Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto

Beth Avraham Yoseph 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. It emphasizes family values and attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah tradition".^[1] 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.^[1]

Tannenbaum approached Rabbi Baruch Taub, a prominent alumnus of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, who grew up in Toronto, 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 Shul's current building was dedicated in 1988.^[1]

At the end of August 2006, the Bayt hired 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. In mid-August 2009 Rabbi Ackerman took another position as a pulpit rabbi in Columbus, Ohio. Currently, Rabbi Zev Spitz is the Assistant Rabbi.

During October 2007, the shul became the home of a newly founded kollel, named Kollel Ohr Yosef - The Thornhill Community Kollel; named Yoseph after Tannenbaum.^[2][3]

In January 2010, Rabbi Taub announced his plans for retirement to Israel.^[4] In January 2011, Rabbi Taub was given the honorary designation Rabbi Emeritus by the shul's board, and he left to Israel as scheduled. On April 7, 2011, the synagogue's board and membership chose Rabbi Daniel Korobkin as the next Senior Rabbi of the BAYT. Rabbi Asher Vale functioned as the interim Rabbi,^[4] until August 20, 2011 when Rabbi Korobkin assumed his post.

Notes

1. 1 2 3 "Website of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto". Bayt.ca. Retrieved 2012-12-28. 
2. ↑ Article in Jewish Tribune Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
3. ↑ Another article in the Jewish Tribune
4. 1 2 Kraft, Frances (2 December 2010). "BAYT's Rabbi Taub retires after 30 years". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 11 September 2011. 

Coordinates: 43°48′13.16″N 79°26′38.22″W / 43.8036556°N 79.4439500°W / 43.8036556; -79.4439500