First Narayever Congregation
Encyclopedia
First Narayever Congregation is a traditional-egalitarian synagogue
located at 187 Brunswick Avenue, near The Annex
neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. It is the largest Jewish
congregation in downtown Toronto.
Founded by 1914 as an Orthodox
synagogue by Galician immigrants to Toronto, it was a landsmanshaft
, an association whose members had immigrated from the same town, in this case the town of Naraiev. The congregation originally met in a rented building at the corner of Huron and Dundas. In 1940, the congregation acquired and moved to its current building on Brunswick which had previously been a church and originally a Foresters' Lodge.
In the decades following World War II
, many of the congregants followed the rest of the Jewish community as it moved up Bathurst Street
north of St. Clair Avenue
, but some continued to travel downtown to attend the synagogue. Other Jews who had remained in the neighbourhood began attending after their own synagogues moved north. Younger professionals and more liberal members joined the congregation in the 1970s and 1980s and, after the older generation retired from the synagogue's board in 1983, an alternative egalitarian service was introduced downstairs while the Orthodox service continued in the main sanctuary. As attendance for the Orthodox service dwindled to the point that it was unable to attract a minyan
, the egalitarian service moved upstairs and the synagogue began attracting more new members and went in a new direction, and is today unaffiliated with any larger Jewish religious movement.
Narayever today follows traditional halakha
except in making no distinction on the basis of gender. The Birnbaum siddur
(Nusach Sefard
) forms the basis of the liturgy. In 2009, the congregation voted to endorse the celebration of same-sex marriages
.
Ed Elkin has been the congregation's rabbi
since 2000.
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...
located at 187 Brunswick Avenue, near The Annex
The Annex
The Annex is a neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The traditional boundaries of the neighbourhood are north to Dupont Street, south to Bloor Street, west to Bathurst Street and east to Avenue Road...
neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. It is the largest Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
congregation in downtown Toronto.
Founded by 1914 as an 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...
synagogue by Galician immigrants to Toronto, it was a landsmanshaft
Landsmanshaft
A landsmanshaft was a Jewish benefit society, or Hometown society of immigrants from the same town or region....
, an association whose members had immigrated from the same town, in this case the town of Naraiev. The congregation originally met in a rented building at the corner of Huron and Dundas. In 1940, the congregation acquired and moved to its current building on Brunswick which had previously been a church and originally a Foresters' Lodge.
In the decades following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many of the congregants followed the rest of the Jewish community as it moved up Bathurst Street
Bathurst Street
Bathurst Street is a main north-south thoroughfare in Toronto. It begins at the Lake Ontario shoreline and continues north to the Toronto boundary of Steeles Avenue...
north of St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road , north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street....
, but some continued to travel downtown to attend the synagogue. Other Jews who had remained in the neighbourhood began attending after their own synagogues moved north. Younger professionals and more liberal members joined the congregation in the 1970s and 1980s and, after the older generation retired from the synagogue's board in 1983, an alternative egalitarian service was introduced downstairs while the Orthodox service continued in the main sanctuary. As attendance for the Orthodox service dwindled to the point that it was unable to attract a minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
, the egalitarian service moved upstairs and the synagogue began attracting more new members and went in a new direction, and is today unaffiliated with any larger Jewish religious movement.
Narayever today follows traditional halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
except in making no distinction on the basis of gender. The Birnbaum siddur
Philip Birnbaum
Philip Birnbaum was an author and translator, best known for his translation and annotation of the siddur , first published in 1949.-Biography:...
(Nusach Sefard
Nusach Sefard
Nusach Sefard is the name for various forms of the Jewish siddur, designed to reconcile Ashkenazi customs with the kabbalistic customs of the Ari. To this end it has incorporated the wording of Nusach Edot Mizrach, the prayer book of Sefardi Jews, into certain prayers...
) forms the basis of the liturgy. In 2009, the congregation voted to endorse the celebration of same-sex marriages
Same-sex marriage and Judaism
Homosexuality and same-sex marriage in Judaism have been subjects of contention within modern Jewish denominations, leading to debate and division. The prevalent view among Jews had been to regard homosexual intercourse as sinful, arguing that it is categorically forbidden by the Torah...
.
Ed Elkin has been the congregation's 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...
since 2000.
External links
- First Narayever Congregation of Toronto
- Detailed history and tour from the Ontario Jewish Archives