Sign up for this week's High Holy Day Offerings
(Un)services to Nourish Your Body, Heart, Mind, and Soul
Join us this week for sweet and soulful Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart Unservices. All tickets are Pay What You Can, and kids are always welcome. We have a fabulous, accessible, spacious venue right near St. George subway station.
Keep reading for more details about this week’s Unservices—and next week’s too!
New Year, New Moon Rosh Hashanah Red Tent
Thursday, Oct 3 at 2:30PM
On Rosh Hashanah afternoon, we will celebrate the new moon and the new year with reflection, song, and connection. You can spend the morning getting your fix of familiar synagogue traditions and family time, and then balance that out in the afternoon with new experiences that nourish your feminist (dismantling patriarchy, even in Judaism), queer (expanding gender and adapting to our contemporary reality), and witchy (divination, moon-loving, embodied spirituality) self.
Shabbat Teshuvah All Ages High Holy Day Playshop
Friday, Oct 4 at 3PM
A sensory, play-focused exploration of the themes of the Days of Awe—for kids, kids-at-heart, and those who love them. Highlights include a creative Tashlich ritual led by Kohenet Talia Johnson, a special appearance by Todah the Sloth, a shofar dance, foods and fragrances of the season (all contained for those with sensitivities), and plenty of space to stretch, move, or rest.
Led by Founder and Spiritual Leader, Kohenet Annie Matan, Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart is Toronto’s feminist, queer-of-centre, witchy, spiritual community with a Jewish lens, welcoming people of all backgrounds.
About Our Special Guest, Kohenet Talia Johnson (Shomeret haTzitzit/Guardian of the Fringes):
Talia was ordained as a Kohenet Hebrew Priestess in 2019 and is a transgender, autistic service leader, activist, poet, speaker, advocate, and mentor.
Our community proudly includes participants who are LGBTQ+, interfaith, patrilineal, Jewish, Jew-ish, and people from other backgrounds who are curious about Judaism and seeking community. We welcome participants of all abilities. Please contact Kohenet Annie if you have specific accessibility needs or questions.
Post-Oct 7 Note: This space is for you if you believe in the humanity of all. As an Israel-loving Jew, I advocate for safety and sovereignty for both Israelis and Palestinians. It's important to me that we offer a space that can hold nuance and abundant compassion. Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart gatherings include people from across the spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. Both grief and hope are welcome here.
If you’re not in Toronto but are looking for Feminist, Witchy, Soulful, and Songful High Holy Day services, I recommend The Days of Awe with Beit Kohenet. I will be co-leading the Erev Rosh Hashanah service with them on Wednesday evening at 7 PM EST.
Yom Kippur Offerings:
Erev Yom Kippur Chanting Circle: A soothing circle to begin the Day of At-one-ment, featuring Shabbat delights.
Yom Kippur Afternoon Retreat: Tending to our nervous systems by flipping the script on traditional practices—here, we return to our capacity for change through nourishment, comfort, and connection. (Inspired by the question, “What Would Lilith Do?”)
Whether I see you in person, on screen, or after the holidays are over, Shana Tova Umetukah—may you have a sweet turning of the year. May this turning bring hope and energy for a “good change” for us all.
With love,
Kohenet Annie