Synagogues

Schara Tzedeck

The city of Vancouver was incorporated on April 6th, 1866. In the years that followed, Jewish families settled in Vancouver and began to build a Jewish community.

The Schara Tzedeck Synagogue has been in existence since 1907, when it was known by the name of B'nai Yehudah. The first services were held in 1907, in a small rented home on West Cordova Street. Between 1908 to 1921, services were held in an old rented home at the south east corner of Hastings and Homer streets in Vancouver. It accommodated 200 people.

The community raised $65,000 to erect the first Schara Tzedeck (Gates of Righteousness) Synagogue. The new building , built in 1911-1912, could house 600 people, and was located at the south east corner of East Pender and Healy streets.

Laying the cornerstone of
Congregation Schara Tzedeck
C-08923
Ten years later, a more substantial building was constructed at the same site. The smaller B'nai Yehuda was moved to the rear of the property, and became the Hebrew school and a hall seating several hundred people.


Worshippers at morning Service
Old Schara Tzedeck Synagogue
Rabbi Solomon P. Wohlgelernter
ca. 1927, C-08924


As the Jewish community moved to new residential districts south of False Creek, the building was sold in 1948 to the Gibbs Boys' Club. They used the main sanctuary as a gym. By 1980, the building, which had badly deteriorated, was sold to private development interests. It remained vacant for six years, resulting in an interior fire.

The original Schara Tzedeck building was converted into the "Alexander Court" character suites in 1987. A historic plaque mounting ceremony took place November 10, 1987, commemorating the site of Vancouver's first synagogue.