The 1960s
From 1959 to 1961, the community spent considerable effort raising funds to build a new synagogue. The fundraisings began with a big Israel Bond Dinner, attended by the Israel Ambassador to Canada, who served as the guest speaker. It was a gala affair and over $50,000 worth of Israel Bonds were purchased and used to fund the construction of the new shul.
The new Shaarey Shomayim Synagogue was completed in 1961 at 627 Grey Street in Fort William. The Finlayson Street synagogue was replaced in part because the older building did not conform to the fire code. Ninety families paid for the construction which cost about $150,000. Syd Halter was the chairman of the fundraising committee that oversaw the sale of the previous synagogue, the rabbi’s residence and the B’nai Brith Hall to facilitate the construction of the new building.
The new synagogue was constructed by the Harry Adelman Construction Company and designed by the Toronto-based architectural firm Lipson and Dashkin. It is a large brick building with a concrete wall Menorah façade. The main entrance is a split-level design, with a half flight ascending to the sanctuary and a half flight descending to the basement. The sanctuary, which was modelled after modern Conservative and Reform synagogues on a single level, contains wooden fixtures and stained glass windows at the end of the double-arched Bimah. The Torah Ark cover features a commissioned mural, designed by the renowned Toronto artist Aba Bayefky. Saul Laskin took over the presidency of Shaarey Shomayim in 1960, midway through his career in municipal politics. New membership in these years also included Jewish students from Lakehead University and Confederation College.
