Holy Blossom Temple [textual record] – 1975-1997.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Subject files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 4; File 134
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Subject files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
4
File
134
Material Format
textual record
Date
1975-1997
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Holy Blossom Temple [textual record] – 1987.
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 18
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
18
Material Format
textual record
Date
1987
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains one notice of special Oneg Shabbat service at the Holy Blossom Temple with guest speaker Alexander Mariasin, held 10 April 1987.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Holy Blossom Temple Religious School [textual record] – 1972-1984.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 115
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
115
Material Format
textual record
Date
1972-1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Holy Blossom Temple Religious School [textual record] – 1984-2000.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 116
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
116
Material Format
textual record
Date
1984-2000
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Holy Blossom Temple, 1937-present
Address
1950 Bathurst St.
Source
Landmarks

Holy Blossom was the first Jewish congregation in Ontario, established in September 1856 as the Toronto Hebrew Congregation. Many of Toronto’s earliest Jewish families were members of this congregation and were also responsible for establishing the city’s first Jewish cemetery on Pape Avenue. For 20 years, the congregation rented space over a drug store on Yonge Street until 1876 when a Synagogue was built on Richmond Street West. As the congregation grew, it moved to a new building on Bond Street in 1897, designed in the Byzantine Revival style (this building is now St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church).
Address
1950 Bathurst St.
Time Period
1937-present
Scope Note
Holy Blossom was the first Jewish congregation in Ontario, established in September 1856 as the Toronto Hebrew Congregation. Many of Toronto’s earliest Jewish families were members of this congregation and were also responsible for establishing the city’s first Jewish cemetery on Pape Avenue. For 20 years, the congregation rented space over a drug store on Yonge Street until 1876 when a Synagogue was built on Richmond Street West. As the congregation grew, it moved to a new building on Bond Street in 1897, designed in the Byzantine Revival style (this building is now St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church).
History
While Holy Blossom was first established as an Orthodox congregation, in the late 1800s a move toward Reform practices began, including changes to services and the introduction of music and family seating. In 1920, Holy Blossom became a Reform Congregation affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the Union for Reform Judaism), and has remained a leading Reform Synagogue in Canada ever since. By the 1930s, Holy Blossom had outgrown its Bond Street location and a fundraising campaign began to raise money to purchase property and build a new larger synagogue. In 1937, Holy Blossom moved to its present location on Bathurst south of Eglinton, designed in the the Romanesque Revival style by architects Chapman and Oxley with Maurice Dalvin Klein.
Category
Religious
Architecture
Source
Landmarks
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General information on Dr. Tarik Kuposovic, Mayor of Sarajevo's visit to Holy Blossom Temple [textual record] – 1993 - 1994.
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 2; File 63
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
2
File
63
Material Format
textual record
Date
1993 - 1994
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.)
Access Restriction
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Accession Number
2005-2-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Sinai [textual record] – 1983-1996.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Subject files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 4; File 318
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Subject files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
4
File
318
Material Format
textual record
Date
1983-1996
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Source
Archival Descriptions
High Holy Days [textual record] – 1957-1990.
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Clanton Park Synagogue series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 4; Series 6; File 28
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Clanton Park Synagogue series
Level
File
Fonds
4
Series
6
File
28
Material Format
textual record
Date
1957-1990
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of correspondence relating to the sale of seats, as well as a sample of High Holy Days tickets and a schedule of the services.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Har Zion [textual record] – 1991.
Part Of
Larry Becker collection
Level
File
ID
Fonds 34; File 81
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Larry Becker collection
Level
File
Fonds
34
File
81
Material Format
textual record
Date
1991
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of a request toTemple Har Zion congregants to pay a security tax of $25 for the synagogue, post 'Persian Gulf War', a request for volunteers to provide extra security on the synagogue premises, and a request for donations towards an emergency cash drive.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Har Zion [textual record] – 1972-1983.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 171
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
171
Material Format
textual record
Date
1972-1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Har Zion [textual record] – 1984-1998.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 172
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
172
Material Format
textual record
Date
1984-1998
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Kol Ami [textual record] – 1991-1998.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 173
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
173
Material Format
textual record
Date
1991-1998
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Anshe Sholom [textual record, graphic material] – [195-]-2020.
Accession Number
2021-4-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-4-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
3.6 m of textual records and graphic material
Date
[195-]-2020
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting Temple Anshe Sholom of Hamilton, Ontario.
Administrative History
In the early 1850s, a small group of German Jewish families settled in the city of Hamilton. In 1853, they banded together to form the Hebrew Benevolent Society Anshe-Sholom of Hamilton. Religious services began in 1856 and in the next year, a half-acre plot was purchased as a cemetery site. On May 5, 1863, a “Body Corporate and Politic under the name of the Jewish Congregation Anshe-Sholom of Hamilton” was formed listing 19 founding members. Early meetings were held in members’ homes, with religious services, at first, largely restricted to the High Holy days. In 1866, a room was rented above a leather goods shop in downtown Hamilton; this was the first formal synagogue location for Temple Anshe Sholom.
