Mazel tov to Congregation Beth Hamidrash on their 40th anniversary!

In 1968 a small group of Sephardic Jews hailing from several Arab counties joined together to hold the first Sephardic High Holiday services in Vancouver. A room was rented at the Jewish Community Centre and a Torah scroll and prayer books were borrowed from Seattle’s Sephardic Bikur Holim congregation. Some four years later the group was invited to use the space it currently occupies on Heather Street, a society was formed and Beth Hamidrash began to operate as a fully functional synagogue. Congregation Beth Hamidrash continues today as a traditional Sephardic congregation following the Iraqi services and customs common to its founding members. Its diverse origins and Sephardic customs and traditions make the synagogue truly unique in Western Canada for religious, social, culinary, and educational experiences.

Celebrate with Beth Hamidrash
Beth Hamidrash’s Sephardic Festival, May 15-17, will feature a Shabbaton with special guests such as Chazzan Isaac Azose from Seattle, Washington, (if you made it to the recent Ladino Music Night you’ll know that Chazzan Azose is highly entertaining!) and Sunday will be an Open House and a fabulous Lag B’Omer Celebration.