Upcoming Events
Thank you for your support over the years! We hope to see you at a future event hosted by the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre LGBTQ+ programming committee.
Past Events
Social programming
Rooftop BBQ
When: Sunday September 16 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: 8 Wellesley Street East Rooftop
Join us for one last event as we thank our members for their support over the years with a rooftop BBQ in downtown Toronto!
Cost: $5 for a burger, chips, and pop (veggie and kosher options available). BYOB.
Ticket sales end on Friday September 14.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
If you would prefer to pay in cash please email info@kulanutoronto.org
Holiday programming
High Holiday Services with Makom
Join us for Makom’s amazing Rosh Hashanah (Sept 10-11) and Yom Kippur (Sept 18-19) services, family services, childcare, and chanting!
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday September 4 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
"Not all queer films are super serious meditations on self-discovery. Take But I'm a Cheerleader, for example. It's got the look and feel of Aqua's "Barbie Girl" video with a satirical take on conversion therapy camps meant to "cure" homosexuality. Before dominating in Orange Is the New Black, the always fun to watch Natasha Lyonne plays a popular cheerleader whose parents are convinced she's gay, and thus send her to True Directions, a rehab center to straighten her out, so to speak. It has the opposite effect." - Tara Aquino and Andy Herrera from complex.com
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: But I'm a Cheerleader
Please note that due to space limitations, attendees require a ticket.
Tickets can be found HERE.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie Paint night
When: Tuesday August 7 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
This month we are changing up the movie night programming and replacing it with a paint night led by our own Kulanu member, Ash Nitkin. Ash is a professional art teacher and will be leading the class so each attendee can go home with their own painting of flowers on a canvas!
Cost: $10, please RSVP to info@kulanutoronto.org by Tues. July 31st if you would like to attend.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday July 3 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
Based on the 1981 Broadway musical comes Dreamgirls, a story of greed, tough hate, and romance. Three young women - Deena Jones, Effie White, and Lorrell Robinson - desire to become pop stars and get their wish when they're picked to be backup singers for the legendary James "Thunder" Early.
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Dreamgirls
Pride festival programming
March with us
Trans March
Meet at 8 Wellesley street east (condo lobby) at 5:45pm on Friday, June 22. We will have signs and flags (including the trans flag with a magen david) that marchers can borrow.
Dyke March
Meet at the Kulanu Toronto booth (Booth #B50 on Church street near Gloucester) at 12:30pm on Saturday, June 23. We will have signs and flags that marchers can borrow.
Pride Parade
Meet at the Kulanu Toronto booth (Booth #B50 on Church street near Gloucester) at 2pm on Sunday, June 24. We will have signs and flags that marchers can borrow.
Pride festival programming
Kulanu booth at pride
Pride Booth Volunteers Needed
Help Kulanu in welcoming visitors to our booth, inviting them to sign up for our e-newsletter, and telling guests about our organization.
Shifts are 3-hours in length and start at 11am, 2pm, or 5pm on Saturday, June 23 and/or Sunday, June 24. You can sign up for more than one shift. This is a great way to meet people and hang out with Kulanu Toronto! Please email us your availability at info@kulanutoronto.org.
Cultural Programming
Pride Shabbat Dinner
When: Friday June 8 at 6:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church Street)
Pride weekend isn't just about marching and dancing; it's also about family and recognizing LGBTQ+ people in all cultures. The annual Pride Shabbat Dinner is a unique event celebrating our Jewish communities with an optional Shabbat service lead by Rabbi Aviva Goldberg and Cantor Paula Wolfson from Shir Libeynu. The service will be followed by a delicious catered vegetarian dinner.
Cost: $18 Adult, $10 Student/Underemployed
Tickets will be on-sale until Sunday June 1. Unfortunately no tickets will be available at the door.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday June 5 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
To celebrate Pride Month we will be taking a break from musicals to screen Milk, an Academy Award-Winning biographical film centered on the deeds and life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay individual to have been elected to the public office in California.
Fun fact: Harvey Milk was also Jewish!
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Milk
Arts & Cultural Programming
Toronto Jewish Film Festival
When: Saturday May 12 at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (506 Bloor St. West)
Join Kulanu Toronto as we co-present a film at the TJFF!
Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams star in a powerful adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s novel about an Orthodox woman who returns to the community she fled years ago and rekindles a relationship with her cousin’s wife, putting both of their futures at risk.
Cost: $15 Adult, $11 Senior/Student (Buy Tickets HERE)
Movie: Disobedience (114 min)
Educational Programming
Abby Stein with a Multifaith Panel
When: Thursday May 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (115 Simpson Ave.)
Abby Stein is a trans activist, blogger, model, and speaker. She is the first openly trans woman raised in a Hasidic community, and is a direct descendant of Hasidic Judaism's founder the Baal Shem Tov. In 2015, she founded the first support group nationwide for trans people of Orthodox background.
