The Toronto Jewish Chorus

Bring your lawn chair (if you have one) and join the Toronto Jewish Chorus for great music, ice cream, Havdalah and friends. This event is part of our Havdalah on the Porch series.

The Toronto Jewish Chorus was founded in 2009 by Temple Emanu-El's own Cantor Judy Adelman Gershon and has risen to become a fixture of Toronto's Jewish music scene. Past performance highlights include The Toronto Jewish Film Festival, Toronto Jewish Music Week, University of Toronto - Hart House Theatre, City Playhouse Theatre, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Baycrest, Temple Sinai Congregation, Temple Emanu-El, Mel Lastman Square, and many more. 

Special Guests!

In honour of Pride Month, the TJC will present a concert on the theme of LOVE. And we're thrilled to present two special guests who we REALLY LOVE and you will too – two outstanding voices from Toronto's Jewish LGBTQ2S+ community:

Cantor Steve Zeidenberg • Steve grew up at Temple Emanu-El and taught in our religious school. He has served as cantor at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, one of the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ Synagogues. Steve currently leads prayer in the Toronto Jewish community, including at Beth Torah Congregation. We are blessed to add his stunning tenor voice and beautiful Jewish soul to this concert. 

Cantor Rachael Littman • Rachael is the cantor of Temple Har Zion in Thornhill. Her voice has raised joy and spirit in congregations and Jewish communities around North America.

Spread a Little Love!

In honour of this performance, please consider a donation to Peace of Mind Canada. Donations of just $40 or more will be thanked with one of four beautiful art pieces by Toronto artist and TJC member Laya Crust. Learn more and donate HERE.

The event is FREE with the generous support of the Judy Dan Fund for Arts and Education and the Government of Canada's New Horizons Program.

Please try to bring a folding lawn chair. There is a very limited number of chairs available from the synagogue. You may need to stand or sit on the ground if you do not bring a chair. If it is critically important that you use one of the synagogue's chairs, we recommend that you come early. Unfortunately, we cannot reserve a chair for you, even if you write it in the registration notes.

Outdoors, weather permitting: The program will take place outdoors in front of Temple Emanu-El, Toronto. In case of inclement weather, the program will take place indoors.

Getting to Us: Temple Emanu-El is located at 120 Old Colony Road, Toronto. For a map, additional directions, and TTC guidance, click HERE.

It's all free. This evening is free of charge and open to everyone. Donations to Temple Emanu-El are greatly appreciated and will help us present more great musical programming. To make a donation in honour Temple Emanu-El's musical programming, click HERE.

Security: Please be prepared to show photo ID for each adult and for security to examine bags.

More like this: Find more Havdalah on the Porch events HERE.

Registration: Advance registration is appreciated. It helps us have an idea of how many people are coming (and to make sure we have plenty of ice cream, of course). Use the registration form below, and please use the notes to tell us the names of all the people you expect to be joining you. 

Zoom: We will try, but cannot guarantee Zoom coverage of this event because of the program's location outside of our building. You do not need to register if you are planning to join the program on Zoom. The Zoom link will be found in the  Sunday & Friday Temple Emanu-El newsletter, the week before the event, or contact Carli Portman closer to the date (carli@templeemanuel.ca) and she will email you the link. Try to come join us live!

Last minute? If you don't get a chance to register and would like to join us last minute, please come!