Description: Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT) is an Orthodox synagogue in Thornhill, Ont., that was established in 1981. The synagogue states it has a membership of more than 800 families.
BAYT notes in its mission statement that it is committed to “maintaining a strong connection to and support of the State of Israel.” On the history page of its website, the synagogue states, “The love and support of Eretz Yisrael [the biblical understanding of Israel] play an integral role in all of our initiatives. The BAYT’s programs rally the synagogue’s membership as well as both the larger Thornhill and Toronto Jewish communities behind the State of Israel with speakers, discussion groups, and special events. In addition, a number of BAYT projects reach out directly to Jews in Israel.”
The BAYT rabbi as of Oct. 29, 2025, Daniel Korobkin, was featured in a March 2023 episode of a podcast from The Canadian Jewish News titled, “This Toronto rabbi says Canadian Jews must support Israel and stop criticizing her politics in public.”
The podcast description states: “In recent weeks, [Korobkin] has been regularly leading prayers for the victims of the escalating violence and terror attacks between Palestinians and Israelis. They come against the backdrop of growing worldwide condemnation—even by some Canadian Jewish leaders and groups—of the current plans by Israel’s new right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu to reform the Supreme Court, possibly roll back civil rights for LGBTQ citizens, the Arab population in the West Bank and non-Orthodox Jewish residents. Rabbi Korobkin has decided to speak out publicly against Israel’s vocal critics here at home. He says the country will sort itself out in due course and do the right thing, as healthy democracies do. But all the protests and negativity from the Diaspora just helps those who wish to delegitimize the State of Israel.”
The synagogue has hosted multiple real estate sales for land in Israel.
IDF mentions since Oct. 7, 2023: BAYT’s newsletter, the BAYT Weekly Bulletin, has a section called “Chayalim to Daven For.” The section lists the children and grandchildren of BAYT members currently serving in the Israeli military and asks for them to be kept in mind during prayers. The section of the newsletter has expanded since Oct. 7, 2023, with average issues now listing about 25 soldiers in the Israeli military that are immediate family members of BAYT congregants, plus well over 140 others.
The newsletter has also congratulated individual lone soldiers on beginning and/or ending their service, as well as any military promotions they may have received. For example, a since-modified March 2025 issue lists four former BAYT congregants in the Israeli military, and states: “We are proud of our own BAYT expats […] who are now serving in the IDF. Their dedication and courage inspire us all—Am Yisrael Chai!”
BAYT has hosted multiple events featuring or intended to support Israeli soldiers. In December 2023, the synagogue hosted an event titled “Tzizis Tying for Chayalim,” where congregants would tie religious tassels for lone soldiers. In January 2024, the synagogue’s Instagram page advertised an event that it would host titled: “Hear Stories From Our Soldiers Who Fought On The Front Lines.” And in February 2024, the Instagram page advertised an event where members would be able to “Meet A Hero of Israel: Colonel Golan Vach,” who is listed as the head of the Israeli military’s National Rescue Unit.
BAYT’s charity has donated at least $100,257 to IDF Widows and Orphans Canada since 2020.
Associated Israeli military members: Benjamin Brown; Zachary Brown; Bayli Dukes; Gabriel Edery; Nava Edery; Miya Hames; Ariel Markus; David Max; Boaz Rosenzweig; Liel Sandler.
Connections to other organizations included in GTA to IDF:
- Bnei Akiva Schools: Howard Wasserman, the “parnas” (or chief administrative officer) of BAYT, as of June 2024, according to Canada Revenue Agency filings, is also the president of Bnei Akiva Schools.
Associated charity: Beth Avraham Yoseph Of Toronto Congregation is the charity associated with Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto. It has had charitable status since 1985, and has brought in at least $17,146,061 in revenue since 2020. This has included at least $12,379,570 in receipted donations, for which donors enjoy tax breaks, and at least $624,784 in direct government funding.
