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90:
442:
364:, before it merged with Spokane's oldest synagogue, Temple Emanu-El, to become Temple Beth Shalom. The following year the synagogue amended its constitution to allow women as members, with voting rights. By the end of the decade, led by Solomon, Beth Israel had 650 member families, and was the largest synagogue in Vancouver.
341:
Beth Israel's first building was designed by
Toronto architect Harold Solomon Kaplan of Kaplan and Sprachman. The architecture, according to R.W. Liscombe, displayed a "stylistic simplification of academic and historical motifs". Erected at 4350 Oak Street near West 27th Avenue, it opened in 1948,
426:
The building was expanded and largely rebuilt from 2012 to 2014, re-opening on
September 14, 2014, just in time for the High Holydays. The architects were Acton/Ostry of Vancouver. The building was completely rebuilt except for part of the foundation and three exterior walls. The front door (and
329:
Albert O. Koch was one of the congregation's founders. He served as its second president, from 1933 to 1934, and again as its president from 1938 to 1951. Known as the "father" of Beth Israel, he was also the founder of the
National Dress Company.
218:
until 1948, when it opened its current building at 4350 Oak Street. By the end of the 1960s, it was the largest Jewish congregation in
Vancouver, and by the 1990s, it was Canada's largest Conservative congregation west of
400:
Charles M. Feinberg, who was ordained by the JTS in 1973, was rabbi from 1998 to 2006. In 2002, he was a recipient of the
Rabbinic Leadership Award, given by the United Jewish Communities (now the
307:(JTS), he had served briefly at the Bronx's Congregation Kehillath Israel before coming to Beth Israel. He left Beth Israel the following year, and moved to the Forest Hills Jewish Center in
338:
In 1944, the congregation purchased its current synagogue property at 27th and Oak Street, and in 1945 purchased additional land for a cemetery. The cemetery was consecrated in July, 1946.
275:(founded 1907). Former members of Temple Emanu-El joined with the new congregation, which also took responsibility for a religious school. Once the Jewish Community Center was built in
423:
in 2008. That year membership reached 720 families. Cantor Mike
Zoosman left Beth Israel to pursue a new career path in 2012 and was replaced by Cantor Lawrence Szenes-Strauss.
245:) was founded in September, 1925, but did not formally incorporate until November, 1932. The incorporation was done in cooperation with the United Synagogue of America (now the
264:
congregations. Most Jewish immigrants to
Vancouver were, however, Orthodox Yiddish-speakers from Eastern Europe, and Emanu-El's membership did not grow. It lasted until 1910.
375:
spoke there. By 1978, Beth Israel had 660 member families, and was the largest synagogue in
British Columbia. Jeffrey Hoffman served as assistant rabbi from 1981 to 1984.
295:
The advertised intent of its first meeting in 1925 was "to organize a new congregation with an
English-speaking Rabbi". The congregation, however, did not hire its first
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Bokser was succeeded in 1933 by Samuel Cass, who served as Beth Israel's rabbi until 1941. From 1942 to 1946 Cass served as Senior Jewish
Chaplain for the Canadian
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211:(1933–1941). Other rabbis included David Kogen (1946–1955), Bert Woythaler (1956–1963), and Wilfred Solomon, who served for decades starting in 1964.
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David C. Kogen, a future vice-chancellor of the JTS, was rabbi from 1946 to 1955 or 1956. He was succeeded by Berthold A. Woythaler, a native of
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As of 2014, Beth Israel has a rapidly growing membership. The rabbi is Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, and the cantor is Cantor Lawrence Szenes-Strauss.
260:("German synagogue")—had been formed in Vancouver in 1894 or 1895 as a "semi-Reform" congregation – not Orthodox, but more traditional than
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39:
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As of 2010, Beth Israel had over 700 member families. The current rabbi is Jonathan Infeld, and the assistant rabbi is Adam Stein.
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and dedicated on September 11, 1949. Its stained-glass windows have been documented by The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada.
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in the 1980s, and by 1995 the synagogue was fully egalitarian. By 1997, Beth Israel was the largest Jewish congregation in
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Wilfred Solomon joined as rabbi in 1964. He had previously served as the last rabbi of Keneseth Israel Synagogue of
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A renovation of the entire synagogue was completed in 1993. Women were given voting rights in 1965,
357:, and subsequently graduated from the JTS in New York. He served as Beth Israel's rabbi until 1963.
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1935, where he remained (aside from a brief stint as a U.S. Army chaplain) until his death in 1984.
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223:. Charles Feinberg was rabbi from 1998 to 2006, and he was succeeded that year by Jonathan Infeld.
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411:, he was ordained by the JTS in 2002. Before joining Beth Israel, he was assistant rabbi of the
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Beth Israel Synagogue Vancouver British Columbia, Institute for Stained Glass in Canada website
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Beth Israel's founders were second generation, Canadian-born, English-speaking Jews who wanted
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Pioneers, Pedlars, and Prayer Shawls: The Jewish Communities in British Columbia and the Yukon
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National Synagogue Directory 5769/2008–2009, Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee
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address) are now at 989 West 28th Avenue although the building occupies the same site.
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1065:, About Beth Israel, Congregation Beth Israel website. Accessed November 26, 2010.
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The chapel was refurbished in 1970. In 1970, the synagogue was spray-painted with
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199:. It was founded in 1925, but did not formally incorporate until 1932. Its first
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249:); at the time, this was unusual in Western Canada, where most synagogues were
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1121:, Institute for Stained Glass in Canada website. Accessed November 22, 2011.
