Celebrating 80 years ...

The cutline to these photos in the Nov. 26, 1987, issue of the Jewish Western Bulletin read: “‘The house that Jack and Harry built’ – Harry Tobin (left) in 1948 with current inset photo. Right: Jack Diamond in 1948 with inset photo now.” What was significant about 1948? And what was “the house that Jack and Harry built”?

“In 1945, when the present Schara Tzedeck Synagogue building was still only a dream, a plucky little band of Vancouver Jews set to work to make that dream a reality,” read the article. “It must have seemed to the congregation like Mission Impossible. How could the membership, which at that time numbered around 175, ever hope to raise the projected $135,000 for the building?”

The project was spearheaded by Tobin, the synagogue’s president, who enlisted Diamond, a congregant, to become involved. First, Diamond “cajoled, urged and finally convinced” the Dominion Bridge and Construction company to take the job. Then he and Tobin set about gathering moral and financial support from the community.

In 1987, Schara Tzedeck Synagogue was set to celebrate its 80th year – it was dedicated on Jan. 25, 1948.