Congregation Knesseth Israel

Congregation Knesseth Israel is a synagogue in Toronto's Junction district, built in 1913 from red brick. The structure displays Byzantine Revival features with circular windows divided into eighteen segments, each representing a religious meaning in Jewish tradition.

The congregation was founded in 1909 by Jewish immigrants from Russia and Poland who had settled in Toronto. After purchasing land, they completed their brick building in 1913 to serve the growing community.

The name comes from Hebrew meaning "Community of Israel". The interior layout follows Eastern European Jewish traditions, with the women's gallery positioned above the main prayer space facing the Torah ark.

The building sits on Maria Street in an accessible neighborhood and is easy to spot among residential streets. Services are typically held during holidays and important religious occasions throughout the year.

This is Toronto's oldest actively used synagogue and earned official heritage protection in 1984 under provincial law. The designation reflects its status as one of the city's most important markers of Jewish immigration history.

Location: Toronto

Inception: 1913

Architectural style: Byzantine Revival architecture

Made from material: brick

Address: 56 Maria Street

GPS coordinates: 43.66640,-79.47550

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:40