In the heart of Toronto, where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic synagogues, a quiet revival is underway. Each week, a melting pot of people gathers, not in a synagogue or a yeshiva, but in an unexpected setting to study the Torah. This is happening in a city that is home to one of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel and New York.
From its modest presence of just 157 Jewish residents in 1871, Toronto’s Jewish community grew as waves of Eastern European Jews sought refuge from pogroms and persecution in the 20th century. Today, the community numbers between 180,000 and 200,000, with some estimates reaching as high as a quarter million. Jewish life flourishes in the city, with 40-50 synagogues, a strong network of day schools, and numerous cultural and religious organizations.
Recognizing the profound need for Jewish outreach in this vibrant, diverse urban center, Pastor Igor Kolesnik has dedicated himself to building bridges between Adventists and the Jewish community through a unique Torah study group. Initially, he felt unprepared and unsure of his ability to contribute to or serve the needs of Toronto’s Jewish people, burdened by his lack of knowledge. Yet, by God’s grace, with a heart of service and humble efforts, he saw that even the smallest steps could create meaningful impacts that would strengthen over time.
A Journey of Transformation
“My journey into Jewish ministry began in 2012 when I attended a synagogue for the first time,” Pastor Kolesnik recalled. “Experiencing a Shabbat service left a deep impression on me. Growing up in a Christian Adventist family, my father was a pastor, and I was a pastor in Russia twenty-five years ago. So, my background was entirely in an Adventist environment. But when I saw the level of attention given to the public reading of the Torah in the synagogue, it struck me deeply.”
Encouraged by these experiences, Pastor Kolesnik made a transformative decision in 2017 to join a two-week journey through Israel and Jordan led by Dr. Sasha Bolotnikov. The trip focused on authentic Biblical sites rather than typical tourist destinations and fundamentally reshaped his understanding of scripture. Walking on holy ground left an indelible mark on his soul, revealing the deep, transformative power of such sacred places that once encountered have the ability to change a person forever.
“He is not just a regular tour guide, he is a scientist and [also shared some fascinating archaeological knowledge gained through his PhD studies],” Pastor Kolesnik shared. “We would stop in the middle of a field or on the side of the road to see ongoing excavations of historical sites connected to the Bible. By the end of that trip, I realized I was not the only one who felt transformed; many others shared the same experience.”
The ancient city walls, the fertile fields, and the holy sites, steeped in Biblical history, brought scripture to life in ways he had never imagined. It was not just the historical significance of the land that moved him; it was the sense that God’s eternal plan was unfolding right before him. “Before, the Bible felt like it was in black and white; after Israel, it was in color,” he remarked. “That trip was so significant to me that it led me to start this Jewish ministry. If not for that experience, I do not know if I would have ever begun this work.”
Starting the Torah Study Group
Moved by the spiritual awakening he experienced in the Holy Land, Pastor Kolesnik began his Torah study group with members of his home church in Toronto. Initially, the group was made up entirely of Adventists, some of whom were Jewish Adventists.
“We started it for ourselves,” Pastor Kolesnik explained. “We were Adventists, but I felt strongly that we could reach out to the Jewish people in Toronto, as Adventists have a unique understanding of scripture compared to evangelical Christians. We have so much in common with the Jewish people, and through our understanding, we can share the message of Yeshua the Messiah with them.”
In 2018, the group initially focused on studying the Torah in a way that was meaningful to them, without inviting others to join. “We did not invite anyone at first because we thought they might know more than we did,” Pastor Kolesnik explained. “It was for ourselves, to deepen our own understanding.” After completing their first full cycle of Torah readings, participants began sharing their insights, and others soon joined the group. “That was the beginning,” Pastor Kolesnik recalled.
Pastor Kolesnik soon relocated to a large apartment complex nestled in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood. “Most of the residents were Jews, many of whom were from Ukraine and Russia,” shared Pastor Ralph Ringer, Jewish Ministries Coordinator for the North American Division. “Igor quickly formed meaningful friendships with many of the residents, and he began hosting Torah studies in his apartment. As the group grew, he expanded to the building’s community room, where he led larger gatherings and holiday services which further deepened the connections within the community.”
