Part 8: 1967, A Monumental Year

1967 was a monumental year for Canada, Montreal, Jewish Canadians, and the Shaar. Canada was marking its centennial and Montreal was at the centre of the worlds’ stage as the host of Expo 67 – at which the Shaar’s Rabbi Shuchat conceived of, and oversaw the Pavilion of Judaism.

Pavilion of Judaism Souvenir Booklet, Expo 67.

Rabbi Shuchat conceived of the idea for the Pavilion, and brought it to the Board of Jewish Ministers of Greater Montreal, who gave him full authority to carry out the project as he saw fit. The project was officially kicked off with the support of key figures from the Canadian Jewish Congress. The Foundation for Judaism was created and incorporated as the official legal entity to oversee the Pavilion. Its official opening in May 1967 was attended by Israeli President Zalman Shazar.

President of Israel Zalman Shazar (1889-1974) attending the opening of the Pavilion of Judaism at Expo 67.

Meanwhile, Montreal’s Jewish community and, as a result, the Shaar’s membership, was steadily growing. It became clear that the Shaar needed to expand its facilities to accommodate this increase in congregants. The Congregation launched the “Progress Through Expansion” building campaign to raise funds for the expansion. The construction was kicked off with a turning-of-the-sod ceremony in September 1966.

Listen to excerpts from the ceremony

Turning of the Sod Ceremony, 1966. Enjoy this video with an English transcript.

The cornerstone was laid on October 1, 1967. With the expansion, the Shaar’s building nearly tripled in size. It now contained a new social hall which could accommodate 1000 people, a second chapel, new kiddush rooms and smaller halls, two new lobbies, kitchen space, and a purpose-built library and museum.

Listen to excerpts from the cornerstone-laying ceremony

Laying of the Cornerstone, 1967. Enjoy this video with an English transcript.

Shaar Hashomayim building extension campaign pamphlet.

In 2022, a time capsule was dislodged from the 1967 cornerstone. It contained a diverse array of documents. Some provide context about Canada in 1967, including some pamphlets and papers relating to Canada’s centennial and Expo ‘67.

The rest of the documents relate to the Shaar. They include a printed New Year’s Announcements from 1967, the program booklet for the laying of the cornerstone, a photograph of the Shaar building prior to the expansion. Also among the documents was the text of the sermon delivered by Rabbi Shuchat on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone, tantalizingly entitled “The To-Morrow of the Shaar,” in which he reflects on the history of the synagogue and the future of the Shaar moving forward.

Letter from Rabbi Shuchat, 1967 Time Capsule.