Congregation Dorshei Emet
Encyclopedia
Congregation Dorshei Emet ( or "Seekers of Truth Synagogue") is a Reconstructionist
synagogue
in Hampstead, Quebec
. It was founded in 1960 by Lavy Becker, who served as volunteer rabbi
. Ron Aigen was hired as the congregation's first paid rabbi in 1976, and Heather Batchelor was hired as the first cantor
in 2009.
Dorshei Emet constructed its first synagogue building in 1967. The congregation soon outgrew this structure, and built a larger one on the same site in 2003.
, Dorshei Emet had close to 500 member households. It was the only Reconstructionist synagogue in Quebec
, and the oldest in Canada
.
. Born in 1905 in Montreal, Becker attended high school in Montreal, and studied Talmud
at Yeshiva College (today Yeshiva University
) in New York. He graduated from McGill University
with a B.A. in 1926, and in 1930 was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
, where he was strongly influenced by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
, the creator of Reconstructionist Judaism
.
Becker was the driving force behind a number of synagogues; he had previously helped found the Orthodox
Young Israel of Montreal (in 1921), and been the founding rabbi of the Conservative
Congregation Beth-El in Mount Royal, Quebec
(in 1951). He also helped organize Toronto's first Reconstructionist synagogue, Congregation Darchei Noam, in 1962, and Plantation, Florida
's Ramat Shalom Reconstructionist congregation in 1975.
The Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal originally resembled a chavurah
, and worshiped in a number of different locations. The synagogue's Torah scrolls
came from Egypt, Morocco and Trinidad; Becker was instrumental in acquiring them.
windows by David Ascalon
.
The congregation adopted the name Congregation Dorshei Emet in the late 1970s, though it was still also known as "the Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal". Ron Aigen was hired as the congregation's first paid rabbi in 1976. That year the congregation, which had under 180 member families, added an extension to its building.
Becker led the congregation as rabbi until 1976 or 1977. His role as rabbi at Dorshei Emet was unpaid, and while serving there he had also served in a number of other roles, including on the executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress
and the World Jewish Congress
, as president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
, and as chairman of the Board of Overseers of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Dorshei Emet began accepting non-Jewish partners of members as a gerei toshav
in 1985. Its 1994 constitution, however, clarified that while a non-Jewish spouse of a member was considered a ger toshav, and "may be welcomed into the synagogue", he or she was not "entitled to membership in the congregation". In 1993 the congregation resolved that "gay and lesbian Jews, their Jewish partners and families" would be welcome "as full members of our congregation". The synagogue's currently policy regarding non-Jews and marriage is that while the children of mixed marriages may participate in lifecycle events, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, the rabbi will only marry couples (whether opposite or same-sex) if both partners are Jewish.
), services were split between the sanctuary and a school auditorium/gymnasium. In 1992, the congregation voted against expanding the building, but after the 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendum members felt more confident in Quebec's political situation and economy. In 1999, Aigen led the congregation in a campaign to construct a new building. The property next to the existing building was purchased to accommodate a larger structure, and the existing sanctuary was torn down. While the new synagogue was under construction, the congregation worshiped and held activities at the YM-YWHA
. The new building was open in time for the 2003 High Holy Days.
The stained glass windows are heavily oriented towards abstract forms. Together with the Torah ark, they form the figure of a geometrical seven-branched candelabrum or menorah. The other sanctuary walls are pale beige and extremely simple in comparison. During the day, the interior is illuminated by natural light entering through the translucent walls overhead. At night, the entire building glows from interior artificial lighting.
Sound damping and acoustics for the sanctuary was done by MJM Conseillers en Acoustique/MJM Acoustical Consultants. In accordance with Reconstructionist Judaism's view of Judaism as an evolving civilization, Dorshei Emet supports Jewish culture and artistic achievement, and the sanctuary is used not only for worship, but also for Jewish cultural and musical events.
to write a new Torah scroll, in honor of the congregation's 50th anniversary. Dorshei Emet is the first synagogue in Canada and the third in the world to receive a Torah handwritten by a woman; Friedman–then the only woman to have completed a Torah scroll–had previously written two others. The Torah was completed on May 16, 2010.
