There is a Jewish principle that even when faced with our own challenges, we must have the capacity to hear the cries of others and respond with mercy through good deeds. We cannot look away. We are obligated to act because awareness and compassion are not enough.

This teaching has been at the heart of JIAS’s work for over 100 years – we see with open eyes, we act with open hands, and we lead with open hearts.

We have the obligation to see with open eyes:

• We see our clients beyond their immediate needs, understanding the complex tapestry of their history, dreams, and inherent potential. In our 2024-2025 fiscal year, we supported over 5000 immigrants and refugees from over 75 countries.  We find shared values with our clients as they have many of the same concerns, fears, and hopes for themselves, their families, and for Canada that we have. They also share many of our concerns - with anti-immigrant sentiments, hate crimes, and political polarization on the rise, inflation and the cost of living increasing, and a declining job market, there is a feeling of uncertainty about what Canada will look like moving forward.
• We see our clients’ passion, skills, drive, and determination to build good lives here and make Canada strong. We see their resilience and are inspired to ensure that they are welcomed, know that they belong, and have opportunities to succeed.
• We see the challenges that immigrants and refugees must overcome in their settlement journey and work to provide tailored solutions and plans to help them along their journey.
• We see refugees waiting – days, months, years, and sometimes decades to be freed from limbo - from the risk of deportation, and more unspeakable challenges.

We must resist the urge to see a challenge and turn away. At JIAS, we accept that obligation to respond.

We have the obligation to act with open hands:

At a time when many others in our sector are cutting services, JIAS has chosen to grow responsibly. We are maximizing every donor dollar, leveraging existing government funds, increasing our partnerships, finding efficiencies, and focusing on today’s pressing needs, while still planning for our future.

This past year, we raised over $1.8 million in new donor donations. This funding enabled clients to have food, housing, and healthcare security.  When staff can provide a food card to a client to buy groceries when their cupboard is bare, emergency rent relief for their client who lost a job, and a hearing aid for a senior who already feels they impose too much on their children, is what let’s our clients and staff sleep at night. This funding allowed us to offer scholarships to clients pursuing their academic and professional dreams. This funding ensured JIAS has the right mix and depth of services, the infrastructure to remain agile, and the resources to uphold our values and mission.

One of the gifts was a $1 million pledge to be given each year for five years from the Honey & Barry Sherman Legacy Foundation, which was created by their daughter Alex Krawczyk. This gift is transformational, not just in dollars, but in our ability to meet each newcomer where they are at in their settlement journey. This gift empowers JIAS to be bold and actualize our vision including developing innovative programs, deepening our service delivery, growing our Mental Health and Wellbeing programs, and positioning the agency for the future.

At JIAS, acting with open hands is not about “giving” something – it’s about working with newcomers to achieve their goals, build their lives in Canada, and support their dreams. Often, a careful look at the needs, challenges, and desires of one newcomer reveals broader trends that face entire communities of newcomers – and being able to analyze this information sparks pilot projects and drives new collaborations.

• We act – when our front-line staff implement a mental wellness program in one of our language schools so that students in our LINC program can access supports in their own language during their lunch breaks. While this service is not a requirement of the LINC curriculum, we offer these programs through other funding as we know the positive impact this information and experience will have in our client’s journey.
• We act – when we provide emergency funds to a family at risk. In 2024, JIAS acted with urgency to raise funds for Israelis who arrived in the GTA post-October 7^th – unable to work right away. We raised over half a million dollars in just four weeks – half from first-time donors – to cover rent, food, and other critical support.
• We act – when we respond to anti-immigrant rhetoric by telling the stories of JIAS clients as a powerful reminder that immigrants and refugees are Canada’s nation builders.
• We act – when our PSR team does everything in their power to sponsor a refugee in a dire situation. This year, we are celebrating this action, this foresight to privately sponsor refugees of all backgrounds – bringing those in urgent need to safety and supporting them as they rebuild their lives in Canada.

The vision to become Canada’s only Jewish SAH was that of my predecessor, JIAS’ late Executive Director, Janis Roth. Since being granted this status a decade ago, JIAS has sponsored – in partnership with our community – over 1000 refugees. This is Janis Roth’s legacy – our ability as a Jewish community, to bring refugees to safety in Canada.

