Traces of the Past
Montreal's Early Synagogues

Sara Ferdman Tauben


Traces of the Past: Montreal's Early Synagogues includes over 30 archival photographs and documents and a 12-page colour portfolio of Montreal's early synagogues by David Kaufman.



Ukranian Federation
©David Kaufman

Former Chevra Kadisha, 5213 rue Hutchinson.
The building began as a Methodist church before undergoing significant renovation to convert it to a synagogue.
When purchased for the Ukrainian National Federation, the building underwent further modification to remove several distinctive features
of synagogue architecture, among them brick arches on the main façade and sides, and a Star of David above the front entrance.





Temple of Solomon
©David Kaufman

Temple Solomon, 3919 rue Clark, more commonly known as the Bagg Street Shul, was converted from a duplex in 1921.
The wooden furnishings visible in this photo were acquired from the much larger Shaar Hashomayim when the congregation
vacated its building on McGill Ave and moved to the present location on Cote St. Antoine in Westmount.
While the exterior of the Shaar Hashomayim has been much altered over the years, the two buildings remain the oldest synagogues in Montreal.




Vietnamese Temple
©David Kaufman

Former Poalei Zedek, 7161 rue Saint-Urbain.  
This synagogue was built entirely by its congregants, many of whom were trades people employed at the nearby rail yards.
The building construction began in 1910 and features the same masonry Star of David feature now partly erased) as the former Shomrim Laboker.





Mime
©David Kaufman

Former Shomrim Laboker, 3675 Saint-Dominique.
The building was converted from a cottage purchased in 1913. An unusual feature of the exterior is the brickwork Star of David, constructed on its side in the masonry.
The building was sold to a Jewish dairy and egg distributor in 1951.