Beit Tikvah is a

modern orthodox Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosoph ...

synagogue located in the

Nepean Nepean may refer to: Places Australia *Nepean Bay, a bay in South Australia, **Nepean Bay Conservation Park, a protected area in South Australia, **Nepean Bay, South Australia, a locality *Nepean Highway, Victoria *Nepean Island (Norfolk Island) ...

district of

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada, serving the

Craig Henry Craig Henry is a residential neighbourhood in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward in the west end of Ottawa, Canada. It is located in the former city of Nepean. It is a residential subdivision that was developed from 1971 onwards. The neighbourhood is bordered b ...

area.

History

The Jewish population of Ottawa grew from 20 families in 1889 to approximately 5,500 in 1961.

Beth Shalom

Beth Shalom congregation represents the amalgamation in 1956 of two orthodox congregations, Adath Jeshurun and Agudath Achim. B'nai Jacob congregation amalgamated with Beth Shalom in 1971. The First officials were Rabbi Simon L. Eckstein, Cantor Emeritus, Joseph Rabin, Cantor Hyman Gertler, Ritual Director Jacob Y. Cement, Secretary Louis Slack and President, Bernard M. Alexandor. The congregation commenced with 850 families, with about 150 being singles or widows. A synagogue, designed by Hazelgrove and Lithwick, was inaugurated on Rosh Hashana, 1956.

Beit Tikvah

Beit Tikvah, also known as CBTO, was established in 1985 as Beth Shalom West, a satellite synagogue of Beth Shalom, Ottawa located in the Craig Henry area of Ottawa. After a groundbreaking ceremony held on September 9, 1984, construction commenced on land donated by Jack and Irving Aaron. The synagogue officially opened for

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; he, שַׁבָּת, Šabbāṯ, , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical storie ...

services on September 11, 1985. Rabbi Gershon Sonnenschein became the first full-time rabbi in 1989, followed by Rabbi Howard Finkelstein, on August 8, 1991, until present.

Jewish Memorial Gardens

As of 1 July 2008, each of the Founding Members: Congregation

Machzikei Hadas Machzikei Hadas (literally translated from Hebrew as 'Supporters of the law') is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Congregation Machzikei Hadas, is open to all, regardless of level of observance. Machzikei Hadas is broadening ...

; Congregation Beth Shalom;

Agudath Israel (Ottawa) ''Agudath Israel'' can refer to any of several related organizations, including: *World Agudath Israel, an international movement *Agudath Israel of America, an American organization *Agudat Yisrael Agudat Yisrael ( he, אֲגוּדָּת יִ ...

; the Jewish Reform Congregation

Temple Israel (Ottawa) Temple Israel is the Jewish Reform Congregation of Ottawa. The community is dedicated to Torah, Tzedakah and Avodah. Temple Israel is the second largest congregation in Ottawa, with approximately 340 families. Temple Israel provides outreach to un ...

;

Young Israel of Ottawa Young Israel of Ottawa is a traditional Orthodox Synagogue located in Westboro. It is a warm and close-knit congregation that provides a full array of religious services, adult classes and family programming open to all Jews in Ottawa. History The ...

; Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa transferred to Jewish Memorial Gardens the cemetery lands that they had.Jewish Memorial Gardens
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Rabbi Howard Finkelstein

Rabbi Howard Finkelstein is married to Rivka Finkelstein and they moved to Ottawa in 1991. He has been the Rabbi of CBTO (formerly Beth Shalom West) for 28 years and was previously the Rabbi at Kingston's Beth Israel Synagogue for 12 years. While in Ottawa, Rabbi Finkelstein was a teacher at Yitzhak Rabin High School (1995-2015) as well as the Dean of Judaic studies at the

Ottawa Jewish Community School The Ottawa Jewish Community School (or OJCS) is a pluralistic Jewish day school in Ottawa, Ontario. The school was founded as Hillel Academy in 1949, and amalgamated with Yitzhak Rabin High School in 2006. OJCS teaches Hebrew, English and French ...

(2015–present). When retired, he and his wife plan on moving to Israel.

Retirement Party

On June 3, 2019, CBTO hosted a retirement party for Rabbi Finkelstein. Many people spoke their words of appreciation towards the Rabbi and Rivka which included Bobby Wollock, the shul's president and a previous student to Rabbi Finkelstein. Towards the end of the evening, Bobby presented Rabbi Finkelstein with a plaque and personal words of appreciation. Afterwards, the Rabbi delivered a moving speech thanking the community for being a strong partner in the shul's material and spiritual growth, even calling the congregation "family".

References

https://www.facebook.com/Congregation-Beit-Tikvah-of-Ottawa-293146260834828/ {{Portal, Judaism, Ontario, History, Canada Jews and Judaism in Ottawa Synagogues in Ottawa Buildings and structures in Ottawa Orthodox synagogues in Canada 1985 establishments in Ontario Jewish organizations established in 1985