Kiever Synagogue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The First Russian Congregation of Rodfei Sholem Anshei Kiev
Kiever Synagogue
Religion
Affiliation	Modern Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Nusach Sefard
Leadership	Adam S. Cohen (President)
Status	Active
Location
Location	25 Bellevue Avenue / 28 Denison Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Architecture
Architect(s)	Benjamin Swartz
Architectural style	Byzantine Revival
Completed	1927
Specifications
Direction of façade	South
Capacity	400
Dome(s)	2
Materials	Red brick

The Kiever Synagogue, also called the Kiever Shul, is a special Jewish place of worship in Toronto, Canada. It's a Modern Orthodox Jewish synagogue. Jewish immigrants from Ukraine started it in 1912. The building you see today was finished in 1927. It has a unique design with two domes. This building stands where an old house called Bellevue once was.

Over time, fewer people attended the synagogue. The building started to get old and needed repairs. In 1973, a group called the Canadian Jewish Congress decided to help save it. In 1979, the Kiever Synagogue became the first Jewish building in Ontario to be named a historical site. This helped raise money to fix it up by 1982. Solomon Langner was the first and longest-serving rabbi here. He served from about 1929 until he passed away in 1973.

How the Kiever Synagogue Started

The Kiever Synagogue began in 1912. A group of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine lived in a poor part of Toronto called "The Ward". Most Jewish people lived there back then. These immigrants wanted to create their own synagogue. It was like a club for people from the same area, in this case, the Kiev Governorate in Ukraine. Some families had been part of another synagogue, but they left. They started a new group called Chevra Rodfei Sholem.

Most of the men were tradesmen and didn't have much money. So, they held their services in people's homes. Later, they rented a house on Centre Street for services. They couldn't afford a rabbi, so members led the services. One of them was Cantor Herschel Litvak. In 1914, their group officially became "The First Russian Congregation of Rodfei Sholem Anshei Kiev".

The Synagogue Building's History

As more people joined, the group grew to 50 members. In 1917, they saved enough money to buy a house. It was located at 25 Bellevue Avenue. This new spot was near Kensington Market. This area was becoming a busy Jewish neighborhood. Immigrants were moving there as they became less poor.

In 1921, they bought a second house. By 1923, the group had enough money to build a new synagogue. It would be built where the two houses stood. This spot was once the home of Captain George Taylor Denison. He was the first British settler in the area. His house, Belle Vue, was built in 1815 and taken down around 1890.

The new synagogue could hold 400 people. Benjamin Swartz designed it. Building work happened between 1924 and 1927. During this time, services were held in members' homes.

Building Design and Features

The Kiever Synagogue was designed in the Byzantine Revival style. This means it looks like old Byzantine buildings. The outside has two red-brick towers with domes. Each dome has a Star of David on top. Two main staircases lead to separate entrances on the south side.

The main prayer room, called the sanctuary, faces east. This is because Jewish people traditionally face Jerusalem when they pray. Inside, the pews (benches) are around a central bimah. This is where services are led. In Orthodox tradition, men sit on the main floor. Women sit upstairs in a special gallery.

The sanctuary has colorful geometric stained-glass windows. It also has brass decorations. A huge hand-carved Torah ark is a main feature. This ark holds the holy Torah scrolls. It was added in 1931. In 1934–35, paintings of animals and zodiac signs were added to the gallery. Murals of Jerusalem and Rachel's Tomb were painted in the basement social hall. The building still looks much the same today.

Challenges and Restoration

Solomon Langner became the synagogue's rabbi around 1929. He served until he passed away in 1973. He did not get a regular salary. He supported his family through donations for special services.

By the time Rabbi Langner died, the Kiever Synagogue needed many repairs. However, many Jewish families had moved away from Kensington Market. They moved north to Bathurst Street in the 1950s and 1960s. This meant fewer people attended the synagogue. The congregation had money problems. They even thought about selling the building.

In 1973, the Archives Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress decided to help. They wanted to save the Kiever. They felt it was important for its history. They also believed it would help young people connect with their heritage. A special committee was formed to raise money. They got grants and held events. By 1982, enough money was raised to fix the building. They also renovated the social hall.

In 1979, the Kiever Synagogue became the first Jewish building in Ontario to be named a historical site. This special title recognized its unique design. It also honored that it was the first synagogue built by Ukrainian Jews. These Jews had escaped from Czarist Russia. The building is protected by the Ontario Heritage Act.

Sheldon Steinberg was the rabbi after Langner. He served until the mid-1990s. Later, Gedalia Zweig was a part-time rabbi for almost ten years.

As of 2011^[update], David Pinkus was the president of the congregation. He has been president since 1979. His father, Isadore, was one of the synagogue's founders. The Kiever Synagogue, Anshei Minsk, and Shaarei Tzedek are the only old Orthodox synagogues left in downtown Toronto. There were at least 40 in the early 1930s.

In 2019, famous fiddlers played music inside the synagogue. This concert helped raise $100,000 for roof repairs.

See also

In Spanish: Sinagoga Kiever para niños