Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
Encyclopedia
Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto (BAYT) is a synagogue
in Thornhill
, Ontario
, Canada
, just north of Toronto
, and is one of the largest Orthodox
synagogues in North America. It emphasizes family values and attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah
tradition". It also serves as a social hall for many social events in the Toronto Jewish community.
elsewhere and wanted to do something for his home town. He set out to create an Orthodox
synagogue that was also modern and acted as the spiritual center of the community, and which would attract observant Jews and others searching for meaning in their lives.
Tannenbaum approached Rabbi Baruch Taub
, a prominent alumnus of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore
, who grew up in Toronto
, and who was then national director of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, NCSY in New York
, to be the Rabbi
. By the mid 1980s, the community had reached over 200 families, and has now grown to over 700. The synagogue's former Chazzan, Rabbi Manny Klein, developed the first youth programs. The new building was dedicated in 1988.
At the end of August 2006, the Bayt hired an Assistant Rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Y. Ackerman, (an alumnus of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Queens, New York) to spearhead new, innovative projects for the synagogue's youth and young families. In mid-August 2009 Rabbi Ackerman took another position as a pulpit rabbi in Columbus, Ohio
. No one since has filled the capacity of Assistant Rabbi.
During October 2007, the shul became the home of a newly founded kollel
, named Kollel Ohr Yosef
- The Thornhill Community Kollel; named Yosef after Joseph Tanenbaum.
In January 2010, Rabbi Taub announced his plans for retirement to Israel, planned for January 2011. In January 2011, Rabbi Taub was given the honorary designation Rabbi Emertius by the shul's board, and he left to Israel as scheduled. On April 7, 2011, the synagogue's board chose Rabbi Daniel Korobkin as the next Senior Rabbi of the Bayt. Rabbi Asher Vale functioned as the interim Rabbi, until August 20, 2011 when Rabbi Korobkin assumed his post.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Thornhill
Thornhill, Ontario
Thornhill is a community in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street, the city of...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, just north of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and is one of the largest Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
synagogues in North America. It emphasizes family values and attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
tradition". It also serves as a social hall for many social events in the Toronto Jewish community.
History
The idea of BAYT was conceived by Joseph Tanenbaum, who had performed philanthropyPhilanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
elsewhere and wanted to do something for his home town. He set out to create an Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
synagogue that was also modern and acted as the spiritual center of the community, and which would attract observant Jews and others searching for meaning in their lives.
Tannenbaum approached Rabbi Baruch Taub
Baruch Taub
Baruch Alter HaCohen Taub is the founding rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus of the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation , the largest Orthodox congregation in Canada. He also served as the de facto chief rabbi of Vaughan, Ontario, and is the former National Director of NCSY...
, a prominent alumnus of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, who grew up in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and who was then national director of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, NCSY in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to be the Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. By the mid 1980s, the community had reached over 200 families, and has now grown to over 700. The synagogue's former Chazzan, Rabbi Manny Klein, developed the first youth programs. The new building was dedicated in 1988.
At the end of August 2006, the Bayt hired an Assistant Rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Y. Ackerman, (an alumnus of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Queens, New York) to spearhead new, innovative projects for the synagogue's youth and young families. In mid-August 2009 Rabbi Ackerman took another position as a pulpit rabbi in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. No one since has filled the capacity of Assistant Rabbi.
During October 2007, the shul became the home of a newly founded kollel
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
, named Kollel Ohr Yosef
Kollel Ohr Yosef
Kollel Ohr Yosef is a kollel for married Orthodox men located in Thornhill, Ontario. It is a Community Kollel, that it reaches out to the community by inviting members of the community to study Torah with the Kollel men. In addition, the members of the Kollel engage in classic in-depth Talmudic...
- The Thornhill Community Kollel; named Yosef after Joseph Tanenbaum.
In January 2010, Rabbi Taub announced his plans for retirement to Israel, planned for January 2011. In January 2011, Rabbi Taub was given the honorary designation Rabbi Emertius by the shul's board, and he left to Israel as scheduled. On April 7, 2011, the synagogue's board chose Rabbi Daniel Korobkin as the next Senior Rabbi of the Bayt. Rabbi Asher Vale functioned as the interim Rabbi, until August 20, 2011 when Rabbi Korobkin assumed his post.