By Rick Kardonne — Tribune Correspondent
After 15 years of renting space in the B’nai Brith Canada national headquarters building, Toronto’s only Reconstructionist synagogue, Darchei Noam Congregation, has purchased the Adath Sholom Synagogue building on Sheppard Avenue West and will be a property owner.
“B’nai Brith has been a good landlord,” Darchei Noam vice-president in charge of development told the Jewish Tribune. “But we are expanding in numbers. Adath Sholom wanted to sell their building. We wanted to buy. It was good for everybody concerned.”
The actual sale will come into effect on Oct.31 2005, according to both Syd Nestel and Adath Sholom president Mark Lockwood. Until then, Darchei Noam will continue to rent its present space at B’nai Brith. The sale will only be the beginning, according to Nestel.
A general renovation of the Adath Sholom building will take place, so that the new home will be ready sometime during the 2006-07 (5767) year. “We have recently experienced a 20 per cent growth in numbers,” said Nestel. “Right now, we have 495 adults. We hope to have 600 adult members during the next four years.”
He attributes much of this growth to the Rabbi Tina Grinberg. Born in the former Soviet Union, and having come to Toronto from Indianapolis, Nestel describes her as “young and energetic.” She is inclusive in attracting new members.
Founded in the mid-20th century by American theologian Rabbi Mordechai Caplan, the Reconstructionist movement, while a branch of Reform, has its own particular identity. According to Nestel, the service is “very traditional, with minor modifications in the texts. Complete gender egalitarianism is the rule here.”
He said the biggest difference between Reconstructionism and all other branches of Judaism is that it recognizes patrilineal as well as matrilineal descent in identifying who is a Jew. “In inter-married families between Jews and gentiles, we do not insist that the (gentile) mother convert.”
Nestel’s own background is traditional. He is a product of Associated Hebrew Schools and CHAT. He is not the only Reconstructionist with this background. He is also proud to state that Darchei Noam has attracted Jews from all over the GTA, from Thornhill down to the Bathurst-St,.Clair area where he lives.
While the actual move is still two years away, Nestel already feels that it will be a major boost in establishing Reconstructionism as a permanent presence on the Toronto Jewish scene.
Index | Letters to the Editor | Main Page | Op Ed | Photos
Send Letters To The Editor:
editor@jewishtribune.ca
This site hosted by:
vex.net
