Community History
Ottawa’s Jewish History
Jewish Community Timeline
1860s
First Jew arrives in Ottawa
1892
Ottawa’s first Orthodox congregation - Adath Jeshurun - established
Attendees at Congregation Adath Jeshurun banquet to celebrate the paying off of the synagogue mortgage, March 17, 1935.
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1892
Ottawa’s first Jewish cemetery established
Ceremony for the consecration of the new Jewish Community Cemetery grounds, October 31, 1976.
Lux Photography
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1893
Ottawa’s first Rabbi, Reverend Jacob Mirsky arrives in Ottawa
Reverend Jacob Mirsky in his Cantorial Robes, 1930s.
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1898
The Ottawa Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society established
1902
Ottawa Second Orthodox congregation - Agudath Achim - established
The Boys Choir of the Agudath Achim Congregation, 1928.
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1904
Adath Jeshurun, first synagogue, built
Adath Jeshurun Synagogue, pre-1930.
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1906
Congregation Machzekei Hadas established
Machzikei Hadas Synagogue, 1950s.
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1909
Ottawa Bottle Trading Company (Pure Spring) started by David Mirsky
1910
Congregation B’nai Jacob established
B'nai Jacob Congregation, 1970.
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1912
Ottawa Hebrew Benefit Society
1921
B’nai B’rith Ottawa Lodge 885 founded
1923
Ottawa Talmud Torah Board established
1933
Ottawa /hebrew Free Loan Association established
1934
Vaad (Jewish Community Council of Ottawa) created
1935
All-Jewish Girl Guide group “13th Girl Guide Company”
1940s
Ottawa Jewish community has one of the highest enlistments rates in Canada
1951
First Jewish Community Centre opened
1956
Congregation Beth Shalom established
Laying the cornerstone of the new Beth Shalom Synagogue and the Jewish Community Centre, May 29, 1950.
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Photo courtesy of the Ottawa Jewish Archives.
1969
The Ottawa Jewish Historical Society (OJHS) is founded by Dr. Abraham Slone
1971
A History and Archives Committee (Ottawa Jewish Archives) established
1998
Soloway Jewish Community Centre opened
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