Original Site of Toronto Hebrew Congregation Holy Blossom

The First Jewish congregation in Canada West, (now Ontario), was established on this site in 1856 (Jewish calendar 5615). Services were held in a rented hall on the upper floor over Coombe's Drug Store on the corner of Yonge and Richmond Streets. In 1876 (5636) the congregation built a synagogue at 25-29 Richmond Street East, the first designed specifically for that purpose in Ontario. To accommodate growing numbers, a new building was dedicated in 1897 (5657) at 115 Bond Street. The present location at 1950 Bathurst Street was dedicated in 1938 (5698). Originally Orthodox, the congregation gradually changed, officially affiliating with the Reform movement in 1920 (5680).