Downtown Yonge East in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Original Site of Toronto Hebrew Congregation Holy Blossom

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 2022

1. Original Site of Toronto Hebrew Congregation Holy Blossom Marker

Inscription.
The first Jewish congregation in Canada West, (now Ontario), was established on this site in 1856 (Jewish calendar 5615). Services were held in a rented hall on the upper floor over Coombe’s Drug Store on the corner of Yonge and Richmond Streets. In 1876 (5636) the congregation built a synagogue at 25-29 Richmond Street East, the first designed specifically for that purpose in Ontario. To accommodate growing numbers, a new building was dedicated in 1897 (5657) at 115 Bond Street. The present location at 1950 Bathurst Street was dedicated in 1938 (5698). Originally Orthodox, the congregation gradually changed, officially affiliating with the Reform Movement in 1920 (5680).

Erected 1991 by Toronto Historical Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage, and the Synagogues series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 43° 39.1′ N, 79° 22.724′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Downtown Yonge East. It is at the intersection of Richmond Street East and Yonge

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Street, on the left when traveling west on Richmond Street East. Marker is mounted at eye-level near the northwest corner of the building at this address, facing Richmond Street East. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 151 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M5C 2W7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jackie Shane (1940-2019) (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bay Queen Street Store / Le Magasin la Baie de la Rue Queen (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Town Tavern (about 120 meters away); Site of Toronto’s First Moving Picture Show (about 150 meters away); Albert Jackson (about 180 meters away); The Santa Claus Parade / La Parade du Père Noël

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 2022

2. Original Site of Toronto Hebrew Congregation Holy Blossom Marker

(marker is mounted on left side of northwest corner entrance)

(about 180 meters away); Toronto's Eighth Post Office (about 180 meters away); The Association of Provincial Land Surveyors of Ontario (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederation Life Building (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Virtual Jewish World: Toronto, Canada - Early History.

It was not until the 1840s that small numbers of Jewish immigrants from Western and Central Europe began to arrive in Ontario and settle in the cities of Hamilton, Kingston, and Toronto. In 1849, Abraham Nordheimer moved from Kingston to Toronto and purchased a plot of land for a cemetery on behalf of the Toronto Hebrew Congregation. The congregation was originally an Orthodox synagogue, made up of members from Germany, including Bavaria, Bohemia, and Alsace, Great Britain, the United States, Russia, Galicia, and Lithuania. It became known as the Daytshishe Shul because of its modernized services.
In 1856, Lewis Samuel of York, England, immigrated to Toronto and helped organize the Sons of Israel Congregation. In 1858, the two congregations combined to form the Toronto Hebrew Congregation-Holy Blossom Temple. Holy Blossom was Orthodox, but in the 1920s joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and became Reform. It was the only Reform temple in Toronto until the 1950s, when it was joined by Temple Sinai and Temple Emanu-El. Today Holy Blossom is the largest Reform Congregation in Canada.

(Submitted on March 8, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 2022

3. Original Site of Toronto Hebrew Congregation Holy Blossom Marker

(looking south across Richmond Street East • marker is near right/west corner)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,633 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.