Adath Israel Congregation is a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

located at 37 Southbourne Avenue in the

North York North York is a former township and city and is now one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the northern area of Toronto, centred around Yonge Street, north of Ontario Highway 401. It is bounded by ...

district of

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. It is one of the largest Conservative Synagogues in Canada, with approximately 1,450 member families.

History

Adath Israel was founded in 1903 by Jewish immigrants from

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

as the First Roumanian Hebrew Congregation Adath Israel. New immigrants from Romania first met in a rental space, later moving to the congregation's first permanent home on Centre Avenue. In 1911 the synagogue dedicated a new building on Bathurst Street near

Dundas Street Dundas Street () is a major historic arterial road in Ontario, Canada. The road connects the city of Toronto with its western Greater Toronto Area, suburbs and several cities in southwestern Ontario. Three provincial highways—Ontario Highway 2 ...

, where Abraham Kelman was the rabbi. In 1947, Erwin Schild became the rabbi. In the next few years membership grew and a new building was constructed in North York. The formal name was shortened in the 1950s, and in 1957 the new building was officially dedicated. Pesach Schindler served as director of education from 1956 to 1962. In 1989, Schild retired and was succeeded as rabbi by Steven Saltzman, who died in September 2014. In 2012 Saltzman advocated allowing non-egalitarian synagogues to remain affiliated with Conservative Judaism. In 2016, the synagogue’s membership consisted of 1,800 families. In 2003, David C. Seed was hired as rabbi, and retired in July, 2024, after 21 years of dedicated service. In 2008, the congregation seceded from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and affiliated with the now defunct Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues. In 2009, Australian born, Cantor Alex Stein was hired as the congregation’s new senior cantor, following the retirement of Cantor Eli Kirshblum, after 42 years of dedicated service. In 2014, Cantor Benjamin Sharpe was hired as Chazzan Sheni & ritual director, after Baruch Hoffman retired to Tzfat, Israel. In 2015, Moshe Meirovich became Interim Rabbi, following the death of senior rabbi, Steven Saltzman. In March 2018, Adam Cutler became the first Toronto-born rabbi to lead the congregation. Rabbis Yerach and Nava Meiersdorf were each appointed to the position of Associate Rabbis, beginning July 1, 2024.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Conservative synagogues in Canada Romanian-Jewish culture in Canada Synagogues in Toronto Synagogues completed in 1957 Jewish organizations established in 1903 North York Romanian-Canadian history 20th-century synagogues in Canada Synagogues in Ontario