Anshe Sholom Anniversary

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Temple Anshe Sholom in Hamilton is celebrating its 165th anniversary.

The first Jewish reform congregation in Canada held a temple reunion today to mark the occasion.

16 German Jewish families gathered in 1850 to create a Jewish community. the synagogue was incorporated as a religious organization in 1853. Rabbi Jordan Cohen spoke to us about how the congregation has grown.

“We’ve always been very closely connected with the Hamilton community. This is, after all, our home. When you think about how much the world has changed and how much Canada and Hamilton have changed in 165 years and the congregation has dealt with all of those issues as a community. As a Jewish community coming through the end of the 1800’s, the wars, the Holocaust, the establishment of Israel and all the issues that confront the Jewish community and yet we’ve existed and flourished and at this point we’re at about 375 households, 375 families.”

A gala was held to honour Rabbi Cohen’s 25th year at the pulpit and Rabbi Baskin’s 95th birthday.