The Toronto Hebrew Benevolent Society is the oldest Jewish Mutual Benefit Society in the province of Ontario and perhaps the third oldest in Canada. The first meeting was held on January 15, 1899.

Throughout the years, the charity and welfare fund has supported local charities both Jewish and non Jewish. During the Second World War, we sent comfort boxes to servicemen overseas and furnished a recreation room at Camp Borden. This fund has also supported the State of Israel and along with the general operating fund has established five perpetual scholarships at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

In the past year this fund has supported the following organizations:

B'nai Brith Canada
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Diabetes Association
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Israeli Cancer Research
Jewish Family and Child Services
Mount Sinai Hospital
Princess Margaret Hospital
The Distress Center
The War Amps - Ontario
United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto
United Way of Greater Toronto

For further information concerning the Charitable Organizations which the THBS supported this year, please click on any of the above names.

Prior to the establishment of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, the society provided hospital and medical benefits with doctors on call for the benefit of our members.

We also have a sick benefit fund which provides certain benefits when a member is ill and a brotherly fund for members in need of assistance. Any assistance provided is strictly confidential and not discussed at any meetings and that is the reason the brotherly fund chairman alway says “no report” when called upon.

Our main function today is to provide burial plots to our members and to maintain our cemetery properties.

The social functions of our society include the Chanukkah party, of which we are very proud. This yearly event is thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance. Each year the society invites non-members who would otherwise find it difficult to provide gifts and entertainment to their children.

June 2007, we had our second annual picnic, which was even more successful than the previous year.  Planning is in process to continue making this event a favoured family outing.  As with the Chanukah Party, non-members are also invited.

At four of the meetings during the year, speakers are arranged for the enjoyment and education of our members.

According to the constitution, our meetings are conducted according to Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Procedures and the only prohibition is that questions relating to religion or politics will not be discussed at any meetings.

Article 10 of our constitution states that it shall be the duty of each member to visit a sick member if notified to do so and to attend the funeral of all deceased members. We hope that all new members will be able to perform this important duty.