1858 — The first Jews arrive in Victoria at the time of the Fraser River gold rush. High Holy Day services are held in a private home on Johnson Street in the fall.
1859 — The Victoria Hebrew Benevolent Society, the first Jewish organization in Western Canada, was founded. Their first Grand Ball raised $158. The society rented a hall for High Holiday services.
Jewish Cemetery, Beit Chaim (House of Life), the oldest in Western Canada, was consecrated on Cedar Hill Road. The land was donated by Lewis Lewis, a dry-goods store owner, volunteer fire brigade member and founder of the First Masonic Temple of Victoria.
1860 — Selim Franklin was elected to the legislative assembly of Vancouver Island, the third Jew elected to a legislature in British North America.
1862 — The Congregation “Emanu-El of Victoria, Vancouver Island” is officially formed. It purchases a piece of land, “suitable in all respects for $730” for a future synagogue. A call for architects is issued.
1863 — Architects issue a tender call for the new building. Cornerstone laid in a public ceremony on June 2. Consecration occurred Sept. 13. Total cost: $9,196.60.
First wedding, Elizabeth Davies and Herman Schultz.
First rabbi, Rev. Marcus R. Cohen, was hired for a two-year term with a salary of $150 per month.
1864 — Congregation Emanu-El incorporated by the legislature of the Colony of Vancouver Island.
1865 — Lumley Franklin, Selim’s older brother, was elected the second mayor of Victoria, the first Jewish mayor of a city in British North America.
1871 — Henry Nathan Jr. is sent as one of the first two members of Parliament from Victoria after Confederation. He becomes the first Jew to sit in the House of Commons.
1891 — Plans are prepared for the construction of a Sunday school and hall to the south of the synagogue.
The synagogue’s second rabbi, Solomon Philo, arrived before the High Holidays in 1891. There were differences between the congregation and the Reform Rabbi.
1894 — Differences between the congregation and their Reform Rabbi lead to the termination of Rabbi Philo’s services on March 24.
1899 — Four prominent men help with “beautifying” of the cemetery: H. H. Cohen and S. Oppenheimer donated cash, Joshua Davies donated trees and Samuel Davies Schultz contributed labour.
1907 — The Hebrew Ladies’ Hall, now renamed the Victoria Hall, became the rental property for the congregation. It was leased first by the Baptist Church, then later by Evangelical Christian sects and in its last years by the Victoria Judo Club.
1910 — Emanu-El members Simon and Caroline Leiser built a large home on St. Charles Street designed by celebrated architect Samuel McClure. (It is now a heritage house.) Leiser was the prime mover in the Victoria Opera House Company which promoted and built the 1,200-seat Royal Theatre.
1913 — Alice Mallek was the only woman in the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and the first woman to be president of Congregation Emanu-El.
1917 — First communal seder.
1930s — Rabbi Marcus Berner, the synagogue’s eighth rabbi, arrived and stayed until he died in 1941.
1940s — The synagogue’s population dropped to seven families and could not afford a permanent rabbi. Learned members in the community acted as spiritual leaders.
1948 — The synagogue was “modernized”; exterior and windows were covered in stucco, the central doors and oak steps were sold to raise funds, a false ceiling was installed to reduce heating costs, the central skylight was removed, and the potbellied stove was replaced by a furnace. Total cost: $14,000.
1964 — May 8, Joanne Rose has Emanu-El’s first bat mitzvah. Rabbi Wilfred Solomon began his decades-long tenure at Beth Israel Synagogue in Vancouver, and became Victoria’s honorary rabbi until a permanent rabbi arrived.
1971 — After almost 30 years without a permanent rabbi, Rabbi Emil Klein was hired.
1978 — The committee to restore Canada’s oldest synagogue is organized.
1979 — The B.C. Heritage Trust announces a grant of $50,000 toward Emanu-El’s restoration. Ultimately, the trust gives $82,000 to the synagogue. The annual meeting of the congregation unanimously approves the restoration project. Fundraising is launched. Every member of the synagogue contributed along with individuals throughout North America.
1979 — Congregation Emanu-El designated a National Historic Site.
1982 — Restoration completed. The congregation received local, national and North American awards for the restoration.
1982 — Rabbi Victor Reinstein, wife Susan Berrin and their first child Noa arrived in Victoria.
1995 — Community meeting was held in support of building next to the synagogue: the Matanah G’Dolah Project.
1998 — After serving the congregation for 16 years, Rabbi Reinstein, Susan Berrin and their three children left Victoria for Boston.
2001 — Rabbi Harry Brechner arrived with his wife, Rae Ann, and their two sons, Adar and Daveed.
2003 — Completion of the Al and Sylvia Fisher Building, the Congregation Emanu-El Educational and Cultural Centre, replacing the historic wooden school and Hebrew Ladies’ Hall of 110 years before.
— Frances Aknai
