Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal
Encyclopedia
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
.
Some of the notable Rabbis of the synagogue have included Abraham de Sola
(1825–1882) and his son Meldola de Sola (1853–1919).
The current senior rabbi is Rabbi Shachar Orenstein. Rabbi Howard Joseph, who has served the community since 1970, is Rabbi Emeritus.
The Congregation has been housed in its fourth premises in the Côtes-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame-de-Grâce area of Montreal 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 face towards the east, and Jerusalem, in praying. The ornamentation features symbols such as Stars of David, signs of the zodiac and natural forms.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, located on St. Kevin Street in Snowdon, which is the oldest Jewish congregation
Oldest synagogues in Canada
The designation of the Oldest synagogue in Canada requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Congregation traces its history back to 1760 and was formally established in 1768. It is affiliated with the Orthodox Union
Orthodox Union
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , more popularly known as the Orthodox Union , is one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. It is best known for its kosher food preparation supervision service...
.
Some of the notable Rabbis of the synagogue have included Abraham de Sola
Abraham de Sola
Alexander Abraham de Sola was a Canadian Rabbi, author, Orientalist, and scientist. Originating from a large renown family of Rabbis and scholars, De Sola was recognized there as one of the most powerful leaders of Orthodox Judaism in the United States during the latter half of the nineteenth...
(1825–1882) and his son Meldola de Sola (1853–1919).
The current senior rabbi is Rabbi Shachar Orenstein. Rabbi Howard Joseph, who has served the community since 1970, is Rabbi Emeritus.
Architecture
The first synagogue building, and the first non-Catholic house of worship built in the province of Quebec, was the synagogue building in the Old City. The Congregation built a new Judeo-Egyptian style templelike building with a front of cut stone, and adorned with a portico with two columns on Chenneville Street in 1838. This was the only formal place for Jewish worship in Montréal until 1846. Charles T. Ballard, architect, designed a new and larger Synagogue for the Spanish & Portuguese Congregation on Stanley Street in the Egyptian style of architecture in 1887-1890.The Congregation has been housed in its fourth premises in the Côtes-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame-de-Grâce area of Montreal since 1947.
In the sanctuary, Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
is read to the congregation from the bimah
Bimah
A bimah A bimah A bimah (among Ashkenazim, derived from Hebrew בּמה , almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim) is the elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue which is intended to serve the place where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the Torah reading...
and the Torah scrolls are stored in the aron kodesh on the east wall. The congregation face towards the east, and Jerusalem, in praying. The ornamentation features symbols such as Stars of David, signs of the zodiac and natural forms.
See also
- Spanish and Portuguese JewsSpanish and Portuguese JewsSpanish and Portuguese Jews are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardim who have their main ethnic origins within the Jewish communities of the Iberian peninsula and who shaped communities mainly in Western Europe and the Americas from the late 16th century on...
- Oldest synagogues in the worldOldest synagogues in the worldThe designation oldest synagogue in the world requires careful definition. Many very old synagogues have been discovered in archaeological digs. Some synagogues have been destroyed and rebuilt several times on the same site, so, while the site or congregation may be ancient, the building may be...
- Oldest synagogues in CanadaOldest synagogues in CanadaThe designation of the Oldest synagogue in Canada requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...