Less than 20 years later, a site was chosen and the necessary funds were raised to construct a synagogue. Often referred to as the Hughson Street Temple, this building was dedicated in 1882. It served as the congregation’s home for almost 70 years. Edmund Scheuer, who arrived in Hamilton in 1871, served as president of Anshe Sholom for thirteen years from 1873 to 1886. Scheuer was the founder and first teacher of the religious school. He was an early proponent of interfaith understanding, a value and tradition that Anshe Sholom carries forward to the present day. The congregation pioneered in introducing English into the service, both in prayer and in the sermons, which had previously been given in German. Women no longer sat in a separate gallery; families sat together in pews. Music was introduced, both instrumental and vocal.
In 1870, the Deborah Ladies’ Aid Society (later Deborah Sisterhood) was founded, being the first group of Jewish women organized for charitable purposes in all of Canada. Sisterhood has always been a vital part of Temple Anshe Sholom, involved in numerous humanitarian, educational, charitable and social projects.
The great wave of immigration that swept into Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought many families, mainly Orthodox, to the community. During this period, men and women from Anshe Sholom were instrumental in founding such vital Jewish organizations as the B’nai Brith, Council of Jewish Organizations, Jewish Social Services and the Council of Jewish Women.
After the Second World War, Temple Anshe Sholom became the first synagogue in Hamilton to make the post-war move westward. On April 15, 1951, the sod was turned for the new building and in June of 1952, a dedication weekend saw the scrolls ceremoniously installed in the Ark. Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath was on hand to preach the Dedication Sermon. Thirteen years later, the addition that houses the present Reiss-Frank Auditorium, Religious School classrooms, library, youth lounge and offices was erected, more than doubling the size of the building on its present site.
Throughout the years, the following served as spiritual leaders: Wolf Landau, Herman Birkenthal, Joseph Friedlander, Jacob Minkin, Julius Berger, Iser Freund, Arthur A. Feldman, Arthur Lebowitz, Emil Fackenheim, Luitpold Wallach, Bernard Baskin, Irwin Zeplowitz, Phil Cohen and our current rabbi, Jordan D. Cohen (Anshe Sholom’s first Canadian born Rabbi), who began his service to this congregation on January 1, 2007.
At this time, Temple Anshe Sholom is traditional yet innovative in its worship and ritual observance. The congregation is inclusive and embraces diversity. Its core values include education, social justice, egalitarianism, creative expression, congregational participation in prayer and leadership, strong identification with Israel and dynamic, relevant spirituality. The Temple building also serves as home to the Temple Playhouse Multicultural Enrichment School and the Kehila Jewish Community Day School and Les Petites Pommes French School, and hosts many community organizations such as a Storytellers Group, The Shalom Community Teaching Garden, The Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program, The Mahjong Club, The Hamilton & Area Jewish Genealogical Society, various community meetings and gatherings and several youth arts and activities programs and summer camps.
Temple Anshe Sholom celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2020 as Canada’s first Reform Jewish congregation.
(text taken from https://anshesholom.ca/about-us/our-history, 2023-02-24)
Subjects
Synagogues
Name Access
Temple Anshe Sholom (Hamilton, Ont.)
Places
Hamilton (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
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Temple Shalom, (Kitchener-Waterloo) [graphic material, sound recording, textual record] – 1988-1997.
Accession Number
2008-7-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-7-4
Material Format
graphic material
sound recording
textual record
Physical Description
1 album
1 audio cassette
Date
1988-1997
Scope and Content
This accession consists of one album containing photographs, newsclippings, flyers and invitations related to the Temple Shalom community of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. The photographs depict members of the congregation celebrating various religious holidays and other communal events, as well as photos taken at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Temple Shalom's new building "The Cedars Worship Centre". There are also two photographs of the exterior of the former Church of the Good Shepherd, where the Temple originally held their services.
The audio cassette consists of 21 Shabbat songs recorded in 1998 by the Temple Shalom community and features Neshama, a local folk music group consisting of Mark Pancer, Ruth Shushan, Wendy Weinberg and Laura Wolfson.
Custodial History
The records were in the possession of the donor until they were donated to the Archives on July 22, 2008.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Subjects
Synagogues
Name Access
Temple Shalom (Waterloo, Ont.)
Places
Kitchener (Ont.)
Waterloo (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
thumbnail
Temple Shalom newsletters (Waterloo, ON) [textual record] – 1989-2004.
