Our History (cont'd)
The next few years were characterized by a new growth of membership and activities. At the same time, the demography of the Jewish community changed considerably. The Bathurst Street building was not only too small, but also in the wrong location since the growing Toronto Jewish population was moving northward.

It was a triumph of courage, vision, and leadership to transfer the Synagogue from downtown Toronto to its present location in North York in the early 1950's. To signify a new era in its history, the Congregation decided to shorten its name to "Adath Israel Congregation" and to recognize the religious orientation of its membership by proclaiming itself a Conservative Synagogue and by joining the United Synagogue of America.

There followed a period of explosive growth of membership even before the first part of the building was complete. In 1957, a large Synagogue community enjoyed the festive dedication of a complete Synagogue home with ample space for religious services, education of children and adults, social functions, and a plethora of congregational events and activities.

The phenomenal growth of the Congregation soon necessitated further building. In 1965 a substantial addition created more lobby space, school rooms and the western portion of our building, which was dedicated as the "Rabbi Irwin Schild Wing" when the Congregation celebrated Rabbi Schild's 25th Anniversary in 1971. More recently, in the 1980's, the Shul embraced the newly renovated Alex Koenigsberg Conservatory, named for our late beloved sexton z"l; the Conservatory encompasses the Jack & Sylvia Hyde Library, the Chapel, and the Barris Boardroom. In 1999, an elevator and ramps were installed to make our synagogue more accessible to the physically challenged.

In 1967, A. Eliezer Kirshblum became Cantor of Adath Israel and subsequently took on the equally important role of Principal of Adath Israel Congregational School. Cantor Kirshblum continues to flourish in both positions to this day.

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