Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal, Orthodox synagogue on Saint-Kevin Avenue in Snowdon, Montreal, Canada
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal is an Orthodox synagogue on Saint-Kevin Avenue in the Snowdon neighborhood. The sanctuary inside is decorated with Stars of David, zodiac motifs, and natural patterns carved or worked into the surfaces throughout the space.
The congregation was founded in 1768, making it the oldest Jewish community in Canada, with its first gatherings held in a room on St. James Street. Over the following decades, the community moved several times before settling in Snowdon.
The congregation follows the Sephardic rite, rooted in traditions brought by Jewish communities from Spain, Portugal, Iraq, and North Africa. Visitors who attend a service hear prayers and melodies that differ noticeably from the Ashkenazi rite more common in Montreal.
Daily prayer services are held at the synagogue, and visitors who wish to attend should arrange a visit in advance. Modest dress is expected, and it is best to arrive on time so as not to interrupt an ongoing service.
The congregation donated an early Torah scroll to Library and Archives Canada, and the scroll has since appeared in traveling exhibitions across the country. It is considered one of the oldest surviving Jewish religious objects in Canada.
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