History

Petah Tikva Anshe Castilla Congregation
"The gates of hope for the people of Castille"
Founded: Toronto, February 1958
ONTARIO'S FIRST SEPHARDIC SYNAGOGUE

The need to move on is certainly not new to the Sephardic Jewish Community, nor is it new or unexpected, to the Jewish
Community at large. And so it came to pass. In September 1958, 10 families in search of a spiritual place of workship where they
could practice their distinctive liturgy and speak their native language, Spanish, gathered at their new home in Toronto's inner city.
The congregation was comprised of 15 adults from 10 families, who were otherwise struggling with harsh winters and financial
straits. Most of all, the establishment of this unique place of workship provided refuge from harsh Torontonian parochialism which
still displayed hostility towards Jews and the perplexed Ashkenazi community who had yet to come to grips with the diversity within
the world of Judaism. The origin of the congregation has its roots in the Spanish Inquisition. At the end of the 15th century, the
Jews fled the persecution of the Royal Inquisitors seeking refuge across the Straits of Gibraltar on the North African shores. Many
settled in Tangier and its environs, others, elsewhere along the North African coast, where they remained and thrived for over 500
years. Independence for the kingdom of Morocco in 1956 and the subsequent annexation of Tangier -- until then, an international
port city -- forced a civilization and culture which thrived over 500 years to move once again, this time seeking the gates of hope in
Canada. Thus, Petah Tikva began, and today, lays claim to being the first Sephardic Synagogue in Canada's largest province, and
one of the largest overall in Canada.

CHRONOLOGY:
February 1958

Shabbat Minha services were held at Shomerei Shabbat Synagogue on Brunswick Avenue.

Passover 1958

The Torah Vaabodah Synagogue on Markham Avenue provided two rooms, a Sefer Torah and a few chairs for the services.

Yom Kippur 1958

Our first Yom Kippur services took place in a hall in the Bloor Street YM/YWCA

1959

The jewish Congress helped secure two rooms in Talmud Torah, Eitz Haim Synagogue on D'Arcy Street. the few dollars we had
in our operating budget were spent towards wallpapering, painting, repairing and buying a new Aaron Hakodesh.

1964

The number of members increased to 85 and the membership fee was increased to $2 per month. We purchased our first Sefer
Torah and received two more as giflts. This year saw the birth of the Sisterhood group that, together with a newly formed Building
Fund Committee, started to raise funds to buy our new premises.

Passover 1964

Moved to a rented hall at the Bloor Street YM/YWCA

July 1968

With a membership of 125 families, who each contributed $100, we negotiated the purchase of Shomerei Shabbat Synagogue.

1969 - 1973

Membership continued to grow steadily. With over 300 member families we had to sell the Brunswick Avenue location and moved
back to the Bloor JCC for two years. this was followed by a move to a hall in the building of the National Council of Jewish Women,
at Bathurst and Sheppard.

During this time fundraising continued towards the fulfillment of our goal of building a new synagogue in
the northern part of the city, where many of our members were moving.

1974- Present

After an exhaustive search, many negotiations and our member's financial support we finally were able to build our current building
on Danby Avenue. This was the culmination of an auduous labour of love by many members who worked tirelessly and selflessly
toward the fulfillment of a dream of many years.

Today Petah Tikva is the spiritual home and the heart of a well-established community of more than 400 families. it has truly become
the Gate of Hope of our members.