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learn about THE J
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNjcc) has welcomed millions of people to the corner of Bloor and Spadina during the building’s 70 year history. The changing makeup of our membership is a testament not only to the vibrancy and diversity of the Annex neighbourhood but to Toronto’s own evolution. We provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to be active, learn, connect and participate in a wide range of cultural experiences. Rooted in Jewish values, the MNjcc is open to all. The MNjcc is home to the state-of-the-art Phil Granovsky Fitness Centre and Freddie Shore Aquatic Centre (with an accessible saltwater pool). We also house the Al Green Theatre, four schools, a wide range of arts, cultural and inclusive Jewish community programming, and we offer one of the most recognized accessibility and inclusion programs in the city. In 1953 we moved from Brunswick Avenue to our current intersection, and in 2004 we reopened a brand new centre, thanks to the support of the community through UJA Federation's Tomorrow Campaign and a lead gift from Miles Nadal. Throughout the years we have become a place of belonging not only to the Jewish community but to the beautifully diverse population of the city in which we live. From infants to seniors, we welcome people of all religions, abilities, ages, cultures, genders and sexual identities.
You belong at the J!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL LAND
Traditionally named Turtle Island some thousands of years ago, the land upon which our community centre sits is appropriately known as “the Gathering Place”, in the Dish with One Spoon Territory. Spadina – derived from the Anishinaabe word ishpadeena meaning "high hill" or "going up the hill" – is the name of an ancient Indigenous trail. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, work, meet and learn on this territory. May we aspire to learn more about the Indigenous peoples' history, as it is forever intertwined with our own.
Why do we Acknowledge the Land?
To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory we work and live on, and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. It is important to understand the long-standing history that has brought you to reside on the land and to seek to understand your place within that history. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense or historical context: colonialism is a current and ongoing process, and we need to build the mindfulness of our present participation.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2023)
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Brian Pukier • President
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Mary Castel
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Natalie Fingerhut
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Steven Friedman
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Aaron Grande
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Darnel Harris
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Dennis Hau
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Ben Katz
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Dr. Nadira Khan
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Frank Lewinberg
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Miles S. Nadal
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Zach Roher
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Wendy Rotenberg
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Melissa Smith
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Michael Wolfe
OUR PRIORITIES
COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
CODE OF CONDUCT & POLICIES
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
The MNjcc has signed on to No Silence on Race: an open letter challenging Jewish institutions to commit to anti-racism, written and endorsed by a broad coalition of Jewish people of colour. We welcome this call to action. Jewish tradition teaches us that the pursuit of justice is sacred and active work. Work that requires reflection and commitment. Work that is never done. Jewish history and experience create within us a burning desire to root out racism in all its forms so that all people will know freedom and equality. Over the course of more than 65 years in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Miles Nadal JCC has created a community guided by the Jewish values of embracing diversity and welcoming all. We regard the diversity of our community as a source of strength and richness. We strive to be a Centre where our community may be their full selves and where we work actively against all forms of discrimination and hate, including anti-Black racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, and xenophobia. And yet, we recognize that more work needs to be done. As much as the MNjcc serves as a destination for all people to live moments of joy, health, and values – it must be a place where action happens and where we address racism both within the Jewish community and in the broader society in which we live. Today and every day we affirm – Black lives matter. We stand with the Black community, with Jews of Colour, with the Indigenous community, and with communities of colour in Toronto against all forms of hatred and oppression—and specifically against anti-Black racism. We are committed to building upon our inclusive culture, reflecting the diversity of those we serve. We are committed to providing an accessible and equitable employment environment. We are committed to being partners and allies, and to amplifying the voices and efforts of other organizations engaged in the work of anti-racism. We commit to begin with these steps. Preliminary Commitment to Action: Senior Leadership: Our work towards living our values of anti-racism and inclusion will be led by Senior Leadership and our Board-Staff Task Force on Anti-Racism, Inclusion and Equity, including our Executive Director and our Director of Accessibility and Inclusion. We are working with Tema Smith, a local consultant and educator in anti-racism. Staff and Organizational Culture: We will conduct an environmental scan and survey to explore the employee and organizational culture at the MNjcc to determine staff needs and identify opportunities to further align policies and procedures with our values. We will launch a staff advisory committee on anti-racism and will centre the experiences and needs of BIPOC staff. We commit to providing all MNjcc staff with anti-racism and anti-oppression training. Community - Allyship and Partnerships: We will launch a community advisory committee on anti-racism; we will continue to pursue and expand partnerships with BIPOC groups and Jews of Colour organizations; we will deepen our partnerships with Circles of Reconciliation; we will expand our partnerships with newcomer, accessibility, and LGBTQ+ organizations and collectives; we will bring together diverse community voices in our programming and offer the community a platform to explore and discuss diversity and anti-racism through programming, and we will offer Jewish community groups a platform to explore and discuss diversity and anti-racism through the more than 45 organizations of the Downtown Jewish Community Council. Education Programs: We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our education programs. We will embrace the opportunity to broaden our Jewish cultural and educational programs by developing programming that celebrates diverse and multi-cultural Jewish identities. We will audit our curricula in both children’s and adult education to ensure that we are teaching through the lens of diverse histories and anti-racism.