The congregation hired its first cantor
, Heather Batchelor, in August 2010. Because Dorshei Emet had no tradition of cantorial singing, her role was not typical. In addition to leading Rosh Hashanah
and some regular services, she ran childrens' programs and occasionally read from the Torah
. In addition, she started a Friday night service at Dorshei Emet, something it had not had before.
Dorshei Emet was one of six Jewish institutions in Montreal that were attacked on the night of January 15, 2011. The other buildings, all in Côte Saint-Luc
, consisted of four synagogues and a school.
Since its founding, men and women have had identical roles at Dorshei Emet. According to Aigen, the synagogue "is an egalitarian, participatory community of Jews where women have always been equal players and full participants in Jewish ritual life, including reading from the Torah".
, Dorshei Emet had close to 500 member households. It was one of only three Reconstructionist congregations in Canada (the others were in Toronto and Ottawa). The rabbi was Ron Aigen, and the cantor was Heather Batchelor.
Since September 2008 the Emet Gallery has also been been running "The Hemshekh Project", which gathers oral histories and images from community members in order to create oral traditions for future generations.
Reconstructionist Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern American-based Jewish movement based on the ideas of Mordecai Kaplan . The movement views Judaism as a progressively evolving civilization. It originated as a branch of Conservative Judaism, before it splintered...
synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Hampstead, Quebec
Hampstead, Quebec
-History:The Town of Hampstead was founded in 1914. It was designed to be an exclusive garden city. There are no retail shops within municipal boundaries. Houses were assigned relatively large lots to allow space for trees and shrubbery. The town's roads were designed with curves in order to slow...
. It was founded in 1960 by Lavy Becker, who served as volunteer rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. Ron Aigen was hired as the congregation's first paid rabbi in 1976, and Heather Batchelor was hired as the first cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
in 2009.
Dorshei Emet constructed its first synagogue building in 1967. The congregation soon outgrew this structure, and built a larger one on the same site in 2003.
, Dorshei Emet had close to 500 member households. It was the only Reconstructionist synagogue in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and the oldest in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early history
The Reconstructionist movement's first congregation in Canada was founded in 1960 as the Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal by Rabbi Lavy Becker, in time for the High Holy DaysHigh Holy Days
The High Holidays or High Holy Days, in Judaism, more properly known as the Yamim Noraim , may mean:#strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur ;...
. Born in 1905 in Montreal, Becker attended high school in Montreal, and studied Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
at Yeshiva College (today Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
) in New York. He graduated from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
with a B.A. in 1926, and in 1930 was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
, where he was strongly influenced by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
Mordecai Kaplan
Mordecai Menahem Kaplan , was a rabbi, essayist and Jewish educator and the co-founder of Reconstructionist Judaism along with his son-in-law Ira Eisenstein.-Life and work:...
, the creator of Reconstructionist Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern American-based Jewish movement based on the ideas of Mordecai Kaplan . The movement views Judaism as a progressively evolving civilization. It originated as a branch of Conservative Judaism, before it splintered...
.
Becker was the driving force behind a number of synagogues; he had previously helped found the Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Young Israel of Montreal (in 1921), and been the founding rabbi of the Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Congregation Beth-El in Mount Royal, Quebec
Mount Royal, Quebec
Mount Royal is a town located on the northwest side of Mount Royal, north of downtown Montreal, on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The town is completely surrounded by Montreal. The population was 18,933 at the 2006 census...
(in 1951). He also helped organize Toronto's first Reconstructionist synagogue, Congregation Darchei Noam, in 1962, and Plantation, Florida
Plantation, Florida
Plantation is the name of the following places in the U.S. state of Florida:*Plantation, Florida, a city in Broward County; the largest of the places named "Plantation" in Florida*Plantation, Sarasota County, Florida, a census-designated place...
's Ramat Shalom Reconstructionist congregation in 1975.
The Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal originally resembled a chavurah
Chavurah
A chavurah or havurah is a small group of like-minded Jews who assemble for the purposes of facilitating Shabbat and holiday prayer services, sharing communal experiences such as lifecycle events, and Jewish learning...
, and worshiped in a number of different locations. The synagogue's Torah scrolls
Sefer Torah
A Sefer Torah of Torah” or “Torah scroll”) is a handwritten copy of the Torah or Pentateuch, the holiest book within Judaism. It must meet extremely strict standards of production. The Torah scroll is mainly used in the ritual of Torah reading during Jewish services...
came from Egypt, Morocco and Trinidad; Becker was instrumental in acquiring them.
First building
In 1964, the congregation acquired land on Cleve Road in Hampstead, and begin construction of its first building there. The "habitant-style" building was completed in 1967, and officially opened by Kaplan during a Reconstructionist convention in Montreal in the spring that year. The building was a one-story structure comprising a sanctuary, some offices, and a small kitchen, and had no basement. It featured stained glassStained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows by David Ascalon
David Ascalon
David Ascalon is a contemporary sculptor and stained glass artist, and co-founder of Ascalon Studios.-Biography:Ascalon was born in Tel Aviv, in the British Mandate of Palestine on March 8, 1945...
.
The congregation adopted the name Congregation Dorshei Emet in the late 1970s, though it was still also known as "the Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal". Ron Aigen was hired as the congregation's first paid rabbi in 1976. That year the congregation, which had under 180 member families, added an extension to its building.
Becker led the congregation as rabbi until 1976 or 1977. His role as rabbi at Dorshei Emet was unpaid, and while serving there he had also served in a number of other roles, including on the executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
and the World Jewish Congress
World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936 as an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations...
, as president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation founded in 1955, is the synagogue arm of Reconstructionist Judaism, serving more than 100 congregations and havurot spread across North America. It is located at 101 Greenwood Ave., Suite 430 in Jenkintown, PA....
, and as chairman of the Board of Overseers of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Dorshei Emet began accepting non-Jewish partners of members as a gerei toshav
Ger toshav
Ger toshav , is a term used in Judaism to refer to a gentile who is a "resident alien", that is, one who lives in a Jewish state and has certain protections under Jewish law, and is considered a righteous gentile .-Definition:...
in 1985. Its 1994 constitution, however, clarified that while a non-Jewish spouse of a member was considered a ger toshav, and "may be welcomed into the synagogue", he or she was not "entitled to membership in the congregation". In 1993 the congregation resolved that "gay and lesbian Jews, their Jewish partners and families" would be welcome "as full members of our congregation". The synagogue's currently policy regarding non-Jews and marriage is that while the children of mixed marriages may participate in lifecycle events, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, the rabbi will only marry couples (whether opposite or same-sex) if both partners are Jewish.
Current building
By 1994, membership exceeded 410 households. The congregation's growth made it impossible for all members to worship together; the original synagogue building had been sized for no more than 150 families. On the High Holy Days, when around 600 people attended (versus 150 on a typical ShabbatShabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
), services were split between the sanctuary and a school auditorium/gymnasium. In 1992, the congregation voted against expanding the building, but after the 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendum members felt more confident in Quebec's political situation and economy. In 1999, Aigen led the congregation in a campaign to construct a new building. The property next to the existing building was purchased to accommodate a larger structure, and the existing sanctuary was torn down. While the new synagogue was under construction, the congregation worshiped and held activities at the YM-YWHA
Jewish Community Center
A Jewish Community Center or Jewish Community Centre is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities...
. The new building was open in time for the 2003 High Holy Days.
Architecture
The architect was Dorshei Emet member Roseanne Moss of the firm Fournier Gersovitz Moss et associés architectes. The new building's exterior was in the form of an unornamented rectangular solid. It was approximately twice the size of the old one, and had a social hall, library, larger kitchen, and more office space.Interior
The stained glass windows from the old building were installed in the new sanctuary, which one entered through a copper door. Additional stained glass windows were created by Montreal's Studio du Verre in 2005.The stained glass windows are heavily oriented towards abstract forms. Together with the Torah ark, they form the figure of a geometrical seven-branched candelabrum or menorah. The other sanctuary walls are pale beige and extremely simple in comparison. During the day, the interior is illuminated by natural light entering through the translucent walls overhead. At night, the entire building glows from interior artificial lighting.
