The 1950s
Alex Devon, an optometrist, became Shaarey Shomayim President in the mid 1950s, overseeing the selection of the Grey Street location for the new synagogue. The site was purchased on 27 November 1956. Devon was also president of B’nai Brith. Although the shul still operated according to Orthodox traditions, the membership tended not to be as Orthodox as previous generations when it came to maintaining a Jewish home.
Fundraising for the United Jewish Appeal was an important part of the Jewish community’s activities during the 1950s. Funds were raised to support the immigration of displaced European Jews to Canada and Israel and to support Hungarian Jews after the 1956 Revolution. Most of these efforts were centred in Toronto and the support of the Fort William and Port Arthur communities was primarily financial. Some members of the community, however, were drawn to visit and support Israel more directly. Saul Laskin first visited the country as a volunteer in 1953.
