Knesseth Israel
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At the turn of the nineteenth-century, a small group of Jewish residents in the Junction held services at 303 Maria Street, a modest house situated on the most densely populated Jewish street in the Junction. As the congregation grew, the need for a proper synagogue became a pressing issue. To many Junction residents, an erected site of worship was viewed as a measure of success for a neighborhood of working-class Jewish immigrants. Once built, the Knesseth Israel synagogue became the center of religious life for the area’s Jewish families during the early decades of the twentieth-century.

Adherence to religious law was a concern to the new Jewish residents of the Junction. Although language and ethnic differences existed within the community, the Jewish residents’ commonality lay with their adherence to Orthodox traditions. As such, the Synagogue not only served a religious purpose, but a social and communal one as well. The Synagogue’s multiple role was clear during the opening ceremonies of the Knesseth Israel synagogue in 1912, when several members of the congregation shared in the honour of parading the Sefer TorahsSefer Torah (pl. sifrei torah): scroll that contains the text of the Five Books of Moses. around the neighbourhood amidst music and friends.

Initially, the shul functioned under the part-time and voluntary guidance of Rabbi Jacob Gordon, one of the most prominent and well-respected rabbis in Toronto. Rabbi Gordon was on hand for the dedication ceremony in 1912 and later oversaw the religious painting of the Synagogue. Rabbi Gordon showed great interest and enthusiasm for the shul. However, as membership grew and its coffers increased, the Executive of Knesseth Israel decided to hire a full-time spiritual leader to handle the daily religious needs of the congregation.

Rabbi Mordecai Langner had migrated to Maria Street from his native Poland in 1924, with his wife Anne, whom he had married five years prior. That same year, Rabbi Langner became the first and only full-time rabbi of the Synagogue. In addition to his rabbinical work, Rabbi Langner also acted as cantor during the High HolidaysHigh Holidays: The holidays of Rosh Hashannah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), when Jews must humble themselves before God and ask forgiveness for their wrongdoings.. He served as Knesseth Israel’s rabbi until 1939, at which time he left the Junction and began a new synagogue on College Street. Rabbi Langner was never replaced by the Synagogue following his departure.

Knesseth Israel celebrated many important religious ceremonies over the years, some festive and some mournful. Every week the congregation would gather for ShabbatShabbat: the period between Friday at sundown and Saturday one hour after sundown in which Jews are required to refrain from all forms of work.services, unlocking the siddurimSiddur (pl. Sidurrim):  prayer book. and tallisotTallis (pl. Tallisot): prayer shawl worn by men. from the pews on which they sat. bar mitzvahsBar-Mitzvah (pl. Bnei-Mitzvah): A ceremony for boys who reach the age of 13 in which they read from the Torah on the Sabbath falling closest to their Hebrew birthday. (Judaism follows a lunar calendar.) At this age, boys are considered accountable for their own actions and have higher responsibilities to God. Girls reach this level of responsibility at the age of 12, in what is called a Bat-Mitzvah. However, according to Orthodox tradition, girls do not read from the Torah. , aufrufsAufruf / Ofruf: ceremony in which a husband-to-be is called up to the Torah readings (see Aliyah) on the Sabbath before his wedding., and weddings punctuated the weekly observances that brought the congregation together, and gave reason for special celebration. On some occasions, the congregation would show their goodwill by showering the persons being honoured with candies and nuts.

