 |
   |
||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
       |
 |
||||||||||
|
June 7, 2013 Wide support for Emanu-ElCYNTHIA RAMSAYAs it did when the foundation stones of Congregation Emanu-El were laid on June 2, 1863, the sun shone bright on the ceremony marking – and reenacting – that historic occasion exactly 150 years later to the day, on June 2, 2013.
As it did then – and when the congregation celebrated on June 6, 1982, the completed restoration of the synagogue – the day began with a parade led by a Navy band and formed by numerous faith, cultural and other groups, including congregants of Emanu-El and members of the Freemasons. The 2013 procession started at the Freemason temple on Fisgard Street and, led by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, stopped at City Hall to pick up the mayor of Victoria and some city councilors. It then traveled along Pandora Avenue to Blanshard Street, where bleachers were set up at the corner housing the synagogue. Several people were dressed in Victorian garb, including event emcee Ed Fitch, who was decked out in black tailcoat, low-cut black vest, white shirt, paisley blue ascot, pinstripe pants and black bowler, a gold pocketwatch accenting the outfit. Fitch is co-chair of the 150th anniversary committee with Barbara Pelman, who was also robed in period attire. After words of welcome, Fitch introduced, from the Esquimalt First Nation, Hereditary Chief Andy Thomas and his wife, Elder Maryanne Thomas, who spoke briefly and chanted a heartfelt prayer. Chief Thomas said that, as a boy, he had passed the synagogue building every morning on his way to school and often wondered what it was like inside – “Now, today, I guess I get to see it,” he said with a chuckle. “But, you know, I think today is a beautiful day to bring people from all races, all the corners of the earth, to come together to share a celebration. And I’m really grateful for the song my wife brought here, it brought quite a strong message from the Creator to help one another, to love one another and to forgive one another.... I really want to thank everybody for coming out to share this day because it truly is a big day.” Emanu-El’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Harry Brechner, presented the Thomases with a shofar. He apologized for his “ancestors’ short-sightedness,” in not having included First Nations in the original cornerstone-laying ceremony, and asked for their forgiveness. “I also want to thank you,” he told them, “that my community, the Jewish community, has been on your traditional land for 150 years and we’ve been able to thrive spiritually and connect to our greater community and offer all kinds of social action and repair.” Before the Naden Band left the proceedings for an engagement at the lieutenant governor’s residence, Fitch explained the history of the song the band played during the parade. “In researching the history leading up to this day of celebration,” he said, “we discovered – rediscovered, I guess – a piece of music that was written by one of the first children, one of the first Jewish children, to be born in Victoria. Samuel Schultz was born two years after the synagogue was built. In 1900, he wrote a piece of music to celebrate a Canadian victory in the South African war. Can you imagine? It’s called ‘The Charge at Dawn,’ and the Naden Band was kind enough and skilled enough to take this piano score that was rediscovered after a century and reverse engineer the band parts out of it, and they played that Samuel Schultz march for us as we approached the synagogue.” Emanu-El president Mike Goldstein, who sported a grey tailcoat, satin vest and bowtie with a white shirt and a black-banded grey top hat, quoted from the remarks of Samuel Hoffman, vice-president of Emanu-El in 1863, whose speech at the original ceremony was recorded in the June 3, 1863, British Colonist (which can be found online). He also pointed out that, at the time Emanu-El was founded, the United States’ Civil War was in progress and “bigotry was rampant” in North America and in parts of Europe, where “Jews were widely persecuted. And yet, here in Victoria, we were embraced and supported. When churches were given land grants in Victoria by the Crown to build their houses of worship, the Jewish community was excluded. Remarkably, other faith groups and local societies, such as the Freemasons, generously assisted us in building this synagogue. This friendship has endured, and will continue to flourish. Our foreparents reciprocated at that time by actively becoming involved in the dynamic mosaic of this young city.... Today, Congregation Emanu-El continues in that same tradition of contributing to our building a vibrant and compassionate city. We shelter homeless youth in our social hall during the rainy, wintry months, we provide rent subsidies to families in distress through the good offices of the ... Burnside [Gorge] community centre and, in cooperation with our partners at Cool Aid and 30 other agencies, we provide hot meals to homeless people and socks – more than 50,000 pair over the past seven years.” He added, “Our 150-year-old synagogue, a designated Canadian National Heritage Site, now requires much-needed repairs to its collapsing roof structure, badly worn floors and leaking windows to ensure this national treasure remains intact for future generations. Our 150th anniversary building restoration fund has set a goal of raising $950,000 towards these repairs – a humbling challenge for our small community – and I am pleased to announce that, in the course of this past year, we have already raised over $635,000 toward that goal. Once again, the Victoria community, Jewish and beyond – you, our friends and neighbors, have provided your support, along with generous grants from the City of Victoria’s Civic Heritage Trust, the Government of Canada, Heritage Canada [Foundation] and the Jewish federations of Victoria and of Vancouver. The most critical restorative work will begin this summer. “As in 1863, together we have again demonstrated the best of interfaith and multicultural cooperation of which Victoria and all of Canada can be proud,” he concluded, thanking everyone for being there and celebrating the occasion “in a spirit of shalom, of peace and harmony.” Rabbi Louis Sutker then read a moving version of “A Prayer for Our Country,” written by the spiritual leader of Emanu-El from 1982-1998, Rabbi Victor Reinstein, which illustrated the depth of the congregation’s commitment to the larger community. In his remarks, Mayor Dean Fortin referred to Emanu-El as a “cornerstone of our city,” both in terms of the building, as well as the synagogue members who, over the last 150 