Our History

City Shul was formed by Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and a core of dedicated laypeople who sought to create a vibrant, warm, inclusive, and liberal Jewish presence in downtown Toronto. It was a project of "something from nothing." It began with a series of parlour meetings which asked  participants to dream up their ideal synagogue. Those meetings attracted people who for many years longed for a shul to call their own, along with people who were totally new to the idea of commitment to a Jewish organization or synagogue.

City Shul was launched in the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot of 2011.