Origins & Land

After searching extensively for property, the land committee approached industrialist Alexis Nihon. On December 8, 1953 — the last night of Hanukkah — Nihon announced he was donating 40,000 square feet of land (out of 60,000 needed) for a synagogue and community centre.

By the end of 1953, 253 members had joined, elections for the board of directors were held, and architect Arnold Shrier was selected to design the building. That same year, Beth Ora’s Talmud Torah partnered with an afternoon Hebrew school.

First Constitution

In 1956, The Jewish Congregation of Saint Laurent published its first constitution outlining the synagogue’s purposes:

• Maintain a House of Worship in accordance with Modern Orthodox Judaism (Minhag Ashkenaz)
• Operate a school for Hebrew and Jewish religious studies
• Maintain a community centre for moral, mental, and physical welfare, and the cultivation of Jewish thought and action
• Maintain a cemetery
• Keep registers of civil status
• Provide all other spiritual and communal services generally offered by synagogues

School & Building Dedication

In September 1956, a branch of United Talmud Torahs opened at the new Beth Ora Synagogue, enrolling 116 children in nursery, kindergarten, and afternoon classes.

On June 9, 1957, the building was officially dedicated in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. Sculptor Adrien Vilandre created the menorah that has symbolized Beth Ora ever since. Membership had grown to nearly 700 families.

On April 9, 1959, the congregation officially adopted the name Beth Ora – House of Light.
The synagogue is now a proud member of the Orthodox Union.