The Kiever
Religion
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Since its establishment in 1912, the Kiever shul has had an important religious role in the Toronto Jewish community. Both the services that the Synagogue offered as well as the contributions of the congregation have strengthened the community’s Jewish identity.

In its infancy, the Kiever had no formal religious leader. As a result, members of the congregation led religious prayer services. Although none of them had any formal cantorial or rabbinical training, these members had the basic experience necessary to conduct the AshkenazicAshkenaz: refers to the traditions of Jews originating from countries in Eastern Europe, as opposed to Sefarad. Orthodox services. One of the members, Herschel Litvak, who owned a furniture store on College Street, became the cantor for the shul. Rabbi Solomon Langner was the first ‘official’ rabbi to lead the Kiever. Nevertheless, although Rabbi Langner served the congregation from about 1929 until his death in 1973, he was never truly hired. He did not receive a salary, but rather supported himself and his family from donations and compensation that he received for specific services he performed, such as bris milotBris, Bris Milah (pl. Bris Milot): [literally, "contract or agreement of birth"] circumcision ceremony that takes place 8 days after the birth of a Jewish boy., marriages, and funerals. Between 1973 and the mid-1990s, Rabbi Sheldon Steinberg took over the role of religious leader of the Kiever.

Over the years, the Kiever provided many religious services. Rabbi Langner and Rabbi Steinberg had officiated numerous bnei-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. and weddings at the Synagogue. In the 1930s and 1940s, Fischel Cooper led a youth minyanMinyan: In an Orthodox congregation, at least 10 men over the age of Bar Mitzvah (13) are required in order to form a congregation to begin services. This group is called a minyan. in the social hall in the basement of the shul. In 1924, the congregation also established a burial society, or 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., that was responsible for the religious rituals involved in preparing the body for burial. The congregation also purchased a burial section in the Dawes Road cemetery, so that Jews would be buried according to Jewish laws and traditions.

In addition to the importance of the rabbis of the Kiever, the cantors played an integral role in contributing to the services through song. Herschel Litvak was the first cantor for the Kiever, but only served for a few years. Since then, other cantors have included J. Rosenberg (1950s), Yitzak Weiss (1960s), and Harry Federman (1970s).

Furthermore, the members of the Kiever made great contributions to the Jewish community. Most members were involved in some way in promoting Judaism, whether it was by giving their children a religious education or by personally helping with Jewish causes. The Kiever and its individual members have certainly made a tremendous contribution to the Toronto Jewish community.


 

 

 

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The rules of conduct during services, c. 1925
The rules of conduct during services
(c. 1925)

Brendan Gogarty on the bimah during a re-creation of his Bar-Mitzvah ceremony, July 15, 1989
Brendan Gogarty on the bimahBimah: raised platform that faces the ark where the prayers and Torah reading are led. during a re-creation of his 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. ceremony (July 15, 1989)

Establishing the Kiever burial society, dated 5684 (December 10 1923)
Establishing the Kiever burial society, dated 5684 (December 10, 1923)

View from the bimah, April 1974
View from the bimahBimah: raised platform that faces the ark where the prayers and Torah reading are led. (April, 1974)

Men praying during services, April 12, 1974
Men praying during services
(April 12, 1974)

“Yom Kippur” by William Kurelek
“Yom Kippur” by William Kurelek (1975)
Video Clip

 

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