UPCOMING PROGRAMS/EVENTS
LOCAL RESOURCES
Eshel - Eshel’s mission is to create a future for Orthodox lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and their families. Through its innovative and culturally sensitive programming, Eshel supports LGBTQ Jews, opening hearts, minds and doors in traditional Jewish communities.
JACS Toronto Rainbow Group - JACS delivers education, programming, care and support to all those affected by addiction in the Jewish Community and beyond. This group is a safe space for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals to discuss their issues surrounding substance use and related mental health issues.
Jewish Queer Youth - JQY (Jewish Queer Youth) supports and empowers LGBTQ Jewish youth with a special focus on teens and young adults from Orthodox, Chassidic, and Sephardi/Mizrahi communities. JQY fights to ensure the emotional and physical health and safety of this population. Our goal is for all these individuals to know: You are a valued member of the Jewish community and you are not alone.
JF&CS LGBTQ2S+ Services - JF&CS is committed to being a safe space for the LGBTQ2S+ Community. We offer counselling, groups and workshops to individuals and families as well and welcome folks of all sexual orientations and gender identities at our existing groups and workshops. We also offer support and training to organizations on being more inclusive.
Keshet - Keshet works for the full equality of all LGBTQ Jews and our families in Jewish life. We strengthen Jewish communities. We equip Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge to build LGBTQ-affirming communities, create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued, and advance LGBTQ rights nationwide.
LGBTQ+ Jewish book list from the Jewish Book Council! - Jewish Book Council, founded in 1943, is the longest-running organization devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature. They have compiled a list of books featuring LGBTQ+ Jewish narratives.
Nonbinary Hebrew Project - We are building a bigger tent for nonbinary Jews through a third-gender grammar systematics for Hebrew, guided by our Torah and Talmud that teach us to rejoice that which cannot be neatly categorized. This project is free, open-source, community-based, and grassroots. It lives and grows and changes with every single person who uses and adds to it.
Ontario Jewish Archive’s LGBTQ+ Stories - The Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre is the largest repository of Jewish life in Canada. Here you can find the OJA’s compiled list of LGBTQ+ stories from Ontario’s Jewish community.
SVARA - SVARA’s mission is to empower queer and trans people to expand Torah and tradition through the spiritual practice of Talmud study. We offer year-round learning, served up the old-fashioned way: hardcore, queer, and radically inclusive.
Queering the Jewish Wedding - The aims of this project are to in-gather and archive Queer-Jewish weddings and union ceremonies of all kinds, interview the folks who crafted them, and create a video artwork and expansive resource from what's been shared. If you have had, have officiated, or are planning a Queer-Jewish wedding, we'd love your contribution!
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
SUPPORT OUR WORK
We’re so proud of the team we’ve put together, and the outstanding line-up of programs and events we offer. Now we’re hoping we can count of you to support us! We’re still in the early stages of this work but we have lots of plans that will need financial support! Any amount helps.
At LGBTQ+ at the J there is no right way to be Queer, and no right way to be Jewish; there's certainly no right way to be both. Our programs aim to support diverse, pluralistic, and accessible community at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities and experiences. We bring Queerness into Jewish moments and bring Jewishness into Queer life, striving for spaces where everybody can bring their full self. We both celebrate and amplify LGBTQ+ Jewish people and stories, in recognition of their inherent value. Interested in more information? Scroll through our webpage or contact Emunah Woolf, our Community Programmer, at emunahw@mnjcc.org.

ABOUT US
Community-Wide Pride Shabbat - Friday, June 20, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
You are invited to attend Toronto’s annual community-wide Pride Shabbat on Friday, June 20th, 2025. With queer and allied clergy leading a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat service, a delicious kosher dinner, and opportunities to celebrate both our LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities, this is a night you won’t want to miss. This event is organized by a coalition of organizations who are working towards LGBTQ+ inclusion in all aspects of Jewish life. This event centers LGBTQ+ Jewish community members, and allies to both Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities are more than welcome to join us.
Families at the J: Pride Crafternoon (Ages 5-11) - Sunday, June 8, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Get ready for Pride with a fun and creative afternoon for kids and their families! We’ll begin with a short introduction to Pride with guest facilitator Emunah Woolf from MNjcc’s own LGBTQ+ at the J —what it means, why it matters, and how we celebrate. Then, it’s time to get crafty! In this workshop, kids will design their own t-shirts, signs, and buttons to wear and share at this year’s Pride festivities or anytime they feel like showing their Pride! Along the way, families will connect with other LGBTQ+ and allied families in a joyful, inclusive space. Come create, celebrate, and get Pride-ready together! Please email Laurens@mnjcc.org with any accessibility questions or requests and we will work together to find ways for you to join us.
Shabbat Shop - Pride Edition - Friday, June 6, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm + 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Celebrate the beginning of Pride Month with us at the MNjcc's special Shabbat Shop – Pride Edition! Indulge in a variety of delightful treats and essentials, including freshly baked rainbow challah and other seasonal goodies, all while supporting LGBTQ+ programs at the J. Quantities are limited, so we encourage you to pre-order your items in advance. Please note that same-day purchases will be cash only. For more information on our Pride Month events and programs, visit our Pride at the J page.
Families at the J: Pride Crafternoon (Ages 12-16) - Sunday, June 8, 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Get ready for Pride with a fun and creative afternoon for teens! We’ll begin with a short introduction to Pride with guest facilitator Sof Kreidstein from Camp Machane Lev —what it means, why it matters, and how we celebrate. Then, it’s time to get crafty! In this workshop, we will design their own t-shirts, signs, and buttons to wear and share at this year’s Pride festivities or anytime they feel like showing their Pride! Along the way, connect with other LGBTQ+ and allied peers in a joyful, inclusive space. Come create, celebrate, and get Pride-ready together! Please email Laurens@mnjcc.org with any accessibility questions or requests and we will work together to find ways for you to join us.