Population
There has been an ebb and flow in the numbers of Jews in Owen Sound over the decades. The numbers rose with the arrival of merchants in the early years. However, the Jewish population declined after the Second World War. It rose again in the 1970s, with the arrival of health services workers. Among this group was a young psychologist, Avrum Green and his wife Emmy. They remained in Owen Sound, raised a family and eventually become pivotal members of the Jewish community. Today, Avrum acts as Gabbai and frequently leads services. Many of the new arrivals since the 1990s have been retirees. Others, like Jeff Elie, work nationally and internationally, from a home-based business made possible by the emergence of the Internet. Overall, the increases in Owen Sound’s Jewish population in recent years remain modest. However, thanks to a renewal of spirit in the synagogue community, shul membership has risen steeply over the past decade. In 1999, 13 households paid membership dues to Beth Ezekiel synagogue. By 2008, the number had risen to 60.
