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of the forces one woJd leaci of American J�w^ H^ jctfcwentB rrtpooaibifity and devotkm. | � OK PAGE 13 f
THE SEVENTIETH ANN! THB.OL1JE8T
.OF HOLY BLOSSOM ONTARIO
BY RABBI FERDINAND M. ISSERMAN
Eleven years "before Confederation, in the year 185(5, seventeen men in the City of Toronto, to whom Judaism mattered, organized the congregation which -to-day is known as the Holy Blossom Syna-
had been a conirnittee of a few Jews who had banded together to purchase (and for a cemetery. In September, 1856, there were perhape but a score of Jewish families in Toronto. To-day there are about eight thousand. At that time Toronto's first Jewish synagogue met in a ranted room over Coombs* drug store, ori fSchniond and Yonge Street ToKlay there are a scor/ of congregations in the citTa
with capacity for more tfcanonetlousand worshippers,
The 8cyenteea>charter members of Holy Blossom, in their wildest dreams, couW not have foreseen the rajikf ffbwth and ^vek>pment of tfee Jewiak oommunity in Toronto and Ontario,
Siaee the day of its organization Holy Blossom has served the the general community. It haa inspired its
with the highest ideab, and has spurred them on to civic, philanthropic and educational servfeev It haJ never been narrow or selfish in its niinisteruig. Its portals have always been wide open�Gentile as wefi as Jew have found iojace and spiritual strength within its four *�Jte. fy*:io^ft^;^J^ has Admitted all who came to it and asked for Jewish knowledge. No poor child was ever turned away by its teachers, so that to-day there are hundreds of men and women through-cmt Toroflto who received their love for Judaism and appreciation for spcitaai values from the rabbis and teachers of Holy Blossom. Even though many of these are not to-day members of Holy Blossom/" they have gone to other syaagogues and the training they received in Holy Blowcan has helped them in the newer congregations.
The Vrespect and esteem of the non-Jewish community Holy Blossom has always held, As the years roQed oa, it began to be recognized, and is recognized to-day as one of the important religious institutions of the city, Its rabbis are caMed-to ^Jfcivic events^ They have participated in all communal undertakings. They have been the spokesmen for the Jew before the general public. Their lectures on Jewish beliefs and on current moral problems have attracted many Christians and have been a factor in the life of U�e community. It has never been an unusual thing to see two hundred or-more non-jews present at the Friday evening services. Holy Bloeeow has not stagnated internally. Seventy years ago it was an orthodox congregation. Thirty-seven years ago the entering wedge to reform was made, when an organ was installed at the old iriifcgogtie on Richmond, near Victoria Street (where the Vaughan Gtaser*s Theatre now stands) to f�KM^. the beauty of the service. About twelve yean a^o, under the leadership of Rabbi Jacobs, men and ^ronien began to altogether at the services. Under the leadership of Rabbi Brickner, the Union Prayer Book was introduced and the congregation affitiated itieH with the Union of American Hebrew
- GomuiiuED ON PAGE 13
Toronto