Sound damping and acoustics for the sanctuary was done by MJM Conseillers en Acoustique/MJM Acoustical Consultants. In accordance with Reconstructionist Judaism's view of Judaism as an evolving civilization, Dorshei Emet supports Jewish culture and artistic achievement, and the sanctuary is used not only for worship, but also for Jewish cultural and musical events.
Recent events
In May 2009, Dorshei Emet commissioned female scribe Jen Taylor FriedmanJen Taylor Friedman
Jen Taylor Friedman is a soferet . On September 9, 2007, she became the first woman known to have completed a Torah scroll. Taylor Friedman's sefer Torah was commissioned by , a Reform temple in St. Louis, Missouri....
to write a new Torah scroll, in honor of the congregation's 50th anniversary. Dorshei Emet is the first synagogue in Canada and the third in the world to receive a Torah handwritten by a woman; Friedman–then the only woman to have completed a Torah scroll–had previously written two others. The Torah was completed on May 16, 2010.
The congregation hired its first cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
, Heather Batchelor, in August 2010. Because Dorshei Emet had no tradition of cantorial singing, her role was not typical. In addition to leading Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah , , is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im which occur in the autumn...
and some regular services, she ran childrens' programs and occasionally read from the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. In addition, she started a Friday night service at Dorshei Emet, something it had not had before.
Dorshei Emet was one of six Jewish institutions in Montreal that were attacked on the night of January 15, 2011. The other buildings, all in Côte Saint-Luc
Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec
Côte Saint-Luc is a mostly residential city in Quebec, Canada, located on the Island of Montreal. The English version of this toponym is "Saint Luke's Slope".-History:...
, consisted of four synagogues and a school.
Since its founding, men and women have had identical roles at Dorshei Emet. According to Aigen, the synagogue "is an egalitarian, participatory community of Jews where women have always been equal players and full participants in Jewish ritual life, including reading from the Torah".
, Dorshei Emet had close to 500 member households. It was one of only three Reconstructionist congregations in Canada (the others were in Toronto and Ottawa). The rabbi was Ron Aigen, and the cantor was Heather Batchelor.
Emet Gallery
Based at Dorshei Emet Synagogue , the Emet Gallery present exhibitions of photography and multimedia art presented "through the Jewish lens". Exhibitions have included:- Kol Ishah/ In Her Voice / Elle prend la parole (March–December 2009): Video and photographic works by three artists: Lucy Levene (UK), Devora Neumark (Montreal) and Melissa Shiff (Toronto).
- One History, Many Stories: A Family Album of Israel at 60 (September 2008–January 2009): The faces of contemporary Israeli society by photographer Zion Ozeri.
- The Living Land: Photographs by Yaal Herman (May–October 2008): Individuals juxtaposed against the Israeli landscape.
- Makom: Seeking Sacred Space (December 2007–March 2008): A popular exhibit on sacred spaces, featuring David Kaufman's series on the former and current synagogues of Le Plateau-Mont-RoyalLe Plateau-Mont-RoyalLe Plateau-Mont-Royal is a borough of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The Plateau-Mont-Royal takes its name from its location on relatively flat terrain north of Sherbrooke Street and downtown, and east of Mont-Royal...
and David Cowles' images of Jewish sites in North Africa. - Shout in the Ears of Jerusalem (September–December 2007): Benny Ferdman's photographs of discarded elements in a nondescript field on the outskirts Los Angeles.
- Numi, Numi: Collecting Cradle Songs, Connecting Cultures / Recueillir des berceuses, connecter des cultures (April–May 2007): A video-collage by Israeli video-artist Shuli Nachshon.
Since September 2008 the Emet Gallery has also been been running "The Hemshekh Project", which gathers oral histories and images from community members in order to create oral traditions for future generations.