Passing Judaica on to new generations in Toronto and the GTA
HJT accepts donations of unused or unwanted Judaica to pass on to new generations in Toronto and the GTA free of charge. Got some Judaica to donate or in need of some Judaica? Get in touch.
How it works
We work to give unwanted Judaica new homes
Donate
Have items sitting in a closet or inherited from family? Tell us what you have and we’ll help it find a new home.
Donate your JudaicaBrowse
See what’s been donated and is waiting for a new home, sorted by occasion and type. We update the catalogue weekly.
View the catalogueRequest
Setting up a home, coming into Jewish practice, or simply in need of something? Let us know what would help.
Request some JudaicaConnect
Join our Facebook group to meet other community members and swap directly, or to request books.
Join the Facebook groupRecently donated to the catalogue
A few of the items currently looking for a new home.
About us
Heirlooms for new generations
Connecting unused ritual objects with the people who will use and love them for years to come.
Our mission
Heritage Judaica Toronto accepts donations of unused or unwanted Judaica and passes them on to new generations in Toronto and the GTA, always free of charge.
Our story
Heritage Judaica started out in 2018 in Minneapolis, mostly as a Facebook group. Since then, it's expanded to multiple chapters across the USA and has helped to rehome tens of thousands of items of Judaica.
Heritage Judaica Toronto is the first Canadian branch of the organisation, founded by Tom and Talia P. We're active members of First Narayever Congregation in downtown Toronto, and Tom recently completed his conversion process to Judaism.
Through this journey and through our synagogue community, we discovered that there's a problem to be solved: so many young folks are coming into Jewish practice and are relying on expensive or unreliable sources of low-quality Judaica for their observances. Meanwhile, more established generations of Jews in the city often have more Judaica than they know what to do with, whether due to downsizing, a change in their practices, or through bereavement.
We want to work to connect these groups, helping people enhance their Jewish practice and linking different generations of Jews in the city through a shared material heritage that can continue to be passed down l'dor v'dor.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the things people ask us most.
Is there a cost?
No, and there never will be. Heritage Judaica Toronto will always collect and distribute Judaica free of charge, as we consider this work to be a mitzvah.
What kinds of Judaica do you accept?
We accept any kind of Judaica you're happy to donate, such as candlesticks, tallisim, tefillin, mezuzot, or general decorative items. The only things we can't accept are books (due to storage limitations) or anything Messianic (e.g. a tallit with Christian prayers, or anything featuring the messianic seal). If in doubt, please let us know what you have and we'd be glad to advise.
How do I donate?
Use the form on the Donate page to tell us what you'd like to donate. We'll then be in touch via email to ask for any more details and to arrange a handover with you. We also work with synagogues to host dropboxes, so if you happen to attend First Narayever Congregation you can leave your donations there.
How do I request Judaica?
Browse the catalogue, then use the form on the Request page to tell us what you’re looking for. We'll then be in touch to let you know what's available and to arrange a handover with you, or to add you to our waitlist. Please try to only request one or two items at a time so we can serve the most people possible.
How do pickup and delivery work?
We are based in downtown Toronto and can usually work out a handover anywhere south of St Clair Avenue. When offering a donation or making a request, please tell us your nearest major intersection so we can make a plan with you.
Who can request items?
We offer Judaica to anyone who is Jewish either by descent (with at least one Jewish parent) or by conversion (through a process recognised by one of the major denominations). We also consider requests from folks undergoing a conversion process under the supervision of an ordained rabbi. If in doubt, please let us know your specific circumstances when making a request.
Donate
Give your unused Judaica a new life
Have items sitting in a closet or inherited from family? Tell us what you have and we’ll help it find a new home.
How donating works
Tell us what you have
Use the form below to describe what you have: what it is, where it came from, and its condition.
We get in touch
We'll be in touch via email to ask for any more details and to arrange a handover with you. We also work with synagogues to host dropboxes, so if you happen to attend First Narayever Congregation you can leave your donations there.
It finds a new home
Your piece is added to our catalogue and passed on, free, to someone in Toronto or the GTA who will treasure it.
What people donate
Judaica comes in many forms. Some examples:
Please note we can't accept any books - sorry!
Ready to donate?
Tell us what you have and we’ll be in touch.
Request
Find something to enhance your Jewish practice
Setting up a home, coming into Jewish practice, or simply in need of something? Let us know what would help.
How requesting works
Browse the catalogue
See what’s available now, filtered by occasion or type. Nothing there yet? Ask anyway, as we update the catalogue weekly.
Send a request
Use the form below to tell us what you’re looking for, mentioning any catalogue item by name. Please try to only request one or two items at a time so we can serve the most people possible.
We match and arrange
We'll then be in touch to let you know what's available and to arrange a handover with you, or to add you to our waitlist.
Who it’s for
We offer Judaica to anyone who is Jewish either by descent (with at least one Jewish parent) or by conversion (through a process recognised by one of the major denominations).
We also consider requests from folks undergoing a conversion process under the supervision of an ordained rabbi. If in doubt, please let us know your specific circumstances when making a request.
Ready to request?
Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to match it.
Catalogue
Judaica looking for a new home
Pieces donated by the community and available now, free of charge.
Preview: showing sample items. Once the site is live and connected to the Google Drive folder, this gallery updates automatically with every photo added to it.
Loading the catalogue…
Contact
Get in touch
Questions about donating, requesting, volunteering, or anything else? We’d love to hear from you.
Community
Join the community and swap directly with other members in our Facebook group, or follow us for new additions on Instagram.