Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto)
| Adath Israel Congregation | |
|---|---|
 Adath Israel Congregation | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | 37 Southbourne Avenue, Toronto, Canada |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Status | Active |
| Leadership |
Rabbis: David Seed, Moshe Meirovich Rabbi emeritus: Erwin Schild Senior cantor: Alex Stein |
| Website |
adathisrael |
| Architectural description | |
| Completed | 1957 |
Adath Israel Congregation is a Conservative synagogue located at 37 Southbourne Avenue in Toronto, Canada.
It was founded around 1903 by Jewish immigrants from Romania as the First Roumanian Hebrew Congregation Adath Israel (the name was shortened in the 1950s). There are three rabbis at the Adath Israel Congregation, Rabbi David Seed, Rabbi Moshe Meirovich and rabbi emeritus Rabbi Erwin Schild. The synagogue has approximately 1800 families and provides many daily programs for all ages, including a daily minyan. Alex Stein from Sydney Australia, serves as senior cantor.
A traditional Conservative Congregation, Adath Israel Congregation, is a dynamic family-oriented synagogue with over 1800 member families in Toronto featuring two minyans daily, Shabbat and Holy Day services. Hebrew school with special program for Grades 8 and 9. Religious, social and educational programs for youth, families and seniors. Active Sisterhood and Brotherhood. Beautiful social halls, COR catering by Modern Kosher Catering.
Originally known as the "Roumainshe Shul", Adath Israel started its humble beginnings in 1903 when new immigrants from Roumania gathered together in a rental space, eventually moving to its first permanent home on Centre Avenue. In 1911 the synagogue dedicated a new building on Bathurst Street near Dundas where for 30 years the First Roumanian Hebrew Congregation Adath Israel grew, under the leadership of Rabbi Abraham Kelman.
In 1947, Rabbi Erwin Schild, freshly ordained by the Yeshivah Torath Chaim of Toronto, was engaged as the new Rabbi of the Congregation. The next few years at the synagogue were marked by tremendous growth in membership and activities to the point where, coupled with the shifting demographics of the Jewish community a new building was constructed in its current location in North York.
In 1957 the new building was officially dedicated. In 1967, A. Eliezer Kirshblum became Cantor of Adath Israel and subsequently took on the equally important role of Principal of Adath Israel Congregational School. In August 2009, when Cantor Kirshblum chose to officially retire from the pulpit after 42 years of service, he was succeeded by a young dynamic Cantor, Alex Stein originally from Sydney, Australia.
In 1989, Rabbi Schild officially retired from the pulpit, and was succeeded by Rabbi Steven Saltzman z"l, a noted scholar, author and dynamic religious leader who officiated on the pulpit until his untimely passing in September 2014. In 2003 Rabbi David C. Seed was hired as Rabbi and in 2015 Rabbi Moshe Meirovich assumed the role of Interim Rabbi while the synagogue looks for a new senior rabbi. Many vital committees, and arms of the synagogue such as Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Club L'Chayim (55+), and numerous exciting social and educational programmes continue to attract and engage congregants to meet the evolving needs of our membership.
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References
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Coordinates: 43°44′17″N 79°25′52″W / 43.738°N 79.4311°W