No Silence on Race
MISSION / VISION / VALUES
OUR MISSION → The MNjcc strives to be an inclusive and welcoming hub for healthy and joyful community, anchored in Jewish values, where all downtown Toronto feel they belong.
OUR VISION → Where you belong downtown. From generation to generation. L'dor vador
OUR JEWISH VALUES → Education, Community, Culture, Respect for your Body, Loving-Kindness and Compassion
PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES We are committed to identifying, preventing and removing barriers -- in our facilities, programs and services -- as we work towards becoming a barrier-free JCC. We will ensure that diverse individuals and communities share in program development, have the opportunity to give feedback, are involved in decision-making processes and have fair access to information and services. We are committed to providing an accessible employment environment. We are committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and aim to ensure that dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of JCC culture. We envision a community where everyone acknowledges and respects our differences and celebrates all of our contributions. We are committed to the integration of people of all abilities into our programs, and we want to explore how we can best meet your needs. Thanks to support from the Wagner Green Family Trust, we are engaged in an ongoing initiative to assess and improve the accessibility of our facilities, programs and services, and to create a culture of inclusion. The Accessibility and Inclusion team, along with programming staff, will work with individuals with disabilities and their families to create a successful and meaningful experience at the MNjcc. All of our programs are open to people of all abilities. We also offer programming designed to meet specific needs identified to us by people with disabilities and their families. We want to hear about your experiences, your ideas, and your program needs. Contact Effie Biliris, Manager, Wagner-Green Center for Access & Inclusion. effieb@mnjcc.org (416) 924-6211 x 6332 The MNjcc is an accessible facility, with wheelchair access to programming and meeting rooms, the Phil Granovsky Fitness Centre, the Freddie Shore Aquatic Centre and the Al Green Theatre. This is due, in part, to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. All washroom areas also have designated accessible facilities. All staff have undergone AODA training in compliance with Government of Ontario regulations. The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity by: Ensuring that all customers receive the same value and quality Making allowances to customers with special needs; enabling them to manage tasks more easily and at their own pace when accessing goods and services as long as this does not present a safety risk to themselves or to others Using alternative methods when possible to ensure that customers with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner Taking into account individual needs when providing goods and services Communicating in a manner that takes into account the customer’s need. Read the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre Accessibility Policies and Plan 2014-2019 The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre shall provide customers with the opportunity to provide feedback on the service provided to customers with disabilities. Feedback forms along with alternate methods of providing feedback such as verbally (in person or by telephone) or written (handwritten, delivered, website or email), will be available upon request. Your feedback is important to us. You can provide feedback in person, by email, or by phone to: Director of Operational Excellence • 416.924.6211 x 6551 naomik@mnjcc.org Questions about the administration of the AODA policy can be directed to: Accessibility and Inclusion • 416.924.6211 x 6332 inclusion@mnjcc.org Statement of Accommodation The MNjcc is committed to accessibility. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs. Contact inclusion@mnjcc.org; 416.924.6211 x 6344 Service Disruptions Information about service disruptions will be communicated through an alert bar on this website and with physical signage on site.
Diversity and social inclusion are at the heart of what we do at the Miles Nadal JCC. We regard the diversity of our community as a source of strength and richness. The MNjcc strives to be a 2SLGBTQI+ positive space and is committed to welcoming, including, and embracing all members of the community. We seek to create and maintain a safe, welcoming, affirming and inclusive environment for members of the MNjcc community of any gender or sexual identity, and a community that is free of discrimination and harassment based on gender expression and sexual orientation.
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