Knesset Israel Congregation of Toronto

The Congregation Knesseth Israel was dedicated September 8, 1912. Known as the “Junction Shul”, Knesseth Israel was designed by James A. Ellis of the architectural firm Ellis and Connery. The establishment of the Knesseth Israel synagogue prompted a dramatic rise in Jewish migration to the Junction, peaking at 200 member families by the 1920s. After the Second World War, the Jewish population within the Junction began to wane, as many second-generation residents moved east of the Junction and later on to the northern areas of Toronto. Knesseth Israel is now the oldest original synagogue in Toronto that is still in use today. It's cared for by the descendents of the founding members. Knesseth Israel now has a membership of approximately 75 to 80 full-time members and 300 associate members, most of whom no longer live in the Junction. Due to the geographic shift in the community to the northern suburbs, the Synagogue can no longer support full Shabbat. In 1984, Knesseth Israel was designated a Heritage Site for being the oldest surviving Toronto synagogue still in use today. Today Congregation Knesseth Israel remains an Orthodox congregation in whichh services are performed in Hebrew and using on Orthodox Siddur (pl. Sidurrim): prayer book. In addition, a different congregant sponsors a KiddushKiddush: [from the Hebrew root meaning "holy"] the blessing over the wine. The Synagogue has operated for more than 70 years without a rabbi. Instead, the cantor and some members lead the services.

www.thejunctionshul.org