Revised August 2011

Welcome - B’ruchim HaBa’im

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has a lot to offer tourists.  This directory lists things to do and see in Toronto from a Jewish perspective, some moderately priced accommodations as well as information for tourists who are Shomer Shabbat. 

The Greater Toronto Area has a vibrant, growing Jewish community of over 180,000.  Over two-thirds live along the Bathurst Street corridor, between Dufferin  and Yonge Street.  The Jewish population of York Region (north of Steeles Avenue) is now over 60,000.  Toronto’s downtown Jewish population continues to flourish with approximately 20,000 Jews living south of St. Clair Avenue.

A growing community calls for expanded services and opportunities.  With this in mind, UJA Federation is championing the Tomorrow Campaign.  This ambitious vision is building and revitalizing three Jewish centres across the GTA:  Downtown District, anchored at Bloor and Spadina, Sherman Campus, mid-town at Bathurst and Sheppard, and the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus, in the heart of York Region.  Click here for more information.

For more information about the Jewish community, contact UJA FEDERATION - Jewish Information Service of Greater Toronto at 416-635-5600 or email jinfo@ujafed.org.  You may also want to explore www.jewishtoronto.com under Community Directory (with over 700 listings for synagogues, organizations, agencies, clubs and services) or What’s On (our community calendar) to find out what events are scheduled when you are in the Toronto area.  

To get a better sense of our community, we suggest you purchase a copy of Toronto's weekly Jewish newspaper, Canadian Jewish News, available at large bookstores or just about anywhere along Bathurst Street.

Jewish Sites in the Greater Toronto Area

Downtown Toronto

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre - Dedicated to serving the community, and the cultural, educational and recreational needs of downtown Toronto.  Inside are housed a Jewish day school, nursery school, meeting rooms and athletic facilities. 
750 Spadina Avenue at Bloor (Spadina Subway stop)
416-924-6211
www.mnjcc.org

Old Jewish Toronto - Visit Kensington Market, east of Spadina Avenue between College and Dundas Streets, the site of Toronto’s early Jewish neighbourhood.  While now occupied by new immigrants, remnants of its vital past remain.   There are two historic Orthodox synagogues in Kensington Market; Anshei Minsk and Kiever Congregations.  Contact JIST if you need further details.  A Sense of Spadina is a walking tour of Historic Jewish Toronto offered by the Ontario Jewish Archives.  There is a fee. For further information call 416-635-2883 ex 170. www.ontariojewisharchives.org

Bathurst Street Corridor 

Bathurst Street Corridor - During your visit to our city, be sure to take a ride up Bathurst Street, the spine of the Jewish community starting at St. Clair Avenue.  If you keep going north beyond Steeles Avenue, you will enter into a Jewish suburb called Thornhill. Along this stretch of road, you will discover many synagogues, kosher eateries, Judaica shops and more.  For a full list of kosher restaurants, log onto www.cor.ca

Beth Tzedec Museum - Beth Tzedec Congregation’s Reuben and Helene Dennis Museum owns and houses the Cecil Roth Collection. The Museum also displays many other beautiful and rare objects from the ancient world and frequently displays items on loan from the New York Museum of Judaica.  Please call for hours.
1700 Bathurst Street (between St. Clair and Eglinton Avenue)
416-781-3514
www.beth-tzedec.org

Baycrest - The Morris and Sally Justein Museum presents frequently changing exhibits on Jewish themes. The permanent collection, consisting of nearly 800 items of Judaica, is regularly exhibited and includes memorabilia related to Baycrest's history.  Visitors are welcome.  Hours are Sunday-Thursday 9am – 9pm,  Friday 9am – sundown. 
Closed on Sabbath and Jewish holidays.
3560 Bathurst Street (between Lawrence Avenue and Hwy 401)
416-785-2500, ex 2802
www.baycrest.org