Accession Number
2008-10-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-10-3
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
8 cm of textual records
Date
1989-2004
Scope and Content
Accession consists of synagogue newsletters from Temple Shalom in Waterloo.
Subjects
Newsletters
Name Access
Temple Shalom (Waterloo, Ont.)
Places
Waterloo (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Temple Sinai Religious School [textual record] – 1973-1983.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 174
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
174
Material Format
textual record
Date
1973-1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Sinai Religious School [textual record] – 1984-1996.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 175
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
175
Material Format
textual record
Date
1984-1996
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Sinai, Toronto, Ontario [textual record] – 1980.
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 5; File 85
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
5
File
85
Material Format
textual record
Date
1980
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains a newspaper article, "Glass artist's vision fulfilled in Metro synagogue."
Name Access
Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Subjects
Synagogues
Repro Restriction
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Emanu-El Religious School [textual record] – 1964-1983.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 169
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
169
Material Format
textual record
Date
1964-1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Temple Emanu-El (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Temple Emanu-El Religious School [textual record] – 1984-1998.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 5; File 170
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
School files series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
5
File
170
Material Format
textual record
Date
1984-1998
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Temple Emanu-El (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
FJWO installation and closing meeting - Temple Sinai [graphic material] – 15 May 1980.
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 67; Series 27; File 512
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
Fonds
67
Series
27
File
512
Material Format
graphic material
Date
15 May 1980
Physical Description
5 photographs : b&w (4 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm and 28 x 28 mm
Scope and Content
File consists of one photograph and four negatives of Ruth Bass, Rabbi Jordan Pearlson, and Edith Levy at the Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations closing meeting and installation. The accompanying press release reads, "Ruth Bass, left, has a warm smile for Edith Levy, who succeeds her as president of the Federation of Women's Organizations. The FJWO closing meeting and installation of new officers took place [recently] at Temple Sinai. Rabbi Jordan Pearlson installed Mrs. Levy in her new office."
Notes
Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
Name Access
Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Source
Archival Descriptions
Correspondence regarding rabbis, religious matters and holy days [textual record] – 1998.
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 2; File 238
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
2
File
238
Material Format
textual record
Date
1998
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Accession Number
2005-2-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Beth Tikvah Synagogue High Holy Day services [textual record] – 1995.
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
File
ID
Fonds 22; File 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
File
Fonds
22
File
1
Material Format
textual record
Date
1995
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Name Access
Beth Tikvah Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Subjects
High Holidays
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Various publications and mailings from Temple Har Zion [textual record] – 1971-1981, 1990.
Part Of
Larry Becker collection
Level
File
ID
Fonds 34; File 75
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Larry Becker collection
Level
File
Fonds
34
File
75
Material Format
textual record
Date
1971-1981, 1990
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of Temple Har Zion bulletins, newsletters and mailings for 1971-1981 and 1990.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Congregation Shaarei Tzedec women’s High Holy Day ticket [textual record] – 1987.
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 22; Item 46
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
Fonds
22
Item
46
Material Format
textual record
Date
1987
Physical Description
1 item
Name Access
Congregation Shaarei Tzedec (Toronto, Ont.)
Subjects
High Holidays
Synagogues
Women
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Summer program : post-certification : customs of Shabbat and Holy Days [textual record] – 1987.
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Midrasha L'Morim series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 8; File 55
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Midrasha L'Morim series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
8
File
55
Material Format
textual record
Date
1987
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Correspondence and general information about rabbis, religious matters and holy days [textual record] – 1995.
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 2; File 332
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
2
File
332
Material Format
textual record
Date
1995
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Accession Number
2005-2-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Correspondence regarding regarding rabbis, religious matters, synagogues and holy days [textual record] – 1996.
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 2; File 1264
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
2
File
1264
Material Format
textual record
Date
1996
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Accession Number
2005-2-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Correspondence and general information regarding rabbis, religious matters and holy days [textual record] – 1994.
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 2; File 463
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
2
File
463
Material Format
textual record
Date
1994
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Accession Number
2005-2-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Beit Shalom Shinonome Choir (Japan) concert at Temple Sinai (Toronto) [textual record, graphic material] – 1994.
Accession Number
1994-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1994-6-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
4 photographs : col. ; 11 x 16 cm
Date
1994
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a concert programme and photographs of the choir in performance.
Administrative History
Beit Shalom (Japan Christian Friends of Israel) is a Protestant Christian group which defines itself in large measure through its prayers for the peace of Jerusalem as well as its unselfish friendship for Israel and the Jewish people.
Name Access
Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Source
Archival Accessions
Temple Har Zion long range planning committee report and recommendations [textual record] – 1991.
Part Of
Larry Becker collection
Level
File
ID
Fonds 34; File 88
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Larry Becker collection
Level
File
Fonds
34
File
88
Material Format
textual record
Date
1991
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions