About our school

  • We have been parents at DJCS since 1999. Both of our children have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) their experiences there. My eleven-year old son actually doesn’t mind getting up on Sunday morning to attend his classes! Over the years we’ve had some truly wonderful teachers. Joan, the principal, has consistently tried to populate her staff with warm, caring and engaging individuals...

    Lori MD, FRCP(C), DJCS parent

  • DJCS has given us the opportunity to pass on a Jewish identity to our kids that we otherwise would not have been able to do. It does this in a relaxed and inclusive environment that doesn’t judge us on our level of “Jewishness”. The staff is energetic and committed, and the attending families all want to be there. Being at Bloor and Spadina doesn’t hurt either!

    Stephen, DJCS parent

  • A good-sized group of kids went to DJCS from Palmerston School every Wednesday. We must have looked as if we were going to have fun because I remember one non-Jewish friend saying to his mom “I want to go to the Jewish school too!” My time at DJCS definitely enhanced my Jewish identity.

    Eli, DJCS graduate

  • At our PD day in November, as I was enjoying the company of my co-workers, it occurred to me what a special group of teachers our Executive Director, Joan, had cultivated. Besides feeling myself in the company of capable, experienced, and professional staff, I recognized how caring and full of midot the group around me was – truly a superlative group of role models for the next generations. The diversity of the families reflects the school’s philosophy — that there are many ways of being Jewish.

    Tally, DJCS teacher

  • “DJCS taught me to take a pluralistic, open minded, enthusiastic approach to Jewish life and tradition.”

    Rabbi Rachel, DJCS graduate

  • I have been moved by the DJCS’s uniquely honest and unpretentious approach to providing Jewish education to a very diverse population of children and their families.

    Ruth, DJCS teacher

Mission statement

The Downtown Jewish Community School aims to provide a basis for Jewish identity in a pluralistic community.  Students are taught the concepts and skills necessary to live a Jewish life and to feel comfortable within a Jewish setting.  Traditional Jewish concepts and practices are presented with explanations and alternatives — indicating that there are many ways to be a Jew.  We believe that our school must respect and accept individual differences, placing equal emphasis on all aspects of personal growth.


Statement of Aims and Objectives

I.          Community (K’lal Yisrael)  

a. To develop a pleasurable and satisfying orientation to Jewish group life – a sense of community.

b. To promote family participation in school sponsored (and  community) holiday celebrations and family education.

II.         Heritage, Culture and Values

a. To develop understanding of the Bible, biblical history and modern history – the Holocaust, current events, and modern day Israel.

b. To develop knowledge of Jewish traditions, rituals, and the arts – and their historical and contemporary significance.

c. To promote positive values through Jewish ethical teachings.

III.        Identity

a. To provide a basis for self awareness as a Jew in a pluralistic community.

b. To present traditional religious concepts with explanations of alternatives – indicating that there are many ways to be a Jew.

IV.        Modern Hebrew Language

a. To develop a Hebrew vocabulary of key words and phrases within the context of studying Jewish heritage, culture, and values.

b. To introduce modern Hebrew through conversation, reading and writing.

V.         Tefillah

a. To develop a sense of comfort and familiarization with the traditional forms of tefillah.

b. To develop an understanding of the place of tefillah in Judaism.

c. To encourage a readiness to discuss and think seriously about religious issues.

d. To encourage respect for the Jewish books of tefillah and for the objects used in tefillah.

e. To develop respect for all Jews (ahavat yisrael) whatever their approach to tefillah and mitzvot.