Gallery

Lillian was one of Ottawa's and Canada's most philanthropic women. She was the daughter of early Ottawa settler, Moses Bilsky and well known as a community leader, affecting the lives of thousands during her lifetime. She is known nationally as ‘The Poppy Lady’ for her work in hosting the first ‘Poppy Day’ (Remembrance Day) and it is believed the first poppies were made in her living room in Ottawa.

John and Minnie Dover arrived in Ottawa in 1889 where they became the first Orthodox Jewish settlers. Their son, Harry Dover, is believed to be the first Jew born in Ottawa. Harry graduated from McGill University around 1914 and became Ottawa's first Jewish doctor and the first Jewish coroner in Canada.

Aaron and Bertha Rosenthal were two of Ottawa’s earliest Jewish settlers. They settled in Ottawa in 1878 and set up a jewelry shop called A. Rosenthal and Sons Ltd. The family name over the years has become synonymous with fine silver. The two established the Ottawa Hebrew Benevolent Society which provided care for the sick and needy and provided shelter to immigrants.

Moses Bilsky was one of Ottawa’s earliest Jewish settlers. In 1878, he was recorded as owning a Pawnbroker shop in Ottawa and in 1891, opened a watch and jewelry shop. He participated fully in Jewish community life and is credited with acquiring the city’s first Torah scroll from New York, alongside John Dover. He was also one of the founders of Ottawa’s first synagogue, Adath Jeshurun in 1892

A.L. Florence arrived in Ottawa around 1900. He was a well known businessman in his day, owning a junk dealer company and eventually specialized in supplying used paper to paper mills known as Florence Paper Company Ltd. The Government of Canada was one of its largest clients. Florence also served as president of the Agudath Achim Congregation.

Rabbi Mirsky arrived in Ottawa in 1893-94 where he became the first cantor of Congregation Adath Jeshurun. He was approached by Moses Bilsky and John Dover while in New York about providing spiritual services to Ottawa’s growing community. Mirsky’s son David, would eventually create the Pure Spring company, popularly known for its soda.

(1892-1956)

Adath Jeshurun was Ottawa’s first congregation, founded in 1892, when John Dover received their official charter. The well known Adath Jeshurun synagogue wasn’t built until 1904, and housed the congregation until 1956 when the congregation amalgamated with Agudath Achim.

(1902-1956)

Agudath Achim is Ottawa’s second oldest congregation, established in 1902 by former members of Adath Jeshurun. Their synagogue was built in 1902 on Rideau street. In 1956 they amalgamated with the Adath Jeshurun congregation.

(1908-Present)

Machzikei Hadas was formed in the early 1900s. In 1908, the 15 to 20 families that made up the congregation, bought a building at 264 Murray street and turned it into the congregation’s first permanent home. Machzikei Hadas relocated to a newly built synagogue on Virginia Drive in Alta Vista in 1973 where it still is today.

(1914-1971)

B’nai Jacob congregation was formed in 1911 when the families of Uppertown expressed the difficulty in traveling to the Lowertown synagogues during bad weather. In 1914, the congregation raised enough funds to purchase a building at 54 James street. In 1971, the congregation amalgamated into Beth Shalom which made up the congregants of Adath Jeshurun and Agudath Achim.

(1932-2016)

Agudath Israel was founded in September 1932 by 16 families living in the newly developed west end of Ottawa. In 1936, the group organized itself into a permanent congregation chartered under the name of Congregation Agudath Israel. The congregation eventually amalgamated with Beth Shalom to form KBI.

(1956-2015)

Beth Shalom represents the 1956 amalgamation of Adath Jeshurun and Agudath Achim. When B’nai Jacob amalgamated with Beth Shalom in 1971, it became the only congregation in downtown Ottawa. Beth Shalom synagogue was a part of the first Jewish Community Centre located at 151 Chapel Street. Beth Shalom maintained a presence downtown until 2015.

(2016-Present)

KBI was founded on July 1, 2016. They are “simultaneously Ottawa’s oldest and newest congregation.” They are the amalgamation of Agudath Israel and Beth Shalom’s congregations. Their congregational history goes back to 1892 with Adath Jeshurun.

(1966-Present)

Temple Israel was established in 1966 and was the first reform congregation in Ottawa. In March, 1967 the name Temple Israel was chosen and the first consecration service was held on October 28, 1967. In 1975, Temple Israel held their High Holiday services in a newly designed synagogue building on Prince of Wales Drive.