We are looking for donations to support our work with refugees; to help sponsor, welcome and settle them in our community.

We welcome, support, and integrate new immigrants and refugees to build a vibrant Jewish community and a strong, inclusive Canada that values all newcomers.

JIAS offer a broad range of services, programs and workshops to help newcomers – regardless of country of origin, faith, or financial circumstances – navigate Canadian systems, rebuild their social and professional networks, and find authentic entry points to community life and Canadian society.

JIAS Toronto is a Jewish and federally funded agency that upholds Canada’s commitment to embracing immigrants and refugees. All newcomers should be warmly welcomed, well served, and connected to communities. They have the right to be safe, treated with dignity and respect, and valued for their traditions, cultures, achievements, and aspirations. We believe that newcomers should be provided with the choices and opportunities that will empower them towards self-reliance.

JIAS was founded in 1922 to provided emergency relief for European Jews in distress. With offices across Canada, JIAS facilitated the entry of Jewish immigrants into Canada and provided welfare services, transportation, and assistance with accommodation and employment. We also played a key role in policy, negotiating the increased admission of Jewish immigrants to Canada.

Today, JIAS continues to service Jewish newcomers while offering client-driven, equitable support to newcomers of all backgrounds that responds to evolving circumstances and needs. Our clients come from all over the world, including Israel, FSU, Syria & Iraq, Europe, Latin America, Turkey, Iran, and Eritrea. Despite our changing client profiles, we always remain true to the Jewish values embedded in the organization since its founding.

JIAS Toronto is the only Jewish settlement agency with Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) status in Canada. This status gives JIAS the ability to sponsor refugees to come to Canada.  Since 2015, we have worked with over 25 synagogues and other generous partners to bring over 300 refugees to safe haven. We know that this status will allow us to provide assistance to Jewish refugees if and when a time of crisis arises.

What our clients have to say:

“The year has passed – the first of new beginnings, hope, curiosity and a new language. The JIAS LINC school is more than a school for learning English. It is also a place to learn about Canadian history and culture, a place for making friends, and an information service."

“I was invited to join Youth-to-Youth. Talking with others who shared my background, mentality and past experiences was exhilarating. Our leaders helped us engage in meaningful conversations about our feelings about Canada. The program gave me the opportunity to be more engaged in the community and learn leadership skills"

“Just to let you know I have joined a company two weeks ago as Infrastructure Team Lead, where I lead teams of engineers in Toronto and the US. Thanks for all the support, mentoring, dedication and much more during my journey. If I will have an open position or so, I will definitively would call you to see if you have any potential candidates”.