Congregation Knesseth Israel

Toronto, Canada

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Congregation Knesseth Israel, commonly known as the Junction Shul, is Toronto's oldest surviving synagogue in continuous use. Located at 56 Maria Street in the Junction neighbourhood, the Byzantine Revival brick building was designed by architect James Augustus Ellis of the firm Ellis and Connery and constructed beginning in 1911 with bartered labour and donated funds from founding members—many Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants. Dedicated on September 8, 1912, and opened for services in 1913, the synagogue features a modest red brick facade with a double-side staircase and circular windows divided into eighteen segments, a symbolism referring to the Hebrew word chai (life). Its interior reflects Eastern European Jewish tradition, with a three-sided women's gallery and seating arranged around a central space facing the eastern wall where the Torah ark is positioned. Much of the interior woodwork was carved by local cabinet makers from the congregation. Designated an Ontario Heritage site in 1984, the building served over 200 congregants at its 1920s peak and catalyzed significant Jewish migration to the neighbourhood.