Temple Emanu-El

What Temple Emanu-El does

Temple Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish congregation headquartered at 120 Old Colony Road in North York, Ontario, serving the Greater Toronto Area Jewish community. Its operations span religious services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, lifecycle events such as bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, and funerals), Jewish education through the Centre for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL) and adult programs (Torah trope, Mussar study, Hebrew), and community programming including Zumba Gold fitness classes, a knitting circle, social action initiatives, and a refugee sponsorship program. The congregation is led by Rabbi Debra Landsberg and Cantor Jeffrey Weber and governed by a member-elected Board of Directors.

The organization's digital and administrative infrastructure is built on the ShulCloud platform, which provides the website, member accounts, event calendar, online donation processing, and member login. Online programming is delivered via Zoom, with event registration handled through Amilia and video content hosted on YouTube. Social presence extends to Facebook and Instagram, supported by Google Sign-In for member authentication. The temple's most prominent cultural initiative is Havdalah on the Porch, a free summer outdoor music series launched in 2020 and funded in part by the Judy Dan Fund for Arts and Education.

Temple Emanu-El is structured as a private non-profit religious congregation with no public financial disclosures. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: annual membership dues, tax-deductible donations across multiple named funds (Temple Emanu-El Fund, Building Renewal, Rabbi's and Cantor's Discretionary Funds, Youth Scholarship), and program fees for offerings such as Zumba Gold ($60–$125 per multi-month session) and one-time purchases like prayer books and Chumashim. On March 2, 2026, the synagogue suffered a drive-by shooting at its main entrance causing significant building damage but no physical injuries; the congregation is actively fundraising to rebuild while continuing in-person and online services.

Name

Temple Emanu-El

Legal name

Temple Emanu-El

Website

https://templeemanuel.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Temple Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish synagogue in North York, Ontario, serving the Greater Toronto Area with religious services, lifecycle events, Jewish education (CJLL), adult learning, and community programs such as Havdalah on the Porch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Jewish congregation services
• Religious education programs
• Community programming
• Lifecycle event officiation
• Worship services

Headquarters

HQ city

North York

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for temple membership providing access to services, programs, and community
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations including Temple Emanu-El Fund, Building Renewal Donations, Cantor's Discretionary Fund, Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, Youth Scholarship Fund. Minimum $18 for charitable tax receipt.
3. Program Fees: Fees for fitness classes (Zumba Gold), educational programs, and special events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Temple Emanu-El operates as a Reform Jewish synagogue providing religious services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, morning minyan, lifecycle events), Jewish education for children and adults through the Centre for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL), and community programming including the Havdalah on the Porch summer music series, the Temple Choir, fitness classes (Zumba Gold, Tony DeMartines Workout), social action, refugee sponsorship, and health and well-being programs. Membership, donations, and program fees sustain the congregation.

Product overview

Temple Emanu-El operates as a Reform Jewish congregation offering a comprehensive suite of religious, educational, and community services. The congregation's digital presence is powered by ShulCloud, a proprietary content management and membership platform that provides the technical infrastructure for member management, event registration, donation processing, and communication. Core service offerings include weekly Shabbat and holiday religious services, lifecycle event officiation, and the Centre for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL) for children's religious education. Adult programming spans Torah study, Hebrew instruction, and Mussar (Jewish ethical practice). The highly popular Havdalah on the Porch summer music series and Temple Choir provide cultural programming, while community programs including fitness classes and social action initiatives support member well-being and engagement. The congregation serves the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Jewish community from its North York location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centre for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL): Educational programming and school for children and adults
• Havdalah on the Porch
• Books & Biscotti
• The Hidden Work

Products and services

• Religious Services Jewish religious services including Shabbat services, High Holy Days, morning minyan, and lifecycle event officiation (bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, funerals) for congregation members and the broader Jewish community.
• Centre for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL) Comprehensive Jewish educational programming for children and families, including the religious school and family education program of the congregation.
• Adult Education Programs Adult learning opportunities including Torah trope instruction (Intro Torah Trope, Trope Tune-Up), Shabbat learning with the Rabbi, Mussar study (The Hidden Work), and Hebrew classes for congregation members.
• Havdalah on the Porch Free, open-to-the-public summer outdoor music series featuring live Jewish music performances, community gathering, ice cream, and a musical Havdalah (Sabbath closing ceremony) sing-along on the temple's front lawn.
• Temple Emanu-El Choir Congregation choir providing musical leadership during Shabbat and holiday services for Temple Emanu-El members.
• Community Programs Community programming including Zumba Gold fitness classes, Tony DeMartines Workout, knitting circle, community garden, social action initiatives, and health and well-being programs for members and the broader community.
• Youth and Family Programs Programming for young families and children including religious education, lifecycle celebrations, and family-oriented activities at Temple Emanu-El.
• Congregation Membership Annual congregation membership providing individuals and families with access to services, programming, lifecycle events, and community belonging at Temple Emanu-El.

Quantifiable outcome

• Havdalah on the Porch events are free and open to the public

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ShulCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationShulCloud provides the proprietary content management system and website platform powering Temple Emanu-El's online presence, membership management, event calendar, online donations, and member login functionality. The synagogue uses ShulCloud's services for all digital operations.
• Miles Nadal JCCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple Emanu-El partners with Miles Nadal JCC to co-host community-wide Pride Shabbat, bringing together the broader Jewish community for inclusive Pride celebrations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Beth Tzedec Congregation: One of the largest Conservative synagogues in Toronto. Competes with Temple Emanu-El for GTA Jewish families choosing between denominations, particularly for religious school enrollment and lifecycle events.
• Adath Israel Congregation: Toronto-area Conservative synagogue. Comparable as a mid-sized GTA synagogue offering religious services, education, and lifecycle programming to Jewish families in the same metropolitan market.
• Holy Blossom Temple: Toronto's flagship Reform Jewish synagogue and direct peer. Located in mid-town Toronto, it competes for the same GTA Reform Jewish families, lifecycle events, and educational programming market as Temple Emanu-El.
• Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco): Historically prominent Reform synagogue on the U.S. West Coast. Directly comparable as a similarly named Reform congregation with comprehensive programming, education, and cultural offerings serving a major metropolitan Jewish community.
• Temple Sinai (Toronto): Reform synagogue serving Toronto's Jewish community with religious services, religious school, and adult education. Directly comparable in denomination, programming mix, and target demographic to Temple Emanu-El.
• Shaarei Shomayim Congregation: Large Toronto synagogue offering religious services, day school, and community programming. Competes for member families across the GTA and represents an alternative affiliation option for Jewish households in North York.
• Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue: Toronto-area Conservative/traditional synagogue serving North York and surrounding communities. Competes for Jewish families in Temple Emanu-El's immediate geographic catchment, particularly for religious school and lifecycle events.

Regional players

• Miles Nadal JCC: Toronto Jewish Community Center that co-hosts Pride Shabbat with Temple Emanu-El. While not a synagogue, it is a direct comparable for Jewish community programming, fitness/wellness classes (Zumba, etc.), and cultural events in the GTA.

Broad incumbents

• Temple Emanu-El (New York): One of the largest and most prominent Reform synagogues in the world, located in Manhattan. Comparable in name, Reform tradition, and programming breadth, but operates at a substantially larger scale with significantly greater resources.

Others

• ShulCloud: Technology vendor powering Temple Emanu-El's website, membership management, donations, and event registration. Not a peer but a key enabling partner whose platform economics and roadmap materially affect Temple Emanu-El's digital operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@templeemanu-el3743
• Facebookfacebook.com/emanueltoronto
• Instagraminstagram.com/templeemanuelto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Temple Emanu-El