Departments & initiatives

Each of our departments and initiatives works to meet the demand of a growing, diverse and passionate community. In coordination and partnership with many other institutions and individuals, our departments each help strengthen the quality of Jewish life locally and internationally through education, engagement, philanthropic, volunteer and professional leadership.

Ontario Jewish Archives

The Ontario Jewish Archives (OJA) is responsible for acquiring, preserving and making available the documentary heritage of Ontario's Jewish communities. Established in 1973, the OJA holds over 5,500 feet of original records and over 50,000 photographs related to the history of Ontario's Jewish communities dating from the 1830s to the present and from London to Thunder Bay. The OJA assists hundreds of researchers per year including genealogists, scholars, students, film makers, community agencies and UJA Federation staff. Our community programs, historical exhibits and walking tours help to inform thousands of participants every year of the rich and varied legacies left by those who came before us and those who continue their involvement with the community today. The history of the Jewish presence in Ontario begins at the OJA.

Visit OntarioJewishArchives.org for more info.

Centre for Jewish Education
UJA Federation's investment in Jewish education is without parallel in North America where we have worked to develop the most comprehensive educational network comprised of Jewish day and supplementary schools. The Centre for Jewish Education (CJE) is UJA Federation's educational department, dedicated to strengthening, enriching and promoting the quality of Jewish education in the Greater Toronto Area.  The CJE currently serves formal education by providing services and support to over 70 day schools and supplementary programs, 1,700 educators and 17,000 students.  The Tuition Subsidy Programs and the support for special needs are included as part of this role.

Affiliated day schools:
Associated Hebrew Schools
Bais Chaya Mushka
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Eitz Chaim Schools
Joe Dwek Or HaEmet Sephardic School
Montessori Jewish Day School
Netivot HaTorah Day School
Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School
Robbins Hebrew Academy
The Leo Baeck Day School
The Toronto Heschel School

Visit CJEToronto.com for more info.

Birthright Israel

Jewish Toronto leads one of the largest Birthright Israel contingents per capita in the world and UJA contributes over 350k annually to help ensure young Jewish Torontonians have the opportunity to find their birthright. In 2010, 650 young Torontonians participated in a Birthright Israel trip, with another 6,000 alumni being served through post-program activities. The gift of Birthright Israel was established to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identities and connection to Israel and the Jewish people through this no-charge, unique and transformative initiative.

Visit BirthrightIsrael.com for more info.

TopBunk

This UJA-funded program, in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp, provides a financial incentive to families of first-time campers so that Jewish youngsters experience the joys of Jewish overnight camp like never before, and the lifelong memories and friendships that go with it.  More than 475 campers received TopBunk grants to attend Jewish camp in 2010.

Visit TopBunk.ca for more info.

PJ Library | York Region

"Without the PJ Library entering our home, I would not have made nearly the same effort in exposing my children to Jewish-themed content. Thank you PJ Library," Tanya J., PJ Parent.

In just one year, over 1,500 young Jewish families in York Region with children ages 6 months to 5½ years have registered for The PJ Library.  Each month children and parents enthusiastically share time together, reading and listening to free, quality Jewish children's books and music mailed to their home. They are also connecting with other families at community and special PJ programs. 

UJA Federation is committed to expanding this pilot project across the Greater Toronto Area.  We already have 300 families outside of York Region on the waiting list for PJ Library.  Your support will allow us to connect many more Jewish families to the PJ Library.

Visit PJLibrary905.com for more info and to register your child.

Arts, culture, heritage

UJA Federation invests 1.5 million annually in arts, culture, and heritage programs that serve audiences of over 260,000 a year and hundreds of thousands more globally via web and social networks.  The lead funded agency of the UJA is the Koffler Centre of the Arts.

Visit KofflerArts.org for more info.

Jewish Community Centres

Each year thousands come together to exercise, learn and socialize at one of the three JCCs across the GTA. Whether it's downtown at the Miles Nadal JCC, mid-town at the Prosserman JCC, or north at the Schwartz/Reisman Centre, our community thrives on the programming offered by these agencies to enrich the Jewish lives they want to live.

Downtown: visit MNJCC.org for more info.
Uptown: visit ProssermanJCC.com for more info.
Vaughan: visit SRCentre.ca for more info.

Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre

The Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre is dedicated to preserving the past while educating future generations. Through education and remembrance we safeguard the lessons of the Holocaust in order to nurture an inclusive society. Each year the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre engages over 70,000 students, educators and community members through a vast array of dynamic professional programs, events and services.

Visit HolocaustCentre.com for more info.

Telethons

Every year UJA telethons engage hundreds of volunteers who call over 8,000 community members to raise millions of dollars in support of UJA's annual campaign.  Last year Telethons raised over $5 million, inspiring all those who came out to make a call and enabling the community to truly make a difference in the lives of those who call Jewish Toronto home.

Visit UJATelethons.com for more info.

Walk with Israel

UJA's Walk with Israel engages over 15,000 Jewish Torontonians annually to raise money – and Israel's profile - worldwide. In 2011, a new incarnation of the Walk -  the Walk with Israel Family Challenge – raised an unprecedented $500,000 towards UJA's funded programs in Israel which will go a long way in making transformational change where it is needed the most.

Visit WalkwithIsrael.com for more info.