Dear Shaare Family,
I am grateful to all those who replied with the answer to last week’s shul of the week. It got more responses than any previous shul! The shul of the week was Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, childhood shul of Leonard Cohen, who recorded the Grammy-winning single You Want It Darker with Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and the Shaar Choir. Last Motzei Shabbat, the synagogue held a special service celebrating its 100th anniversary in its current location, and dedicated the synagogue in memory of its Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Dr. Wilfred Shuchat z”l, who served as Rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus for a remarkable 71 years, until his passing in 2019 at the age of 98.
Rabbi Shuchat
A fact I didn’t mention is that Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Windsor, Ontario is an exact replica of this synagogue.
The winner is David Yalovsky, whose high school graduation was in the sanctuary of The Shaar, and sent me pictures of Lilly and Jake in the sanctuary as well. There were many, many runners-up, too many to mention, B”H!
Rabbi’s Recommendations
Shaar Hashomayim is one of the few synagogues left with a Cantor and Choir that regularly officiate. Even if cantorial music is not your style (though I hope you keep an open mind), I think you will enjoy it if you Click here for a playlist of their High Holiday Experience.
Mystery Shul Of The Week
This shul, celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, was founded by three brothers from a prominent Iraqi Jewish family, and was named in memory of their mother. Originally following the Iraqi nussach, it now incorporates a hybrid of both traditions to reflect the changing ethnic origins of the synagogue’s members from around the world. In 1998, the shul received a major award for a massive two-year project it undertook.
Name the shul, its location, its founding family, the project and the award.
This is the last communication of 5782! I have enjoyed this immensely, and I appreciate all your feedback more than you can imagine. I have especially enjoyed compiling the Mystery Shul Of The Week feature, and am so glad so many of you have enjoyed it. I’m learning a lot, too!
Wishing you and yours a healthy, peaceful, fulfilling and successful year of connection to God, Torah and, yes, to shul!
Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
