Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal
| Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal | |
|---|---|
 Former Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue on Stanley Street (in use 1890–1947) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Spanish and Portuguese |
| Leadership | Rabbi Maimon Pinto |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | St. Kevin Street, Snowdon, Canada |
| Geographic coordinates | 45°29′23″N 73°37′56″W / 45.489802°N 73.632098°WCoordinates: 45°29′23″N 73°37′56″W / 45.489802°N 73.632098°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles T. Ballard |
| Date established | 1768 |
| Completed | 1947 |
| Website | |
| thespanish | |
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal, also known as Shearith Israel, is a Montreal synagogue, located on St. Kevin Street in Snowdon, which is the oldest Jewish congregation in Canada. The Congregation traces its history back to 1760 and was formally established in 1768. It is affiliated with the Orthodox Union.
Architecture[]
By 1777 the Jewish community in Montreal felt itself able to erect and support a synagogue. Lazarus David had died in 1776 but on August 14, 1777 his widow, Phoebe, sold for 1200 French livres part of David's property to three of the congregation's leading members, Samuel Judah, Simon Levy and Andrew Hays, recently married to her daughter Abigail (Branny). The building, completed the following year, stood behind a low stone wall, had a high red roof, and was located at the junction of Little St. James and Notre Dame Streets, a site now partially occupied by the Palais de justice.
The congregation's second building, also the second synagogue built in Quebec, was constructed on Chenneville Street in 1838. The Judeo-Egyptian style temple-like building had a front of cut stone, adorned with a portico with two columns. This was the only formal place for Jewish worship in Montreal until 1846. Charles T. Ballard, architect, designed a new and larger synagogue for the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation on Stanley Street in the Egyptian Revival style of architecture in 1887–1890.[1]
The congregation has been housed in its fourth premises in Snowdon, part of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, since 1947.
In the sanctuary, Torah is read to the congregation from the bimah and the Torah scrolls are stored in the aron kodesh on the east wall. The congregation faces towards the east, and Jerusalem, in praying. The ornamentation features symbols such as Stars of David, signs of the zodiac and natural forms.[2]
Rabbinic leadership[]
Notable rabbis of the synagogue include Jacob Raphael Cohen (rabbi 1784–1811), Abraham de Sola (1847–1882) and his son Meldola de Sola (?–1919), and Rabbi Dr. Solomon Frank (1947–1982). Immediate past rabbis are Shachar Orenstein and Howard Joseph, who served the community from 1970 until his death.[3]
See also[]
- Spanish and Portuguese Jews
- Oldest synagogues in the world
- Oldest synagogues in Canada
References[]
- ^ "Dictionary of Architects in Canada". Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- ^ "Synagogues". Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Howard Joseph". Remembering.ca. Montreal Gazette. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
External links[]
- Official website
- Abraham de Sola-Evelyn Miller Fonds McGill University Library & Archives.
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- 18th-century synagogues
- Portuguese-Canadian culture
- Portuguese-Jewish diaspora
- Religious organizations established in 1768
- Spanish and Portuguese Jews
- Spanish-Canadian culture
- Synagogues in Montreal
- Sephardi Jewish culture in Canada
- Spanish-Jewish diaspora
- 1768 establishments in the British Empire