Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, located in

North York North York is one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly north of York, Old Toronto and East York, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east. As of the 2016 Census, it had a popu ...

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

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 Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, 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 within the community

eruv An eruv (; he, עירוב, , also transliterated as eiruv or erub, plural: eruvin or eruvim) is a ritual halakhic enclosure made for the purpose of allowing activities which are normally prohibited on Shabbat (due to the prohibition of ''ho ...

. The synagogue membership is approximately 700 family members. The current Senior Rabbi is Sam Taylor. The Rabbi is Elliot Diamond. The Assistant Rabbi is Sammy Bergman.

History

The congregation was first established in 1928 at 563 Christie Street. Its original name was the Hillcrest Congregation. The congregation moved to 840 St. Clair Avenue West in 1937, beginning, as many congregations both Jewish and Christian have done, by constructing a basement space, today the social hall, but first used as a worship space. The building was finally completed in 1947. The congregation moved to its present building, 470 Glencairn Avenue, in 1966. Around 2005, the ''

mechitza A ''mechitza'' ( he, מחיצה, partition or division, pl.: , ) in Judaism, is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women. The rationale in halakha (Jewish law) for a partition dividing men and women is derived from ...

'' in the building's sanctuary was raised; the wood-and-glass ''mechitza'' now rises 48 inches above the women's section. Around 2010, part of the building was renovated. The board of directors plans to renovate the rest of the building once it raises the required funds.

Clergy

*Senior Rabbi: Rabbi Sam Taylor *Rabbi: Rabbi Elliot Diamond *Assistant Rabbi: Rabbi Sammy Bergman *Chazan: Rabbi Chaim Freund *Shamash and Baal Kriyah: Ralph Levine

References

External links

*
Clergy Page
Jewish Canadian history Synagogues in Toronto Modern Orthodox synagogues in Canada {{Canada-synagogue-stub