The Shaar Shalom Synagogue (inscribed עדת שער שלום, ''Adas Shaar Shalom'' on the corner of the building) in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...

, is a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

Jewish synagogue. The Shaar Shalom Synagogue was among the first Canadian Conservative synagogues to hire women in clergy positions and welcome same-sex partners as members.

History

It was founded in 1953 by a collective of families who were members of Halifax's Baron de Hirsch Synagogue who sought a community that would permit "family seating" (also known as mixed seating or the opportunity for men and women to sit together). They sought an egalitarian ideology that would permit women's political and ritual leadership. The community has had professional leaders over the years, including Dr. Irving Perlin. Perlin was an

obstetrician Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

who served as a lay ''

hazzan A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' ( he, חַזָּן , plural ; Yiddish ''khazn''; Ladino ''Hasan'') is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this pr ...

'' and

mohel A ( he, מוֹהֵל , Ashkenazi pronunciation , plural: , arc, מוֹהֲלָא , "circumciser") is a Jew trained in the practice of , the "covenant of circumcision". Etymology The noun ( in Aramaic), meaning "circumciser", is derived fro ...

, and presided over weekly sabbath liturgies and ceremonial circumcisions. The synagogue hosted groups such as a

Catholic Women's League The Catholic Women's League (CWL) is a Roman Catholic lay organisation founded in 1906 by Margaret Fletcher. Originally intended to bring together Catholic women in England, the organization has grown, and may be found in numerous Commonwealth ...

chapter and was a supporter of Camp Kadimah. Many of the art pieces still decorating the synagogue were procured during David Jacobs' tenure from 1953-1957. The building that stands at the corner of Oxford St. and Pepperell St. was dedicated on October 31, 1955.

Rabbinic Leaders

* 1953-1957: Rabbi David J. Jacobs, an enthusiast of modern Jewish art * 1957-1961: Unknown * 1962-1964: Rabbi Emanuel S. Goldsmith * 1965-1968: Unknown * 1969: Rabbi Dr. Max Wallach. * 1970-1974: Unknown * 1975-1976: Rabbi Leo Heim * 1977: Unknown * 1983-1995: Rabbi Jacob Chinitz * 1995-1998: Rabbi Pamela Hoffman (part-time, and later full-time) * 1999-2000: Unknown * 2000-2001: Rabbi Dr. Michael Goldberg, author of ''Why Should Jews Survive?: Looking Past the Holocaust Toward a Jewish Future'' (Oxford University Press, 1995) * 2001-2010: Ari Isenberg-Grzeda (part-time, rabbinical students) * 2010-2011: Catherine Clark & Joshua Rabin (part-time, rabbinical students) * 2011-2013: Ari Isenberg-Grzeda (part-time, rabbinical student) * 2013-2015: Rabbi Ari Isenberg-Grzeda (full-time) * 2015-2016: Rabbi Irit Printz (part-time) * 2016–2019: Rabbi Dr.

Raysh Weiss Raysh Weiss (born 1984) is a Senior Co-Rabbi of Temple Israel of Natick, MA. Previously, Weiss served as Senior Rabbi of Beth El of Bucks County in Yardley, PA and as the spiritual leader of Shaar Shalom Synagogue in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as well ...

(full-time Senior Rabbi) & Rabbi Jonah Rank (part-time, rabbinic educator position) * 2019-present: Rabbi Gary Karlin (full-time)

References

{{reflist Conservative synagogues in Canada History of Nova Scotia Buildings and structures in Halifax, Nova Scotia Culture of Halifax, Nova Scotia Jewish organizations established in 1953 Synagogues in Nova Scotia