The first official indication of the presence of Jews in St.Catharines is recorded in 1855.It was a German tailor Hofeller, about 35 years old, his wife and three year old daughter. Also possibly, three brothers, as well as a merchant named Westheimer. Phillip Ginsberg, arriving in 1888 was one of the founding fathers of the official Congregation, along with R.I.Friedman and Aaron Needle. The first services were held in the home of Mr.Ginsberg on Church Street, later in facilities rented on Niagara Street. In 1881 the Jewish population was 24 souls.

In 1902, a teacher and Baal Tefilla were engaged, and about that time a house rented at Church and Calvin Street was purchased to be the first permanent synagogue and Talmud Torah for $3,500.00. For some years, the Baal Tefilla, shochet and teacher lived in the house, which was moved from Church Street to the present location when the congregation grew. In 1923, ground was broken for the synagogue, patterned after the design of Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Bonn, Germany. The building was completed in 1925, at a cost of $ 26,500.00 and has room to seat 450. Because of shortage of funds, the bima and benches were installed at a later time. The service was conducted according to the orthodox minhag; the bima was located in the middle of the shul. In 1950 a start was made on the adjoining Newman Memorial Building, with the installation of a fire escape as well as an enlargement of the kitchens and in 2003 by an elevator to accommodate wheelchairs.

Small communities always have problems to attract and keep rabbis. Rabbi Israel Freedman broke this trend when he arrived on August 1, 1961 from South Africa. He brought stability to our community, improved on our educational programs and remained with us for 17 years until his retirement. A chazzan/teacher and another teacher assisted him. Joseph Ben David was with us for 28 years, first as chazzan, Baal Koreh and teacher, and after he received his semicha, as a rabbi. At present Rabbi Courante is assisted by lay teachers, while members of the congregation lead us in the services.

A Jewish community needs its own cemetery, and in 1949 two acres of land were purchased on land, where originally one of the old locks of the Welland canal was situated. And indeed, we found an old lock and had to remove it. We have our own Chevra Kedisha consisting entirely of volunteers.

No community can exist without financial support. Each member is asked to pay an annual contribution according to ability. Naturally, there are fund raising projects as well. Over the years, there have been members who donated generously. Donations were made for Torah scrolls, the cemetery chapel, building improvement, and a computer to be used by the cheder. Indeed, there are many individuals, women as well as men, who donate freely of their time.

At one time, the congregation owned land for a possible future new facility. This land was sold and the net proceeds deposited in a foundation.

In 1955 our library was established, which at this time has 3000 volumes, covering every aspect a Judaic library should have. There is a fine collection of children’s books.

From time to time there was a chapter of every imaginable Jewish organization active in our community, but competition with golf courses etc. has taken its toll. None the less, adult education classes and youth programs are very active, as is a current adult women’s bat mitzvah class.

Arriving in St. Catharines, the Garden City, in 1956, with our older son less than two years of age, my dear wife and I found a very vital and viable Jewish Community as the hub of the peninsula containing the largest settlement of all the communities.

There were many fine Jewish merchants operating successfull establishments on St. Paul street, the main thoroughfare of the city.

The synagogue was functioning at a very high level, with the sisterhood, Hadassah, B'nai Brith and all other organizations pertaining to the activities of the community, thus providing a variety of participation to the congregants.

As the years progressed - as is only natural - since nothing lasts forever - the complexity of the city changed, as did, as well, that of the Jewsish community.

Some members resigned, - others left for various locations, to pursue other interests, - and, unfortunately, other members passed away.

However, strange as is may seem, - there have been some children born in St. Catharines, who have remained - married - now raising their families and building their futures - thus creating a status quo of present members.

As in life itself, our community has experienced many situations - the pleasant and the unpleasant, the triumphs and tragedies, the bitter and the sweet - the so-called vicissitudes of life.

Space, not time, will not permit me to elaborate on all the significant happennings through our sojourn in the last forty seven years. However, one or two scenarios are worthy of note for special reasons.

We have had many members, dedicated and unhesitatingly offering their services and talents towards maintaining our traditions and heritage for our community in its positive function - and even contributing to the entire community at large.

As previously reiterated, I shall only mention a few isolated incidents, and there are many, many more to indicate the loyalty and fortitude of the various members of this community.

One of the most unforgettable events was the farewell tribute paid to the late Rabbi Freedman, the spiritual leader of our community for sixteen years - and equally the inspiration offered by his dear wife, the late Mrs. Freedman.

I would also mention the joyous occasion when one of our most esteemed members donated a brand new Torah - and the wonderful celebration generated by this magnanimous kind gesture.

On the negative side, we experienced the loss of rabbi - the incumbent at the time, - while leading our congregation and a sad loss to our community.

A tragic incident took place a few years ago, when vandals invaded our beautiful little cemetery and displaced forty five memorial tombstones from their respective bases - truly an extremely sad occasion. However, in a very moving ceremony, taking place on the same site, the congregation celebrated the return of the tombstones to their proper and permanent places.

Many, many members have made outstanding contributions to the betterment and improvement of our small community - however I hesitate to mention all, except two men, posthumously - who shall always be admired for their talents and efforts in creating and maintaining solidarity and unity among our congregants.

One - the late Bernard Cooperman - for the outstanding work in administrative creativity by re-organazing the ruling structure of the synagogue and by instituting a board of governors to supervise the day to day functions of the synagogue.

The second - the late Leo Possen - for his invaluable contributions in all the religious activities of the synagogue. Without a spiritual leader, he was able to lead all the services providing us with the knowledge to maintain and sustain al religious aspects of the synagogue.

These two men provided the efforts and were an integral part in their capacity to help the community maintain its proud heritage and carry on the worthy traditions established by our forefathers - who had the foresight, with only thirty members, to establish our synagogue as a permanent place of worship, more than eighty years ago.

To all those, past and present, we owe an enormous debt and gratitude for their vision and determination in order to maintain an active Jewish community in the Niagara peninsula.