Shabbat Shabbaton Kol Nidrei Chanting Circle
Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart presents:
Shabbat Shabbaton Kol Nidrei Chanting Circle with Kohenet Annie Matan
Yom Kippur is also referred to as Shabbat Shabbaton – the Shabbatiest Shabbat of the year and this year, it even falls on Shabbat to double the dose of peace, delight, wholeness, and nourishment. Kabbalat Shabbat welcomes the Divine/Sabbath Beloved with yearning, joy and delight. If we are all the physical embodiment of the Divine on Earth, we are welcoming ourselves. What parts of ourselves do we want to welcome? If we follow our High Holy Day liturgy, it’s the compassionate, forgiving, gracious, loving parts. What better way to do that than by weaving ritual, liturgy and delight from Kabbalat Shabbat with magic, awe, and self-reflection from Kol Nidrei?
This Kol Nidrei, we vow to be gracious and loving with ourselves for the mistakes we’ve made in the past and will make in the future. We embrace our messy, human bodies, hearts, minds and souls as Divine. We flip the script on the prohibitions of Yom Kippur and engage in them with nourishing intention – eating and drinking, bathing, anointing, embodying pleasure, and wearing comfortable clothing.* We experience this Erev Yom Kippur/Shabbat Shabbaton as Sabbath Brides/Grooms/Beloveds/Dear Friends.
Invitations:
· Wear white and/or other (comfy) Sabbath/Holy Day finery
· Continue the sweetness of Rosh Hashanah by snacking on treats including honey, chocolate, juice, and fruit
· If you’d prefer not to eat, try smelling sweet spices and/or essential oils
· Bring pillows, blankets and/or yoga mats and make yourself a cozy nest on the floor as your own home base for your time in the space
· Bring an item that represents your intentions for the year to place on our altar (and take home again)
Attendees can expect: a radically different Yom Kippur experience*.
An experience that feels like an exhale.
Tune in to the day of At-One-Ment with joy and gentleness, not affliction.
Sit, dance, meditate, chant, hold silence, and pray in a circle.
Leave your shoes at the door.
Parents can stay and pray even if you don’t have child care, with the help of our “Prayground**”. A corner IN THE ROOM with quiet books and toys. You supervise your own kids and no one needs to miss out.
Connect with traditional and original, creative liturgy in English and Hebrew.
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. If the sliding scale pricing is beyond your means, you are welcome to use the coupon code COMP to register for free.
*Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart is Toronto’s feminist, queer-of-centre, witchy, spiritual community through a Jewish lens for folks of all backgrounds. All are encouraged to experiment with new ways of connecting with old ideas. Always choose to participate in ways that feel good to you.
About Special Guest, Kohenet Talia Johnson Shomeret haTzitzit (Guardian of the Fringes): Talia was ordained a Kohenet Hebrew Priestess in 2019 and is a transgender autistic service leader, activist, poet, speaker, advocate, and mentor.
Our community proudly includes all kinds of participants: LGBTQ+, interfaith, patrilineal, Jewish, Jew-ish and those of other backgrounds who are curious about Judaism and seeking community. We welcome participants of all abilities. Please contact Kohenet Annie if you have specific access needs or questions.
**Prayground is inspired by City Shul. As far as I know, they coined the term and have incorporated this practice in their Shabbat services.
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 Israelis and Palestinians. It's important to me to offer a space that can hold nuance and a lot of compassion. Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart gatherings include folks across a spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. Grief and hope are welcome.