Prosserman Jewish Community Centre  - Located on Sherman Campus, it is part of the major redevelopment of the site.  The Donald Gales Family Pavilion is the inaugural building of the Prosserman JCC. The Gales Pavilion currently houses the Prosserman JCC and Koffler Centre of the Arts.  Featured services and program areas on the first and second floors include the David and Esther Freiman Childhood Education Centre, a seniors recreation centre, culinary arts studio and Minto New Media Studio, as well as studios for Koffler programs including dance, ceramics and painting.  Click here to download a PDF map of the site.  Fitness facilities are still available at the adjacent Bathurst JCC.  For fitness information, please call 416-636-1880 x 291
Prosserman JCC
4588 Bathurst Street (between Sheppard Avenue and Finch Avenue)
416-638-1881  
www.prossermanjcc.com

Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto - A museum dedicated to the 6 million. Since its doors opened, it has welcomed more than half a million international visitors and 200,000 Jewish and non-Jewish students from across Canada. For large groups, please contact the centre.
Lipa Green Centre for Jewish Community Services
4600 Bathurst Street, 4th Floor (between Sheppard and Finch Avenues)
416- 635-2883 ext 5301  
www.jewishtoronto.com

Biblical Garden - An outdoor Biblical garden at Temple Emanu-El.  Call to inquire before your visit.
120 Old Colony Road (off Bayview Avenue, between York Mills Road and Hwy. 401)
416- 449-3880
http://www.temanuel.com

York  Region

The Kimel Family Education Centre - home to the northern branch of TanenbaumCHAT.  The 110,000 sq. ft complex offers a state-of-the-art facility to over 600 high school students. This is the first building to open on the new Lebovic Campus -a 50 acre site in the heart of York Region. There are no tours presently available.

The Schwartz Reisman Centre, slated to open in the near future, is a 67,000 sq. ft. facility housing the Phil Granovsky Sports & Recreation Pavilion, an early childhood Education Centre and a Creative Arts Centre

General Information

Temperatures in the Greater Toronto area vary from season to season.  Summer temperatures usually are around 27C (84F) but can reach 36C (97 F) with high humidity. In mid-winter the temperature occasionally drops to  -20C or colder (-7F).
For weather, check www.toronto.com

In general, Toronto has an excellent transportation system.  Our subways and buses are clean, safe and reliable. For information on how to get around, call Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
416-393-4636
www.city.toronto.on.ca/ttc/

General Accommodation

The following websites have listings of hotels/motels, tourist sites, and more.
www.torontotourism.com
(416-203-2500)
www.ontariotravel.net
(1-800-668-2746)
www.toronto.com
www.showmetoronto.com                                                                                                                                                                      

Bed and Breakfast
Downtown Toronto Bed and Breakfast Guest Houses
416-410-3938
www.bnbinfo.com/
Offers a comfortable alternative to hotels and a variety of accommodations in many
of downtown Toronto's most interesting neighbourhoods.                                         

Dormitory Space
Generally available from May until mid August. 
University of Toronto, Trinity College - downtown Toronto 
416-978-8680
bookings@trinity.utoronto.ca 

Seneca College /Residence & Conference Centres
(Newham & King Campuses)
416-491-8811 or 1-877-2-ALUMNI
www.residenceconferencecentre.com

York University/Glendon College
(Bayview and Lawrence Avenues) 
416-487-6710
http://www.glendon.yorku.ca/ 

Shomer Shabbat Information

Most Kosher restaurants and prepared foods are supervised by the Kashruth Council of Canada and given the designation of COR.  For a full listing of restaurants, bakeries, butchers, etc. log onto www.cor.ca   

Badatz is a newer kosher certification, www.badatz.ca  

Toronto’s Eruv (confirmed August 2009)
The boundaries of the Eruv are generally as follows:
To the North: Highway 407
To the South: CP rail tracks which run between Davenport Road and Dupont Avenue.
To the East: CN tracks between Bayview Avenue and Highway 404. North of Steeles Avenue the eastern boundary runs along Yonge Street
To the West: (from north to south) CN tracks from Hwy 7, east of Keele Street to approximately Sheppard Avenue. The Eruv then follows the Allen Expressway south to Yorkdale at which point it follows Dufferin Road south to Castlefield Avenue. From Castlefield Avenue, the Eruv runs south on Caledonia Road to the CP rail tracks.

