Machzikei Hadas

Machzikei Hadas (literally translated from Hebrew as 'Supporters of the law') is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.[1] Congregation Machzikei Hadas, is open to all, regardless of level of observance. Machzikei Hadas is broadening its programing for young families in an attempt to boost membership.[2]

Machzikei Hadas Congregation
Religion
AffiliationModern Orthodox Judaism
LeadershipRabbi Idan Scher, Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka (Rabbi Emeritus), & Jayson Taller (Executive Director)
Year consecrated1985
StatusActive
Location
Location2310 Virginia Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1H 6S2
Architecture
Architect(s)Werner Edgar Noffke
Groundbreaking1926
Completed1926-27
Website
www.cmhottawa.com

History

The Jewish population of Ottawa grew from 20 families in 1889 to approximately 5,500 in 1961.[3] The Congregation Machzikei Hadas congregation first began Shabos services in a home on St. Patrick Street owned by Mr and Mrs Goldberg in 1907, paying 25 cents per week dues. They rented a hall at the corner of Dalhousie and St. Patrick Street for one month covering Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipur, and charging $1.00. On May 12, 1908, the 264 Murray Street former premises of Adath Jeshurun Congregation and subsequent soda water factory of Michael Fine, was purchased for $1,800.00 by 15 to 20 families for their first permanent Machzikei Hadas synagogue. Henry Levine, tailor, Nathan Wolfe, tailor, Benjamin Natham(son), peddler, Max Friedman, shoemaker, Max Lachowitz, peddler and Abraham Apple(baum), carpenter. Leibel and Mendle Steinberg and Kseil and Abraham Applebaum worked on 264 Murray to transform it into a synagogue again. In 1923, the congregation purchased two homes owned by Oscar Petigrosky at the corner of King Edward and Murray Streets.[4] The congregation met in various temporary locations until 1927.[5] Werner Edgar Noffke (architect) designed the synagogue on King Edward Avenue at Murray Street, (1926–27).[6] The synagogue at 259 Murray Street opened in 1929. Rev. Baker served as cantor from 1910 until his death in 1945. From 1909 until 1960, part-time rabbis served both the Machzikei Hadas and B'nai Jacob congregations. Rabbi Stanley Webber, who emphasized education, became the congregation's first full-time spiritual leader 1960–1962. Rabbi Abraham Rubin served the congregation 1962–1967. The congregation affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregation in 1960. Dr. Reuven Bulka, who has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa since 1967, and became rabbi emeritus in 2015, emphasized adult education, psychology, and Judaism.[7]

Machzikei Hadas relocated in 1973 to a newly designed synagogue on Virginia Drive in Alta Vista, extending services from 100 families in 1974 to 500 families in 1995.[8] The congregation provided many youths, seniors, educational and public awareness programs.[9] The congregation maintained an eruv, or private space and housed Clergy for a United Canada.[10] In 1994 it was the first synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations to be granted arms [11] by the Canadian heraldic authority.[12] Congregation Machzikei Hadas declined by about one-third over the past 15 years, said Jonah Rabinovitch, president of Ottawa's oldest Orthodox congregation to about 300 families.[13]

Rabbi Idan Scher was chosen to be next spiritual leader of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in 2014.[14]

Jewish Memorial Gardens

As of 1 July 2008, each of the Founding Members: Congregation Machzikei Hadas; Congregation Beth Shalom; Agudath Israel (Ottawa); the Jewish Reform Congregation Temple Israel (Ottawa); Young Israel of Ottawa; Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa transferred to Jewish Memorial Gardens the cemetery lands that they had.[15]

Programming

Machzikei Hadas has provided for the community through youth, seniors, educational, and public awareness programs. The synagogue has hosted or co-hosted human rights day gatherings, an information evening for potential bone marrow transplant donors, and All-Candidates meetings. The synagogue launched and maintains the community Eruv. In the period leading up to the referendum, Congregation Machzikei Hadas served as the base for Clergy for a United Canada, which amassed 6,000 signatures from clergy across Canada calling on Canada to remain together.[16]

Machzikei Hadas - Name

There are several other Orthodox synagogues around the world with the same name including the Spitalfields Great Synagogue in London, Antwerp, Brussels, Edgware, Manchester, New York City, Copenhagen, Machzikei Hadas – Young Israel of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Ottawa, Ontario, some of which are part of an Orthodox congregation, like the Orthodox congregation in Geneva, which also carries this name. The name is derived from the eponymous umbrella organisation that was conceived by the then Rebbe of Belz, Rabbi Joshua Rokeach who was a son of Rabbi Shalom Rokeach of Belz in Galicia, Eastern Poland. Its first leader was a founding member of this august Rabbinic council, Rabbi Shimon Sofer, Chief Rabbi of Kracow. After being decimated by wars (World War I & World War II), it was built anew in Israel by the present Rebbe of Belz, Yissachar Dov Rokeach. People who emigrated from Poland started synagogues wherever they arrived and named them "Machzikei Hadas", after the organised community life they left behind in their home towns. The name was also used for the new movement's mouthpiece "Kol Machzike Hadas", which appeared until the outbreak of World War I.

History

Here is a list of places where there was a presence of a branch of Machzikei Hadas, at least until World War II:

Leipzig

Their last Rabbi was Rav Dovid Feldman, later in Manchester UK, author of three published Jewish books: Lev Dovid (London, 2000), "'Ir Dovid" (Leipzig & New York, 1924) and Shimushoh Shel Torah" (London & New York, 1951) [Source: Eli Shteren in Notrecon Vol. 21, April 2015].

gollark: I'm only ARing snoow, by the way.
gollark: ARing now, it'll be about two hours till it hits the view cap.
gollark: And so does the NDER, actually.
gollark: Well, I have per-code AR stuff, it's fine.
gollark: <@!237432744659910656> Are you suggesting we AR them or something?

References
  1. Bilsky, Anna, and Valerie Knowles. A Common Thread: A History of the Jews of Ottawa. Renfrew, Ont.: General Store Pub. House, 2009. Print.
  2. Machzikei Hadas
  3. http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/histoires_de_chez_nous-community_memories/pm_v2.php?id=exhibit_home&fl=0&lg=English&ex=00000787 Jewish Community, Ottawa Jewish Archives
  4. Congregation Machzikei Hadas
  5. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook By Kerry M. Olitzky, Marc Lee Raphael
  6. dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1453 Werner Edgar Noffke (architect)
  7. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook By Kerry M. Olitzky, Marc Lee Raphael
  8. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook By Kerry M. Olitzky, Marc Lee Raphael
  9. Congregation Machzikei Hadas
  10. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook By Kerry M. Olitzky, Marc Lee Raphael
  11. ["An Unforgettable Hour - Congregation Machzikei Hadas Receives A Coat of Arms" by Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka 1997]
  12. Canadian heraldic authority
  13. Congregation Machzikei Hadas
  14. Rabbi Idan Scher
  15. Jewish Memorial Gardens
  16. Machzikei Hadas history

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