Membership for the DJC 2025/2026 Opens July 1st!

Dear Friend of the DJC,

As we prepare to welcome 5786, we invite you to reflect with us on the heart of our community – and to renew your DJC membership on July 1st at djctoronto.com/membership.

This past year has tested us all – emotionally, politically, spiritually. In a world increasingly divided, we’ve stayed true to our most sacred principle: radical inclusivity rooted in Jewish tradition and ethical responsibility. The DJC is a rare and vital place – one that holds space for real difference, for multiple and complicated truths, and for people who long to belong even (and especially) when the world doesn’t feel welcoming.

Since October 7, our commitment to one another has deepened. We’ve mourned, we’ve listened, we’ve gathered, and we’ve wrestled – with fear, with compassion, with history, and with hope. Through it all, we’ve remained a community grounded in Jewish values: embracing complexity, centering justice, and showing up for one another with love.

Looking Ahead: A New Year, A Renewed Commitment

This fall, we look forward to gathering for High Holy Day services in our beautiful sanctuary at the Danforth Multifaith Commons. Together, we’ll:

• Celebrate with communal aliyot and joyful music,

• Gather at the water’s edge for Taschlich, to let go and begin again,

• Learn and reflect during Yom Kippur afternoon sessions,

• And welcome Shabbat under the stars in the Sukkah.

But membership is about so much more than the High Holy Days. Your Membership Powers Our Year-Round Community

Because of your support, this past year we:

• Celebrated a fresh cohort of Bet Mitzvah students who led us with heart and wisdom;

• Created inclusive services and lifecycle rituals – from brit milah and brit bat to funerals and shiva gatherings;

• Provided pastoral care, Shabbat joy, and soul-nourishing moments week after week;

• Honoured memory and deepened reflection – marking the October 7 yahrzeit and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation with song, poetry, and interfaith solidarity rooted in mourning and resilience.

• Expanded our knowledge and challenged our assumptions about Israel/Palestine in two seasons of Wrestling with Hard Conversations, connecting through courageous dialogue and reflection with visiting speakers;

• Grappled with the complexities of antisemitism – hosting the Ha’ikar dialogue for young adults, interfaith learning on antisemitism and Islamophobia, and community conversations rooted in nuance, courage, and mutual respect.

• Deepened our commitment to justice – through refugee sponsorship, Indigenous reconciliation, climate action, and racial equity;

• Expanded our Children’s Jewish Studies Program and made Jewish learning accessible for all ages and abilities;

• Celebrated a Wicked Purim, dancing through Shushan with spirit, satire, and all-ages creativity;

• Ensured no one was turned away – subsidizing education and participation for all who seek a place in the Circle.

We Need You – Now More Than Ever

To sustain and grow this vibrant, caring, and justice-rooted Jewish community, we rely on you.

The DJC’s actual costs are $1,235 per person or $2,463 per couple/family. We ask those who are able to reach higher this year, helping us meet rising costs and expanding needs. If you can, please consider increasing your contribution by at least $200 more than you gave last year. If that’s not possible, please give what you can – we remain proudly committed to a sliding scale model and accessibility for all.

Your membership is 100% tax-deductible, and tax receipts will be issued by email in February.

We ask you to renew your membership at djctoronto.com/membership– and invite others in your life to join this unique, compassionate community.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: info@djctoronto.com

In a time when Jewish life is being reimagined and tested, the DJC is showing what’s possible. With your voice and your presence, we’ll continue to build a Jewish future rooted in courage, care, and collective purpose.

Thank you for being part of the Circle.

With gratitude,

Saara Greene, Eli Felman and Juliet Palmer Co-Chairs, The DJC Board of Directors