Carrying is only permitted across Hwy 401 at the underpass located on Wilson Avenue just east of Bathurst Street and at Bathurst Street just east of Wilson Avenue. 

For updates, please contact Eruv Hotline - 416-350-2879.
info@torontoeruv.org
www.torontoeruv.org

Lodging Possibilities:
Listed below are synagogues and hotels closest to them.  Please note: Most hotels are a distance from the synagogue and can be a 30-60 minute walk. 

Downtown Toronto
Anshei Minsk Congregation  (Orthodox)
10 St. Andrew Street, 416-595-5723
www.theminsk.com
Offers Friday night dinner and Shabbat lunch.  Please call ahead to reserve. 

Annex Shul (Non-Affiliated)
Friday night service held at the Wolfond Centre for Jewish Campus Life, 36 Harbord Street. 416-924-1313
www.annexshul.com
Also offers Friday night dinner at a reasonable rate.

First Narayever  (Egalitarian)
187-189 Brunswick Avenue, 416-927-0546
www.narayever.com 

Hillel of Greater Toronto (Egalitarian and Traditional services)
Wolfond Centre for Jewish Campus Life
36 Harbord Street, 416-913-2424
www.hilleltoronto.org
Offers Friday night dinners and Shabbat services during the school year.

Kiever Congregation (Orthodox)
25 Bellevue Avenue, 416-593-9702

Shaarei Tzedec Synagogue (Orthodox)
397 Markham Avenue, 416-964-3307  

Hotel within a 10-minute walk:
Grange Apartment Hotel
165 Grange Avenue         
Reservations@grangehotel.com                                     
416-603-7700   
888-232-0002

Hotels within a 20-30 minute walk:           
Delta Chelsea Inn Hotel
33 Gerrard Street West             
www.deltahotels.com
416-595-1975
800-243-5732

Holiday Inn on King Street
370 King St. West
416-599-4000
800-263-6364
www.hiok.com

Sheraton Centre
123 Queen Street West
416-361-1000   
www.sheraton.com/centretoronto                    
(kosher meals available on request)

Hotels within a 20-30 minute walk:
Four Seasons Hotel - Yorkville
21 Avenue Road
416-964-0411
800-268-6282                 
www.fourseasons.com                                   

Hotel Intercontinental
220 Bloor Street West
416-960-5200
800-267-0010          
www.intercontinental.com

Park Hyatt Toronto
4 Avenue Road
416-924-5471
800-977-4197                     
www.hyatt.com                                         

Quality Hotel Midtown
280 Bloor Street West
416-968-0010
800-228-5151     
www.choicehotels.ca/cn312     

Sutton Place Hotel
95 Bay Street
416-924-9221
800-268-3790     
www.suttonplace.com                             

There are a number of restaurants under COR in downtown Toronto:
Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue offers kosher meals on request 416-586-5024.There are always kosher snacks in the coffee shop on the main floor.

Oasis Cafe, 2 First Canadian Place, 416-368-8805.  Open for breakfast and lunch, Monday to Friday. 

Mid-Town Toronto
Listed below are synagogues and hotels closest to them.  Please note most hotels are a distance from the synagogue and can be a 30-60 minute walk.  

Beth Torah Congregation (Conservative)
47 Glenbrook Avenue
416-782-4495
www.bethtorah.ca

Shomrai Shabbos Chevra Mishnayoth (Orthodox)
585 Glengrove Avenue
416-782-8849

Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue (Conservative)
100 Elder Street, 416-633-3838
www.beby.org

Closest hotels:
Holiday Inn Yorkdale                 
3450 Dufferin Street at Hwy.401                             
Kosher food can be ordered in advance
www.sixcontinenthotels.com     
416-789-5161
800-465-4329

Montecassino Place Suites Hotel
3710 Chesswood Avenue (Dufferin Street and Sheppard Avenue)                 
416-630-8100
800-334-8774
www.montecassino.on.ca 

