Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto)

For similarly named synagogues, see Adath Israel.
Adath Israel Congregation
Adath Israel Congregation
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
LeadershipRabbi Adam Cutler
Cantor Alex Stein
StatusActive
Location
Location37 Southbourne Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 1A4
Architecture
Completed1957
Website
adathisrael.com

Adath Israel Congregation is a Conservative synagogue located at 37 Southbourne Avenue in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario. 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 as the First Roumanian Hebrew Congregation Adath Israel. New immigrants from Roumania first met in a rental space, later moving to three congregation's first permanent home on Centre Avenue. In 1911 the synagogue dedicated a new building on Bathurst Street near Dundas Street, where Abraham Kelman was the rabbi.

In 1947, Erwin Schild became the rabbi.[1] 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.[2]

In 1989 Schild retired and was succeeded as rabbi by Steven Saltzman, who died in September 2014.[3] In 2012 Saltzman advocated allowing non-egalitarian synagogues to remain affiliated with Conservative Judaism.[4]

In 2016, the synagogue’s membership consisted of 1,800 families.[5]

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.


43°44′17″N 79°25′52″W / 43.738°N 79.4311°W / 43.738; -79.4311

References

  1. ^ Sarick, Lila (9 March 2023). "Rabbi Erwin Schild of Toronto's Adath Israel Synagogue talks about personally experiencing 103 years of Jewish history". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ^ Fay Cashman, Greer (9 August 2017). "Death of Rabbi Pesach Schindler a loss to the Conservative Movement". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. ^ Lungen, Paul (15 September 2014). "Rabbi Steven Saltzman dies after battle with cancer". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  4. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20130408190434/http://glbtjews.org/article.php3?id_article=213: "Speaking at his shul last December, Rabbi Steven Saltzman of Adath Israel Congregation proposed the establishment of a Canadian “sovereignty association” within the Conservative movement that would agree to disagree with the American movement. Rabbi Saltzman’s suggestion came on the heels of the Conservative biennial convention in Boston, where Rabbi Menachem Creditor of Sharon, Mass., challenged the philosophy of halachic pluralism - an approach affirmed by movement leaders - when he said that it’s immoral to allow non-egalitarian synagogues to be part of the Conservative movement."
  5. ^ "Pope blesses rabbi, wife on 70th anniversary". www.timesofisrael.com. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2023.