VOLUME 14, NO. 2 JUNE 2004 1911 – First Synagogue Cornerstone Ceremony Attracts Donors, Dignitaries Tuesday, August 8, 1911 was a big day Jacob, however, would be the first syn- inscribed on the cornerstone. for Calgary’s 600 Jews. On that day con- agogue structure in that vast area. An important invited speaker was to struction of the Jewish community’s The invitation stated that “Gentiles be Reverend Dr. George Kerby, Calgary’s House of Jacob synagogue began. It was as well as Jews are cordially invited to most prominent churchman, principal a day of dignified pageantry, with a cor- be present with their ladies to take part of Mount Royal College and former min- nerstone dedication and speeches by Jew- in this important occasion.” ister of Central Methodist Church (now ish leaders and community dignitaries. “Corner Stone was Well Laid,” was Central United), the city’s largest. Invitations went out to the public, the Morning Albertan’s headline in Best known speaker, however, was through the local newspapers, with the their report of the event. Part of the Richard B. Bennett, who would become signatures of congregation leaders news item is worth repeating verbatim: Prime Minister of Canada in 1930. In Jacob Diamond and Harry Cooper. A “That the Hebrews were as loyal to 1911 he was a provincial MLA, and a visiting rabbi, “the Reverend Marcus the flag of their adoption in Canada as few weeks after the House of Jacob cer- Berner, of Hirsch, Saskatchewan” was Canadians themselves was the keynote emony, on September 21st, he would brought in for the occasion. (Hirsch of an eloquent address by Rabbi Marcus be elected Member of Parliament for was the center of a large Jewish farm- Berner, of Hirsch, Saskatchewan, at the Calgary, defeating Liberal candidate G. ing colony near Estevan.) corner stone-laying ceremony of the Van Wart, Calgary’s sheriff, who also Rabbi Berner provided some Judaic new Hebrew synagogue, the first Jewish spoke at the cornerstone ceremony. religious presence. The House of Jacob headquarters in Western Canada, on Other speakers at the synagogue had no rabbi at the time, although a Third Street East yesterday afternoon. rite were Colonel James Walker, former schochet (ritual kosher slaughterer) was “Rabbi Berner is a striking figure, a Mountie, civic pioneer, and then a employed. Geographically, Berner was farmer of a whole section of land in wealthy businessman; MLA Thomas likely the closest rabbi to Calgary. His Saskatchewan, and a devout Hebrew Tweedie; city commissioners Arthur was the only congregation between teacher. Graves and Simon Clarke; and acting Winnipeg and Vancouver. The House of “... Abundant speeches were deliv- police chief Thomas Mackie. ered, politicians ad The House of Jacob held its first ser- infinitum. vice in the new synagogue building on “...The tenor of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Fri- the addresses was day, September 22nd, the day after the the leveling of the federal election day. Services were led barriers between Continued on Page 2 Jews and Gentile.” The actual stone was put into place by In this Issue: congregant Charles Synagogue Cornerstone Ceremony..........1 Bell, who secured 1891 – Six Jews in Calgary .......................2 the honor as the Jewish Airwoman Dies in 1943 highest bidder (at Alberta Air Crash ..................................3 $400) in a fund-rais- 1927 Jewish Centre Campaign Makes Headlines in Calgary Papers..................4 ing auction held by Exhibit Sponsorship Opportunities............5 the synagogue. (Bell Calgary Jews Fete R.B. Bennett owned a large at 1939 Farewell...................................6 hotel.) His brother, Jewish RAF Pilot Dies at Medicine Alexander Bell and Hat, 1941 .............................................6 congregant J. Polsky List of Oral Histories..................................7 also made substan- New Photo from our Archives...................7 2004 AGM Program .................................8 The 1911 House of Jacob cornerstone, now part of the House of tial donations and JHSSA News..............................................8 Jacob—Mikveh Israel Synagogue building. Photo: Jack Switzer. had their names Your membership and continuing support help us to publish Discovery. Thank you. 2THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA JUNE 2004 The table below notes Calgary’s Jewish population and the overall civic numbers 1891 – Six Jews for each major census between 1891 and 2001. in Calgary CALGARY JEWISH POPULATION DATA % Change % Change Calgary Jewish % of City Year from Prev. from Prev. Winnipeg had over six hundred Jews Population Population Population in 1891. Calgary had six. Census Census These numbers are from a study 1891 3,876 6 — — done by genealogist Glen Eker, who 1901 4,398 12% 8 — — reviewed original census returns and corrected erroneous Jewish