A multifaith panel discussion to follow on the role of faith communities in Pride.
Cost: FREE
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday May 1 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
This fun-loving musical delights audiences by sweeping them away to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out-- and change is in the air.
Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Hairspray
Volunteer Day
Gardening at Baycrest
When: Sunday April 29 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Baycrest (3560 Bathurst Street)
Give back to the community by volunteering with us at Baycrest (Bathurst/Wilson) on Sunday, April 29 from 1-4pm. We will be doing some gardening outside and then playing board games with the seniors.
Cost: FREE
RSVP required to info@kulanutoronto.org. Spaces limited.
Student and Young Professional Programming
Shabbat of Light
When: Friday April 13 at 6:45 p.m. (Wine and Appetizers followed by Kabbalat Shabbat Services and a Middle Eastern Style Dinner)
Where: Beth Tikvah (3080 Bayview Avenue)
Join us for an inclusive young adult/professional Shabbat service and dinner, beginning with wine and appetizers.
The Shabbat dinner will include a camp-style Kabbalat Shabbat service featuring various leaders from the LGBTQ+ Jewish community connecting their own experiences with our prayers. Afterwards, we will join together for a Shabbat dinner featuring special guest Tye Gregory, Executive Director of A Wider Bridge. All are welcome to attend.
Presented by Beth Tikvah, CIJA, KT Young Professionals, and A Wider Bridge.
Cost: University Students ($12), Under 30/underemployed ($18), Under 39 ($22).
RSVP for Shabbat dinner by Tuesday April 10 at 5pm to gayle@bethtikvahtoronto.org or 416-221-3433.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday April 3 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
LET OUR PEOPLE GO!
In honour of this month's movie night falling on Passover we will be screening the Prince of Egypt.
"The handsomely animated Prince of Egypt is an amalgam of Hollywood biblical epic, Broadway supermusical and nice Sunday school lesson." - Jeff Millar, The Houston Chronicle top critic.
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included (we will have make your own matzah s'mores as an added treat this month)
Movie: Prince of Egypt
Cultural Event
LGBTQ+ and Allies Shabbat '20s, 30s and beyond'
When: Friday March 16 at 6 p.m. (Services), 7:30pm (Dinner)
Where: Wolfond Centre (36 Harbord Street)
Traditional egalitarian services at 6pm. Vegetarian potluck dinner from 7:30-10pm.
Come alone or with a friend for a relaxed, soulful, and playful Shabbat experience. LGBTQ+ individuals and allies of all backgrounds, and Jewish affiliations are welcome. Dinner is preceded by a contemplative, songful Shabbat service, led by Annex Shul.
Presented by Annex Shul, Eshel, Kulanu Toronto, Narayver, Shir Libeynu, Matanot Lev and MNjcc.
Cost: For FREE admission please bring a vegetarian potluck item, otherwise tickets are $15.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday March 6 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
Come out for a screening of this Oscar-winning movie musical starring, written, produced, directed by, and with an original score written and sung entirely by Barbara Streisand.
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Yentl
Social Event
Kulanu Purim Drag Shabbat
When: Friday March 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: 8 Wellesley Street East, Penthouse Party Room
A new Jewdo for Queer Hebro’s, Shebrews, Theybrews, Bagel-Chasers, & Allies. We will do bilingual candle-lighting and blessing over the wine & challah. Enjoy schmoozing over a delicious pot-luck dinner (vegetarian).
BYOB, we will provide non-alcoholic beverages.
We encourage everyone to dress in drag, or at least something funky & eccentric.
Cost: For FREE admission please bring a potluck item, otherwise tickets are $15.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday February 6 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
Come join us for our monthly movie night Purim style! We will be screening Fiddler on the Roof with drag commentary (feat. Ivanna Slapavitch)!
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Fiddler on the Roof
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday January 2 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
Dazzle us with your rainbow Judaica knowledge and sing along to a screening of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat!
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
Social event
8 Crazy Shots: A student & young professional Hannukah party
When: Saturday December 9 at 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8 Wellesley Street East (Penthouse Party Room)
Not your average dreidel-spinning Hannukah jam. Featuring performances by our own in-house drag king and queen Butt Mitzfa and Ivanna Slapavich, this is one party you don't want to miss.
Cost: Pay what you can and includes samples of latkas, suffganiyot, and manishewitz. BYOM (bring your own menorah) and BYOB.
Monthly programming
Monthly movie night
When: Tuesday December 5 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St.)
Anyone else have the entire soundtrack to RENT still memorized? Show off your pipes and sing along to a screening of the broadway version of the iconic New York City musical!
Cost: Pay what you can, light refreshments included
Movie: Rent (Broadway edition)