Kiever Synagogue, Modern Orthodox synagogue in Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada.
Kiever Synagogue is a prayer house in Kensington Market in Toronto distinguished by its twin red-brick towers with Stars of David and Byzantine architectural details. The interior accommodates around 400 worshippers and retains the detailed craftsmanship from when it was built.
The congregation was founded by Jewish immigrants from Ukraine in 1912, initially gathering in private homes before moving to its current building on Bellevue Avenue in 1927.
The synagogue serves as a gathering place for Toronto's Jewish community and reflects the traditions that Ukrainian founders brought with them to Canada. You see worshippers coming together to practice their faith, and the spaces show the craftsmanship of a community determined to preserve their heritage.
The building sits near Kensington Market, a busy neighborhood with good foot access and public transit connections. Visitors should know that dress codes apply in prayer areas and hours vary according to religious observances.
Rabbi Solomon Langner led the congregation from 1929 to 1973 entirely without salary, relying solely on member donations. His decades of unpaid devotion proved essential to keeping the place alive through economic hardship.
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