Archief - Young Israel of Ottawa Congregation fonds

The congregation began in 1967 as an orthodox minyan which met in the basement of Rose and Moe Litwack’s home on Kirkwood. After a short time when the basement could no longer accommodate the number of worshipers, a store was rented on Merivale Road. This building is now demolished. It was the location where a Sefer Torah was donated by the late Gilbert Greenberg and was dedicated on March 31, 1968. A property was purchased at 627 Kirkwood Avenue where a basement and partial first floor were used. The upper floor was constructed in the late summer of 1980 and the completed synagogue was dedicated On August 17, 1980. Rabbi Howard G. Messinger was the first spiritual leader followed by part-time rabbis who were also teachers at Hillel Academy and included Rabbi Millen, principal of Hillel Academy, Rabbi Pritzker, teacher, Rabbi Wolkenstein and Rabbi Ben Natan. Rabbi Mordecai Y. Berger arrived in 1976.