Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto

Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto (BAYT) is a synagogue in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, just north of Toronto, and is one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in North America. ["Orthodox Jews respond to defeat of Tory Amendment to Bill C-38", CNW Group, April 14, 2006, retrieved May 23, 2006] It emphasizes family values and attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah tradition". [http://www.bayt.ca/ Website of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto] ] It also serves as a social hall for many social events in the Toronto Jewish community.

History

The idea of BAYT was conceived by Joseph Tanenbaum, who had performed philanthropy elsewhere and wanted to do something for his home town. He set out to create an Orthodox synagogue that was also modern and acted as the spiritual center of the community, and which would attract observant Jews and others searching for meaning in their lives.

Tannenbaum approached Rabbi Baruch Taub, a prominent alumnus of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, who grew up in Toronto, who was then national director of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, NCSY in New York, to be the Rabbi. By the mid 1980s, the community had reached over 200 families, and has now grown to over 700. The synagogue's former Chazzan, Rabbi Manny Klein, developed the first youth programs. The new building was dedicated in 1988.

At the end of August 2006, the Bayt employed an Assistant Rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Y. Ackerman, (an alumnus of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Queens, New York) to spearhead new, innovative projects for the synagogue's youth and young families.

During October 2007, the shul became the home of a newly founded kollel, named Kollel Ohr Yosef - The Thornhill Community Kollel; named Yosef after Joseph Tanenbaum. [http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/content/view/165/37/ Article in Jewish Tribune] [http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/PDF/jt011108.pdf Another article in the Jewish Tribune]

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