Beth Tikvah Synagogue (Conservative)
3080 Bayview Avenue
416-221-3433
www.bethtikvah.on.ca

B'nai  Torah Congregation (Orthodox)
465 Patricia Avenue
416-226-3700 

Kehillat Shaarei Torah Synagogue (Orthodox)
2640 Bayview Avenue
416-229-2600
www.shaareitorah.com 

Minyan Sepharad (Sephardic)
475 Patricia Avenue
416-512-8851 

Pride of Israel Synagogue (Conservative)
59 Lissom Crescent
416-226-0111
www.thepride.org

Ulpanat Orot: Mishkan Avraham Synagogue (Orthodox)
45 Canyon Avenue
416-630-6772 

Closest Hotel:
Novotel Hotel
3 Park Home (Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue )
416-733-2929
800-668-6835 
www.novotel.com     

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation (Orthodox)
470 Glencairn Avenue
416-789-3213
www.shomayim.org

Chabad on the Avenue (Orthodox)
414 Cranbrooke Avenue
416-546-8770

Imrei Noam Congregation (Orthodox)
84 Stormont Avenue
416-782-7995

Zichron Schneur-Toronto Lakewood Minyan (Orthodox) 
2801 Bathurst Street
416-781-0136

Agudath Israel (Orthodox)
129 McGilvray Avenue
416-789-5514

Closest Accommodation: (within a 15 minute walk)
Terrace Gardens Retirement Home
3705 Bathurst Street at Hwy. 401
416-789-7670     
Kosher retirement home with meals.  Rooms open to the public upon availability.

Thornhill/Richmond Hill
Chabad Lubavitch of Markham (Orthodox)
83 Green Lane
905-886-0420

Closest hotels:
Courtyard by Marriott
65 Minthorn Court  (corner Leslie Street and Hwy. 7)                            
Thornhill               
www.marriott.com
905-707-6533
800-321-2211

Sheraton Parkway Hotel                             
600 Hwy. 7 East (corner Leslie Street & Hwy. 7)
905-881-2121
800-668-0101
www.sheratonparkway.com

Shabbat Hospitality 

Anshei Minsk Congregation (Orthodox), 416-595-5723   
Friday night dinner held at the synagogue (must pre-pay).  Shabbat lunch can also be arranged.  Call office to confirm. Kosher apartment available, price negotiable.

Bikur Cholim, 416-783-7983. Short walk to Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue and storefront shuls in the area. Apartment rentals for Shabbat available. Call ahead.  Also has apartment in downtown Toronto for Shabbat for those who have relatives staying in hospitals.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Kosher Pizza & Falafel (seasonal)
5930 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls
289-296-4000
Under the supervision of Rabbi Zalman Zaltzman,Chabad Shliach of Niagara
www.niagarakosherpizza.com

Mendy's Kosher Niagara (Meat) - open during summer season
Located at the Four Point Sheraton Hotel
6455 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, ON
289-296-4040
www.niagarakosher.com
Under the supervision of Rabbi Zalman Zaltzman, Chabad Shliach of Niagara

Kosher Land Hot Dogs and Falafel (seasonal)
Two locations in Niagara Falls - Maid of the Mist Entrance & Table Rock Cafe

Niagara on the Lake, Ontario
Cobblestone Bed & Breakast
Kosher breakfast available
Further information call Shelley 905-324-0043 or
shelley@cobblestoneniagara.com
www.cobblestoneniagara.com

Chabad Niagara Summer daily services
Four Points Sheraton Fallsview Hotel
6455 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, ON
905-356-7200

Buffalo, New York
Nissin's Kosher Deli - Tops International Supermarket
Maple Road, corner of North Bailey
716-515-0075
Take out and eat in
Under the Va'ad HaKashrut of Buffalo
http://yibuffalo.org/bvk.htm

Kosher Deli at University of Buffalo
3 Talbert Hall
Closed in summer
716-645-5257
Hours:  11am-1:30pm  Monday-Friday;
5-7pm Tuesdays and Thusdays
Under the Va'ad HaKashrut of Buffalo
http://yibuffalo.org/bvk.htm

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