Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (), also known as the BAYT, is a Modern Orthodox

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 ...

in the

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 ...

suburb of Thornhill,

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 ...

, and is one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in North America. The synagogue attracts

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

s from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of

Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...

tradition". It also serves as a social hall for many social events in the Toronto Jewish community.

History

The idea of BAYT was conceived by Joseph Tanenbaum, who had performed

philanthropy Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

elsewhere and wanted to do something for his home town. He set out to create an Orthodox synagogue that acted as the spiritual centre of the community, and which would attract observant Jews and others searching for meaning in their lives. Tanenbaum approached Rabbi

Baruch Taub Baruch Alter HaCohen Taub () is the founding rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus of the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation (BAYT), the largest Orthodox congregation in Canada. He also served as the de facto chief rabbi of Vaughan, Ontario, and is ...

, a prominent alumnus of

Yeshivas Ner Yisroel Ner Israel Rabbinical College (ישיבת נר ישראל), also known as NIRC and Ner Yisroel, is a Haredi yeshiva (Jewish educational institution) in Pikesville, Maryland. It was founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, a discipl ...

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

, who grew up in

, then national director of

NCSY NCSY (formerly known as the National Conference of Synagogue Youth) is a Jewish youth group under the auspices of the Orthodox Union. Its operations include Jewish-inspired After-school activity, after-school programs; summer programs in Israel, ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, to be the rabbi. By the mid 1980s, the community had reached over 200 families, and has now grown to over 800. The synagogue's former ''

chazzan A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' (, plural ; ; ) is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who leads the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this prayer leader is often referred to as a cantor, a term al ...

'', Rabbi Manny Klein, developed the first youth programs. The synagogue's current building was dedicated in 1988. At the end of August 2006, the Bayt hired an assistant rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Y. Ackerman, an alumnus of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in

Queens, New York Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

, to spearhead new, innovative projects for the synagogue's youth and young families. In mid-August 2009 Rabbi Ackerman took another position as a pulpit rabbi in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

. Currently, Rabbi Shmuel Lesher is the assistant rabbi. Currently the Youth Directors are Rabbi Josh and Laura Stein In October 2007, the synagogue became the home of a newly founded ''

kollel A kollel (also kolel) (, , , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced Torah study, study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features Shiur (Torah), shiurim (lectures) and ...

'', named Kollel Ohr Yosef, named after Tannenbaum.Another article in the Jewish Tribune
/ref> In January 2010, Rabbi Taub announced his plans for retirement to Israel. In January 2011, Rabbi Taub was given the honorary designation Rabbi Emeritus by the synagogue's board, and he left to Israel as scheduled. Rabbi Asher Vale functioned as the interim Rabbi, until August 20, 2011 when Rabbi Daniel Korobkin assumed his post.

References

{{Synagogues in Canada, state=expanded Jewish Canadian history Jews and Judaism in Ontario Thornhill, Ontario Modern Orthodox synagogues in Canada Synagogues in Ontario 1981 establishments in Ontario Synagogues completed in 1981 20th-century synagogues in Canada