The congregation of Rodfei Sholem Anshei Kiev, commonly known as the "Kiever", dates back to 1912. Several men living in the Ward decided to start a synagogue that would be run according to their traditions of Orthodox Judaism. Some of the founders included: B. B. Smith, Yehudah Leib "Louis" Bossin, Isaac Mosten, Jake Dubin, Harry Cohen, and Wolf Ganz. Their occupations were typical of new immigrants, working as carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, and peddlers. The first few members had little means for funding a new synagogue in 1912, so services at this time were held in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward. Since the congregation could not afford to pay a rabbi, members, including Cantor Herschel Litvak, led religious services at this time. The congregation was officially recognized by the Province in 1914.

The men of the new congregation involved their families and friends in operating the Kiever. For instance, fathers brought their sons to services. B.B. Smith, whose father was one of the founders, remembers attending services with his father on the Sabbath and holidays. click for audio The founders formed an Executive to run the congregation, in which positions were often passed down from father to son. Family involvement in the Synagogue meant that as families grew, so did the membership of the congregation. Other members were attracted to the new congregation by co-workers or friends who were members. click for audio As membership expanded and revenues from annual dues increased, the Kiever accumulated enough money to purchase a larger site to accommodate its congregation of about 50 members.

In 1917, the Kiever acquired a house at 25 Bellevue Avenue near Kensington Market. Member Louis Bossin mortgaged this house, which was situated at the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Denison Street, for $6000 on behalf of the congregation. The house was once the site of Colonel George T. Denison’s Belle Vue estate home, which was demolished in 1889. In five years’ time, the area had become densely populated. By 1915, at least thirty-one households on Bellevue Avenue were identified as Jewish, reflecting a move away from the Ward.1

The Kiever organized a ceremony on October 28, 1917 to celebrate the opening of the shul’s new home. One of Toronto’s most prominent spiritual leaders of the time, Rabbi Meyer H. Levy, was invited to lead the celebrations. Four years after the acquisition of 25 Bellevue, the congregation expanded into the neighbouring house to the east.

It was not until 1923 that the Kiever congregation raised enough funds to build a synagogue large enough to accommodate its growing numbers. The Kiever Executive contracted Benjamin Swartz, a Jewish architect, to design the current synagogue at 25 Bellevue, which replaced the two houses that had been used for services. During construction, services continued in members’ homes, including the home of Mr. Silverman at 29 Wales Avenue, just across from 25 Bellevue.

The Synagogue was completed in 1927, after three years of construction. The new building had a capacity to hold up to 400 people. Although the Kiever has never had more than 250 members, the additional space was required to accommodate the High Holiday crowds. Rabbi Solomon Langner became the spiritual leader of the congregation and continued in this capacity until his death in 1973. Equipped with a rabbi and a proper synagogue, the Kiever was able to play a larger role in the Toronto Jewish community. The shul offered Yiddish and bar-mitzvah lessons, a youth minyan led by Fischel Cooper, a credit society, as well as a women’s auxiliary.

The Synagogue thrived for several decades until the 1950s, when Jews began leaving the downtown core for the north end of town. As a result, the Kiever could no longer financially afford to open the Synagogue for regular services. Many congregants remained members in spite of the fact that they could only attend services on High Holidays. They therefore felt the need to continue to support the Kiever, since many members grew up going to the Kiever and have continued to feel a personal connection with the history of the Synagogue.

1 Edna Hudson, Bellevue Avenue: An Architectural and Social Study, (Toronto: Toronto Region Architectural Conservancy, July 1993), p. 32.

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