In contrast, death was also an ever-present aspect of congregational life and those attending early morning services at the Synagogue often witnessed the pegging together of wooden coffins. Representatives of Congregation Knesseth Israel purchased the cemetery, located at the Lambton Mills Memorial Park on Royal York Road in Etobicoke, one year prior to the land for the Knesseth Israel synagogue. The Burial Committee of the Knesseth Israel Executive administered the cemetery, which was an essential component to the proper functioning of the shul. Full members of the Synagogue, each paying monthly dues, had claim to a plot in the Synagogue’s cemetery and a cost-free burial service. The cemetery was also used to bury religious artifacts; in the 1920s, when a fire had damaged the Sefer TorahsSefer Torah (pl. sifrei torah): scroll that contains the text of the Five Books of Moses., the burnt sections were gathered together and taken to the cemetery for burial. Knesseth Israel hired a SoiferSoifer:  a scribe for holy books. The task of copying the text of the Torah to a new scroll is very difficult, requiring the utmost attention to detail. Not one mistake is permissible. It often takes months or years to complete the entire Five Books of Moses. to replace the missing sections of the Torahs. Many of the replaced pages’ letters were outlined but left unfilled, so that members could participate in this mitzvahMitzvah (pl. Mitzvot): action commanded by God, therefore, also commonly known as a "good deed"., donating money to the shul for the honour of filling in a phrase, a word, or a letter.

Today Congregation Knesseth Israel remains true to its Orthodox traditions. The congregation continues to perform services in Hebrew and still relies on Orthodox siddurimSiddur (pl. Sidurrim):  prayer book.. In addition, a different congregant sponsors a KiddushKiddush: [from the Hebrew root meaning "holy"] the blessing over the wine. Often after morning services conclude on the Sabbath, the congregation will say Kiddush together and enjoy deserts or snacks. after each service. While following these traditions, Knesseth Israel is also unique in many ways. For instance, the Synagogue has operated for more than 70 years without a rabbi, the last being Rabbi Mordecai Langner. Instead, the cantor and some members lead the services. Currently, Cantor Howard Kamen leads the services during the High HolidaysHigh Holidays: The holidays of Rosh Hashannah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), when Jews must humble themselves before God and ask forgiveness for their wrongdoings.. In turn, husbands and wives are permitted to sit together during many services outside of the High HolidaysHigh Holidays: The holidays of Rosh Hashannah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), when Jews must humble themselves before God and ask forgiveness for their wrongdoings. at the Knesseth Israel synagogue.

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Rabbi Jacob Gordon
Rabbi Jacob Gordon (1924)


Rabbi Mordecai Langner with his wife Anne (c. 1930s)

Bar Mitzvah invitation for Larry Marcus, March 26, 1950
Bar MitzvahBar-Mitzvah (pl. Bnei-Mitzvah): A ceremony for boys who reach the age of 13 in which they read from the Torah on the Sabbath falling closest to their Hebrew birthday. (Judaism follows a lunar calendar.) At this age, boys are considered accountable for their own actions and have higher responsibilities to God. Girls reach this level of responsibility at the age of 12, in what is called a Bat-Mitzvah. However, according to Orthodox tradition, girls do not read from the Torah. invitation for Larry Marcus (March 26, 1950)

Financial ledger book, April 25, 1946
Financial ledger book (April 25, 1946)

Pincus containing a Chevra Kadisha certificate, 1910
PincusPincus:  honour book compiled by a synagogue. containing a Chevra KaddishaChevra Kaddisha: [literally, "holy society"] The burial society, or Chevra Kaddisha, is responsible for taking care of a dead body until it is buried. Responsibilities include washing and guarding the body, dressing it in shrouds, assisting in the rituals involved in the burial, arranging a mourning service, etc. The Chevra is usually composed of volunteers from the community. Being part of the Chevra Kaddisha is considered one of the holiest deeds, as there is no expectation of reward or thanks. certificate (1910)

Receipt book for the synagogue (September 20, 1950)
Receipt book for the Synagogue (September 20, 1950)

High Holiday seat ticket for male congregants, c. 1950
High Holiday seat ticket for male congregants (c. 1950)

High Holiday seat ticket for female congregants, c. 1950
High Holiday seat ticket for female congregants (c. 1950)

Advertisement in the Canadian Jewish News for Knesseth Israel synagogue (August 29, 1975)
Advertisement in the Canadian Jewish News for Knesseth Israel synagogue (August 29, 1975)

 

 

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