Beth Shalom Congregation fonds

Beth Shalom Congregation fonds 

Beth Shalom congregation represents the 1956 amalgamation of two of Ottawa’s oldest orthodox congregations; Adath Jeshurun (first on Murray Street then King Edward Avenue) and Agudath Achim (Rideau Street). When B’nai Jacob congregation (James Street) amalgamated with Beth Shalom in 1971, Beth Shalom became the only congregation in downtown Ottawa. The Amalgamation Committee was composed of the officers of the Community Centre: Bernard M. Alexandor, Alex Betcherman, Morris Zagerman, Martin K. Levinson and Leon Petegorsky; Adath Jeshurun President Samuel Caplan, along with Hyman Gould, Samuel Lepofsky, Abraham Schaffer and Isidore Stone and Agudath Achim President Hy Soloway, along with Myer N. Drazin, Thomas Sachs, Samuel Swedlove and Solomon Zelikovitz. B’nai Jacob Congregation’s amalgamation were represented by their President - Reuben Kalin, Secretary - Jack Young, and Alex Sherman, J. I. Flesher and Ben Feinstein, when they conducted negotiations with Beth Shalom Congregation, represented by Hy Soloway, President and T. Metrick. The first officials were Rabbi Simon L. Eckstein - Cantor Emeritus, Joseph Rabin, Cantor Hyman Gertler, Ritual Director - Jacob Y. Cement, Secretary - Louis Slack and President - Bernard M. Alexandor. The congregation commenced with nearly 850 families, with about 150 being singles or widows. A new synagogue, designed by Hazelgrove and Lithwick, was inaugurated on Rosh Hashanah, 1956. In 2011 a decision was made to sell the building at 151 Chapel Street in downtown Ottawa as the Congregation could no longer afford its upkeep. In a 142-24 vote on November 6, 2011, shul members approved the sale and the land was to be purchased by the development company Claridge Homes, with the sale to be complete in March of 2012. On the last day before the final signing of the contracts however, Claridge walked away from the deal. Ian Sherman, president of Beth Shalom and broker of the deal said this of the situation,"“I respect their decision not to proceed. They lived by the terms of the agreement. I am not aware that there were any issues, but for business reasons, they chose not to proceed.” Another option for Beth Shalom was to amalgamate with Agudath Israel Synagogue, and after many talks and votes that too was turned down in early 2013. *NEEDS UPDATING* 

Beth Shalom Congregation fonds