The Holy Blossom Temple, one of the largest Reform congregations in North America, marked its 120th anniversary last week, an event that coincided with the anniversary of the establishment of Toronto’s Jewish community. The synagogue marked its centenary in 1956 but subsequent research by one of its members indicated that the congregation existed as early as 1849. It was founded as an Orthodox institution, “Sons of Israel”, and acquired its present corporate name, Toronto Hebrew Congregation–Holy Blossom, in 1858. Attending the anniversary celebrations were Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, who served as rabbi of Holy Blossom from 1929 to 1943 and rabbi emeritus Abraham Feinberg.
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