Showing 211 results

Authority record

Congregation Har El

  • Corporate body
  • 1962-

The origins of what would become Congregation Har El can be traced to the determined efforts of a number of Jewish residents of the North Shore, led by Horst Sachs z”l, during the middle of the last century. The official incorporation took place in 1962 and meetings were held in private homes. In 1974, with the influx of South African Jews into the community, space was rented in the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on 2158 Fulton Avenue, West Vancouver and regular religious services were established in the conservative tradition, including community social events. The Congregation, at this time went by the name of Sha’ar Harim, Gateway to the mountains. In 1981 the landmark figure of 100 member families was reached and a permanent rabbi, Rabbi Imre Balla was hired who guided the Congregation until 1999. In 1984 the Congregation changed its name to Har El, Mountain of God, when it moved into its own premises, renting temporary army barracks owned by the North Shore school board, at 1735 Inglewood, West Vancouver. These were renovated and greatly improved and became home for the next 13 years. In 1993, land was purchased from the British Properties on 1305 Taylor Way, West Vancouver and plans were underway to build a permanent home. On September 7, 1997 the dedication of the new synagogue took place.

Rabbi Shmuel and Sara Birnham and their son David Shalom moved to West Vancouver and joined the Har El community in the summer of 2000. The Congregation joined the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in 2002.

The building, which was designed by Mark Ostry of the architectural firm of Acton Johnson Ostry, won the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award of Excellence and the Ron Thom Wood Design Award. The facilities include a beautiful sanctuary, community centre, fully-equipped kitchen, library, meeting rooms and social halls. Congregation Har El’s classroom wing is also home to the North Shore Hebrew School.

A major renovation took place in 2008 which greatly improved the acoustics and warm ambiance of the sanctuary and main social hall.

In the summer of 2010, Cantor Teron Cohen was engaged as the first full-time professional Cantor of the Congregation.

The North Shore Jewish Community/Congregation Har El is an egalitarian Conservative congregation combining spirituality with a deep sense of tradition. Har El is a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and follows its guidelines. The North Shore Jewish Community/Congregation Har El is committed to promoting Jewish identity, worship, education, culture, and values to the surrounding community and beyond.

Congregation Schara Tzedeck

  • Corporate body
  • 1907-

Congregation Schara Tzedeck, a Modern Orthodox Synagogue, is the oldest and largest Orthodox Synagogue in Vancouver. It has been in existence since 1907, when it was known by the name of Benei Yehuda. The first services were held in a small rented home, at 14 West Cordova Street. In 1910 the ‘Sons of Israel’ purchased property at Pender Street and Heatley Avenue, and by 1911 a Synagogue was built large enough to hold 200 worshipers. The congregation was renamed “Schara Tzedeck”, upon being legally incorporated on June 14, 1917. In 1921 the new synagogue opened at Heatley and Pender and it was used until the end of 1947. This building had a capacity of 600.

On September 13, 1945, the site of the present Synagogue was purchased. Building was started in 1947 and completed by the end of September of that year. The Synagogue was officially opened on January 25, 1948. At that time it was the most modern and largest Synagogue west of Montreal. The Synagogue was designed to be a house of prayer (Bait Tefila), House of Learning (Beit Midrash), and House of Meeting (Beit Knesset). The oak Aron Kodesh which presently is seen on entering the main sanctuary was built originally in about 1921 for the Synagogue at Heatley and Pender.

On October 2, 1957 the Congregation acquired the property immediately to the north of the Synagogue. The purpose was to accommodate offices, classrooms, a large auditorium, and other facilities. Construction began in the early part of 1963 and it was completed for the High Holidays of the same year.

Davis, Hal

  • A.2019.011
  • Person
  • 1924 - November 1, 1998

Hal (Harold Leon) Davis was born on January 16th, 1924 in Edmonton Alberta to parents Osias and Jenny Davis. He had an older brother, Frank, who was born 10 years earlier, and an older sister, Lily. In 1945, Hal married Esther Kuchuk and in 1948 had their daughter Andrea, and in 1953 their son Jeff followed.

In 1941, CJCA Edmonton staged an "Announcing Contest". The winner was Hal Davis. The prize - two weeks employment with CJCA. It was the start of a long and impressive career in radio broadcasting
While attending the University of Alberta from 1941 to 1943, Hal did part-time work at the university's radio station - CKUA, and worked the summer of '42 at CJCA.
Serving in the RCAF from 1943-45, and while stationed in Calgary, there was some part-time work at CFAC. On discharge, Hal did a stint as a disc jockey at New Westminster's CKNW, leaving there in September to enrol in Lorne Greene's Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto, from which he graduated cum laude in April of 1947.
The same year, Hal began his long association with CKNW - first, as Copy Chief; 1950 - Production Manager; 1956 - Program Director; 1959 - Assistant Manager/Program Director; 1974 General Manager.
In 1978, Hal was appointed Director of Research - Radio for CKNW's parent - Western Broadcasting Company Limited (later, Western International Communications (WIC)). Retiring in 1989, Hal continued at CKNW as a consultant and broadcaster.
Hal set a remarkable record in radio annals when, in 1991, he chalked-up 35 years as the voice of CKNW's 8 am news. Also, he hosted a Saturday night music program on 'NW. for a span of 20 years.
In the news area, Hal conceived, organized and developed B.C. RADIO NEWS, (later WESTERN INFORMATION NETWORK (WIN)), directed it until 1988, and making it the first private information network in Canada to be transmitted by satellite.
On the local scene, Hal was an Administrator of the CKNW ORPHANS' FUND, and a member and chair (1972-89) of BROADCAST COMMUNICATION ADVISORY COUNCIL at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Active in the affairs of the broadcasting industry, Hal was a director of the British Columbia Broadcasters Association (80-85), and president from 82-84. He served as a director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters from 83-84.
In 1985, he was named BCAB Broadcaster of the Year in recognition of his development of the WIN network.
In 1996, Hal Davis was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
He died on November 1st, 1998.

Source:
Potts, J. Lyman. “Davis Harold L. ‘Hal.’” History of Canadian Broadcasting. Accessed November 6, 2019. https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/davis-harold-l-hal.

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