1
Adath Israel Synagogue2
The establishment of a synagogue in the community of Kirkland Lake signified the growth and affluence of the local Jewish congregation. Before 1927, the congregation had to attend services in the shule either in Englehart, or on an ad hoc basis in the back rooms of local businesses.3
Worship in Kirkland Lake5 September 1983
Adath Israel Synagogue, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
4
N. Kaplan: We held service in Kirkland Lake at the Lyric Theatre - and before that well we had to travel to Englehart.C. McChesney: I understand that the synagogue is now closed down partly because the decrease
N. Kaplan: It's sold it's sold to a local person in town because maybe not, how do I would say, what five families were there.
5
Worship in Kirkland Lake24 August 1983
Adath Israel Synagogue, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
6
C. McChesney: Were any services held in Kirkland Lake before the Synagogue was built?M. Goldstein: Yes there were? at the early days, before we had the Capital theatre, and the Strand and the Uptown ? later on?the?LaSalle. There use to be a Lyric theatre, right where Supreme Music is.
That particular building has had a lot of uses it was a grocery store and a lot of other things during the years. But they used to hold services in the theatre. The theatre management would close the theatre for a couple of days for the Jewish holidays and they would hold services there.
Then of course once the synagogue was built the service went up to there. And a couple of years ago when the community dropped to almost zero (there were only about 5 or 6 families left), it was decided to sell the building and as I believe I mentioned before part of the Ark and the important parts went to a synagogue in Toronto where it was put into a special little chapel separate from the main chapel.
I visited that particular synagogue and the people there were really astounded on beauty of the wood and the work that went into that Ark.
C. McChesney: What was the name of the Synagogue?
M. Goldstein: I can't think of the name of it.
C. McChesney: It is one of the larger ones?
M. Goldstein: It is rather amusing; because about four or five people who used to live in Kirkland Lake are members of that synagogue and that's how we ended up giving the unit to them. As I say, members of my family that I have and mine aunt's family all belong to that synagogue so; the Ark is at home really with Kirkland Lakers.
7
By 1927, there were enough Jewish males to form a minyan. It did not take long for the Jewish community to decide to build their own synagogue.8
Harry Oakes, who had given land to so many religious groups, also donated a plot of land to this group. It was situated on a rock outcrop located on Station Road.9
Land for the Synagogue6 July 2003
Adath Israel Synagogue, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
10
...On Station Road. The first active synagogue was on Station Road. (Marlene continued, "But isn't that the only synagogue?") That's the only synagogue. (Marlene replied, "Right, but it was expanded and uh . . .") Yes. It was rebuilt. It was rebuilt the second time and expanded and uh . . . (Marlene commented, "And I think you mentioned before that the land was donated by, or was it donated?") Yes. It was donated. I'm not sure if it was Harry Oakes. It was one of the mining companies. As a matter of fact I think, oh the, the arrangement for the donation of the land was by Max Kaplan. And Max told me about going to this man. And now I don't think he said Harry Oakes, it was some other person. (Marlene commented, "Oh, really?") That land in that particular area was staked and owned by some other company. And he went to the president of that company and asked for a piece of, if he would give him a piece of land. They gave him this piece of land and uh . . . (Marlene asked, "When would that have been?") Nineteen..., Twenty..., I was twenty-nine, I'd say it was thirty-one or thirty-two.11
Rabbi Rabin was engaged as the first spiritual leader of the community, arriving in time for the opening Rosh Hashanah service to be held in the new synagogue.The Adath Israel Congregation, as it was formally called, was officially dedicated on September 1, 1929.
12
The synagogue (or shule) was an orthodox one. This meant, among other things, that the sexes were physically separated while in the building. An upstairs balcony existed for the women to sit during the services while the men sat together in the main seating area.13
Building of Kirkland Lake Synagogue24 August 1983
Adath Israel Synagogue, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
14
It was after I was born that the Jewish community in Kirkland Lake decided to build a synagogue. Mr. Alter Scott, the elder of the Scott family and his son Rubin did a lot of work on that? |
 |
 |
 |