the naming of our Chapel in honour of Rabbi Avraham & Leona z”l ...

Dear Friends,
What is this space that we are naming today? The English dictionary leaves us with
insufficient terminology. Indeed, Judaism does not know from chapels and sanctuaries.
We have batei midrash and batei k'nesset, spaces designated for study, prayer and
learning. They are not defined by the decorations that are inside them, but by what the
people inside them are doing.
This insight explains for us exactly why it is so fitting that we name this chapel in
honour of our Rabbi Emeritus and Senior Scholar Avraham Feder. For hundreds of Jews, he
continues to serve as a guiding light and inspiration for their observance of traditional Judaism.
I am thrilled to have a space in this building that will serve as an everlasting tribute to this
great man's contribution to our heritage and to our people.
So many people worked to plan this event and they also deserve to be honoured today.
Their energy and leadership is a testament to the great esteem in which they hold their
rabbi and teacher. I thank them for their commitment to our synagogue and to its future,
May we together only grow in Torah and good deeds,
Rabbi Jarrod Grover
Dear Friends,
✡ ✡ ✡ ✡ ✡ ✡
In April 2008, we paid tribute to Rabbi Avraham Feder and celebrated his many years of
dedicated service to Beth Tikvah. Our hope three years ago will soon become a reality.
From the early days in 1967, when we studied and prayed with him in a portable chapel
in our parking lot, we will, B'ezrat Hashem, now have the opportunity to study and pray
with our founding Rabbi in the beautiful Rabbi Avraham and Leona Feder Chapel.
Our Chapel evolved into this lovely Bet Tefillah and Bet Midrash through the
dedication of many Beth Tikvah families. It is entirely appropriate that this Chapel, which is so
dear to all of us, should become an expression of our ongoing love and high regard for Rabbi
Avraham Feder and his dear Leona z”l. May it be God's will that we can continue to study, pray,
and sing with Rabbi Feder for many years to come.
To all the volunteers who worked so diligently to prepare this important event in the history
of Beth Tikvah, todah rabbah. May you all be strengthened in your work for the benefit of
the Jewish community.
B'Shalom, U'Vraha,
Maurice Kulik
President Beth Tikvah Synagogue
The history of our Aron Kodesh is connected to the history of the
Jewish families that migrated to Kirkland Lake, Ontario as early as 1914.
In the 1920’s the Jewish community built a permanent synagogue,
the Kirkland Lake Synagogue—Adath Israel. They acquired the Aron
Kodesh of Eastern European design, its lamps, railings, pews and
reader’s desk, from the disbanded Ukrainishe Shul in Montreal.
In the 1970’s the Kirkland Lake Synagogue disbanded. Fred and
Beverly Schaeffer acquired the Aron Kodesh, all of its furnishings, the Ner
Tamid and the Parochet. They generously donated these impressive Jew-
ish artifacts to Beth Tikvah Synagogue. The dedication ceremony was
held Erev Selichot 1980, in memory of Isadore Kaplan, father of Beverly
Schaeffer and Erich Schaeffer, father of Fred Schaeffer.