Rabbis

The earliest services held in St. Catharines during the late 19th century were led by local residents. In 1902, however, Jacob Cooperman was hired as the Baal Tefilla. By the early 1930s, the congregation secured the services of Rev. H.L. Shapiro, who served as Tefillah, shochet and teacher until 1941. The first ordained rabbi to work for B’nai Israel was Rabbi Halpern, who only stayed from 1942 until 1944. He was followed by Rabbi Dr. H.A. Fischel (1944 – 1947) and Rabbi M. Katz (1947 – 1948).

After experiencing great turnover for several years, Rabbi Pappenheim began his tenure at B’nai Israel in 1948. He brought a great deal of stability, intelligence and dignity to the job and was held in great regard by the community. In 1953, he decided to leave this position in order to become the rabbi of a synagogue in Kentucky. He later returned to Canada and became rabbi of Beth David Congregation in Toronto during the mid-1950s. He was followed in short order by Rabbi Ross, Rabbi Cohen and Rabbi Richard Belson, who was the first Conservative rabbi to take the pulpit. Although many of the rabbis who succeeded Rabbi Pappenheim attempted to fulfill the needs of the community and congregation, it was very difficult for them to make their mark, since their contracts were all quite short.

In 1961, Rabbi Freedman was called to the pulpit of B’nai Israel. Originally from Montreal, he lived in South Africa for some time and remained in the community with his wife Sheba and two children for 17 years. One of the members, Joe Vomberg, stated that after experiencing such tremendous turnover with rabbis, Freedman brought great stability to the community and also helped improve the educational programs. The Rabbi also established a Hebrew high school and a choir. His wife started Bat Mitzvah classes for the girls. Rabbi Freedman also encouraged Christian groups to visit the synagogue from local churches. Each year he would give presentations to approximately 25 such groups in order to enhance inter-faith dialogue within the community. He was assisted by Joseph Ben David, who served as chazzan, Baal Koreh, teacher and later rabbi – after returning to his original Yishiva in England to receive his smicha -- for 28 years.

• The First Minyan
• Rabbis
• Hebrew School
• 1940s
• 1950s
• 1960s
• Cemeteries