Beth Torah Congregation
Registered Name: BETH TORAH CONGREGATION
Business No: 106790447RR0001
This organization is designated by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a registered charity. They comply with the CRA's requirements and has been issued a charitable registration number.
For over 50 years; our approach to Judaism and Jewish education merges the traditional with the modern. The Shul of the future - today!
Welcome to our Family Shul!
Beth Torah Congregation serves the spiritual, communal, and educational needs of more than 500 families with warmth and vibrancy. Existing at the nexus of tradition and modernity, Beth Torah offers the wisdom of the ages gleaned from the Torah while speaking to the modern concerns of its congregants with relevance and meaning.
For almost 55 years, Beth Torah has played a central role in the lives of its congregants and the community, promoting Jewish values through its services; unique educational programs for young children, B’nai Mitzvah, and adults; lifecycle celebrations; and community events.
Rabbi Yossi Sapirman, building on the tradition of its founding families, leads the congregation with vision, passion and optimism, galvanizing the congregants to an inspired practice of their Jewish identity. Under Rabbi Yossi’s dynamic and compassionate leadership, members are encouraged to look both inward toward constructing a personal relationship with their heritage and outward toward their community and world with an emphasis on tikkun olam.
Beth Torah is a hub of progressive Judaism that embraces the Jewish tradition as one that is relevant, timely, and meaningful. Rabbi Yossi calls this philosophy “Now Judaism,” which empowers individuals to embrace the Jewish narrative and experience by applying traditional Jewish values to their everyday lives and decisions. It’s about engaging tradition and history while embracing modernity and the future. It’s about seeking transformation by looking toward the past with new, modern eyes.
At Beth Torah, Jewish identity and practice is a beautiful hybrid of Judaism’s traditional wisdom with modernity’s progressive values.
The pillars upon which Beth Torah stands are….
Inspiration
Beth Torah inspires connection, meaning, identity, and action. It inspires a greater connection to one’s Jewish identity with authentic meaning and timely relevance. It inspires action to make a difference in one’s community and the world within the context of ancient Jewish values.
Interconnection
Beth Torah engenders interconnection among its members by celebrating in their successes and sharing in the pain of their sorrows. We are more than a congregation of members. We are a community of friends.
Inclusion:
Beth Torah celebrates inclusion. Everyone is welcome irrespective of race, national origin, sexual orientation, or level of ability.
Read here about BTC’s receiving an inclusion award for building a wheelchair accessible bimah to include those with exceptional needs in our services.
Our Humble but Proud Roots:
Early 60’s
- Founding families of Beth Torah, once congregants of Rabbi Schoichet’s shteibl on Carousel Court, decide to establish their own synagogue with a Conservative service.
- The first High holiday service is held in an industrial building owned by Joe Tenenbaum of Runnymede Steel. 700 people attend.
- A decision was made to buy a piece of land upon which to build a synagogue. The new congregation is named “Beth Torah.”
- Jack Hauer, a chartered accountant, and Angie Del Zotto, a real estate developer, meet with Max Tenenbaum of York Steel, who owned a piece of land at 47 Glenbrook Ave. A deal was made to purchase 3.5 acres for $85,000. Jack handed over a deposit of $10,000 that morning with another $30,000 that followed several months later. Ten founding families, young newlyweds, each signed a $1000 guarantee to the bank to make up the down payment.
- Benjamin Hauer becomes Beth Torah’s first rabbi.
- A portable is purchased for $500 from the Catholic Diocese of Mississauga to hold Shabbat and holiday services. Yearly dues for families are $300.
1963
- A mortgage for $150,000 is arranged with the Bank of Montreal to construct the building. 21 families sign personal guarantees. Construction of Beth Torah begins.
1964
- The building is completed. Family dues increase to $400 with an additional $100 levied for a building fund.
1965
- Rabbi Michael Celniker becomes the Rabbi.
1969
- Beth Torah’s Hebrew School is established under the leadership of Rabbi Moishe Baker (Bakerspiegel). Classes are held on Sundays and twice a week after school. Rabbi Baker teachers Bar and Bat Mitzvah lessons and introduces the Aleph Bet and Torah Tots programs.
1970
- Rabbi Solomon Domb becomes the Rabbi and Cantor.
1975
- Cantor Moishe Frank joins as assistant cantor. Eager to get a minyan, he grabs people off the street on their way to work.
1982-1986
- Rabbi Dr. Stuart Rosenberg assumes the position of Rabbi.
1983
- Cantor Samuel Frankel z”l serves as Cantor, teaches Bar and Bat Mitzvah lessons and intermediate Hebrew, and leads a small choir. Rabbi Wolf Kelman leads the High Holiday services.
1991
- Rabbi Charles Freundlich assumes the position of rabbi.
1998
- Rabbi Yossi Sapirman joins Beth Torah, the youngest in Beth Torah’s history.
1999
- Cantor David Young joins Beth Torah, leading the adult and children’s choirs.
2005
- Completing the Dream campaign is launched, co-chaired by David Glick and Howard Wolkin.
2006
- Phase 1 of the campaign is completed and celebrated at an evening with singer/songwriter Jann Arden. The campaign surpasses its goal of $3.5 million, reaching $4 million.
2009
- The campaign raises $6 million and realizes its vision with the building of a new sanctuary and renovation of the social hall. 100 new families join the congregation.
2010
- Our renovation is completed by Dalton Engineering and Construction Ltd.and Cindy Rendely Architecture. Read more here!
2013
- Beth Torah celebrates its 50 year anniversary with a campaign chaired by Ellen Scheinberg.
2015
- Beth Torah partners with JWRP (Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project) and sends its first women’s group to Israel to be inspired by Judaism and empowered as Jewish leaders. First year of “The Rosh Is On” High Holiday programming, a new BTC initiative to make modern services accessible and compelling.
2016
- Cantor Ben Silverberg becomes a welcome addition to our clergy.
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