Many Jews in downtown Ottawa will be finding a new place to light the Hannukah menorah next year, as this was the last celebration in Ottawa’s oldest and largest synagogue structure before it closes its doors permanently.
The building housing Congregation Beth Shalom, located at the corner of Rideau and Chapel streets in Sandy Hill, has been operating for more than 50 years. However, two years ago it was announced that the synagogue would be sold due to financial difficulties.
The initial buyer, Claridge Homes, walked away from its offer to buy the property in early 2013. A few months later, Trinity Properties Investments Inc. struck a deal with the congregation. At the end of March 2014, the synagogue will be permanently closed and Trinity will begin a condo development.
However, no location has been found to replace the current synagogue, leading to concerns about where many Jews living in downtown Ottawa will be able to worship. David Kardish, congregation member and owner of the nearby Rideau Bakery, says that the future is uncertain for Beth Shalom.
“I have no idea where they’re heading, neither do they,” says Kardish. “Everything is in flux right now, but you’ve got to keep looking forward to the future.”
Scott Goldstein, director of the Jewish student organization Hillel, says that this sale leaves few options available to those looking to worship in downtown Ottawa.
“It being the only Conservative synagogue in the area is going to have an impact,” says Goldstein.
“Someone downtown who lives walking distance to that synagogue now has to find a new location, and there’s only one other conservative synagogue in town, Agudath Israel.”
There had been ongoing merger talks with Agudath Israel, located on Coldrey Avenue in Carlington.
However, in a joint statement released to members of the two congregations earlier this month, the task force announced that due to issues such as “current needs, existing clergy and issues related to governance,” an agreement could not be reached.
There is also a much smaller Orthodox synagogue, Ohev Yisroel, located just a few blocks down from Beth Shalom, on Rideau Street. However, Goldstein says that it is unlikely many members of Beth Shalom will be willing to make the switch to an Orthodox congregation.
“I can’t speak for everyone, but I have a feeling that there won’t be too many people moving from a Conservative to Orthodox synagogue,” says Goldstein.
“They want something they’re used to, with a similar outlook to their religious practices.”
While the future is still uncertain for the congregation, there have been some steps secured to assure that members of Beth Shalom will continue to worship together. Centrepointe Theatre, located on Centrepointe Drive in Ottawa’s west end, has been booked as a venue for celebrations of the the High Holy Days, in the event that a location cannot be secured by then.
However, the pain of losing an historic venue such as the location on Chapel Street, and the uncertainty of the congregation’s future, has left many members discouraged.
Addressing the congregation, Beth Shalom president Ian Sherman said that the relocation process has been a long and difficult one.
“I feel as though I am in the midst of a new exodus – the exodus of Congregation Beth Shalom from Chapel Street,” wrote Sherman.
“Moreover, it will not be any dictator such as Pharaoh who tries to decide the plight of the Beth Shalom people; rather it will be the people of the Beth Shalom family who determine whether we want to carve out our future together.”