wish to attend DJC events. With the High Holy Days in mind, we want to alert you to our ongoing initiatives […]

We are approaching the one year anniversary of last July’s shooting on the Danforth. There are several events that will bring community together to mourn and remember, to touch back into shared support of the families whose loved ones were killed and to support everyone who has been shaken by this terrible tragedy. This has […]