Congregation Shaar Hashomayim

Congregation Shaar Hashomayim (Hebrew: קְהִילַת שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם‎) is an Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue in Westmount, Quebec. Incorporated in 1846, it is the oldest traditional Ashkenazi synagogue in Canada and the largest traditional synagogue in Canada.[2][3]

Congregation Shaar Hashomayim
קהילת שער השמים‎
Former building of Shaar Hashomayim on McGill College Avenue
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteAshkenazi
LeadershipRabbi Adam Scheier,
Cantor Gideon Zelermyer
StatusActive
Location
Location450 Kensington Avenue
Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Geographic coordinates45.4849°N 73.5982°W / 45.4849; -73.5982
Architecture
Date established1846 (1846)
CompletedSeptember 17, 1922 (1922-09-17)
Capacity1,800 (main sanctuary), 260 (chapel)[1]
Website
shaarhashomayim.org

History

Congregation Shaar Hashomayim was founded by a group of English, German and Polish Jews, who had previously attended the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue.[4] The Congregation originally rented space on Saint James Street (now rue Saint-Jacques).[3] The first synagogue was built on Saint Constant Street (now rue de Bullion) in the Mile End in 1859. A new synagogue was built on McGill College Avenue between 1885 and 1886 at a cost of $40,000.[3]

In 1920, the Congregation purchased land on Kensington Avenue in Westmount. The cornerstone was laid by president Lyon Cohen in 1921, and the synagogue was dedicated on September 17, 1922.[3] Herman Abramowitz served as rabbi from 1902 to 1947, and Wilfred Shuchat as rabbi from 1948 to 1993.[5]

In 2013, Shaar Hashomayim became one of the first modern Orthodox synagogues in North America to hire a Maharat.

Traditions

Shaar Hashomayim is one of the few remaining synagogues in the world to maintain, on a weekly basis, the traditions of the Choral Synagogues of Europe. The early by-laws of the synagogue in fact prescribed that the prayers be read according to the practices and traditions of the Great Synagogue of London; the Congregation established an all-male choir in 1887. A hazzan, accompanied by an all-male choir, lead services every Shabbat and on Jewish holidays.

The members of the clergy of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim are robed for every Shabbat, Festival and High Holy Day service, with the Cantor and Ritual Director wearing traditional cantorial hats. Clergy and officers wear morning suits, with the President, parnass and other congregational officers seated on the bimah wearing top hats. On Festivals, tailcoats replace the morning coats. Male congregants typically wear business attire and women are required to cover their shoulders.

Choir

Shaar Hashomayim's choir performed on Leonard Cohen's album You Want It Darker. They performed the album's title track and Cohen's "Tower of Song" at the 2017 Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen concert, in collaboration with Willie Nelson, Céline Dion, Peter Gabriel and Chris Martin.[6]

Notable members
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References
  1. "Facilities and Rentals". Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  2. "Congregation Shaar Hashomayim". Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  3. Shuchat, Wilfred. "History of the Congregation". Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  4. Shuchat, Wilfred (2000). The Gate of Heaven: The Story of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim of Montreal, 1846–1997. Montreal: McGill–Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2089-9.
  5. "History". Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  6. "Watch Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen on Wednesday, January 3 on CBC". CBC Arts. 29 December 2017.
  7. Kreitner, Richard. "Lyon Cohen - Freedman Company". Museum of Jewish Montreal. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
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