St. Catharines' century-old synagogue is securing its future—with or without members

The CJN Daily with Ellin Bessner

The small Jewish community in St. Catharines, Ont., is marking a significant milestone this week. Exactly 100 years ago, on Sept. 14, 1924, two cornerstones were laid for the foundation of what would become the current building housing Congregation B'nai Israel synagogue. The event was front-page news at the time.

No one could have predicted that, a century later, city council would vote to designate the synagogue building an important heritage property, proving the contribution of the city's Jewish community to civic life. Getting that heritage label has been a key part of Howard Slepkov's plan to secure the future of the house of worship where he is president, and which has been the spiritual home to his family dating back three generations.

Slepkov, an author and professor, was also over the moon when more than 300 people filled St. Catharines' performing arts centre on Aug. 25 for the synagogue's centennial concert, with performances by renowned cantors and a local klezmer band. And there's more to come, as efforts are underway to raise enough money to keep the shul's lights on—even if it turns into a museum some day.

On today's episode of The CJN Daily, we're joined by Slepkov, whose grandparents were among the community's founding Jewish families, and also by Bernice Caplan, 92, who has lived in St. Catharines since she arrived as a teenager 74 years ago.

What we talked about

• Learn more about the Congregation B'nai Israel synagogue in St. Catharines
• Read more about the St. Catharines’ Jewish community in The CJN archives from 2016, 2018 and 2021
• Breathing new life into a small community, in The CJN

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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