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The congregation of Rodfei Sholom Anshei Kiev, commonly known as the Kiever, dates back to 1912. The first few members had little means for funding a new synagogue in 1912, so services at this time were held in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward.
Rodfei Sholom Anshei Kiev, 1927-present
- Address
- 25 Bellevue Avenue
- Source
- Landmarks
The congregation of Rodfei Sholom Anshei Kiev, commonly known as the Kiever, dates back to 1912. The first few members had little means for funding a new synagogue in 1912, so services at this time were held in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward.
- Address
- 25 Bellevue Avenue
- Time Period
- 1927-present
- Scope Note
- The congregation of Rodfei Sholom Anshei Kiev, commonly known as the Kiever, dates back to 1912. The first few members had little means for funding a new synagogue in 1912, so services at this time were held in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward.
- History
- In 1917, the Kiever acquired a house at 25 Bellevue Avenue in Kensington Market and by 1923 the Kiever congregation raised enough funds to build a synagogue large enough to accommodate its growing numbers. The Kiever Executive contracted Benjamin Swartz, a Jewish architect, to design the current synagogue at 25 Bellevue, which replaced the two houses that had been used for services. The Synagogue was completed in 1927, after three years of construction. Today, the Kiever is a vibrant synagogue and one of a handful of synagogues remaining in the downtown area.
- Category
- Architecture
- Religious
- Source
- Landmarks
![Rabbi Solomon Langner in Kiever Synagogue, Toronto, [195-?]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, item #533|When the Kiever was completed 1927, Rabbi Solomon Langner became the spiritual leader of the congregation and continued in this capacity until his death in 1973. Rabbi Langner was the son of Rabbi Moishe Langner, the Strettiner Rebbe of Toronto. His three brothers were Abraham, Isaac, and Mordechai, who all became rabbis as well.](/media/Digital Assets/533.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
![Sol Edell (left), Chairman of TJC-CJC Archives Committee discusses restoration plans for the Kiever Synagogue with architect Martin Mendelow (right), [1975?]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, item 1794.|](/media/Digital Assets/1794.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