990:, About Us, Adas Israel Washington D.C. website. Accessed November 26, 2010.
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1221:
Conservative Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook
419:. Mike Zoosman, a 2007 graduate of the JTS's cantorial school, joined as
372:
208:
1338:
The Scribe: Official Newsletter of the Jewish Historical Society of B.C.
1127:"Berthold A. Woythaler, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Ner Maarav, Dies at 93"
1087:
Maintaining Consensus: The Canadian Jewish Polity in the Postwar World
192:
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1318:, Temple Beth Shalom of Spokane website. Accessed November 26, 2010.
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The Encyclopedia of Jewish Institutions: United States & Canada
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268:
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Previously, the small non-Orthodox Temple Emanu-El—also called the
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Rabbi Samuel Cass conducting a service on German territory in 1945
1075:, Congregation Beth Israel website. Accessed November 26, 2010.
1057:, Congregation Beth Israel website. Accessed November 26, 2010.
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Jeffrey Hoffman, Jewish Theological Seminary of America website
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The congregation worshiped at the Jewish Community Center in
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Conservative Synagogue in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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The New Spirit: Modern Architecture in Vancouver, 1938–1963
407:
Jonathan Infeld succeeded Feinberg in 2006. A graduate of
579:, p. 124 states Beth Israel was "organized in 1932".
207:, hired that year. He was succeeded the following year by
1158:, Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co. Inc., Volume 2, 1940.
1111:
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950
1286:"Holocaust Commemoration in Vancouver, B.C., 1943–1975"
1046:
Charities Committee, 2008. Accessed November 26, 2010.
587:, p. 399 state Beth Israel was "founded in 1932".
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Clergy and Staff, Adas Israel Washington D.C. website
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states the synagogue was "formed" on August 2, 1932.
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1140:Jeffrey Hoffman, Faculty Profiles, Academics,
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1297:, M.A. thesis, Simon Fraser University, 1998.
1017:"National Synagogue Directory 5769/2008–2009"
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1356:1932 establishments in British Columbia
1085:; Waller, Harold M.; Waller, Harold J.
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780:About Beth Israel, Beth Israel website
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686:Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
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303:, until 1932. A 1931 graduate of the
1325:""Community Celebrates B.I.'s 50th""
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1144:website. Accessed November 26, 2010.
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19:For similarly named synagogues, see
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573:Our History, Beth Israel website
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492:Our Staff, Beth Israel website
349:, in 1956. Woythaler had fled
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1371:Jews and Judaism in Vancouver
1265:, Mosadot Publications, 1983.
1113:. Accessed November 22, 2011.
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353:in 1936, after attending the
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1241:"Cass, Samuel. MG 30, D 225"
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1044:Canadian Jewish Congress
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322:, attaining the rank of
283:Early rabbis and leaders
235:Congregation Beth Israel
182:Congregation Beth Israel
125:49.246756°N 123.127609°W
1187:, Linkman Press, 1997.
1105:Hill, Robert G. (ed.).
1003:, Linkman Press, 1997.
1308:Jewish Virtual Library
1256:(Manuscript Division).
1219:Nadell, Pamela Susan.
1152:. "Bokser, Ben Zion",
997:"Vancouver Synagogues"
633:Landman (1940), vol. 2
413:Marlboro Jewish Center
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130:49.246756; -123.127609
103:Geographic coordinates
77:989 West 28th Avenue,
54:Rabbi: Jonathan Infeld
1270:Rosenberg, Stuart E.
1252:, Biographical Note,
1163:Leonoff, Cyril Edel.
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1135:, September 8, 2007.
1083:Elazar, Daniel Judah
417:Marlboro, New Jersey
355:University of Berlin
45:Conservative Judaism
1183:, in Davis, Chuck.
999:, in Davis, Chuck.
688:(September 8, 2007)
567:, p. 440, and
409:Brandeis University
362:Spokane, Washington
334:Oak Street building
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1302:Schober, Barbara.
1283:Schober, Barbara.
1179:Leonoff, Cyril E.
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184:is an egalitarian
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1193:978-1-896846-00-2
1173:978-0-919462-74-8
1099:978-0-8191-7610-3
1055:About Beth Israel
1009:978-1-896846-00-2
391:Greater Vancouver
379:Events since 1990
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1063:Our History
373:Elie Wiesel
209:Samuel Cass
128: /
116:123°07′39″W
40:Affiliation
29:Beth Israel
21:Beth Israel
1350:Categories
1033:2010-11-26
980:References
668:The Scribe
113:49°14′48″N
51:Leadership
1304:Vancouver
1073:Our Staff
369:swastikas
243:בית ישראל
193:Vancouver
189:synagogue
154:Completed
79:Vancouver
1250:(210 KB)
1227:, 1988.
1225:ABC-CLIO
1207:, 1997.
1093:, 1990.
434:See also
395:Winnipeg
277:Fairview
251:Orthodox
221:Winnipeg
216:Fairview
74:Location
69:Location
34:Religion
1316:History
1278:, 1970.
581:Elazar
162:Website
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239:Hebrew
96:Canada
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64:Active
61:Status
1328:(PDF)
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583:et al
467:Notes
324:Major
297:rabbi
201:rabbi
1229:ISBN
1209:ISBN
1189:ISBN
1169:ISBN
1095:ISBN
1005:ISBN
872:Hill
320:Navy
318:and
316:Army
203:was
157:1949
149:1948
415:in
404:).
397:".
173:.ca
169:www
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