Highlights from the Coat of Arms Ceremony, 1995

Transcript

B. J. Finestone: Your Excellency, Mrs. Diana Fowler LeBlanc, worthy rabbis and members of the clergy, honourable judges, distinguished colonels, guests, and fellow members of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim.

Distingués invités, mesdames et messieurs, soyez-les bienvenue à cette événement extraordinaire dans la vie de notre congrégation.

Welcome to this very special occasion in the ongoing life of our congregation, which is unique in our history. But also fairly unique in the history not only of Canada and of the British Commonwealth, but of the Western world. Our good friend Robert Watt, the Chief Herald of Canada, who will be addressing you shortly, informs us that the previous two grants of coats of arms to a Jewish congregation were made on the 8^th of November 1994 to the Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa, and to a synagogue in France in the period 1670 to 1680. It is therefore reasonable to say that while this event is not entirely unique, it is not all that common and is all the more remarkable for that fact.

If you look of the top of the Torah on our coat of arms, which is on the front of your programmes, and also the top of the crown, you’ll see the Star of David. This is probably the oldest heraldic symbol in the Jewish tradition and certainly the most common one. If you look on the side of this pulpit, you will see the Star of David, if you look in the centre of the menorah, you will see the Star of David, if you look at these beautiful seats that our guests are seated in you will see the Star of David. There is also one in the centre of the ark and if you look at the top rear wall, you will see three extremely beautiful stained-glass Stars of David. So I think you will agree that this is indeed a ever-present symbol in Judaism.

We are indebted to Mr. Watt for incorporating the term in his description as a magen david, in deference to our tradition. He was aware of this symbol, but in his language of liaison, it is called a Shield of David. Under either description it is one of the oldest heraldic symbols in the world and we are proud to have it included so prominently in our coat of arms.

[Fade to black]

B. J. Finestone: But the significance of this evening goes beyond any particular individual, however worthy he or she may be. Tonight, an entire congregation is being honoured. In a very real sense, we are being honoured not only because of our 150 years of service, but also as a representative part of the entire Jewish community of Canada, who have participated with a full heart in Canada’s growth as have we. The grant of a coat of arms is an honour awarded by the Queen of Canada as a special recognition. To have it granted in person by the Queen’s representative in Canada, His Excellency, the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, adds immeasurably to the significance of this occasion. Your Excellency, we are deeply appreciative of the importance which your presence adds to this special and joyous occasion.

The members of our congregation have served Canada and our community loyally and energetically in peace and war. There is not a national Jewish organization in Canada in which we do not participate, usually as founders and leaders. Our participation in the arts, the cultural life, the business, and social life of Canada, and the scores of our sons and daughters who fought and died for Canada is well-known. We did these things because it was right and proper, not for reward or recognition. This award therefore is doubly appreciated by us and will form an important part of our ongoing history. Generations as yet unborn will look at this coat of arms quite correctly as theirs. We therefore express our thanks to you, and the Canadian Heraldic Authority, not only for ourselves, but for the thousands of our descendants who, through this coat of arms, will know and understand something of what the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim and its members have done through the centuries of its and their existence.

Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much.

[Papers rustling, fade out]

[Fade in, the Governor General rises from his seat]

B. J. Finestone: The Governor General will now be signing the patent and when he has done so, the coat of arms is ours.

[Governor General signs the patent]

[Governor General shakes hands with Shaar President, Ian Rudnikoff]

[Applause, jubilant music plays]

[Applause]

Governor General, Roméo LeBlanc: Rabbi Grussgott, Rabbi Emeritus Shuchat, President Rudnikoff, Colonel Finestone, Madame Minister, distinguished guests, distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen.

Je suis très heureux, et ma femme se jointe à moi pour exprimer notre reconnaissance de votre accueil ce soir.

My wife and I are proud to be with you at this moment. Your congregation is reaching its 150^th year, and your past, your present, and your future are intertwined in this heraldic symbol. A coat of arms represent both an honour and a continuity. Those two words—honour and continuity—themselves have no better representatives than the Jewish people. I will not try to enumerate the Jewish contributions to Canada, because they are beyond counting. Neither will I presume to describe the long sweep of Jewish history, from past centuries to the present day. In my own lifetime, the Jews have undergone an experience without parallel. The Holocaust has burned itself for all time into the conscience of humanity. But alongside that dark lesson of the world’s worst, stand the great lights raised by the Jewish people. Your gifts of learning, of law, of caring, have shaped our civilization. Your history is long in Canada, but even as you travel to the New World, ancient prejudices were also crossing the ocean. Only six decades ago, Jews in Europe not only wanted to come to Canada, but desperately needed refuge. Then was now heard the infamous phrase ‘none is too many.’ No one can undo that past, but Canada has grown as a nation. And today I believe that Canadians would not use that phrase and would not tolerate that phrase being used by anyone in this country. In the Middle East as well, we are seeing historic changes of attitude. Canadians pray that all sides will keep moving towards reconciliation and hope.

L’honneur et la continuité de la peuple juive, caractérise votre congrégation en particulier. Cet édifice de culte Ashkenazi le plus ancien au Canada marque maintenant ces 150 ans. Votre foi, votre esprit communautaire, et votre philanthropie ont enrichi cette ville, cette province, et votre pays. [sic] [The honour and continuity of the Jewish people characterizes your congregation, in particular. This, the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in Canada is now marking 150 years. Your faith, your communal spirit, and your philanthropy have enriched this city, this province, and your country]

You merit well the heraldic recognition that you receive today. And as far as our Chief Herald can determine, you are one of the only two synagogues in the world, although in one previous speaker’s comments I thought I heard two in the world before you, the other being a congregation in Ottawa that bears a coat of arms. At the heart of the symbol are some of the most visible sign of your faith. The holy ark and the eternal light. The crown represents the majesty of God. The colour blue, so significant to Judaism, is symbolic of the sky and God. The gold represents the majesty of heaven and earth. The helmet is a first in world heraldry. It refers to the historic struggle of the Maccabees 2,000 years ago. The crest incorporates the rose of England and the lily of France, and the maple leaf of Canada.

It also honours your particular history deriving from the founders of the congregation in 1846 and their original homelands. The eagle wings of Poland and Germany frame the law inscribed in the Torah scroll, and point to the famous passage from Isaiah, quote, “that they wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount with wings as with eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” End of the quotation.

Ces armoiries symbolisent votre patrimoine individuel et votre volonté de représerver [sic]. Elle représente votre profond dévouement envers la communauté ainsi que votre générosité personnelle et collective envers votre famille et d’autres. Elle symbolise enfin la liberté de construire une maison de Dieu, et de pratiquer votre foi selon vos traditions. [This coat of arms symbolizes your individual heritage and your will to preserve. It represents your profound dedication to the community as well as your personal and collective generosity towards your family and others. Finally, it symbolizes the freedom to build a house of God, and to practice your faith according to your traditions.]

I know that you will preserve and enhance the meaning of this coat of arms, for it symbolizes all that is good about Shaar Hashomayim. In the words of the motto on your coat of arms, from which your congregation derives its name, quote, “this is none other than the House of God, and this the gate to heaven.” Thank you. Merci beaucoup.

[Applause]