*** Welcome to piglix ***

Shaarey Zedek Synagogue (Winnipeg)

Shaarey Zedek Synagogue
Basic information
Location Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Geographic coordinates 49°52′38″N 97°09′42″W / 49.877222°N 97.161667°W / 49.877222; -97.161667Coordinates: 49°52′38″N 97°09′42″W / 49.877222°N 97.161667°W / 49.877222; -97.161667
Affiliation Conservative Judaism
Country Canada
Status Active
Website shaareyzedek.mb.ca
Architectural description
Architect(s) Green, Blankstein, Russell
and Associates
Completed 1950
Specifications
Capacity 1,500
Materials Tyndall stone

Shaarey Zedek Synagogue ("Gates of Righteousness") is the oldest synagogue in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Formed in 1880, the congregation's first building was constructed by Philip Brown and several others in 1890. Charles Henry Wheeler (architect) designed the original Synagogue on King Street (1889–90).

The synagogue has been located at 561 Wellington Crescent off Academy Road, on the western bank of the Assiniboine River, since 1950.

Before the synagogues came to be established by Jews in Canada, history of emigration to Canada, very much before World War I, is replete with the hardships faced due to migration from Russia and other countries and living under very trying conditions. The first settlers came to Canada much earlier in 1880. Canada was in need of immigrants and Jews from Russia and other countries fitted the bill. Initially the community established temporary synagogues in rented houses.

However, the first congregation of Jews had begun in 1880 when a tiny group of Jewish migrants formed together. By 1891, the Jewish population of Winnipeg had grown to 645 persons, and 1156 persons by 1901, bringing about a demand in the city for synagogues to be built. The community bought a plot (at the corner of King and Common (now Henry) streets) to build a synagogue, in 1887 from William Gomez de Fonseca, at a cost of $1,250. The synagogue was built to the plans of Architect Charles H. Wheeler and by 1889 it was completed and named as “Shaarey Zedek”, meaning “the Gates of Righteousness” It was consecrated on 20 March 1890. Its coloured windows and were made of finest Italian and American marble. Additional land of 4 ha was purchased in 1894 to have an exclusive cemetery that serves the community to this day. The original Shaarey Zedek Synagogue was located on Henry Avenue and 315 King Street. Built in 1890, it was the first of many synagogue buildings erected in Winnipeg, built three years before Rosh Pina Synagogue on Henry Avenue.

The principal members of the Bethel Synagogue established their own conservative synagogue in 1899 and called it the Shaarey Zedek. The synagogue premises had its own cemetery. A Hebrew school also functioned here for several years. In 1899, it was located on 37 Martha Street, and T. Finkelstein was its president. Rabbi Solomon Hart Green (also known as Solomon Frank) occupied the synagogue's pulpit from 1926 until 1947, following Rabbi Herbert J. Samuel. Hart Green was succeeded by Rabbi Milton Arey.


...
Wikipedia

...