Crafting Kavanot

On Friday September 13, you’re invited to tap out of your screens, and tap into creativity for a night of Jewish joy and ritual, hosted by OneTable. Guided by established custom (kevah) in one hand, and personal intention (kavanah; plural kavanot)** in the other, we’ll be decorating and dedicating our own personal protective amulets – kosher-style – to mark our gathering spaces as sites of welcome and elevation. We’ll be drawing inspiration from Jewish folk traditions of golems as we consider how the mezuzah functions simultaneously as an entryway to community and a protective barrier against negativity. (Because it’s Friday the 13th – we had to get a little spooky around here!! ✨????)

Join us at the cool and funky Peach Berserk for drinks, communal Shabbat blessings, and a delicious vegetarian dinner. Following the meal, we’ll engage in a creative crafting activity rooted in Jewish folklore, led by OneTable superhost, artist, and scholar Cliel Shdaimah (@drawingdrash on IG). Whether you’re a crafting pro or trying something new for the first time, you belong here.

Remember to bring a smock or clothes you are comfortable getting some paint on – because, in the words of Ms Frizzle, this will be an opportunity to “take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”

Your ticket includes:

• Dinner – vegetarian Middle-Eastern menu by Tabule, served family-style (because aren’t we one big mishpacha?)
• Challah and additional desserts by local OneTable Toronto host and baker extraordinaire, @ellimadethis
• Inclusive, queer-centred Shabbat blessings
• Open bar (with local cider sourced by Her Father’s Cider Bar as well as wine, and non-alcoholic beverages)
• Art supplies (you’ll leave with your own personal mezuzah-inspired artistic creation and a custom silkscreened challah cover by Peach Berserk’s very own Kingi Carpenter!)

Some notes on accessibility:

• The menu will be fully vegetarian and kosher-style but not certified kosher. If you require kosher food offerings, please let us know in advance so that we can accommodate you. (There is one question about kashrut and another about additional dietary restrictions for you to fill out directly on the RSVP form, but be sure to also email Simon by the Tuesday before if you need alternate food options.)
• Peach Berserk is located at 1694 Queen St West in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood. Parking is available, as well as several transit options from Dundas West Station (504 streetcars) and Lansdowne Station (47 bus). The event will take place on ground level, where a single-use washroom is also available. Please get in touch ahead of time if you have any questions about the venue.
• Your $36 ticket helps to cover the cost of food, drink, and professional staff, but at OneTable, we firmly believe that cost should never be a barrier to entry. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to simon@onetable.org – we are happy to discount/waive the price as needed. We want you here!

This event is part of the national Permission to Unplug series. “Unplugging” can look like so many things – taking a deep breath in nature, finding inspiration in art, diving into a deep conversation with a good friend – and has countless proven benefits on peoples’ health and wellbeing. We invite you to try leaning into “unplugging” for this night together, in whatever way that means to you, and explore how you might embrace this intentionality in your life.

Finally, please note that photos will be taken at this event for OneTable purposes and shared externally. If you are not comfortable with that, please let us know!

**P.S. For more background on the terms kevah and kavanah, feel free to check out this resource on the topic of Jewish prayer (Hebrew: tefillah).