Religion


The opening of the Weller Street Synagogue building was a high point in the life of the Peterborough community. The Diamond Jubilee Souvenir book, published on the occasion of the dedication of the shul, carried within its pages both the history of the community as well as the future it dreamed of. As then Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson wrote, the publication of this book displayed both initiative and pride. Through it, Pearson continued, the Peterborough Jewish community was “in a sense telling the story of Canada.”

Through the 1970s until the 1990s, the community adjusted. As synagogue president from the mid-1970s through the early 1990s, Joel Moldaver admitted that the adjustments were not always easy. Starting in the mid-1960s, a few of the community’s wealthy members left to join Toronto congregations. This hurt the community both morally and financially. Among the new Jews who came to town were professional people who did not necessarily join the synagogue. As well, with fewer members and less money, it was difficult to find a rabbi. One rabbi was so critical of the community that they had to let him go. The good ones did not stay long.

However, even though synagogue membership was down, Trent University and Fleming College, together with a new population of retirees, were bringing new Jews to town. The decision was taken to think positive and to renovate the synagogue in the belief that the community would respond. This was done, at a cost of $250,000, three times what it had cost to build the synagogue in the first place, in the early 1960s.

A rededication ceremony took place on September 24, 2000. The community entered the 21st century in style and with spirit, but new challenges were just around the corner.