The first Minyan and Synagogue
In 1860, when Alexander Vineberg and his family settled in the Cornwall area, the nearest large Jewish community was situated in Montreal. In order to celebrate the High Holy Days, Vineberg and other early settlers would undertake the 110 kilometer journey by horse and carriage over hazardous roads in order to fulfill their duty as Jews. These Jewish pioneers also instructed their children in Hebrew themselves.
In these early days, Jewish community life was rudimentary. In his autobiography, Toronto Mayor Nathan Phillips recalled that when he was growing up in Cornwall, the Torah scrolls were kept and prayers were held in a rented room over one of the stores. He adding that a cantor was usually brought in from Montreal for the High Holidays.
An important turning point in the life of the Cornwall community occurred on Yom Kippur in 1924. When community members arrived in the morning for services, they found that the Aaron Kodesh with its Torahs had been removed for the sake of a group of people who had booked the space for a party the night before. After Kol Nidre services the previous evening, the room had been used for a dinner and dance. Community members were very upset and resolved that this should never happen again. Within 48 hours, the decision was taken to build a synagogue. The organization changed its name from the Baron De Hirsch Congregation to the Beth El Congregation and bought a lot, located at 321 Amelia Street, for $1150. In 1925, the new synagogue was opened. The cornerstone was laid by Aaron Horovitz and the official opening pronounced by Mrs. Elizabeth Miller.
Over the years that followed, improvements and embellishments were added thanks to community donations. The Jacobs family donated modern pews and an altar in memory of S.W. Jacobs. The Aron Kodesh was donated by Aaron Horovitz in memory of his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Archie Dover presented a set of vestments for the High Holidays. A large bronze memorial tablet in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Miller was donated by her husband Moses Miller and his family. The community's three Sefer Torahs were donated by Jacob Miller, Aaron Horovitz and the family of Nathan Miller, and two sets of silver crowns for dressing the Torah scrolls were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Horovitz.