Finally, we are obligated to lead with open hearts:

JIAS’ extraordinary staff and volunteers lead with compassion every day. They show warmth, commitment, and flexibility in fulfilling our mission. I have worked in many sectors, and the dedication and compassion at JIAS is unmatched.

The team at JIAS reflects the best of Canada – they motivate and support one another. They share the belief that every newcomer will thrive when given the right support and opportunities. I am proud of the talent, insights, wisdom of our diverse workforce and their contributions to the impact and value JIAS brings to its clients, our community, and Canada.

Our impact and value are exponentially increased by:

• Our volunteers, who make it possible for us to provide wraparound support and connections, embody the obligation to act with open hearts.
• Our partners and funders embolden us to reach more clients, ensuring that more immigrants experience kindness and a sense of belonging.
• Our talented board, who give their time and skills so generously, have been instrumental in developing our 3-year strategic plan, which will serve as our compass to lead this organization not just with our hearts but also with due diligence. In a changing immigration landscape, our strategic plan shows us where we stand, what we must do, and how we will lead.

When I think of an open heart, our outgoing board chair, Shelly Markel, deserves a special mention. She embodies all aspects of what it means to be a leader in these times. Shelly – I admire your clarity, humility, and wisdom. You leave behind the legacy of stronger governance, significant growth, and a lasting foundation.

When I was eight years old, I had an autograph book for friends to sign at the end of the school year. On the first page, my father inscribed the words of Rabbi Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I?” As a child, I interpreted these words to mean that I was supposed to share my toys and help others. As an adult, and even more so during these challenging times, as a leader of a Jewish agency, I think about why my father chose to write these words…

They are my call to action. To see others with kind eyes and not look away. To be bold. To respond even when it is difficult. To know that our obligation to help others should never be perceived as onerous – rather it is a formula for a life well lived, filled with purpose, and serendipitous joy.  And so, I push myself – and this organization – to do more for others.

It is much easier to lead and be a visionary knowing that JIAS has the talent and capacity to grow, and the confidence and backing of volunteers, donors, funders, and partners. Together, we are a powerful collective who strengthen our clients’ lives and their contributions to community and country. I am so very grateful.

Thank you,

Elise Herzig
Executive Director

We welcome, support, and integrate new immigrants and refugees to build a vibrant Jewish community and a strong, inclusive Canada that values all newcomers. 

In 2024/25, we made significant investments to improve how we collect, analyze, and use data to inform our work and enhance client outcomes. We introduced streamlined data collection systems and built stronger evaluation frameworks across our programs and services. These efforts enhanced our ability to evaluate program outcomes, measure impact, and generate insights that guide better decision-making, resource allocation, and service design.

• 90% of participants in Speed Mentoring Events feel more prepared to seek a job after participation.  
• Teachers at JIAS’s Ready for School Program observed significant growth in student’s confidence, socialization, and academic readiness across all measured areas. Parents perceived major gains in their children’s cultural adaptation, social circles and understanding of school norms after participation in the program. 
• JIAS conducted focus groups to evaluate Mental Health programs that showed highly positive responses to these services, including feeling well supported and stating that it was "a very safe place to talk.” 

We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of the first Active Citizenship Program with 14 talented graduates. This impactful initiative strengthens community connections and empowers newcomers to actively shape Canadian society by enhancing their professional skills, expanding networks, and preparing them for civic engagement. Each Fellow was selected based on set criteria, including their past contributions to society and demonstrated leadership.  

The program, organized by JIAS Toronto, is based on Journeys to Active Citizenship (a project of North York Community House and OCASI). The program includes a comprehensive series of workshops and individual mentorship for each Fellow throughout the five-month program. Mentors and Fellows met regularly throughout this journey, building connections, sharing knowledge, and deepening their understanding of Canadian civic engagement. 

In this video, we meet program Fellow Roberta Avillez, who holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture, specializing in Brazilian immigrant identity. She is now doing a second PhD at the University of Toronto on the immigrant diaspora in Canada. Her Active Citizenship Program Mentor is Juan Marsiaj, a fellow Brazilian and Research Director at the Diversity Institute at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.