Jewish Families in the Toronto District School Board (JFIT) ensures that Jewish students and families feel safe, respected, and able to participate fully in school life.
We envision a TDSB where Jewish students and families feel welcomed and included. We celebrate Jewish culture, history, and heritage and address anti-Jewish hate.
Uniting Families. Celebrating heritage. Ensuring Inclusion
Jewish students and families are an integral part of the Toronto District School Board. Our community represents a vibrant and longstanding presence within Toronto’s public education system. We are more than a collection of individual families; we are a community committed to ensuring that Jewish students and families feel safe, respected, and able to participate fully in school life.
Our work is grounded in collaboration with parents, educators, school board administrators, and education system leaders. We believe in constructive engagement, clear communication, and solutions that benefit not only Jewish students and families, but the broader community as well.
A TDSB where Jewish students and families experience safety, dignity, and belonging, and are empowered to participate fully in school life without fear of anti-Jewish hate, discrimination, or exclusion.
To serve as a unified, non-partisan voice for Jewish students and families within the TDSB by fostering collaboration and constructive engagement.
Respect for the diverse spectrum of Jewish students and families in Toronto, while affirming that Zionist identity is a legitimate and protected expression of Jewish identity within public institutions.
Advocacy informed by lived experiences, documented incidents, and careful analysis, using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, as also adopted by the TDSB, as well as the Ontario and federal governments.
An autonomous, parent-led body focused on the best interests of Jewish students and families.
We advocate for safe, inclusive learning environments that celebrate Jewish heritage, encourage respectful dialogue, and address anti-Jewish hate.
We provide meaningful support and resources to empower Jewish families and students to celebrate Jewish culture, traditions, and history in TDSB schools.
We help Jewish students and families navigate TDSB processes, including communication pathways, guidance resources, access to experts, and incident reporting mechanisms.
We collaborate with community partners, school administrators, parents, and educators to serve as a liaison between families and school/system leadership.
We monitor, analyze, and report on the experiences of Jewish students and their families within the TDSB. We are data-driven, transparent, and compassionate in all means of communication with families and the school board.
There are several organizations in Canada that address antisemitism, including some that engage with the school system. However, the TDSB is the largest school board in the country, with unique structures, policies, and accountability mechanisms. We believe that addressing anti-Jewish hate effectively within the TDSB requires a TDSB-specific organization that can identify concrete issues and advocate for actionable solutions, rather than relying on generalized recommendations.
Our organizational focus also hinges on honouring Jewish culture within the school setting, broadening our priorities to include opportunities for education, celebration, and productive dialogue.
Our intention is not to replace or duplicate existing efforts. Instead, we aim to work collaboratively with other organizations, leveraging their expertise while avoiding redundancy.
Get in touch with our team to get involved, seek support, or with any other questions. We look forward to supporting you and your family.