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The Jewish community of Saint John has welcomed many rabbis, cantors and other officials who stayed for periods ranging from a few months to many years.In the early years, rabbis visited the community only for High Holy Day services and for other special events. The first permanent rabbis arrived after 1898 - Rabbis Garrovitch and Tobkin - to oversee the first formal synagogue. Later, Rabbi Dr. Press, as the first rabbi for Congregation Shaarei Zedek, organized a formal Hebrew School. Rabbi M. Beshkin, who served in the 1930s, was a highly qualified teacher whose students became the lay readers of the congregation sixty years later.
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Rabbi Tobkin and his family1900
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Rabbi Samuel SaltzmanSaint John, New Brunswick
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Rabbi Bernard Amdur1877-1922
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Rabbi L. Spiro1930s
Saint John, New Brunswick
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One of the longest serving officials was Rev. Abraham Babb, who arrived in the 1930s, served through the period of the Second World War and raised his family in the city. He involved himself in virtually every community activity and represented the community during the Second World War as a member of RCAF as chaplain. Another popular rabbi was Avraham Green who was also very involved in community life and developed a modern Jewish outlook for the community.7
Rev. A. Babb1941-1945
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Rabbi M. I. Beshkin1930s
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Rev. Ezekiel Slotki1955
Saint John, New Brunswick
Credits:Leila Slotki
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Rabbi Abraham Feffer, a Holocaust survivor, brought Saint John to the peak of its congregational experience and gave extra emphasis to the teaching of all the children. Rabbi Eisenberg followed and although his practices were much different than those of his predecessor he contributed to the community for thirteen years. The last resident rabbi - Rabbi Roger Pavey - left the community at the end of 1982.11
Rabbi Abraham Feffer1950s
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Rabbi Benjamin Eisenberg1980
Saint John, New Brunswick
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In the years which have followed, services have been led by members of the community. Louis Michelson served in this capacity for many years and has been succeeded in recent years by Dan Elman. Both men have ably filled the day to day needs of the congregation. More specialized needs are met by the chaplain for the Atlantic Jewish Council, Rabbi David Ellis, who comes to the city as needed. For thirteen years, Rabbi Gershon Bacon came from Israel to lead the High Holy Day Services - his interest and respect for the community has long been remembered. When it was no longer financially feasible to employ him, cantors were brought from closer cities to lead these services.14
Rabbi Gershon Bacon2000
Saint John, New Brunswick
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