Navigating Growth in Jewish Outreach
By the time the crisp autumn winds of 2019 swept in, the group had finished their first cycle of Torah readings. “We saw what it is and how to do it,” Pastor Kolesnik said. Encouraged by their progress, they began their second cycle of Torah readings. However, with the arrival of COVID-19, they were forced to shift their meetings to Zoom. Although the change posed some challenges for an up-and-coming ministry, Pastor Kolesnik saw an unexpected launchpad for growth. “Zoom gave us a great opportunity. People from other places began connecting with us,” he added, highlighting the ministry’s growing connections with both Jews and other curious believers beyond the Toronto area.
Initially, the group followed the traditional Parashah reading cycle. However, upon recognizing that many participants were secular Jewish individuals with limited knowledge of the Torah or Bible, they chose to simplify their approach. “We reduced it to one chapter per week because the people coming are very secular. They are Jewish by background but have no knowledge of the Torah or Bible,” Pastor Kolesnik said. “Covering multiple chapters at once was overwhelming.”
“In our meetings, we do not follow the traditional synagogue style of reading,” Pastor Kolesnik explained. “Instead, we read and discuss the chapter, focusing on the main points. We connect the prophecies with the New Testament, showing how various stories relate to Mashiach. For example, studying the life of Joseph gave us many opportunities to speak about Mashiach. Whenever there is a chance to connect Yeshua with the Biblical text, we take it.”
The group also recognizes Jewish feasts, such as Passover, Pentecost, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and Purim, as part of their outreach efforts. “We always invite Jewish people to these events, and they come,” Pastor Kolesnik added. They provide a welcoming atmosphere where Jewish individuals can celebrate their heritage while building meaningful relationships with others.
Despite the group’s success, Pastor Kolesnik faced challenges along the way. Initially, his former church did not support the ministry, making it difficult to continue. “The church where I was a member at the time was a Russian-speaking congregation, but unfortunately, the pastor did not support us. There was no support at all,” he recalled. “The [Ontario Conference] recommended we transfer our membership to a different church, and about a year and a half ago, we did just that.”
A new home for the ministry was found at the Willowdale Seventh-day Adventist Church, a large English-speaking congregation located in a predominantly Jewish area of Toronto. The church welcomed the group, offering them a dedicated space for their classes and services which provided stability for their work.
As what began as a small Torah study among Adventists blossomed, it caught the attention of church leaders who recognized its potential to reach the Jewish community more intentionally. Pastor Ringer and Dr. Bolotnikov embraced the opportunity and collaborated with local conference leadership to help establish a formal Jewish outreach initiative in Toronto.
“Sasha and I spoke with the conference leadership about starting Jewish work in Toronto,” Pastor Ringer recalled. “We arranged a weekend rally at Willowdale Church to launch the initiative and invited other churches to participate.”
“Igor recognized the value of learning from those with extensive experience in Jewish ministry,” Pastor Ringer continued. “He invited Dr. Sasha Bolotnikov and Pastor Daniel Gordan to lead Passover Seders and offer training. Even before Igor’s group transitioned to Willowdale, the church and Ontario Conference had already embraced Sasha’s leadership in Passover services and training. This commitment has continued since the move.”
Pastor Kolesnik emphasizes that outreach to the Jewish community requires a different approach than evangelizing to other groups. “I am Ukrainian, so I know how to reach Ukrainians, Russians, and other Russian-speaking communities. But Jewish outreach is different and requires extensive knowledge, especially of the Old Testament, the Torah, and Jewish history,” he said. “It takes time and effort to build the knowledge and connections.”
Looking Ahead with Hope
While progress has been gradual, he remains hopeful. “We have not baptized anyone yet because many of the Jewish people in our group are very recent,” he explained. “Baptism can be intimidating for them, so we do not push it. Our goal is to nurture their understanding of the Bible, introduce Yeshua whenever possible, and gradually guide them toward baptism.”
With the ministry’s growth, Pastor Kolesnik focuses on deepening his ties to Toronto’s Jewish diaspora, meeting the people where they are through Torah study, Jewish holiday observances, and personal outreach. His mission remains steadfast: to ultimately share the life-giving and transformative message of Yeshua to nurture spiritual awakening while honoring and building upon the sacred history that has shaped the Jewish people.