years, “have contributed so much, as volunteers, as community members, as spiritual leaders.” He remarked on the importance of everyone gathering together that day, and of communities supporting each other, not just when it was sunny, literally and metaphorically, but also in more difficult, or cloudy, times. The City of Victoria donated $52,000 to Emanu-El’s preservation efforts, and heritage architectural consultant Donald Luxton announced that the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia would be contributing $20,000. Carole James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill, where the congregation is located, came with greetings from the provincial government – B.C. Premier Christy Clark also sent a letter. James highlighted Emanu-El’s prominent role in the community, noting that the number of people gathered that day “speaks volumes about the work of the congregation for over 150 years. To open your arms and to welcome all of us to this piece of history is very, very moving for all of us. I’m so proud to be here.” MP Mark Adler, representing the federal government, brought with him not only good wishes and verbal recognition of the importance of institutions such as Congregation Emanu-El – in one aspect, “to remember what it was like before the Holocaust, before we had a state of Israel, buildings that encapsulated the hopes, the dreams and the aspirations of the Jewish people” – but news of substantial financial support. “Few Canadians would know that this is the oldest, continuously operating shul in Canada,” said Adler. “This house was built in 1863 and continues today as it did 150 years ago to provide a place where families can gather together to pray, learn, celebrate holidays, simchas, and commemorate Jewish traditions.” He announced that Environment Canada and Parks Canada have provided $100,000 towards the renovation work required, and that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has contributed $4,500 for the anniversary celebrations and that the Department of Canadian Heritage will provide another $34,900 towards those celebrations. When Ambassador of Israel to Canada Miriam Ziv took to the podium, she proudly noted the diversity of the crowd, which included several descendants of the synagogue’s founders. “Your participation today reflects the high regard in which the citizens of Victoria ... and the rest of Canada hold for the Jewish community, for the Jewish people,” she said, adding that, as O Canada and Hatikvah were being sung, she was reminded of how this goodwill extends to Israel and is reflected in the good relations between Israel and Canada. She brought with her greetings and mazal tovs from the state of Israel, she said. Representing United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Morey Schapira pointed out that “the name of the congregation means ‘God is with us’ and, as I look around this community today and see people of all faiths and nationalities coming together and joining in this sacred convocation, I do believe God is with us.” Remarking on the welcome he’d received, he said, “Emanu-El is one of the crown jewels in Victoria.” Rounding out the speakers was Mitchell Gropper, chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver board and past chair of the Jewish Community Foundation, who announced that JCF had approved a grant of $20,000 for the synagogue’s preservation efforts. Led by Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother G. Murray Webster, the Freemasons then conducted the ceremony that was performed 150 years earlier, as well as in 1982. “Today’s events are not only meant as a reenactment of those earlier events,” said Webster, “but a reaffirmation of the high esteem, respect and strong bond we have enjoyed with each other for 150 years. Many here today may not know that many of the founding members of our early Masonic lodges were also members of the Congregation Emanu-El. Our relationship together in this community has been quiet, respectful and long-standing.” The ceremony began with the pronouncement that construction of the plaque commemorating the occasion (standing in for the cornerstone) was “well-formed, true and trusty, and correctly laid according to the rules of our ancient craft,” and included members of the Freemasons, each approaching the grand master with a symbolic element: corn representing nourishment and abundance, wine representing joy and gratitude, and oil for peace and consolation. Approximately 250 Freemasons of the B.C. and Yukon region took part in the parade and the ceremony. It was a cheering sight to see them, and all those assembled, join arms and sing, as best they could, “Hinei Ma Tov,” the words of which Brechner explained meant “Behold how good and how beautiful it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together and be together.” Spectators were invited into the synagogue to see the 150th anniversary exhibit, curated by Janis Diner Brinley, which features, among other things, coins from the capsule that was placed in the original cornerstone; photographs, documents and artifacts from community founders/members; and the chuppah donated in 1864 by the Hebrew Ladies of Victoria, as well as its replacement, designed and created by fabric artists in the congregation, which was unveiled earlier this year. The day concluded with a sold-out gala at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, with keynote speaker the Hon. Dr. Irwin Cotler. Cotler “spoke of the biblical requirement for ‘justice, justice shall you pursue,’ how it came to him from his parents, how it was operative in his life, and how we should all pursue justice unrelentingly,” said Fitch, adding that it was such a powerful presentation that some people were moved to tears. Other gala participants were Dr. Richard Kool, who welcomed the almost 250 attendees and closed the evening; the Thomases, who offered a traditional welcome and prayer; B.C. Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon and Ziv, with greetings; Brechner, with the hamotzi and birkat hamazon; Chazzan Ayelet Piatigorsky accompanied by Aaron Herzog; the Hon. Ted Hughes with the loyal toast; Murray Rankin introducing Cotler; Michael Bloomfield as guest speaker on behalf of the congregation; and the Vic High R&B Performance Band providing the music to which guests danced the night away. About the entire day, Fitch told the Independent on Monday, “Today, the day after, we are tired but euphoric. The program was challenging in every dimension but our plans were realized. The Victoria Jewish community, sometimes retiring and unassuming, is definitely in the consciousness of every Victoria citizen in a very positive way.”
|
|||||||||