population 1911 43,704 107% 641 — 0.80% data originally published by the feder- 1921 63,305 45% 1,263 97% 2.00% al government. Eker found six Jews in Calgary in 1931 83,761 32% 1,604 27% 2.00% 1891, and six in Lethbridge. Edmonton, 1941 88,904 6% 1,760 10% 1.90% not yet served by a railway, had only 1951 129,060 45% 2,094 19% 1.60% one Jewish resident. (The 1891 num- bers for other western cities: Regina, 9; 1961 249,641 93% 2,866 37% 1.10% Saskatoon, none; Vancouver, 85; Victo- 1971 403,319 62% 3,275 14% 0.80% ria, 148; and Winnipeg, 645. About 135 1981 580,585 44% 6,065 85% 1.00% Jews lived on “Saskatchewan” farms.) There was little growth shown in the 1991 748,210 29% 7,155 18% 0.96% 1901 census. Calgary had just eight 2001 943,310 26% 7,945 10% 0.80% Jews in 1901; Lethbridge and Medicine Hat had none. Eighteen Jews lived in Substantial growth in the local Jew- Sources: Glenbow Library – Glen Eker: Edmonton in 1901, and one Jew lived ish population took place after 1905 as Jewish Residents of Western Canada in in Blairmore. (Well over 200 Jews then settlers took up available farm lands, the 1870 - 1901 Censuses of Canada: lived in the Yukon, mainly in and and towns and cities grew to service the JHSSA director David Bickman brought around Dawson, the gold-rush capital.) rapidly growing agricultural economy. the Eker study to our attention. Synagogue Cornerstone Ceremony Continued from Page 1 by Henry Sosinsky, a Hyman Goldstick in 1906-1907. As local grocer, who noted above, rabbinical presence was acted as the congrega- haphazard, but many congregants tion’s cantor between were well versed in orthodox ritual and visits from short-term were very able to conduct services. rabbis. In 1909 the House of Jacob congre- Congregation pio- gation was incorporated, with Dia- neer Jacob Diamond mond as president. A lot was pur- had organized the first chased late that year, for $2,300 in the minyan (quorum of ten heart of the Jewish residential area, at Jewish men) in 1894, 325 Fifth Avenue East. The congrega- assembling a group of tion immediately erected a one-room residents, area farmers, building at the back of the property. It and a traveling sales- was put to use as a cheder (Hebrew man for prayers in his school) and worship space while funds home. As the Calgary were raised for a permanent sanctuary. Jewish community The cornerstone was laid, as noted, grew, more regular in early August of 1911, and the House services were held, of Jacob was completed just six weeks with lay leaders. later. The 400-seat synagogue was in After 1905, with use for over half a century, until 1968. Calgary booming and The original cornerstone was re-dedi- scores of Jewish immi- cated in 1983, when it was put into grants arriving every place in the foundation of the new week, a more orga- House of Jacob Mikveh Israel Synagogue. nized religious system Sources: JHSSA Archives. Front of the House of Jacob Synagogue, 1967. The Hebrew date was needed. Calgary See page 6 for more about R.B. Ben- at the pinnacle, 5671, is the equivalent of 1911 in the civil cal- and Edmonton shared endar. The ‘cornerstone’ is visible near the doorway on the far nett and the Jewish community. right. Photo: Glenbow Archives, NA-5460-2. the services of Rabbi JUNE 2004 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA 3 Jewish Airwoman Dies in 1943 Alberta Air Crash Rose Goodman died near Calgary on The Calgary Chevra Kadisha (Jewish February 26, 1943. burial society) took charge of the The 23-year old Jewish woman died remains. A contingent of local Jewish in the crash of an RCAF training aircraft leaders was on hand when Chevra near Claresholm, where she was sta- Kadisha members placed the casket on a tioned as a Section Officer in the Montreal-bound baggage car. Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Rose Goodman was buried with full Air Force. She was one 17,000 women to military honors and full Jewish ritual on serve in the RCAF in World War II, and February 2, 1943 at the Cemetery of the was the first to die in active service. Spanish and Portugese Congregation in Rose Jette Goodman was born in Montreal. Her casket was carried on a 1919 and was raised in New Glasgow, flower-bedecked gun carriage, accom- Nova Scotia, where her parents, Sol and panied by RCAF colleagues of both Jeanette Goodman were prominent in sexes. Her parents, sisters, and many the small Jewish community. The family friends from New Glasgow and Halifax was well off; Sol ran the Goodman were present. Department Store (originally Vineberg, The New Glasgow News eulogized Goodman & Co.) in the city of 10,000. Rose at length. In part the editor stated: She had three sisters—Edith (b.1913), “With her university training, Miss Good- Ruth (1915), and Anetta (1924.) man—it is hard to think of her in military Rose was active in the city’s girl guide Rose Goodman, RCAF (WD), c.