Involvement in Community and Political Life
The bar in terms of community service was set high from the outset by Kingston’s Jewish pioneers. In addition to being founding members of Kingston’s organized Jewish community, the Oberndorffers were exemplary citizens of the general community. Simon Oberndorffer was elected alderman of Cataraqui Ward in 1892 and was a co-founder of the Kingston branch of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, a community service organization. His wife Cecilia was one of the original members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Oddfellows and an initiator of the Victorian Order of Nurses in Kingston. She was also a member of the Women’s Auxiliary at Kingston General Hospital, the Local Council of Women and the Poor Relief Society. Ethel Abramsky, in turn, was an active member of the IODE (Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire) during the 1940s.
Later community members followed in the Oberndorffer family’s footsteps, giving their time and energies to serve both the Jewish and the general communities. Synagogue founder Isaac Cohen was a founding member of the Kiwanis Club in Kingston, served on the Frontenac County Board of Education and was involved in municipal politics as alderman from 1920-21. The pattern of serving both communities continued after the Second World War. One example among many is David Shanas, a grandson of community founder Jacob Tevan. David is a thirty-plus year veteran of Beth Israel’s chevrah kadishah and a highly engaged member of the Beth Israel synagogue and of the Jewish community. David Shanas also became very involved with the Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star, the latter being a fraternal organization open only to Master Masons. These organizations came to know and value the Jewish member’s contributions, and were sure always to have kosher food available for him.
An important landmark for the Kingston community was the election of Harvey Rosen as the 94th Mayor of the City of Kingston, on 10 November 2003. He was the city’s first Jewish mayor and belonged to one of Kingston’s pioneering Jewish families. At the time of his election, Rosen was serving as President of the Beth Israel Congregation, as his sister Merle Koven had been before him. An effective and popular mayor, Rosen was re-elected for a four-year term on 13 November 2006.
